GEAR REVIEW: Osprey Exos 58 Backpack

Disclaimer- I will never review an item I have not personally used on a trip.

OSPREY EXOS 58 BACKPACK

After constant trimming to shed weight, it became inevitable I’d have to switch from my bombproof Atmos 65. The pack was stout, it fit everything well. I didn’t want to leave it, but it was time to say goodbye.

There was a reason for my infidelity, though. The Exos 58 was offering the same suspension and comfort, with near equal capacity, all for over a pound lighter. How could I resist such temptation?

GEAR REVIEW: Big Agnes Mystic SL 15 Sleeping Bag and Q-core SL Sleeping Pad

Disclaimer- I will never review an item I have not personally used on a trip.

BIG AGNES MYSTIC SL 15 SLEEPING BAG

& BIG AGNES Q-CORE SL SLEEPING PAD

After backpacking Yosemite with the Big Agnes Mystic SL 15 and Q-core SL together, I have fixed feelings. The comfort is amazing, but the system is heavy for what it should be.

Labor Day Yosemite Trip Part 4

Alas, all trips must come to an end. Some endings are better than others.

DAY 4: We woke up late, having stayed up late near the warmth of the fire that neither of us had wanted to leave. Down sleeping bags were wonderful, but it still takes several minutes to warm up.

Figuring that since Michael and Jose had set such a slow pace, we would have quite a bit of time. We talked about our options, wondering what was best.

Labor Day Yosemite Trip Part 3

The storm quickly passed, haven barely rained. We climbed off the mountain and pitched our base camp.

We still had the rest of the afternoon, so Andrew decided to lone wolf. Nose to the wind, he started climbing the mountain above the lake and quickly was out of sight. I had expected this, and simply grabbed my headphones and journal, planning to use the down time to get some writing done.

Labor Day Yosemite Trip Part 2

Ladder fuels lining the path.

After all the preparation, delays, and slacking off, we were finally underway. The first impression I had was this: Yosemite was in bad shape.

Not from the fire, mind you. The exact opposite actually. The ground floor is riddled with ladder fuels. Now I knew why the Rim fire was ripping through the tree tops- Yosemite was a ticking time bomb of fuel, just waiting for a match.

Labor Day Yosemite Trip Part 1

Mono Meadows- Our start point.

Time frame: Labor day weekend 2013, 5 day hike

Location: Yosemite National Park

Participants: Myself, Andrew, Michael, Jose

Oh, you want to backpack in Yosemite? Great! Oh, it’s on fire?

Even better.

While the Rim fire torched through north-western Yosemite, my friends and I had decided it was a great time to take a backpacking trip.