Organic Brew and Bike Parts (as random as it sounds)

Beer: Perhaps it’s not as urgent as decreasing our gas consumption or finding cures for major diseases (although some would argue that beer and coffee make living on this planet much more enjoyable), but organic beer is growing in an important way. Thanks in part to the increasing awareness of organic and fair-trade coffee and other goods, brewers and enthusiasts are beginning to take note (our thanks again to Cafe Evoke).

I’ve only had the privilege of a single bottle of organic homebrew, but it was delicious. Tasting a finely crafted beer, and having made my own pathetic (read: tastes like vomit) attempt at home brewing, gave me an appreciation of the intricacies of a well done small-batch. If you get a chance to taste one, or you're thinking of going the home brew route yourself, I recommend going organic. It’s how beer was meant to be.
**Disclaimer: If you're under 21 don't drink, ok.
Interesting Links: BrewOrganic.com & The National Organic Program



Bikes: I love my mountain bike and use it every chance I get. Hey we’re in Rockies. I’ve also considered trying out road biking, although I may leave that until I’m too decrepit to get up a mountain on a dirt trail. With that said, my friends and I ride hard and we break bike parts with curious frequency. Usually this happens when we are at the farthest point from the car, and getting back involves some sort of improvised rigging with duct-tape and tree branches. Our local bike shops swap out the broken part(s) and we’re back out there in no time. But where does that broken part go? Here are a few ideas… http://www.resourcerevival.com/. I received a picture frame and the original model bottle opener for Christmas (Thanks Family!). Unique, functional, and the opener does a great job on your favorite post-ride beverage or organic homebrew. Recycled bike parts make cool gifts (no they didn't pay me to say that).

~Billy

Tagged: Powderfin, Outdoors, Outdoor Gear, Organic Beer, Fair Trade Coffee, Café Evoke, Bozeman, Montana

European Vacation Pfin Style

We love getting adventure pictures, especially when they involve us in someway. The shirts have been really popular (cool logo and all) and people are digging the Pfin vibe. Lets see who can send the craziest/most exotic/ intereting Powderfin related picture! Here are a few from the Sean, Katie, Jess on their European vacation. Also a good illustration of how the Powderfin Shirts look and fit.

Thanks Ya’ll!

~Sconnie


Also, Powderfin Stickers are in. If you'd like a few, drop us an email letting us know you'd like some stickers (while supplies last of course). Include your address. cs@powderfin.com.

Tagged: Powderfin, Outdoors River, Outdoor Gear, Picture Contest, Gallatin River, Bozeman, Montana

The Lochsa

Last weekend I managed to get to the Lochsa for the first time. What a river! Located on the Idaho side of Lolo Pass, only 2 hours away from Missoula by a ’78 Mercedes Diesel lays one of the neatest places in the western US. The forest is old, and the Lochsa runs down a canyon covered in mossy rock. The road runs by the entire length of the kayaking portion of the river, but doesn’t spoil it at all.

The water was crystal clear and freezing cold from the spring runoff. I was a little bit worried about being on a new river for the first run of the season, but the Lochsa allows a paddler to shake off the rust with a few easier class III before building up intensity to later class IV rapids. It was around 4,000 cfs the whole weekend, which is considered medium-low, and allowed some recuperation time between rapids. According to a few of the old-timers we paddled with, at flows over 10,000 cfs things really start to get interesting. The water gets fast, the rapids all run into each other, and the tales of carnage begin to fly.

The lower level made it a great “get to know the Lochsa” trip without causing any ulcers. I’ll be back when the water gets higher, hopefully with pictures next time!
~Sconnie

Tagged: Powderfin, Lochsa River, Kayaking, Fly Fishing, Gallatin River, Bozeman, Montana,Lochsa River

Spring Runoff Countdown...

Spring Runoff is a highly anticipated event in the Rockies. This marks the beginning off the rafting and kayaking season. The water levels rise in the rivers, making the water faster, bigger, and more fun. In Bozeman, we’re lucky enough to have access to incredible whitewater within a reasonable drive. The Gallatin, Madison, and Yellowstone Rivers offer great kayaking for nearly every level of paddler during this time.

For more info on Bozeman area rivers click here. For more on rivers in your area click here. The river links provide some description as well as pictures and movies. This is also handy information for fly-fishermen who buy from Powderfin!

As with the ski season, I prep myself by watching movies of guys doing lines I would never take, Hucking like I would never dream, and I look though last years pictures and think of my goals this year.

My 3rd year kayaking goals are…
1. Many trips down Bear Trap Canyon (Madison River)
2. Get on the Lochsa for my first time
3. First try at real creek boating (Hyalite?)
4. Alberton Gorge at high water.
5. Run the Swan?

I’ll keep you updated on my progress and beat-downs as they occur.

Happy Paddling,

~Sconnie
(the picture above is Mrs. Bubbles on the Yellowstone, when she’s perfect. After that… a Wavesport Z and a Piranha Sub 7 inside the Buick, and they said it coudn't be done… ha!)

Tagged: Powderfin, Lochsa River, Kayaking, Fly Fishing, Gallatin River, Bozeman, Montana,Madison River

Mountain-Link International Expeditions

Friends of Mountain-Link Special Gear Offer

Mountain-Link's sponsor, Ground, LLC has teamed up with Powderfin.com to offer a 40% discount on signature items. To view details about the promotion, click here. Please call 1-800-986-8656 with any questions, we'll be happy to help!

Select Ground products are endorsed by Mountain-Link, a premier international mountaineering guide service offering instructional seminars, guided climbs and expeditions.

For more information on Mountain-Link, please click on the logo.

For a limited time, we're giving away FREE Powderfin.com Logo tees with all orders over $100.00!

Just tell us what size you'd like at checkout, and we'll include the tee-shirt with your order.

Live To Ski Another Day

If you’re traveling west on I-90 toward Montana, you’ll see a lot of flat expanses, few trees, and sunflower and wheat fields… until you reach the Crazy Mountains. They’re your first encounter with the Rockies, and they jut out of the farm and ranch land like they’ve been misplaced by God. There is no build-up, they just appear. Also, they’re incredible.

We decided to ski there Saturday by climbing up the Big Timber Creek Drainage, and into the heart of the relatively small range. Big Timber Creek was a draw both for the skiing and to get an idea of the kayaking in the near future. It’s a sacred place that many class 5 kayakers (which I’m not… yet) look on with a mix of fondness and great respect, and like the mountains it’s impressive. There are some videos of kayakers running it on American Whitewater.

Our journey took us past the meat of the creek and up the eastern ridge. While making our way up, conditions quickly changes as the snow reacted to the increasing temperatures. The freeze/thaw cycle had consolidated the first 2.5 feet of the snow, but left a week layer about 6 inches deep right near the bottom to bear the load. Our tests gave some cause for concern, and similar slopes showed wet snow point-releases. We decided to retreat from the possibility of a wet slide after 4 hours of skiing and climbing. Live to ski another day.
~Sconnie

Tagged: Powderfin, Outdoor Gear, Backcountry Skiing, Big Timber, Crazy Mountains, bozeman, montana,Alpine Touring

The Ground Athlete Team

Providing some of the best technical outerwear in the industry, our friends at Ground have a stellar list of outdoor athletes who wear the gear (for a reason) and promote the Ground Philosophy... differentiate or don't bother!

Check out some of these athletes and sponsors on Ground's Athlete webpage.

Freestyle Audio MP3 Players

In the "cool outdoor gadget" department, Freestyle Audio Waterproof MP3 players are in the top tier. They're fully submersible up to 10 ft... meaning you can roll in your kayak, snorkel, bail off your wakeboard, fall out of the driftboat, or paddle out for the next set...all while listening to your tunes safely.

We like that idea.

"Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body." Oliver Wendell Holmes

I guess now you can do both at the same time. Why not?




Freestyle Audio Features two models, a 512 MB model and a 1 G model. Both are compact, rugged, lightweight, and fit into a neoprene armband that comes with the player.

Winner of the National Geographic Adventure Magazine's "Best of Adventure" Gear Award

Included Accessories:

Specially engineered waterproof earbuds

Neoprene armband

USB Cable

User Guide

Playlist Software (PC only)

Freestyle Audio 1 GB Waterproof MP3 Player Features:

Specially engineered waterproof earbuds

Waterproof, and completely submersible up to 10 feet

Holds and plays up to 350 songs

USB Cable, user guide, and playlist software available (PC only)

Easily download mp3 files with USB interface

Rechargeable battery

Up to 40 hours playtime per charge

Ultra Lightweight - 35 grams

It FLOATS

Easy to use control buttons

PC/MAC compatible

Can be used with supplied waterproof earbuds, or with your favorite headphones

PC/MAC Requirements:

Windows ME/2000/XP/98

Intel Pentium II 300mhz or above

128MB Ram minumum

USB port

Mac OS 9.6 and above

Waterproof Earbuds Features:

Waterproof, fully submersible up to 10 ft.

Form fitting, sizeable earplugs designed to keep sound in and water out

Adjustable over-ear wraps hold headphones in place

Ultra lightweight; locking synch keeps wires out of your way

Compatible with all standard 3.5mm audio jacks

Pair with Freestyle Audio’s waterproof mp3 player for optimal waterproof sound

Married at Big Sky

From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle... 3/26/07

Bride, groom say 'I do' on slopes of Big Sky
By MICHAEL BECKER Chronicle Staff Writer
Weddings are not unusual in Big Sky. The natural beauty of the place makes it an ideal setting for ceremonies year-round.So when Matt Dodd and Ashley Hegseth, both instructors at Big Sky Resort, decided to get married on the mountain, no one batted an eye.

That is, until they revealed the rest of the plan.

At about 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Dodd and Hegseth wed while traveling down the mountain, followed by about 30 guests and a minister on skis.

The idea for a moving wedding sprang from frustration. Dodd, a native of Georgia, and Hegseth, who comes from Northern California, had a hard time planning their big day.

"We had no idea how much work planning a wedding would be," Dodd said.

During one exasperated debate about two weeks ago, Hegseth left her fiance alone for an hour. Apparently it was enough time to come up with the idea of a moving wedding, something they had only joked about before.

"I sort of went back and forth on the idea," she said. "I don't want it to be a joke necessarily, but at the same time neither of us have been the kind of people to take things too seriously.

"Dodd said that once the couple's powder-hound friends learned of the idea, it took on a life of its own.

"There are a lot of things that spiraled widely out of control," he said.

The plan was to send the entire wedding party down the Mr. K run, a training slope at Big Sky. The guests would be arranged on either side of an "aisle." Since the bride is a snowboard instructor, her guests rode snowboards, and vice versa for her ski instructor groom.

The minister skied backward to face the crowd. The flower girl, the maid of honor and best man all skied in their own places too. The entire affair was captured by cameramen circulating around the party.

As for attire, they knew right away that tuxedos and a gown were probably out of the question. Dodd wore a black ski jacket and pants, and Hegseth wore a white ski suit with a small skirt. She did hold on to the tradition of a veil, though.

How did their families react to the idea?"Our family on both sides were a little surprised," Dodd said. "Surprise is the best way I can put it."

The Rev. Mike Boucher, who married the couple on Sunday, has known Dodd and Hegseth for four years and said the plan really didn't surprise him.

"Matt has some farfetched ideas that always sound a bit foolish at first to me, but the way he brings these together and he puts so much into these ideas and they always seem to work out in the end," Boucher said.

Boucher, who is also a ski instructor, wore a helmet camera during the ceremony and even built a lectern on skis that accompanied him down the mountain. The lectern housed the PA system and weighed 70 pounds.

"The hard part when we get to some of the steeper parts of the run will be keeping that from running me over," Boucher said Saturday.

Boucher said it was fitting that the couple's wedding would be moving.

"Them moving forward represents them moving toward something greater than each of them individually as they come together," he said.

Hegseth also explained that, given how their relationship has gone, a moving wedding made sense. The couple met while they were both traveling, and Dodd proposed while they were traveling in Las Vegas.

"So it makes sense that we get married while we're traveling," she said."I think we both kind of like to forge our own path," Dodd said. "I think that's one of the reasons we get along so well."

After the wedding, the couple held a reception at the resort for those unable to attend - or keep up with - the ceremony. Hegseth said they have also planned a more traditional ceremony that will take place in California in July.

Whale Video

This may be the last of the “look how cool Maui is” posts. I had to put this video up even though the frame skips from time to time and the quality isn’t ideal. It’s very difficult to record on the choppy ocean, but it gives you an idea. Although the breech shot are very similar, they’re all different whales. For some reason they were jumping and fighting each other all over the place. It was incredible to see, and sometimes we were very close to the action. There is one segment of a baby whale that lost its mother. It decided to check our boat out. After calling the Marine Sanctuary a trailing the whale for a while, it met up with its mother again and all was well. Hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think!

~Sconnie

Tagged: Powderfin, Maui, Humpback Whales, Whale Video, Lahaina, bozeman, montana,Outdoor Gear

First Annual: Montana Beer Festival

That's right, the Monatana Beer Fest is here! I don’t want to seem too excited about this and risk sounding like an alcoholic, but I like good beer, and I like Montana… so I’ll be celebrating two things I like on April 6th. If you read the blog and you’re in the Bozeman area you should seriously consider it. Powderfin will be represented in force. Two of my current favorite breweries will be there, The Bozeman Brewing Company, and Deschutes Brewing. Do I expand my horizons or stick with the brew I know is great? The potential boggles the mind.

Also, there will be more entertainment than the standard “beer drinkers congregated in one place” type of thing. A Johnny Cash tribute band and Broad Comedy Broads means it’ll be a good time… and 10 Foot Tall & 80 Proof (follow the link and check the lead singer Kris Clone’s tunes out).

~Sconnie

*If you’re under 21, I’m sorry but you can’t drink beer here. You’ll have plenty of time later in life to taste the deliciousness of a fine brew (in moderation of course).

Tagged: Powderfin, Montana Beer Fest, Broad Comedy, Johnny Cash, Bozeman Brewing Company, Bozeman, Montana,10 Foot Tall & 80 Proof

New Product - SteriPEN Adventurer

If you've never checked out UV technology as a means to purify drinking water, it's time that you take a look. The SteriPEN will purify 16 ounces of water in 48 seconds...much faster than you can pump it! They've taken the travel and backpacking industries by storm, revolutionizing how water is sterilized. There are a few models on the market, from the Classic SteriPEN, to the SteriPEN Safe Water Pack, which includes a pre-filter and Nalgene Bottle, to the newest SteriPEN Adventurer, the smallest ad lightest of the bunch. There's also a SteriPEN Adventurer Solar Charging Case, allowing you to ensure there's always fresh batteries at hand for the unit.

The SteriPEN Adventurer is half the size of the original SteriPEN. SteriPEN purifies water using Ultraviolet (UV) light. Whether your source is a clear running brook or a hotel tap, SteriPEN™ destroys viruses, bacteria and protozoa including Giardia and Cryptosporidium in seconds. The Safe Water Pack includes 32 oz. wide-mouth water bottle, SteriPEN UV water purifier, Water Bottle Pre-Filter, Pocket-sized User's Guide, and carrying case.

So far we've shipped these items to folks travelling to Nepal, China, Africa, and India. Whether you're going to a place where the water quality is known to be suspect, or just want to avoid "beaver fever" in your local backcountry, the SteriPEN is the way to go!

Tagged: Powderfin, Steripen, Water Purifier, Safe Water, Backpacking Purifier, bozeman, montana,UV Purifier

Maui Flower Drop

We have one more day in Maui. Its been a great trip. If you’re like me and can’t really afford to stay at a fancy resort or eat out for every meal, you can still do Maui reasonably inexpensively. With that in mind, anyone who reads this blog or shops at Powderfin should seriously think about it. We went on another whale watch yesterday and the whales were just as active as before. We also had a helicopter mission with our host/heli-pilot to do a “flower drop” for a firefighter son’s wedding (sort of a tradition around here). Basically it involved flying above the wedding ceremony and dropping a big bag full of flower petals over the guests. It’s more difficult than it sounds as we were 250ft above and we have to calculate for the wind of the blades and the northerly breeze, but we hit the target. Prior to the flight there was a strict warning not to let go of the bag, or it would get in the tail rotor and we’d all die, or it would fall on the wedding party. Everything went well and I had a death-grip on the bag, so no worries there. We’re going to head out for some ocean kayaking today, then pack up, return the rental car (if it starts), and get on a plane to Seattle… then drive to Bozeman. The pics are in a bamboo forest near Hana and from Maui airport pre-flowerdrop.
Cheers,
~Sconnie

More from Maui

I’m sunburned in spite of sunscreen, I got my butt kicked body boarding (like a true idiot tourist), and our rental car takes about 10 minutes to get started and has no A/C… but we’re still smiling. Our whale watch and heli-tour were amazing… the pictures below were taken by Abbey’s camera. The humpbacks were breaching all over the place.

~Sconnie

Maui Dispatch

Hi all. We woke up to gray skies and rain today. In spite of the rain one tends to notice certain things about Hawaiians, and as a result the vacationers. They don’t let the rain get them down. We were talking to a guy who flies heli-tours and just had everyone cancel on him… he wasn’t down about it, he was just riding around in his golf cart talking to people with a big smile on his face. We saw a woman with waist length dreadlocks dyed light blue and elderly woman walking down the street in her yellow string bikini with her golf shoes and golfing gloves, carrying an umbrella. Tonight our hosts (who spoil us ridiculously) are fixing some baked sesame/soy/ginger chicken. We’re starting out with Pipeline Porter from the Kona Brewing Company, surprisingly good and made with coffee. If you get a chance, you should check it out. The scene is a far cry from a Montana winter, but the people have a similar groove.
~Sconnie

Tagged: powderfin.com, maui, outdoor gear, internet retail, vacation, bozeman, montana

Boulder River Bows

My friends Eric and Jeremy talked me into getting out of the office yesterday afternoon, as it was 56 degrees and sunny, a welcomed warm-up. It didn't take a ton of convincing, really, since the forcast for the rest of the week is rain and snow. You can always make up work, right?

We headed over to the Boulder River, near McLeod, MT, home of the famous "Road Kill Bar and Grill". I had never been to the Boulder River Valley, so I was pretty pumped to see the river, check out Natural Bridge, and see if we could fool some early season trout.


It's a truly breathtaking area, even after last year's fire which wiped out much of the forest coverage in the area. It will grow back green and beautiful, there's no doubt. In the meantime, you can see the burn, but the river itself is gorgeous, with aqua green colored pools, interesting rock walls, and perfect weed beds for hiding rainbow trout. Natural Bridge was impressive as well, essentially a spot in the river where the water dissapears into a hole and emerges below in a falls, emptying out into a deep pool of cold, emerald water. It's definitely something worth seeing, even in the early season before runoff. At peak runoff levels, it would be an ominous sight.


We started our day with a bang, picking off 2 nice rainbows on beadheads in the first good looking hole. Eric got one on a streamer just down river, so things looked good from the start.

After he picked up a few more as we moved along, we decided streamers were the way to go, and all tied on some yellow ones.

They were ready to eat, that's for sure. I'm wondering if it wasn't the first batch of flies those fish had seen in awhile.


It was pretty windy (not a shocker for March in MT), so we never ended up seeing much surface activity, but the streamer fishing held out from beginning to end.

The dogs were going bonzo of course, which was great. Zeuser had been giving me dirty looks for weeks as I stared at my computer from morning 'til night.

Today he hasn't opened his eyes yet...





Right as we decided it was time to start heading out, I had a string of fly fishing fumbles, typical to my style. Jeremy was fighting a good one as I hooked up for a double...about 4 feet in front of me before I could land the fish it spit the muddler and darted. Damn. About 3 casts later I hook into another one and broke it off instantaneously. I then cussed at myself as I watch this fish a foot under the surface look at me and try to shake my bug out of his mouth. Grrr... Fumble number 3 was right as we were about to leave. I hooked into a heavy fish, gave him some heat, and as he pretty much doubled over my 6 wt., the thing spit my fly as though there was no hook on it.

I was pissed. It had been a great day anyway, but that's still no way to end it. Then Eric told me to cast toward a tree stump and strip it back. I did, and I caught this guy...


As the photo indicates, I wasn't pissed anymore. We exchanged geeked-out angler high-fives and immediately headed over to the Road Kill for a round. Great way to end an amazing day on the Boulder River.

Frazier Basin Backcountry Skiing w/ Video

Hi all,

We were up in the Frazier Basin area again last weekend backcountry skiing. I had a few friends down from Missoula... the type of people who make any day skiing a great day, even with bad snow. The avalanche danger was significant as indicated by the Gallatin Avalanche Center. We also dug a few snow pits and our test gave us cause for concern. We ended up skiing a couple of tame slopes. Two of the guys managed to break their poles during falls on the variable snow pack. Someone once said, “ski equipment is highly expensive disposable goods, get used to it”… when I was lamenting about a core shot in my new skis earlier this season.

In Frazier Lake Basin itself, we had noticed an avalanche crow from the trail head miles away. We decided to check it out by breaking trail up to the saddle dividing Frazier from the basin to the north that we had been skiing. The avalanche was huge, by far the biggest I had ever seen. The debris field bottomed out our probes and there downed trees all over. You can take a look at the avalanche center website by following the link and clicking on the Youtube video of Frazier: http://www.mtavalanche.com/data/Mar62007.shtml
Below is a video of our debauchery. We’re rating this video PG for language and goofy scenes.

~Sconnie

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, frazier basin, backcountry skiing, avalanche, bozeman, montana,powderfin.com

Ski Jacket Sale

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, ski jacket, ski sale, winter jacket, bozeman, montana,powderfin.com

The Head of Pfin

Hi all,

Some bosses are all talk. Heads of companies are often guys who like to BS at the country club and have no idea how their company is functioning. Thankfully, Powderfin has a leader who uses the stuff we sell, and for a snowboarder, can get down a mountain pretty well. Here is a brief compilation of Jay and Zeus for those who want to make sure they’re not buying from a gaper/stuffy exec.
Sconnie

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, bridger bowl, backcountry skiing, snowboarding, bozeman, montana,powderfin.com

The Cold Smoke

Wow...

I don't think there was a retail position filled in Bozeman, MT. yesterday. 35 inches of light, fluffy snow in 24 hours...and all the area boys and girls rushed up to the hill to enjoy it.

Including those of us here at powderfin.com...we live here for a reason, right?

Bottomless snow, chest high places. Face shots every line, all day. It was dreamy. A great introduction to March!

Check out Bridger Bowl's Daily Video!

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, bridger bowl, backcountry skiing, snowboarding, bozeman, montana,powderfin.com

Big Sky Winterfest

From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, February 28th, 2007:

Winterfest in Big Sky is scheduled for Sunday, March 4.

The day will include five different cross-country ski race events, at thee Big Sky Community Park, and all geared towards getting locals, visitors, families and individuals out and about and enjoying the snow. There will be various children's events and races through out the day as well.
There are five adult races scheduled for the day and numerous children's races. Adult races include both a skate and a Nordic four-person relay where each racer must use the same pair of skis to complete the loop. There will be an adult/child race where the adult pulls a child in a polk; these ski sleds (polks) must be used for the adult/child event, limited numbers will be available at the event courtesy of Lone Mountain Ranch. Lone Mountain Ranch will also have ski equipment available for those needing it. The last two adult events include dog joring and a three-legged race. In the three-legged race, teams of two must have their middle legs bound together for the entire length of the track.

Early registration for race events is encouraged; registration forms can be picked up at the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce in Westfork Meadows and ERA Landmark Real Estate office in the Meadow Village Center. All race participants will receive two for one lift tickets donated by Moonlight Basin. Registration rates are $5 per race or four races for $15; prizes will be awarded in each event. There will also be a raffle held offering prizes from local businesses.

Food and business vendors will set up shop outdoors.

Eagle Mount will be the beneficiary of Winterfest this year.

If you would like to volunteer, donate a prize for the fund-raising raffle, or if you would like to participate as a food vendor, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 995-3000.

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, Lone Mountain Ranch, nordic skiing, Big Sky, eagle mount, montana,powderfin.com

Sconnie's Folly aka Beehive and Fraizer Basins

Southwest Montana was lucky enough to get a pretty good dump on Friday, followed by bluebird skies on the weekend. It’s the kind of weather pattern that skiers long for all season. The master plan was to take full advantage of the new powder by heading on long backcountry day trips on both weekend days.

Saturday was a fun day up Beehive Basin. We skied all the way to the back of the basin, but didn’t feel confident skiing anything steep because of the unstable snow pack. Instead, we found a few cliffs that had no avy risk, and a lot of snow at the bottom. The mottos this season… “Sometimes you’re bad-ass, sometimes you’re just an ass.” I was definitely the latter. This was a 15ft-to-face-plant extravaganza, which hurt my pride more than my body. Thankfully Abbey botched her cliff-drop attempt, but I think she just did it to make me feel better. It’s hard not to laugh at yourself when the sun is shining and the snow is deep.

Sunday, Jud and I broke trail all the way up to a basin just north of Fraizer Basin in the Northern Bridger Range. This is a part of the Bridgers that sees little use even on the best of days and it’s spectacular. We literally had the whole place to ourselves. As a skier, there is nothing better than making fresh turns the whole day absent of lift lines, and some Obsidian Stout back at the trailhead.

I hope my folly makes you happy,
Sconnie

Tagged: powderfin, outdoors, backcountry skiing, outdoor retail, beehive basin, bozeman, montana

Jerry Douglas

Howdy...

Just caught Jerry Douglas at the Emerson here in Bozeman last night. The Emerson's kind-of a sad venue... boxy, all seats, pretty bad acoustics, and no beer for sale... Yeah, I know...


Anyway, Jerry and his band were worth it. They're coming around to the Southeast in March, so I recommend anyone with a bluegrass hankerin' to check him out. However, If you're familiar with his his music, you know that this guy transcends bluegrass with his playing. If there's a better dobro player in the world, I'd love to know who it is. Jerry played some bluesy stuff, some cajun, a little bit of island style, and some interesting jazz-like arrangements. He said he came up with one of the songs during a dream, after eating some "popcorn tasting stuff" in Telluride one time. The dream was about Fred Flinstone giving Charlie Parker a ride, with Barney Rubble pushing. It sounded about like that... interesting "Bird" bebop elements with a solid jazz drum foundation and colorful fiddle embellishments. He also told us the story about how he gave Futureman his name... interesting stuff.

All the musicians on stage were impressive, namely the guitar picker...pretty amazing solos.

Damn good stuff... go see him if you want to see one of the better musicians of our day.

Later...

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, Jerry Douglas, dobro, Emerson Theater, bluegrass, montana, powderfin.com

River Therapy

From the Bozeman Chronicle; February 26, 2007

BELGRADE -- Bill Bartlett dressed himself on Friday as if he was going skiing. Long underwear and ski pants on the bottom. Lots of layers on the top.

But he didn't hit the slopes. He got in the water. He was celebrating an anniversary.

Friday's brief canoe trip on the Gallatin River marked 120 consecutive months that included at least one excursion, paddle in hand.

That's 10 years of canoeing in all kinds of weather.

Normally, he picks a better day, somewhere around 45 degrees, with some sunshine.

But on Friday he braved a cold and sloppy blizzard to check off the decade mark.

Bartlett, a Bozeman defense attorney, keeps his winter trips short, usually paddling upstream in the Gallatin or Madison rivers, partly to keep his paddling muscles in shape and partly just to do it.

He finds solace in the deserted waterways, and told of a time when he was once particularly vexed by two difficult legal cases, but once in the canoe he was able to clear his thoughts and figure out solutions.

Though he prefers the solitude, at the age of 60 he worries about the younger generation becoming too glued to computers and televisions.

"With fewer people establishing a relationship with the natural world, maybe we'll have fewer people to protect it," he said.

Accordingly, he's now working with Boy Scout troops.

"It's a solitary experience for me, but it's time to start sharing it," he said. "For the benefit of the sport and the environment."

While some of his winter trips are short, almost symbolic, Bartlett has paddled some big water: a 22-day trip on Canada's Churchill River, the Desolation Canyon reach of the Green River in Utah and most of the streams and rivers in Montana -- including the Montana portion of the Missouri, upstream.

The big waves in on the Green River trip gave his boat a beating.

"We used all the duct tape we had" to patch up the craft, he recalled.

Bartlett calculates that, since he took up the sport in 1984, he's paddled 10,000 miles, roughly 1,000 of those miles upstream.

All those miles have taken a toll. A swollen tendon bulges from the palm of his left hand and he has to do exercises to keep the muscles in the front of his body in sync with the muscles in his back, the ones that keep his paddle moving.

Now 60, he's thinking about switching to a different type of craft, maybe making a catamaran of two canoe hulls and a platform, maybe even rigging up a sail.

But he's not talking about quitting.

"It's good to get outside and canoeing is my stress reliever," he said. "That's why I go to the river. It's my antidote."

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, gallatin, canoe, gallatin river, flyfishing, montana, powderfin.com

Cafe Evoke Jave Juice Extract Review

We like coffee at Powderfin. Generally, we’re not picky about how we get our caffeine in the morning, but we’ve recently been turned on to some of the finer nuances of the bean, and how it gets to our cup. Jason and his wife Jenny, the owner/operators of Café Evoke Catering are good friends who have a passion for a great cup of coffee and coffee related discourse. We’ve heard from many that the Java Juice Extract we carry at Powderfin is great, and we love it, but we needed to test it out on some experts. Jason and Jen were up to the task and honest about their feelings for Jave Juice (mostly positive). Check out their review and more at Café Evoke’s Blog.

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, café evoke, java juice, french press, java juice review, montana, powderfin.com

Frog Holler

In Bozeman we’re lucky enough to have a truly dedicated independent radio station. It’s funky, free form… and the DJs play what they want to play, as it should be. It’s also a place to hear music that hasn’t hit the mainstream. KGLT is where I first heard Frog Holler, and I bought the “Idiots” CD off Record Cellar the next day.

Frog Holler is a bluegrass/country/rock type of band if you’re into categorizing, but they’re much more. If you love your hometown, if you’ve worked hard at a blue-collar job, if you really understand what “getting by” means… Frog Holler will speak to you. Darren Schlappich is a lead singer who can tell a real-person story with the best of them. The band is killer too. If you’re in to fishing, the song “Native Trout” is akin to the good times when fishing is at is purest.

Once you get into their music you’ll ask yourself how you haven’t heard of them before. They have 6 CDs of incredible tunes; they’ve been around with a small following for a while. If you’re in the northeast and get a chance to see a show, drop us a line and let us know what you think. Checkout their stuff (for free) here…

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, frog holler, kglt, independent radio, frog holler review, montana, powderfin.com

Joby Gorillapod

Part of the payoff for getting outside to do the things you love is the photos you take to remember those good times. Whether it's the views atop the mountain you climb, shots of your buddy carving big turns, pictures of the moose that wandered over by the camp, or the nice trout that was fooled by your dry fly, these images last forever and allow you to share your experiences with others. We've all been in the situation where we want someone else to shoot the photo so we can get the whole group together in the shot, yet there's nobody there to help out.



Some innovative thinkers at Joby developed a really cool and functional product to help you out during those moments, the Joby Gorillapod Flexible Tripod. The Gorillapod's flexible joints bend and rotate 360 degrees to form the perfect tripod on any surface. You can also wrap one of the legs around a pole, tree, boat gunnel, chairlift arm, etc. to make the most of self-timer digital photography. It's available in 3 sized, one for most point and shoot digital cameras, one for SLR's, and one for SLR's with zoom lenses. There are few places where the Gorillapod can't be employed to get that perfect photograph to capture to spirit of the moment. Add the lightweight Gorillapod to your photography arsenal and you'll never be in a lurch to get the pic you want when out there doing your thing.

Tagged: Powderfin, outdoor gear, gorillapod, joby tripod, flexible tripod, joby gorillapod review, montana,powderfin.com

Big Horn Bro-down

This February in SW Montana we've had a few little runs of warmer weather (high 40's) which tends to get fly fisherfolk in the area a bit fired up to get on the water. Cabin fever starts to get nasty in February, especially when the snow isn't very good. When the forcast for Hardin, MT called for a weekend of partly cloudy skies and highs near 50, I decided to try to gather a group of fly fisherman to head over to the fabled Big Horn River in South Eastern Montana. Getting the crew together proved to be a fairly easy chore, as some friends of mine were just ready to get out of town for the weekend for any reason, some eager to try out their new rods, and some who had never been to the Big Horn (myself included) who were anxious to check it out. I was able to assemble a fun crew of flyfishing friends from Bozeman including: my roomate Trevor who spends his summers guiding on the Missouri; a new yet fast-learning fly fisherman Jeremy; Jason, a fishing buddy of mine spanning several seasons; Brian, an experienced angler who's spent a good deal of time on beautiful rivers of Oregon; Stan a Rapala slinging local historian; and Eric, a former guide and experienced Big Horn angler. We had all the ingredients for a great weekend trip to the Big Horn...a solid group of guys, two drift boats, a Watermaster, 6 hilarious dogs, some frozen food, and lots of beer.

Trevor and I took off around 3:30 on Friday, and after digging a path through the snow in front of my friend's barn where my boat was being stored, we were finally able to hook it up and get on our way. It was a precarious situation there for awhile, and I think we were both a bit afraid that we'd spend all of Friday night digging my trailer out of a snow bank. The road up in Jackson Creek where we picked up my boat was nothing short of an ice rink. We eventually made it to the highway, and 4 1/2 hours later we were finally in Ft. Smith, Montana.

Eric was able to find us a great cabin in town to stay for the weekend, so we settled in for the night by setting up our vices, spinning some bugs and having a few beers.

Saturday morning came quickly, but the weather was decent and we we all psyched to see if we could fool some healthy tailwater browns and rainbows into eating our creations. Trout are generally pretty eager to eat in the winter if the weather co-operates and you can put the bug in front of them. This proved to be the case on Saturday, as orange scuds and San Juan worms did the trick on nymph rigs. Our token Big Horn veteran Eric showed us how it's done, with little surprise. This dude always catches fish. He landed over 20 fish that day, while the rest of did our best to get to know the river a bit and figure out our presentation. It was a pretty productive day overall, as most of us we were able to catch some nice browns on streamers toward the end of the float.



The crew was pretty tired Saturday night, so we retired early in the midst of a nasty windstorm, wondering if conditions would permit another go in the morning. When we woke up around 8, it seemed that there was no way in the world we'd be able to float, as gusts of 40 mph winds ripped through the trees in the front yard of the cabin. Trevor and I decided it was too windy, so we loaded up to head home. After making about 2 miles, we stopped the truck to gauge the wind because it was sunny and 55 at the time and we thought it would be a waste to drive all the way down there then skip out on a potentially good day of fishing. We decided to go for it, drove back to the cabin, assembled the troops and headed to the river.



Sunday ended up being a better day all-around. Jeremy caught his first fish ever on a fly that he tied, which is something that any fly fisherman will tell you is pretty cool moment. Trevor and I were able to get into one of the many deep and fruitful runs before any of the other 20 or so boats on the river that day, and we were able to pull 7 or 8 nice trout out of it. Trevor was taken to his backing a few times out of that hole which was exciting, as these trout would quickly cruise into the fast water below the hole, causing us to give chase downstream. That hole got the day off to a good start, and we were immediatly glad we didn't high tail it back to Bozeman. It was windy, but not too bad, and warm enough to stay comfortable.





We spent the rest of the day taking turns fishing a streamer, and the browns were all over it. They were pretty aggressive, and often did some acrobatics and tail dances once hooked. Having a little better feel for the water and our presentation, we had a much better day than on Saturday and enjoyed every minute of it. It just goes to show that if you want to do something outside in Montana, and you're unsure of the weather, the best bet is to just go do it. There will certainly be those times where you wish you hadn't, like when you're ducking away from hail under some trees while your boat's being blown down river, but in general good things happen if you just try.



Thanks to our various skill levels and experience, I think we were all able to learn something new over the weekend, whether it be a casting technique, fly tying trick, or story about the area's history. The Big Horn lived up to its billing as an excellent fishery, and our crew had a blast. Thanks to our friends at The Big Horn Angler for the accomodations and advice, we'll be back before long!

Powderfin in Peru

Hey Pfin, recently my mom and I went to Peru to do some sightseeing and medical work and we took the opportunity to spread the word about Powderfin. Machu Picchu was an obvious choice for sights to see, so we packed our Powderfin Gear, drank coca tea to help with the altitude, hopped on the train, and toured the ancient Incan ruins. The weather was perfect, clear enough for a beautiful view of the ruins, but just enough clouds to keep the heat at a tolerable level. So we posed and spread the word about Pfin on top of the mountain, and as we finished the Inca Trail. After a day of exploring the ruins we settled down to a interesting and almost good meal of llama steak, heart skewers and cuy (guinea pig). It turns out we hit quite the window of opportunity, as the day before there was heavy downpour, and the day after, it was hailing! It must of been the shirts. After Machu Picchu we went to the rainforest where we danced with the indigenous, shot blow guns, drank jungle beer (for the first and last time ever....), held pet monkeys and anacondas, and watched the river dolphins. Not to mention getting stuck in a torrential down pour in our open Amazonian boat! After one week of fun we returned to Lima where we met up with the rest of the medical team. The prime focus was to repair cleft palates and lips, but we also operated on a lot of burn victims with compromising scars. All in all the trip was a fantastic experience that neither of us would trade for anything. The most valuable of which we both believe to be our work at the hospital in Lima. It was great to be able to really see the difference that we were making, especially in all of the kids.So for anyone who is thinking about making the trek to Peru, Machu Picchu is a must see, but I recommend hiking the Inca Trail, which can take as little or as much time as possible, something we did not have the chance to do. As for the Amazon, it is cool but can get expensive depending on your budget. If you want to stay in the Amazon, the most popular and accesible way is a nice Resort. Regardless of where you go or what you do, it is important to remember that the Peruvians are a beautiful race of people, very punctual, and eager to please. Keep in mind, however, that farting, swearing, prostitution, illicit drugs, public urination, and obscene gestures, are a part of every day life. BURPING, however, is not. We read this in a guide book, that said the cardinal sin of Peru is burping in public. DO NOT! You know how when you aren't supposed to do something, and it slips out subconsciously, and it is the loudest noise that has ever vacated "the temple" that is your body... well in Peru, if its a burp, its 100x more embarrassing and loud. Good Luck

Mt. Ellis Pow

In the midst of ski season here in Southwestern Montana that's been pretty dry, Mt. Ellis proved to have ample amounts of snow if you're willing to work for it. Sconnie, Abbey, Zeus and I trekked up to near the top of the 8331' foot peak on February 3rd. The views were amazing, of course, and the 3 or so feet of fresh was a just reward for 3 1/2 hours of snowshoeing. As usual, I brought up the rear in snowshoes. My crescent moon gold series 9's definitely did the job, but it was often difficult to keep from crushing the often awkward skin track on the way up. I felt a bit bad for those coming up after me, but there's not much I could do about it.

We took some decent footage of Zeus giving chase on the way down. It was the best snow I've seen this winter, hopefully Old Man Winter will send down a bit more soon!

Hyalite Canyon Access

There's currently a local debate over the new Gallatin National Forest travel plan to restrict access to Hyalite Canyon near Bozeman. Essentially, the plan calls to close the gate on the road from January 1st through May 15th, beginning in 2008.

I've actually gotten my truck stuck in the snow up there overnight between those dates, but that's my own fault. Hyalite Canyon contains some of the finest ice climbing in the world, and some great backcountry skiing routes that would only be accessible by snowmobile or skins if the road is closed. At Powderfin, we think the road should be left open all year in order to access these amazing areas of our local wilderness.

For more information on the issue, check out the following links for articles and forums:

Climbing Magazine

MontanaIce.com

Alpinist.com

Primo Prime - Product Review

The Ground Men's Prime Jacket caught my attention when I first looked over the Ground product line. It looked good even in the pictures, so I was very interested to checkout what it felt like and how well it worked outside in practical applications. I basically fell in love with the Prime as soon as I put it on, and decided to buy it. It has served me well in several ways, and has proved to be a versatile jacket in the Montana winter.


Everyday Use:

The Ground Prime is definitly a coat that you can wear everyday. It's reversible, which is the first feature I really like about it, so you essentially get two jackets in one. I purchased the Graphite/Crimson version, wearing mostly the Graphite. If you decide to reverse it, there's a smart little pocket built in so you can hide the tag. Simple and effective. Other cool features include soft-brushed tricot hand pockets, hidden breast pocket, no-snag zippers, and elastic cuffs on the sleeves.

For everyday use, this jacket works because it's not too bulky and it's extremely warm, even in low-output activities. Filled with synthetic Primaloft Sport, it stays warm even when wet, and provides adequate insulation in most circumstances. The Prime is perfect for wearing around town.

Snowshoeing:

I put on the Prime over a base layer and snowshoed a couple of miles in 20 degree weather, and the jacket was super warm. Warm enough that I needed to unzip it about half way once I really got going, but it never presented a real problem. For super high-output activities, it should be reserved for very cold days.

Snowboarding:

I tried the Prime as an outer layer one day up at Bridger Bowl, in place of a shell. It snowed pretty hard that day, but it was cold, and I never got wet. It kept me plenty warm with a skin layer and light fleece underneath. I was unsure how it perform in those elements but it did a great job.

Maintenence:

I got my Prime pretty dirty over New Year's Weekend in Atlanta, but it's machine washable and cleaned up easily. You have to hang dry it, but it dries really fast. Hang it overnight and it will be ready the next morning.

All in all, this is the best jacket I've owned for quite some time for everyday use.