Powderfin.com Photo Contest Winners....

3rd Place - Paul S. in the Ukraine

Prize: SIGG Water Bottle

2nd Place - Katherine F.

Rockin' Powderfin in Bora Bora

Prize: Joby Gorillapod Digital Camera Tripod

And in 1st Place...

Ashley S.

Price: $50.00 Powderfin.com Gift Certificate

A candid shot of the PFin. Twins in the oven and the pants still unbuckled? Wow. We love it!

Thanks to all who sent in photos!

Armstrong Spring Creek 2-10-2008

We celebrated a bit after this amazing Sunday...

steaks and beers at Sir Scott's Oasis, Manhattan, MT.

Crescent Moon Snowshoes Goes Green

Crescent Moon Snowshoes celebrated its 10th year in business in the year 2007 as a US based manufacturing company that makes all of its snowshoes in Boulder, CO. The company has been recognized as one of the elite snowshoe producers in the world with an innovative design for its bindings and unique “tear-drop” shaped frames. And for the last 2 years, Crescent Moon has made a concerted effort to reduce their impact on the environment while increasing the quality and performance of our snowshoes. At Powderfin.com, this is the kind of company that we believe in. Despite competitive pressures which can often lead companies toward lower cost, lower quality production methods, Crescent Moon is bucking the system. They're willing to pay more for materials and labor in order to offer their customers a better snowshoe, made from better materials, right here at home!

To further distinguish the company from the competition, Crescent Moon snowshoes are now made with materials that contain NO PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is a significant step in reducing the company’s environmental impact. This policy is complimentary to their operational process of using 100% wind powered energy in their factory and office and recycling nearly everything they use, including aluminum, stainless steel, cardboard, and office materials. The company intends to pursue its ultimate goal of being “as GREEN as possible” using aluminum, steel, and other recyclable materials in the construction and design of its snowshoes for the future. Tamara Laug, co-owner and principal proponent of the company’s GREEN theme has been a recycler for most of her life and is the driving force behind the company’s transition to being an earth friendly manufacturer. “It’s philosophically inconsistent to be an outdoor’s product manufacturer and not be considerate of the environment in which our products are being used – the great outdoors”, she said. “We’ve been making this transition for a number of years but recently found alternatives to the decking materials we’ve been using (and our competition continues to use) that allows us to make this significant step towards being GREEN. Currently, we can claim to be the first and only snowshoe manufacturer in the world to do so."


The materials used for the 2007/2008 Crescent Moon Snowshoe line are PVC free, yet have greater strength and less weight per linear yard than the materials they replace. Although more costly than the PVC materials used in the past, Crescent Moon is willing to pay the premium for environmentally responsible alternatives. PVC is a relatively inexpensive material, but the cost to the environment is very significant. According to some sources, "PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC is dangerous to human health and the environment throughout its entire life cycle, at the factory, in our homes, and in the trash. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phtlates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats. When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems."

Crescent Moon Snowshoes has distribution of its products in Europe, Japan, and Australia and of course, much of the US market through places Powderfin.com, REI, and EMS. Company president Jake Thamm said “by offering a GREEN snowshoe which is made entirely in the US we feel we can offer the market a line of products that not only perform better than most other snowshoes, but will give our customers something good to feel about when they buy and use them in the outdoors.”

We hope other company’s adopt these same measures and together we can begin to reverse global warming, landfill expansion, and environmental pollution and waste. To read product reviews and recognitions, visit the Crescent Moon press page.

Passage Creek XC Ski

A couple of weeks ago it was warm enough to get out and play a bit. Over in Paradise Valley, a little bit up the Yellowstone from Livingston is a trail called Passage Creek. It heads up to a falls about 4.5 miles in, so it seemed like the perfect day trip on the ol' XC set up. We never made it to the falls due to running out of daylight, but made it up about 1 mile shy. The trail meandered along a road, then a creek for a few miles before heading into a recent burn area. It was definitely still a pretty spot, as there was a bunch of fresh snow and some nice views. 7 1/2 or so miles was a good distance, my feet were ready for some Sorel's and a soak after that one.

Ground Extension Shell - eVent

Today Powderfin.com launched a new waterproof breathable jacket from our friends at Ground. "The Extension Shell" is top-dog in the winter outerwear game. Designed for high output activity in colder weather, the Extension features eVENT fabric, the best waterproof breathable shell material available on the market today.

Material

eVent 3-Layer Ultra-Light Mini Box Ripstop: eVENT 3-layer actively vents perspiration vapor through millions of microscopic clog-resistant pores. eVENT Fabric is a Direct Venting waterproof barrier that marks a significant advancement in ePTFE laminate technology. Using proprietary and patented Dry System technology, eVENT Fabric sets a new standard for comfort by allowing perspiration to dissipate and vent without saturating the inside of the fabric

Ground Extension Shell Technical Features

eVENT®—Provides DRY INSIDE™ comfort
Waterproof/breathable hybrid shell
Incorporates sew-free construction
Hard shell in high wear - high stress areas
Stretch softshell panels at side body - under arms
Fully seam taped
Zip off helmet compatible hood
Brushed chin guard Bottom hem draw cord
Micro venting pit zips
Harness - pack compatible hand pockets
Pockets and pit zips feature YKK waterproof zippers
Removable elbow and shoulder pads
One-handed pull-cord hem construction
Women�s style specifi cally engineered for women

Cheers!

Peak Freaks - Himalayan Mountain Guides

PEAK FREAK EXPEDITIONS INC. Is a owner/operated 8000m Mountaineering and Trekking Company ran by Canadian Guide Operators Tim and Becky Rippel. Veteran's of six Mount Everest Expeditions from both the North and the South side and annual climbs on Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Pumori and base camp treks.Tim and Becky are very well known for their close connection with the Sherpa people. They are a small scale Himalayan Expedition Operator with big success.


Peak Freak's, a distinctive addition to the Nepalese world of treks and climbing expeditions. With over 16 years experience and 27 Himalayan expeditions introducing Nepal as their mountaineering destination, exploring old time-tested trails in more ways than one and developing lasting relationships between their guests and Sherpa families of friends is what the company claims to be adept at. Their clientele varies from the individual traveler to small groups of expedition base camp support trekkers, including associations, researchers and educational trips. The company has by far managed to generate a steadily increasing clientele from all over the world. Becky a 25 year International Group Travel specialists and Tim a 25 year Mountain Guide together working in Nepal since 1991. To learn more read their bios below.
Peak Freak Expeditions Inc. has a wide assortment of optional tour itineraries to enjoy while in Nepal that take visitors to areas including the Khumbu (iEverest Region), Chitwan Jungle Elephant Safaris, Wild Himalayan Rivers, Bungee Jumping, Ballooning, Tibet Overland Tours and Tibet Mountain Biking and Thailand. Some of their Canadian adventures include and adrenaline outdoor trips in Canada's Backcountry. Programs include: Heli Skiing Nelson, B.C., Chalet Rental at Whitewater Ski Area, Ski Tours, Mountain Safety Courses.

Powderfin logo photos....

At home in Bozeman, Montana

And abroad in the Ukraine...

Thanks for the submissions, keep em' coming!

Solio Solar Charger Video

The Solio Solar Charger is a hot item this season...enjoy your mobile devices and feel good about being green!

"Show Us Your Fin" Entries....

Powderfin in Bora Bora! Mt. Otemanu

Winter's on the way!

Yellowstone Confusion

This is how Moosealo's are made.

Powderfin is celebrating the end to a great summer with new fall gear arriving daily, and the “Show Us Your Fin” photo contest. We want to see the Powderfin logo in the craziest or most beautiful place you can find. Take a picture and send it in! The winner, as judged by the Powdefin staff, wins a ­­­­­$50 gift certificate. Second place receives a Jobi Gorillapod, and Third place gets a SIGG water bottle. We're gearing up for winter with technical outerwear from Sherpa Adventure Gear, Ground, Pacific Outdoor Equipment and many others. We also have great deals on gifts for the active family. Stop by and have a look!

Montana Madness

SIGG Water Bottles - Why you should have one

Swiss Engineered Water Bottles

Why use SIGG Water Bottles?



SIGG is ECO-FRIENDLY



Unlike disposable PET plastic water bottles that fill up our nation's
landfills, SIGG bottles are reusable and give consumers a simple way to
reduce unnecessary waste. It is estimated that over 2.5 million
plastic water bottles are thrown away EVERY HOUR! Check out this NPR.org
radio spot for more information. Why not re-use
a super strong, sylish, and environmentally healthy SIGG for your daily
hydration needs? It DOES make a difference!



Environmentally speaking, SIGG bottles get an A+. Not only are
they designed to be reusable, they are 100% recyclable at the end of
their very long lives. This is a far cry from single use,
disposable water bottles (PET plastic), which create millions of tons
of unnecessary waste each year. According to the Container
Recycling Institute, less than 15% of plastic water bottles used in the
U.S. are actually recycled. Most wind up in landfills where they
can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Besides helping to
reduce our reliance on petroleum-based PET bottles, SIGG USA donates 1%
of all sales to helping to preserve our environment.



SIGG is a pround member of 1% For The Planet,
an alliance of businesses who recognize their responsibility to
ensuring a healthy environment and donate at least 1 % of their annual
sales to environmental causes worldwide.



SIGG Water Bottles are Healthy and
Safe for the Body



The proprietary SIGG bottle lining is a water-based, non-toxic
coating that is baked into the interior walls and remains flexible and
crack resistant for the life of the bottle. Due to the finish of
the liner, there is much less chance for bacteria build-up with a SIGG
as opposed to plastic containers. The liner is taste-neutral and
resistant to fruit acids and energy drinks, ensuring that your drinks
taste like your drinks every time. SIGG bottles exceed FDA
requirements and have been independently tested to prove 0.0% leaching.



"Accroding to the results of our evaluation, use of a SIGG bottle does
;not add to the beverage any particulates and/or components which are
innocuous to human health." - Dr. Ulrich Nehring, European
Institute





SIGG Water Bottles are the Worlds
Toughest Water Bottles



About 20% lighter than a Lexan plastic bottle, SIGGs are incredibly
durable, virtually unbreakable. The folks at Backpacker Magazine
did an independent field test of the leading bottle brands.



The Test: A 100 pound cannon backed with golf balls and plenty of
muzzlepower near Ault, CO. They blasted 5 top brands, seeing
which ones held up the best.



The Result: Pure Carnage...When the smoke cleared all that
remained was twisted metal and plastic. Only two bottles survived
direct hits. One was the SIGG Traveler, which was deeply dented
but still usable. The other was the GSI Outdoors Lexan bottle,
which survived one direct hit, then shattered in round 2.



Gear Lab, We Break Things So You Don't Have To. Backpacker June,
2006



Swiss Quality



For nearly 100 years, SIGG has utilized Swiss precision and
craftmanship to become the world-wide market leader in premium water
bottles. Designed and manufactured in Switzerland from a single
piece of pure aluminum, each bottle is perfectly extruded for uniform,
seamless construction. The brilliant exterior of a SIGG is
created using a solvent-free, eco-friendly powder-based coating which
is baked on to create a vibrant finish.



SIGG is Sylish



SIGG bottles are beautifully designed, portable works of art
that are a perfect blend of function and fashion - that's why SIGG was
selected for entry into NY's Museum of Modern Art. New,
fashionable styles are introduced each year.

Buy SIGG Water Bottles at www.powderfin.com

Powermonkey - Press Release

LAUNCH OF POWERMONKEY-EXPLORER & SOLAR SLAVE

From the heart of Africa to the Hardanger Glacier, the powermonkey-eXplorer has proved to be an invaluable piece of kit, providing essential power for hand-held electronic gadgets. Now being launched in the USA, powermonkey-eXplorer, with its powerful solar slave, lets you charge wherever, whenever.

The Dilemma:
Your cell phone dies during a crucial call...

Your iPod runs out of juice just when your favorite song starts...
You miss a life-changing picture because the batteries in your digital camera are dead...

The Solution:
Quite simple really -- the powermonkey-eXplorer -- compatible with multiple hand-held devices including the majority of cell phones, iPods, MP3s, PDAs, and digital games, including the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS & DS-Lite. The powermonkey-eXplorer will recharge your devices, giving you 96 hours of standby on your cell, 40 hours on your iPod, 5 hours on your game console, 48 hours on your PDA and 6 hours on MP3 players.

The powermonkey-eXplorer will also power most standard digital cameras long enough for you to take up to 1,600 more pictures!

Ultra compact, tough, and powerful, the powermonkey-eXplorer is water resistant and made with a rubberized casing so it can take whatever life throws at it, yet it remains the lightest, most versatile charger available today - only 2.4 oz, yet with 2-3 times the power of the average cell phone battery.

Featuring an LCD screen that displays battery capacity and the level of charge, the powermonkey-eXplorer is equipped with sophisticated electronics to provide the right charge level for your device. The wall adapter (included) has interchangeable heads for the US, UK, Europe and Australia - so you can use it in over 150 countries around the world!

The solar panel draws power directly from the sun - giving you free power wherever you are. Make sure your powermonkey-eXplorer has full power at all times by charging it with the handy solar slave, which can be attached to a backpack, hung from a window, left in a car, or taken anywhere the sun shines!

You can even use the solar slave to recharge your device directly - so you have back up power at all times.

Availability:
The powermonkey-eXplorer is available is from stuffjunction.com, REI, Think Geek, J&R Music World, Cyberguys, X-Treme Geek, Magellan's, Earthtech, Powderfin and other world-class travel, adventure and electronics channels.

Spanish Creek Sunday

Last Sunday started with a brunch to beat all brunches. Over at the Gourmet Gas Station, between Four Courners and Gallatin Gateway, MT...they're putting out an insane amount of food for Sunday brunch buffet. I'm talkin' prime rib, baby-back ribs, an omelette bar, juevos rancheros, chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, muffins, fruit, pastries, pancakes, French Toast. I couldn't resist having ribs with eggs Benny...why not?

Unlike many brunch buffets, this one surprisingly had very good food. Everything I tasted was top-knotch, and I'll be back...no questions.

After fueling up...it was definitely time for a hike. A long hike. We headed up to Spanish Creek, accessible through several miles of Turner Enterprises' vast ranch. The bison were out and about that day cruising along the road, which was pretty cool to see.


We hiked up to Pioneer Falls, about 3.5 miles back. It's a great hike, pretty mellow, not much elevation gain...but gorgeous views of the Spanish Peaks. Pioneer Falls was worth the hike up...about a 40 footer. For me, it doesn't get much better than Montana in September.

The Pooperman

I happened to run into Bozeman's "Pooperman" last night, Andy. He owns an innovative local company that picks up dog poo all around Bozeman and the surrounding area. He also delivers dog holistic dog food.

We talked about the business, and the possibility of dog waste as becoming an important fuel source in the future. It's nice to see environmentally minded, forward thinking people getting involved in the local economy. There's no doubt a better "end" for dog waste, and Andy's figuring out the best solution for it here in Bozeman. Talk about a renewable resource! I don't foresee a dog doo-doo shortage any time soon.

Light Your Way

We just added some quality headlamps to our product mix at www.powderfin.com. Depending on your needs, you're likely to find one to fit the bill.

Perhaps the most impressive one in the mix is the Brunton L3 - 3 Watt Headlamp...

It's definitely more expensive than you're used to seeing a headlamp being, but here's why....

"The Brunton L3 is one of the brightest LED headlamps in the world. It features the first, true 3-watt Luxeon™ LED. Shine bright, white light out to an unprecedented 207 feet for up to 200 hours. Ergonomic battery compartments include four AA batteries, while an optional external C battery pack gives you the ultimate long lasting life when needed."

If you spend a lot of time using a product...time that you love with a product, then we feel it's worth the expense. While your buddies fool around with a dinky $9.00 headlamp that you have to pound against a rock to turn on...this thing will rip 200 feet of light for a week on one set of batteries!.


Brunton L3 - 3 Watt LED Camo Headlamp Features:

Weight: 6oz Output: 3W 3-Watt Luxeon LED 200 hours battery life Light distance to 207ft Four light modes for high output or conservative use Water-resistant Emergency flash mode Anti-reflective matte finish Includes external battery pack (holds four C batteries) Battery pack attaches to belt or pack

Yellowstone in September

Did a lap in the Park last weekend...saw some stuff I hadn't seen before which was nice. Norris Geysers, Petrified Tree, a wolf through a friendly visitors high powered scope. Nice little trip...not too crowded, and we got the first real chill of the year that night. It was pretty refreshing, actually, after the ultra-hot summer we've had.

We camped at Norris and were lucky enough to hear some bugling elk as well. A few pics from the weekend:

SteriPEN Testimonial

Alison Gannett – World Extreme Freeskiing Champion and Global Cooling Consultant

There are times in this world when a new product comes along that changes your life. The SteriPEN is such a product. What first enticed me was the weight and size – just mere ounces and about the size of three pens. Then I got hooked on the ease of use – just push a button, stir for a minute and voila – a clean liter of water. I used it in filthy water and never got sick, even in Pakistan. Once you get hooked on the ease of use, I started only carrying one liter of water in my pack side pocket, with the SteriPEN right next to it. Anytime I was thirsty, I just filled up, stired and was back on my way without even holding up team members. In addition to its use on my expeditions, I have now been using it Mountain Biking, just slipping it in my jersey pocket or hydration pack, saving pounds of weight of water on all day rides. It is so unobtrusive to use, that you can easily treat a glass of tap water at a restaurant while traveling in a third world country. Think of all the petroleum saved from plastic water bottles and the shipping of those bottles from places like Aspen and Fiji. To further help save the environment, SteriPen can be used with a solar reusable battery charger! thanks SteriPEN for helping save our snow and our planet! Alison Gannett"

Cocoon TravelSheets new to Powderfin.com

For the traveler who likes to bring along a little bit of familiar sleep comfort wherever they go, Cocoon's TravelSheets and Mummy Sleeping Bag Liners are indespensible.

They're also great if you travel a lot for work and simply have a phobia of hotel linens!

The most popular model is the Cocoon Coolmax TravelSheet, made with a soft and comofortable, yet techy Coolmax Coolmax moisture management fabric. Coolmax wicks moisture away from your body, keeping you warm and dry. If you're looking for sleeping bag liner to take with you to hot and humid destinations, the Cocoon Coolmax Travelsheet is an excellent choice. It's lightweight, wicks persperation, and easy to wash.

Coccon Coolmax Sleeping Bag Liner Features:

• Machine washable


• 10.8 oz, light and packable!


• 86" x 33"


• Reinforced gussets


• Pillow pocket built in

The next option is made from an amazing Silk and Cotton hybrid fabric with a little something special added called SeaCell....The Cocoon SeaCell/Cotton/Silk TravelSheet

The Cocoon SeaCell® TravelSheet is an ideal companion for any traveler. Adventure travelers will find it indispensable in hostels and “adventure hotels”, protecting them from questionable bedding while helping their skin and body to heal naturally. Business travelers will find it just as useful keeping the harsh chemicals used in today's hotel laundry off their skin while helping the skin and body to heal from the stress of the day.

In cosmetics, it is used to improve the blood supply of your skin and activate your skin cell metabolism thus promoting skin renewal. Moreover, seaweed-based products help to heal skin inflammations caused by infections or allergic reactions. At the same time, it protects your skin against free radicals and harmful environmental impacts. The second fiber found in the new sheets is SeaCell® Active. SeaCell® Active- is a cellulose fiber with incorporated seaweed and silver ions. Even in small concentrations, silver is anti-microbially effective. The antibacterial and fungicidal effects of SeaCell® Active were tested and confirmed by the renowned Hohenstein Research Institute. Additional tests carried out at Hohenstein also show that the positive properties of SeaCell® Active fibers remain unchanged even after many washings. The antibacterial and fungicidal properties of SeaCell® Active make it a perfect fabric for extended trips or trips to humid climates.

We would have never thought that fabrics could do so much, but it's been tested and it makes sense?

So why sleep on rough, nasty hotel sheets when you could be healing your sunburn and sleeping soundly at the same time?

Both Coolmax and SeaCell products are also available in Mummy Liner Sizes....