Outdoor Retailer Show 1/23/11

Photo's from the Utah Winter Outdoor Retail Show.

MSR - Dragon Tent


MSR - Hoop Trail Tent


Nemo


Nemo tent 1


Nemo tent 2 - the little bag by the front entry is that size of the tent when it's packed up.


Easton Tent - I don't recall the the name of the tent but Easton had tent poles that were half the weight of aluminum tent poles.


JakPak - a tent, jacket and sleeping bag all roled up into one. Don't know how practical it really would be but interesting none the less.


Tough Stake - pretty cool stakes that can be used in the snow or sand only and they come in a number of different sizes.










PocketToolX - pretty nice little multi-tool that even TSA will allow you to take on a plane.










Freeline - basically a skateboard without the board.






Heavy Duty Poop - probable the funniest thing at the show next to the individual in a green full body suit. They were giving out free samples of the this stuff and it's been used at my place of work since Monday and it does do what it is advertised to do.


Primus - camp stoves.


Spot - really the only Spot/GPS booth at the entire show.


Backcan - This is a pretty neat little item. It circulates a pound of water (yes I said 1 pound) though coils in a sleeping pad. The unit is supposed to run for 8-9 hrs on a single tank of fuel.






Keen Bike


Random Lego display of a bottom of a shoe.


Special thanks to Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters for the show pass.

Pony Express Trail to Indain Springs 1/15/11

On 1/15/2011 the Wasatch Cruisers put on a run to Indain Springs off from the Pony Express Trail here in Utah. This was a great excuse to escape the poor air quality of the Wasatch Front and to relieve some cabin fever. The plan for the day was to head out along the Old Pony Express route and head off to Indain Springs or at least that was the plan. The route along the main road was still covered in frozen snow but posed no problems. The trail to Indain Springs on the other hand was still covered in the snow and ice and the only tracks that were visible where from the last individaul who was out there that were now covered with a layer of snow.

The trail wound though cedars, along the bottom of valleys and along the ridge line of the surrounding mountains. One particular hill gave myself a few others some problems as you had a approximately 90* turn and then up the hill. The first two vehicles up had to take mutiple attempts to make it up. Unfortunately, for me I had some semi-bald tires that didn't want to hook after about 5 attempts and little push from the group I made it up and over. All the vehicles that followed made it up with no problems.

Shortly after this area (about 1/2 mile) we reached a stopping point as the trail got a little narrower and wouldn't allow any jocking of vehicles if something happened. So the decision was made to stop and turn back around but not before having lunch. After we all got our fill of food and each others company we all headed back out. We the group reached the main route we all split up to go our separate ways. Some went home, some tarried to char more and others went off exploring some more.

Overall, this was a great day to get out and enjoying the surrounding area.













View from the Simpson Springs post


Group shot


The old Simpson Spring post


On the trail heading to Indain Springs


At this point the photo's have a blue tint to them as I was trying out some of the preset settings on my camera. Unfortunately, I'm still new to my camera and didn't realize that the 'Snow Mode' on the camera would add a blue tint to everything.

Live and learn I guess.





Old storage house where we stopped for lunch









Beyond were we stopped








Back out on the trail heading for home