2020 Awards

And the winner is...

Patagonia Strider Pro Pants 

How Patagonia's Trail Running Kit Found its Way into my Pack This Year

Trail running above tree line or in desert winters? Have you seen those YouTubes? Those people are crazy. LOL. 

But the sport's popularity launched a new line of really great products from Patagonia in 2020. 

This year's Black Sheep award ("Black Sheep" was the trail name used by my dog Ben and me on the AT back in the Pleistocene) goes to the Strider Pro Pants. So simple, so functional. I don't think I've worn anything like them in years. And now I find myself wearing them anywhere.

Strider Pros are featherweight bottom layers you can pull on over your shorts and shoes to provide instant protection from the elements. The next to skin comfort and breathability are so good, these have earned a place in my pack every day, in every endeavor. Like the Houdini line, they pack down so small that the biggest problem may be their getting lost in your pack. But they're better than Houdinis because they never stick to your skin. They never feel plasticky or clammy.

Check out the athlete-inspired designs for Patagonia's entire High Endurance Kit collection.

Strider Pros drape beautifully; not too hot in summer, but not too flimsy in winter. In camp on a weeklong BWCA trip, they're all I needed after a long day of paddling. They protected bare legs from sun and wind and kept the bugs off on swampy portages and at sundown. They shed enough water to keep you dry when you're dashing for shelter in a squall. Then they dry in a jiffy. The elastic waist stays put but never binds. They're so comfortable you could sleep in them, which makes them closer to pajamas or sweat pants than traditional "wind pants." From the understated color to thoughtful details, like the finish on the burly lower leg snaps, they're good looking enough for street wear when you're traveling ultralight. And they wash well. Five stars. Well done Patagonia.

Scroll down for more standouts of 2020... 

Despatches: Confessions of a 2020 Nomad

2019 was the year of the digital Nomad, and I did my best to keep up. But that was before Covid. If you’re like me, you took "social distancing" guidelines literally and probably tried to spend as much of 2020 outdoors as you possibly could. 

2020 probably won’t be remembered for ease of starting new relationships, but this has also been a year when I rediscovered an old love—canoe touring.

Rekindling my first love: adventures on the water 

In July, I enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime with two childhood pals from summer camp days in Wisconsin. We needed a fourth paddler and wanted a seasoned guide for the ambitious route we decided on. Our choice of Ely Outfitting’s Boundary Waters Guide Service turned out to be a good one. Putting in at Moose River, we paddled in tandem canoes for Lac Lacroix and Tiger Bay to follow the voyageur route through Bottle Passage to Curtain Falls on a 6 day, 65-mile, 16-portage tour. 

Along the way we visited petroglyphs, fished and swam on crystal clear days, spied mink and eagles, were lulled to sleep by loon calls and beaver-tail slaps. We looked up at wondrous night skies, ate well, drank better, and we even shlepped a bottle of tequila for celebrating a birthday at the "round table" rock on our last night. It was a magical trip where old friends reconnected to kindle new friendships, made even more special by the sense of fragility brought by Covid. Being on the water was a healing balm like no other.

Saving the Boundary Waters

It's always interesting returning to your car after a week in the wilderness. Finding it there is the first rush of euphoria. Finding it undented and not yet colonized by mice is the next big bonus. And for a touchless orgasm, push the ignition button and hear the engine turn over! There's nothing like it. Not till your hot shower, anyway. But you've still got more than an hour's drive into town.

As the girls made a beeline for the Dairy Queen, which passes for gourmet eats in Ely, Minnesota, I put myself on the waitlist for a used solo canoe and planned to return to BWCA in October.

Meanwhile, I became active in community efforts to stop plans for sulfide-ore copper mining that threatens to destroy the Boundary Waters Wilderness and cripple hundreds of species that depend on it. Grass roots protestors made themselves heard. While other pristine habitats received death blows this Fall under Trump administration sellouts, Minnesota voters pushed back. They turned out in record numbers to send a clear message in the November election. They want to protect the Boundary Waters, home to a struggling Native American community and also one of Earth’s top 20 darkest places. So science--cosmology--is yet another important reason to save the Boundary Waters.

By year-end, decision makers will have begun reviewing the rules that decide where mines can be safely situated. It’s a promising start to what will, no doubt, be a long campaign. Ongoing support to ensure permanent protection of this incredible ecosystem will be needed in 2021. I hope you’ll keep this organization in your sights and join me in supporting their efforts. 

 

Girl From the North Country 

I spent more time on the Boundary Waters in the Fall, buffeted by gusty rain and serenaded by swans on nights that fell below freezing. You’d have thought I’d have been miserable, but it was exhilarating, learning how to manage the featherlight and straight-tracking Wenonah Prism in a variety of conditions. I did discover, for instance, that the standard bucket seat is miserable in the rain. Feels like you're sitting in a puddle. I made a mental note to save weight and go back to the old-fashioned bench seat.  

A few days later, luck swung in my favor, and on returning to civilization I learned that my number had come up for the canoe of my dreams. I could take it out of service for a fraction of the cost of a new Prism. The no-frills layup is almost zero maintenance: perfect for beginning soloists. So, as winter snows began to fall on the streets of Ely, I headed for Lake Superior with a 16-1/2 foot wind sock strapped to the roof rack, a little sad to leave, but with dreams of returning when the ice melts. 

Maybe 2021 will be the year I coax my landlubbing family members out on the water with me!???

2020 Standouts

Icebreaker does it again with Cool-Lite

Of all the excellent kit that found its way into my pack this year, another new piece stood out from the premium merino wool specialist Icebreaker. It’s the best wool t-shirt I’ve ever owned: featherlight, soft, warm and stylish. Icebreaker’s 130g Cool-Lite blend of merino and synthetics is that good.

Even on days of 90 degree heat, my t-shirt kept me comfortable and never stank in a week of paddling and portages. I find myself wearing these well-draping shirts day in, day out, year round. The long sleeved version is a great cold weather cycling piece. Plus, Icebreaker merino travels beautifully. For those of you wondering "why not buy SmartWool?" there's just no comparison. Caveat: if you don't like trim fits with a second-skin feel, you should always size up with Icebreaker.

Runner up: Exped dry packs

It’s hard to pick just one runner up this year.  

After all, this was the year when I bought my first hardtail cross country bike (from Scott) and took it everywhere on a game-changing, hitch-mounted, affordable tray rack with built in cable locks (from Kuat). I’ve got nothing but good things to say about that setup. Ditto a pair of cold weather cycling tights from REI that I find myself wearing whenever I have the chance—hiking, paddling, you name it. And where would I be without my Primaloft lobster-claw riding gloves? For cycling in temps below 40F, turns out that these are a must have. 

But this year I’m going to go with a surprisingly elegant luggage solution for solo paddlers. The Swiss-designed products from Exped continue to exceed expectations as the company branches out from what they’re best known for—their amazing insulated sleep pads. 

Exped now makes a dizzying array of stripped-down rucksacks with roll-top closures. These are the best-made dry packs I’ve ever seen, with thoughtful details in abundance, and they are very comfortable to wear. Ergonomic laser-cut design brings the load close to your spine without the need for suspension straps. And bear vaults can still fit inside! I love the rugged and elegant Torrent series.

 

These burly packs with removable, padded hip belts come in 3 sizes—great for trimming loads in my canoe no matter how long my trip. I love how easy they are to work with on portages, from the multiple closure options to the grab handles to the gazilion lash points. 

For travel and summer trips, the Cloudburst series offers ultralight protection for your valuables.

Exped stops at nothing to ensure that in a capsize, your gear will absolutely stay totally dry. So for that sense of total confidence that great dry bags always lend, this year’s runner up gear award goes to Exped for its packs!

See you next year! We can always dream. And when all else fails, get out there!