Big Bend Photos

With the impending move of Gossamer Gear operations to Austin, Texas, Glen decided it would be a good time to check out the operations center, meet the new employees, and have some face time with the new President Grant Sible. And what better way to spend time strategizing, than on a backpacking trip? Grant and Glen were joined by one of the new equity partners who flew in for the trip (Hiker X).

The trip got off to a rocky start when Glen's sleeping bag didn't show up, but luckily a local Gossamer Gear customer was able to lend Glen a bag from one of his collection. No rain was projected for the trip dates in Big Bend, and the temperatures were anticipated to be relatively balmy (by Big Bend standards, not San Diego guidelines), ranging from the 30's at night to the 80's by day. There were be no reliable water sources along our 35-mile route, and the elevation gain would be signficant, up to the south rim, down to the desert, then back up to the trailhead.

	There was the opportunity to cache water about 8 miles from the end of the trip. Since it was now a bear box, we figured that we might as well cache some food also. Here Grant is deciding what food he can wait for, with his X-Pac Mariposa sitting on the curb.		One thing you know will happen when you go on a trip with Glen is the trailhead weigh-in. Here Grant is weighing Glen's Whisper, which was relatively light, due to the fact Glen was carrying 5 liters of water in a new prototype "Speeder Belt" around his waist, which was weighed separately (no, it was not counted as a "worn" item). Gear spreadsheets are fine and dandy, but you always want to know the actual weight you ended up taking on the trip. We weighed 'base' weights without food and water, and total pack weights. Pack weights were (base/total): Glen - 5 lb. 5 oz./23 lb. 3 oz.; Grant - 6 lb. 15 oz./27 lb. 12 oz.; Hiker X - 6 lb. 1 oz./21 lb. 5 oz. Glen's Whisper for this trip was modified with a pad holder and side pockets.
	On the way up to the south rim, looking back down through "The Window" at the desert floor, our destination for most of the next day.		Grant putting it into gear heading up to the south rim. Since we started in the afternoon, we had to push a little to get to the assigned camping spot on the south rim if we wanted to have a view in the fading daylight. This was Grant's first trip with his prototype X-Pac Mariposa.
	The trail ran alongside several mini-meadows, part of a rapidly changing ecosystem, going from the rocks and scrub brush of the desert to the trees at the higher elevations. Here the afternoon sun glows on the native grasses.		Glen enjoys the shade, a preview of cooler temperatures coming soon. Check out the Speeder Belt holding most of the water for the next day. A brainchild of longtime ultralight mentor Read "Speeder" Miller, this simple belt allows hikers to extend the range of the Whisper or G5 pack for trips in drier climates. Glen set out with 5 of his 9 liters in the Speeder Belt, and was amazed at how the water around the hips was almost unnoticable. It made the Whisper feel really light! The view from the south rim was fantastic, even in the fading light. After Grant and Glen cooked dinner on their Fire-fly stoves (Hiker X was going non-cook to save weight), we walked out to the edge of the rim, and the stars and Milky Way were magnificent! Grant was trying out the prototype Wedge for shelter, Glen was using a prototype 2-person shelter, and Hiker X settled down into his Spinnshelter. Glen was testing out a sub 4 oz. air mattress from www.balloonbed.com, so he was living large for a 5 lb. 5 oz. base pack weight.
	The next morning started early, since we were going to be in the desert most of the day. We descended from the rim to the desert floor. Much of the trail was in and out of dry streambeds, which afforded some much-appreciated shade during the early morning.		As dusk fell on the second day, we found a small level area to stop in for the night. Here Grant is looking at Glen's prototype 2-person spinnaker tent, but this project is not far enough along yet for disclosure, so that portion of the photo was cut out. Glen made a recipe from www.freezerbagcooking.com for dinner, Cranberry-Chicken-Rice, but since he used freeze-fried tofu chunks instead of packing in a can of chicken, and forgot to put in the chicken bouillon, it was pretty bland - operator error.
	With a cloudless sky and no rain in the forecast, we took the tent down and decided to watch stars instead. With his borrowed sleeping bag on the polycryo ground cloth in the foreground, Glen prepares for a chilly night by clipping his prototype spinnaker chaps onto his shorts, and then pulling on his wool tights over the chaps. This way the chaps serve as a vapor barrier for maximum heat retention.		We're on the trail before the sun peeks over the hills, eager to hoof it to our cached water and food before it gets too hot.
	Grant does some thermal management with a fetching rendition of a hiker's capri pant.		Grant and Glen at the water cache. Grant was suffering from dehyration, and decided to hitch a ride back to the trailhead. Glen and Hiker X chugged a bunch of water, loaded up and headed out the final 8 miles.
	Glen's smiling because the climb is almost done. The view behind him gives a feel for the punishing ascent from the desert floor. Luckily, the packs by this point were almost weightless. Glen used the SportEyz for this trip because he forgot his expensive Maui Jim titanium sunglasses. In spite of very warm temperatures, the SportEyz stayed comfortable, and the UV-A and UV-B protection was a must.

Gear Testing/Business Meeting trip, Big Bend National Monument