Tag Archive for ‘Gregory Mountain Products’ at Gregory Goes There

Tag Archive for 'Gregory Mountain Products'

Up and away in Park County, Colorado

By Christine Rasmussen

If you’re jonesin’ to enjoy the remote, isolated feel that a Colorado 14ner can offer, but aren’t into heavy logistics and the agitation of trail traffic, explore the southern section of the Tenmile-Mosquito Range in Park County, Colorado.

Park County is home to super photogenic, archetypal peaks that usually hold snow on their very tops year-round (much prettier live than on “South Park,” which showcase these mountains in the town’s crudely drawn backdrop).

My own Tenmile-Mosquito adventure entailed summiting Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Bross in one day. Because the peaks of Lincoln, Bross, Democrat and Cameron are situated relatively close to each other, the group is a common destination for ardent 14ner baggers who like high returns on their climbing investments.

Yet while the ridgelines connect, hikers don’t so much. There are five trailhead options to access this group, and my friend Alison, Sierra-doggie and I were the only hikers departing from Quartzville Creek Trailhead. The fairly-well maintained access road to Quartzville Creek (Forest Service 437, off Park County 4, off Colorado 9) goes up pretty high, so we were walking above treeline in no time. We saw very few people and lots of bright, petite wildflowers.

We hit Mt. Lincoln first, the highest peak in the Tenmile-Mosquito. Sitting atop it, I was reminded of why I loved the drive from Breckenridge, just north of Park County, to Alma, the highest incorporated town in Colorado at 10,578 feet. From that vantage point, I saw all the peaks I usually gawk at on that drive, as well as scores of tiny, ice-blue lakes cupped in countless basins.

Next, we tramped along the ridgeline to the rotund peak of Mt. Bross, whose flat summit was ideal for throwing sticks for Sierra, sprawling out, and eating lunch without a deluge of 14ner zealots asking to take their photo.

*For this type of hike, Christine recommends the Gregory Wasatch (12 liters)/Navarino (11 liters) as the perfect daypack to summit a Colorado 14ner. The pack is just the right size for a water bladder, rain jacket, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, small first aid kit and small camera.

Recommended maps: Alma, Climax, Pike National Forest.

Published

Lauren

on August 5, 2010

in Gregory Culture

. 0 Comments

Bill AB 1998 is nearing a Senate vote

Being headquartered in California’s capitol, Sacramento, it’s disconcerting to hear we Californians use approximately 19 billion single-use plastic bags each year and that less than 5% of all single-use plastic bags are recycled. As a result, those plastic bags end up polluting our oceans and communities.

In response, a bill called AB 1998 has been making it’s way to the Senate since Assemblywoman Julia Brownley introduced it this past February. AB 1998 looks to ban single-use plastic bags in California and is currently facing the state Senate. If the bill passes, California will become the first state to ban single-use plastic bags. A floor vote is projected to happen by the end of August, where the bill is expected to see resistance. In that vein, many organizations like the Sierra Club are encouraging people to send their Senator a letter of support for the passage of AB 1998.

So if you believe in banning the plastic bag, go to the Sierra Club’s website and find out how to contact your Senator. Also, you can keep up AB 1998’s status on the Senate floor HERE.

Published

Lauren

on July 29, 2010

in Outdoor News

. 0 Comments

Gregory Z35 on the Today Show!

It’s not everyday Gregory Mountain Products is recognized by the likes of Matt Lauer and Ann Curry, so we’re psyched to the share excitement with the Gregory Goes There community.

Backpacker Magazine’s, Kristin Hostetter, appeared on the Today Show this past Saturday to give a run-down of the must-have camping gear this summer and featured the Gregory Z35.

Big thanks to Kristin and the rest of the crew over at Backpacker Magazine. We’re honored the z35 is considered one of your ‘favorite backpacks.’

Published

Lauren

on July 9, 2010

in Uncategorized

. 0 Comments

Rock Your Socks Off: The ungodly godlike ascension of tube socks

Climbing fashion has been to hell and back. White T-shirts and canvas knickers to impossibly clashed neon spandex cover a major spectrum in climbing couture. So, when the recent thread appeared on SuperTopo.com on the proliferation of tube socks in the late 70s and early 80s, (most certainly from California climbers) it came with some speculation. Seeing those images is the visual equivalent of hearing some long lost pop hit from adolescence that takes you back to a certain moment, a certain mindset from that time. And like the song, tube socks are, well, dorky, but that’s the draw.

There’s something genuine, if not innocent, in the appearance of tube socks. Photos in “Stonemasters” of Bachar, John long, Jim Collins and their ilk climbing hard are a sight to be seen. At once, it sets off the imagination. But tube socks betray the notion of the hard man climber. White socks with colored bands pulled up past the calf? And, in those shorts? They bare more resemblance to corn-fed jocks from the Midwest than iconoclasts from Cali. In those photos I see dirtbag luminaries exploring the unknown vertical wilderness. But I also imagine them somewhat nerdy, awkward and otherwise completely harmless. “No change of clothes? No sweat. As soon as I’m finished sending this sheer rock face, I’m all set for shakes at the roller rink.”

Published

Jeff

on July 8, 2010

in Gregory Culture

. 2 Comments

Gregory spotted at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival

While ‘tarp hoping’ around the Telluride Music Festival during the Mumford and Sons show a few weeks ago, I met a girl named, Sam, rockin’ the Gregory Miwok in style. I got to talking with her about her pack and she enthusiastically said, “oh ya, I have a Gregory pack in every size. I love them. This one is my go-to concert/festival pack.”

She then proceeded to tell me that she carried her Deva 60 around South America for year and had no issues with the pack, even noting that it still looks like new. Seeing her excitement for Gregory packs, I asked her if I could take a photo for our blog. Luckily, she didn’t look at me like I had ten heads and awkwardly skirt off saying she needed to meet someone at the hula-hoop coral. No, she was gracious enough to pose for this photo to left, so I could share with GregoryGoesThere of yet another awesome Gregory packs customer and fan.

It’s like Wayne Gregory said, ‘When you see someone wear one of your packs on the street or in the mountains, it’s pretty dang cool. That never gets old.”

Published

Lauren

on June 29, 2010

in Gregory Community

. 0 Comments

Flashpacking

When I first heard the term ‘flashpacking,’ I thought of fastpacking at night with some sort of flashlight contraption. Ya…it turns out the term has nothing to do with flashlights or fastpacking, but more to do with the being a ‘flashy’ backpacker.

There’s a new generation of traveling backpackers who are neither hairy nor living on dime. No, this kind of backpacking requires a little more $$ and little more flash. What do I mean by flash? Well let’s just say they expect a little more TLC from their hostels and their pack isn’t holding only a t-shirt and a couple pairs of shorts. Rather, these backpackers have more than a few outfits and a pack full of the latest in electronics.

Scoffing at the idea? Well, according to a 2006 Hostelworld study, twenty-one percent of people carry laptops, 54 percent carry an mp3 player, 83 percent carry a mobile phone and 68 percent travel carry a digital camera.

So as it were, most of us are probably considered, ‘flashpackers.’ I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say that every backpacker with a camera should be considered flashy, but you get the point. Either way, flashpacker or not, we could all use the reminder to simplify and lighten the load because that’s what it’s all about, right?

Via How to Travel the World

Published

Lauren

on June 24, 2010

in Outdoor News and Uncategorized

. 0 Comments

Interview with Black Diamond and Gregory CEO

Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond and Gregory Mountain Products, explains the acquisition, the motivation behind it and what it means for both brands.

Published

Lauren

on June 22, 2010

in Gregory Company News

. 0 Comments

National Trails Day is tomorrow

Tomorrow is National Trails Day, which means A. all the National Parks and Refuges are free this weekend, and B. today is National Donut Day!

A win-win situation, really. Today, you can eat all the donuts you want, without guilt, knowing you’ll be hitting the trails this weekend. And besides needing to hike off those deep-fried calories, here’s why you should get out and celebrate our trails regardless.

In 1987, Ronald Reagan put out a report called the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, which recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on a trail. This report evolved into a cause known as ‘Trails for All Americans,’ which became the American Hiking Society’s impetus for launching National Trails Day in 1993.

With 200,000 miles of trails across the U.S., a thousand+ events in all 50 states, and free entrance into our National Parks, you should have plenty of reasons to get out and celebrate.

Published

Lauren

on June 4, 2010

in Outdoor News

. 0 Comments

Rub some dirt on it

According to the research presented at the recent 110th General Meeting of the American Society of Microbiology in San Diego, exposure to a specific bacteria in the environment may not only improve mood, but also intelligence.

People who spend time outdoors likely ingest a natural bacterium found in soil called, ‘Mycobaterium vacce,’ which is believed to have antidepressant qualities. Research studies on M. vacce showed that when mice were injected with this specific bacteria, it stimulated the growth of neurons that resulted in increased levels of serotonin and decreased anxiety.

Because Serotonin plays a role in learning, researchers then began wondering if M. vacce could improve learning behaviors as well. So colleges Dorothy Matthews and Susan Jenks of The Sage Colleges in New York conducted research by feeding the mice live bacteria and assessed their ability to navigate the maze compared to mice without the bacteria in their system.

The result? The M. vacce mice navigated the maze twice as fast and with less demonstrated anxiety than the ones without the bacteria. In a second experiment, the bacteria was removed from mice’s diet and while the mice ran the maze slower than when they had ingested the bacteria, they were, on average, still faster than the control mice.

So what’s the take away? This means people who spend their time outdoors (ahem, Gregory Mountain Products and friends) are naturally more intelligent and happier. Not like we didn’t know that already, but this discovery might just get us out of cleaning the camp cookware…’just rub some dirt on it!’

Published

Lauren

on May 27, 2010

in Outdoor News

. 2 Comments

What up, Kid!? Joe Kinder makes the cover of Climbing Magazine

Gregory would like to give a Big Shout Out to one of our ambassadors, Joe Kinder, for his latest accomplishment of landing the cover of Climbing Magazine’s current issue: the 2010 Photo Annual. Joe has always gone above and beyond for Gregory Mountain Products and this is just one of the many reasons why we’re so proud to have Joe ‘kind kid’ Kinder a part of the Gregory crew.

Congrats, Joe!

Published

Lauren

on May 25, 2010

in Athletes

. 0 Comments

Gregory Goes There