Trailsloggers

Picchetti Ranch

TrailSlogger — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:25:02 +0000

If your looking for a quick little getaway for the family, I recommend Picchetti Ranch. Picchetti Ranch is located just a few miles up the road from Stevens Creek Reservoir. The trails here are not very challenging so they are ideal for that less than eager hiker. The most common hike takes you around a seasonal pond. This whole area is a birding hotspot. The pond will usually provide an ideal resting spot for waterfowl early in the year and the surrounding scrub oak habitat is home to Red Tail Hawks and whole host of song birds. The old ranch house is now home of Picchetti Winery. The winery host tastings daily for a $5 fee. The winery also features a wonderful picnic area to unwind after your hike. The local population of wild Peacocks are also very popular with the kids. Fore more info go to www.openspace.org

Patagonia Capilene

Hunter — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:00:30 +0000

It’s cold outside. Are you staying warm while you play in the snow and mountains this season? If yes, good for you! If you’re shivering a tad more than you’re enjoying I have a secret to share: Patagonia Capilene.

Capilenes are Patagonia’s line of baselayers. They are 100% polyester of which at least 50% is recycled. Some are 100% recycled! This is a highly breathable, quick drying material. They range in weight from the silky Capilene 1 to the cozy yet light Capilene 4. Cap 1 is so light that it can be worn alone in hot weather. It also offers 15 UPF sun protection. Cap 2 is a little heavier weight baselayer that will keep you dry and warm during breezier winter days. I wear this weight most often. Cap 3 is ideal for moderate exertion in cool to cold weather. Cap 4 is excellent for stop-and-go activities in cold weather. I always have on my Cap 4 ¼ zip on frosty winter mornings at the campsite.

Also, due to Patagonia’s awesomeness, they established the Common Threads Garment Recycling Program in 2005. Originally, this program was meant solely for the recycling and reuse of Patagonia Capilene garments. In addition to Capilenes, you can now recycle Patagonia fleece, Polartec fleece of any brand, Patagonia T-shirts, and any other product with the Common Threads tag. The recycled garments are reincarnated into another high-quality Patagonia item. You can recycle your garments here at Trailsloggers!

Come into Trailsloggers today and invite Capilenes on all your adventures this season. Don’t forget to bring in your worn out Capilenes, and allow them to be reborn into something new!

Trailsloggers Recommended Toys For The Holidays

TrailSlogger — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:25:56 +0000

We have a great selection of intelligent toys and projects for the youngsters this season. I have put together a small list of some of our recommendations for this season. Sprig is a brand new company that blends recycled plastic with recycled wood to create a durable toy that actually smells like wood. Green Toys are manufactured here in California from recycled milk containers. The magnetic Go games and professor Noggin card games make for great travel fun for the entire family.

Ages 3 & up

Go Magnetic Travel Games $9.99

Soda Bottle Bird feeder $10.99

Green Toys Chef Set $14.99

Sprig Eco Trucks $14.99

Green Toys Recycling Truck $24.99

Sprig Dino Adventure Rig $29.99

Ages 7 & up

Natural Owl Pellet $5.99

Professor Noggin’s Wildlife Card Game $9.99

Green Science Windmill Generator $12.99

Green Science Weather Station $12.99

Build Your Own Nature Kaleidoscope $12.99

Hiking in the Fall

TrailSlogger — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:25:11 +0000

Fall is a fantastic time to go hiking. Parks that are packed during the summer are now easily accessed. Areas such as the Pinnacles, Almaden Quicksilver, or Henry Co Park often get a bad rap for being too hot an unbearable during the summer are ideal to visit during this time of year. However, there are a few precautions that need to be taken. The days are much shorter, so allow yourself enough time to get back to the car before dark. Your watch is your friend. Don’t focus on the miles, but rather the time. I always like to be back at the car by 5:00pm. So if you started your hike at noon, you should turn around no later 2:30. The weather this time of year can also be unpredictable. Always carry a waterproof jacket and some basic survival gear (fire starter, water purifier, space blanket, extra food and water).

Homage to Camp 4

Hunter — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:57:17 +0000

“Who are those dirty people in that crowded campground with so much stuff?”

I have heard Yosemite visitors wondering this as they hike past Camp 4. Well, let me explain…

If rock climbing is something that interests you then Camp 4 can be thought of as a historical landmark. Yosemite itself is rich with climbing history. Many renowned climbers made legendary ascents on the park’s towering granite walls while making a home of Camp 4. Royal Robbins, whose line of outdoor apparel is at Trailsloggers, is one of these climbing legends.

During the 1940’s and 50’s climbers used Camp 4 boulders to sharpen their skills while not on the big walls. At this time, bouldering was thought of as practice. During the 50’s and 60’s bouldering started to be taken more seriously as a sport. Bouldering in Yosemite originated in Camp 4. Bouldering is a style of rock climbing that doesn’t use ropes and is most commonly done on rocks under 20 feet high. However, highball boulder problems can be 20+ feet. Super fun!

Here is a picture of me scrambling in Yosemite. I’m wearing a parachute on my back in case I slip off a cliff. Not really, not really! It’s a crash pad used for bouldering. The pad is put at the base of a rock to protect me from a fall. Come to the Valley and try it! I’ll spot you.

Owl Pellets

TrailSlogger — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:52:35 +0000

Owl pellets are a natural occurring byproduct of an owls digestive system. Owls eat a lot of things that they can’t naturally digest. Things like fur, feathers,claws, teeth, and bones are typically regurgitated in a pellet for about 6 to 10 hours after conception. These pellets are easily dissected and can be a lot of fun as peer into the diet of an owl. If you can’t find your own wild owl pellets, don’t fret you can also purchase them. Trailsloggers sells packaged owl pellets that include some basic tools and a bone identification chart. Dissecting these pellets is a lot of fun for the entire family.

Tired of Smores?

TrailSlogger — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:41:14 +0000

If your tired of smores but still crave a fireside treat while camping, I may have the solution for you. On a recent trip, I was introduced to mountain eclairs. First you need to widdle the bark off of a fairly substantial stick. The diameter of the stick determines the size of the pastry cavity. Once your stick is smooth, go ahead and heat it over the campfire being sure not to catch it on fire. Then wrap some Pillsbury croissant dough around the stick to form a tube. It is important that the stick is hot so the dough cooks from the inside as well. be sure to keep rotating you stick over the fire to make sure the pastry cooks evenly. When the pastry has come to a golden brown, gently slide it off you stick. Now you are ready to fill it. I have seen pudding and frosting used, but really almost any sweat will do.

Rick Steves Convertible

TrailSlogger — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:32:13 +0000

I can’t stop raving about my Rick Steves Convertible luggage. This is the ultimate in a carry-on bag. It has several pockets that allow you to really organize your packing. The bag itself only weighs about 3lbs unloaded. With the new weight restrictions it is key to have a lightweight pack that can take a heavy load. I tend to use the back pack straps the most often, but this pack also comes with a traditional padded sling. The back pack straps come in handy when I am forced to wheel my wife’s or children’s luggage. If you need a little extra room on the return flight, this bag can expand to 2,646 cubic inches.

New Balance MW955GT Country Walker

TrailSlogger — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:05:36 +0000

I just recently got back from a trip to the Pacific Northwest and Canada. I wanted to bring one pair of shoes that would do everything from casual dining to light hiking. The New Balance Country Walker fit the bill perfectly. The classic chocolate brown color went well with all my casual travel clothing. The tread was more than adequate for all of our trail walking and the Gore Tex liner kept my foot dry on some very wet days. This shoe was so supportive that I was able to leave my custom insoles at home.

Traveling With a GPS

TrailSlogger — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:11:12 +0000

I know many of you probably have a portable GPS in your car for getting around town, but have you thought of taking it with you on vacation? Last year I had a customer take their GPS to Europe and raved about it’s accuracy. So when it came to vacation time this year, we took our GPS along with us to the Pacific Northwest. For a week we were able to successfully navigate Northern Washington and Canada without a bit a trouble at all. Removing one more stresser certainly makes travel that much more enjoyable.