Nemo
Big Agnes
Osprey
Gregory
Western Sleeping Bags
Katadyn
MSR
Black Diamond
Kleen Kanteen
Silva
Pacific Outdoor
Nalgene
Camelbak
Jetboil
Steripen
Adventure Med
Ruff Wear
Pelican Boxes
Sea to Summit
Granite Gear
Thermarest
Victorinox
Leatherman
Alite Chairs
Crazy Creek
LaFuma
and more...
Gear Review
Fozzils.
Think flat pack flat is Fozzils' philosophy. These cups, bowls, and spoons are a great idea. Similar to orgami, these utensils fold & snap together easily to create some really fun camping utensils. And since they unsnap and open flat they are super easy to clean and pack and slide into your pack. Ski Haus has been selling Fozzils for over three years and we have not seen any snaps fail or any utensil fail to perform. The bright colors will add some pop to any campsite. We like to eat and when it comes containing our food we like Fozzils!
Trail Update
Flat Top Mountain.
If you want to gain some altitude without having to work too hard at and don't have alot of time...Flat Top Mountain is your hike. From Stillwater Reservoir, the major access into the Flat Tops, cross over the damn, turn left on the Derby Trail, and start gaining elevation. Trail conditions are ideal. Dry and fast and beautiful. Flat Top Mountain is a crazy peak with a very broad and wide open tilted up plain to the top. Sound of Music comes to mind... Do be aware of fast moving thundershowers 'cause you are mightly exposed up there with no where to hide. Take some extra water for your best friend since it is a long time between water crossings.
Gear Review
Jetboil Personal Cook System
We like simple and reliable. What more could you ask for when it comes to your backpacking gear? A simple push button piezo ignites the Jetbioil burner, the cooking cup clips to burner to eliminate accidental spills, the boil time for 2 cups of water is 2 minutes, and the the insulating cozy has a color-changing heat indicator that signals when contents are hot. No brainer.
The PCS is great for dehydrated meals, coffee or tea on the go, remote worksites, and emergency kits. Travel light and prep easy. The Personal Cooking System (PCS) is a complete food and beverage multi-tool you can hold in your hand and weighs about a pound. Pack components, fuel and accessories into the Nalgene-sized cup for convenient transport.
If you are looking for a new stove. Consider the Jetboil. Simple and reliable.
Gear Review
Western Mountaineering Versalite Sleeping Bag
There is no mistaking a Western sleeping bag. The premium fill, the loft, the workmanship... You can spot a Western Mountaineering
Trail Update
Smith Lake. Flat Tops Wilderness.
First here is an update on the Silver Creek Trail. One of the local forest rangers said a trail crew just finished up on Silver Creek Trail this past week. The cleared over 30 trees that had fallen across the trail. Get up there quick before the next wind event!
Smith Lake Trail up in the Flat Tops is an easy hike and the trail is dry and hikes fast. Spectacular views of Flat Top Mountain and the Gore Range way off on the horizon... As always, if you want to to do a little bushwacking in the Flat Tops bring your balance and patience... You'll be crisscrossing deadfall all night and all day...
Trail Update
Silver Creek - Sarvis Creek Wilderness.
This past weekend we had a few good storms roll through. Lots of rain and we even had a bit of snow late Saturday night (June 12, 2010). No one around here will ever complain about moisture falling from the sky. The problem was trees falling... As the strong front came in from the north it really knocked down tons of trees. They all fell to the south. As the front passed, the wind kept up and knocked more trees down. All of these trees fell to the north. Silver Creek trail is hiking nice. Be prepared for lots of trees down across the trail...
Gear Highlight
Gregory Z30 Pack.
This pack is super versatile. Use it as a fast and light day pack or if you pack just right, use it as a stealthy overnighter. The Z30 will feel just right and carry your load perfectly. With the JetStream DTS Suspension, the weight of the pack transfers through the frame which increases load transfer as the weight of the pack increases. The ingenious backpanel is ventilated to keep you comfortable, as well. No sweat soaked t-shirt pressing on your back as you gain altitude up the trail. The Z30 is an easy carry and worth consideration.
Nemo Losi 2 Tent.
When we decided to bring Nemo into Ski Haus we were very excited. As a retailer, it is exciting to find a company that thinks fresh, is innovative, and brings quality products to market... Not just another company that says, "Hey we can build that too." Not Nemo. They are the innovators... not the copiers. Nemo believes your tent is your home in the wilderness, so don't sacrifice comfort and stability for ounces. Nemo used the lightest weight materials and developed an unique pole structure to build Losi 2P™ extra sturdy and extra spacious. Two doors and two vestibules eliminate jostling for position and gear storage. The a full mesh canopy for summer evenings and large side vents for continuous airflow on rainy nights, Losi 2P™ is essential for the avid backpacker. Come on in and take a look at the all the models that Ski Haus stocks from Nemo!
Osprey Raptor and Manta Hydration Packs.
For a very long time, Ski Haus only sold Camelbak hydration packs. And for good reason. They were the best game in the industry. This year a choice has been added to the wall. Osprey has delved into the hydration pack system with a very viable alternative/choice. We like these packs very much. The Raptor series of packs are designed with mountain biking and trail running in mind. The Manta series of packs are better for trail, day hiking, and multi-sport activities. These packs offer a huge step forward in hydration. The reservoir won't "barrel" or feel like a tube on your back, the water in the reservoir won't slosh and splash from side to side, the reservoir is "taste free" and as easy to clean as glass, the magnet to keep the valve from whipping around your torso keeps the valve easy to reach and place out of the way, the packs themselves carry really good, steady on your back, and won't inhibit range of motion. We like these packs a lot! Every pack (except the 6 Liter Raptor) comes in a two torso sizes. Small/Medium or Medium/Large. There are a variety of pack sizes to fit your needs perfectly. Ready for a new Hydration system? Consider Osprey!
You've taken the first great step by deciding to go. Now you have to figure out where you want to go. Steamboat Springs is blessed to be nearly surrounded by Wilderness.
- The Mount Zirkel Wilderness to the north.
- Flat Tops Wilderness to our south.
- Sarvis Creek Wilderness to the east.
There is no shortage of trails or bushwacking possiblitites and Ski Haus offers the best map and Guidebook selection in town. Too often our customers have said they went on a great hike, weren't certain where they were, and would like to buy a map to figure it out. There must be some logic there somewhere but the best advice we have is to buy a map before you go. Take a compass. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan on being back. Then go hit the backcountry and forget your troubles. The best selling guidebooks for our area are HIking the Boat II ($24.95) and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness ($19.95). Hiking the Boat covers some of the Flat Tops Wilderness which there is no longer a guide in print.
There seems to be two schools of thought when it comes to what to take on a day hike. There are those who barely take anything leaving much to chance and then there are those who take everything leaving nothing to chance. Ski Haus suggests the middle ground. Take enough gear and food to be smart, plan for the unexpected, and always take the 10 Essentials!
Extra clothing: Prepare for bad weather even on the nice days.
Extra food: Hiking builds an appetite. Bring lots of food, snacks, and water.
Sunglasses: Protect those eyes!
Knife or Leatherman: An especially important tool for repairs and emergencies.
Fire starter: We've heard of lots of day hikes that turn into overnights.
First Aid Kit: Fail to plan, plan to fail.
Matches: Fire starter isn't worth beans without a spark
Headlamp: Good for late night returns to the car.
Maps: Buy a map to see where you're going, not where you've been.
Compass: North, South, East, West, all look pretty the same in the dark.
This is not a comprehensive list but only a few of the necessary items that should be in every day hikers pack. Cameras, field guides, trekking poles, rain gear, hat, sunscreen etc. the list can be big. Pick and choose what is right for you and your hike.
Sometimes there is no avoiding dangerous weather situations. Bad weather blows in quick and seems to take its time leaving. Here are a few tips to help you survive crazy weather.
- The most important advice is to avoid bad weather. If you've planned for weeks a hike to the top of Hahn's Peak and there are ominous clouds rolling in, it might be a good idea to postpone your hike or pick another place to go, such as a valley instead of a ridgetop. One adage is "the less sky you can see during a storm, the better."
- Try not to be the highest object around. If you're on a treeless slope, squat on your heels, feet close together, and hug your knees, keeping your buttocks off the ground. If this position is difficult to maintain, try to insulate your contact with the ground by sitting on something nonconductive, such as your pack or a sleeping pad. Better yet, look for a small ravine or gully or even a slight depression in the ground. If there are trees around, avoid standing near isolated trees, especially solitary, tall trees. A forest of even-height trees provide relative safety, but make sure it's not a clump of trees in an otherwise bare field.
- Stay out of shallow caves and avoid cliff bases which provide little protection from lightning. Judging how far away a storm is helps but it is not infallible. Counting the seconds between lightning flash and thunder clap (approximate five seconds lapse places the nearest part of the bolt about one mile away) doesn't always work. Lightning can stretch out for several miles and come, literally, out of the blue.
This is not meant to keep you inside if you see a single dark cloud in the sky, but rather to help you increase your safety margin in all kinds of weather. Hike and bike safely.
You can take pride in the practice of traveling through pristine alpine meadows, or deserts, or on ocean beaches without a trace of your passing.
It's the simple things that can make a difference like not cutting switchbacks on trails, not breaking or sawing branches off trees to make a fire, not trashing wilderness areas with toilet paper, or washing your camp dishes in streams and lakes.
It's the simple things that will make the difference in keeping our public lands in good shape and a pleasure to visit.
Common sense is a simple thing. All we have to do is practice it. Click on the link to visit the Leave No Trace website.
Plan ahead and prepare -
Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces:
Pack It In: Pack It Out:
Properly Dispose of What You Cannot Pack Out:
Leave What You Find:
Minimize Use and Impact of Fire:
For More Information:
Check out Leave No Trace; A guide to the New Wilderness Etiquette by Annette McGivney.
1457 Pine Grove Raod
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80477
1-800-932-3019
info@skihaussteamboat.com