Showing posts with label CO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CO. Show all posts

Sunday, May 26, 2013

From the Trailhead: Product Spotlight


Products: Grand Trunk Parachute Nylon Hammock Double & Hammock Tree Sling Hanging Kit
Price: Starting at $55
Rating: 4.5/5


As an avid hiker, camper, and general adorer of the outdoors, I’ve always had an inclination towards
Grand Trunk Hammock
Grand Trunk's Parachute Hammock can find a home just about
anywhere in the outdoors.
sleeping under the stars.  I’ve jerry-rigged more loungers, hammocks, and sleep systems than I can count trying to optimize comfort while still enjoying the outdoors.

Grand Trunk’s Parachute Nylon Hammock offered me the opportunity to do both, quickly, easily, and most importantly, comfortably. 

The nylon parachute hammock by Grand Truck is a great solution for anyone that enjoys the great outdoors but is looking for something a little more comfortable than sleeping on the hard ground.  From rigging it up in the backyard for an afternoon spent reading, to summer camping under the stars, Grand Trunk’s Parachute Nylon Hammock offers a range of functionality that made it not only simple to set up, but even easier to maintain.

Not only does the hammock come with a stuff bag attached to the hammock itself (think: no need to keep track of the ever illusive stuff sack), it has nautical grade carabineers attached to the hammock, making anchoring to the hanging kit as simple as click n’ go – with absolutely no knot tying required. 

The parachute fabric not only allows for a light breathable, wickable fabric, it is quick drying and mildew resistant.  And this sucker is strong.  The double hammock can hold up to 400lbs, and after a quick snuggle with the honey, I can attest to strength and comfort of close to 300lbs.    

full sleep system hammock camping
Rain or shine, a hammock sleep
system is an affordable and simple
solution.
As for its size, it weighs 20oz and packs down approximately the size of a football.  While it may be heavier than ideal for most ultralight backpackers, if it was used as an entire sleep system replacing your tent and sleeping pad, coupled with a bivvy sack in the warm summer months, it would be nothing short of perfection.   I’ve even seen this set up in the winter months with the bivvy sack upgraded to a down sleeping bag.

The hanging kit is designed to not only protect trees from the abrasion of typical load bearing rope (great for the Leave No Trace practitioner in us all), it also makes set up a breeze.  The design allows for single person to synch down the ropes and the attached tree protectors to the hammock through its 10’ pre-knotted rope.  Again, no knot tying or tag teaming set up required.  Synch, click, and go.  It took less than 2 minutes total before I settled in with a good book. 

After recently hiking and traveling through remote parts of Costa Rica, I could also see the Grand Trunk Parachute Hammock being a great go-to traveling asset. 

With single hammocks starting at $55 and double hammocks starting at $65 – is affordable to even the most frugal of outdoor adventurers. 

You can find out more about Grand Trunk and its products here: http://www.grandtrunkgoods.com/

About From the Trailhead:

Amanda K. Larrinaga blog post
From the Trailhead is written by active CMC member and volunteer, Amanda K. Larrinaga.  Amanda is a recent transplant to Colorado by way of Idaho and Montana.  

As a young outdoor recreationist and environmentalist, she can be found working film festivals for the Colorado Mountain Club, leading some of its annual summer stewardship projects, and supporting programming of the CMC's new Alpine Start teen leadership and outdoor recreation program.   

You can connect with her at: amandalarrinaga@cmc.org

Amanda hand-selects the products she reviews and while she'll always give it to you straight, it's important to note that she received this month's Grand Trunk Hammcok for free from Grand Trunk Goods as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

News Release: Golden Mountain Lion Presentation

Contacts:              Wendy Keefover
WildEarth Guardians
303-819-5229

Brenda Porter
Colorado Mountain Club
303-996-2748
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- FEBRUARY 9, 2011

Golden Mountain Lion Presentation
Topics Include Front Range Study, Natural History and Co-Existence

GOLDEN, Colo.— The Colorado Mountain Club and WildEarth Guardians will host an evening:  Mountain Lions Live in Golden. Presenters will discuss mountain lion natural history, ecology, ongoing research and tips for living and recreating in mountain lion country. 

The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, 6:30-8:30 at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401. The event is free and open to the public.

“Mountain lions contribute to the richness and complexity of Colorado’s ecosystems,”
said Wendy Keefover, wildlife advocate for WildEarth Guardians.  “By creating awareness and understanding of these native cats, we can promote common sense precautions to eliminate potential human-lion conflicts.”

Golden’s rugged foothills and mountainous backdrop provide excellent habitat for mountain lions, also commonly called pumas, cougars, or panthers.  These large, golden cats, shy and unsocial by nature, prefer living around rugged terrain that is suitable for ambushing prey, such as deer and elk. While mountain lions are thought of as wilderness creatures, they are highly adaptable and can flourish in suburban habitats like those found all along the Front Range.  As an "obligate carnivore," however, mountain lions are constantly on the prowl for prey, which can bring them into the human areas.

The presentations include what is necessary to maintain lions’ long-term conservation, including what the state has done to protect breeding females and their kittens.  Kittens are totally dependent upon their mothers for their first nine months, and typically spend between ten and 24 months learning survival skills from their mother. 

Also on hand will be mountain lion researcher Mat Alldredge of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Alldredge is the lead researcher on a groundbreaking study of mountain lion habits and habitat needs along the Front Range.  His study provides new and surprising insights into mountain lion biology and ecology. 

“We're trying to learn more about how lions utilize urbanize landscapes to help us develop strategies to minimize conflicts,” Alldredge said.

Keefover added that as more Coloradans move into mountain lion habitat in the coming years, public education will be key to maintaining tolerance for the species, and for ensuring their conservation.

“The better that people understand this magnificent animal, the more likely it is that we will continue to have support for protecting the places that it needs to survive over the long term,” she said.

Event Details:

Mountain Lions Live in Golden
Thursday, March 10, 6:30-8:30
American Mountaineering Center-Colorado Mountain Club
710 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401

About the Colorado Mountain Club
The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to adventure, education and preservation in Colorado. Established in 1912 by mountaineering enthusiasts, CMC now has more than 8,000 members statewide who explore and protect the wild areas of Colorado. CMC offers hundreds of events and classes for all ages and abilities. Throughout its history, the club has been instrumental in landmark achievements such as the designation of Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and the passage of the Wilderness Act. To become a member, visit www.cmc.org.

About WildEarth Guardians
Founded as Forest Guardians in 1989, WildEarth Guardians protects and restores wildlife, wild rivers, and wild places in the American West. We have four programs focusing on wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and climate and energy.  Our headquarters is in Santa Fe, NM. We also have offices in Denver and Boulder, CO and Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. Visit wildearthguardians.org for more information.

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