Product Review: Osprey Hydraform Reservoir (70oz/2L)

Uses: Day Hikes, Over Nights, Possibly multi-days (see below)
Cost $27 at Campmor.com (links below)
Times Used: 10+

Two posts today since I'm going to be out at Deception Pass on Whidbey Island this whole weekend, camping and hiking. There should be a post on that either Monday or Wednesday. My plan is to try and post MWF, but yesterday was super slammed and I'll be working in the office tomorrow, so no blogging. 

I know a lot of people get nervous about carrying bladders (including myself), especially on multi-day trips where the concern that you would lose your water container and get your gear soaked to boot is very legitimate. I might go more old school for multi-day trips, but I think for over nights and day hikes you absolutely should be using a bladder. I have a big hydration problem when I hike, I just don’t stop as often or drink as much as I should. So despite my own reservations, I decided to go shopping for a reservoir for myself.

I did some research and ended up going with Osprey, even though it’s on the pricey side, for a few reasons. The material is SUPER durable. It has a frame that contours with your back, so it’s not weird or uncomfortable as you drink. It’s anti-microbial with a wide mouth that helps it dry out faster. It’s BPA and PVC free. It also has an attachable magnet that you can put on your bag so the bite valve isn’t flying all over the place and getting in your way. This sounds kind of frivolous, but I’ve tried carrying this thing without something to hold the bite valve and line in place and it’s irritating when it flaps all over.

The one thing I don’t like is that even though it’s got anti-taste stuff it still tends to taste a bit like plastic, unless I rinse it out a bunch before using it. I’m very sensitive to tastes though. I am also considering upgrading to the 3L instead of 2L since I tend to go through 2L on a warm day in a few hours. It is a little on the heavy side, so if you do ultralight or trail running I would recommend something else. Also every bad review of this product I’ve seen comes from trail runners. They seem to get leaks, too much jostling around maybe? I have never had a problem with leaking of any kind and no problems with the valves. I would definitely recommend it for hiking though, especially day use.

Version I have here 

Updated Version ($30-$35 here

Trail Review: Anti-Aircraft Ridge

Location: Issaquah Alps

Difficulty: Easy (~600 ft of elevation gain)
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Mileage: 6-7, but lots of opportunities for shorter hikes as well
Fees/Passes: None
Season: November - April

It’s always tricky in Western Washington to figure out good hikes in March that isn't going to be snowed in. You’re options are either to go out to the peninsula, the San Juans or some places in the Southern Cascades. The Peninsula is tricky if you have a dog, since so much of it is National Park, in addition both it and the San Juans have the added complication and cost of ferry rides. Going down to The Gorge or Southern Cascades isn't ideal either, it’s a long drive and areas may still be snowed in. If you don’t have time to do an overnight or multiday hike, this means you’re in for an extremely long day.

Which is why early in the season a lot of people, especially in the Seattle area end up settling for hiking/walking in some of the more expansive urban parks in Seattle (Discovery Park, Carkeek Park, etc.) and parts of the Issaquah Alps. A nice bonus for these hikes is that none of them require passes or have day use fees.

Chris, Jaxx and I have done a few of these, and this was probably one of the prettier ones. There are tons of trails in Cougar Mountain Park so you have a lot of options in terms of length. There isn't a lot of variation in difficulty since there isn't much elevation gain or loss for any of the hikes. Some have short bursts of slightly steeper terrain, but they are typically short. There are some nice views if you can find places without trees. You can see the lake in the valley below and we did get a nice peak at Mt. Baker in the distance. My favorite section that we hiked was Klondike Swamp. While it doesn't have majestic views it has definite swamp(ish) charm, lots of gnarled trees covered in moss etc.

WTA recommends this hike November through May, mostly to avoid mosquitoes I probably won’t hike here after April because of crowds. On an overcast (not rainy) day we saw probably 10 people or more, which doesn't sound like much when I write it down, but I like more solitary hikes. I imagine this place gets packed by mid-late spring.

Sorry about the lack of photos, cam-jam was dead.

WTA Hike Link (including directions)

Inaugural Post

ME.
I am Allison.I love the outdoors. I was raised in a really rural area of northern California and spent most of my life playing in tide pools, wandering around redwood forests, running around the local reservation and just generally being a crazy kid. About two years ago I started hiking again on a regular basis. I hike with my boyfriend Chris and our dog Jaxxson.

Chris and I are really great compliments to each other in terms of our outdoor style and experience. He's a former boy scout and is very much into preparation and planning. I'm a little bit more impulsive, but the knowledge I've gained of edible and medicinal plants, mushrooms, sea-life (and how to eat it) just based on where I live means I have some pretty good knowledge when it comes to being outside.

Jaxxson, well he's just himself.

WHY.
There are a few reasons why I want to start this blog. The primary reason is to help hikers, particularly people who are just starting and people who hike with dogs. I also want to help people learn about different types of edible plants, mushrooms, traps, survival stuff etc. Of course to tell stories, I really enjoy writing, and to show off some photography. My last reason for starting this blog is I think that one of the best things we can hope for in a capitalist society is getting paid for something you love. So I'm hoping that I can make a little money off the site.

CONTENT
My plan is to do several types of entries. Trail reviews, Product/Gear Reviews and Recommendations, Backpacking/Camp Food Recipes, Book Reviews, Tips and Techniques (including some primitive/survival stuff), and hopefully some guest content occasionally and anything else I think is fun or relevant (look out for an upcoming post on making a tiny freshwater tackle box).