This week's action in Vail

Marina Egorov – The Bag and Pack Shop, Vail, Colorado


The last week of June this year is prime for summer activities. Who could believe that last year this time we still had snow falling up here in Vail? 

The Gore Range has myriads of hikes to offer. The Missouri Lakes-Fancy pass loop off Homestake Road is great for some historic background, gorgeous views and a full day adventure. Alternatively, Lake Constantine in the Holy Cross wilderness is great if wildflowers and some mid-afternoon fishing are what your're after. No matter your adventure, a great accessory to throw into your pack is one of Grand Trunk's hammocks.  Lightweight and packable, you will be the envy of all when you arrive at your alpine lake or flowery meadow and park off for a nap in one of these babies. 


For those planning on some camping adventures to enjoy the late daylight of summer, make sure to heed fire bans across Colorado and many US states. Extremely hot weather and lack of rain have made conditions dry and dangerous. Time to crack out your Jetboil or enjoy packed, cold lunches - there won't be any roasted brats in the wilderness for a while! Further info on fire restrictions in Eagle County here.


Make sure to enjoy the many markets our region has to offer. On Saturday morning, visit the Edwards Farmer's Market on Edwards Corner for some delicious breakfast choices from local food vendors. Browse the fresh produce and local craftmanship, before heading to Minturn Market for a snack and a more artsy themed market. Both running from 9.30am until lunchtime, these markets will make for a fun diversion. 


But, Sunday belongs to Vail's famous Farmer's Market. Offering selections of produce from all over the state, you can stock up on cherries, spinach, snap peas, peaches and more. Why not ride your bike into town (make sure to lock it somewhere before entering the market area as it tends to crowd up quick!) or walk the dog in (leashes are a MUST) and spend a leisurely time sampling goods from divine avocado salad dressing to Hawaiian wafer snacks. Not to be missed are Maggie's "Magpies" fresh pies (out of this world) and Kirby Cosmo's whole turkey leg - you have to see it to believe it!


Plenty to choose from in Vail this summer... make sure you are part of it. 

What to do, what to do

Marina Egorov – The Bag and Pack Shop, Vail, Colorado


The mountains have completely dried out and are beautifully green already. Many rejoice at this early summer, though it does bode ill for river rafters with the low water levels caused by smaller runoff from snow melt. However, there are plenty of other activities to sink your teeth into this summer!

Hiking

With most trails being completely clear, pack a lunch, fill up your water bottle and enjoy one of the scenic hikes the valley has to offer. Some trails in West Vail are closed for maintenance until 15 June, so make sure to check posted signs. But, the  East Vail selections are good to go.  

Bighorn Trail starts off steep but flattens out to a gentle rolly trail until the final push to the rustic cabin at the top. Booth Lake Trail is ever popular and tends to be quite busy on the weekends, roughly an hour and a half to the falls and another 2 hours or so to Booth Lake, well worth the climb for the quiet peacefulness. Pitkin Creek Trail follows the creek and is pretty deceptive, 3 hours or more to reach the lake and it's not too easy! A great trail to do if you are not sure how long to go for is Gore Creek Trail, right at the end of East Vail. Following Gore Creek and with gentle climbs, it's a great choice for an afternoon walk. Stop by at either our Vail or Avon locations for more suggestions or to pick up the Vail Hiker (available @bagandpack), a great book to own if you plan on exploring the valley and surrounds. 

Biking

The front side of Vail Mountain is open and ready to bike up and down.  Start a sunset ride around 5pm for a quiet, cool ride down before heading out for dinner to one of the lovely local restaurants. Two good options to bike up - The Village Trail road is longer but a little easier on the legs, while Gitalong Road is shorter in distance but has some steeper climbs. The gondola opens this weekend too if you are feeling more sedentary! For the downhill, a variety of fun trails are available, from the popular Lion Down which has singletrack in it, to the trickier Hank's Hideaway through the trees.  The 2011 Vail Mountain Summer Map can be seen here. Vail promises to release the 2012 version soon as some new trails have been added. 

Running

Any of the hiking trails mentioned can be easily used by trail runners. Early mornings are particularly beautiful. If heading to East Vail, plan on starting your run 7/ 7.30am as it tends to get warm a little later than sunrise down there! For those fitness gurus out there, run the Berrypicker hiking trail up the front of the mountain to get ready for the race held later this summer. The bike trail in East Vail, the section through the golf course, is another good option for runners or dog walkers. Run from the Pitkin Creek market and join up with the Vail Trail (heads uphill into the trees just before the Golf Clubhouse) which will come out at Golden Peak, if you want a longer run. 

Enjoy these fresh summer days and come check out our new summer arrivals from Patagonia, Arcteryx, Millet, Horny Toad and Prana for men and ladies!

Dream summer gear essentials - Part 2

Marina Egorov – The Bag and Pack Shop, Vail, Colorado


Continuing with our theme from last week's post, here are a few more bits and pieces that are vital to having a great summer. We think so anyway. 


Lightweight camp cooking system


Most of use enjoy a mixture of car camping and backpacking adventures. Carrying your home on your back, versus piling it into your Subaru are vastly different and require different considerations in packing lists. 


A simple camp stove system is a worthwhile piece of inventory for both. Whether it's simply boiling water for tea after your (car-supplied) grill out yields a delicious feast; or as a vital tool to cook backpacking meals on your 3 day 'pack ultralight' hike into the Rockies; having this item makes camping meals easy and fun. 


The Jetboil Flash System is our go-to. Great for one or two people on its own, and giving you the option to add to your collection with its variety of accessories such as pans and jumbo cups; it comes in funky colours too. The fuel canisters are clean burning and come with a handy 'crunch tool' you can use to drain the gas remnants to make for easier recycling. 






Down sweater


We return to our love affair with down. Packable, light and super warm, it's a great piece for sitting around the campfire as the temperatures cool off. Or even for heading out for the newspaper on chilly mountain mornings. Fitting easily into your pack and released in a variety of dreamy colours every season, the Patagonia Down Sweater has even been called the "uniform" of the mountains. You are almost obligated to have one. 




Thin beanie


Hazy summer afternoons, tan lines and gorgeous sunsets; summers are what visions are made of. Who would think you need to keep your head WARM, right? Yet, chilly early morning hikes and crazy bed hair are a part of camping too. And, for that we recommend the Icebreaker Chase Beanie. Thin merino wool gives it a lightweight breathable property so it will keep you warm when it is just a little too breezy. Merino wool also doesn't retain odour, boding well for multi-day, multi-week or even multi-month trips. 






We know we are definitely getting pumped for some summer trips right now - got to use all this new gear sometime! Next week's post will feature our final installment of summer gear essentials to dream about. 

Dream summer gear essentials - Part 1

Marina Egorov – The Bag and Pack Shop, Vail, Colorado


We continue to get you ready for the upcoming summer season - though with this year's warm weather, many adventures have already been adventured we are sure! If you are considering spending time in the magical outdoors this summer, take a look at this personal inventory well worth investing in. 


Paclite Rain Shell


Paclite Gore-Tex is the lightest and most pack-able form of this waterproof and breathable membrane,. Hence the name! Stuffing down into a little ball in the bottom of your pack, you won't even notice it, until you are caught in that sudden mountain rainstorm mid-trip that is. With a lifetime guarantee as well, it's well worth it. 


We love the Arcteryx Beta SL with its redesigned slim fit and Storm collar, it is the perfect emergency waterproofing you need. Whether it is to keep hiking to the next camp spot, or just getting the dog walked; don't forget to have a reliable rain shell ready. Available in a variety of fun as well neutral colours for men and ladies, the Beta SL is a wonderful multi-use piece. 




High-top waterproof hiking boots


Whether you choose Gore-Tex or some other form of waterproofing such as BDry, if you want to hike all season, you need to be prepared for muddy puddles, wet grass and the odd river crossing. Some may get aggravated by the high-top boot, but with the many options available today, from a 'lower' high-top to the full on mountain boot; it really is worth looking at for the added support. Any trip with more than a day's hiking is going to be hard on your ankles, and carrying a loaded pack can be tough on the joints. By no means a foolproof solution to a rolled ankle, high-top boots can definitely help. 


One of our favorites for an any-hike boot is the Oboz Sawtooth Mid, in Mens and Ladies. Oboz is renowned for being a 'no break-in' shoe and the BDry keeps your feet, well, dry; while the ventilation on top of the shoe ensures your feet don't self-combust on those desert hikes. 


Ultralight down sleeping bag


Down sleeping bags are great for their lightweight, packable warmth on the go. Down breathes really well too so if you invest in a bag for slightly cooler camp spots, you can usually use it for most all of your trips. As long as you are planning on sleeping under some sort of shelter (or somewhere cold, yet dry), down is the best option. Carrying it is easy and it doesn't take up a lot of room in your pack. 


Go for the highest quality down in your budget, as it will cut down further on weight and packable size, ensuring you use it more. We love the Mont Bell Ultralight Down Hugger with 800 fill down. Cozy, comfy and light, this bag will be your best friend on many a camp trip in the mountains. Choose a bag based on the temperature you think you will need - ladies, we usually run cooler so add 10 degrees to be safe!


So that's the start of our dream gear wishlist. Next week, see what else we love, and want you to love too!

Shorter winter, just means a longer summer!

Marina Egorov – The Bag and Pack Shop, Vail, Colorado


Those complaining about the awful snow this year can rest easy. Plenty still to do in the mountains. The past few weeks have seen more and more people biking; and with both the Vail Pass bike path and the stretch through the golf course open, the choices are expanding.


Most hiking trails will be closed at some stage for maintenance during the spring runoff season, so obey any posted closure dates. However, with the early melt, there are a few ready now and you can catch them in the window before maintenance starts; if you don't mind a little mud of course!


Gore Creek Trail is pretty dry, we ran about 30min up and not a lick of snow on the trail itself. 

The loop through the campground is all done for the year, melted snow means no way to get over the creek and wandering around near there is no fun - learn from our mistake and stick to the trail!














Another great one is the Booth Creek Trail - we got all the way up to the falls and you could keep going. Most of the trail is dry and clear, with a few muddy parts.

Parts of the trail are completely snow covered so watch your step. Though more-or-less packed down, a pair of Kahtoola Microspikes wouldn't hurt.

Further down valley in Eagle, there are tons more trail choices; and with the warmer weather down valley, they may be even more clear. Check out Trails.com recommendations here.


Welcome to spring everyone. Feel free to stop by in our Vail or Avon locations for suggestions, trail updates and footwear/gear advice. Happy hiking!