Way to go! Max Goodin taking Mom, Kate, out for a woods walk and teaching her about the great outdoors. (Doug Goodin photo)

My personal prescription for happiness and sanity? Be outside before noon. It doesn’t sound like much, I know, but with an 18-month old, nothing is as simple as it sounds. Sometimes getting a load of laundry on the line and breakfast into the boy takes most of the morning, and then there’s naptime to contend with.

Usually he takes just one a day, after lunch. But if we go on a long late-morning walk, he often falls asleep in the backpack. It’s not much of a nap, especially if he hears a brook or a crow or a red squirrel…usually he’s asleep just long enough to make getting him to take a “real” nap in the afternoon an unpleasant battle. Some days I feel I just can’t risk it, so we stay in, and I feel like a caged animal.

A big part of the “problem” is that I’ve created my own troubles, and I couldn’t be happier. In just a year and a half Max has become a boy who likes being outside so much that I have to ration his dosage. Otherwise he gets so excited and revved up that some afternoons, when I’m trying to get him to sleep, he’s literally pounding on the door, begging to go out. He dances to the chattering of red squirrels, gobbles like a turkey, and talks to chipmunks and chickadees. He doesn’t care what the weather is. One day in early March I let him play for a few minutes in the snow-melt runoff along the road. It’s the only time he’s ever kicked and screamed as I carried him away from something. I had to do it; his lips and fingers were turning blue.

As we tried to walk away, this grouse followed along with us, getting close each time we stopped. (Kate Goodin photo)

While walks along our dirt road are nice, we really prefer to be out among the trees. We have a neighbor who has a large woodlot and he said we were welcome to spend time exploring his woods. We’ve found a vernal pool and are watching the wood frog eggs develop. We’ve seen deer and rabbits, salamanders and snakes, but the weirdest experience we’ve had so far has been with a grouse. We’re not totally sure if it’s male or female, but after consulting some books and folks who might know, we’re leaning towards male. We’ve seen the bird twice. The first time, my husband, Doug, was along with us. I took several pictures of what we thought was really strange behavior for a grouse. You know grouse, right? Usually you just hear the males “drumming” in the spring or get your wits scared out of you by one flushing just a few feet from you. This bird seemed curious about us. When we first saw it, it was maybe 20 feet from us, but as it pecked about in the leaves it wove its way closer until it was barely 10 feet away. Max was asleep in the backpack, but when he realized we weren’t walking anymore he woke up, pointed at the grouse and said, “Dah!” The bird was not phased. I kept taking pictures and Doug and I talked about how bizarre this was. We both thought that maybe it was a female with a nest and she was suggesting we just move along, but there are several problems with this theory. One, it was early for a nest. Two, we were moving along until the bird caught our attention with its odd behavior. Three, she (?) wasn’t really leading us anywhere, just sort of pecking about in the leaves and making soft noises. (Doug said it sounded like a hamster, but if you get close to a chicken pecking around on the ground, they make soft warble-like noises, too.) Even though our theory was full of holes, it was the only one we had, so we decided to act on it and move along. Even the large movements of turning to go didn’t seem to make the bird flinch.

Wood frog eggs in a vernal pool were just one of the "treasures" discovered in our neighbor's woods. (Kate Goodin photo)

That was early April. Ten days later Max and I went back to check on the frog eggs and take some pictures. When we got there it was too early in the morning and the sun was behind a tall hemlock. I could see the developing tadpoles just fine, but in order to take a picture I need plenty of sunlight shining into the water, as any camera flash just reflects off the surface. So we decided to go wandering for an hour or so. I took a section of road I knew would make a loop, but when we got to the turn-back point, I decided to take another trail that looked inviting. It went east for a while, then curved back northward, following two sides of a stand of mostly white pine. When Doug and I first saw the grouse, it was on the northern end of the west side of this 2-3 acre section of woods. Now walking on the east side, I wasn’t thinking about the grouse at all. Hearing a rustle in the leaves, I thought I’d stepped on a branch as I skirted around a sloppy spot in the logging road. When the sound continued even after I was back in the mud, I became curious and looked back into the woods. “What the…?” It had to be the same grouse. It wasn’t flushing, it wasn’t running away, it wasn’t walking away; it was coming right towards me, if anything, bolder than the week before! Max and I watched it pick its way through the underbrush, looking as though it was trying to “act casual” by pecking at the ground every so often. It came closer this time, maybe 6 or 7 feet away.

Grouse usually flush noisily and scare the wits out of you. This one actually came within touching distance. (Kate Goodin photo)

My young son does not understand that wild animals are not like his dogs and that any movements should be slow and slight. He pointed, giggled, and kicked his legs. The most dramatic of these might make the bird move a foot or two away, but it kept coming back. Finally, having taken yet more pictures of this unusual animal, I decided to walk on. The bird followed! I stayed in the logging road, the grouse stayed alongside, usually about fifteen feet away, picking its way over some fallen trees and under others. After maybe 75 feet, I stopped again. This time the bird got really brave. It circled around us several times while I took more pictures and even changed the batteries in my camera. I thought a few times that it was going to come right up and peck at my shoes. Again, thinking I now really had enough pictures, I thought I’d see what it would do if I walked off further. It followed along like it was my pet. When we got back to the main trail that was my loop back to the vernal pool I said, “OK bird, I’m taking a right here, what are you going to do?” Well, of course, he was going my way! We were now on the same stretch of road where we had seen the bird with Doug. I thought surely if it followed us that far, at the very least it would stop there. I stopped a few times to let it catch up, then stopped again at the spot we’d seen it first. We had now walked together along three sides of a few acres of woods. The bird had not shown aggression and only a little caution. I took a few more pictures, throwing caution to the wind and extending my arm to take some shots almost directly down on the bird. What would it do if I knelt on the ground? It moved a few feet away, then came closer again so I could get some more great shots. I even got some video of it following me as I backed away. I eventually decided, as the bird continued to follow us, further and further from what I could only assume was its territory, that I should just keep going and not look back or wait for it. I didn’t want it following us home! Max, of course, was distressed that we were leaving his new friend behind, but I explained that it had to stay in the woods and we had some frog pictures to take.

While Max won’t remember the details of his first walks and hikes, I know I’m laying the foundation for a life of appreciation and respect for nature. Sure, he has lots of books about animals that are full of information and great photos, but his favorite animals, besides his dogs of course, are those he sees and hears on our walks.

Incidentally, because Max is still a toddler, he’s in a backpack carrier for our woods walks. I prefer the Ergo. It’s a soft carrier (no frame) and as the name implies, so ergonomically designed that I hardly notice the 32 extra pounds. Doug likes a carrier from Kelty, which does have a frame. The specific model we have isn’t made anymore, but the current ones  are still basically the same.

But you don’t really need any special equipment to have fun in the outdoors. Just go outside with your kids and let their curiosity, and your own, lead the way!

Can a bargain Kelty compete with a state-of-the-art Osprey? Only one way to find out...load it up and strap it on! (David Shedd photo)

Go to any major outdoor retailer’s site, and check out the “extended trip” packs.  65 liters…80 liters…maybe even 90 liters.  Those are big packs, designed to allow you to go out for a week, hike the Appalachian Trail, fun stuff like that.  But up in the rarefied atmosphere at the very top of the hill are a few packs that are over 100 liters.  These are “monster packs”…capable of carrying weights that sane people wouldn’t consider.  Why in the world would anyone want one of these behemoths, anyway???

Well, three reasons.  The first is situations where you need to carry someone else’s stuff.  That might be a trip with the kids, an aging parent,  a much smaller spouse, or someone who has no experience backpacking and you don’t want to scare them with a heavy pack the first time out.  The second is carrying large loads in to a remote cabin or camp for a relatively short distance; it’s a great way to stock the pantry!  And the third, near and dear to our hearts, is winter camping.  Simply put, there’s a LOT of bulk involved.  Sleeping bag, two sleeping pads, thick fleece camp clothes; a smaller pack just doesn’t cut it in winter.  You CAN do it…but a monster pack makes it a lot easier!

The problem, though, is that monster packs are typically very expensive…again, for three reasons.  They’re bigger…more material, more straps and buckles, more pockets, more hand labor to build them.  They need to be designed to handle heavy loads…with all that room, you can stuff lots of heavy items inside, so stitching has to be reinforced, hipbelts need to be thicker and sturdier, etc.  And they sell a lot fewer of them, so the economy of scale is off the chart.  Most packs of this size will run in the $400-500 range; the Osprey Argon 110 being right in there at $419.  That’s a big hit on your wallet…and is it worth it?  And are there any options?

Turns out that there IS one option…the Kelty Red Cloud 6650.  That’s 6650, as in cubic inches…or 108 liters.  A true monster, its suggested retail price is half what the others in the category are…$210, direct from Kelty.  And Campmor and BackCountry Edge have them for even less!  That’s getting down into the price range of some of the daypacks you can buy.  Can it really be any good?  Kelty’s long been a favorite of mine…I still own two of their tents, and had one of their external frame packs for years (still have it for people to borrow, actually!).  They’ve always been high value for the dollar, so…maybe it WILL be a good pack.  Ah…product testing…we love it!

Truly a side-by-side test; Tim on the left with the Osprey, me on the right with the Kelty. And our sweethearts with lighter packs, up ahead of us, laughing at our loads! (Elaine Eisenbraun photo)

Luckily, it’s winter, and we had a trip planned to the Merck Forest, so the timing was perfect to put it through its paces, side-by-side with the Osprey.  Long-time readers will probably know that the Argon 110 is on our “Favorite Things” list.  I’ve carried over 90 pounds in it up to the Black Mountain Cabin with no discomfort, other than very tired legs.  The suspension system is incredible; I don’t have much for hips, which makes holding a backpack up on them a challenge, but that belt snugs in over them beautifully.  The design of the pack allows the weight to be carried very close to the back, following the curve of the spine…so the load doesn’t tend to shift and throw you off balance when you duck sideways to avoid an overhanging branch.  There’s a strap for everything; you can attach ice axes, snowshoes, cross country skis, whatever your heart desires.  The strap arrangement also does an excellent job of shrinking the pack if you’re carrying a more “normal” load…so, this is a great pack not just for monster trips, but also for general overnight use.  Flaws?  Some of the ways that the straps work are counterintuitive and asymmetrical, leading to a certain amount of headscratching as you try to figure out the best way to stow & attach items.  If that’s the worst thing I can find to say about a pack, it’s clearly a great product!

But…for half the price…is the Kelty a giant killer?  Out of the box, it’s an impressive looking beast.  It’s got the de rigeur features you’d expect in a high-end pack…hydration pouch, top lid that converts to a lumbar pack, sleeping bag compartment, compression straps all over, loops for lashing things to.  All those compression straps also allow for shrinking the pack, so it’ll be useful for more “normal” use, too.  It’s got quite the array of pockets as well; it would probably take as long to figure out the best use for all of them as it does to figure out the straps on the Osprey.  One very neat feature is that one of the loops on the back of the pack doubles as a carry handle; big packs don’t usually carry well as suitcases, but this one does!  And then there’s the suspension.  Kelty calls it the “Cloudlock 2″, and I have no idea why…but it works.  It is, hands down, the easiest to adjust to torso length that I’ve ever seen.  Turn the pack on its back, grab the strap in the center, loosen the Velcro, slide it up or down the appropriate amount, secure the Velcro…you’re done.  Impressive!

The rest of the suspension comes in with another “impressive”…but also with the caveat “for the price”.  The hip belt is definitely not in the same league as the Osprey’s.  But it kicks the daylights out of my old Mountainsmith; fits snugly around my waist, supports the load on my hips well.  The shaping of the belt isn’t the same as the Argon’s, though, and I had to tighten the waist belt more to get it to stay put.  It wasn’t uncomfortable, not by a long shot…but not as comfortable as the Argon’s.  Still with the pack loaded to 85 plus pounds, it felt solid and planted on my hips; that’s something I definitely wouldn’t have felt with my Mountainsmith.

Visibly different, the Kelty is tall and narrow while the Osprey is wide and deep. But which works better? (David Shedd photo)

On the trail, the differences between the packs became more obvious.  The Kelty is a tall, narrow pack; the Osprey,  shorter and deeper.  That forces more of the load in the Kelty to be carried high up over the shoulders.  There’s another concern about that shape, as well; if your winter sleeping bag has a compression stuff sack that makes it short and fat, it can be difficult to get into the sleeping bag compartment.  However, given the price of the pack, if THAT’S the only problem, another stuff sack of a different shape is a cheap solution!   Not surprisingly, given the different shape, the incredible stability with heavy loads that the Argon 110 has just isn’t there in the same way with the Red Cloud 6650.  In order to fully stabilize the load, I had to tighten the shoulder straps down a bit more, sacrificing a little comfort.  And I do mean a little comfort; even with a ridiculous load in it, the comfort was greater than with any huge pack other than the Osprey that I’ve used.  Two hours of climbing with it, and I still felt fresh and ready for more.  Clearly, this is a true monster pack; it’s not only big, but it’s designed from the ground up to carry monster loads.  One feature of the Kelty that was beyond the scope of this test is the “Lightbeam II” aluminum frame stays, which can be bent and adjusted to fit your personal body shape.  With two of us trading packs back and forth, that just wasn’t practical, but it will be something we’ll test out in the future, as it might improve the load stability.  Expect an update this summer!

So…which should you buy?  Hands down, the Osprey Argon 110 won this comparison test.  The comfort and stability under heavy loads is just plain beyond what the Kelty can pull off.  On the other hand, at less than half the price, the Kelty Red Cloud 6650 can do virtually everything the Osprey can do, and surprisingly well.  Our opinion:   If money is no object, buy the Osprey.  If you do a lot of heavy duty backpacking where you are carrying major loads, buy the Osprey.  But if you’re on a budget, buy the Kelty.  If you want to try winter backpacking for the first time, buy the Kelty and put the difference in price into a good sleeping bag.  Either pack will do the job of carrying huge loads; either pack will allow you to take on challenges that smaller packs won’t.  Choose one of them, fill it with appropriate winter backpacking gear, and get out there!

A Gregory Jade 60 takes a summer hike on New Hampshire's Mount Washington,

Tim G. from Connecticut wrote recently to ask about camping gear:

“I enjoyed your recent camping article and was wondering what you would recommend for a 3-season sleeping bag and a backpack for multiple day outings. I have looked at or seen reviews on the Gregory Baltoro 70, Jansport Klamath 68, Osprey Exos 58 or Aether 70 and some REI backpacks. On sleeping bags, I have seen the EMS Velocity 30 Degree bag at EMS and not much else. Thanks for your help.”

Well, Tim, I don’t know how much help I can be, because I’ve never actually used any of those packs—though I have used gear from each and every one of those suppliers. In fact, for winter camping I currently use an Argon 110 from Osprey (www.ospreypacks.com). This HUGE pack is simply the best I have ever found for comfortably carrying heavy, bulky loads.

My basic pack for 3-season backpacking is the excellent and affordable Mars 85 from REI (www.rei.com). My sweetheart Marilyn carries the Venus 75 women’s version of the same pack.

And for light, fast overnights and weekends I use a Z-65 from Gregory (www.gregorypacks.com). Marilyn has the Jade 60 women’s version. These also double as our winter daypacks for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and for tackling high summits in the summer.

That doesn’t mean those are the best packs on the market. They just happen to fit me and my needs—and they went on sale when I could afford them . . . If price is an issue, the house brands from EMS (www.ems.com), REI and L.L. Bean (www.llbean.com) tend to be well built, somewhat heavier and, usually less money than the “name” brands.

For decades I carried big packs from Kelty (www.kelty.com), Mountainsmith (www.mountainsith.com), and Jansport (www.jansport.com) and a smaller pack from EMS. I still have all of those and lend them out to my kids and to friends as needed. Good packs can last a long time.

One piece of advice I would give to anyone looking to buy a pack: get one big enough. Yes, bigger packs are heavier and they tempt you to carry more, but there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to fit what you need in or on your pack. The packs Tim G mentions are perfect for a real go-light backpacker, but I prefer something in the 80 to 90-liter (4,900-5500 cu. in) range for multi-night 3-season backpacking trips. In winter, there’s no such thing as a pack that’s “too big.”

The sleeping bag question is a little more difficult. Sleeping bags have to fit you and there are choices to be made in insulation and warmth ratings.

Personally, I prefer synthetic fill. It’s cheaper and stays warm if it gets wet, but it is heavier. The EMS bag Tim mentions is a good one, very narrow. I like that – other people don’t. The North Face Equinox 35 (www.northface.com) and the Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32 (www.mountainhardwear.com) are in the same weight range, but a little roomier. My buddy David Shedd has the Mountain Hardware bag a swears by it. My summer bag is a Klickitat 40 by Coleman (www.coleman.com), which weighs just 2 pounds. .

Personally, for real 3-season use, I like a bit warmer bag—with a rating around 20-25 degrees like the REI Aura 25. None of the 3-season sleeping bags I use are made anymore.

Good gear is an investment, find stuff you like. And remember, the more you use it the less it costs per use. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

Everybody is different, and with all the great packs on the market today, you ,can find one that suits your needs and you budget if you look hard enough. These hikers are bound for the AMC’s Lake of the Clouds hut on Mount Washington carrying extra clothing, lunches and some overnight gear.(Tim Jones photo)

Feedback from readers is one of the best parts of writing this column—along with being “forced” to get outdoors and do things, of course. I especially love getting questions from readers. It’s even better when I can actually answer them . . .

Tim G. from Connecticut wrote recently to ask about camping gear:

“I enjoyed your recent camping article and was wondering what you would recommend for a 3-season sleeping bag and a backpack for multiple day outings. I have looked at or seen reviews on the Gregory Baltoro 70, Jansport Klamath 68, Osprey Exos 58 or Aether 70 and some REI backpacks. On sleeping bags, I have seen the EMS Velocity 30 Degree bag at EMS and not much else. Thanks for your help.”

Well, Tim, I don’t know how much help I can be, because I’ve never actually used any of those packs—though I have used gear from each and every one of those suppliers. In fact, for winter camping I currently use an Argon 110 from Osprey (www.ospreypacks.com). This HUGE pack is simply the best I have ever found for comfortably carrying heavy, bulky loads.

My basic pack for 3-season backpacking is the excellent and affordable Mars 85 from REI (www.rei.com). My sweetheart Marilyn carries the Venus 75 women’s version of the same pack.

And for light, fast overnights and weekends I use a Z-65 from Gregory (www.gregorypacks.com). Marilyn has the Jade 60 women’s version. These also double as our winter daypacks for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and for tackling high summits in the summer.

That doesn’t mean those are the best packs on the market. They just happen to fit me and my needs—and they went on sale when I could afford them . . . If price is an issue, the house brands from EMS (www.ems.com), REI and L.L. Bean (www.llbean.com) tend to be well built, somewhat heavier and, usually less money than the “name” brands.

For decades I carried big packs from Kelty (www.kelty.com), Mountainsmith (www.mountainsith.com), and Jansport (www.jansport.com) and a smaller pack from EMS. I still have all of those and lend them out to my kids and to friends as needed. Good packs can last a long time.

One piece of advice I would give to anyone looking to buy a pack: get one big enough. Yes, bigger packs are heavier and they tempt you to carry more, but there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to fit what you need in or on your pack. The packs Tim G mentions are perfect for a real go-light backpacker, but I prefer something in the 80 to 90-liter (4,900-5500 cu. in) range for multi-night 3-season backpacking trips. In winter, there’s no such thing as a pack that’s “too big.”

The sleeping bag question is a little more difficult. Sleeping bags have to fit you and there are choices to be made in insulation and warmth ratings.

Personally, I prefer synthetic fill. It’s cheaper and stays warm if it gets wet, but it is heavier. The EMS bag Tim mentions is a good one, very narrow. I like that – other people don’t. The North Face Equinox 35 (www.northface.com) and the Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32 (www.mountainhardwear.com) are in the same weight range, but a little roomier. My buddy David Shedd has the Mountain Hardware bag a swears by it. My summer bag is a Klickitat 40 by Coleman (www.coleman.com), which weighs just 2 pounds. .

Personally, for real 3-season use, I like a bit warmer bag—with a rating around 20-25 degrees like the REI Aura 25. None of the 3-season sleeping bags I use are made anymore.

Good gear is an investment, find stuff you like. And remember, the more you use it the less it costs per use. Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!

RENTAL OPTIONS

A couple of weeks ago, Nora T from New Hampshire wrote requesting a copy of my backpacking gear checklist—which I’ll happily share with anyone who asks. She was taking her family on a weekend hike to a remote cabin in the White Mountains and asked about rental gear. Since she was going to be near North Conway, I recommended EMS and IME (www.ime-usa.com) also sells used gear in their “Bargain Basement”– as possible sources.

She wrote back after her adventure telling me they were already planning to try tent camping, first in a roadside area, then in the backcountry. So they must have enjoyed the experience.

But she also mentioned a source for rental gear for longer-term use. It’s www.lowergear.com. They have good prices and ship via UPS to anywhere in the country.

BIKE QUESTION

Robert G wrote to ask what I would carry in an emergency kit for off-road bicycle trips.

Usually, you aren’t that far off the when road mountain biking. But still, there’s risk involved. First thing you need is a little seat pack to carry a few essentials. In it put a folding bicycles tool kit–(there are lots of good ones on the market, I use ones from Pedros (www.pedros.com) and Topeak (www.topeak.com). Also carry tire levers, a spare tube, inflator/ pump, duct tape wrapped around a wooden match, and some cable ties. These essentials really should be along every time you go biking on-road or off.

If you’re really in the boonies, having a folding spare tire among the group might make sense.

As with any expedition, you’ll need water, some food, and raingear—which will all ride in a small backpack. And pack your common sense—don’t ride alone, don’t tackle terrain you can’t handle, don’t go faster than your skill level allows and do wear a helmet.