Tayson: Here's the big question, how do we lighten our gear and build our confidence. So we can start living a life full of Outdoor Adventures and memories without having unlimited amounts of time, money and previous experience. That's the big question and we are here to help you find the answers. This is the little Trilogy podcast power, bi Outdoor Vitals. All right. Welcome back to the Live Ultralight podcast. Today we have another trip video or trip podcast. I should say to cover. We've
Tayson: got a big crew that came out on a trip last week. So we wanted to recap that go through all of the highlights of that trip, the things we learned the takeaways from it, as well as just share that experience with you guys. So really quick. We're gonna go around the room. We have one calling in and the rest are here in the office with us. So we'll go around the room. Do some intros. Tell us your name. What you do?
Tayson: And then we'll start dissecting what the trip was itself. So Brennan start with you. So, if you're chatting on the website, you're probably talking to me. Awesome. Brigham, brought designer. Derek marketing director.
Brigham: Maddie customer service. Tiffany, I'm McLean's life,
Tayson: I'm a clan Warehouse foreman and customer service forming I guess.
Tayson: Tyler operations. Okay, and if you don't know who I am, start over on podcast one or something, I don't know. Okay, so this particular trip was a very hot trip. You could say as the desert, we're walking through some pretty good feet. I swear like, I swear the temperature really climbed right before we went on this trip, so we got to deal with some of that and we logged 17 miles total and we had a little bit of water, but we
Tayson: weren't sure if we'd have water. So Other things to kind of know. This is Tiffany's first. Backpacking trip. And this was Maddie's longest. Packing trip and Brigham as well. So that's some of us have been into this area before it's actually in a national park. So some of us had been in there, maybe not quite gone, quite as far, and some of those brand new so I guess just kind of diving right in Yeah. What were you guys? Most excited
Tayson: for for this particular trip? What were you? What were you looking forward to? What are you most nervous about as we got started at the trailhead? I was, I was most excited to see the Arts because I've I've heard about it a lot and a lot of friends are you just go to the Arts and have some friends that I camped out on it? It's always thinking we're gonna go right up on the arch and like, be right next to it,
Tayson: which wasn't the case. But I mean it was nice to see it at least anyway. so now, At least I can say I've seen it. Yes, this is a big Sandstone Arch on the side of a cliff. I think Tyler said it was the third there is six six six, six six biggest natural arch in the world with the brochure said, gotcha. I was kind of a few I've been in this area Derek but never actually been to the arch. I
Tayson: had no. Expectations though. So I was still happy when we saw it. I wasn't expecting grip. Hell off it or something, like he probably were, but Any other thoughts kind of going into it? Things are looking forward to excited about. That was my first time hiking in Zion. So that was really cool. Just seeing all of it. We've driven up into it but never liked it. So, So, every time the trip perfect, it's not always green around here, but it was
Tayson: super green right now. It's probably our starting to dry out now that the Heat's really come on full force, but Definitely, I'm not really really well. So that was what I was nervous about. I mean, with me kind of heading up the planning on this one. I knew getting us down in there. At that time would be like the most contract between really beautiful green undergrowth with the huge Sandstone walls and and all of that. I just looks so cool. But
Tayson: I know he's going to be kind of on the verge of being too hot so that was both what I was looking forward to was just seeing just that like, unique situation of getting down into those Sandstone, canyons, and kind of finding a jungle that you would have never thought was down there. But yeah, I haven't got to review him yet, but we did get a lot of photos taken from this trip, and we'll have some videos as well. So when
Tayson: we publish the podcast, we'll have to try to get some photos up on her Instagram and whatnot. So you guys, I think they're already are some there so go check those out. It was just really, really pretty time. So I wanted to dig on this a little bit because this is the first time that Have ever experienced not being able to filter water when I just see water. And to me, honestly, I'm so used to just being like, oh, I've got
Tayson: a sawyer. I've got a katadyn. I can filter anything that I see and good to go. And people talk about filtering, you know, basically cow poop holes on the AT&T trails and stuff like that, and, and and I can't say that. I haven't done it. I mean, Brigham, one time, filtered, something like that. And just go through a weigh after it's so bad, but, but it made it drinkable, right? So when we were actually planning this trip out, we the Park
Tayson: Service, just Told me not drink the water out of this River because there's a certain fungus in it. Do you guys and algae algae. Okay. And I was anyone want to elaborate on why we could drink the water or like how would you ever know that without just doing? Well, I don't know what without What is check your email? Because I mean that was it it was just an email, right? So if you didn't check your email and you want to
Tayson: have a permit but yeah you wouldn't have but like what was a place you didn't? Yeah, I mean it's really. I mean, or like, what? If we didn't get a permit, we did hiked it. And you filtered that water like, It really, like, got me rolling some questions around. I don't know if you guys had any thoughts on it, but if you guys ever have that experience before, where you couldn't filter water like you knew ahead of time or I don't
Tayson: I don't know. No, no. I mean I've heard of that. Tributary and like the Virgin River. before and like, I mean, heard about like dogs dying from swimming in the river but Like never had to not filter it. I've never been there when it was an issue. Not filtered. So, So with these most common filters why, and I probably asking the wrong people but I'm gonna dig here, like why can't it filter out that? So I think it's a chemical it's
Tayson: like a chemical like these filter and won't filter chemical issues. They'll filter like organic organism like Toxic algae. I don't know if it emits a chemical or what but it's it's like it's a chemical issue. Not like a microorganism, you know, like a cryptosporidium and stuff like that, but the cat and filter and they're on their listing, on their website. They both, they filter out 99.99% of bacteria protozoa and Brigham says, like, organisms like that. But, like the chemicals. No
Tayson: guarantee kind of thing. Yeah, it comes down to just the size of what passes through and and the different filters websites that I looked at them, because we, we honestly, kind of didn't believe it at first, like, we're like, how will check on the filters and see, like how good they are and everything. And the more we got into it, the more we realized that the toxins that this algae was putting off is not even measured as far as like the
Tayson: micronized that the filters are measured in, and so With that. It was like, okay, well, none of these filters are claiming anything. As far as being able to filter something like this. Well, there's only like a handful of filters that exists that will make water safe to drink chemical issues like and they all have a charcoal elements like charcoal just
Tayson: like if you get food poisoning. build, they'll put Charcoal in your, in your system because it absorbs, the poison or whatever it is. But so like, Aqua tabs wouldn't work. No, boiling the water. Nope. Yeah. That's kind of sketchy, crazy. well, so yeah, I mean, I guess the takeaway is, you know, from time to time you try to do some research if you're not drinking super, You know, I would just would have thought to that. It was just like good clean
Tayson: Larks. It's up in the mountains and so on so forth. But like I would think if you're filtering water or farther and farther Downstream it gets more nervous, you know becomes more of an issue but I don't know what to take away is here. Just, you're not Invincible enough. If you're planning on day hiking, like that's a little bit more sketchy, but I think it just shows the importance of finding ahead and researching the area that you're going to. It's going
Tayson: to stay overnight. So just make sure you check in with like the local Rangers and seeing what Waters available and what sources are good even though I've never had that problem before. But now it's settling something that I'll probably check on in the future. yeah, same well, another takeaway is there's Just not the best idea to rely solely on your filter to start. Like, I, I know that I've gotten sick by my filter being contaminated from water that I was filtering
Tayson: and just not being careful enough of how, I Transferred, the water from one container to the other and if you have a little bit of clean water that you're carrying from home to do some cleaning with and things like that and that's a good safeguard that you can do you know? so, yeah, definitely heard stories of contaminating, your water by not I don't take run and everything through the filter, let it drip in so, on so forth, but Okay, well, this
Tayson: is big factor for us because we were hiking in to the desert in sand, super hot super exposed, so we logged 17 miles on the trip. And so, a lot of us showed up in the morning with, I don't know. I think I had nine liters of water. I think I'm had nine and I mean we were we were planning on carrying all the water we needed to hike in there and Hike back out. Um which I was very thankful we
Tayson: didn't because I still think I drink more than 9 liters and that was just me let alone everyone else. So that would have been super heavy and super difficult. But when we picked up the permit, we did Brennan. Got some info that there was going to be a spring in there that we could filter. So That that likes safe trip in my mind. If we hadn't had that option, it would have got a lot more ugly. I feel like on the
Tayson: trip. Okay, so as we were hiking in, yeah, any more thoughts. As far as just the trail itself, I know, for some of you that I don't know that everyone hiked in sand before, there's a decent amount of sand. Any thoughts on just hiking and sand? Horrible.
Tayson: Was it just the second getting in your shoe or just the like momentum loss?
Brigham: It was the momentum wall for sure. I don't know. I I had some struggles but that was just me. Wasn't just you.
Tayson: Yeah, it's kind of mentally deflating when you're cruising along it, I don't know, two and a half, three miles an hour, and then you hit the sand. And it just just quick, it just, you're going half as fast as it feels like almost for with more effort. I will say though that I was a little bit relieved on this trip because you can see the same coming in the trailhead and like, oh man, we're about to hit the sand and we've
Tayson: been on other trips for the sand is actually been so much deeper and so much worse. That the sand on this Trail was actually pretty mild if I'm gonna give Santa rating, I guess. So, I don't use relieving for me because I've been on like some of our other trips recently that have been like deep sand. I don't even think I stopped. Brigham do a duck walk. So it wasn't that wasn't the still not still not ideal but it was not
Tayson: it was not the worst that sand can be. Yeah, I've got a quick question is for Mattie and Tiffany when you take the sand over the last Hill or the last Hill, over the sand because that's the way I feel good to explain that. At the very end of the hike, there is a ton of elevation game like right before you get back to the car. And it's super deflating because you've already been hiking for hours and then you're like, ready
Tayson: to be at the car and you're hot and then you hit this massive Hill that you gotta climb out of. So sand versus that Hill. What's your
Brigham: sand? What? I don't know that the beginning but I still think I would rather have the sand. Well, it was like beginning of the second day. Yeah,
Brigham: I would definitely rather take the sand. That was a horrible Hill. That was the worst. I was like, perfectly fine. I was like, yeah, I might do this again and then the hill hit and I was just like, nope, never again. Combination factor with the hill, too. Because it was so hot. It was super exposed.
Brigham: It was definitely more of like a mental thing for me to finish that because I was pretty done. Yeah,
Tayson: it's got a nice fall Summit about halfway through where you're like. I'm at the top of the hill. Where's the truck?
Brigham: And you go back down and have to find back out again?
Tayson: Hmm, that's where Sandy can start to see the car. So you're just happy I'm inside and you're still hike up the hill. Yeah, you do kind of a loop around the car. That's good question. All right, so we're back. We're hiking in at this point. We go to the arch, we get to Camp. This is Tiffany's first time, backpacking. You slept in a tent over before know? Yeah, just
Tayson: just not out of a backpack. So, We set up. I think all of us minus like one or two people of our I mean, how big was our group? Three six eight people. Yeah, the ranger check this around yourself. We have eight, not seven. Anyways, I think all of us have the coconut curry dinner. Which I thought was amazing. Seems to be the hot thing so. So Peak refuel came out with a new meal. It's the coconut curry and it was
Tayson: wicked. I really liked it. So go check that one out for sure, but I think I was the only one that I have it. So
Brigham: everybody I didn't have it. There
Tayson: were two people, two people that didn't have it. Would you guys have
Brigham: Had the chicken alfredo? Yeah, the chicken alfredo sauce.
Tayson: We can. Walk to go get some Curry. Yeah. So had dinner filmed a couple videos that's actually where we talked a little bit about Pants versus shorts so we filmed a video where we just weighed kind of the pros and cons of the two and I thought it was pretty insightful. We just had a handful people with with both on there, some that opted for leggings option as well. So yeah, I think we want to say there. We didn't say in
Tayson: the video itself. Because we want to recap on with with that.
Brigham: I'm glad that I was wearing shorts instead of leggings on that second day for sure because I feel like those would have just stuck to me.
Tayson: Yeah. If you, if you're looking to find out more details on what some of the things were said about Pants versus shorts, and which ones better actually, definitely keep your eye out and watch the video that we're gonna publish on our YouTube channel because that's that's gonna have some good thoughts. I was gonna say real quick I was gonna opt in for pants and was it like two miles up? You're like man, you have an open your pants. I was like,
Tayson: oh yeah and I opened. Oh, and that was like. Oh well, that just changed everything. And so I was just gonna say, It's awesome. Yeah. I was glad I had shorts because I even I think I sweat it all the way through the shorts as well, so that second day was super hot walking out of there. All right, so the we was really cool. We where we were camped. We were just right in between these Big Red Cliff faces. Super pretty
Tayson: scared of the sky, right overhead, and you're kind of right by the river that we could not filter. So, Anyways. But we got camp set up and it was pretty dang hot. I think most people were using our new top quilts. We released them last week, kind of the same week, we were going out. So most of us had got our hands on new top. Quilts not just the prototypes and samples and stuff that we've gone through. So yeah, what did
Tayson: you guys think about how to sleep? What was the temperatures? Like I know I got a little chilly you know but now it was really hot. I don't know what the temperature's got down to. I had to be in the 50s though. Yeah, I looked up the record for it and it was 56 was our low. For the closest known area of Zion. Yeah.
Brigham: I had a 30 degree and I couldn't use it most of the night because it was too hot and the morning, it cool off. And it was like and that's to get in. But I was it was good to like, be able to have the top of the sleeping bag because I could just drape over parts that were cold and stick a leg out or Use it, however, just be comfortable, but not have to be like sweating the whole time. Yeah,
Brigham: well, I was doing that anyways. But
Tayson: yeah. That was my problem is I pull the quilt on. I'd get really hot and then I push it off and then I'd eventually get a little too cold and have to pull it back on. I use them a 30 degree top quilt as well. That's one of the rare occasions, I feel like at least for our backpacking where It was just extremely hot. Usually when it's this hot, we're going to higher elevation so this time of year for sure. So
Tayson: that was a doesn't Work. I know that I was all. So in a prototype tent that wasn't like a two-layer or two-piece tent. So I have my rain fly, you know, covering us. I was a little jealous of Tyler and Brandon you guys are just just rocking the mesh and looking at the bats fly over your head, so You feel like that made a big difference? Yeah, I do for sure I had a 15 degree top quilt. because that was what
Tayson: was available and just just so that you guys know like, I was using an older sample and to kind of give some insight into the testing process. The one that I was trying had a third pad strap on it just I think it's these guys were just trying to explore all the options and see what worked best. The third pad strap is completely on necessary. Like it's the whole thing was Pretty dang warm. So having the rainfly off and stripping down
Tayson: and just using the the top coil, as a little throw, was the ticket and we actually had quite a bit of wind through a lot of the night and I was still perfectly fine. So, Would you?
Tayson: Yeah, I would agree. The mesh was definitely nice touch with how warm it was. I was actually my first time ever using a top coat outside of a hammock and I didn't even really use it. So, It was, it was pretty warm the entire night. All right. Glenn Tiffany how's your guys's night? We opted in for the rain. Fly. Because Tiffany wanted the privacy Because you were right next to me. We had that, um, and then we had two people in
Tayson: a tent. So Tiffany fell asleep just on her pad. On her sleeping bag. And I was like, are you not gonna like unzip that or anything? And we are in Summit, she was in a 15 in the 3, 0. And as I was laying there, I was like, yeah you're right I don't need this. So I just kind of scooted it to the side and I was Just laying there and it wasn't till like, 4 in the morning where I looked
Tayson: over and Tiffany had just didn't open the bag at all. She Like a full-on. bags, when you And yeah, I I unzip mine. Kind of use it like a top quilt. One it did get cold but Nice. I just arrived the night Tiffany.
Brigham: I was I think I was so exhausted. I was just I was out. I was just asleep the whole night through basically I didn't like the only time that I kind of woke up was when I threw that thing over me but yeah I don't know it was good because I was so tired.
Tayson: That's pretty damn good. I was Playing the whole, take five top coat on, push it off. Game all night long. So, so I used up even better than I did. So
Brigham: yeah, I was thinking, I was keeping up. Wake people up from moving around so much.
Tayson: Yeah. Yeah. Okay, we've covered a lot that I kind of had noted down. So we'll go into some other elements. What? Is anything? Else. Okay, my favorite things to ask on the podcast, on the trip. Like this is you know, what was something that you wish you hadn't brought or you didn't need or you didn't use and then what's something you wish you would have had so, You you get to answer both? Well, I guess we'll start. We'll go all the
Tayson: way around asking first. What's the one thing that you you didn't need? Maybe you brought it, you didn't use it. You wish you hadn't brought. It was just kind of A. Yeah you packed an insecurity or something like that. We'll go around the room. First with that question. So Brennan we'll let you go first the only thing that I Can that I didn't use? Was. The rain fly for my tent but every time I have it packed my rainfall. It always
Tayson: rains. So it's something that I'll always still bring. even if it's not planning on rain and one thing that I wish that I would have brought Is. I don't know. I was pretty jealous. Every time you started pulling out the electrolyte packs. So I think that's something that's definitely gonna be one of my Staples going forward. So you're referring to the mountain. Ops electronic out? Yeah. Yeah. So those are that's a retail brand that we carry on the site but essentially
Tayson: it's just a small packet of like salts and minerals and electrolytes that Help your replenish it. And if you're sweaty, is like me and Brigham and you gotta, you gotta use them. So fact, Matty, we handed you on to ya me inside, on using them or death,
Brigham: I thought Know we made a few changes, right? Then I started using trekking, poles and took the electrolyte pouch, and I definitely did a lot better from that point forward on the the first day and the second day. So yeah, I thought they were, they were great.
Tayson: Tough. It's subtle thing to pick up on. I feel like to tell the difference between keeping up on things like electrolytes or salts or whatever and not, but I've I've personally found they make a big difference by the end of the day. So if you're doing like huge days, even like Himalayan pink salt, or something like that, by the end of the Really makes a big difference to keeping your system. So Brandon. All right, I mean Brigham What let's see.
Tayson: What did I not need? it's getting harder I like the more trips we go on the harder to answer this question is the didn't bring inside well I guess yeah well I mean I don't know I guess something I generally always take because a really light fleece beanie, so obviously didn't need that but it was like an ounce and a half but It served a purpose because I wrapped my stove in it so I didn't poke anything. But I did wish
Tayson: I had some candy at the dinner. Yeah, just something extra. Nice there. Hey I pretty much used everything I brought
Tayson: Oh the one thing that I didn't use was a jacket or a vintage City. So didn't use that at all. I don't know if I wouldn't necessarily leave it behind because you never know the temperature going to drop, You're Gonna Want at least, at least the hoodie like the Vintage where it is just For, for layering piece. That's not To me it's worth being prepared. Kind of like Brandon singing always brings attend fly but I did not use that. Something I
Tayson: would have brought. Air conditioning or I. Yeah no. But for real maybe maybe a bug net like one of those nerdy looking ones for your head like honestly, I could not handle the gnats on second day on the hike out, we mad and I left a little bit early because we were packed up and we were trying to get out and And put some heat on the rest the guys to get up and get moving. So we get get out and
Tayson: get to some other work meetings. Hey, Brandon didn't sleep in that long. But we tried to weigh once we were going to see if we could, you know, let the the rest of the group catch up and hang out and stuff as we're hiking out. But I just could not handle the mat, so I'm like, never mind. We're not waiting. Like there's, there's no way cannot handle this. They're flying in my ears and on my nose and everywhere, it was a nightmare.
Brigham: He really didn't like that. so, one thing that I would have left behind, I had to think about it because Derek, Convinced me to go on this longest hike ever. And so he packs everything for me. I didn't have to do, he's like, don't don't want us to finger, I'll just, I'll get everything ready for you and so he did that. But I threw in some leggings and go figure. I didn't need those. I thought I might be cold or something
Brigham: and I didn't need them. One thing that I wish I would have brought. Um, I had something. Probably more like electrolyte packets or something. To just keep my my energy up. I really struggled with that, a lot of the time. So
Tayson: yeah, your snack lady though. So did you not have like
Brigham: well, they're packed my snacks too but I don't say he didn't bring enough. I just kept like forgetting to Eat snacks.
Tayson: We did have leftovers. So there wasn't it wasn't another wasn't enough.
Brigham: Yeah, I just kept like forgetting to do that. And so You'll learn the value that of putting your snacks in your front Hip Pocket like Tyler. Oh hit pockets on the shadow. Like I always repack all my snacks in there so that I can then they were there the whole time too. I think I was like there just wasn't waiting for you he's like up at the top of the hill. We came over said I think I think it was just
Brigham: a mental game that I just have to keep going. Yeah.
Tayson: Well, what I've noticed, I remember this is one of Maddie's first time using trekking poles. I find myself, I've never been really attracted to a person when I have trekking poles. I feel like I do drink less water and snack bus because my hands are full and I feel like think to carry my checking pools to get my snacks to get my water. So something I have to constantly remind myself, but that's just me. So Well, sometimes you've got to watch
Tayson: your pace to get to where you've got to go before dark or something. But snacks per mile is
Tayson: that's another metric. We track around. Yeah, another one.
Brigham: So I think I must have been subconsciously rationing myself.
Tayson: An expert mile that is its trademark part of pace part of the pace calculation. All right, Tiffany
Brigham: Well McClain packed our stuff too. But one thing I noticed that we didn't use was like I had a little hoodie jacket thing and then beanies as well and we didn't use those at all but I mean it's always good to have like I guess so. Yeah. Um one thing that I Wish that I brought was probably another shirt. But I sweat through that last one and I was like this is disgusting and I just stunk it up. So So probably
Brigham: another shirt would have been nice.
Tayson: Yeah you're in good company with fellow hikers. Everyone everyone's list so much so you just gotta get comfortable. Hopefully McClinton doesn't judge or anything, you know? the one thing I think, What I would have done if I know that hot. I would have just X Out both of our Summits and grabbed an area just to you like, because for the two of you I would have had, maybe Maybe I would pack that Tiffany. Do an extra leader of water. But I
Tayson: think other than that and then electrolytes and snacks, I think that could have really carried. Both Tiffany and I threw that last stretch. A lot better if we have been keeping up on snacks and electrolyte. Yeah. Hitting that wall where you just like out of energy. That's something that a snacks per mile metric would would help you. It's a real thing though. And You you gotta hit your limit, sometimes to know it for the next one. So, one more thing I
Tayson: was gonna say Brandon, we had planned this before, but Brennan said, he'd bring his filter for us. And so if we were by ourselves, that would 100% be the number one thing. I wish we bought. Is. A filter at that spring getting that cold water through that filter was a game changer as well. Yeah. And those it filters so fast that it's easy to filter for. I mean, that he filtered for three you guys with one filter, right? Yeah. Pretty awesome.
Tayson: All right, Tyler. all right, so the, the thing that tasting was alluding to what Just me being off of of my snacks per mile pacing. I had a JoJo's chocolate bar. In my hip belt pocket and by miles three, it had melted and escaped the packaging and coated everything in that. One hit belt. Chocolate. And so that was kind of a Mystic cleanup. I don't regret taking the chocolate on the trail. It just was it should have been a mile one
Tayson: snack, not a mile three snack. So I'm not I say I also had melted chocolate though and I'm I've had it enough that happen enough lately that I'm yeah
Tayson: it's it's difficult. I got to be more wise with it because it melted chocolate. Just sucks. My nose contained though. Not by the hippo pocket. Yeah. Right extras. Ziploc bags. We have some good footage of Tyler, licking his multi-tool as chocolate. It was Some interesting questions like will chocolate rest my multi-tool, and we decided it would not rusted, because there's a good amount of wax in oil, that would protect it. So, Yeah. Yeah. So what I actually would not take with
Tayson: me, was that extra bag of tent Stakes that I found in my pack. When we were unpacking, I had two bags. I was just carrying a dead weight for no reason. So that's a good. A good reason to like, really Through your pack each time that you go so that. You're so that, you know what's in there, you know, because you definitely don't need like 1410 States for a Dominion Tank with no rainfall with no rainfall. So that's what I would
Tayson: have left behind. As far as what? What I wish that I would have had. I don't know. I wasn't really wanting for much, I was I was pretty happy there. Could have definitely eaten two of those Peak granolas and the morning, or at least not, let me Clinic. Tiffany throw away, their strawberry milk. You guys raped about those but I didn't love it. I'll be on it, really? Yeah. Oh, I thought it was good. It was my first time having one
Tayson: of them. I probably build this too high up, but it doesn't say it's like great. You like Jason's like oh it's like a dessert. I don't need cereal. That's the difference here. Yeah I oh yeah I know I know what I was wanting. Um I didn't have very good socks. I just had like my everyday socks and compared to like some of the better socks that I've hiked in in the past like I was getting a little more
Tayson: I didn't get blisters but my feet were just a little more fatigued having that thin of socks and I noticed. The sand in my shoes, a little more. So what did you just trade? It out for a little better quality of sauce. Yeah. Okay, for me. Things that I didn't need to bring or shouldn't have brought its kind of same with Brigham. He kind of stole mine. I was gonna say I've got a down beanie, but I did not need but
Tayson: I guess to build off of that, do some different. I always bring Dragon wolves offs when I'm wearing shorts. I'm just nervous. Gonna get cold at night and then I have a Ventus as well and I didn't need those at Boston. They were just I could have used my top quilt if I was really that cold, like, I just couldn't have raped her on my legs or something like that, if it was really that cold. So, Definitely could have could have
Tayson: left those behind. But now in retrospect, I its kind of goes to show when you're in your tent at night. You just not always thinking as clearly, but as soon as I got on my tent, I ripped off. Like my, my dragon will thermals and my Ventus and, you know, most of my layers because it was just so hot and then I was pulling that top coat on and off all night. And now I'm like, why did I not just put
Tayson: the Dragon Ball back on? And my vent is back on and just ditched the top quilt completely. I put a lot more comfortable, but either
Tayson: way, I probably would have left the Dragon Ball at home. The things I wish I had the first thing comes to mind I had some new shoes, I had some some Salomon Trail Runners. They did a lot better job at keeping debris out of my shoes compared to some innovates that I have just because those innovators are just meant I mean they're like they're still breathable they're like sandals on your feet and they just let everything into your walking in sand.
Tayson: Getting sand in your shoe. It just eats your feet up. At least for me. Like, if I get a clump under my big toe, or something like that, it'll doesn't take long for it to just shoot right through that. So I still probably need to get a pair of Gore-Tex. Our. Runners and from getting into my shoes, because I mean, I stopped a couple times to dump my shoe and I mean, even with you Tyler saying like your sock issue, I
Tayson: wonder if it wasn't so much, the stock issue is just the sand. Getting in there. And it doesn't take much sand or very long before that sandal. Just start to. Do work on your feet for sure. So I didn't get much sand in side because this one's that I had were leather and cortex. But Those shoes, those particular metals are just wasted and and way less cushion and Ultras that I'm running in, you know? So that was my issue. As I
Tayson: was just wishing for a little more forgiveness. Yeah, so
Tayson: I feel like I mess up the questions a little bit. So I'm gonna usually ask what was your favorite piece of gear. Um, so what you wish that you had. So let's do a quick another round of what your favorite piece of gear. Was. We're gonna bring him go first, then we're gonna let you run off cuz I know you've got to get headed out but the Brendan go over. Yeah, we had him. Go first. Okay. So have you answered this
Tayson: Brigham and we'll go back to Brandon. So your favorite piece of gear for that hike in that. um, it would, I don't know, probably the the filter just because the hot it was and kind of let you go first and that's the easiest one to pick every time. Backpacking trip revolves around water. So it just made it. Super easy and mine. It was clogged I did not properly maintained it the last time I used it so like it nothing was coming
Tayson: out and by the time I just shook it around for like 30 seconds and Flow rate was back for like, half a bottle. So I like the way you put it, you shook it around for a little bit and worked it. And then You're like man, this flow rate even after it was like plugged is still faster than a brand new Sawyer. Oh yeah. That was true. That was more, was like all the way back. So yeah awesome. Okay. If you
Tayson: need to take off go ahead. Brandon what was your favorite piece of gear real quick if you've never used when you're like using Trail Runners like the sock type Gators that go over your shoe that does help me a lot with sand and debris in my shoes. So something to look into for those of you that were wanting to keep sand out. Yeah.
Tayson: My favorite piece of gear. It's probably a tie between my High choose because that's like a staple for me and we all appreciate it that I choose. And and deciding to go with a mesh tent. I think that like really helped my night's sleep, so, Two all-time instead of a single Walter. Eric favorite piece. I actually really like the trekking pole prototype that we brought Maddie, and I just really like, yeah, trekking pool, 10 did not say that. Trekking pole, prototype
Tayson: tent. The tent. So that's what I have in my mind. That's what I'm talking about. The tent but there's really lightweight and Let air pass through really well, so and you breathe that we got we just left the doors in the best deals open and air flowed right through. And it didn't slow us down our way harder than anything, so it's nice. I carried it.
Tayson: That's why I didn't.
Brigham: My favorite thing was probably the actual trusting poles of the first time I had with those and I was having a lot of knee and hip pain. And I feel like once I was originally, I was just carrying them so that we could Use the trekking pole tent but I actually got the mountain started using them, probably like my all three or something. And they really took the pressure off my knee especially and I was able to keep going and not
Brigham: be in so much pain. So that was probably one of the highlights. Your items that I brought. Nice.
Brigham: Um I would agree with Maddie maybe it's a girl thing, I don't know. But I at title, let me use his trekking poles like at the toward the end and I really I really like them. It definitely helped for that last stretch that we were doing. Like I don't think I want to make it with that. I was like, oh my goodness and dieing but it they definitely helped.
Tayson: It's not a girl thing. Right? I always say that people that don't like trekking poles, just haven't used them minus Derek. He's the exception. McClain. Was kind of a two-part thing. I I really enjoy the saucepan so they just overall protection, really good materials and stuff like that. But right before I started eating my meal, there was just bugs everywhere and I was like man this is so annoying. So I went to my and grab the Deep wipes, the insect wipes
Tayson: and just wipe myself down with that. And then for the rest of my meal, I just enjoyed it. And that I Tiffany then I told her to put it on before, she didn't use it during dinner and she was griping and complaining about all the bug bites as she got. So was that you
Tayson: would say those wipes really helped out? So they're just super light and then it just helped get the insects off. Nice. I, Heart. I like all the gear and was pretty comfortable through that. Whole trip. And I don't know if I said this last month or not, but The shadow light pack is just. a really solid staple like, So much lighter than most other packs. out there and like one of the things that impressed me the most was actually me watching.
Tayson: You jab, your pack into like that. The tip of this tree that was poking out into the trail and he just catches it right with one of the side pockets. And it just it just I thought for sure it was gonna just puncture straight into the fabric and tear it. It. just glanced right off of it and and was totally fine. Completely fine. So so like as far as the capacity and the weight of the pack and the comfort and Just
Tayson: the way it fits. I'm super happy with that. Yeah, we've got The in fact it's probably the one I was using. We've got a really cool case, study that we need to put into a video format. So we can display it, where once upon a time, we did a little race out back here at the office with some shadow lights, and some of them took some hits, and it's really cool to see that even when it like is ground against concrete,
Tayson: it and like with big rocks inside the packs, all sorts of things like that, it
Tayson: did exactly what it was supposed to do where like the Spectre stayed intact even where like the nylons started to pull away. So like even in a worst case scenario, you puncture those that Specter, just that Specter ripstop just really does its job. So we'll have to put that up to because it's a really cool view of just seeing like the Specter still intact and the To peel the way and like this little patch. So For me, favorite piece of gear
Tayson: was probably a prototype hoodie. I was using called the turn hoodie. It's a Wool hoodie, that's just super, super lightweight. So, we're, we're developing that and I just love it because I get, I get sunburned, but putting on, too many layers and whatnot is just not great either. Because you overheat. hood and, you know, even if I put a little bit of water on it, or something like that, it just To cool the protected. I've got more sensitive skin as well.
Tayson: So now, it's probably my favorite piece of gear on the trip, so Okay. Got your bunch of gear stuff. Do's don't Pros cons of different things. What are we miss on the trip? That's No worthy. I did it.
Tayson: We got married. She killed it. That's right. It was it's funny because a lot of times you hear people, you know, click off like a ton of miles. Oh, I did 20 miles a day or this that any other. And I were at 20 miles is gonna be pretty rough. A lot of times and Stat. 17 between the Sun and facts. When I was like, how many miles was it Tiffany's? Like I think it was like 41, you know, because it
Tayson: just adds that many more miles just depending on the Client and the Heat and exposure, and all sorts of things add into it. So, yeah, we were well over 90 degrees when we started the hike and it just got hotter for the next four hours. and then even the morning of when we got back to the trucks, the temperature was over 90 again, you know, and we got a decently early Stars, which kind of brings me back to like our our
Tayson: filter discussion and the takeaway from the water when we're talking earlier. When, when we were asking like what's the takeaway? ultimately, the biggest takeaway is do your research, find the water sources know, you know, try to find reviews or information about people who are using them this year because you never know how like a round in the western us the Snowfall in the winter decides which strings, and which water sources actually have water. And for us, we knew that there was
Tayson: a spring that was usable, but it was like five miles in, right? Right around there. Yeah, I think it sounds might have been, yeah, five or six. And so what I didn't say very well earlier that I was trying to get out was I think it's if we would have just relied on getting to that spring five miles in we would have had some people that had heat stroke like we still have to pack a good amount of water just to
Tayson: get to the water source. And so I think that's the biggest takeaway for me is just do that. That Preparatory work to make sure that you're safe and you have a good time. Get into that. Spring was awesome. And we filled up and hung out there, it's really good. yeah, something I just for those of you that haven't, I don't want to ruin it, just amazing. But for those of you that have are applying on visiting, Zion National Park, don't fly
Tayson: by Cola. It's a very, very beautiful place. A lot of people. If you're not here from Utah, go straight to the main part of Zion Where Angels Landing is or you have the Narrows the subway. And they fly right on by this really, really beautiful Canyon. If you've never been there, it's a great place, great place to go, don't pass it up. So Yeah. What I was gonna say is something I know is I have two water bottles on my little
Tayson: the side packs but I had my, I think like three more liters inside my pack right next to my sleeping bag. And then my Ventus was on top of it. And when I got into those Waters, they were like I don't know, they were a lot colder and a lot more drinkable. And so even that thinking about maybe put a good majority of your water inside your pack where you can access it and be able to drink that won the hot
Tayson: water gets too much for you. So, that was something. Then if you see Ponderosa, smell bar. I said, They smell like whatever the beholder besides this. Ya know, overall, I was just a time as a lot of fun when he got back to the trailhead, I'll kind of share this, I guess in departing thoughts but we got back to her head and we ran into a few people and they're asking questions. And one of the guys that we passed on the
Tayson: trail, he was with Partner, a spouse or something. He anyways, he got up the trailhead and we're like, man, you know, where's your partner? And we didn't really dig, but he cracks open a beer and just sits there and talks at this. And I mean we were there 30 or 40 minutes, you know, and just like hanging out and talking to people and you know, his partner still never showed up and I'm like man where I didn't really talk to the
Tayson: guys. Some of you guys were talking to him but he was just having a good old time and happy as can be. And then we finally get in the truck and go to lease was probably like 40 minutes almost since he had got there and finally, his spouse or partner comes walking out of the trailhead. And she did not look happy at all at all and I'm sure he got He got told for ditching on the trail at that. In those
