Category: Gear

My Top Picks for Reusable Water Bottles

September 22nd, 2010

Let’s face it, bottled water is so 1990s. I know that Dasani and Aquafina have taken steps to reduce the amount of plastic in their products but even if their bottles are made with 50% less plastic, that’s still 50% more plastic consumed than if you had a reusable.

Here are my favorite reusable water bottles:

Kor ONE hydration vessel – www.korwater.com

Here’s what KOR CEO Eric Barnes had to say about it:

“We wanted to build a brand that is about personal fulfillment, using design to attract consumers because there is already so much out there guilting consumers into drinking out of a reusable…If you look at Voss and Sport Water…the bottle was the experience. It’s amazing how people carry their bottles of Voss and refill it around the water fountain…it’s an experiential thing, a statement saying I’m healthy, I’m drinking water, those bottles are sexy. You look at bottled water and you start to see bottled design and that’s something we knew we could capture in a reusable.

If you’re about health and you’re about hydration, how can you have your little buddy with you and have it become something you hang on to? This is the next accessory…a statement of who you are and what you are about.”

I’ve had mine for years and I love it! I get so many compliments on it, it’s easy to drink out of (I never splash myself like I did with my Nalgene), and I could never lose it. They are available nationally at Amazon.com and locally at Golden Braid Books, Paisley Pomegranate and Cole Sport.

Here I am, enjoying the personal hydration experience near West Yellowstone, photo by Alexa Miller.

Alex bottle – http://www.alexbottle.com/

The Alex bottle is a new brand started by a small group of designers who wanted creativity, functional integrity and simplicity in a reusable water bottle. It is named “Alex” because it’s like your new best friend. I love the color options and the fact that they can be taken apart to clean. Another great feature for backcountry users is that they pack down to half their size. I ordered the black and green, which one is your favorite?

You can order them on Alex’s website: http://www.alexbottle.com/shop.php

Camelbak Better Bottle, Stainless Steel-http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreation/bottles.aspx

Camelbak has become a leader in the outdoor recreation industry by redefining personal hydration with their lightweight, high capacity water reservoirs. Their stainless steel bottles are a little more fashion forward for toting around town.

Drinking out of a Camelbak is just plain fun – it brings me back to my childhood days of sippy cups. I find that when I drink out of the bite valve, I drink more than when I have to pour it back.

These ones are made from medical grade stainless steel and are naturally BPA free. They come in a variety of designs to suit your taste (or just plain classic if that’s your style).

They are available at your local REI store or at backcountry.com.

I’d love to hear any feedback with your thoughts on reusables. What is your favorite? How do you stay hydrated?

Posted in Gear, Style & Design

Fall SUP Festival Races at Jordanelle Reservoir, UT

September 13th, 2010

This weekend I participated in the last local SUP race near Salt Lake City. The series, organized by Utah Paddle Surfing, has really brought together the local SUP community from first timers to seasoned racers.

For those of you unfamiliar to stand up paddling, (or SUPing), check out this mini-documentary I did last summer:

I love SUPing because it is a new, fun workout that allows me to get out on the water. I grew up in Minnesota so I always associate summertime with being on the lakes. Now, I can do that in land-locked, arid Utah-and it’s great cross-training for skiing.

At the fall SUP Festival, I competed in the 1.25 mile race, the SUP/land paddle relay race, and the SUP/Land paddle biathlon (the last two events involve paddling in the water and then running onto the land, grabbing a longboard with a stick with a rubber end and paddling on land).

I got first in my 1.25 mile race, our team placed 2nd in the relay and I got first in the biathlon! After that, I presented a short clinic on whitewater SUPing since I have been doing some river SUPing as well this summer.

Here are some shots from the day:

I raced on my new Surftech Lahui Kai 12’6” Mitcho board and took her out on her maiden voyage. The board is light, fast and perfect for paddling the lakes of Utah.

Please let me know if you have any questions about SUPing by posting a comment. I’m happy to help answer questions about equipment, destinations and whitewater.

Posted in Gear, Salt Lake City, SUP, Travel

March-April Cover of Ski Magazine

March 1st, 2010

The caption reads:

Caption:
“Caroline Gleich givin’ and taking at Alta,
Photography by Lee Cohen”

The shot was taken last April after spring showers dumped a few feet of fresh powder on the Wasatch. I woke up early and starting hiking before the sunrise with photographer Lee Cohen and snowboarder Forrest Shearer.

At 5:30 in the morning, every one is quiet and that is one of the things I enjoy most about being in the mountains. In the dark, you are forced to look only at the step in front of you instead of the big mountain you have to hike. We hiked up to the top of Silverfork, spun a few laps in there, and dropped back into Little Cottonwood in the early afternoon when this photo was taken. I must specifically thank Forrest for allowing me to have first dibs on this line because the snow was perfect!

As the winter turns to spring and the avalanche danger begins to settle, I am excited to check out some of the other peaks around the Wasatch that have always seemed so far away. I skied Coalpit last year and the Hypodermic Needle is high on my list along with some lines on the Pfeifferhorn.

Here are some of my gear picks for ski touring (click the pictures for links to Backcountry.com):

Black Diamond Ascension Nylon Custom STS Skins

I did a lot of hiking on these last year and they have held up remarkably well. The glue is still super sticky and I’ve never had any problems with them, which is what you want when you are in the backcountry.

Ortovox S1 Avalanche Transceiver

Last year, I did an avalanche refresher course with Dean Cummings at Snowbird. Anytime you go outside the resort (and I even wear mine inside the resort on a big snow day), it is 100% necessary to have an avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and the knowledge to use them. The S1 beacon has one of the longest ranges (70m) and uses a flip top screen to show you exactly where avalanche victims are.

The Marker Duke binding

For accessing the Wasatch sidecountry, I highly recommend the Marker Duke. This is the first backcountry binding I’ve skied where I didn’t notice much of a difference. It’s easy to use for touring and with a DIN that goes up to 16, it will keep you feeling secure off airs and straight lines.

Another great resource is Andrew McLean’s website. I received a copy of his book, The Chuting Gallery, when I was 16 and it is an indispensible guide to steep skiing in the Wasatch.

Happy touring!

Posted in Film & Photography, Gear, Skiing

Christmas Gift Ideas

December 11th, 2009

This season, while we are debating what to get for our friends and family, we need to consider the impacts our buying decisions have on people throughout the world. In our country’s current state, one of the only true ways we can voice our preferences is through our buying decisions–essentially, voting with our checkbooks. We need to look at the big picture.

As you are shopping, ask yourself, where this product came from? How was it made? Think about how oil intensive most products are and ask yourself, do we really need this?

Who made it? What toxic chemicals was this person exposed to during the manufacturing process? How many hands have touched this to bring it to me, here in America, and does the price really reflect this? Often, price and value are inconsistent.

Consider buying used. Thrift Town is one of my favorite thrift stores. It’s clean, bright and organized. In the front of the Salt Lake store, you can find antique and vintage jewelry. There are also great t-shirts, toys and other home furnishings. Craigslist is also great shopping resource. Look at an item to see if a little soap and elbow grease could clean it up and make it beautiful and usable again.

If you need to buy something new, try to find things that are made out of sustainable or recyclable materials.

Here are some ski and outdoor related ideas:

Leki Project 19 Poles–

The shafts are made from aluminum and the grips are made from reclaimed plastic and rubber. They are 98% recyclable. They are made in an advanced production factory where recycling and reusing occurs whenever possible.

Smith’s evolve series:

Smith optics is now making a line of helmets, goggles and sunglasses out of recycled and renewable based materials. The goggles are made from 98% re-ground urethane, reducing their dependency on virgin urethane.

The helmets have a lining made from Evolve X-Static fabric that is fully recyclable at the end of their lifecycle. X-Static won the Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 accreditation, which certifies the absence of toxic substances in the manufacturing process.

Patagonia Women’s Pipe Down Jacket:

The lining is made from recycled used soda bottles, usable second quality fabrics and worn out garments. This jacket is made to last and has a timeless sophistication that is sure to keep you warm (and whoever you hand it down to) for years to come.

To find out more about Patagonia’s manufacturing, check out this recent article I wrote for Skiing’s website:

The Future of Ski Clothing

When wrapping your gifts, use recycled newspaper, fabric scraps or anything you have handy. Also consider buying local gifts. There are many great holiday arts and craft fairs where you can buy hand made products that support a vibrant local economy. You can talk to the people who made the stuff to find out exactly what it was made with.

Finally, think about the end of life disposable of the product. Can it be recycled? Will it last?

If there’s someone on your list that you need to buy a gift for but can’t figure out what, buy them a pack of CFL light bulbs to save money on their electric bill, or a bar of soap. Small changes, like replacing your light bulbs or using bar soap instead of liquid packaged in plastic, can go a long way to preserving the planet.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Posted in Gear, Politics, Style & Design

Something I am so excited about…

December 4th, 2008

My New SKIS!!!

Check these beautiful babies out!

140 in the tip and 110 underfoot.  I am going to be the happiest powder skier this winter.  And those graphics are like my dream come true.

Posted in Gear, Skiing