Salt Lake City

Posted by: Hello Kammok • Monday, February 01 2016

Adventures and photos by Brooke Froelich

In Salt Lake City we ski fresh pow in the morning and ride the trails in the valley after work. Our climbing ropes find their way from snow filled couloirs one day to desert towers the next. Because the mountains are so close to downtown, it is not uncommon to run into coworkers on the skin track in the backcountry in the morning before work. Living in Salt Lake makes it easy to work hard - and PLAY hard.

Because Utah is a desert with high elevation mountains, there is a varied span of terrain choices on any given day in the winter. Salt Lake City is nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. The dry climate of the valley floor (4,226 ft) of the city allows for trail running and mountain biking during dry stretches in the winter, while the high elevations of the local ski resorts (8530 ft) frequently receive huge dumps of low density snow (caused by the lake effect weather patterns from the Great Salt Lake). The extreme climate differences in a 30 minute drive allow for optimal winter play. Because this is an El Nino weather pattern year, the snowpack in the Wasatch has had stretches of wonderful stability followed by abrupt changes of extreme instability when large storms have moved through. This past week, the Wasatch Mountains have had several avalanches, including one fatality. It’s been a humbling reminder that even when we study, plan, and prepare, there is still an element of risk. On weekends when the avy danger is high, it’s fun to explore new ski resorts, explore new (avy safe) terrain and sports, and explore new parts of Utah!

I’ve loved playing in the resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons (check out this scenic drive), but have spent very little time exploring the resorts near my hometown, 30 minutes north of Salt Lake City. When my mom offered to babysit my one-year-old son, Huck, I jumped at the chance to spend a storm day at Snowbasin Resort. I loved chasing my brother around Snowbasin. My brothers are my very favorite people to ski with especially on a storm day! It reminds me of when we were little. PLAYING. CHASING. COMPETING. Unsure of which way is up and which way is down in the storm! Skiing with my brothers is also the only time I eat cheese fries. So there’s that bonus. Winter is when I feel the most playful and young.

With all of the new snow and the persistent wind, the avy danger was still high. Instead of seeing the wind as a negative factor, we decided to capitalize on it! Early on Sunday morning, my boyfriend and I drove to Skyline to snowkite with some friends. Huck and I set up a shelter from the wind on the snow, and loved exploring the new mountain range and photographing Patton and our friends as they glided through the air and flew across the snow. The sunshine, the clouds, the new friends (and the puppy!) were all elements of a perfect day. We stayed for sunset, watching snowkiters fly over a grove of trees that the setting sun turned pink and purple, before packing the car and driving a few hours to the desert.

One of the things I love about Salt Lake City is that you are never more than a tank of gas (and a Diet Coke with Lime and two Snickers) away from the desert. Patton and I had never been to Capitol Reef National Park, and wanted to see if we could find any snow nestled between the red rock towers. We lost cell service as we drove through the sleepy small towns on the way to Torrey. Although usually bustling with tourists, southern Utah really is dead during the winter so we had the park to ourselves. We were able ski right down the center of the road. We skied, we explored, and we instagrammed until dinner. We grabbed burgers and ice cream on our way out of town.

From storm skiing laps of deep powder in the resort, to snowkiting in an open field at the top of a mountain, to ski touring in the desert. It’s amazing what you can do with a tank of gas in Utah.

Editor's note: This piece was created as part of a multi-brand campaign celebrating Backyard to Backcountry adventuring (#BY2BC). For more inspiration, check out #BY2BC on Instagram.

Back to The Outpost

Austin, TX. (March 7, 2023) — Kammok, designer of high-performance outdoor gear, announced the launch of its latest product, the Ursa Sleep System, on Kickstarter. The Ursa is the ultimate camping bed, offering maximum comfort for more restorative outdoor sleep. The Ursa Sleep System is a comprehensive sleeping solution that promises unapologetic comfort and spaciousness, packed with all the bells and whistles necessary to make camping a memorable and peaceful experience. The sleep system includes a 4" self-inflating base pad, 2" ultra-soft memory foam topper, Primaloft synthetic camp comforter with a 30F degree temperature rating, and a travel case, as well as an upgrade option for a deluxe foam pillow with an adjustable air core. Each component fully integrates to create a single sleep system with unrivaled comfort. The Ursa™ Sleep System is designed to work for any style of sleep, utilizing soft-touch fabrics and superior foam that mimic your bedding at home. The Base Pad features four inches of self-inflating foam, generously sized at L 80 in x W 30 in, providing a spacious surface that allows for full-body movement and comfort. The Ursa’s asymmetrical zippers allow you to link multiple sleep systems together to create a queen-size bed for two or larger, providing more room and comfort for you and your camping companions. The Memory Foam Topper provides a two-inch foam layer that conforms to your body shape, providing support and relief of pressure points. Attached to the topper is Ursa’s insulated hood, made for maximum warmth on colder nights at camp. The Camp Comforter is rated for temperatures as low as 30 degrees and includes a cinchable footbox and top seam when the temperatures drop. Lastly, the oversized pillow features premium memory foam and an adjustable air core to match any sleep position. The Ursa Sleep System is a game-changer for camping enthusiasts, offering the perfect balance of comfort, support, and convenience. "We believe that uncomfortable sleep at camp is a huge barrier for a lot of people wishing to experience the restoration of time outside. The Ursa Sleep System completely changes that, inviting people that wouldn’t traditionally like camping to get joy out and enjoy a night under the stars." said Greg McEvilly, founder, and CEO of Kammok. "The Ursa Sleep System was designed to eliminate any worries about uncomfortable sleeping. Our goal was to create a camp bed that maximized comfort and allowed individuals to fully immerse themselves in nature and make the most of their time outside." Kammok is a company that is passionate about the great outdoors and encourages people to enjoy nature to the fullest. By creating gear that inspires people to spend more time outdoors, Kammok believes it can contribute to the preservation of natural spaces, foster a stronger community, and promote a healthier planet. The launch of Ursa marks Kammok's eleventh Kickstarter project, having successfully funded ten Kickstarter projects since 2011, generating over $2.2 million in pledges. Kammok's commitment to delivering the best quality outdoor gear continues with the launch of Ursa Sleep System. Ursa Sleep System is available exclusively on Kickstarter, starting March 7, 2023.https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kammok/ursa-sleep-system About Kammok®:Kammok designs Adventure Grade, Better Made™ outdoor gear to elevate time outside. We believe in the renewing power of time spent outdoors, and we make hammocks, insulation, shelters, and hammock stands with the purpose of maximizing your moments of outdoor restoration. Kammok is a member of 1% For The Planet, a Certified B Corp business, a Climate Neutral Certified brand, and every product we make is backed for a lifetime of adventure. To learn more, visit kammok.com.

Camping at Home with Everyday Adventure Fam

Written by Dr. Felicia Wong. Dr. Felicia Wong is a physician, outdoor enthusiast, and wellness blogger based in Southern California. Between her and her husband (also a physician)'s busy work schedules, raising two young sons, and running her popular Instagram account Everyday Adventure Fam and blog on adventure tips, she exemplifies what it means to live intentionally and joyfully with her family. The Wong family can be found hiking, biking, enjoying a day at the beach, or skiing in the nearby mountains on any given weekend. However, one of their favorite activities is camping. In this blog post, Dr. Felicia Wong shares ideas to help you celebrate National Camp At Home Day! Our family loves to camp - at home, close to home, in state and national parks, or off grid. We started glamping as a family 6 years ago, and have gradually worked our way from glamping to car camping, to boondocking and backpacking! One of my favorite things to do, aside from planning our own camping trips, is to encourage more people to give camping a try. National Camp at Home Day - March 27 - is a great time for new campers to do a practice run, and for seasoned campers to test out and inventory gear in preparation for the spring/ summer camping season! To help you get ready for this fun weekend, we have come up with some ways to enhance your camp at home experience: Turn off your electronics and set them aside. Consider turning off your wifi. Unplug. If weather and space permits, consider camping outdoors on your patio or in your yard. If you have one, get cozy around an outdoor firepit with some camp blankets! If camping inside, you can create a nice camp ambience by moving some houseplants around your tent. If you have a fireplace, set up your Swiftlet hammock stand and hammock nearby. Play “camp games” . Our kids love card games like War and Go Fish! When it gets dark out, turn off the lights and use your camp lanterns, flashlights, headlamps. Treat yourself to classic camp treats like s’mores and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows No campfire at home… No worries! Here are 3 methods to make S’mores at home! S’mores on the Stovetop: If you have a gas stovetop, you can roast marshmallows just as you would over a campfire. Put a marshmallow on a skewer and set the stovetop burner on low heat. Use care while slowly turning the marshmallow over the heat to your desired doneness. We recommend this method for adults, as it involves an open flame. S’mores in the Oven: Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. Break the graham crackers into halves, and place half of them on a baking sheet. Top each graham cracker with chocolate, and then a marshmallow. Bake until the marshmallows are puffed and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Top with the remaining graham cracker halves and press to flatten. If you prefer your marshmallows extra toasty, you can also use the broiler following the same steps, but will need to watch them very closely, because they can burn quickly. Serve immediately while the S’mores are still warm! S’mores in the microwave: Place chocolate and marshmallows on up to four graham cracker halves and put on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds, or until the marshmallows puff. Top with the remaining graham cracker halves. Learn more about how to participate in this year's National Camp at Home Day here. Happy camping!

June Taco Tri Recap

By Luisa Vargas The weather in Austin has been less than ideal (by Texan standards). We’ve seen more rain these past few weeks than we do all year, and Thursday was the hundredth consecutive day of thunderstorms. Or at least if felt that way! The result of constant rainfall at the Barton Creek Greenbelt trail in Austin, TX. Wednesday night, our team decided to hold off on doing Taco Tri as the thunderstorms were getting pretty bad. It turns out all it did was rain that day. But the fun part about a virtual Taco Tri is that even though we didn’t get to participate in Austin, people all over the world did. Photo of Seth Tullar (right) in Australia. This month was particularly exciting because our friends in Australia participated! This is one the furthest away someone has been whose taken part in Taco Tri. Thank you, Seth, for tri-ing with us! We hope the weather was better “down under." Abelardo was runner up in the competition taking part in the tri in Alaska! We hope next month we’ll be able to Taco Tri again in Austin and can’t wait to see what other exciting places people will participate on July 1st!

Salt Lake City

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