To kick off the start of the spring backpacking season, I returned with some friends to tried and true Harriman State Park.

As I mentioned in my first entry last year, Harriman is a classic camping and backpacking destination for residents of New York City and the Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT). It’s just over an hour drive from the city and several of the trail heads are a short walk from multiple public transportation options.

For newbies, Harriman has plenty of short and easy day hikes or overnights, but the trails can get as challenging as you want them to be. With everything from fields of lush ferns to some very rocky terrain and steep scrambles, lakes in abundance, and mountain top views of the Hudson Valley with NYC in the distance, this local favorite truly has a lot to offer.

I explored both easy and difficult options in my first two hikes there this season as I shook the ice off of my winter legs and tried to get back in shape.

First up: the Ramapo – Dunderberg Trail. Along with some friends who were training for the New Jersey – Massachusetts section of the Appalachian Trail, we did this popular ~23 mile trail in its entirety as an overnight.

Starting in Tuxedo, NY, which you can access by train, this trail essentially cuts across the entire park. It covers a lot of the most popular sites, Smith Rock, Tom Jones, Bald Rocks, and gives you the option to break off to Bear Mountain as well. We pushed 15 miles the first day to get to a less crowded shelter, and allow for a shorter day 2, to go at a more relaxed pace and to stop and smell the freshly budding flowers.

Pro tip: at the end of the trail (if you began in Tuxedo), take a short cab ride to Peekskill Brewery for some post trail grub and cold beer and take the Metro-North back to Grand Central from the nearby station.

The second trip was considerably more relaxed.

My fiancé suffers from bad hips, so despite her love of camping and the outdoors, she is physically limited in her capacity and is more comfortable at a pace of about 6 miles a day. Luckily, Harriman can more than accommodate this while still being interesting and varied in its topography.

We chose a short, 10 mile loop that starts on the Blue Disc Trail and crosses over to the Ramapo – Dunderberg, as well as intersecting with couple of others along the way. There are several trail options at the start of this loop, which is only accessible by car, and it rewards you with some fantastic views just a few minutes in. The trail brings you up, around and down past multiple lakes where you can choose to stealth camp or take a quick dip (at your own risk of incurring a fine for both).

Word to the wise: if you choose to camp out near one of the lakes or the very popular Tom Jones shelter, expect crowds and noise as these are particularly close to parking areas and are frequented by partiers and those less interested in the “serenity” of the outdoors.

As you can tell by the photos, these hikes were in early spring. There was still a lot of brown, but flowers were just starting to bloom and you could see the grass beginning to push through the floor of dead leaves. Now entering summer, the park is lush and full of green. So go check it out for yourself – for the day, the weekend, or longer! And check back in soon for the next “Vanish: To…”

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No migration is as remarkable as that of the SoCal flatlander, who counterintuitively heads to a colder climate, in the elusive pursuit of “pow”.  Unable to bear 75 degree weather and constant sunshine a minute longer, SoCal residents flock to the mountains en masse to observe a rare phenomenon known as “weather”. With it comes freezing temperatures and the mythic snow.

Favorite wintertime refuges for migrating flatlanders include Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, Mountain High, and the legendary Mammoth Mountain, which stands head and shoulders above the rest. Featuring more than 3,500 acres of ski-able terrain, serviced by 28 lifts, Mammoth is a ski haven capable of rivalling any resort on the western seaboard.    

All winter, day and night, great caravans of migrating flatlanders make their way up Highway 395, swallowing whole towns and villages as they consume every last morsel of food and gas locals can spare. Passing through ghost towns, shanty villages, and hundreds of miles of empty desert, seasonal pilgrims press on into the wee hours of the early morning, just for a taste of what Mammoth Mountain has to offer.

Mammoth has something for everybody, but unlike other local destinations, terrain isn’t limited to the range of easy to moderately challenging. This resort offers skiers a choice selection of steep chutes, open bowls, and forested ridgelines, complete with the sixth highest annual snowfall of any California resort. Kids today might even say it “slaps”.

What To Hit

Head Chutes and Beyond

The southernmost edge of Mammoth Mountain is marked by a prominent ridgeline, offering access to the park’s narrowest powder chutes and choicest tree skiing. Head Chutes, Dragon’s Back, and Dragon’s Tail are just about the most fun you can have inbounds. The rugged, ungroomed face of this ridgeline combines with a densely forested base to closely mirror the experience of backcountry skiing, making it an all time favorite among regulars.

Strong winds are common in this more exposed edge of the resort, and we recommend skiers come prepared with some hardy outerwear. Our team recommends Patagonia’s SnowDrifter Jacket. Weighing in at just 20.7 ounces, the SnowDrifter is an ultra lightweight snow jacket perfect for use in and out of bounds. Composed of 68% recycled materials, this jacket features easy access pit zips, a low profile powder gasket, and a two-way-adjustable hood with a lamented visor. It’s minimalist design allows for a full range of motion, while its fluorinated durable water repellent keeps you warm and dry in the harshest conditions. Did I mention it’s fair trade sewn?

Kiwi Flats

Standing on a rocky precipice at the top of Kiwi Flats, with skis hanging halfway over the edge, the average thrill seeker can’t help feeling a little intimidated by the sudden vertical drop below. Summoning all their courage, and taking one last deep inhale, they push off into the unknown. As they’re sent screaming down the face of Kiwi Flats, they feel a certain weightlessness previously reserved for deep space explorers. A strong ecstasy takes hold, and they find themselves transported to a new realm of being, free of the physical and psychological limitations that are so prevalent in our own world.

Reaching this internal Shagri-La, requires the right skis for the job. Salomon’s new Stance series is a versatile all mountain ski. The Stance’s double ti technology features a double layer of titanal, and offers superior edge grips, enabling high precision power turns in hard and loose packed snow. Its poplar wood core increases stability by filtering vibrations, while recessed windows placed in the tip and tail of this ski reduce torsion, to maximize maneuverability.  

The Vanish team is unbelievably stoked at Salomon’s newest innovation, and can’t wait to hit the slopes with them! 

Dry Creek

For skiers who relish tight spaces and sudden drops, Dry Creek is the run for them. Upper to Lower Dry Creek is a long, blissful run, which spans nearly the entire length of the mountain. It features a couple small chutes, easy access tree skiing, and some fun little lips, for all the huckers out there. 

Before you charge Dry Creek, and send it flying through the air over all those sick lips and rock drops, you’ll need a reliable helmet, to avoid any melon bashing mishaps. Salomon’s Pioneer LT Visor provides the cranium protecting goodness you need, without sacrificing the comfort you expect in a helmet. Weighing a mere 430 grams, the cloud-like Pioneer is barely perceptible. It’s EPS4D channels prevent overheating, by allowing superior airflow between your head and helmet, and activedry material prevents sweat from pooling around your noggin. 

Well what if it gets stormy?

Salomon understands how temperamental conditions on the mountain can be, so they included an adjustable ventilation system to help stay warm and cozy, when necessary.

Unlike other helmets, the Pioneer doesn’t deprive you of your senses. It’s 3D perforated ear-pads allow for superior sound transmission, keeping you ready and alert. And for those of you who don’t care about your hearing, that’s cool too, because the Pioneer LT Visor is also audio system compatible.

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Winter is well upon us, and the west coast is getting hit with some much anticipated northwestern swell. Brewing storms in far off Alaska are producing absolutely massive waves across the western seaboard. While fair weather surfers pack their gear into storage, and get ready for a dry, cozy winter, die hard veterans are itching for any excuse to get back in the water. Blacks Beach is firing at double, triple overhead, while Mavericks is pushing into the forties some days, earning it the rarely seen ‘Epic’ status on last week’s Surfline report.  That’s right, big wave surfing in California is back! 

Staring out at the vertical seven foot walls of water which abound all northwestern facing beaches, the sane mind may wonder, why would anyone subject themselves to that type of punishment? Meanwhile, a fourteen year old grom with bleach blonde hair a twig sized board goes rushing past you, charging gleefully into the frigid tumult of exploding waves. 

Anyone who’s ever lived within ten miles of the west coast likely knows someone half-crazed enough to battle near freezing temperatures and constant bombardment by six foot walls of whitewash, just to earn their spot in the line up. Hell, if you threw a stone in any beach town, you’d probably hit one of these characters. There’s a good chance that one of them may have even found their way onto your winter shopping list. 

To add some much needed clarity to this year’s chaotic holiday season, we’ve composed a list of essential products for every winter water warrior. If you know anyone brazen, foolhardy, and masochistic enough to get pummeled by overhead swell day in and day out, this list is for them! 

A Wetsuit for the Hardcore

If the pioneers surfed, this would have been their wetsuit of choice. Patagonia’s Men’s R4 Yulex Hooded Full Suit is a hardy wetsuit built for a hardy man. Ideal for chilly water ranging anywhere from 38-48 degrees fahrenheit, the Yulex hoodie is a godsend to our friends up in the Pacific Northwest. It features a thermal microgrid lining, made of mostly recycled materials, for tree huggers who like to stay warm. The Yulex’s external triple-glued seams offer both durability and insulation, creating a long lasting wetsuit that keeps cold water out. Most importantly, the Yulex’s asymmetrical front-zip features a replaceable, corrosion-proof Salmi zipper, because anyone who’s ever owned a wetsuit knows, the zipper is the first thing to go.

A Wetsuit for the REALLY Hardcore

Patagonia’s Men’s R1 Yulex Impact Spring Suit is stretchy, durable, and, most importantly, safe. Designed for heavy and hazardous surf, the Yulex Impact Suit features 25mm foam padding and floating front zip. It’s built for easy entry, and is even inflatable vest compatible. This suit is practically made for Mavericks! 

Surf is Where You Find It by Gerry Lopez

For all surfers who wish they could be out in the water, but are stuck at home, Gerry Lopez’s Surf is Where You Find It may just be the next best thing. Written by the Pipeline King himself, this memoir provides valuable lessons learned from a lifetime of surfing. In addition to the knowledge it offers, this sexy little book is filled with stellar surfing photography, and looks great on any coffee table.

Planing Roll Top Pack 35L

The Planning Roll Top Pack is a stylish and effective solution for transporting wet surf and dive gear from the ocean to your home, without drenching everything in its path. This pack easily hauls wetsuits and soaked gear, while keeping clothes and towels dry and organized. What more do you need to know?

R3 Yulex Split Toe Booties

Patagonia’s Yulex Split Toe Booties is the grippy foot warming solution the surf world has been waiting for! This booty easily adjusts to your body’s unique shape and contour, featuring a Y-strap closure that conforms to the foot for a snug fit. Most importantly, the Yulex Split Toe Booties is water resistant and includes microgaskets at the cuff openings to prevent water entry.

But what about the material? The Yulex Split Toe Booties include a fast drying spandex thermal microgrid interior lining and a natural rubber is exterior, certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

More

For more holiday shopping inspiration, check out these fine products:

VSSL First Aid Mini, MOC Hybrid Shorts, Alpine 2 Trail Runners, Quick Drying Tech Pants

The post Winter Swell is Here appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

Last time, I took a short drive from NYC up to Harriman State Park for a close-to-home getaway. For this escape, I ventured slightly further north with some friends to Vermont’s Green Mountains.

The Mountains

The Green Mountain range spans around 250 miles and is an incredibly popular destination for every type of outdoor activity imaginable. For our trip, we decided to focus on the Bourn Pond and Stratton Pond loop sections of the Long and Appalachian Trails. The famous thru-hikes overlap quite a bit through the Greens, and so this region allows you to experience a bit of both.

The trailhead is near the quaint town of Manchester, VT. At around a 4-5 hour drive from NYC, it makes for a great or 3-4 day getaway.

The Trail

The loops offer lakes for swimming, rivers for forging, some amazing wilderness, and if you opt to, as we did, mountains for climbing. There’s the Long Trail’s notorious mud to contend with, so it’s best to avoid the mud season. Summer can bring lots of flies as well, but we found neither to be too detrimental.

Wanting to push a little more down trail than the original loop entailed, we added an extension and went over famed ski resort, Stratton Mountain, before completing our route.

The Route

You can see the full route via AllTrails, here, and check it out yourself for your next adventure. Vermont’s hitting peak fall colors as I type, so no better time to take advantage of all the Greens have to offer!

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Over the years we’ve seen some pretty inexplicable things in Patagonia, Chile. For example this perfect full moon rainbow over the lake (first image). To see it with the naked eye was like a dream. The massive cliff wall lit up like it was daytime. The southern cross (appearing on the top left part of the frame) is the first constellation to appear at night. We use it like a beacon to help navigate and keep perspective when we’re exploring new terrain.

The variety of climate within a few hours of our basecamp/lodge is very unique to anywhere in the world. From the violent surf on the Pacific coast, to the mix of fresh and salt fjord lands just inland. Moving east the terrain looks more like the American West; a mix of everything from large river valleys and lakes ranging from 2-200km long. Followed by high desert and glacial spring water leeching east towards the Pampas of Argentina. A quick google earth scan of southern Patagonia leaves the mind wandering what has and has not been explored yet. I revel at the opportunity to explore and put my feet down in untouched places. Here, you can do that.

Bozeman based photographer and fishing guide Austin Trayser has been exploring the incredible coast, lakes and rivers of Patagonia for 10 years. From the wild Pacific coast to fresh and salt water fjords to the dry inland lakes and river valleys, his incredible photography captures a dreamland of raw culture and nature. Break out of your confines and contact Austin… any interested adventurers? Just give him a call:  630.338.5712 – and check out @traysermedia.

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It’s March 2020 and from here on out for the rest of forever, we’ll all remember this strange time period of social distancing and quarantine thanks to the COVID-19 crisis. Tell us. Where are you now? How have you been handling this moment of extreme isolation?
So I’m currently in Sullivan County on this property we bought almost 20 years ago. And luckily, the whole point of this place is about escape. So philosophically, the property that we developed up here, called William Brown Farm, is in protest to the frantic and busy lives we have in New York City. It’s a refuge. So in a way, we’ve always kind of been prepared for a crisis like this. 

I’m also a bit of an armchair doomsday prepper. So we’ve kept it stocked with good food, terrific booze, great wine, and every culinary tool. I actually love being isolated up here, because the whole point of being here is its remoteness and proximity to nature. That’s why we built it.

On Instagram you’ve shared some good alternatives for stocking up at the local grocery store after all the basics have been pillaged. How’d you navigate the small-town grocery run?
I love a supermarket challenge and when the panic buying started at our little grocery store up here, it was really depressing. Because there was incredible stuff left behind. All the best dried legumes, all the killer cured meats, and amazing tins of fish. All the stuff that’s nutritious, makes great meals and lasts a long time. And people were saying, oh there’s nothing there. And there was actually amazing stuff there.

You have also been posting pretty regularly during this time period, everything from cooking how-tos to crooning. What’s prompted you to take this particular route in creating content?
We have a massive cookbook collection that we’ve been gathering over the years up here. We’ve always just pulled a recipe off the shelf and looked at what’s inspiring us today in terms of the weather and what’s in our fridge and pantry. So this period of quarantine has been a kind of hyper format of what we’ve always done. The good news is that for me, it’s such great therapy.

It was my wife Yolanda’s idea for me to start posting and putting this stuff out there. And every meal that we’re making is designed so you don’t need exact measurements of ingredients. I feel that a lot of this is just meant to inspire people to interpret what they have and showing folks that nothing needs to go to waste. Scraps become soup, bones become broth. And yes, after dinner, I occasionally may attempt my best Sinatra impression. 

What’s been your favorite dish you’ve cooked so far while in quarantine?
Pappa al pomodoro, a Tuscan bread soup (see image gallery above for the visual recipe)

What’s been the favorite tune you’ve crooned?
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Frank Sinatra

Everyone seems to be posting about living in their favorite sweatpants throughout this crisis, yet it seems like every evening you and your family have decided to get decked out in cocktail attire instead. Can you tell us about this choice and how it’s affected your overall attitude and vibe?
I love tailored suits and we’ve always had this tradition up here of, on occasion, dressing for dinner. It’s not like: we’re in the country so we need to put our holey jeans on… we like to dress for cocktails when we spend time here in the summer and I even keep a tuxedo up here. It’s just fun. So I consciously thought, “Okay, how do we elevate this crazy experience of quarantine, without making light of the seriousness of the situation? Let’s just do what we normally do. Let’s dress for dinner.”   

Being out on your land, what outdoor activities have you been doing to pass the time?
This is a 130-acre farm — we have lots of trails and amazing old fire roads and logging roads. So we’ve been exploring all these roads and trails, going further than we’ve gone in years. It’s just magical. The dogs come along and there’s just mounds of wildlife.

You recently posted some of your thoughts on your ultimate bug-out bag. Can you talk us through what you think folks should consider when packing for the apocalypse?
Well again, in my kind of armchair doomsday prepper mode, just think: How do you make fire? How do you stay warm? How do you have clean water? But I reached out to a bunch of friends to post their essentials and guess what the most common item was? Chocolate. 

Here at Vanish, we’re massive fans of overlanding. Can you tell us a bit about the Land Rover project you just completed with Brooklyn Coachworks?
So that vehicle came from Central America with a very rare matching trailer. I met Daniel Marcello at Brooklyn Coachworks through Alloy+Grit. Turns out we came from the same hometown and even went to the same university and we saw eye-to-eye on a lot of things. So we decided to turn this Series 2A Rover into a WM Brown Edition. It’s up for sale now. It’s 100% original, like right down to the correct galvanized hinges on the doors. Hopefully someone who’s really passionate about early Rovers will find it.

Thanks so much for speaking with us, Matt. Any final thoughts?
Just that, yes… this is certainly a crazy time, but Yolanda and I are both continuing to plug away at the next issues of our magazines. And despite all the concerning news of this crisis, I still find it to be a very inspiring time.

The post Social Distancing in Style with Matt Hranek appeared first on VANISH TODAY.

Photographed in Tokyo during the short two week period in which the flowers are in full bloom, “SAKURA” captures the spirit and cultural significance of the cherry blossoms and explores how skateboarding interacts with the flower filled cityscape.

As we are all self isolating during these trying times, it’s important to continue to find ways to escape and explore, even mentally if not physically. In Japan, the flowers are now blooming again, and many people are unable to view them due to the quarantine. Reflecting on this made me want to revisit these images for my own little escape from my apartment in Brooklyn. Hopefully they can do the same for you.

View the accompanying short film produced Morita’s company, Far East Skate Network (FESN) here.

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