Testing gear as well as nerves: the wilder sides of Escalante (Hardwear Sessions)

By Micah Hinton

Hardwear Fans,
Here are some pics and some videos (part 1 and part 2) from our recent Desert Rendezvous in Escalante Utah March 22 - March 25. This event was open to all employees of Mountain Hardwear dealers. If you have never been to this part of the world you need to go now. Escalante is located in Southern Utah surrounded by Capitol Reef, Arches, Zion and Bryce National Parks. It is in the middle of the Grand Staircase National Monument, and some of the most beautiful country anywhere.

We had a great week out in the desert testing our backpacks, sleeping bags and tents in beautiful, rugged terrain. Every day we had groups out canyoneering the incredible slot canyons nearby, mountain biking, hiking, fly fishing and backpacking with the Exodus packs. We had 300 foot rappels, 1000 pound chalkstones, Indian ruins, 16" brown trout, flash floods, and everything else possible.

The flash flood was the highlight of the event I guess. If you call almost getting washed away to your death by a 5 foot wall of water a highlight. The video shows the flood in all of its glory but what is not shown is the fact that about 2 minutes before the flood the group was in the canyon right in the path of the flood. Some quick rope work by all of the group and especially the guide "Sick" Rick Green saved the day and allowed everyone to get to safety and shoot this killer video.

In the afternoons and evenings we partied like only Mountain Hardwear can with clinics on all of the new gear, Mike Libecki and Micah Dash slideshows, Paleontology talks, great food, drink, and music. If you are an employee of one of our dealers you pretty much have to come out next year, or better yet check out our Eastern Pisgah Rendezvous in North Carolina April 22-26.

Special thanks go to Escalante Outfitters (best dealer, bar, liquor store, pizza, hosts ever), Excursions of Escalante (sickest slot canyons, coolest guide, and best ice cream ever), Mike Libecki and Micah (the other Micah) Dash (best slide show givers ever), the musicians (too many to list) and to all of the attendees.

I hope you all enjoy these shots and video and hope to see you all out there soon.