Planning and Prepping for the Sky Islands Traverse Those of us who dwell in southern Arizona are familiar with Sky Islands – the forested archipelago at the tops of the mountains, isolated from one another by a surrounding sea of desert. The Rincons, Catalinas, and Santa Ritas are known to Tucsonans, but there are actually…
Havasupai On My Mind
Summit Hut Gearhead & Contributing Blogger- Summit Hut Oro Valley Store Manager, Jeremy Asher. February 1st is coming up fast, and you know what that means… This is your opportunity to secure some much sought after Havasupai Permits! I had the chance to go and visit Havasupai for the first time several years ago and…
Backpacking in Aravaipa Canyon
Aravaipa Canyon is one of the best kept secrets in Southern Arizona. With its towering canyon walls, lush vegetation, abundance of wildlife, and the ever flowing Aravaipa Creek, it is a wonderland waiting to be explored. Aravaipa Canyon is a protected Wilderness Area. Only 50 people a day are allowed to enter the 12 mile…
The Spiritual Elements of Nepal’s Prayer Flags
Seen everywhere in the mountains, valleys and sacred sites of Nepal, prayer flags are a symbol of peace, goodwill and compassion. Originating in Tibet, early versions of prayer flags were used in battle. But as time passed, the flags came to take on more spiritual meaning. Each of the five colors are always arranged from…
Campfire Cookin’
Spending time around a campfire with friends and family is a great way to spend a relaxing weekend. It’s made even better when there is delicious food to share! Cooking on a campfire may seem intimidating at first, but planning well can make it feel just as easy as cooking at home. Our Summit Hut…
Sherpa Adventure Gear: Funding the Future
MAKING A DIFFERENCE, TODAY AND TOMORROW In Nepal, many children grow up in remote mountain villages, and are deprived of basic education. The Sherpa Adventure Gear Fund provides a brighter future to the children of Nepal through empowerment and education. Working alongside respected Nepal-based organizations, we fund scholarships, build schools, support orphanages and provide safer…
Four Tucson Weekend Getaways
Beat the heat and escape the crowds for an ideal weekend at some of our favorite campgrounds in the greater Tucson area. We’ve hiked it, biked it, and loved every second of it, so get outside and see for yourselves! Whether you want to spend the night in a convenient campground or far away from…
The Best Places to See the Desert in Bloom
Picacho Peak State Park Happy Spring! If you haven’t already noticed, the wildflowers are out in full force in the Sonoran Desert. Driving around Tucson, you can see Mexican gold poppies, desert marigolds, brittlebush, desertbells, and scorpionweed, all bursting with color. Picacho Peak State Park There are many accessible parks and open space to view…
How do you layer?
Layering your clothing is a useful technique that is designed to help you get the most out of your outdoor experience. By giving you flexibility in your wardrobe to accommodate inevitable weather changes, layering will keep you comfortable in temperatures that may otherwise send you back indoors. There are three key components to a proper…
3 Steps to Finding the Perfect Backpack
Consider the Options With so many options available, start by determining overall capacity required, which is measured in liters or cubic inches. Day hikes and overnight trips usually require fewer than 45 liters for most individuals. Longer excursions often require more capacity from 60 liters and up. Volume requirements vary from one person to the…