Bethany founded Brown Girls Climb (@browngirlsclimb) as a community for women of color to rally around rock climbing and each other. We chat about Bethany’s outdoor journey as we sit beneath the giant blue bear.

BioLite is running a Kickstarter RIGHT NOW for their new headlamp. I’ve got my grubby little paws on one and it is a great leap forward for headlamps. It’s definitely going to be the headlamp I intend to take on trips and then inevitably forget at home.

Resources:

* BrownGirlsClimb

* DiversifyOutdoors

* BioLite’s Kickstarter

The “inhuman zone” is the point of altitude and frigid cold where man, and all of his gadgets, cease to function as intended. Jim Bridwell and climbing partner, Mugs Stump, found themselves in the inhuman zone as they climbed the Moose’s Tooth in the Alaskan Wild.

Resources:

* “Vantage Point” – this story is an excerpt from this collection of stories about climbing

* Original article “The Dance of the Woo-Li Masters“

* Yosemite’s Green Winter

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Big City Mountaineers takes under-resourced kids on wilderness adventures. Here’s how they do it (and the story of Bix Firer, BCM’s Director of Programs).

Resources:

* Big City Mountaineers (you can get involved in your area or donate!)

Cody tastes and sips his way around the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

Resources:

* AlpineStart Instant Coffee

* ESPRO P7 (pitcher-sized French press, the ultralight is available exclusively at Starbucks for now)

* Campfire Meals

* Know Brainer (drinkable Ketogenic breakfast options)

* Nature’s Coffee Kettle

* Mighty Organic jerky and meats (they gave me a jalapeno beef stick and IT WAS AWESOME)

* Trailtopia (the geniuses who reoriented backpacking meal containers, seriously this is a gamechanger)

* Peak Refuel Chicken Alfredo

* OMEALS – Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal (my favorite oatmeal, camping or not) and Chicken Creole

Wesley Trimble tells us about his own outdoor journey and how you can get involved with the good work being done at the American Hiking Society.

Resources:

* CP and the PCT (Wesley’s short film)

* Wesley’s blog

* American Hiking Society

* How to Hike in Hot Weather

Stuff You Can Buy to Help the Show:

REI’s Labor Day Sale is on RIGHT NOW. You can get a great deal on a piece of gear you’ve been waiting to buy with your 20% off member coupon (you’ve got one for a regular price item and one for an outlet item).

Here’s some stuff that caught my eye:

* REI Quarter Dome 2 for $243

* Osprey Exos 58 (this is MY FAVORITE PACK) for $164

* Black Diamond Spot for $29

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A collection of interviews with the companies making the coolest tech and gadgets for camping and backpacking.

There’s a definite mix of backpacking gadgets AND car camping accessories, even ones that might be just as comfortable on your patio as at base camp.

Treat Yo’ Self:

* Zippo Electric Handwarmers

* BioLite Firepit (NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon)

* GoalZero Sherpa (be sure to follow their Instagram for a chance to win one!)

* AfterShokz Treks Air Bone Conduction headphones – I have been super happy with the sample pair they gave me

* Cauldryn Temp control bottle

* GNARBox

* Mpowered String Lights and Inflatable Lantern

* Spot X Two-Way Messenger and GPS Tracker

* Thermacell Zone Mosquito Repellers

* VSSL – the flashlight, compass and tiny compartments of awesome

Sevag Kazanci talks with Cody about giving back to the wild places that inspire campers and backpackers (and looking great while you do it!)

Parks Project works with top-notch designers to create products that won’t become “landfill gear.” Those products (t-shirts, hats, candles, etc.) are sold and a huge portion of the proceeds supports a specific project at the park featured on the item! It’s an awesome way to get people supporting our public lands while also giving them some pretty sweet swag.

Where to Buy Cool Stuff from Parks Project:

* Muir Woods Tee from REI

* Appalachian Trail Tee from REI

* Pacific Crest Trail Tee from REI

* Directly from Parks Project

Resources We Mentioned:

* Interview with Annette McGivney, author of Pure Land and Southwest Editor of Backpacker

* White Tank Campground at Joshua Tree National Park

Alright, time to spill the beans on the BEST GEAR from Outdoor Retailer this summer.

NEMO addressed David’s concerns with the Hornet 2P. Helinox made a super lightweight cot! Awesome gear abounds, our gear nerd cup runneth over!

Gear/Brands Mentioned this episode:

* Helinox (Lite Cot launches soon!)

* Rumpl Poncho – If you’re looking for a Rumpl Blanket use one of these links to help the show: Amazon | REI

* Cotopaxi

* Kelty (pick up a Bestie Blanket from Amazon, great for picnics and extra car-camping warmth)

* NEMO Equipment

* Klymit (the makers of MORE than sleeping pads, but the Static V is the best sleeping pad, so go buy one already)

* JetBoil – get ready for the Summit Skillet’s release by picking up a JetBoil Flash

Spotlight: Top 3 Pieces of Gear

#3 – NEMO Rocket 2p

This awesome tent was designed to be the lightest, livable two-person tent. The designers got a blank check. This shelter is amazing. I can’t wait to buy one.

#2 – Klymit SkyBivy

“The backyard hammock reimagined.” We live in an age of reboots and remakes, the SkyBivy is one worth seeing. Klymit created a lay-flat hammock for backpackers and I’m very excited to see where our community takes it.

#1 – JetBoil Summit Skillet

Check out a video of the Summit Skillet in action.

FINALLY, someone made a backpacking frying pan that actually works. I’m so excited to make pancakes and french toast in the backcountry.

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First episode with recordings from the floor of the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

We chat with:

* Sierra Designs about their brand new Nitro Quilt

* WigWam about 113 years of sock experience

* NEMO about reinventing the closed-cell foam pad

* ENO about the revised Guardian bugnet

We’ve got a lot more content coming from the Summer Market. Be on the lookout for interviews with the American Hiking Society, Big City Mountaineers, Best-Of Gear/Tech/Food roundups. Lots of exciting stuff in the pipeline.

Allison Haskell is a backpacking instructor at my local REI. She was cool enough to come by and talk to us about our own outdoor journey AND the history of America’s first long-distance hiking trail, Vermont’s Long Trail.

You can find her on Instagram (@thewildhaskell)

Join the Nature’s Call Patreon Community (be a Wild Mark!)

Resources We Mentioned:

* Local Backpacking classes (at the Dallas REI)

* The Green Mountain Club

Gear We Mentioned (if you buy through these links, it helps fund future episodes of Nature’s Call):

* MSR Pocket Rocket: Amazon | REI

* Nikon A900

* The Long Trail Guidebook

You can be a part of the show, join the Nature’s Call Patreon.