Canoebie: I grew up in Minnesota so I know of the climes that you speak. Challenging when they are good, near impossible when they are bad. But always great!
From what I can discern, the most recent advances have been in packing and preparation to protect your gear, maybe, more than the down itself, with the obvious exception to DriDown. My eyes are opened and I am learning new things. That makes this a great day!
Bookmarks