backcountry | The Filson Journal

a blonde haired woman wearing hiking gear standing in a forest looking off into the distance

A Sea Change in Southeast Alaska

The USDA’s proposed Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy charts new management direction for the Tongass, centered on the responsible stewardship of public land and water. Learn more about the initiatives taking place and how you can support the Tongass.

9 Min

Profiles

Alaskan Musher: Lauro Eklund

With his father, Neil Eklund, Lauro spends long days working with his dogs and exploring Alaska’s remote and rugged interior. With hopes his dogs will one day soon lead the 25-year-old musher to the start line of the biggest races of all, the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod.

2 Min

a blurry image of two sled dogs running across the snow with read harnesses and lines in front of and behind them

Field Notes

The Dynamic of the Line: the anatomy of a dog team

Sled dog teams consist of 12-16 dogs to traverse difficult terrain, while following specific commands from a musher. Learn the anatomy of a sled dog team and what it takes to build a good team.

4 Min

a muskox standing stoiclyon rocky snow covered ground looking off into the distance

Field Notes

The Survivors: Alaskan Arctic Musk Oxen

With no reason to fear mankind, the muskox was almost driven to extinction by the advent of guns that ripped through the slow-moving herds. In Alaska and on the rest of the planet, they simply disappeared by the late 1800s. All that was left of an animal that had been around since the time of the caveman were fuzzy stories passed down through Indigenous communities.

4 Min

four people on snow machines in the early light of day driving across an ice sheet in Alaska

Field Notes

Filson in the Field: Searching for Muskox in the Alaskan Arctic

As a company founded on equipping folks headed into the frozen desolation of the Klondike goldfields in 1897, we knew that we needed to do something that was a bit off the beaten path. With this in mind, we decided to head to the western edge of Alaska, above the Arctic Circle to tell the tale of the remarkable rebirth of an animal that was hunted to extinction in North America over a century ago, the musk ox.

4 Min

black and white of a woman on the deck of a lookout towner looking out at something through binoculars

Profiles

The Woman on the Mountain: Christine Estrada

Christine Estrada, a fire lookout, having visited 93 of the remaining lookouts across Washington State, works tirelessly during fire season to spot, report and communicate with fire teams on the ground, reducing the impact of wildfires in the Methow Valley.

4 Min

an areal photo of a yellow and red forest service plane dropping water on a raging fire above the treelike

Field Notes

We Helped Restore a Forest Service Lookout Tower That Was Almost Consumed by Flames

A team of eager and passionate Filson employees, together with the National Forest Foundation, were wrapping up a restoration project at First Butte lookout tower, the fourth tower our team has volunteered to help restore. As we were putting the final touches on the tower, we received the news that a new wildfire had started near the site.

4 Min

a middle aged bearded white man wearing a yellow flannel shirt, dark jeans and a green hat holding a block of wood and a chainsaw looking up at a tree to assess it

Profiles

Zach LaPerrière: The Sage

Living in a small cabin immersed in the virgin old-growth with his family for the last twenty-five years, LaPerrière is a part of the wilderness. There is no television or road into it. Visitors park off the nearby road and walk in. As a result, they spend as much time outdoors as indoors. He spends long hours in his woodshop under the cabin, and he will spend months working on the creations that come from a single tree, turning it on his lathe, peeling back layers, and discovering the story in the wood.

4 Min

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 6: “THE DEVIL’s 55”

If you could only do one workout with limited equipment this MTNTOUGH workout would be at the top of the list. It is 55 minutes of total-body work, making it an extraordinary challenge to finish, but with continued dedication this can become an ordinary workout you can do anytime, anywhere with only a weighted pack.

5 Min

Profiles

Lael Johnson – Olympic Peninsula Fly Guide

Lael Johnson is a fly fisherman and guide on the Olympic Peninsula. His passion for the anadromous fish of Washington’s coastal rivers is contagious. He loves these fish, these rivers, and the people he is lucky enough to experience them with. Filson Contributor Ben Matthews spent a few days on the river with Lael to ask a few questions about guiding, steelhead, and life in general. If you’re interested in heading out on the river with Lael yourself, check out his website and book a trip. You won’t regret it.

5 Min

man wearing backpack with dumbbells over shoulders doing lunge squat

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 5: “Brick by Brick”

MTNTOUGH’s “Brick by Brick” Workout is designed to help you become a more balanced athlete. The repeated pendulum lunges will make you want to throw in the towel, but they will test you psychologically. Stick with it.

5 Min

man lifting a backpack above his head in a black filson hat

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 4: “Gone In 12 Minutes”

MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab believes eliminating psychological barriers is the key to reaching our goals. Their team knows the most important muscle you can train sits between your ears… the brain. Your mind, just like your body, can be trained. Mental toughness and perseverance can be cultivated through proper training, specifically training above the neck. Dustin Diefenderfer, lifelong backcountry hunter & founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, shares a straightforward workout to boost your grit that you can do anytime, anywhere with only a pack, backpack or rucksack.

3 Min

man holding backpack on biceps doing deep squat lunge

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 3: “The Pack Challenge”

We worked with the guys at MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to bring those simple but effective routines to you and whatever space you occupy to help you keep physically fit and mentally sharp. In the second installment of our series with MTNTOUGH, they walk us through their leg-day routine dubbed “The Mother of Quad.” Be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart.

3 Min

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 2: “Mother of Quad”

In the second installment of our series with MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, they walk us through their leg-day routine dubbed “the Mother of Quad.” Be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart.

2 Min

man driving atv splashing through puddle on dirt road in a mossy forest

How-To's

A Guide to Overlanding the North Cascades

The North Cascade Mountains of Washington attract all types of recreationists during the spring and summer months, from locals to tourists, from hikers and climbers to high mountain anglers and bird watchers. But one type of recreationist gets overlooked and even sometimes gets a bad rap: the overlanders.

4 Min

Illustration of three large bears walking through an arctic field

How-To's

How to Avoid Attacks in Bear & Cougar Territory

Consciously or unconsciously, humans, bears, and mountain lions, along with many other large mammals, all speak the same language with their bodies. The body language of an unleashed dog on the porch lazily lifting its head to watch you pass tells you it is no threat.

2 Min

boot in improvised snowshoe made out of lashed pine boughs

How-To's

How to Build Backcountry Snowshoes

Traveling into the backcountry can be filled with fun, excitement, and adventure; however, it can also be very dangerous. Mother Nature can quickly turn an enjoyable afternoon hike into a life-threatening situation. An unexpected snowstorm in the mountains can bring a host of problems. With cold temperatures and low visibility, travel can become extremely difficult, if not impossible, due to deep snow.

3 Min

a black and white image of a snowy mountain peak landscape

How-To's

How to Stay Safe in Avalanche Terrain – Tips from NWAC

Every year in the mountains of North America, avalanches kill an average of 45 people and injure many more. Nearly all these incidents involve people recreating. If you’re planning to get into the mountains this winter, there are a few things you should consider regarding avalanches prior to heading out.

7 Min

Profiles

Avalanche Dog Noses: Your Best Chance of Survival

Up in the mountains, avalanches are part of the territory. If you’re lucky, you might only see or hear one. But on the off chance you get caught, there’s little even the most experienced can do to escape. Bright gear, and a beacon, shovel and probe are key to survival.

5 Min

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 1: “FRIDLEY”

First responders and wildland firefighters don’t have the option to work from home. They need to be in top physical and mental shape or else lives could be lost. If they can’t make it to the gym, they bring the gym home or find a way to use whatever space they have to hit their daily goals. We worked with the guys at MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to bring those simple but effective routines to you and whatever space you occupy to help you keep physically fit and mentally sharp.

7 Min

two men shirtless in a gym, the one in front bent over with his hands on his knees tired while the other adjusts the rowing machine behind him

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter with Mountain Tough Fitness Lab

The day-to-day rigors of a wildland firefighter require supreme mental and physical strength. These folks hump 45-pound packs up and down steep, rugged terrain for three to five miles a day — usually in the intense heat of a wildfire. If you want what it takes to be a wildland firefighter, you have to train like one. That’s where MTNTOUGH comes in.

2 Min

person warming hands behind burning kindling

How-To's

3 tips for Backcountry Preparedness with Coalcracker Bushcraft

Outdoor recreation provides an opportunity for people to learn and explore. It allows people to spend time with family and friends, view wildlife, and experience nature. These experiences however, could potentially become life-threatening. Be prepared by utilizing the following steps to prevent any mishaps. Preplan. Preplanning is the key to a safe and memorable outing.

3 Min

A Sea Change in Southeast Alaska

Alaskan Musher: Lauro Eklund

The Dynamic of the Line: the anatomy of a dog team

The Survivors: Alaskan Arctic Musk Oxen

Filson in the Field: Searching for Muskox in the Alaskan Arctic

The Woman on the Mountain: Christine Estrada

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We Helped Restore a Forest Service Lookout Tower That Was Almost Consumed by Flames

Zach LaPerrière: The Sage

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 6: “THE DEVIL’s 55”

Lael Johnson – Olympic Peninsula Fly Guide

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 5: “Brick by Brick”

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 4: “Gone In 12 Minutes”

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 3: “The Pack Challenge”

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 2: “Mother of Quad”

A Guide to Overlanding the North Cascades

How to Avoid Attacks in Bear & Cougar Territory

How to Build Backcountry Snowshoes

How to Stay Safe in Avalanche Terrain – Tips from NWAC

Avalanche Dog Noses: Your Best Chance of Survival

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 1: “FRIDLEY”

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter with Mountain Tough Fitness Lab

3 tips for Backcountry Preparedness with Coalcracker Bushcraft