travel | The Filson Journal

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

Profiles

The Fire Inside: Photographer Kiliii Yüyan

Award-winning National Geographic photographer Kiliii Yüyan, joined us on our recent trip to the Alaskan Arctic, where he was consumed in his mission to capture the stoic essence of a herd of musk oxen during our time together exploring the are where his ancestors originated.

3 Min

a close up of a man showing a snake shed

How-To's

Dos and Don’ts of Traveling in Rattlesnake Country

Local outdoors expert & lifelong Texan, Cory Emerson, helped us navigate the desolate limestone hills and canyons of Texas Hill County to put our new gear to the test. The most important piece being the dos and don’ts of traveling in rattlesnake country.

3 Min

close up image of the front of a orange and red float plane

Field Notes

Northwest Beaver Mechanics

Founded in 1988, Northwest Seaplanes is based in Renton, Washington, and has a fleet of five Beavers and one De Havilland Otter, aircraft called the “best bush planes ever built.” Crafted during a twenty-year span from 1947-1967, they were instrumental in opening up far-flung frontiers and are highly cherished aircraft that pilots still swear by today.

3 Min

a shimmering pool of water lined by angular rock slabs

Field Notes

Top Natural Hot Springs in the West

The rejuvenating benefits of hot springs are well documented, for both body and mid. File these six standout natural soaking pools away in your “must-visit” places. Be sure to plan ahead–they can be a popular destination and some require reservations.

5 Min

Profiles

Shmulik Avital & Spiegel – The Hub of NYC’s Moto Community

Shmulik Avital seems to know everyone who rides a motorcycle in New York City. His restaurant, Spiegel, has become the hub of the city’s adventure motorcycling community.

5 Min

Field Notes

The Great Cascade Tunnel

Between Seattle and Chicago, a train called the Empire Builder rolls on 2,206 miles of steel track. It leaves daily on a 48-hour trip, gliding past splendid vistas including Glacier National Park. However, possibly its greatest feat lies beneath the surface.

3 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

conifer forest rising away on a steep mountainside

Field Notes

How to Filson’s Guide to Conifers of the Cascades

Washington’s forests are home to more than 25 unique species of trees. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to quickly identify the 5 key varieties in the North Cascades.

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

Profiles

Climber Fred Beckey: Spirit of the Mountains

If you listen hard enough, you can hear Fred Beckey’s spirit whispering among the towering peaks and hidden valleys of the Northern Cascades. Around campfires, bar tops, or anywhere that people gather, his name tends to pop up. He is an outdoors urban legend, the mythical mountaineer who spent eight decades solely focused on one thing and one thing only: climbing.

3 Min

Profiles

Kate Mitchell – NOMAR

An old homesteader once told Kate Mitchell, “That was about the year you figured you weren’t going to starve to death.” By then, much of the community enjoyed wanton luxuries like electricity and indoor plumbing. That was also the year Kate moved to Homer.

4 Min

vintage black and white image of large crowd of people all in suits at the oregon improvement co. facility

Field Notes

Journey to the Yukon: Passage Aboard the Steamships from Puget Sound to the Far North

The month of July 1897 was an exciting time to be living on the West Coast. Steamships with names like Excelsior and Portland were docking in the ports of San Francisco and Seattle, respectively, loaded down with tons of gold mined from the Klondike region of the Yukon territory of Canada. Alaska was the gateway by which anyone with a desire to strike it rich could make the journey northward and, if well prepared and lucky, eventually return to civilization a millionaire.

7 Min

Grainy black and white image of man in white helmet and black coat looking out at large snow capped Mt. Rainier

Profiles

Filson Moto Collection

Whenever you set out into the wild, be it the icy hell of Alaska or the rocky forests of the Pacific Northwest, you can’t do better than to have a Filson Garment on your back. That’s the way it’s been for over 120 years.

a black and white image of the bow of the SS Clallam with passengers prior to its sinking

Field Notes

The Sinking of the SS Clallam

Hazardous weather conditions. Small craft advisory. Strong wind warning in effect. These are common warnings to mariners who may be considering the Strait of Juan de Fuca—the passage running between the south end of Vancouver Island, BC and the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State—during the fall storm season of 2019.

3 Min

a black and white top down view of a nautical chart with a compass laying on top

How-To's

How to Read a Navigational Chart (the basics)

A map will show you where to go. A nautical chart will help you plan your trip, tell you where (and where not) to go, tell you when to go (with the help of tide tables) and where to anchor. This information is continuously changing, which is why it’s prudent to have up-to-date charts.

4 Min

Profiles

Leif Whittaker: My Old Man & the Mountain

My Old Man and the Mountain is Leif Whittaker’s engaging and humorous story of what it was like to “grow up Whittaker”―the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accomplished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on.

6 Min

rocky cliffs with trees growing in crevices

Field Notes

A Wanderer’s View of Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

As far as state parks go, Starved Rock is tall. Something to be said in a flat, corn-centric state like Illinois. But from its massive Cottonwoods and Oaks that first greet you, to its grand views of the Illinois River, its serpentine boardwalks to the bluffs, its waterfalls, and even its soaring eagles, everything points to the sky.

5 Min

sandy landscape with green plant life and clouds

Profiles

What is White Sands?

Great white dunes march across the New Mexico desert. From the tallest dune, some 60 ft tall, it’s hard to fathom the world around you. Climb skyward, and your eyes would meet a sea of white; 275 square miles to be precise – where corduroy ribs of pure gypsum rise and fall like an ocean

How-To's

How to Rent a Forest Service Cabin

If you’re looking for a vacation rental that is slightly more adventurous than usual, it’s worth looking into renting one of the USFS fire lookout towers or backcountry cabins. Learn how.

3 Min

whid isle inn nestled among old growth firs on shore of whidby island

Field Notes

Captain Whidbey Inn

The Captain Whidbey was built in 1907 from logs and stone found on site by Chris Fisher and his son Edward. In the years since, it has served as a private residence, a boarding house, post office, girl’s school, and a general store. It has recently been restored and is now open to the public as an inn that features a Filson cabin.

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

hiking along the river with fishing gear

How-To's

What to Pack for a Backpack Fly Fishing Trip

Backpacking is a great way to re-familiarize yourself with the often-elusive feeling of spare time. With a little extra planning, you can turn a backpacking trip into a fly-fishing trip. We asked Sage Elite Pro and backcountry fishing expert Seth Blackamore about what he packs for a minimalist backcountry fishing kit.

2 Min

portrait, eric jackson with red flannel and big brown beard

Profiles

In Print: Eric Jackson’s Snow, Surf and Steelhead

Eric Jackson is always ready for a challenge. You may recognize him from the massive hucks in his latest snowboarding film, Alignment. Or perhaps you’ve seen photos of him fly-fishing some of the most pristine rivers in the world as a sponsored fisherman. Either way, “envy” might describe how you feel about it his life.

5 Min

claire portrait in black raincoat with orange hat

Profiles

In Print: Claire Jenck’s Road to the Ocean

Winter brings the best northwest waves. When friends find out I surf in Washington, they are usually incredulous. “No, what? In winter? But it’s so cold” they say. I should try to persuade them otherwise. I should tell them how wild the peninsula is, how uncrowded and pristine, about how last year I surfed with

5 Min

jessie with horses drinking from river in grassy field with pine trees

Profiles

Jessie Allen: More Than Miss Wyoming

“Jessie manages her family’s guest ranch and outfitting business in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. She guides pack trips for fly fishermen, rock climbers, backpackers, yogis and big game hunters, both archery and rifle. At 9,200 feet with no electricity, cell service or internet, the Diamond 4 Ranch is Wyoming’s highest elevation guest ranch.

8 Min

Field Notes

After Wildfire

A bike-pack fishing trip through a scorched landscape was not the trip that Ashlee thought she was going to take – but the things she saw and the experience she had left an impression about how we interact with the landscape after wildfire. “Lucky for you, all the goat’s head burned too,” someone said, smiling,

5 Min

peak in yosemite california reflecting in mountain pond with stars visible

Profiles

Celebrating the National Parks Centennial: Elliot Ross and the Range of Light

Elliot Ross is a New York City based freelance photographer. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, his interest for the photographic medium, for far flung places, and for observing the effects of isolation on interpersonal relationships developed during his upbringing in rural Northeast Colorado. He holds a BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His

Filson Life - John Dunaway, Merchant Marine barge with military vehicles casting sea-spray high off the bow

Profiles

Life As A Merchant Marine with John Dunaway

With oceans that refuse to relinquish any of their might regardless of our technological advances, the modern sailor continues to face the same elements which all that have sailed upon her waters have ever seen. “We must always remember that the sea is no respector of ships or person. The sea is always ready, at

Filson Life - Elliot Anderson - Dogsledding dog with master in filson black coat and gloves

Profiles

Behind the Book: Elliot Anderson Dreams of the Iditarod

Born in the heart of dairy farming country, Elliot Anderson (better known as “El”), was raised hunting, trapping and fishing in the north woods of Wisconsin. El’s father David imparted romantic tales of Robert Services’ writings into his childhood. Sharing legends of gold, mountain men, and remnants from his own Alaskan days, David created a magnetic pull towards the life of an outdoorsman that El would never shake. Now, El has been drawn to the Iditarod; one of the most revered races in the world. In this Filson Life article, learn more about the man, El, who appears alongside his crew in the November Filson catalog.

4 Min

Alaskan Musher: Lauro Eklund

The Fire Inside: Photographer Kiliii Yüyan

Dos and Don’ts of Traveling in Rattlesnake Country

Northwest Beaver Mechanics

Top Natural Hot Springs in the West

Shmulik Avital & Spiegel – The Hub of NYC’s Moto Community

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The Great Cascade Tunnel

A Guide to Overlanding the North Cascades

How to Filson’s Guide to Conifers of the Cascades

How to Avoid Attacks in Bear & Cougar Territory

Climber Fred Beckey: Spirit of the Mountains

Kate Mitchell – NOMAR

Journey to the Yukon: Passage Aboard the Steamships from Puget Sound to the Far North

Filson Moto Collection

The Sinking of the SS Clallam

How to Read a Navigational Chart (the basics)

Leif Whittaker: My Old Man & the Mountain

A Wanderer’s View of Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

What is White Sands?

How to Rent a Forest Service Cabin

Captain Whidbey Inn

3 tips for Backcountry Preparedness with Coalcracker Bushcraft

What to Pack for a Backpack Fly Fishing Trip

In Print: Eric Jackson’s Snow, Surf and Steelhead

In Print: Claire Jenck’s Road to the Ocean

Jessie Allen: More Than Miss Wyoming

After Wildfire

Celebrating the National Parks Centennial: Elliot Ross and the Range of Light

Life As A Merchant Marine with John Dunaway

Behind the Book: Elliot Anderson Dreams of the Iditarod