Saturday 2/1/25: Mt. Lady Washington with DrewBob Weather looked particularly terrible — windy! — so we decided an easy run to Mt. Lady Washington was best — perhaps a few laps. Wind was the deciding factor and we pulled the plug after one summit, which almost didn’t happen as Drew got blown off the peak! Continue reading…
Head on over to the Patreon to read my survey on just what contributes the most to keeping you warm during a cold winter night in your tent.
The number of ideas for projects that swirl in my head is exhausting. There is always an incredible route that I want test myself on. Here are my top ideas: The Sawatch Trifecta As the name suggests, this is actually three separate projects that just so happen to be in the Sawatch Range, which are Continue reading…
Critical Points Ignore mAh mAh is what power banks are usually advertised under, and may give you a rough idea of capacity, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. The specification is incomplete as it does not include Voltage. And mAh listed can be used to hide the true capacity of a battery. Ignore mAh! Look Continue reading…
I’ve used DIY vapor barrier socks in the past with good results, but I never knew if they actually made a difference than going without. The theory seems sound enough: a ftvapor barrier prevents evaporative heat lose (mass transport) — one of the four ways heat is transferred (radiation, conduction, and convection being the others). Continue reading…
Winter backpacking is a constant battle against keeping things from freezing — especially when managing water. Making water by melting snow is a chore I rather not have to do more than I need to and fuel is too precious to waste. Running out puts you in a dangerous circumstance. And the snow here in Continue reading…
The Black Diamond Men’s Solution Hoody At A Glance A high quality, midweight, synthetic fill, insulated jacket with front zip, helmet-compatible hood, bottom cinches and chest pocket that’s perfect as a Winter active insulation, for summer backpacking while at the campsite or on top of lofty mountain summits, and for an everyday do-it-all jacket in Continue reading…
A bright, compact front bike light with innovative mounting options, USB-C charging, along with an included removable and replaceable 18650 battery.
My Patreon Members make these long-form videos possible! Join for early access and other special perks! https://www.patreon.com/longranger Another adventure in Exhaustion! Justin Simoni as: THE LONG RANGER throws caution to the wind racing through a large chunk of the Colorado Trail in Springtime not knowing if trail conditions are bone dry or under a sheet Continue reading…
Fenix BC06R At a Glance What is the Fenix BC06R Rechargeable Bike Tail Light? The Fenix BC06R Rechargeable Bike Tail Light is a premium, compact, and lightweight rear red bike light. This handsome light sports a variety of lighting patterns at both a low and high intensity, plus an automatic burst mode when braking is Continue reading…
Find the guidebook at, https://slowlans.longmayyourange.com/
I grabbed my favorite running rain pants — the Ultimate Direction Ultra Pants — and noticed that the zipper on the pant leg was damaged — the slider was off on one side of the teeth — ugh! The zipper is small and somewhat delicate and the pressure of forcing my shoe through the pant Continue reading…
I’ve been getting asked a lot recently: what is that thing on the bill of my hat? Well, for the past couple of years, I’ve been wearing and reviewing hooded sun shirts – I now have quite the collection! I tend to travel a lot above treeline and it can get really windy – and Continue reading…
For my Colorado Trail FKT attempt I wanted to have the best footwear system I could possibly put together. Foot health and comfort is one of the most critical details to get right: if your feet hurt, if they’re covered in blisters, if they start looking similar to hamburger helper: you’re not going to have Continue reading…
In this episode of Backpacker Radio, Justin Simoni discusses his extensive hiking and biking adventures including traversing Colorado’s highest peaks and creating unique routes. The conversation covers his car-free lifestyle, his gear preferences, and the physical challenges faced during his expeditions.
At a glance The Black Diamond Distance LT 1100 Headlamp is a handsome, sleek hiking/backpacking/trail running headlamp with an impressive amount of lighting settings, all within a well-engineered package, weighing in at only a little over a hundred grams. The battery is modular, with the light itself and buttons on a swivel housing, connected Continue reading…
(There is talk of bodily functions — my bodily functions — in this post. If you do not want to read about that, kindly skip over this post. — JS) I’ve often been in the situation where after a long hot day, I feel particularly dehydrated. I’ll stand on a bathroom weight scale morbidly curious, Continue reading…
You’ve probably heard of the fictional character called the Lone Ranger, but what about the Long Ranger? Meet Justin Simoni, aka the Long Ranger. I heard about Justin back when I was going to school in Boulder, Colorado. I put his name in Google and instead of a running blog, I found his art website. Continue reading…
My trips into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to traverse over from Salida to the start of Lake Como Road are some of my all time favorite projects. The terrain is nothing short of some of the most difficult I’ve found in Colorado, but the route in total has also been some of the most Continue reading…