Road Wisdom: The Word on Gear.

Life as Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers necessitates gear that is comfortable, dependable, and of high-quality. During our two seasons on the road, spanning 20 months with over 400 nights spent camping, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge our gratitude to the very partners that aid in our comfort and help us to provide stellar outreach across the country. From each of our outfitting partners, we have selected one piece of gear that has withstood the test of time and travel.

➢ The fall season is upon us and with summer-time Chaco tan lines all but a fading memory, the timing could not have been better to test out the Chaco Ped Shed. These super comfortable shoes are waterproof, making them perfect for spending time outdoors in rain or snow this season!

➢ When space is of the essence, Coleman Origami Dishware is the perfect solution. These dishes are ideal for any camping trip, whether it is a weekend at your local state park, or a week in the backcountry! They are light-weight, virtually unbreakable, and have a non-stick, easy to clean surface.

➢ Each morning we awake in the great outdoors and greet the day. Our morning would not be complete with out a good cup of bean to get the day rolling. This year we received the MSR Reactor Stove System- the fastest and most fuel-efficient stove system in the world. With an unrivaled boil time, it has the ability to boil a liter of water in just three minutes. Whether it is just the two of us, or on a Leave No Trace Trainer Course with 12 participants, everyone is sure to have boiled water in a hurry!

➢ By night fall, we slip on our Smartwool Base Layers and prepare for the cool fall evenings at camp. Just last week we woke up to our first morning of frost and were able to stay comfortable and cozy in our base layers. Smartwool also rewards new members of Leave No Trace at Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer events, by donating a pair of socks to anyone who joins the individual membership program.

➢ After the stars come out and it is time to retire for the evening, we add an extra layer of warmth to our sleeping bags with the Therm-A-Rest Ventra Down Comforter. These lightweight blankets are perfect as part of a sleep system, or on their own around camp. This makes our camping experience truly luxurious!

➢ The success of the Traveling Trainer Program is due in large part to the title sponsor of the program. Subaru of America has been an integral part of “Education in Motion” for the past twelve years. With their support, the traveling trainers are able to reach millions of outdoors enthusiasts with the Leave No Trace information annually.

These companies have invested in Leave No Trace in tremendous ways, making it possible to provide quality and effective training nation wide. We deeply appreciate all of their contributions and would like to encourage you to support these companies that care about the preservation and conservation of lands shared by the public! Thank you for all you do for Leave No Trace!

Happy Adventuring…Kate and Tracy, Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers

Rocky Mountain Folks Fest

Planet Bluegrass celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Folks Fest held every August in Lyons, CO. Camping is available on-site, so for the fourth year in a row, Planet Bluegrass has partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to promote the "How Green Is Your Grass?" Campsite Challenge. We challenge festavarians to stop by our booth and let us know how they are being sustainable, creative, and clean at their campsites. A random winner is chosen each day, then from those three entries the grand prize winner is chosen. What is the grand prize you ask? None other than a pass for on-site camping at the festival the following year! The daily winners received an awesome prize package including a pair of Keen Shoes, Planet Bluegrass CDs and DVD, and Bigfoot also threw in a hat, patch, and a one year membership to Leave No Trace. Congratulations to all of the campsites that took the challenge of keeping your grass green!
Speaking of membership...we had twenty festivarians join Leave No Trace as individual members this weekend. Everyone who signed up for a membership at Folks Fest received a pair of Smartwool Socks and were entered in a drawing for a pair of Chaco Shoes or a Seal Line Urban Backpack from Cascade Designs! We want to thank all of our partners who support the Traveling Trainer Program! Also a big shout out goes to all of our volunteers this weekend- Betsy, Lindsey, Alex, Molly, and of course Bigfoot!

Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Picture of the Week

Thanks for your support, but I don't think we have any socks in your size.

Did you know that Smartwool is an official outfitter for the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program? That means if you are at an event with one of the Traveling Trainer Teams, you can show your support for Leave No Trace by becoming a member (or renewing your membership) and we can give you a free pair of Smartwool socks! Now that feels good!