You can view a park map here. Arches National Park is one of the most unique and vibrant national parks of the U.S. The top hike in the park is the Devils Garden Loop, which is 7.2 miles long, and hits great views of eight awe-inspiring arches.

Arches National Park - Photo by J. Mays

You can view a park map here. Arches National Park offers very accessible hikes, so expect the shorter hikes to be somewhat busy. The Devils Garden Loop is the least frequented hike and takes you away from the busier areas of the park! In the not-to-distant future, Black Rucksack will be travelling to Moab, UT once again to travel and test some less frequented hikes!

Arches National Park - Photo by J.Mays

Best time of the year (with moderate temperatures and generally clear) to visit? April, May or October, with April being the wettest month. If you love the heat and lots of visitors, then June, July and August often offer temperatures over 100. Bring your water!

View Larger Map

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This [...]]]>

It's grillin' time!

It’s officially grilling season here in Michigan and grilling at the park, on the road or at the beach has never been easier than this. Coleman has a grill, the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE, that is perfect for throwing in the truck or SUV and hitting the road.

This grill is propane fed, has two 10,000 BTU burners and has 285 square inches of cooking surface area. That’s a little more than 1/2 the space on an average size deck grill and good size for grilling for two to four people.  The grill also has two side tables that attach easily for extra food preparation space (or a place to set down your favorite beer).

Fully expanded, the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE measures 46″L x 18″D x 35″H. Collapsed, the grill measures 36″L x 18″D x 13″H and weighs about 44 lbs (without extras).

There are several additional add-ons including optional grill surfaces and a grill bag available from Coleman. And, if you need tools for this grill, check out the Black Rucksack article Grill Tools for Grilling Right.

EDIT: After posting this article a good friend of mine (Brad) e-mailed me to tell me that his experience with this grill was less than good.  Brad pointed out that the grill is definitely not “manproof”.  That said, from my usage of this grill I believe it is road trip suitable but I think Brad has a damn good point… it’s not tough enough for everyday use or for two-trackin’ deep into the Michigan woods.

Get the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE:
-at Cabela’s
-at Amazon

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As we all know, a flashlight typically has at least a few fragile components. Therefore, often it is essential to take close care of your flashlight. That does not work for me because I treat my [...]]]>

Turn the light on...

Leatherman, known for their multi-tools, also produces an LED flashlight worth noting… the Serac S3.

As we all know, a flashlight typically has at least a few fragile components. Therefore, often it is essential to take close care of your flashlight. That does not work for me because I treat my flashlight just like any other piece of gear. And therefore, I was breaking a lot of flashlights. Thankfully, my Leatherman Serac S3 has held up very well to the many tests I’ve put it through, ie. hiking, boating, camping and road tripping.

The Serac S3 has three settings and can put out up to 100 Lumen on high. Granted, set that high a full battery will only last about an hour but, the high setting is great for signaling and other short uses. The medium setting pushes out 43 Lumen for four hours per battery and the low (normal) setting 7 Lumen for up to thirty-six hours. The low is plenty bright for most uses including map reading, hiking, setting up a tent, etc.

Also of note, the flashlight body is made of a hard-anodized aluminum, has a 10 year warranty and is resistant to humidity, corrosion and shock. Tough… as… hell.

Get the Leatherman Serac S3 Flashlight:
-at Cabela’s
-at Amazon

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• 

First off, most of the downtown area and especially the “Arena District” is well organized, easy to navigate [...]]]>

Rivals...

Downtown Columbus, Ohio has a lot to offer for the guy who just loves to travel or the guy who is looking for a simple vacation with the big city feel but without the big city hassle.

First off, most of the downtown area and especially the “Arena District” is well organized, easy to navigate and densely populated with quality restaurants and bars. We ventured to Gordon Biersch Brewery, Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar and Buca di Beppo’s. Of those three restaurants Buca di Beppo, a family Italian eatery, had the best food, Gordon Biersch Brewery had the best drinks and Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar had the best atmosphere and was the perfect place to close out a night. All were quality establishments and are worth a visit.

The Arena District is so named for Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets have been in Columbus since 2000 and by the looks of it, they’ll make the playoffs this year for the first time in franchise history. Personally, I’m a Detroit Red Wings fan but, it’s always fun to catch a game in another city; especially if you can get tickets like we had… one row off the glass. Sitting that close you’ll better understand the speed and the grit that is the NHL. See the previous Black Rucksack article on the NHL experience and get tickets from StubHub!

More rivals...

Another feature in Columbus a few miles outside of downtown is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; one of the best zoos in the country. It’s a good place to relax and enjoy a sunny Spring afternoon. A zoo typically isn’t the place for a hardcore adventure (unless something escapes) but, a lot of the kids, girlfriends and wives you guys have will enjoy it.

This is just a taste of what downtown Columbus, Ohio offers… find a hotel and book it now!

Gordon Biersch Brewery – $$$
3.5 out of 5 Rucksacks
-

Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar – $$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks
-

Buca di Beppo – $$$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks

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My team is the Detroit Red Wings… they are electric skaters and an absolute blast to watch. And even [...]]]>

Up Close... On The Glass...

The rush of cool air… the sound of the boards rattling after a hard check… the blur of 10 players speeding down the ice… there aren’t many experiences like attending a National Hockey League (NHL) game.

My team is the Detroit Red Wings… they are electric skaters and an absolute blast to watch. And even though I’m a Wings fan, I still love the game of hockey more than I do any team. It is my Dad that instilled in me the importance of hockey; and how the sport has no room for the nervous.

One thing we at Black Rucksack suggest as an experience for every guy is an NHL game. While simply attending a game is a guaranteed good time, especially when the two teams are among the most exciting (like the Wings), there is more to this suggestion. To really get an understanding of the talent and speed in the game hockey, sit as near to the glass as you can. Catching a game three or four rows off the glass purifies the NHL experience.

To get good tickets, we suggest attending a game in pre-season or during the months of October or November; attendance is usually lower during those months.  Also, you may want to shoot for a weekday game as you’ll also have a better chance at getting good tickets.  StubHub.com is one of the most reputable sources to find tickets sold by other fans.

National Hockey League Game
$50 to $250 per ticket
StubHub.com

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Just two weeks ago, we posted an article on the Rocky Mountains, whose many peaks and valleys should be on every guys “to be conquered” list. Today, we have a national park that is another must for men… Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Let’s start with the men on this mountain [...]]]>

In Memoriam...

Merry Christmas!

Just two weeks ago, we posted an article on the Rocky Mountains, whose many peaks and valleys should be on every guys “to be conquered” list. Today, we have a national park that is another must for men… Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Let’s start with the men on this mountain of South Dakota… Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, the 1st, 3rd, 26th and 16th Presidents of the United States. All four are consistently ranked by historians as the most successful, bad ass and effective presidents. Washington led the Continental Army against Britain, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Roosevelt helped create the US Forest Service, negotiated for control of the Panama Canal and busted apart railroad monopolies and Lincoln preserved the Union and ended slavery. All four have a long list of achievements and deserve all of the honor and praise this monument enshrines.

The visit to the monument in honor of the men listed above is a full experience. En route to Mount Rushmore through Custer State Park in the Black Hills, you’ll enjoy rugged terrain and amazing scenery. There is wildlife abound including bison and bighorn sheep. And, if you plan on hiking… know that there are also mountain lions lurking about. Once you arrive at Mount Rushmore you’ll trek through the lower part of the monument featuring a tribute to the 50 states and then onto the viewing platform and the amphitheater. Once you’re on the viewing platform, you finally get a sense of the scale of the monument and its omnipresence. Take a deep breath and take your time once you arrive.

History, wildlife, rugged terrain and a monument honoring great leaders of men…

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
$10 (parking fee)

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And while traveling through, you’ll inevitably come to a hideaway or a pass in the interior that will stand-out.  There, you’ll stop and breathe the fresh, chilled air of [...]]]>

Regal Rockies

A man, in his necessary travels, should be sure to cross over and also through the Rocky Mountains.  Their majesty and grandeur is only exceeded by their height.

And while traveling through, you’ll inevitably come to a hideaway or a pass in the interior that will stand-out.  There, you’ll stop and breathe the fresh, chilled air of Colorado or perhaps Montana.  This memory will be yours forever; below is an account of mine.

[ At an old saloon on a street of mud... ]
Written on: 2007.Nov.05

In southwestern Colorado lies Wolf Creek pass.  It is a formidable old thoroughfare that has been traversed mostly by locals for a long, long time.  In this great San Juan Mountain pass are snow-capped peaks, lush, green valleys and tranquility.

Story and I stood unhurriedly overlooking the southern edge of this pass.  It was late April, mid-morning and our destination was Denver; we were just entering Wolf Creek pass and our heading was northeast.

I did not stumble on this pass.  It was my father who urged me to take my time driving through Colorado and to avoid highways and freeways when possible.  During a summer in the early ’70′s he travelled this pass on his way to beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona; home of Northern Arizona University, one of his Alma maters.  Though he wasn’t on my road trip back from California, my dad did ride with me out to California and thus I learned of Wolf Creek pass.

As I looked over the valley it was still glazed with a thin layer of fog.  I tried to picture my dad leaning against his ’66 Impala just as I was leaning against my Ford Escape… it was easy to do.  I took in the wonder of the mountains and enjoyed the feeling of the cool, brisk and clean air against my face.  “This place,” I thought to myself, “just became a bridge between generations.”

Rocky Mountain National Park
$20 (Park Entrance Fee)

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]]> http://blackrucksack.com/formidable-old-thoroughfare/feed/ 0 http://blackrucksack.com/fortune-and-glory/ http://blackrucksack.com/fortune-and-glory/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:00:49 +0000 J. A. http://blackrucksack.com/wp/?p=184 Adventure… a guy must have it. It may be the thrill of a hunt or perhaps just setting out on a drive or hike without a specific landing-place. Or maybe, it’s traveling around the world with a black rucksack and letting the locals in each new destination discovery guide you to the next. However you [...]]]>

Photo by: cabelas.com

Adventure… a guy must have it. It may be the thrill of a hunt or perhaps just setting out on a drive or hike without a specific landing-place. Or maybe, it’s traveling around the world with a black rucksack and letting the locals in each new destination discovery guide you to the next. However you define it, you’ll need a shirt for it. For my adventuring, I choose the Cabela’s Serengeti Safari Shirt.

This shirt has five pockets, epaulets, features 6-ounce-per-square-yard 100% cotton canvas and is highly durable and comfortable. It’ll outlast your boots, your pants and probably a lot of your other gear.

As you button this shirt up you begin to transform… you become not just an adventurer but the adventurer… the man of many talents.

Along the road you may find your transformed-self becoming permanent… that’s perfect. That is what you wanted… the true adventurer to come through for a good, long time.

Perhaps a fedora is in order…?

Cabela’s Serengeti Safari Shirt
$32

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