Everyday is Monday

The old adage of “if you want something done give it to a busy person” continues to prove itself as Backbone is entering the season where everyday  is Monday.

Let’s see, pre-OR season deadlines and Sales Meetings are aligning perfectly, the Brunton Brewfire has been in the NY Times, POC CEO Jarka Duba was profiled in Entrepreneur on Backbone Highlights and new client Reusablebags.com lines up with the major trend of one-time use plastic bags being banned Seattle.

Anyone care to guess how many throw-away plastic bags are used in North America annually? Or how many sea turtles are killed by them? Answers here.

Kintzler was just through town prior to Gerber sponsored Rashad Evans UFC Championship fight. As the PR world changes – Backbone is too with the addition of Jonathan Georger who will work with our current team in building Backbone’s social media offerings. We also have some other cool stuff brewing…

As Kurt Vonnegut penned, “so it goes.”

Hanging in the Swell

Just getting back from an awesome week with some great “peeps” in eastern Utah’s San Rafael Swell. Our team of twelve assembled near Goblin Valley to do some testing of the Black Diamond Spring 2010 pack line. The deep, narrow canyons of the Swell were excellent testing grounds, giving us the opportunity to explore some of the most incredible terrain anywhere.

Breakfast Pack Discussion-Day One

Breakfast Pack Discussion-Day One

Let the games begin.  Art or no art?  Time for some cairn spotting…

Mapping out the route ahead

Mapping out the route ahead

Making sure not to disturb the “crypto,” our first “tour de jour” included Swell classics Little Wildhorse and Bells Canyon.

IMG_1332

IMG_1348

Black Diamond intern and Colorado Rocky Mountain School “graduate-to-be,” Hayden Kennedy.  Feeling energized, Hayden is psyching himself up for his next jaunt to Hanksville with jLd.

IMG_1362

When we exited Little Wild Horse, the clouds rolled in and thunder storms skirted to the east.  The weather was cooperating though, as the clouds kept things cool on the hike out.

Heading out of the slots

Heading out of the slots

Our next day we headed to Upper Chute Canyon.

IMG_1371

Penn looking back through the keyhole slot.

IMG_1376

Kristin rocking the full body stem, with Ryan and Justin wondering whether they should do the same?

IMG_1378

At every turn, a new corridor…a new space to explore.

IMG_1399

Resting for the final push out from Upper Chute Canyon.

IMG_1400

Desert flowers.  And some more sun…we were leaving the slots behind.

IMG_1403

A self portrait wraps up another great day with friends in the Rafael Swell.

IMG_1406

May 18-21, 2009