Now that we are past all the political weirdness that resulted in OR show being moved from Utah to Colorado, I’m digging the Denver digs. The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City was getting seedy, and was in many ways not as comfortable. The Denver convention center has many more seating areas, nice outdoor decks where you can catch a smoke or just step out if the weather’s nice, even the HVAC system seems to work better, and while Denver does get somewhat air polluted, bad days here are still better than the downright toxic ozone loaded inversions SLC gets. Oh, and even the door guards are friendlier. So all good. It is summer, let’s keep it casual and check out a grab bag of goods.
Auto show or human-powered gear show? Both.
During the early days of the human-powered industry segment, when baby boomers were in control, including much in the way of automotive content was discouraged. Even so, you’d see automobiles at every show that were somehow justified, usually by how garish the company logos were and eventually how tall a lift kit could be installed. Now you walk in the doors, and automobiles are still being used as talking points, but most stand on their own as amazingly built and equipped “adventure” vehicles. If this was your first show, you might even wonder if you were at the Denver Automobile Exhibition rather than the greenest show on earth. I like trucks, so bring it on, and keep the lift kits coming too.
Google had a fun interactive display of what they’re doing with the ever “improving” Street View. I played with it, and was amazed. I was also amused when they gave a presentation on how they’re doing what Google does best, and spying on user behavior at National Parks to ostensibly solve management problems. Everyone was cheering and clapping, while I was perplexed. Considering what’s been going on with how tech companies manage their troves of data, next thing you know I’ll be getting a ticket from a National Park Ranger for parking crooked, due to my crime being picked up by Street View. Would have appreciated the Googlers talking at least a few sentences about privacy as related to Street View. But in the geek world, all data is good, until it isn’t.
Spot X compared to InReach might be a bit late coming, on the other hand it has its own phone number, thus operating in 2-way texting just as your phone does. Nice and simple, but also with SOS button, tracking, and some sort of “instant” post to social button that sounds like a good way to overload your friends. It also has rudimentary navigation features. Add maps to utilize the nicely sized LCD, perhaps in version 2? As with all Spot stuff, uses Globalstar sats. Looks like they put in another Alaskan ground station, so Northern AK has better coverage, and South America appears to have excellent coverage as well. If you can operate this thing in southern Chile as if its simply a texting phone, that would simplify. House keeper needs to know about watering your plants? He just texts your Spot phone number, you text back, nothing more. Hmmm, 7 ounces and bulky, but if the features justify the size and weight, all good.
Friends, this is the Black Diamond Deploy “wind shell.” 48 grams, fits in a playing card box, water resistant, new YKK superlight zipper trims micrograms. Appears to be another “perfect” keep-it-in-your-pack winter emergency shell.
BD is going crazy with new product. Check out the Distance tent, sets up with Whippet poles using a small top yoke, you tension it by adjusting the flick locks, which incidentally are redesigned and “better.” Loving the pole accessories. Keep ’em coming!
Speaking of tents, check out this Big Agnes made mostly from “Dyneema” type fabric. The Carbon Fly Creek 2, 34 ounces, wow.
Mammut MIPS climbing helmet, beautiful. Not skiing rated but I could see it being used for a lighweight ski helm option. I asked about dual certified helmets, was told that bringing a new helmet model to retail was a fraught process, so new stuff is coming but not at a rapid pace.
The North Face made a RADICAL change in their booth architecture. For years they used a gigantic enclosed cube that basically said STAY OUT unless ye are amongst the chosen. Now the square footage is an open, anyone welcome artistic array of raw framed walls and plywood, the theme being “The Walls that Unite Us.” I’m generally not a fan of architects who purport to change reality by how a structure looks and behaves, but I’ll revise that bias, as the difference in vibe here is amazing. Yeah, TNF is a WildSnow sponsor, but I don’t have any obligation to praise their show stand. I’d have ignored it if they’d stayed with the infamous red cube. Fun. By the way, the big TNF has a thing called “Global Climbing Day” happening 8-18-2018, Google it up or browse to www.thenorthface.com/walls
Of course after getting up off my worshipful knees I do have one small gripe. As many of you know, I had a fairly lengthy career as a carpenter and builder, so I’m sensitive to these things. Anyone spot what’s wrong in this photo? Hint, it would cause the drywaller to throw his tools at the carpenters.
E bikes were there and we still love them.
More of the Denver Auto Show. This looked to be a well designed tire table. Weighs under 14 pounds! www.tabletire.com
I like safety rings, being one who does things like logging. Silicone rings are a commodity on Amazon, these Enso offerings appear to be a step above, look much nicer as they’ve got metal embedded in the silicone. www.ensorings.com
Folding portable wood fired pizza oven. Tailgater gear envy. www.woodpelletpizzaoven.com
Cruising around again today, enjoying the nice HVAC and friendly door folks.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
