News

May 14: Fundraising Deadline Extended for All New Climbers!

As the summer climb dates approach, we realise that the timing is getting tight for anyone who still wants to register. Thus, we are extending the fundraising deadline for anyone who signs up from now onward to the date of the climb. We will not expect you to reach your goal until the moment before you are actually on the mountain. Of course, you are still free to continue fundraising after your climb. So, to make it even easier, if you ended up not fully meeting your goal, we will refund you any money that you raise during the month after your climb. We do not want the fundraising to be a hinderance to your climbing with us! We will help you in any way we can.

March 20: Gregory Baltoro 70, Deva 60 packs win Backpacker 08 Editors' Choice

TEMECULA, Calif. – Gregory Mountain Products, the three-decade market leader in backpacks for the full range of outdoor activities, this month won an Editors’ Choice Award from Backpacker Magazine for two of it newest mid-size backpacks, the newly redesigned Baltoro 70 and the women’s specific Deva 60.

In addition, Gregory’s Z30 pack was named ‘Best All Around’ daypack in Backpacker’s annual Gear Guide, in the March issue. The magazine noted “their most finicky tester called the Z30 'darn close to the perfect daypack for general duty.'"

The Editors’ Choice Awards are given for outstanding innovation in product design, materials and/or performance. Given annually since 1993, the awards honor the products that Backpacker editors have chosen as the best of the year based on months of trail testing by teams of highly experienced hikers and climbers. The award will be officially announced to the general public in the magazine’s April issue, on newsstands March 11.

The Baltoro 70 and Deva 60 are flagship packs in Gregory’s Backpacking Line. They employ Gregory’s Response Auto Fit Suspension, an innovative suspension system that improves pack fit and comfort by using pivot points on the hip belts and shoulder harnesses that allow the packs to automatically adjust to and mimic the contours and hip angles of their wearers. The Baltoro and Deva – which bear the same names as predecessors in the Gregory line – also employ lighter, stronger materials, yielding packs that weigh a half and quarter pound less respectively than the earlier models bearing the same names. In addition, Gregory is using innovative techniques such as co-molding technology, allowing foams of different densities to be thermo-molded into the suspension simultaneously, creating an ultra-clean and super-durable system.

"This year’s winners show that designers in our industry are really pushing the envelope in producing lighter, tougher, and smarter products,” says Backpacker editor-in-chief Jonathan Dorn. “As we found in field-testing, they’re making it easier and more comfortable for anyone to get involved in trail activities. Adds gear editor Kristin Hostetter, who has spearheaded Backpacker’s Editors’ Choice testing for more than a decade: “These outstanding products should enjoy the same sterling track record as our past winners. Readers and retailers trust Backpacker’s picks more than any other magazine’s because our testing is unrivaled in its duration and intensity. Our unofficial gear-testing motto – we break stuff so you don’t have to – says it all.”

March 5: James Brown named an REI Guide of the Year!

We’re proud to announce that one of BAWT’s guides, James “J.B.” Brown, was just chosen as one of REI’s Guides of the Year! J.B. guides for Sierra Wilderness Seminars, one of BAWT’s guide service partners, leading Climbing for Kids teams on Mt. Shasta, Mt. Whitney and Pico de Orizaba. J.B. was one of seven guides picked from over 500 nominees. As a prize, he spent a week in Seattle, touring the REI facilities. He is also the newest member of the REI backpack design team and the official gear tester for REI's new line of ski/snowboard packs.

Climbing For Kids Web Presentation and Conference Call - "Webinar"

What is a webinar? Webinars are like seminars, except you participate at your desk, using your computer to view and listen to the presentation (or, you can listen through your phone). Our webinars include interactivity – you can submit questions ahead of time or during the event, and you may be asked to participate in polls.

Climbing for Kids is easily the most exciting way to help Bay Area Wilderness Training raise the funds to do it's work of getting kids outside. If you haven't visited climbingforkids.org, visit the site and then sign up to climb. These informational webinars are a great way to find out a bit more about a specific climb that you're interested in, and get your questions answered by our Climbing For Kids Coordinator Cliff Agocs. Join us, and bring your friends, and help us grow the BAWT community.

We have designed these web based info sessions as a way to answer your questions, and you need only stay on for as long as you're interested. We stagger the times and days to make it as easy as possible to fit one of these sessions into your schedule. The dates below each have 15 slots available, so please RSVP and then wait for a response from Cliff before you confirm in your calendar.

Upcoming Dates:

• Thursday May 1 @ 1 pm PT/4 pm ET
• Friday May 9 @ 12 pm PT/3 pm ET
• Thursday May 15 @ 2 pm PT/5 pm ET
• Wednesday May 21 @ 10 am PT/3 pm ET
• Thursday May 27 @ 12 pm PT/3 pm ET

To register, contact the Climbing for Kids coordinator, Cliff

These one hour sessions include testimonials and a short video that provide an inspiring overview of BAWT's work and allow time for a tour of our gear room.