{"id":45,"date":"2010-12-27T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-12-27T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/2010\/12\/top-ten-for-twenty-ten.html"},"modified":"2010-12-27T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-12-27T15:00:00","slug":"top-ten-for-twenty-ten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/2010\/12\/top-ten-for-twenty-ten.html","title":{"rendered":"Top Ten for Twenty-Ten"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The end of the year is a time for contemplation.&nbsp; It marks aclear passage of time which we can use to evaluate the state of thingsin our lives.&nbsp; One way of celebrating these activities, things,places, et al is to make a list of that which we liked best in the previousyear.&nbsp; My list isn&#8217;t necessarily composed of things that were newin 2010 (although most of them are) but instead focuses on them being &#8220;new&#8221; tome.&nbsp; I should also note the list is in no particular order.  If you make a list, post it to the comments below so I cancheck it out.<\/p>\n<table align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>The Top Ten for Twenty-Ten<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_rgc.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.retributiongospelchoir.com\/\">Retribution GospelChoir<\/a> &#8211; <i>&#8220;2&#8221;<\/i><br \/>I fell in love with Retribution Gospel Choir while living in Duluth, MN during &#8217;05 and &#8217;06.  They played regularly and I have seen them perform dozens of times.  The anticipation related to the release of this album was strong in me.  I acquired a copy of this on vinyl as well as in mp3 and it was the album I listened to most this year.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_spark.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sparkrandd.com\/\">Spark R &amp; D<\/a> Blaze splitboard binders<br \/>The fellows at Spark are some innovative chaps.  I have been riding a set of the Ignition II binders since 2008 and decided to upgrade for performance and weight saving reasons.  I had the opportunity to do some part-time work at Spark R &amp; D which meant I was able to assemble my own set of these badboys.  I&#8217;ve only been on one tour with them but am already very pleased.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_nano.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/backpackinglight.com\/\">Backpacking Light<\/a> Stealth NANO backpacking tarp<br \/>A five ounce cuben fiber tarp that can withstand mega winds, hail, and keep you dry in a blowing rainstorm?  Yes, please.  Manufactured by top-quality sewers in the good ol&#8217; U S of A and sold by the beloved Backpacking Light this tarp is an absolute winner.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_toaster.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bikeroutetoaster.com\/\">Bike Route Toaster<\/a><br \/>I log my bicycle mileage using <a href=\"http:\/\/greenlightride.com\/\">Green Light Ride<\/a> and I&#8217;ve found the best online map routing service to be Toaster.  The ability to map, save, export, and share routes  and it&#8217;s inherent elevation, speed, and distance measuring is easy, friendly, and practical.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_abw.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Absaroka-Beartooth_Wilderness\">Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness<\/a> <br \/>Most of my summer backpacking trips in 2010 were in the 900,000+ acre AB Wilderness.  Stretching a vast distance barely pockmarked by any roads the Absarokas are home to some of the most pristine and wild landscapes I&#8217;ve ever set foot into.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_everytrail.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/everytrail.com\/\">Everytrail<\/a>PRO Android app<br \/>I recently upgraded my telephone to an HTC Droid Incredible that has built-in GPS capabilities.  Running the EveryTrail PRO app allows me to post GPS routes from my phone.  I carry the phone while hiking anyway because of the built in camera and for the possible security it may afford me should I need a rescue.  Once uploaded Everytrail will sync with the photos (automatically geotagged by the phone) I&#8217;ve posted to my Flickr site.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_marmot.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/marmot.com\/\">Marmot<\/a> Leadvillesoftshell jacket<br \/>Splitboarding and high-energy output sports in the winter require highly breathable yet insulating clothing.  A softshell is the obvious answer to this dilemna and after researching a dozen different models I settled on a Marmot product for its combination of weight, features, and price.  I have been very pleased with it&#8217;s balance of warmth and breathability.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_wuss.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/wuss.bandcamp.com\/\">Wuss<\/a> &#8211;<i>&#8220;DEMO&#8221;<\/i><br \/>I frequent a music blog called <a href=\"http:\/\/draft.blogger.com\/post-edit.g?blogID=2697815321197218394&amp;postID=2645700959091318909\">The Shadowkick<\/a> and some time back a post to the demo release from a band called Wuss was posted.  It is a gritty album that fulfills my love of metal and punk.  <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_recyclecycle.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/walloftvs\/sets\/72157623869259434\/\">Recycle:cycle Cargo Bike<\/a> (DIY)<br \/>Throughout 2009 I contemplated, researched, and began designing a do-it-yourself longtail cargo bike.  Sometime in the early months of this year I finalized the build.  It is still a work-in-progress but she rides well and hauls some huge loads.  I brazed her up from two bike frames, tubing cut from one or two others, and steel I sourced from a discarded grocery store shelf.  <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/linked\/blogger\/2010_bestof_wolfpack.jpg\" style=\"border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);\" \/><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><a href=\"http:\/\/search.twitter.com\/search?q=%23wolfpack\">#wolfpack<\/a><br \/>Every top-ten list needs a bit of an inside joke.  So, to my #wolfpack I raise my glass and say <i>SKOL!!!<\/i>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The end of the year is a time for contemplation.&nbsp; It marks aclear passage of time which we can use to evaluate the state of thingsin our lives.&nbsp; One way of celebrating these activities, things,places, et al is to make a list of that which we liked best in the previousyear.&nbsp; My list isn&#8217;t necessarily &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/2010\/12\/top-ten-for-twenty-ten.html\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Top Ten for Twenty-Ten&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-miscellaneous"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samh.net\/backpacking\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}