Backpackers Chocolate
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve planned am outdoor adventure and ended up leaving chocolate out of my pack knowing it would be nothing more than a puddle that I end up licking off the foil wrapper. Now the problem has been solved and the denial is over. Chocolatier Clif Perry has developed a high-quality chocolate ganache enrobed in Dutch cheese wax for weatherproofing. You can easily pack a ¼ pound bar on your next 100-degree hike, give it a cooling off in the river, peel off the coating, cut a wedge, and enjoy an incredible backcountry delicacy.

Made with the same high-quality Guittard chocolate used by many of the finest artisan chocolatiers, Perry’s Backpackers Gourmet Chocolate comes in five varieties; plain, raspberry, peanut butter, nuts & berries, and an intriguing orange chili. They were a hit at the Outdoor Retailer Expo last week, and you’ll likely see these chocolates at outdoor retailers in the future, but for now, you can purchase them from Hammond’s Candies at 1-888-226-3999 or at www.hammondscandies.com. Enjoy!

Gear, gear, and more gear
I’ll be spending the next few days at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City. It’s an incredible experience for any outdoor adventure enthusiast to attend. It’s like Disneyland for gearheads, with nearly a thousand manufacturers and distributors showing off their latest wares. Everything from combination cellphone-GPS units and backpacker chocolate (ecstasy) to a pee bag that turns your urine into a gelatinous glop—what on earth for?

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing the best and most exciting innovations I'm seeing out there. If there are any products you’ve heard about that you would like to have me preview or discuss, just let me know.

Sleeping in the nude
There is a widely held misconception that sleeping in the nude provides better insulation and warmth than sleeping with a layer of clothes while in a sleeping bag. This myth may have some basis of truth, since sleeping in the nude is actually better than sleeping with wet clothes. Do not sleep in the clothes you’ve worn all day. They will be damp, just from normal absorption of perspiration. Instead, pack a pair of long underwear or fleece and keep it dry in your pack. Change into this layer just before crawling into your sack. In warm weather camping, where nighttime temperatures don’t require insulation and added warmth, sleeping with little or no clothing is fine, and generally quite comfortable. I'm all for outdoor adventure being comfortable, even if it's unpredictable.