Backpacker Magazine Opinions

I like looking at the pretty pictures of the places I could possibly go one day.

I think as far as the gear reviews go they focus on the mainstream hiker (just like almost every outfitter out there). We're not that. They have been reviewing lightweight gear for a long time and every now and then mention just enough UL gear to sort of let the unknowing traditional hiker sort of wet their toes and decide if it works for them or not.

…

"Is that Marmota flaviventris, or Marmota caligata?"

Before or after it's flambe-ed? ;-}

After, I guess it doesn't matter.

You don't want that Marmota tartare.

–B.G.–

"I don't know. I think it might be a lot of work to dress them. Of course it wouldn't take much of a knife to do it."

Not much more than a squirrel, given their basic anatomy, and way more meat for your effort. Only thing extra I'd do would be to consider scraping as much fat off as possible, based on my childhood experience with racoons. Their fat was pretty "gamey" and not in the usual tasty way. My Mom used to parboil them first to get most of the fat out and then bake them. A point in the marmot's favor, however, is that they are vegetarian, so their fat might actually taste good and provide extra calories. I'd have to experiment a little.

"You don't want that Marmota tartare."

Given the sad state of the environment these days, I don't want anything "tatare" except maybe deep fried fish, as in tatare sauce. ;)

> Given the sad state of the environment these days, I don't want anything "tatare"
> except maybe deep fried fish, as in tatare sauce. ;)

Does either a tatare sauce or deep frying get the mercury and DDT out of the fish?
(yes, DDT: condors eat sea lions who eat fish who feed on an off-shore DDT dump … poor condors.)

Cheers

Sarah,
Thanks for the reference. Have only recently begun pirating information from hiking guides using Google.
Wonder if the back issues of the defunct BPL mag are on there also.
Draw the line at taking an iPad to bed for bedtime reading.
As for BP the mag, a friend sends me a subscription every year. It now takes about 15 mins to read it. Used to spend hours. Know it is the mag and not me that has changed because can still spend time in the back issues.
Yes, some of their gear reviews are seriously inaccurate, as are some of their hikes. After a while, with some talking with them and checking out hikes, realized that they don't always actually do the hikes or test the gear they recommend.
For example, they recommended a hike on a ski route around Holy Cross ridge in the summer. Sent them a letter advising it was not safe for backpacking, and why. No reponse. That summer, choppers rescued a hiking party stuck on the ridge. Sent them another letter referencing the Denver Post article. No response. A year or so later, they republished the hike.
If that is what it means to be a yuppie, guess I'm against it. Must keep the overhead low, though.

"Does either a tatare sauce or deep frying get the mercury and DDT out of the fish?"

Nah, it just masks the sickly sweet flavor of the DDT and the bitterness of the mercury. ;-]

In the real world, I don't eat anything deep fried, and there are lots better options than tartar sauce for accompanying baked potatoes, braised Black Cod, Sockeye Salmon, etc. To be honest, though, it is hard to avoid picking up at least traces of mercury, DDT, PCB's, etc. The pernicious stuff is endemic just about everywhere. I was surprised back in the late 70's to read a report that wildlife biologists in California had detected DDT in the fat of trout from high altitude lakes in the Sierra interior. Apparently it was carried up there attached to soil particles by prevailing winds off the San Joaquin Valley just to the west. The stuff had long been banned, but it persisted in the soil long after. All one can do is try to minimize their exposure by careful dietary choices, but even then there are no guarantees.

Tartare is an uncooked meat preparation, typically with the meat finely minced or shredded.

Marmot tartare would probably require some horseradish or spicy mustard.

–B.G.–

Samuel

How do you get the hiking guides off Google? I'm a computer special ed. Thanks

Mark

Added- NEVERMIND. Not the biggest idiot I thought I was. figured it out