Gear Review - REI Chrysalis UL Solo Tent

The Chrysalis in action at Silliman Lake

The REI Chrysalis UL is a free-standing, single person backpacking tent.  It weighs in at just over 3 lbs., and while it certainly isn't the lightest solo tent available, this tent's reasonable price and features makes it a good choice for budget-conscious backpackers looking to lighten their load (I purchased this tent to downsize from a 5+ lb. Kelty, so it's lighter weight is heaven to me).

The Chrysalis has a unique, asymmetrical shape and a slightly unusual pole set-up, which means the first time I tried to put up this tent there was some confusion.  But once I got the hang of it, it's easy to set up and when staked out, is a bomber tent that has withstood some serious winds without issue.

 This tent has nice height and doesn't feel as claustrophobic as some single person tents do, in part because of the generous amounts of mesh fabric on the tent body.  The asymmetric shape means that taller users would probably have to sleep diagonally to fit in the tent, but for shorter hikers, this tent is perfect and spacious.  I especially like the generous size of the vestibule--I was able to store my pack and assorted gear with no problems.  Thanks to the mesh on the tent body and venting window on the rainfly, I haven't had any problems with condensation with this tent.

The Chrysalis packs down pretty compact (6"x20") and I appreciate that the stuff sack comes with compression straps to pack it down even further.  The tent fabrics feel tough and sturdy, though I do recommend pitching this tent with the footprint, as the floor does feel somewhat thin.  If I have any criticism, it's that the tent poles are slightly bulky and I do think taller/larger backpackers might find the floorspace confining.  But if you're on the shorter end of the spectrum, this tent is a solid and simple tent for backpacking adventures.

Rock Scrambling on an Alien Planet...Sorta

Bet you didn't realize you can drive to an alien planet, did you?  Well, you totally can! The weird, angled rocks of Vasquez Rocks, a small wilderness park in northern LA Count,  have doubled as an exotic alien world in multiple TV shows and movies, most notably in the Star Trek episode "Arena," where Captain Kirk fought the fearsome (and fabulously attired!) Gorn.  

In addition to being a lover of the outdoors, I am also a huge nerd with a particular love for Star Trek, so it was pretty much mandatory that I make the hour and a half trek (haha!) north to this jumble of rocks off the 14 Freeway.  The park is quite small at about 900 acres and while there are hiking trails crisscrossing the park, the real fun is in scrambling around on the rocks.  The largest formation, nicknamed "Kirk's Rock," rises over 150' from the ground and has numerous nooks and crannies that can be explored.  The slabs are a nice grippy sandstone and angled at 30 to 45 degrees, making for some fun and easy climbing. 

It's a fun way to spend a few hours.  I may or may not have spent part of my time at the park creeping around the rock outcroppings hunting for aliens and pretending to fight the Gorn, but that isn't necessarily mandatory for enjoying Vasquez Rocks!  The park also has ample parking, restrooms and a nice new visitor center at the entrance and lots of picnic tables that make for a nice lunch spot.  

Getting There:

The rock formations are visible from Hwy 14.  From the freeway, exit at Agua Dulce road and head north for 1 1/2 miles.  Follow the signs to the entrance of the park.

Fall - Spring are the best times to visit this park, as it can get brutally hot in the summer and there is very minimal shade.

If you squint, it does look pretty alien...

Out of the mountains and onto the web

Hello! Thanks for stopping by my little corner of internet-dom.  There's not a lot here right now, I know,  but I hope you'll stop by from time to time for trip reports, gear reviews, book reviews and assorted musings about mountains and the compulsion to tromp around them/climb up them.