Motorola P793 Power Pack Review & Giveaway

Ever wish you had a little more juice to power your constellation App? Ever finished a hike and found your GPS tracks stopped recording? We know the feeling. As technology continues to change the way we explore the outdoors, the need to pack a little extra power has grown. And the folks at AT&T are already working on the next solution. Recently, they asked us to test out their new backup battery and sent along two extra units to giveaway to our readers!

Motorola P793 Portable Power Pack

The Motorola P793 Universal Portable Power Pack is a great little accessory for those who want backup power for their electronic devices. The power pack is equipped with a short microUSB cable designed work with a variety of cellphones. Even better, any device that charges via USB can be powered by the P793, if you bring along the cable.

What makes this particular device appealing to us is that it's small and light. It's slightly smaller than an iPhone and it weighs only 2.5 ounces making it a guilt-free addition to an overnight pack. Although it's not waterproof, the case is durable and easily survived multiple drop tests on rocky terrain. Another little bonus about the P793 is that its built using 25% post-consumer recycled plastic. It's also certified CarbonFree® by Carbonfund.org, which means Motorola offset the energy used in manufacturing by investing in sustainable energy projects.

How much power the Motorola P793 Backup Battery can provide all depends on what you want to charge. The manufacturer says it can add up to 5 hours of talk time, but it's a bit vague on what type of device. So as a worst case test, we tried charging our power hungry Samsung Inspire smartphone. With the Inspire turned off, it added 60% charge to a dead battery. If you're interested in the Motorola P793, it retails for $40 and is available in most AT&T stores as well as online.

If you'd like to win one of these devices and be prepared for the next snowmageddon power outage, just sign up to our email list. Remember to verify your email address by following the link in the activation email. If you're already signed up to receive email from us, then you're already signed up to win! Two winners will be announced this week on our Facebook Page. -Jer

Skyline Lake and Ridge Snowshoe

Our Hiking Time: 3h 15m
Total Ascent: 1400ft
Highest Point: 5400ft
Total Distance: 3 miles
Location: N 47° 45.4080, W 121° 6.2100
Difficulty: Moderate



Recently we had the chance to pack up our snowshoes and head out on Highway 2 toward Stevens Pass to explore the Skyline Ridge Trail. We’re right in the middle of an excellent snowshoe season, and we try to take advantage of it whenever the weather will allow us to wander under snow-laden trees toward sun-sparkling vistas. And it looks like the snow is going to continue to be good, as the state’s recent “snowpocalypse” has laid down a thick new layer of powder to tromp through.

Skyline Ridge is one of the unofficial names for the long, rocky, U-shaped ridge opposite the Steven’s Pass Ski Area that serves as the boundary between Chelan and King County. The name probably refers to Skyline Lake, a small lakelet tucked under the eastern base of the ridge. Then again, although labeled “Skyline” on many maps, the lake is sometimes referred to as Dozer Lake. The ridge is also known to some as Heather Ridge, perhaps in reference to the abundance of the plant in the area. To further add to the naming confusion, the 5482ft high point of the ridge is known simply as Sky Mountain, though most snowshoers do not go further than the jagged 5400ft prominence we stopped at.

The trail begins in the ski area parking lot, following a gravel service road up the mountainside. During the winter, this road is often groomed or otherwise cleared. Follow the road past ski huts and under electrical wires for about a quarter-mile to a green Washington Department of Transportation building. From here, you have a choice – you can continue to follow the road as it slowly switchbacks up the mountain, or you can head straight uphill and cut a lot of distance. This approach also has some great views and gets you into the trees before connecting with the road just below the ridgeline. From here, veer south toward nearby Skyline Lake and the rocky pinnacle rising above it.

If you’re hungry for views, continue around the lake and push up another 300ft through boulder-strewn forest to get them. To the north, Glacier Peak rises above closer Tye Peak, Lichtenburg Mountain and Union Peak. As you turn toward the east, pick out Mt. Howard, Rock Mountain, Mt. Mastiff and nearby Big Chief Mountain. Continue to turn clockwise to find Mt. Daniel, Mt. Hinman, Big Chiwaukum, and finally Cowboy Mountain directly across the valley. To the west, Windy Mountain stands closeby. Want more? You can continue to follow the ridgeline for another mile to reach the Sky Mountain highpoint.

This short snowshoe packs a lot into just a few miles. We definitely recommend taking the more direct route when snowshoeing, as it gets you to the views faster and is a lot more rewarding than trudging up a service road. This is an understandably popular destination in the winter, so expect a little company. Although there is some elevation gain involved, the different approaches mean that you can easily tailor this snowshoe so that even a first-timer will be able to make the lake, while the expert can explore the more challenging sections.

A word of caution when snowshoeing this area: stick to the western end of the ridge and avoid the southern slopes – there have been multiple avalanche fatalities there over the years. And, when you reach the lake, stick to the shores and resist the temptation to march across the frozen surface. It’s impossible to tell if the ice has started to melt or is otherwise weak.

To get there, take Highway 2 to the Stevens Pass Ski Area. Find parking in the lots on the north side of the highway. -Nathan



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Lord Hill Regional Park

Our Hiking Time: 2h
Total Ascent: 800ft
Highest Point: 650ft
Total Distance: 5.5 miles
Location: N 47° 50.8440, W 122° 2.9760
Difficulty: Easy



Recently, we found some time to visit Lord Hill Regional Park, a 1,300-acre park in Snohomish County. With over 11 miles of walking trails so close to the city, we took a little tour to see what the park had to offer.

Lord Hill Regional Park covers most of an 800-foot volcanic ridge overlooking the Snohomish River. The prominence was named for Mitchell Lord, a farmer and dairyman who came to the Washington Territory and bought up acreage on the hill in 1879. By 1884 Lord had expanded his holdings and was raising livestock and farming 100 acres on the hill. Logging interests cut down the last of the old growth on Lord Hill by the middle of the 1930s, and large portions of the hill passed into the control of Washington’s Department of Natural Resources. In the 1980s, sections of the hill were again logged before the state conveyed the land to Snohomish County years later. In October of 1995, after building and expanding a few miles of trails, the county officially opened Lord Hill Regional Park. Since that time Lord Hill’s trail network has continued to expand and today supports a variety of users including runners, hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

Lord Hill’s trails vary from wide roads that are occasionally used by park officials, to small, brush-lined paths to secluded lakeshores. Wander through a mixed forest of alder and maple interlaced with fir and hemlock as you explore trails leading to eight ponds and lakes as well as the riverside. The park provides decent views of both the Cascades and the Olympics on a good day, and shelters a variety of wildlife – everything from beavers to bobcats have been seen within the park’s boundaries. Routes within the park also loop together and make it easy to customize your wanderings, though not every junction is signed, making it is a good idea to bring along a map to minimize any confusion.

The park is a decent hiking destination during the winter. It’s close and easily accessible, but still large enough to feel like you’re getting out into nature. During warmer weather, this is a great place for youngsters to get out into the woods for the day, but be prepared to share the mixed use trails with mountain bikers and equestrians. All in all, it’s worth an afternoon to trek out to explore Snohomish County’s largest park.

To get there, take SR 522 north toward Monroe. Take the Monroe W Main Street exit and circle around the roundabout to head west on 164th Street. Follow this road for about three-and-a-half miles as it changes from 164th to the Old Snohomish-Monroe Highway to 127th Ave SE. Turn left and continue for a mile-and-a-half to 150th St SE. Take a right and find parking at the end of the road. –Nathan


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