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After attending school for photography and ceramics, native Utahan Meagan Scriven jumped on the Backcountry.com boat in 2005. She is currently the assistant buyer for Backcountry.com’s closeout sites, Steep and Cheap, Whiskey Militia, and Chainlove. When you catch a screaming deal from one of these sites, Meagan is on the other end making sure everything looks tiptop.

Meagan has spent her entire life within the bounds of Utah, and she knows how to take advantage of her location. When she’s not spinning pottery, making jewelry, or listening to her husband Bryan rock out in one his bands, you can most likely find her backpacking in the Uintas, jamming cracks at Indian Creek, or monkeying up boulders in Ogden or Little Cottonwood Canyon. She also dabbles in canyoneering, paddling, and cross-country skiing.

We caught up with Meagan just before she took off on a weeklong trip to King’s Peak (Utah’s highest mountain) to get the scoop on her go-to gear for the Utah outdoors. Here are her favorite pieces of gear in her own words.

Golite Odyssey Expedition Pack – 5500-5800 cu in
After having two knee surgeries in two years, I figured it was time to buy a lightweight backpack. The Golite Odyssey backpack only weighs three pounds and has more than enough room for your gear (and extra cans of beer). Thanks to this backpack I won't have to stop doing the things I love.

Mountain Hardwear Nut Shell Ventigaiter – Women’s
Call me crazy, but I love trudging through muddy spring runoff. My pair of Mountain Hardwear Nut Shell Ventigaiters has saved me numerous times from filling my boots up with mud. When a snowdrift appears, I don’t think twice about hiking over the top of it.

MSR Pocket Rocket Stove
From freezing mountain rain to the harsh desert sand the Pocket Rocket stove has never failed me. This lightweight stove is so small it doesn’t take up any room in the lid of my backpack and works in all conditions.

Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero Down Jacket – Women’s
OK so I’m kind of obsessed with my Sub Zero jacket. It has even gone to Florida, and yes, I wore it. It’s by far the warmest and most comfortable piece of equipment I own. When I’m in the backcountry and it’s time to pass out, it doubles as a very soft pillow.

CamelBak Mule Hydration Pack – 3L
The CamelBak Mule is probably the most versatile piece of gear I have. I take it everywhere, from summit attempts to concerts. With 100oz of water nothing will stop me!