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sasquatch69

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Everything posted by sasquatch69

  1. Just got back from Philmont (posted more on the hiking thread). I was really intrigued by the change in their approach to conservation and fire prevention that occurred after the Ute Park fire in 2018 (which has left a huge chunk of Philmont closed, likely for years to come). This video does a great job talking about the fire and what has changed since.
  2. Tents with sunset? That's Dan Beard, but on the Valle Vidal side. We were at Whiteman Vega one night after a long slog across flooded fields, and we didn't get to do the mountain bike program due to mud (and disinterested camp staff).
  3. Yes - we hiked up the mesa from Rich to Pueblano, did day program there and then onto Baldy Skyline. We got lucky and got two nights at Copper Park so we summited from there and then returned for a second night. Went from there to Miranda for our final night on the trail and did both rifles and tomahawks.
  4. Fantastic 12 days at Philmont. We figured out that we did about 120 miles of hiking with nearly 4,000' of total elevation gain. Besides the usual early-afternoon showers, weather was great. - we only got caught in one big thunderstorm as we were going up and over Windy Gap, which sucked, but otherwise we were really lucky. Scouts got their work done each day with minimal drama, and the advisors had a blast. My left ankle started swelling up about Day 7, but between a wrap, a compression sock and Advil/Tylenol, I kept it mostly under control. Our scouts' favorite moments were the singalong at Rich Cabins, the campsite/views and program at Miranda, and summiting Baldy on a clear day (up at 4, on the trail by 5:30, at the summit just after 9). I'm exhausted, but already hoping our younger son wants to go in a few years.
  5. We're planning out our coming year of campouts, etc. We've got some solid plans on paper, but our PLC tends to lean towards fun campouts we've done in the past. Mostly, that's fine, but I'd love for them to consider new ideas. Anyone (particularly those in North Texas area) have any suggestions for really fun campouts you did/campout destinations that were unique or different? Thanks.
  6. Thanks, helpful tips. Day 1 of trek is Tuesday; we're driving up Monday and staying in Raton. We did a full weekend campout/hike at Caprock Canyon a few months back to get used to backpack camping/meals/etc, and had some good takeaways from that.
  7. I remember you mentioned that happening at KJ earlier in the thread, but I thought it was on a skinny. Happening on a drop makes more sense (although I still skip the uber-skinny at the end of Red). The runout on Ranger is fun and twisty, although right now it's pretty overgrown.
  8. Usually just Ranger and Maverick. I'm too chicken-s to try the others.
  9. Leaving on Monday for a 12-day trek with a crew from my son's BSA troop at Philmont. We've been doing shakedown hikes for months at the few spots with any elevation gain here in Dallas (Cedar Ridge, etc.), and early-morning stair climbing sessions with full packs the past few weeks at a local parking garage. We also did 5 days in Taos last week for a family event, and got in a couple more hikes there with packs to practice at altitude (Devisadero Loop and Williams Lake). As for pack (a 70L Gregory), I've done several rounds of packing/evaluating/repacking, and have a fitting today at REI just to make sure both our packs are good to go. Been reading Reddit threads for tips as well, so I feel as prepared as I can be without having been before. Having said all that, any last-minute tips from folks who've been?
  10. I did KJ Tuesday morning after we got back in town - similar experience. Five days of vacationing and poor (but delicious) meal choices - even with a lot of physical activity, since we were in the mountains - led to a rough ride. Warmed up with blue, then red, then blue again and then yellow with a couple drops. Kicked my butt.
  11. "Gotta go - I still need to do 200 sit-ups before nightfall."
  12. I'm not focused on it. I noticed it, looked it up, and found it interesting/unsettling enough to post about it.
  13. Searched for previous posts on this and didn't find any, so starting new thread. I was visiting my parents in North Dallas the other day and noticed a neighbor flying a white flag with a pine tree, with the words "AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN". I hadn't seen this before, and wondered about it, but promptly forgot. Yesterday we went out for Father's Day lunch and saw a couple with two kids, and the husband/wife were wearing matching shirts with the same logo/text. This got me really curious, so I looked it up when we got home - and the truth about it is unnerving. Turns out it's an old flag flown by Continental Army naval vessels under Washington's command. Now, it's a growing slogan/insignia for Christian Dominionists/Nationalists, and popularized by nationalist leader Dutch Sheets - and was apparently flown at the Jan. 6 insurrection, although I don't recall seeing it (the one I remember is the Gadsden flag). More at link below, including this quote. Are y'all seeing this more frequently? https://towcenter.medium.com/the-pine-tree-flag-how-one-symbol-at-the-capitol-riot-connects-far-right-extremism-to-christianity-f02314a5f759
  14. Never ridden it, but have been curious to try it.
  15. Honestly, it's likely the heat. CS rarely/never gets the combo of temps/humidity we have right now.
  16. Had a bunch of places to be today, but I had a window of about three hours this afternoon in between commitments, and noticed that Big Cedar switched from red to green in the DORBA app. I hauled ass down there and was able to squeeze in 5 miles. It was hot, trails were overgrown and the bugs were worse than usual, but it was glorious.
  17. I don’t think either of them want anything to do with elected office.
  18. The Breckenridge trails are technically hike/bike, and I see both out there, but they’re city-maintained and off most peoples’ radar since they aren’t on any MTB lists.
  19. It’s way out on the far eastern border of Richardson, close to Murphy and Sachse. Huge park. Eastern half has several miles of paved trails. Western half (on opposite side of creek) has all the unpaved trails, with two bridge connections across the creek. Best place to park is the lot along Moroney Drive south of Renner - you ride down the hill towards the woods to the south and follow the trails (they’re all marked “Breckenridge Trail” on Google Maps). It takes some exploring - and the trails deeper in the woods under tree canopy are still tacky/muddy/underwater.
  20. Even though all the DORBA trails are still closed, got in a really nice 5mi tonight at Breckenridge Park in Richardson. I’ve hiked out there enough to know which trails to avoid after lots of rain, but there are enough that are either open pasture or Austin chalk so they were nice and dry. I’ll take it right now.
  21. Hate all you want, but I’ve had a 2nd-gen Ridgeline for nearly three years and it’s pretty much exactly what I needed. Comfortable for family of four on long trips, engine feels strong (plus the VTEC kick on acceleration), trunk is incredibly handy, lined bed has handled loads of everything from dirt to decomposed granite to massive piles of scout troop gear with no issues, and I haul my kayaks and bikes around with it too. Gets decent gas mileage, and after nearly 50k miles it hasn’t had a single issue (although I’d think that’s expected these days). Almost bought a Taco, but after trying both, the Honda was much more comfortable for both driver and passenger - and the dealer gave me a great deal on it. Also, I’m too old to give a shit that it’s a unibody.
  22. Had to get back on the bike somehow, so I rode about 8mi last night on some newish paved trails along PGBT in Garland (combined with surface streets in Sachse). The trailhead also has a gravel road for utility easement access that leads into the back side of the Rowlett Creek Preserve, so I rode in. What little I could see of the trails was still muck/underwater. This sucks - and the forecast isn't any better for days.
  23. Just got home from our first plane trip since Covid hit, to New Orleans. Arrived on a late-night flight, and checked both Uber and Lyft apps. Lyft’s fare to our place was $15 cheaper, so we went with that. We ended up doing Lyft the entire trip - 7-8 times in total - and never had a bad experience. Additionally, their “save if you wait a bit” feature was fantastic - we’d be finishing up a meal or drinks and I’d go ahead and choose that option, and once a driver was en route we’d actually settle and leave, and car was usually rolling up as we walked outside. Each time that fare was $4-8 less than the normal option. Drivers were all friendly and cars were generally clean - and if you’ve ever done traditional cabs in NOLA in the past you know that’s far from guaranteed. We also tried a new service, Turo, on the one day we needed to actually have a car. It was also a great experience but that’s for another thread.
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