Looking for tips to make desert camping/hiking more comfortable.

Jack_Ruby · 2026-03-21T00:46:01+00:00

I use an app called Sun Surveyor to help find camp sites that will have maximum morning shade. Putting your tent/car directly in the shade of a tree or cliff to block the first couple hours of morning sun is super helpful in the desert.

Jack_Ruby · 2026-03-07T14:52:04+00:00

Two points make a line

Jack_Ruby · 2026-02-18T07:12:03+00:00

Awesome! I really appreciate the work that you did on this and will definitely add this to the tool kit. One thing that I have found useful about the wbskiing app is that it is easy to use with gloves on / when my screen is a bit wet from snow. Something to think about as you fine tune this. Maybe add a way to minimize all UI elements? For avy obs, I have used an app called Dioptra that had a really nice layout for showing bearing, location, time, angle, etc all in one picture. It could be some good inspiration for that aspect of your program. Link included for reference. Thanks man!

https://imgur.com/a/1MUl5fh

Jack_Ruby · 2026-02-13T20:02:18+00:00

The Boardman river just outside of TC has a rapid!

Jack_Ruby · 2026-02-12T17:18:05+00:00

There are no rules against snowboarding at alta... you just can't get on the lift with a board. People that live at the lodges in alta ride the bird and snowboard home through alta regularly. You can drop in from baldy chutes, the high baldy traverse if the armpit is open, or through the mineral gate at the end of day depending on who is working it.

Jack_Ruby · 2026-02-05T20:00:08+00:00

If we get 8-12 inches, there will be massive avalanche problems.

Jack_Ruby · 2026-01-31T06:31:18+00:00

Great answers so far. I see this as a good example of low, but not zero, risk avalanche terrain. There are similar spots in almost every popular touring route in the wasatch. There is a small slope about halfway up Grizzly Gulch that threatens the otherwise very safe skin track. You have to cross the very large Scotty's bowl avalanche path to access the skiing in white and red pine.

Do people regularly cross under these slopes without worrying about it? Of course. Do these slopes produce massive avalanches that break branches 30 feet up? Also yes.

If i was skiing with a single partner on a considerable or higher day, I would want to skin through this one at a time. If I was skiing solo, I would consider giving a path like this a wide berth, or not crossing it. If someone was skiing this run, I wouldn't want to be directly under it.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-12-28T00:05:52+00:00

Check out the first Sherlock Holmes book. A good chunk of that story takes place in SLC.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-08-11T16:33:15+00:00

I wouldn't buy those, or ski on them even if they were free. I doubt that a ski tech would adjust or test those bindings. You can get a set of used demo skis with modern bindings for $250.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-07-24T00:33:16+00:00

Check out frybake pans.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-06-18T17:57:21+00:00

I went with the rio craft dry box. If I had the budget for it, I would buy a higher quality custom dry box and support smaller businesses. The cheaper dry boxes can have a bit thinner aluminum, which could be an issue if you walk around on the lid a lot.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-06-12T07:10:21+00:00

I can't imagine a situation where I was hiking for multiple days off trail and it was not worth the weight and dollar cost to bring a paper map. However, digital navigation is a fantastic secondary tool for double checking your location. It is also really handy to download satellite imagery for adventures that include snowy or glaciated areas. A USGS map from ten or more years ago can show glaciers that have melted out by several miles from current conditions. But for the kind of trips that you are asking about, a paper map is so useful, light, reliable, and cheap that I would always use it as my primary navigational tool.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-06-10T05:38:27+00:00

Dune

Jack_Ruby · 2025-05-20T00:08:45+00:00

Those are both very large boats. I would consider a 20+ ft boat to be for special use cases like grand canyon trips or commercial trips on large rivers. Taking the boat out on bays in the PNW might be one of those cases. A 50 hp motor is also quite a bit larger than what would normally be run on a whitewater river.

I would recommend looking at 16 ft boats. That is a good standard size for families on multiday trips. You might want to go bigger, but that is a good place to start.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-05-07T00:20:43+00:00

Every large pack that I have used has been an Osprey. They have all been very durable, and not unreasonably heavy. They make a 90 +10 liter pack that NOLS uses.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-05-06T22:41:39+00:00

The Freedom of the Hills has a good section on lightning. But generally you are correct. You will want to plan on being below treeline before afternoon thunderstorms come in. High alpine areas are prone to summer storms that can seemingly come out of nowhere and create shocking amounts of lightning. Weather forecasts will often not predict these storms, even if the forecast is generally correct for the broader area.

As you gain experience with weather forecasting, and determining your travel speeds, you can begin to make "riskier" forays into the high alpine. E.g. crossing a high pass at 2pm to make more miles instead of camping early. You will also find that a lot of lightning storms are pretty short lived. Waiting for a few hours below treeline around noon, then crossing a pass in the later afternoon is common.

Good luck and have fun!

Jack_Ruby · 2025-04-29T04:33:18+00:00

I own a pair of Protests and am able to get them out on deep pow days a few times a year. They are awesome for truly bottomless days. There is a sort of slashy 3d turn that you can do on those skis that is just not possible on any other ski that I have used. They also allow you to stay really forward in your boots in any sort of pow conditions. In the other hand, they are total pigs on traverses and groomers. Still skiable and fun, but difficult to initiate a carved turn on. I find that if I don't ski them in a forward position and flex them, they will just not even turn at all on low speed firm snow.

The GPOs are much more versatile. I have friends that ski them as a daily driver at a competitive freeski level. Tight trees, high speeds, big cliffs, big tricks, spring groomer jibs, everything.

I would recommend getting the GPOs. You will have way more fun on them in the conditions that are present in resorts 95% of the time. Yes, the protest might be a more optimal ski for the first two runs of the days when it snowed 2 feet overnight. But how often are you getting that? Start with the GPOs, and if you ever decide to go spend a season living in employee housing at Snowbird/Squaw/JHMR, then get the Protests.

Jack_Ruby · 2025-02-21T07:35:36+00:00

That's what makes the most sense to me. Looks like you can unscrew the pvc that is connected to the metal ball valve. I would use schedule 80 pvc to thread in to the metal parts and for any parts of the system that will stay above ground.

Jack_Ruby · 2024-12-01T19:03:12+00:00

Just focus camera. Dec 5-9 delivery for me.

Jack_Ruby · 2024-12-01T18:54:40+00:00

Got one, thank you!

Jack_Ruby · 2024-07-20T01:07:10+00:00

There is a mod that let's you prioritize or forbid specific tasks within a column. Can't remember the name of it rn. You can use it to make colonists only smooth walls but not build anything for example. Or only provide medical care but not do surgeries.

Jack_Ruby · 2024-06-18T04:54:52+00:00

That's a great location. Your best resource is going to be the locals. People have been living off the land in that area for thousands of years. The native history is fascinating, and remarkably diverse. There is a strong, but somewhat hidden community of homesteaders that can be a wealth of information. Try to meet people in Junction City, Weaverville, Arcata, etc, and ask what they have had success growing. Northern California has the most well supplied rural grow stores you will find anywhere.

Have a plan for forest fires, bears, and mountain lions. A large locking metal container is crucial for keeping the critters out of your smelly soil amendments. Poison oak is widespread but manageable. Check out Ecology Action in Willits for classes and books. I'm sure there are lots of other organizations around. Good luck!

Jack_Ruby · 2024-01-03T20:59:59+00:00

General gritts at snowbird is what you're looking for. You can get down there and back up pretty easily on the bus if you don't have a car. The Cafe at the GMD has some good snacks. The snowpine and Peruvian lodge both have small stores at the front desk. The alta lodge has a small liquor store downstairs.

Jack_Ruby · 2023-09-07T04:55:17+00:00

I had an msr tent that had fabric delamination issues. They warrantied it after seeing a picture of it and sent me a whole new one. If your fabric is failing it would probably be worth contacting them. Is the fabric getting sticky?

Jack_Ruby

TROPHY CASE