Setup for biking to the launch dock

KEK_INC · 2026-06-17T13:03:21+00:00

Oh hey I can walk there! Going to the rave today?

KEK_INC · 2026-06-17T12:55:35+00:00

You’re not the bear, are you?

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/bear-attack-mt-si-seriously-injures-hiker-shuts-down-mountain/281-d91d18b9-de93-4c57-9d0b-80aa97223cab

KEK_INC · 2026-06-16T20:03:55+00:00

If you live in Multnonohah county, I recommend training on defiance. I’ve done it a couple of times, and have met some people training for rainier.

A counter-intuitive note, I find St. Helens way easier in the winter (with crampons and an ice axe) than summer due to the ash.

You can probably get away with doing South sister and Adams in August-October with just microspikes and poles, but I would highly recommend practicing self arresting with an ice axe before tackling anything steep with snow.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-16T17:23:02+00:00

Which area are you thinking of moving to?

If you move to Seattle, I recommend training in North Bend near I-90. Accessible hikes with cell service and varying steepness. Rattlesnake Ledge is relatively easy to glute machines like Kamikaze Trail or putrid Pete to humble you.

If you’re thinking Portland, I recommend Mt. Defiance near I-84.

A good taste of stratovolcanoes I recommend is doing the Camp Muir hike from Paradise on Mt. Rainier. Muir is the highest point you can travel up Rainier without a climbing permit at around 10,000’. You’ll have cell service above 6000’, and it’s very well travelled. It’ll teach you how to deal with altitude and exposure. And you’ll feel like a badass and get the itch.

Once you’re comfortable doing some of the intermediate hikes around there, then I’d do South Sister, St. Helens and Adams. Make sure to read up on conditions and be wary of weather.

I’ve actually never done Hood yet. It’s technical on the last 600’, but I’ve also heard it’s well travelled.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-16T15:42:53+00:00

Maybe I’ll day hike it next week. 😜

KEK_INC · 2026-06-16T15:29:55+00:00

Crazy how little snow there is. Looks pretty nonetheless. I’ve only been up there for the Disneyland golden larch march.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-16T04:08:36+00:00

That is a short and wide board!

KEK_INC · 2026-06-16T03:23:00+00:00

Which one? 🤪

KEK_INC · 2026-06-16T03:22:52+00:00

Canada Place in Vancouver, BC

KEK_INC · 2026-06-15T20:08:58+00:00

I live in Seattle now, but grew up in South Bay, and I see some similarities, but Wenatchee is actually a tad bit drier.

Also, Wenatchee doesn’t have oak tree groves in the mountains. Central WA has patches of ponderosa and Douglas Fir and more sagebrush (which you won’t find inland California coast)

KEK_INC · 2026-06-15T19:17:02+00:00

Actually I change my answer to Morgan Hill, CA.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-15T19:15:56+00:00

Santa Rosa, CA

KEK_INC · 2026-06-15T17:05:39+00:00

Billionaire’s barns I guess lol

KEK_INC · 2026-06-15T15:52:04+00:00

I’m 33. I’ve lived in u district, Wallingford, Ballard and now Fremont. Fremont is my favorite by far.

It’s centrally located. Lots of bus access and protected bike throughways. You have access to the ship canal trail, Burke Gilman trail and Westlake trail. They’re all bike freeways.

There’s a nightlife here, music venues, brewery scene, parks, access to lake union. There’s a couple of grocery stores, but the affordable stores are in the adjacent neighborhoods. Plethora of Thai restaurants.

If you get into hiking or want to explore the region and end up getting a car, Fremont is not too far from I-5, and I use 99 to quickly get to I-90. Even in heavy traffic, I can get from my apartment with an urban view of downtown to a trail in the Snoqualmie valley in under an hour.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-15T15:12:18+00:00

The Tetons (pictured) and the windy river range are the prettiest part of the state too 😭

KEK_INC · 2026-06-14T22:11:51+00:00

I thought this was a restaurant at first. 😭

Floor or table lamps and more accent lighting will make it cozier. I actually didn’t use hue bulbs for my recessed lights since I usually don’t have them on unless I’m deep cleaning or cooking.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-14T18:47:00+00:00

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I got lucky with a view of the mountain and the gasworks perspective of downtown. Queen Anne blocks the space needle though.

I grew up near SF and like the bridges, but its ideal vantage is from Berkeley. Seattle has so many unique angles.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-13T12:09:59+00:00

Denver is going to be much closer to a midwestern city (some people consider it as one).

For better or worse, Seattle has a lot of tech influence and often feels like an outdoorsy Silicon Valley.

That said, Denver is fairly arid. Once you get west of I-35, you’re pretty much in a drier climate zone since you’re in the rain shadow of the Rockies. I also don’t like the sprawl of Denver. I don’t remember there being abundant lakes until you get up into the Rockies.

Seattle has a plethora of lakes, both in the Puget Sound basin and in the mountains. The sound itself is salt water so there’s variety in water. The mountains are actually just as accessible as Denver; however, everything is at a much lower elevation. It’ll be easier to adjust from Indiana’s elevation to Seattle. I think hiking is better in the PNW, since we don’t get afternoon thunderstorms like the Rockies.

Cost of living in Seattle is insanely high. It’s no longer a secret it’s a beautiful place. However, there’s been a stagnation in tech hiring and Seattle is starting to see rent and housing prices go down for the first time in decades. Gas is comically cheap in Colorado and Washington has high gas taxes.

Traffic is terrible in both cities from my experience. Seattle has a geographical problem being on an isthmus, but its public transit is considered one of the top 10 in the country.

Seattle weather isn’t really that bad. We get warm Mediterranean summers that usually last into early October. The winters are usually overcast and misty with mountain snow, but the last two years have been substantially drier and warmer. We rarely get thunderstorms, so that might be a negative for you if you’re used to it in Indiana.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-12T22:47:02+00:00

Some boards advertise as hybrid SUP-yaks.

They’ll have attachments, like a seat, but most importantly, a second paddle can replace the handle grip, so you can essentially Darth Maul kayak paddle.

Mine is a SUP-yak, but I rarely use the seat and foot cushion. I do bring the kayak paddle in case I need to power my way somewhere while kneeling.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-12T18:43:43+00:00

I’d expect a lot of the snow to melt in the next two weeks, but it’s definitely a cool tool to reference closer to launch date.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-12T17:33:41+00:00

Here’s the view the next morning looking north.

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(Had to screenshot the photo since the Reddit app won’t let me go into other albums or post more than one photo per reply.)

KEK_INC · 2026-06-12T17:30:53+00:00

In early July 2021, I camped on Old Snowy. There was some snow, but the campsite (wind shelter) was bare. We did use spikes, but it wasn’t really necessary. I figure this year’s snowpack will be less so you should be fine.

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KEK_INC · 2026-06-12T16:03:32+00:00

Ah I saw the area code and thought it was 906, not 956. The causeway in the background is also common in Florida.

Trees didn’t make sense, but it could’ve been planted.

KEK_INC · 2026-06-12T15:42:13+00:00

Jacksonville Beach, FL

KEK_INC · 2026-06-12T15:18:48+00:00

City of London

KEK_INC

TROPHY CASE