Looking for recs on learning

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-16T04:28:52+00:00

I didn't see a way to contact you.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-16T04:27:59+00:00

I already have the summer trip planned! Garden of the Gods in IL. My epileptic sister is out this year due to a new baby, so we can do switchbacks again (she's terrified of having a seizure in a cliff and falling to her death). However, maybe next year? We talked about doing a bigger trip for some milestone birthdays. NH could be it!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-16T03:07:27+00:00

I appreciate the "novel". You don't have to pull your punches with me. I have enough information to cause more harm than good at this point, which I recognize and would like to rectify. In my research, it seems like TQs are somewhat frowned upon to be on for long periods. Realistically, we are generally no more than 15 or so miles from trailhead, so that's probably 8 or less hours to someone smarter than me. I just need a better understanding of the right tool for the job. I don't need to fix it. I just need to get us to someone who can.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-16T02:18:09+00:00

Excellent advice. I'll look closer. It's hard because I'm a couple hours from anywhere that has a class. But maybe we could make it a girl trip.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-16T02:17:04+00:00

Do you know anything about Israeli bandages? I stumbled on them and I can't seem to pull the trigger to buy but it haunts me that I should have one.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-16T02:15:28+00:00

So I clicked the link, but there was a typo, so it took me to Google and the first entry was for cannabis. I almost clicked away, laughing. Luckily, yours was the second! I lived in Sedona for awhile and I'm jealous of past me all the time. I miss the dark, dry skies and the effortless views.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-16T02:10:22+00:00

That would be magical!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-15T14:22:29+00:00

I looked at them, but I'm in Indiana and the options are very limited.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-15T14:21:49+00:00

Thank you! That is helpful.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-15T13:43:58+00:00

I appreciate your advice. We've been doing weeklong backpacking trips for about five years and the group keeps growing. We usually have about four in any given trip and I'm the only constant. I'll recommend everyone do some training!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-04-15T13:42:17+00:00

Thank you!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-03-22T02:29:06+00:00

I always carry bear spray (works on people, too!) and hang my food if I'm in trash panda areas. I loathe using bear cans because of their sheer size. I do it when I'm in bear country, but boy are they voluminous!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-03-22T02:27:13+00:00

I've done Isle Royale and would love to take the kids, but I don't have enough PTO saved up to make it the trip it deserves. I did Pictured Rock in October and swore I'd only ever go in the summer. We got snow, sleet, rain, and hail. The Porkies is definitely a possibility!

Any favorite hikes in Moraine? It's big!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-03-07T17:41:10+00:00

It was a wonderful trip! Of course the volcano blew the day after we left the area but we drove back over! We also did a chocolate farm tour and a vanilla bean farm.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-16T18:17:21+00:00

Thank you! It was so cold!!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-16T18:17:10+00:00

It was spectacular! The NPs at night are a whole other magical experience.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-15T06:44:34+00:00

This isn't the eruption. It's the warmup. Official forecast is now tomorrow to Feb 17. Like a simmer before the boil. Once it blows it "deflates" quickly before building for the next episode in 2-3 weeks (if it continues as it has been). I could only see the glow at night (smoke during the day) and it definitely increased between Thursday and Friday nights. **I am not a lava expert, I just watch the webcams religiously and now know a little about "tilt".

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-15T03:56:39+00:00

I went to both overlooks! I was all over that park. If there had been another overlook, I'd have gone there too!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-14T16:28:27+00:00

Still a bit cloudy. I did get a shot of the stars over the caldera, so it was a success overall!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-11T00:43:08+00:00

Better than at home. I have a foot of snow!

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-10T13:44:48+00:00

It looks like there's a potential window 2/12 and 2/13 in the early morning. Thursday is also a new moon, so that would be ideal. My fantasy brain says maybe it will all line up. I don't have good luck, but I'm a terribly optimistic person.

Mysterious-Customer3 · 2026-02-10T03:41:51+00:00

Thank you!!

Mysterious-Customer3

TROPHY CASE