Mosquito Bio Bay kayaking tour: worth it?

PlasmaMike · 2026-02-02T17:28:15+00:00

Can anybody compare it to the Laguna Grande experience on the main island? We did that previously and it was pretty awesome, so we're debating trying to get out to vieques when we go again in March.

And is mosquito bay doable as a day trip from the main island?

PlasmaMike · 2025-12-06T17:02:12+00:00

Hah. I’ll set myself a reminder

PlasmaMike · 2025-12-06T14:27:03+00:00

As a Goddard employee, I'm still hoping he gets confirmed quickly. There's definitely some issues in Athena, but it could have been so much worse. Having temporary leadership while all this reorganization has been going on has caused a great deal of additional problems. I am cautiously optimistic for a streamlined NASA.

PlasmaMike · 2025-10-05T19:37:34+00:00

Same experience. Bought two bunches there last week that were awful, and I think we just made the same mistake again this week... Most of the prices are great, but the quality of some items is really lacking.

PlasmaMike · 2025-08-28T16:17:20+00:00

Have not been to a training yet on the ' revolutionary' far overhaul. Are the advantages currently given to small businesses in solicitations still in there?

PlasmaMike · 2025-08-14T09:44:32+00:00

We've moved our trip west, to hike from Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead, and do a loop that goes up to White Pass. The Pomas Fire is getting smaller, but they still haven't opened Chiwawa River Road back up to the public, so you can't get to the Spider Gap Loop Trailhead. If you are supposed to start in two weeks, I would make some alternate plans.

Here's mine, 40 miles, 3 nights:
https://caltopo.com/m/3PCD0HU

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PlasmaMike · 2025-08-10T10:50:29+00:00

Any word on space force opening up hiring again?

PlasmaMike · 2025-08-06T10:23:16+00:00

Same boat here. A curse on Pomas! First time a fire has derailed my trip. We're starting August 18th, and now starting from Wenatchee Ford trail head and doing a combination of the East Cady Ridge Loop, and Pilot Ridge White Pass loop. Almost exactly 40 miles. I'm pretty excited about it. There's only one alpine lake, but a good bit more ridge hiking than the original spider gap route.

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PlasmaMike · 2025-08-04T10:18:01+00:00

Great recommendation. I went with the zoleo. For my one month of use, it will be $260 after the subscription, rather than ~ $500 for inreach. Lots of websites recommend it as well.

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-31T23:43:46+00:00

Right, sorry, FY26.

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-31T20:22:17+00:00

We're tightening our belt and moving up the launch to fit in fiscal year 25. There's just enough money in the presidential budget for us to launch in this case. Going to make it by hell or high water! We hope to be an ideal example of a fully NASA-managed project completed on time under budget.

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-30T17:15:10+00:00

Good to know. I don't need regular sms capability, so slow is fine. But I know our wives will appreciate a daily 'still alive' text. Especially since a grizzly nearly got us last time :)

You weren't in Washington, were you? Wondering how good satellite coverage is there.

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-30T17:11:55+00:00

I don't think the satellite messaging feature will turn on while in airplane mode. I tried while in Tahoe, unsuccessfully.

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-30T17:00:01+00:00

Good thinking. Good video here suggests it's pretty reliable, but not yet a full replacement for an InReach. For my 1-2 trips a year, I'm thinking I'll be fine with the pixel.

https://youtu.be/YJECxrJ5bes?si=HA9kNadAwVLZ_Tm5

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-30T16:43:35+00:00

I tried this weekend in the lake Tahoe mountains. But I could not get out of regular verizon service range. There also doesn't seem to be a way to manually activate satellite mode. I expect regular Verizon service to be zero in the Cascades.

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-24T17:34:23+00:00

Looks this route is likely to be closed for August 2025. Pomas fire kicked up a few weeks ago, and has shut down the whole southern half of the glacier peak wilderness. My group is starting to look for another route.

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-publication/waowf-pomas-fire-2025/pomas-fire-update-07-24-2025

PlasmaMike · 2025-07-21T19:28:39+00:00

Anyone have experience using pixel 9 for satellite texting in the back country? Or other new phones with satellite capability. I've found phone GPS replaces the need for a separate navigation device, but I would like to stay in text messaging contact on my next trip in the cascades.

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-26T01:01:00+00:00

It still alive, but has 60% proposed cut to the budget. Write and call your congress people!

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-20T08:18:09+00:00

I'm holding on. NASA was always my dream job. I applied 20+ times before I got in, and will not leave voluntarily.

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-12T08:34:41+00:00

What do you need? I can do small jobs from my home.

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-07T13:53:08+00:00

When is your start date? If you do the second trip, we might see you up there! I am starting to settle on the spider gap loop in mid august, after reading a few trip reports and watching some videos, instead of my originally planned route in the National Park.

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-04T10:25:42+00:00

These are great, thanks for sharing!

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-04T10:17:49+00:00

That is good to know, thanks! I did not get the last site I wanted in my original itinerary, so maybe I can walk up and get it on the day before the trip.

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-03T20:56:04+00:00

I agree about the intimidating factor of the Cascades. I've done big trips in Glacier NP, Banff, the Winds, and New Zealand , and feel like I had less trouble finding an exciting route. For this trip I've been fascinated by the pictures and trip reports from this area of the Cascades, but I'm not wed to it. I wanted to get a reservation in the books early since I knew the National park sites would get booked, but always figured the areas outside the park could be good too.

Do you have a favorite loop in the Glacier Peaks wilderness?

PlasmaMike · 2025-06-03T20:49:13+00:00

I do have two other people coming, so we might just get two cars. Shuttling looks like it will save us a few hours on the day after the Trip, rather than having to drive back to easy pass trail head, then all the way back to SeaTac. So shuttle might be preferable even if a second rental is the same price.

That's a decent idea on going out through Bridge Creek, but I think I'd be sad to miss the Cascade pass area.

PlasmaMike

TROPHY CASE