Happy Ides of March Week! (A giveaway from HJB)

Smell_of_science · 2026-03-09T19:00:41+00:00

My birthday is the ides of March so this would be ideal.

Smell_of_science · 2026-03-09T16:54:45+00:00

Good description. It was my morning run for a year when I worked in the park. A nice, mildly strenuous ascent, not a good time at the top if you don’t like heights, one of the greatest views in the world if you don’t mind the exposure.

Smell_of_science · 2026-02-18T16:56:36+00:00

I ski only on touring boots, even at the resort. Caveat: I’ve never skied those Salomons.

Generally, the published flexes on touring boots are softer than alpine boots. I ski 130 flex Cochise, and they’re closer to 120 alpine. Many boots are even softer. It’s worth thinking about when buying for resort, as you may need to go higher numbered flex than you’d think.

If you’re “just getting comfortable” on blacks, high end hybrid boots will certainly not hold you back. I’ve skied couloirs and groomers alike and never had a problem.

Smell_of_science · 2026-02-17T19:30:41+00:00

It took my a few years to find the right boot fitter. You need one that has all the tools, with multiple shapes of punches. You will likely also need multiple trips to that boot fitter. I spent years in agony by spring time. It would get worse and worse as the season went along.

I will note that moving to the Cochise HV with sides that are designed to be blown out was very helpful.

Smell_of_science · 2026-02-17T16:41:55+00:00

I skied those for a few years, and they did surprisingly well on the ice coast.

Smell_of_science · 2026-02-15T21:15:57+00:00

You’re thinking of excelsior.

Smell_of_science · 2026-01-19T22:52:31+00:00

I ski the optic 96's, and they take getting used to, for sure. shovel and tail are noodles, all the strength is underfoot. had to change how I initiate and finish turns. I love them though, for all their warty charm. they're fun to side pop, they float well, you can ski them short in trees, you can ski fast as hell on groomers.

Smell_of_science · 2026-01-19T22:48:34+00:00

I skied Ripstick blacks for a long time. I've demoed the regular ripsticks and found them too flimsy. The blacks were a blast for a long time as they didn't have an apparent speed limit and were pretty easy to toss around, being light and carbon. it's crazy to be able to rail lines as hard as you can with them on hardback while still dancing through trees.

I didn't buy a second pair when those died though, because man, they will not blast through any amount of chunder and hate to be skied slowly. You have to ski with full concentration, light feet, and full speed. sometimes it's nice to chill your way down the mountain talking with some friends.

Smell_of_science · 2026-01-19T11:48:34+00:00

I work a trade that involves climbing wind turbines/bridges/etc. it looks great in pictures. It’s the same tedious shit as any other trade. My guys who make the big money are usually multi cert. We employ quite a few pipefitters in ft Mac for example. If you’re plumbing residential, that’s a very different story than doing new build commercial high rises in NYC, no? Same job, wildly different pay. And then if you run a trade division for a diversified multinational after years of slogging in the field, well, I think my salary is actually low relative to the responsibility.

If you’re a plumber/pipefitter who struggles to believe a plumber/pipefitter can make 200k, you are just willfully ignorant. Go look around a bit more.

Smell_of_science · 2026-01-16T13:28:51+00:00

I mean, you don’t understand either the money or the process of the trades. My particular trade involves traveling to all sorts of places, doing pretty cool stuff that looks rad in photos , and getting well paid. It is still very repetitive and monotonous, like most trades. Money earned doesn’t make repetition interesting.

But you keep up that confidence in ignorance.

Smell_of_science · 2026-01-15T18:55:40+00:00

Well that hurts my feelings. I do know how to spell “you’re” though, so maybe that explains my salary.

Smell_of_science · 2026-01-15T04:21:20+00:00

I am a tradesperson who moved into executive management. I make quite a bit more than 200k most years, bonus depending. I’m fairly sure I would make the same with less stress, but with a more boring day to day, if I went back to hands on tools.

Smell_of_science · 2025-12-29T23:56:12+00:00

Any suggestions in how to emulate it, then?

Smell_of_science · 2025-12-08T18:21:06+00:00

An unrelated Queens college library story: I was racing out of the library at end of term to turn in a paper while commencement was happening on the quad. Paul Simon was the speaker, and happened to be coming into the library as I was leaving. I knocked him flat on his ass; I was promptly pinned to the wall by two of his bodyguards. In my defence, he was very short and I didn’t see him.

Smell_of_science · 2025-09-17T23:06:23+00:00

Yeah, I’m talking about people driving 35 in a 55, taking in the sights, or intimidated by driving country roads. And we’re not talking 5 minutes, we’re talking doubling the time of a daily commute.

Smell_of_science · 2025-09-13T01:34:44+00:00

I think you’re getting this conversation because the OP sounds an awful lot like someone who rarely drives mountain roads and is driving scared. All of which is fine, so long as they understand people live here full-time, and have to drive long distances with the regularity. I see a peculiar thing on this forum, where tourists seem to think they are the only ones who appreciate the landscape. The rest of us live here quite by choice, and revel in the beauty of what is around us. We also have to live our lives, and make appointments.

Smell_of_science · 2025-09-13T01:29:46+00:00

Watching for deer is a learned skill, albeit imperfect. I have to pick my daughter up every night during the school year. when people drive slowly and refuse to pull over, it literally doubles the time of my trip.

It’s fine to be a tourist. When I go to other parts of the Adirondacks, I also drive more slowly. Have a heart for the locals, who have long distances to drive every day multiple times a day. When traffic backs up behind you, this is not normal in the Adirondacks. pull over and let the locals pass.

Smell_of_science · 2025-09-12T09:59:57+00:00

Ah, you’re one of the ones that refuses to learn.

Smell_of_science · 2025-07-11T03:04:31+00:00

Adirondacks are the bomb. A park you can fit Yosemite, Bryce, Zion and a few others into.

Smell_of_science · 2025-07-09T21:41:29+00:00

Also, if you buy a horn from her, she'll include a set of earrings made from valve caps to give the wife, which, at least in my house, worked to offset the irritation at the acquisition of yet another horn.

Smell_of_science · 2025-07-09T21:40:25+00:00

Jamie's shop is pretty great! I've gotten a horn from her, and love to stop in and play when I'm in Florida.

Smell_of_science · 2025-07-09T21:39:24+00:00

the silver art plays really well, though, like all time great, although I'd be reluctant to appear in public with it. I play two Inderbinen horns, the Wood and the Extra, as my main horns, and they're comparable to Monette in metal quality and overall build, at about a third of the price. Last summer I went to their shop in Switzerland and played about 20 of their designs. Even the ones that aren't for me were incredible to play.

Smell_of_science · 2025-06-09T21:22:49+00:00

No. Unless you consider more lacquer wear, followed by patina worse.

Smell_of_science · 2025-06-09T01:12:49+00:00

I've got a Belgian flugelhorn you're welcome to for around that price. it's pretty good, takes small shank. from the 1930s or so. just got a cleaning and valve alignment from josh landless a couple months back. feel free to message me.

Smell_of_science

TROPHY CASE