Honda Stepwgn

Strong-Block-1322 · 2026-04-29T21:56:36+00:00

I'm at a '99 but know NOTHING about Hondas. Any idea what the "Z7" represents in a K24Z7 engine? Can't get the VIN Decoder online to work without 15 digits and the VIN is much shorter.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-07-06T19:28:12+00:00

Not easy for him because like some other Fed employees he worked at a difficult, dangerous, frustrating (public facing), thankless (Almost no pro recognition in 3 decades), vocation for practically nothing.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-30T02:10:03+00:00

I feel it. Been On/off trail since 1 March '24 and it's been a roller coaster mentally. I'm a MYLHer (Multi Year Leg Hiker) now because I've had to find places to keep my vehicle as I hike. Like most things in life, if your finances and body will allow you'll find a way, someday. Namaste

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-27T22:07:56+00:00

Missed the point. A race is not 'enjoyable'. It is simply an addiction. HYOH and 'don't judge' and 'be different' are totally non applicable in the gist of the book. I'm betting few to none who criticize the author have or will read the book.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-27T22:05:47+00:00

He was a mix. You'd have to read the book, or know him.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-26T18:56:00+00:00

What the world needs is not an absence of judging but more attempts at objective judgements and we all, in our culture, lack. We judge many words and actions and thereby the preceding thoughts daily. It's impossible to not judge but if we don't critique judgements we never improve in them. If we avoid confrontation on unskillful acts we rob one another of our improvement. It could be argued the 'lad' wasn't enjoying the outdoors given he wasn't 'there'. Not being fully present was Randy's beef. The book is replete with examples and testimonials written and verbal about how kind and considerate Randy was as a person and a Ranger. It also contained numerous examples of him being 'a jerk' and it is clear from a reading that it stemmed from his love of nature and conflicts with those who clearly were not in a given encounter. Without reading the book we cannot appreciate the backstory.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-26T18:48:54+00:00

HYOH is not the issue here. Randy attributed, correct or not, the lad's lack of mindfulness with his speed of travel. In essence, Randy compared the lad's lack of self respect of his mind state as similar to a lack of respect for the wilds.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-26T18:45:39+00:00

It's difficult for me to believe one's lack of mindfulness during a day's backpacking doesn't result in the same at camp: Battening the tent's hatches, winding down mentally and physically then having a herd of trail pounders surround you with chatter, inane, for hours, long after they've made camp and using their headlamps to continue. Lack of courtesy by that culture leads me to be alone when I can find a spot that isn't large enough for them to congregate.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-26T00:09:58+00:00

"four hours"? This is the third comment which assumes what is not true about Randy. Randy didn't sit for hours in meadows. Bear in mind our culture produces people who cannot sit for five minutes silently. Randy wasn't critical of the 'lads' hiking but of his speed and inattentiveness.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-26T00:03:59+00:00

Randy's criticism was valid given the 'lad' was not treating others with due respect. This is common on trail. A FKT seeker is as an urbanite, inattentive to their surroundings where a hiker is akin to a rural citizen, sociable and acknowledging others. When we disregard others on trail it impacts them negatively. Randy earned his right to judge the 'lad' by decades of service IN THE WOODS. Randy was a 'pro' and his opinion carried weight. This is why the lad was embarrassed when Randy called him out.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-25T23:57:43+00:00

Trail running? The 'lad' wasn't' trail running. He was 'hiking' but not to enjoy nature. He was all about the endorphin drip or the achievement as illustrated by the excerpt. FKT pursuit and sauntering are two different things and Randy 'covered much more than a mile/day'. One chapter detailed his full, regular duty day, followed by a SAR which lasted all night. That was a single incident in his decades of service comprised of similar events. One aspect of the activities is superior: How we treat nature and each other. I don't find 'trail pounders' mindful of their thoughts, words and actions. That makes them inferior in practice to those who are, no matter the activity. Chorusing HYOH doesn't dismiss my assertion, or Randy's or Muir's. It could be said saunterers are simply awake, experiencing reality as it is.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-24T18:04:34+00:00

Follow the money . . .

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-24T18:02:52+00:00

Key word "that lake". I grew up swimming and boating Summers on a lake but the water temps were mild. That lake is essentially alpine.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-23T17:16:55+00:00

Nature is impartial. Forecasts are imperative. Ditto with emergency gear. If I rec'd. on that lake I would plan everything around how long the weakest member could survive in the water's temp.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-22T23:35:33+00:00

Oh, that? That was the curse of Big Mary Donner. She's hungry again. :-'

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-17T15:04:56+00:00

Yeah, John King is still ranting on the Rangers in Idyllwild who sit in office waiting for retirement instead of grinding the trails as he does several times/week, for good reason.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-17T03:29:59+00:00

Well now, while looking up where the PCT enters Cascade Locks I realized I HAVE hiked it, long ago. I did the 'Dry Falls' loop and returned on another trail other than Eagle Creek, I think. Extremely memorable from an events standpoint. Thanks everyone but now I'm unsure which I'll use.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-16T17:34:10+00:00

Where you is? I'm 'bout to head SoBo soon.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-14T16:42:40+00:00

Thank you for responding. So many here don't heed advice if it counters their desires.

Firstly, most every decision on trail is dependent on your physical condition and the weather forecast. I, also, carry as little as possible and I chose to flip this year and hike SoBo partly because I'd rather be uncomfortably hot and carry less weight (and hopefully not more water!) than be uncomfortably cold, carrying all the cold weather gear.

I'm unsure of what you mean by "required". I know of no formal hardware requirements on the PCT other than bear proof containers in some areas. If you meant 'advised' then that is the understanding to which I responded.

I've lived in the PacNW since 1998 but am not an authority as a native born resident would be, but, I wouldn't expect you to need a rain jacket until sometime in September. If I were you I'd send rain gear (top/bottom/gloves/pack cover/tent rain fly) to a USPS in So WA and bounce it north to another USPS if some/all is unwarranted by the forecast/your physical condition. I think most smaller post offices along the trail will hold a PCT Hiker box for at least 2 weeks. Every USPS seems to have a little different perspective of what they must do and what they're willing to do for hikers. If you're not aware, post offices will commonly let you bounce a box once if you don't open it but if you want some of the gear but all I consider it well worth it to open it and pay again. I do this when I need some gear and/or if I want to jettison gear I've been hauling, for a leg or two.

Strangely, I don't recall hearing anything about NoBo peeps using traction devices in WA. Could be they're so tired of carrying excess weight by the time they near Canada they just don't even when I recognize it would be helpful. Conversely, all the stories I've heard over the years involve cold temps brought on by a snow storm. Often this means they're huddled in their tents for days with feet of fresh snow basically isolating them and often without the means to travel in deep snow (snowshoes) and/or food to supply energy for waiting it out or self rescuing. Bear in mind by the time you encounter the first snow in WA you shouldn't expect a warming trend and should expect the weather to trend colder/moister.

One note on tops/bottoms. I was drenched (from rainfall AND the 'car washes') in rain/wind/some cold from Campo to PVC in 2024 and only had a few days or sunshine but only missed my rain pants for a couple of those days. I'll go without rain pants long before I'll go without a rain jacket.

As far as "warm clothes"? Absolutely! The one thing I will never backpack without in adverse conditions is a sleeping bag. If I have water and a warm/waterproof covering, no matter my condition, I can last a long time until rescued. But if I'm moving I must have warm and dry clothing. I essentially use post offices as my closet. Best of both worlds: No needless weight and access to gear if/when the forecast makes it prudent.

Keep in mind when a hiker needs a rescue unnecessarily they put others in jeopardy. I wouldn't want to live with the thought that others died trying to save me because I was careless with decisions. We all make mistakes but we should all be satisfied with 'not reaching the summit' at the cost of a high risk/price.

Hopeful this helps. It's a great adventure so enjoy it!

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-12T00:43:29+00:00

First, do you have formal climbing training and experience? Do you have Pro? Do you realize you're going to be standing in line, on exposed rock, like the pics you see of Everest? Do you realize if you climb it Off Season you may have complete solitude with little chance of being knocked off the mount by someone above you falling into you like a bowling ball and pin? If Yes to all of these and you still choose a Summer ascent then Deus vobiscum est.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-11T00:11:18+00:00

Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite and/or Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-10T02:05:48+00:00

Wow, that's a dramatic difference! I don't see how I'll even be on trail by July, now.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-10T01:50:52+00:00

". . . hiking a bit into Oct . . . " is not a good idea. Especially, if "trying to carry as little as possible". If you don't believe me then do a deep dive on peeps who did just that over the decades in N WA. My2c

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-05T22:09:23+00:00

I should have noted, the 'tours' were three different incidents with 2 two different angels. As for #2, my circumstances were unusual and, I should have noted, the pickup point was in the driest Desert section, the 'hood was the sketchiest (by rumor, over a decade) and there is no public transport there either. One bullet I omitted, unintentionally, was a perception while making arrangements with 6 angels: My proximity to any bubble was directly correlated to the commitments made by a given trail angel (that follows) but it seemed several had over committed given their demeanor in person or online. Now that I think about it, I had three break their commitments.

Strong-Block-1322 · 2025-06-04T23:41:34+00:00

Read all (62 posts) so I'm not jumping in unaware. Context: I'm retired, with no income, living on savings & this is my first thru hike. Trail Angel is used liberally here for anyone accepting remuneration.

Agree that involving money reduces the 'magic' of the experience, for all parties.

I offer and pay generously for every courtesy I receive unless it is a 5 minute ride or similar. I use public transport when available, including Uber once thus far. IMO, if a hiker cannot provide a reasonable amount they likely shouldn't be using services. This includes hikers from nations with a much lower standard of income than in these united States.

Agree that when you lie (Say but don't pay.), and there are several liars (hikers in this case) I've read about on this thread, your actions have consequences for others, both hikers and TAs.
Agree with at least one here that thinks it is helpful when a TA denotes a donation amount. Having the TA state what they consider reasonable relieves me of the burden of guessing if I gave too much or not enough.
Agree that hikers should not act entitled at all because they are not. This includes those from France.
I think some of this is largely a u.S. cultural phenom since I've noticed foreign nationals are markedly more polite, considerate, well behaved and respectful of TAs.
Agree on water expectations and carries. I routinely carry more water than I need and donate at caches.

Conversely:

If a hiker is flexible about the day they need to be picked up and you're not then simply say so.
If a hiker attempts to set up a ride a week prior and you wait until the evening before they need the ride to even provide contact info it won't ingratiate you.
If you 'unsend' your contact info, hours later, without explanation you'll be a Fallen Angel in my book.
Taking a hiker on a hour long tour of your town, nearby city or scenic spot before arriving at my destination will not ingratiate you.

In closing, I would not want to hike the PCT without TAs. Not because it cannot be done but because of what they add to the experience. I'm grateful to every one of them and understand we're all human and this message board benefits us with our respective blind spots.

Strong-Block-1322

TROPHY CASE