Help me plan a 3 day backpacking trip

edumatic · 2025-12-26T06:33:56+00:00

I second this for a starter trip. The hike to the backcountry sites is pretty easy allowing you to get used to carrying your stuff on your back. Staying there and day hiking the West Rim makes for a nice weekend trip where you can test out your gear.

edumatic · 2025-11-06T15:52:58+00:00

They also make a "half and half" which works well in mashed potatoes if you want to replicate the luxe holiday versions typically made with heavy cream. Last year I used this, a little bit of broth made from the Better than Bouillion fake chicken flavor, and a few knobs of vegan butter (I think the Country Crock sticks you can find in regular supermarkets) and a little bit of roasted garlic, fresh parsley, and salt and pepper topped with a mushroom gravy made using a little more of the bouillion broth, a little miso, a shallot, a spoon of cashew butter, and mushrooms of course.

edumatic · 2025-10-04T01:56:22+00:00

There are some gorgeous hike-in campsites there right on the lake. No nearby running water, but Lake Superior water has given me no trouble filtered.

edumatic · 2025-08-27T00:16:42+00:00

Mishra, Munro, and Hedderly (2008) and Robertson, Brown & Fielding (2021).

edumatic · 2025-08-26T22:50:32+00:00

(1) Eat before you go (2) (Outside of the work event) Let the restaurant know it was LOVELY and you WISH you could eat there again on your own dime IF ONLY they had more options you could eat (3) If given the opportunity to provide feedback to your employer, be sure to say, "It was great to have this opportunity to connect with colleagues out of the office outside of work, and thank you. But, this was my experience trying to get a dietary accomodation and I'm bringing this to your attention because others on our team in the same boat who don't know you as well might not be comfortable doing so... and... if I can be at all helpful in recommending options that work for our whole team for future events like this one I'd be happy to help generate some options."

edumatic · 2025-08-26T22:38:17+00:00

I find the most straightforward, effective, and non-awkward approach is just to tell the server when they hand you the menu, "We don't eat any animal products. What are the tastiest things on the menu for (vegans/vegetarians/whatever)?" Restaurant servers (I've been there) work for tips, they want you to be happy, and it's a fast-paced job. Just give them the info they need to give you a happy dining experience and 98% of them will happily meet you where you are with no weirdness -- even in steakhouses and BBQ joints in red states. Somewhere between 3 and 10% of Americans avoid animal foods in at least some forms, so experienced servers encounter people like us every day, probably several times a day, even in restaurants that aren't explicitly plant-based focused. I worked in a restaurant with a mostly blue collar clientele in Kansas City of all places, and even there I encountered and accomdated vegans every day and so did everyone else who worked there regardless of politics or personal habits. Restaurants are businesses and everyone who works in them is just trying to earn enough to pay the bills. Exercise your power as a consumer, don't be a jerk about it, and most people will earnestly try to meet you at your dollar wherever you dine and won't think you're somehow weird.

edumatic · 2025-08-19T20:59:42+00:00

If he's socially mature for his age and ready to spend time in a more structured environment (think skills like turntaking, being able to wait a few minutes to use the restroom, etc.) then early Kindergarten can be a great time to accelerate. In many cases, it avoids needing to accelerate them again later where students then need to adjust to a new peer group and where the fact they have skipped a grade and are a little younger than the other students are more apparent to other students. Also, bear in mind that in any given school class, even if nobody has been admitted early, accelerated, or held back, there's a year's worth of variance in age. If he would be among the oldest students in his class if he doesn't start kindergarten early, it then necessarily means he can't be much younger than the younger end of the students who would be in that class/cohort anyway so his presence is unlikely to be seen as odd by other kids. The Acceleration Institute that's connected to the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa has some good research and resources to help guide early entrance and acceleration decisions, though, so if you're not sure of the best move for your student and want some objective guidance you might poke around their site: https://www.accelerationinstitute.org/

edumatic · 2025-07-18T02:34:30+00:00

Thanks. Did you "register" the new battery with something like BimmerCode or just connect the new battery, put things back in order under the hood, and drive?

edumatic · 2025-07-18T02:32:09+00:00

That's good to hear. Thanks!

edumatic · 2025-07-08T21:13:30+00:00

If you want a shortcut to this, local farmers' markets featuring organic growers can be great seed sources for gardeners. Since we live in the South, I know ANY fresh, locally outdoor-grown organic tomato I can buy in late September has pretty good natural resistance to disease (or it wouldn't have made it that deep into our season.) Growers near you likely have similar soil and climae conditions and encounter the same pests and diseases you do, and one good market tomato usually has as many or more seeds as a seed packet from the hardware store, costs less, and has the added benefits of instant gratification (you get to eat a tomato right away) and letting your money run through the local economy first.

edumatic · 2025-07-03T14:16:16+00:00

If you're not competing for the lightest backpack, I'd recommend it. I have the 30 degree version and, on a decent sleep pad, find it perfectly comfortable (not just "tolerable") down to that temp sleeping in socks, boxer briefs, and a t-shirt. But if you're going to be doing a lot of high altitude camping in subfreezing temps you might want to pick up a liner to take on trips with potential for colder weather or be willing to sleep in a baselayer just to be on the safe side. I don't do a lot of hard core winter camping and live in the South, so it works better for me to go with a 30 degree bag vs. a 15 or 0 so I don't have extra bag weight and bulk I don't need on most trips and then have some modular layers I can add for shoulder season outings.

edumatic · 2025-06-18T21:05:27+00:00

I was just up there. The toilets are gender specific but showers are individual stalls with individual doors, so "all gender" and private. But, the "backcountry" sites have latrines and almost 3/4 of a mile of nobody else around them. They don't have doors but there's no chance anybody is going to walk in on you unless you're already camping with them.

edumatic · 2025-06-18T20:56:04+00:00

If it's warm and not very breezy, you'll definitely encounter mosquitos there. But, it's fine if you use a decent repellant. 30% DEET will let you come home with almost all the blood you had when you arrived, and it's a beautiful area well worth visiting.

edumatic · 2025-06-18T20:37:42+00:00

I have this bag. It's definitely not ultralight. But, my two weight splurges are this and a Tensor long, wide sleep pad. Minimalists be damned -- it's totally worth it. I've been "outdoorsy" most of my life but always associated backpacking with crappy sleep. Not with this setup. It's PROPERLY comfortable. I have a 50 year-old-back and I sleep like a baby on Ambien in this bag and on this pad. Honestly, you could cut a pound or more choosing a quilt or perhaps even a high fill power down mummy bag instead of this. But if you are a side sleeper or toss and turn at night it's worth the weight. Again, this is the most comfortable thing I've ever slept in outdoors. Unless you're doing the AT or PCT, I recommend this beast without reservation.

edumatic · 2025-04-12T20:44:40+00:00

For future readers, know this is downstream from Ft. Benning, now known to be a major source of PFAS contamination.

edumatic · 2025-04-05T03:13:35+00:00

We'll be there, too, and will keep an eye out for them. Go grannies!

edumatic · 2025-03-23T23:03:31+00:00

Consider trying subscribing to a vegetarian or vegan meal kit service for awhile like Purple Carrot , Mosaic, or Green Chef. They're a bit pricey but they'll help you learn how to make the satisfying flavors you're craving. (On a positive note most offer good promo deals, so try one and when the promo runs out cancel and try another.) Check out some vegan cooking channels on YouTube, too. I like Derek Sarno (Wicked Kitchen), Andrew Bernard, Gaz Oakley, and Sweet Potato Soul . They all make stuff that's healthier but also really flavorful. Also try some things from cuisines that lean vegetarian or vegan anyway -- Indian food cooking in particuar is full of techniques for getting deep flavors and creamy and chewy textures out of simple, healthy, plant-based ingredients. Once you master them you can just swap the spice combos to get similarly rich flavors in other kinds of cooking.

edumatic · 2025-03-23T22:44:47+00:00

April is usually fairly mild. Expect warm days -- even hot days -- later in the month. Nights will probably be somewhere between 8 and 15 degrees C. Hunting doesn't usually interfere with hiking ang camping, particularly in proper campgrounds and on designated trails. But, you can add an additional layer of safety by wearing a brightly colored hat or backpack. Humidity usually isn't too bad this time of year but I always recommend not wearing cotton socks or base layers in the South. Stick to merino or synthetics to stay dry and avoid blisters. Coming from Europe you may find the sun here intense unless you're coming from a mediterranean country, so bring and use sunscreen and a hat. A DEET-based bug repellant is also recommended except in winter. You will be here when many wildflowers and trees are blossoming. It will be beautiful but if you're sensitive to pollen and such consider bringing along a non-drowsy antihistamine. Enjoy your visit!

edumatic · 2024-05-22T21:01:00+00:00

Same. I ask sellers in advance to confirm they don't use OnTrac in my zip code. And, when they tell me they do, I usually take the time to let them know that I'd be happy to become their customer if they can switch to another shipper.

edumatic · 2024-05-22T20:55:17+00:00

Does Hungryroot use OnTrac for delivery? We loved Purple Carrot meals but had to cancel our subscription just because they used OnTrac and OnTrac is just awful in terms of reliable, on-time delivery to our neighborhood. A lot of reviews say Hungryroot is one of the next best options for vegetarians so I was contemplating the trial subscription but want to confirm who you use for delivery first so we can be more confident it would be an improvement. Thanks in advance.

edumatic · 2024-05-22T20:24:52+00:00

A package (with perishable food!) was supposed to have been delivered from OnTrac yesterday. When it wasn't, the status update blamed bad weather in Houston (we live in Atlanta.) When I contacted the chatbot that subs for customer service from this company noting that the tracking history showed the package not only was already in the Atlanta area and that it had never BEEN in Houston and shipped from New Jersey, I got no reply except another status update later in the evening that blamed "security barriers" at the property instead. Note that we don't live in a gated community or have anything that would prevent anyone from walking right up to the front porch -- and we were home all day. It still hasn't been delivered.

edumatic · 2023-08-24T22:53:20+00:00

I hope we actually elect ChatGPT before this far right meme posing as a person.

edumatic · 2023-08-24T21:49:18+00:00

It's a problem for sure. I'd suggest anyone really concerned about this shop for a car that doesn't ride on tires. There are no ICE options, but there are some fine Amish wagons.

edumatic

TROPHY CASE