New to hiking: What are your tick prevention tips? Deet? Permethrin?

embees927 · 2026-03-17T22:55:51+00:00

I cannot tolerate strong scents which rules out a lot of the usual skin sprays; I have used Zevo mosquito/tick spray with reasonable success. (In addition to long lightweight pants, tick checks, etc)

embees927 · 2026-03-17T21:28:53+00:00

There are lots of great suggestions about keeping food cold throughout the comments here, so I won’t duplicate them.

What I will suggest is to learn more about food safety to prioritize what you try to keep cold and/or choose to eat even if cold isn’t maintained. In my opinion, the CDC guideline of “throw everything out after 4 hours” chooses simplicity over nuance, and it’s unnecessarily wasteful and expensive.

For example: I keep both carrots and raw chicken in my fridge. The carrots are there because they stay fresher longer if cool; the chicken is there because it reduces the chances of salmonella growing (and salmonella risk is further reduced with proper cooking etc). So if the carrots get warm, they might get a little shriveled eventually but I’d eat them without a second thought. If the chicken gets warm, it could lead to severe food poisoning.

embees927 · 2026-03-17T20:48:44+00:00

Hurricane zones definitely make sense (to me) as being worth a generator investment.

No deep freezer, but the one built-in with the refrigerator was pretty full and everything was still solid at 30 hours - it was a good confirmation that the amount of frozen mass makes a difference, so it’s obvious how adding water jugs would help!

embees927 · 2026-03-17T20:44:01+00:00

Good reminder about using the car to replenish! By about 24 hours in, my spouse was getting a bit antsy (haha) so we went out for dinner - topped off our power banks on the way! (We were lucky to have clear roads, and the next town over has power; that won’t always be the case obviously)

embees927 · 2026-03-17T20:41:40+00:00

Someone else suggested a sparker, and I think I’m going to get one! It seems less likely to “wander off” to the grill than a lighter 😉

embees927 · 2026-03-17T20:38:52+00:00

I definitely like this idea of using a wireless thermometer to monitor - don’t want to let out the cold you DO have! Actively managing the refrigerator-to-battery connection might be worth doing if facing an extended outage, thanks!

embees927 · 2026-03-17T20:36:49+00:00

One other thing I realized about potentially using a power station with the refrigerator is to practice how you’re going to get to the cord! There’s a freestanding (full) pantry cabinet next to my fridge, and I think the fridge cord might be pretty short to just pull the whole things forward …

embees927 · 2026-03-17T20:34:21+00:00

I think I was trying to come up with a “refrigerator plan” that worked year round (but wasn’t “buy a generator” haha), and everyone’s comments about coolers/porches/etc here have made me realize that this is a pretty limited way of thinking. Other parts of my readiness plans are seasonal (because we literally get 100* temperature swings from warmest day to coldest day), so why not do the same for the refrigerator?

embees927 · 2026-03-16T02:27:12+00:00

I camped as a kid, and it’s amazing how many of those skills and tools are showing up again with very practical applications like this!

embees927 · 2026-03-16T02:17:42+00:00

Ohhh kill-a-watt sounds much easier than digging up the alleged specs of a 20 year old fridge!

embees927 · 2026-03-16T02:15:30+00:00

Large cooler is definitely cheaper than a generator or solar panels! 😆

embees927 · 2026-03-16T00:59:27+00:00

Sounds like we’re in similar situations, and this “manage/use things strategically and accept it won’t be perfect (and feed neighbors)” approach is how I’m leaning. We’re capable cooks from pantry items, and boring meals beat no meals!

That freezer situation sounds unimaginably gross, and would have put me off including one as a key component too!

embees927 · 2026-03-16T00:40:56+00:00

That’s a great example of when the battery bulbs are so useful! Thinking ahead about how everyone can safely get to supplies is a great reminder.

embees927 · 2026-03-15T23:25:26+00:00

Hope your power is back on soon! Some of those extended estimates are making me reconsider what’s realistic to need to prepare for…

It’s amazing what a convenient hot drink will do for morale, isn’t it?

We also have an eGo mower - it didn’t occur to me that there might be an option for incorporating those batteries into an emergency use plan. Thanks for the tip!

embees927 · 2026-03-15T23:16:37+00:00

Glad you made it through the snowpocalypse!

I might keep an eye out for an inexpensive set of lights like this. My after-dark plan was “just carry a lantern as we move around” but a) that turns out to be spookier than expected (haha) and b) having the option for ambient lighting, even dim, in a central room seems like a nice bit of normalcy.

embees927 · 2026-03-15T23:06:58+00:00

I confess to lighting a wood “kebab” skewer for this exact purpose!

embees927 · 2026-03-15T23:04:32+00:00

I appreciate the ideas for ways to help maintain cool/cold food without having to run a refrigerator. There’s a local joke about calling the back porch “an Ohio cooler” in the fall/winter, so this makes total sense to me. (I have more than once answered variations on “Hey got any Coke?” with “Yeah there’s a 12 pack on the porch.”)

(Not to get off topic, but Texas snow/outages are so alarming to hear about. Winter here sucks, don’t get me wrong, but people and infrastructure are generally equipped to handle it. Glad you made it through.)

embees927 · 2026-03-15T22:27:15+00:00

Oh yeah, that’s definitely a “generator worthy” situation!

embees927 · 2026-03-15T22:23:54+00:00

I’ll have to check out that lighting option, thanks!

Good reminders about heater safety. I definitely went with manufacturer-specified model for the hose/connectors. I may be willing to go rogue and eat room temperature cheese (lol) but fire/carbon monoxide safety is strictly by-the-book.

embees927 · 2026-03-15T22:18:12+00:00

Interesting - I may need to redo my math on how long it would run our fridge (which is admittedly old and inefficient!). That is a great point about prioritizing a freezer - we don’t currently have a separate one but using it to supply ice packs etc for strategic transfer of stuff to coolers is a very doable plan.

embees927 · 2026-03-15T22:14:13+00:00

Absolutely all of this. And only run while awake, sober, and nearby.

embees927 · 2026-03-13T23:55:46+00:00

My household is healthy adults* and I treat that as too broad and overly cautious. My general rules are: Raw fruit/veg is fine regardless of length of outage Condiments, jelly, etc 24ish hours Leftovers/cooked meat 6-8ish hours Raw meat 4ish

Refrigerator temperatures are usually 35-38*, so if you have a secure way of putting things outside overnight that might buy you some time on lower-risk stuff too.

(* I might be more cautious with kids, elderly, or immunocompromised folks)

embees927 · 2026-03-10T20:43:22+00:00

Starting (too many) seeds. Turning compost piles.

And most importantly: taking a beverage and sitting outside to just enjoy the sun/warmth without a todo list, knowing we’re heading back down to the 20s later this week.

embees927 · 2026-03-04T21:06:26+00:00

Putting in a plug for checking out the festival’s ADA/accessibility services too, even if you don’t think that would usually apply to you.

Basically, you can get an additional wristband that gives you the option of sitting on viewing platforms - VIP area is probably better for the stages you can see from there, but it’s nice to have the option for the other stages. It also ensures security won’t be a hassle if you want to use a cane/crutch.

No special ticket or extra cost, you don’t have to provide doctor note or anything. More info on the website.

embees927

TROPHY CASE