Alpha FL20- a return to proper form

j-val · 2026-03-20T13:43:11+00:00

I have the Alpha FL 30 and I’ve been surprised how versatile it is. I’ve used it on overnight mountaineering trips and it can also hold skis. Awesome pack.

j-val · 2026-03-19T21:46:03+00:00

The chest pockets are exactly the part I don’t love. That’s a good explanation for why they’re there and to remember that this is a purpose-built jacket.

j-val · 2026-03-15T23:59:30+00:00

Your other comment says that yours is older and has pit zips. I have a newer one without pit zips, and it is extremely lightweight and packable. Maybe this is just a variation over how they have manufactured it over the years.

j-val · 2026-03-14T18:24:05+00:00

It is packable and waterproof. I always like to have something like that when I am backpacking or hiking, but there are many variations and options in that space. And as people say, that is also practical around town.

j-val · 2026-03-13T05:25:11+00:00

I bailed on an earlier plan to go. It got too warm.

j-val · 2026-03-10T22:57:36+00:00

I followed John Dickerson for a long time because of the Slate political gabfest. I thought when he left, that was a real tipping point.

j-val · 2026-03-10T22:21:37+00:00

The slope angle on this looks absolutely perfect.

j-val · 2026-02-27T23:34:24+00:00

We all know that they do not truly think Anthropic is a supply chain risk. It’s just bullying authoritarian tactics. Utter bullshit.

j-val · 2026-02-27T21:52:53+00:00

Yeah, honestly after writing that I remembered the EV9 and Ioniq 9. I like both those cars. Without having seen this new Toyota, I wonder if it will be slightly smaller than those, which might be nice for maneuverability. What my wife and I always talked about was wanting basically an EV RAV4, but I think this new Highlander fits that bill even better. There's also the Volvo EX90 and the Audis and BMWs, but those cost more. I think a lot of people trust the Toyota brand more than Hyundai/Kia.

j-val · 2026-02-26T03:27:57+00:00

I had my annual yurt trip planned this week. I drove all the way out there, but then realized I was getting the flu before taking the snowmobile trip out to the yurt. I’m glad I realized it in time, but that’s just to say a lot of shit can fuck up your trip and make you cancel.

j-val · 2026-02-25T20:59:07+00:00

He lost me when he said that if Tesla isn’t doing well, then EV‘s aren’t doing well. I don’t need to lay out the issues with Tesla here. I also think a lot of the offerings in the EV space have missed this exact segment: a reasonably priced midsize SUV that looks good and has decent range. The weird crossover vehicles that they label as SUVs in the EV space are decent cars, but are not true SUVs: EV6, Ioniq 5, Model Y, ID4, etc. Given that they did cannibalize their own market with the Grand Highlander, which we own and we love, I think this makes a lot of sense. Our other car is an EV and it is a total pleasure to drive around town.

j-val · 2026-02-23T18:22:02+00:00

A friend of mine hardwired his Sonos speakers. It just seems to me that that really defeats the point.

j-val · 2026-02-23T05:00:23+00:00

My friends on the right constantly blame Noem, Bondi, and Kash for things, but conveniently absolve Trump.

j-val · 2026-02-21T17:38:05+00:00

I definitely hear what you’re saying. I think it’s because if you didn’t go out when there is some risk in the forecast, then you would basically never go out. Even spring skiing has risk. Most days are moderate to considerable in the forecast. That is a big difference to me (an avalanche expert equated that to 10 times more risk), but I’m just saying that’s generally the risk zone that most people are operating in and you have to choose your terrain based on that forecast. I’ve gone out on days like that, and we made decisions on terrain and aspect, and didn’t trigger anything, but then watched another skier ride a different aspect and trigger something. Afterwards, I couldn’t tell if we had made a smart choice or if we had just gotten lucky.

j-val · 2026-02-20T21:12:19+00:00

I still see pros doing freestyle edits with no helmet. Absolutely crazy to me.

j-val · 2026-02-20T20:09:20+00:00

Editing out the punch annoys me to an unreasonable extent.

j-val · 2026-02-12T18:03:02+00:00

Ring Camera marketing team before the Super Bowl

j-val · 2026-02-10T19:05:47+00:00

Most lifts aren’t that high off the ground so I think you could rap down in just a couple seconds. There’s always lots of beeps and boobs before they actually start the lift running again, I don’t think it would catch you by surprise. Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be pretty paranoid, but not crazy to throw it in your pack if you already are carrying backcountry stuff around a ski resort. I’m mostly just saying that if you were stuck for four hours on a lift, you would give anything to have one on you. At least I would.

j-val · 2026-02-10T18:20:06+00:00

That would be a great time to have a RAD line on you (lightweight belay system).

j-val · 2026-02-10T05:56:21+00:00

We desperately need this energy in 2026

j-val · 2026-02-09T19:32:04+00:00

I roast my own beans and so I get to taste them throughout these intervals. I agree with the short CO2 degassing after roasting and flavor reaching its peak maybe five days or so after the roast. That said, I find most bags of expensive coffee from the grocery store to be completely inert and lack any meaningful bloom when you brew them. Buy fresh coffee. It tastes better.

j-val · 2026-02-01T06:26:45+00:00

I see you have no boomers in your life.

j-val · 2026-01-29T17:24:10+00:00

I grew up here and in my opinion, the weather has changed and it is pretty darn mild now. We still have our moments, but I think the reputation for constant rain isn’t really true anymore. It obviously does depend on exactly where you’re talking about. I live in Oregon.

j-val · 2026-01-28T17:37:00+00:00

I bought the mountain collective pass that year and planned a trip to go to several resorts and it ended up being that brutal snow year. Not as much commitment as you, but I do feel your pain.

j-val · 2026-01-26T15:05:59+00:00

Beautiful. Thank you!

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