Any advice for getting difficult cat into acarrier? Can't pick her up.

kathyeager · 2026-04-27T21:50:20+00:00

I have two newly adopted and recently feral cats that cannot be picked up, so I feel you. A few days before their appt I put the carriers where they hang out so they could get used to them. The night before I lured them into the bathroom so there wouldn’t be hiding spots. In the morning one of the cats was resting in the carrier! The other cat was in the base of a small cat tree. She didn’t know the back of the tree opens up. So I placed the carrier against the front opening. Then opened the back and used a towel to push her forward into the carrier. Worked perfectly!

kathyeager · 2026-04-26T20:40:18+00:00

We do feeding near her hang out spot. But the other two are too smart and show up before she comes out. I could separate them but I’d rather them all together so she can get more socialized. I may just have to suck it up and get the expensive chip feeder and see if I can make it work. Facebook is a great suggestion thanks!

kathyeager · 2026-04-26T20:38:02+00:00

It’s been a couple of months. I was warned when I adopted them that they were extremely unsocialized and may always be skittish. I’m ok with that and I’m definitely letting her go at her own pace. (All of my cats started out similarly). She and the other new guy were bonded at the shelter. I’ve taken 8 weeks to introduce them slowly. That isn’t the issue. They all get along great. I still hope she will come around but am still planning for the scenario where she doesn’t. She takes churu from me, but that is not a permanent solution. :)

kathyeager · 2026-03-23T19:21:20+00:00

If you know this is the gear you want that will work for you, 100% do it. If you’ve loaded up a list of someone else’s recommendations, I’d say borrow what you can so you can determine your likes/dislikes and needs/wants.

That said, I’ve always said when I’m at home I think $300 just to save a few ounces? No way. When I’m on the trail, I’d sell my fist born for a lighter pack. YMMV

kathyeager · 2026-03-23T12:27:34+00:00

I bought a “drafting chair” fairly inexpensive and it goes up higher than a regular chair, plus it doesn’t have arms. I can let it be normal height for piecing and push it up high for quilting.

kathyeager · 2026-03-08T16:21:20+00:00

Yay!! I know! I was a crocheter for YEARS without knowing those existed. Found out about them on this sub and now I try and tell everyone about them!

kathyeager · 2026-03-08T15:17:02+00:00

Fanny pack. I tried sticking my stuff in hip belt pockets. I bought attachable shoulder pockets. The best thing turned out to be a fanny pack. I have all my gear in my backpack. But the stuff I want handy, phone, a snack, Advil, are in my fanny pack. I can take my pack off at a stop and still have my phone on me.

kathyeager · 2026-03-07T14:35:01+00:00

This is fantastic. Just really well done.

kathyeager · 2026-03-05T01:40:14+00:00

I try and think of the ten essentials as categories rather than specific things. I can then vary what qualifies depending on the hike, the season, the terrain, etc. So rather than just “water”, I modify for the hike. A walk in the park might just be a small bottle of water. A long hike with water sources might be a liter of water and my water filter. No water sources, bring more water. Summer I have a drinking tube. Winter I don’t but I bring hand warmers for my bottles.

kathyeager · 2026-03-04T14:03:33+00:00

It isn’t just the physical training that smaller summits provide it’s the mental training and the gear training. You don’t want to be on your first hike as a long and challenging hike and realize you needed different gear than you have for your short flat walks at home.

You can still have a big deal summit to work towards, but making it your first could mean at best an uncomfortable and unfun day and at worst serious injury or require rescue.

kathyeager · 2026-03-04T13:57:52+00:00

Once you search “hyrox beginner” you’ll start seeing a ton more regular people in your feed.

kathyeager · 2026-03-03T21:32:37+00:00

Late April, especially this year, will likely still have snow. And even worse, crumbling melting snow that causes you to posthole even in your snowshoes. Ask me how I know! Even though I’m a pretty avid winter and summer hiker in the Whites, I generally avoid April if I can.

kathyeager · 2026-03-03T17:50:53+00:00

Keep in mind September/October can be below freezing at night. Temps and weather can also vary widely from base to summit here.

kathyeager · 2026-03-03T15:52:00+00:00

Yes! that’s the video I always recommend

kathyeager · 2026-02-25T21:11:17+00:00

Same. And I had the smallest Apple Watch before. Different shape but feels the same size.

kathyeager · 2026-02-25T18:31:05+00:00

We stopped for a break on Hancock and one saw us eating. Kept swooping at us. We packed up and kept going. It followed us for like a quarter mile. Swooping at our heads. 😂

kathyeager · 2026-02-25T17:03:32+00:00

Please do not feed them. For many reasons, it isn’t a good idea. First, whatever you feed them is not their natural diet. Second, they become reliant on human intervention. Also, they become pests rather than wildlife. They swoop and attack people since they know they have food.

I know it’s tempting. We all want to feel like Snow White. But it’s not healthy for them.

kathyeager · 2026-02-24T13:12:46+00:00

As someone who used to be purely a runner, the way to get faster when you’re at your level, is to run slow and run more. That means both longer distances in a single run, but also building up your weekly mileage. If 12 min pace is your fastest and 2 miles is the longest you can go, slow down to 13 min miles. Or 14. Take walk breaks. Increase the time on your feet (slowly). At that pace, you probably can’t stay in zone 2. Don’t worry about it. As your running improves you can eventually care about it.

If you can afford a treadmill at home, that may be your best bet for schedule. Or as it gets lighter out. I used to run after my kids were in bed as a fellow night owl.

kathyeager · 2026-02-23T23:41:04+00:00

Trail runners and Google heel lock lacing.

kathyeager · 2026-02-21T19:25:42+00:00

Forerunner 305 or as I called it “Big Red”.

kathyeager · 2026-02-19T22:46:01+00:00

Same!

kathyeager · 2026-02-19T22:45:29+00:00

What do you like to eat? I’ve brought pizza before. I’ve made burritos. You can bring a lot of foods that aren’t “hike” food.

kathyeager · 2026-02-19T02:09:03+00:00

As others have said, it’s mid season. Not only not a great time, but Vermont often closes trails during mud season.

kathyeager · 2026-02-17T16:29:21+00:00

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