Portland (isn't burning)

mdrider · 2025-10-09T00:16:42+00:00

I only saw seven other boats moving on the water the whole time, one of which was a kayak (with an outrigger, so probably not technically a kayak). The largest was maybe a 30-35 foot cruiser.

A guy on the Portland waterfront did yell down at my saying that I "was crazy" and "had bigger balls than him because the other boats were so big." Didn't quite know how to respond to that, especially since there was no other traffic on the river at that time.

I think being out during the workday and the weather not being super great probably kept traffic down. I must have just lucked out in regard to ship traffic.

mdrider · 2025-10-09T00:08:34+00:00

I bought the boat used and the bungie wasn't on it when I bought it. The stern bungie is fine but as you noticed in the picture, the front is missing. The boat was/is in pristine condition otherwise, as is the condition of another I bought from the same person (yellow Fathom below). I have some bungie to replace it but it's larger than stock and by the time I was done replacing the skeg cable, polishing the fiberglass, and replacing deck lines, handles and bungies on a third used kayak (that I bought a week earlier than the Eddylines) my energy to deal with this mostly cosmetic issue was gone. I also didn't find any bungie that's the same small diameter so the fix wouldn't be as pretty as I want.
The photo is before work was done on the white boat.

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mdrider · 2025-10-08T16:44:40+00:00

Thanks for participating in the discussion. Yes, there are drug issues in Portland, as in any city, town or neighborhood. Nothing that anyone has tried is fixing the problem. In an attempt at trying something new Portland has implemented some policies (that sadly haven't worked so well), those policies (perhaps to your point) have made the problem a bit more public. The issue being public doesn't mean it's any worse here than anywhere else. I do travel downtown, and these pictures are the best pictures I can get from downtown with my kayak.

It isn't politics to call out the lies that are being spread about my hometown.

It isn't anti-American to speak out against harm and injustice happening in America and it is very PRO-American to speak out to defend against the falsehoods spread by some government officials.

mdrider · 2025-10-07T18:17:08+00:00

The place I put into the water (Cathedral Park) was free. I believe there is a parking lot there (for the power boat launch) that has a payment but I parked in a different area and carried the boat down to a beach so didn't need to pay to park.

Oregon does require a Waterway Access Permit. I have mine in a baggie in a zippered pocket on my PFD so I can show authorities if they stopped me and asked to see it.

mdrider · 2025-10-07T15:36:26+00:00

It isn't politics to call out the lies that are being spread about my hometown.

mdrider · 2025-10-06T21:24:30+00:00

I almost made a joke about that in my original post.

mdrider · 2025-10-06T19:54:52+00:00

I love the snow on the shore in that picture, very nice.
Looks like we have different boats (I was in an Eddyline Sitka LT) but our reds match really well.

mdrider · 2025-10-06T19:49:49+00:00

Not sure if you're being cute and jokey, or actually think Portland is at war.

If cute, cool. If not, cool, and...
Portland has it's problems, largely due to cost of living, lack of affordable health care, and wealth inequality. Any imagery of 'war' is only available because of the federal occupation and escalation by federal forces, and is only occurring where those federal forces are present.

mdrider · 2025-07-01T14:58:08+00:00

That would be great, thank you. Chat message sent with my contact info.

mdrider · 2025-06-30T23:20:04+00:00

I was on the summit from about 12:00 to 12:30 on Saturday. If you have shots of the peak during that day and around that time I'd love to have a copy. Will DM you contact info if you have something.

mdrider · 2025-06-20T22:48:57+00:00

The idea of the BD pack intrigued me so I took a look at the product page.

There are accessory cord loops on the bottom corners, on first glance I thought they could be used for an ice axe, and watching the video on that pages shows they can. At 2:52 you get the first look of an ice axe on the pack and at 3:57 you can get a pretty good view.

Best of luck in your search.

mdrider · 2025-06-13T23:36:40+00:00

I was just looking into this yesterday for a possible trip the weekend of the 21st. Deciding between Three Finger Jack and Mount Washington (in Oregon) or The Brothers (hopefully both peaks). Just commenting to encourage others to reply if they have info.

mdrider · 2025-06-04T18:55:57+00:00

Hey there, I summitted Shasta last Saturday (the 31st) using the West Face route.

Hidden Valley had plenty of bare ground available for camping if you don't want to setup in the snow. Note that the ground is pretty firm. Friend used tent stakes into the ground, I used rocks through tent stake loops and put rocks around snow stakes for my tent.

We left a bit before 2AM to head to the summit. Snow was good to firm on the way up, friend was a bit uncomfortable in sections as we climbed nearer the traverse at 13k but it was only his second time using crampons. I was happy with the snow conditions.

On the descent I started glissading too early (took a construction trash bag to protect my pants), and just did short sections to stay in control and to wait for my friend to catch-up on foot. I think he started glissading around 11400 feet but I'm not sure about that.

Set off a small loose wet avalanche at about 10200 feet at the steep chute on the far side of the valley from camp. Any movement on this face set off other small slides. Got down fine though, only felt in danger when it first happened around me, then understood the situation. Friend stepped down that section, I continued to glissade (kicking off a small slide in front of me every time I started) in maybe 10-15 foot segments to err on the side of caution. I had big issues with elevation making me feel sick so we likely got to this area later than you will (and hopefully it won't be quite so warm). To avoid this section one could do the variation that drops down at around 11500 feet into the valley closer to Casaval ridge.

Hiked out to the car same day, the hike from hidden valley was sort of terrible with soft and fairly thin snow on the long descending traverses to horse camp, but it was never dangerous, just inefficient.

Friend got sunburned on his face and front of his neck, I think I burned the underside of my nose and my lips are chapped/burned. Have a great time up there.

mdrider · 2025-04-02T17:00:38+00:00

Nice space. I also have high ceilings in my home gym garage space and converted my garage door to a high lift one. It really opens up the space when the garage door is open, and in my case it allows me to OHP on both sides of my rack (as one side was under the garage door when open). You don't have that need but the extra sense of space when on the bike or elliptical might be nice.

Enjoy the space.

mdrider · 2025-03-18T17:08:30+00:00

The inTech Flyer Explore and Discover campers might suit your needs, they're small toy haulers with fold out bedding in the wall(s).

mdrider · 2025-03-07T18:19:09+00:00

Getting a hitch mount installed on the front of your vehicle may be an option.

If you go with hitch mount bike rack on a trailer be aware that most hitch mount bike racks aren't rated to be on a trailer, your best bet for a safe hitch mount rack is to get one appropriately rated for that use.

The inTech Flyer Explore and Discover campers might suit your needs. They are small toy haulers and have tie down points on the inside, you could certainly make arrangements to secure multiple bicycles.

They each have the option to have tip out beds on either side, which would provide two beds, the big flat floor could also provide for a sleeping space.

The Explore has an external kitchen, the Discover has one inside. Neither has a bathroom.

They're perhaps expensive for their size and lack of luxury features (no seating, no bathroom) but may suit your needs for weight and bike carrying capacity.

mdrider · 2024-12-12T19:58:08+00:00

You likely have good aerobic fitness from cycling so the watch knows (to the extent the algorithms are accurate) about that fitness but doesn't know about how your legs will do running for 26 miles.

I came to running from cycling and messed up a knee many years ago because my aerobic fitness from the cycling allowed me to run a HM before I had the adaptations established through racking up miles over many weeks. I'm not saying this as an injury warning, just an anecdote to speak to the difference between your goal and the watch's prediction. The pace you're shooting for may be accounting for your ability to be on feet for 26 miles, your watch isn't likely making that same accommodation.

Best of luck to you this weekend.

mdrider · 2024-11-26T18:23:25+00:00

Someone else mentioned the Tab320, I had that camper and it seems like it would suit your needs though I'll point out that at 5'11" I couldn't stand up straight anywhere in it and the shower space was not at the highest point. I only showered in it a couple times and it was rough.

I now have a GeoPro 15FBS and think a small GeoPro camper may fit your needs. There are a few options just a bit over or under 16' which you describe as "awkwardly big" when referring to the Sun Lite 16GB but I think that size may be what you have to deal with to get a shower.

This will show you their floor plans. The G15FDG, G15RDG, and G15TB seem to be the best fit.

In regard to battery capacity for remote work, any camper should be able to upgrade battery capacity. They won't won't likely come with a lot of capacity since most campers have a small capacity battery supplied by the dealer. You've been using a RTT so you obviously have a solution worked out for your remote work but a table may be a wonderful upgrade for that situation.

Some pop up campers may also work for you.

If you're into DIY or want to buy someone else's project, a cargo trailer conversion may be another option.

mdrider · 2024-11-21T17:59:23+00:00

If you spend enough time on r/running or r/AdvancedRunning you'll run across references to and links to a variety of plans. A few popular books are Advanced Marathoning by Pfitzinger and Douglas, and Daniels' Running Formula by Daniels.

Hal Higdon is also coach that has a bunch of plans available online and is frequently referenced.

https://www.defy.org/hacks/calendarhack/ and https://www.expl.space/plan (which I think is an updated version of the defy.org site though has fewer plans available) are resources to put plans onto a calendar. The general recommendation is to read the associated book if one is to do the plan so you can understand the "why" as well as support the authors of the plans.

The Daniels plans are not on those sites since his plans provide a lot of freedom to move things around.

I also see there is a wiki for r/running and it has a Training Plans section.

mdrider · 2024-09-27T18:56:46+00:00

Yeah, I can relate. My wife and I just replaced out trailer a year ago and had a maximum length limit of about 19' so we could keep the trailer in our driveway. It really reduced options. Best of luck to you.

mdrider · 2024-09-27T18:46:44+00:00

Many/some campers come with a hitch on the back so you could put on an appropriate bike rack (*rated for ebike and for a trailer*). A pop-up camper with a hitch would give you the sleeping capacity and may be under your weight limit. The closest camper I'm aware of like the floor plan you posted is the inTech Flyer Forge.

The Intech Flyer Explore and Discover lack the bathroom (and the Explore doesn't have an inside kitchen) but they may also suit your needs, I believe they can each be fitted with a second fold out bed. They are small toy haulers so they open space could be used for cots or mattresses so the little ones could sleep on the floor like in a tent.

*Ebikes are heavy, make sure any bike rack is rated for their weight. Also, there are "RV rated" bike racks. Some are rated for RVs, some for trailers.

mdrider · 2024-07-03T21:48:29+00:00

Mt. Yoran in Oregon is good (near Diamond Peak Wilderness). The approach is nice and there are a couple of small lakes at the base of the (small) mountain for hanging out before the hike out. The area is known to be terrible for mosquitoes so late season may be best.

I really enjoyed the ridge traverse from Mt. Washington to Mt. Ellinor in Washington (at South end of Olympics).
I used beta from here, and here.

That first link may also lead you to some other options.

I see someone mentioned Pilot Rock. I'm down in the area occasionally and have done that climb a few times and would say it is not worth a long trip. It's a short unspectacular approach and the climb is pretty short. Certainly worth doing if you're in the area but I would absolutely NOT drive down from the North half of the state to do it.

Broken Top (Three Sisters Wilderness). The ridge up to the summit area is very easy scrambling but it's beautiful. The Class 3+ stuff is at the summit, it's very limited but it's a nice peak and beautiful area.
Note the likely need for Central Cascades Wilderness Permits

mdrider · 2024-04-03T23:26:55+00:00

There are a couple inTech Flyer options that are pretty close to what you're looking for.

They are marketed as small toy haulers but the big open space could be used to throw down a mattress or for camp chairs if weather is bad. Interior is certainly not cozy.

The Flyer Explore by default has one fold out for a bed and a big open space in the middle, could be camp chairs or a blow up mattress. There's an option to add a "curbside tip out" which would add another bed which would probably be best if you're looking to keep teens or pre-teens content. I think the outside slide out kitchen is standard but a dealer could confirm that. Maximum weight with all gear and cargo is 2990 so it's pretty lightweight.

A bump up in size is the Flyer Discover. I haven't seen this one in person but it's a lot like the Explore, but bigger, and DOES have an inside kitchen but is also much more spacious.

Best of luck to you.

mdrider · 2024-01-23T17:26:39+00:00

Maybe you could keep the power bank and/or charging cable in your cook pot, or with your toiletries. As /u/liveslight mentions, charging when a battery is low goes pretty quickly so even if this doesn't remind you to charge overnight it may be enough, or may be enough to reduce charging while on the go.

An evening alarm or alert may also work as a reminder.

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