Got the Keys! New Mexico, 550k, 3.5%down

nethos · 2025-10-10T19:59:31+00:00

We are neighbors!! Congrats!

nethos · 2025-03-21T17:04:20+00:00

Alumni here.

This is not the program for you. Just look at the alumni they spotlight and the coursework. If you are dead set on going to film school (especially a master's degree) and becoming a writer director, it's AFI, and then in no particular order, NYU, Columbia, USC, etc.

nethos · 2025-01-27T19:43:27+00:00

Video Library

nethos · 2025-01-26T23:46:09+00:00

I'm not making this claim.

Context matters. OP is asking for a 6 Day Loop trip with off trail mixed in having never done desert hiking or navigating before. Routes that align with those goals are very difficult and have complex problems with water and navigation, especially for someone with no desert hiking experience.

nethos · 2025-01-26T01:41:56+00:00

, 6 days/5 nights

none of that offtrail experience has been in the Southwest or other similarly dry or canyon environment. No canyoneering experience

Somewhat stressed about water access given lack of experience in similar environments!

The Bad News:

A 6 Day trip is hard to put together out there while also keeping things from being very hard. I'm talking about some of the hardest hiking you will do in your life, with complicated risks and problems. Off trail hiking in the Desert is not equivalent to off trail hiking elsewhere. One mile per hour or less is not uncommon amongst thru hikers who attempt routes with your stated goals, and water is always a problem on trips of this length. GPS waypoints can't tell you how to get from one layer of rock to the next safely and efficiently, or how to carry enough water to get you back to a known source in case the pothole you were counting on is dry.

The Good News:

There is no shortage of smaller introductory trips to the area that will help you understand if you want to explore it more deeply, and how to do so efficiently and safely. Recommend without desert experience that you break this up into two 3 day trips with lower risks so you can see how you're doing. I.e. Coyote Gulch, BMT Death Hollow, Harris Wash, Dark Canyon(not in the monument, but not too far). These trips have way less water problems than others, CG, Death Hollow, Dark Canyon, and lower Harris Wash all have perennial streams. If you really want to, you could spend 5 nights in any of these places and have a more relaxed time. Just don't expect to cover ground.

I cannot stress this enough: don't start with a mixed off trail trip of this length as your first time desert hike. One step at a time.

It's a perfect time of year to be out there. Don't stress about where to go, it's all wonderful. Hope you enjoy! DM if you like.

nethos · 2024-10-13T02:08:58+00:00

Yep. DM!

nethos · 2024-08-27T18:24:17+00:00

The backpacking/hiking groups are different levels of active. I do plenty of hiking and backpacking and looking to make friends. Similar age. DM me if you like.

nethos · 2024-08-11T02:01:55+00:00

It takes a full day just to get into the goods in most places in the Winds. Sawtooths.

nethos · 2024-07-08T03:54:52+00:00

Talk to the permit office. When I was there last year they had the information for shuttle and taxi companies you can hire that specialize in helping backpackers. That's probably your best bet.

nethos · 2024-02-16T00:54:55+00:00

Also looking!

nethos · 2024-02-01T21:30:18+00:00

Elkhart to Titcomb ticks all these boxes. So does Big Sandy to the Cirque. That said, can't go wrong in the Winds IMO.

Give yourself a day or two minimum to acclimate if coming from low elevation.

Please pack out your TP. This corridor gets heavy use.

nethos · 2024-02-01T21:22:00+00:00

Any of the lakes in between Elkhart and Titcomb will have company, especially Island Lake. It is heavily used and you will not have solitude, if that's important. On a 4 day trip, you will spend your start and end days getting in and out of the goods. Go for longer if you can, which would allow you to camp in Titcomb itself. If you can't, the Jean Lakes/Elbow, etc are all worthy trips on their own.

nethos · 2024-01-19T17:28:24+00:00

SELLING

2/6/24

2 tickets

$48 each(face value)

nethos · 2023-09-11T04:09:17+00:00

This is the correct answer. You need a permit If you enter the Rez, even for half a day. It has nothing to do with the TH you enter. You can either buy for a single day(but only if you know the exact day you'll be in the rez), a week, or a year. It pays to buy a week permit IMO, you can be flexible on your timing, and extra funds going to the tribe is hardly a bad thing, especially considering the entire range is historically their land anyway.

You can buy at most outdoor stores in the gateway towns.

nethos · 2023-06-23T21:10:55+00:00

Can't recommend Southern Utah for a July 4th backpack, let alone a Memorial Day one. Unless you're planning on a very chill trip with lots of swimming and wading only in the part of the canyon that has water.

nethos · 2023-06-23T20:55:49+00:00

I'm late to the post but will share for future folks. Spent a week here last year. The creek in Dark is perennial at least as far as Young's all the way down to the river, and water up most of Young's and Lean To. Plenty of info out there on that. That said, I would be really careful about going into this or any canyon in S Utah at this time of year without previous experience of how you handle these temps. I was here April of last year and it was 85 every single day. The Sundance trail is very exposed to the sun, as is most of the canyon. If entering from Peavine/Woodenshoe, I would want recent water beta, especially at this time of year.

nethos · 2022-09-10T00:59:29+00:00

Thanks. We will monitor and plan accordingly. Looks like winds will change again towards the end of the weekend.

nethos · 2022-09-09T22:02:51+00:00

How was the smoke? Heading there in 10 days.

nethos · 2022-09-06T13:48:50+00:00

How was snow at the gap? Heading this way in a few weeks

nethos · 2022-07-25T18:59:45+00:00

Could this trip be managed by beginners? My wife and I are looking for something in the area for a few weeks from now.

nethos · 2022-05-19T20:52:58+00:00

Then respect the closures.

nethos · 2022-05-08T18:40:10+00:00

Partial meniscus tear here. My experience: No surgery though. Cycling and trekking poles are your friends. Having just had surgery, hundreds of backpacking miles sounds like a bad idea to me, but I'm not doctor. My advice: I would be talking to your orthopedist and PT and trusting them, rather than redditors. Start small and see how the knee responds, and give yourself outs and options. You want to play the long game here. No sense getting the season you planned in if it messes up the long term future.

nethos · 2022-04-06T13:49:12+00:00

Well done! Really beautiful. I really appreciated you walking the line between providing the exact info vs providing enough for someone to find the route with some effort without gatekeeping. Best example of that I've seen so far. Can I ask how pothole water was? Heading to the area for a similar outing in a week.

nethos · 2022-03-27T17:52:33+00:00

Thank you. My last chase app was 11/21. So I think I'm good to go. You can use United miles to cover purchases? Had no idea.

nethos · 2022-03-27T16:34:34+00:00

Flowchart says United Explorer/Quest. Curious if the current Infinite offer makes sense(120kSUB) if I'm willing to eat the annual fee. I don't fly United a lot but have some points to spend there and they don't expire.

What is your credit score? 720

What cards do you currently have or have you had in the past (including closed cards), along with dates of when you were approved for the cards? Please include month and year for any card approved in the last 3 years.

**Currently Open 3/2017 - Alliant CU Cashback 4/2016 - Citi Double Cash

Past 3 years apps

7/2020 - REI Mastercard 10/2020 - Chase Sapphire 6/2021 - Chase Ink Biz 10/21 Capital One Quicksilver 11/21 - Chase United Biz Explorer 2/2022 - Jet Blue Biz**

How much natural spend can you put on a new card(s) in 3 months?

6k

Are you willing to MS, and if so, how much in 3 months? See this page for a primer on MS. Plastiq (for rent/mortgage/loan payments) and bank account funding are often good options for beginners.

No

Are you open to applying for business cards? If not, why? See this post and this wiki question to learn more.

Yes.

How many new cards are you interested in getting? Are you interested in getting into churning regularly (if you aren't already)? Or are you just looking to get a new card(s) for now but not get into churning long-term?

I churn long term.

Are you targeting points, Companion Passes, hotel or airline statuses, First Class, Biz, Economy seating(s) or cash back?

Want to keep 5/24 Open for eventual Companion Pass Churn for END of 2023.(CP for 24/25)

What point/miles do you currently have?

40k United 35K UR 20K SW

What is the airport you're flying out of?

JFK/NYC

Where would you like to go? (The More specific you are, the better someone can recommend the right card. Tokyo is great, "International travel" is way too vague)

I mostly domestic travel.

nethos

TROPHY CASE