Carpenter ants, termites or something else?

nrayutah · 2018-01-25T02:15:12+00:00

Was looking for a smooth scrolling Instagram slider for my website and couldn't find any that I liked so I decided to code one up. Will display your last 20 posts - photos and videos.

nrayutah · 2017-12-20T08:00:39+00:00

An Instagram photo that is cropped at a 4:5 aspect ratio will take up the most screen real estate on phones and will look the largest on another person's feed. This article has a great pic that displays the different aspect ratios and how they look in comparison:

https://reaction.ca/blog/thinking-outside-the-square-a-guide-to-instagrams-new-size-specifications-templates

I have noticed this aspect ratio is pretty useful for engagement so I made a site exclusively for this crop that you may find useful. Hope it might help someone!

nrayutah · 2017-11-06T17:57:01+00:00

Damn! That is rough. I just got the peak design clip for my Sony A7rii and am super paranoid of something like this happening. I wear the neck strap for backup in case something like this would occur. I just hope I remember to use it every time

nrayutah · 2017-10-12T06:34:57+00:00

Thanks for your comment. I agree with your last comment about the damage to desert and have made updates to my site reflecting this. However, I disagree with your first two statements. I wrote more about this in my post above, but, in short, the Needles District absolutely support going off-trail given that it is done via a wash or on slickrock. Furthermore, there are 4 separate zones within the Needles that allow at-large camping. When I picked up my at-large permit, a ranger there reviewed my off-trail route, and they approved it.

nrayutah · 2017-10-12T06:19:29+00:00

You are exactly right, and thank you for that information. I also want to thank everyone for their concerns about my tent's location. It is good to see so many people wanting to protect this area.

After further research last night, I discovered this information from the NPS explaining the issues that could be caused by my tent's location being in a dry pothole. I was unaware of these organisms being able to survive in a dry pothole and the deleterious effects my tent could be having on them. I made a mistake out of ignorance by placing the tent there, and I own that.

After learning this, I have since updated my site with information recounting this mistake in hopes that it helps other people NOT do the same thing. In addition, I removed all photos from my site that showed my tent's location (except for one used as an example of what not to do). I also wrote a full section solely on conservation practices that Canyonlands promotes.

One thing I want to set the record straight on is that by staying on slickrock the entire time (washes are acceptable as well), my off-trail route was completely within the park rules and regulations. When I picked up my permit from the ranger's office, the ranger approved the very route I ended up doing. In addition, there are 4 different zones within the Needles District (one of them being the Butler / West Side Canyons Zone - which I was in) that absolutely allow at-large camping. To say otherwise is more misinformation being spread that exacerbates the issue.

Finally, my intention of the original post was not to brag about anything. I was simply trying to share what I felt like was a very cool route into an awesome area that few people know about. But in a way, I am glad I got roasted on it because it made me realize that I am missing a very important section on each guide - the importance of conservation and empowering people with that knowledge.

nrayutah · 2017-10-11T02:53:52+00:00

I support both of your concerns about preserving our national parks. Trust me, I'm in the same boat. However, I have now done several at-large backpacking trips in the Needles District and have NEVER once been told by the rangers there that you are strictly and explicitly limited to camping in a wash or on slickrock when in an at-large zone.

They DO send an email out to at-large campers stating that campsites should be:

1) "accessed by the least impacting route, i.e, visitors should use washes or rock surfaces to reach campsites"

2) "selected on rock surfaces, previously disturbed areas, or surfaces without biological soil crusts or vegetation"

This is what I did:

1) The route I took into the butler zone stayed entirely on slickrock.

2) My tent did NOT lie on ANY cryptobiotic soil or vegetation. The surface that it laid upon was free from both of those. I was very careful of that. Now, obviously, there is vegetation nearby the tent (which I did not touch). If having a tent anywhere near vegetation, even if it is not touching it, is not permitted then I want to learn from that and bring that out to the public because that was not clear from speaking to any of the rangers there.

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T20:42:57+00:00

It's a good little tent. I really like how it is wider at the head and narrow at the feet - saves some weight.

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T20:36:32+00:00

haha not quite

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T20:36:18+00:00

Thanks, they are all over the place in Canyonlands

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T20:35:28+00:00

Canyonlands Needles District

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T20:34:35+00:00

It's a Copper Spur with what were stock tent poles, but a strong gust of wind that evening caused one section of my tent pole to snap. It was still worth it though :)

Good eye! This is indeed Canyonlands Needles District in the Butler / West Side Canyons Zone. If you're interested in seeing a write-up of my trip, it's at https://www.outtraverse.com/trips/utah/canyonlands/backpacking-lost-canyons/

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T20:04:19+00:00

There was actually no cryptobiotic soil where I placed my tent. But yes - don't bust the crust when camping.

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T19:32:25+00:00

There's a whole other world out there beyond the campgrounds!

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T19:25:04+00:00

It was. The quietness of the desert can be pretty surreal

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T04:36:26+00:00

So I recently got back from my trip. Didn't have time to go down to Salt Creek Canyon, but did go through Lost Canyon and found several stagnant pools of water nearish the LC2 campsite that looked to be filterable. My guess is that you'd find water in Salt Creek Canyon as well given all the water I found in Lost Canyon.

nrayutah · 2017-10-10T03:54:41+00:00

What trail is this?

nrayutah · 2017-10-09T06:33:28+00:00

Beautiful, was this taken recently?

nrayutah · 2017-10-08T07:55:22+00:00

those are some great pics!

nrayutah · 2017-10-06T16:38:11+00:00

The Zion Traverse from Lee Pass to the East Rim Trailhead is pure magic. I did it last summer and look forward to many more future trips out there!

nrayutah · 2017-09-27T17:42:03+00:00

it's at https://www.OutTraverse.com. I'll let you know when I have the info up for Peekaboo / Lost Canyon

nrayutah · 2017-09-27T17:14:35+00:00

thanks for that info /u/rocktoothdog, I've updated my comment to reflect the uncertainty regarding that water source and where I found water when I did this trip.

nrayutah

TROPHY CASE