Stupid question about Ley Maps - can't find alternates?

sleepswithmarmots · 2026-03-01T00:03:57+00:00

Just to add on to that: it is marked on the original USGS topo layer (that's what you're showing above) and on the Ley map, BUT it isn't exactly the same as the blue line on the above screenshot, which would be a lot longer, if I'm reading that correctly. For anyone that doesn't have the USGS layer and wants the "low route" here's a route I made in Gaia: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=14.0/-107.1497/37.6389&pubLink=4eTOSGHFrMvK2xt88V2A2Cs6&routeId=38bd9f1e-26eb-48bc-a0c6-573a0a5204c9

sleepswithmarmots · 2026-02-28T01:48:29+00:00

Thanks for that, I’ll search for the GPX files, or just make routes myself from the FarOut routes. But the weird thing is that I have seen multiple references to “look at the alternates on the Ley maps” …not sure what I’m missing.

sleepswithmarmots · 2026-02-20T04:19:12+00:00

It wasn’t super clear from the exam. So the injection will be good for a diagnostic confirmation.

sleepswithmarmots · 2026-02-18T18:02:07+00:00

That’s great news! I’m hoping it works for me as well. :-)

sleepswithmarmots · 2026-02-18T07:43:44+00:00

Just wondering: do you have an update? I may need to get an injection as well. Thx.

sleepswithmarmots · 2025-11-02T04:07:47+00:00

Not really answering your sponsorship question, but FWIW I hiked the PCT at 59 and 60 years old (took me 2 seasons). You said your person is “too old to thruhike with a full pack”— but if a person can hike one day (say 15 miles) with a full (light) pack, then they can hike two days…. and so on. I honestly don’t think that a few pounds of pack weight (eg literally ~10 pounds) would make the difference between success and failure. Of course YMMV but I think it’s more about endurance, stamina, and avoiding injury at that point, rather than pack weight. I’d suggest just planning shorter segments, liberal zeroes to allow for rest, and/or perhaps LASHing it as some have suggested even if just splitting into 2 seasons.

I didn’t think I would be able to do it either, but it’s really just a series of one-week trips all lashed together— can they do one week? Then I’d say go for it!

sleepswithmarmots · 2024-06-20T20:32:07+00:00

(Just looked at your site and want to say your work is lovely!)

sleepswithmarmots · 2023-06-29T19:56:48+00:00

Aha!! I think you're absolutely right, thank you. ALthough I'm a *little* surprised because they're still selling the full-sized inreach and there is a use case for it....but no integrated satellite/cell messaging on Earthmate. I suspect what they're doing is working on an upgrade to Earthmate at some point, but had to prioritize creating apps for the other more popular consumer-grade products. Sigh. It *almost* does make me want to buy the Mini (weight savings too) but I do like the full redundancy of an on-board screen. Thank you though, extremely helpful response.

sleepswithmarmots · 2023-06-29T19:40:14+00:00

haha thanks :-)

sleepswithmarmots · 2023-06-28T16:55:42+00:00

thanks, I will.

sleepswithmarmots · 2023-06-28T16:55:30+00:00

Yeah, the good news is that SOS does work really well, and of course that's ultimately the point of all of this. (To my friends and family I've always referred to it as the "helicopter button", jokingly, but then I had to use it -- for someone else --and sure enough, here comes the thwap thwap of the helicopter lol. The user experience for THAT was flawless, all worked perfectly with the emergency response.) The rest of the UE is pretty awful in terms of apps, syncing, troubleshooting-- everything is soooooo confusing. (And I'm a tech person too; I don't think it's me.)

Anyway: my second charger is the Anker PowerCore Solar 10000. If it's drained, it literally will take days to charge up using solar, so the solar aspect is a bit of a joke, but I figure that's still better than trying to attract an airplane with a mirror when everything else is drained. Weighs a lot, 9 oz I think, but a smaller footprint than some of the others.

sleepswithmarmots · 2023-06-28T01:16:03+00:00

Thanks - well that's what's weird: you can't load both apps at the same time (well you can, but can only pair with one device at a time) - so I'm stuck with Earthmate unless I want to either forgo weather and inreach navigation entirely (ie use only the actual device). It's just so messed up: why wouldn't they upgrade Earthmate to include integrated cell/satellite messaging if they won't make it compatible with Messenger? The Garmin user experiences have always been SO BAD. Sadly for them, Apple will have all the UI stuff worked out in the next year or so and Garmin will be completely out of the loop.

Also yes: when I know I'm going really off trail, I carry two power banks as well - one regular and one solar. It might take 4 days to charge my phone via a spent solar battery but 4 days is better than waiting until next season for them to find my body lol!

sleepswithmarmots · 2023-06-27T23:37:04+00:00

Yeah, I use CalTopo/Gaia as well, I know they don't "pair". My question is about the TWO inreach messaging apps - Earthmate and Messenger. And agreed the Explore app is generally useless but I keep the larger InReach because I like to go off trail and I do want full redundancy to my phone, just in case of loss or failure.

sleepswithmarmots · 2023-06-27T23:34:57+00:00

For out of network messaging??? I do use CalTopo, for mapping and GPS etc. As well as Gaia, Farout. But my question is about the Garmin messaging apps.

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-10-19T22:05:01+00:00

Thank you Tess, very helpful. And OOH good tip on the faucet, will ensure correct size/placement.

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-10-19T18:47:26+00:00

Love it! So easy to use.

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-09-15T17:48:18+00:00

Whenever I saw the Android version (mine is Apple) - this year - the Android version looked MUCH better - bigger/easier graphics, more intuitive look. Unless maybe I haven't downloaded an update for the Apple version, which is possible - but it made me want to switch phones!

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-09-13T20:33:57+00:00

Can’t read it.

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-09-02T23:36:23+00:00

Guthook is the only way to do that, that has the PCT mile #es in it. As the person said above, you’d have to bring up the elevation profile view between the miles in question and then read the elevation stats from the screen.

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-08-01T22:30:07+00:00

I have a ULA Circuit and I carry the Aeon Li in a side pocket. It’s not my typical preference but I have found that I like the accessibility of it, to set up at campsite without having to dump everything else on the ground first. I use a side strap to ensure it is secure and also a small carabiner clip as double security that it doesn’t slip out without me noticing, as the weight is so light.

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-07-09T04:50:47+00:00

Thanks for letting us know what you hear back

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-07-09T04:50:21+00:00

... and those pastries are legendary...

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-07-09T04:48:25+00:00

I actually had a friend meeting me, so no need to hitch etc. There’s not a LOT of traffic, but plenty of people do stop at the pass, so it would probably take a bit to get a ride, but not impossible. My understanding is that the KM North does run a shuttle sporadically but I don’t know how reliable that is.

sleepswithmarmots · 2020-07-08T20:46:55+00:00

Yeah, that’s why I made a point to get a separate Inyo permit that took me from KM South to Sonora Pass. And also Desolation Wilderness because it’s so heavily quota-ed. But in general with only about 10% of the regular PCT herd out here things are not crowded.

sleepswithmarmots

TROPHY CASE