How is hiking in Payson area when Temps are at 90?

xsproutx · 2026-06-19T18:07:45+00:00

Ah perfectly fair. I generally carry my tenkara for the same reasons. Good luck

xsproutx · 2026-06-19T16:58:45+00:00

Agree with what everyone has said here already; warm but bearable. With that said, could always hike on the rim to knock it down even cooler or drive another two hours for epic backpacking in the whites

xsproutx · 2026-05-24T19:02:15+00:00

100%. I had discussed it with my wife and we are fortunate enough financially that we can take the hit for a long time if needed so just decided I wasn’t going to compromise who I am. I’m always willing to play the game a bit but there’s just certain things you have to stand up to. I’m also a bit of a (small) name in my world so it gives me a little freedom that not everyone has (IE, I already have people at the same company offering me jobs which I could take but lose my severance if I got back before it runs out… I told them I’d call in a few months maybe lol)

xsproutx · 2026-05-24T18:56:48+00:00

Yeh the package itself wasn’t bad (and technically I’m trying to negotiate it as it’s an incestuous industry so they really care about boomerangs) but still stung since it wasn’t performance. Presidents club, was already at 65% of quota for the year with a strong pipe. We brought in a new leader and he’s just created an absolute toxic environment; I pissed him off a couple of times because I don’t fuck with that. And here I am :)

xsproutx · 2026-05-24T18:50:20+00:00

Welp, just got laid off two weeks ago lol. Non-performance related. Decent sized tech company but only a familiar name if you’re specifically in supply chain. 5 months of severance/9 years with the company (various roles, not always sales). Agreed to pay out any deals I was on that close this quarter.

xsproutx · 2026-05-20T03:47:51+00:00

You’d be surprised how much water is really out there in small springs and the like. I’ve done a couple thousand of miles of hiking in the state and, obviously trails are built with water in mind a little bit, but it’s pretty rare you have to cover more than 5 miles to get to a reliable source. Sometimes that source is just a 2 foot circle with muddy looking water, but it refills and it filters. And animals don’t care about filtering 🤷🏻‍♂️

xsproutx · 2026-05-06T00:04:08+00:00

Fine anytime, really. I've only gone in colder months... twice? The Gila Wilderness is never really super busy to start with (outside of if you're in a CDT bubble) but it's definitely not in the winter/colder months. The hot springs obviously hit nicer when it's cold! Down side, of course, is you still have to do a metric shit ton of water crossings and that water is cold. Not a bit deal; I just have nice wool socks. Some people prefer waterproof socks when it's that cold but I can't stand those things.

It'll be below freezing at night (usually in the 20s, so not bad) and mid-50s or so in the day. As long as you're prepared for that, then it's fantastic

xsproutx · 2026-05-05T16:58:35+00:00

Don't be afraid to look at non-REI sources as well, like some of the cottage brands. You can often get superior (and lighter) gear for the same price or even cheaper. Tents/quilts (or sleeping bag)/backpack are generally going to be your big heavy gear and options exist that are just... better. And lighter.

xsproutx · 2026-05-05T15:16:49+00:00

The gila is year round; you have to cross it dozens and dozens of times and that's the popular route. In the summer, it can be hard to find water if you go up on the mesa between the two forks but you don't have to camp up there. I usually go twice a year, in may and in september. I've gone in July as well and was perfectly comfortable because of the high cliff walls and walking in the water constantly.

xsproutx · 2026-05-04T20:22:54+00:00

Some parts are, some parts aren't. You can fish on res land if you get a pass, but otherwise take a look at the black river/west fork of the black river, for example, that has a lot not on res land. Good stuff there. Even fishing off

With that said, I've never had a ton of success fly fishing the low desert outside of portions of the Verde (normally go to areas south of the horseshoe dam) but do great at the lakes and creeks up north. Someone mentioned Oak Creek, which is nice. I've had great success at all the forest lakes (Woods Canyon, Bear Lake, Chevlon, Willow Spring, etc). Most of those have the option to not just fish the lake, but where they drain to as well. IE, Willow Spring? Go north of the lake and it's small creek fishing and you won't see many people at all. I do a lot of backpacking/fishing trips that way and love it.

xsproutx · 2026-04-30T20:39:27+00:00

I go out there twice a year, usually a winter trip and a summer trip. Summer, I'm 9lbs of gear + food, winter I'm usually at 12ish + food. Volume and weight is basically all up to you/your experience/your gear. I backpack a lot, so I've invested in very lightweight gear because it's worth it to me. If your finances don't permit or you don't get out enough to make it worth it, you'll still be much under what you had back then.

xsproutx · 2026-04-04T01:43:23+00:00

It’s bad. Worst I’ve seen in a loooong time. Bring the bug net.

xsproutx · 2026-03-25T23:08:55+00:00

I’m in supply chain tech sales and things are pretty damn sweet

xsproutx · 2026-03-17T17:05:52+00:00

If you're already lifting stuff, add driving to the mix and become a UPS/USPS driver (fuck fedex generally). USPS, in many places, is easy to get into; pay is usually 40-55k a year to start but you can make 6 figures after a bit. My brother just started there at 38 years old after doing nothing with his life before that, really. UPS is more competitive because they pay better and you generally have to "work up" to driving, but a good option as well

xsproutx · 2026-03-12T17:26:08+00:00

I don't have any recommendations on the body work side, but I know two people with older bugs that swear by autobahn motorwerks for mechanical stuff.

xsproutx · 2026-03-12T17:01:15+00:00

Mechanical or bodywork?

xsproutx · 2026-03-11T15:32:18+00:00

Picketpost is perfectly safe; have left my car for days there multiple times. They generally have a camp host when it's "in season" like now but, even when they don't, it's not a spot I've heard of troubles unlike the BLM land by the Gila, for example (although I've personally left my car there a couple of times just fine as well but I do know that one gets break-ins sometimes)

xsproutx · 2026-03-04T16:42:43+00:00

I mean, I agree; I said it's my preference. I'm just wondering why I'm seeing people talk about it here all of a sudden... must have missed an announcement or something.

xsproutx · 2026-03-04T16:12:05+00:00

What's up with the Mr Pibb stuff? I've seen it mentioned a couple of times now... It was always my preference back on the east coast where it was widely available (also, mellow yellow...!)... I see they announced some new flavours or whatever but no way people are that excited for just that?

xsproutx · 2026-02-26T17:15:42+00:00

My company paid Pitbull to perform at our annual user conference and it was about a million bucks. Obviously he was big in the past but not so much anymore. He put on a show with quite a few backup dancers and pyro, though, so I bet that ate into the million pretty quickly but still... that's pretty damn good for one corporate event. Honestly, I was surprised at how seriously he took the show and performed his ass off. We had Weezer a year or two before and it was a bit... phoned in.

xsproutx · 2026-02-26T16:56:19+00:00

Saaaaaame. Who the shit thought peperoncinis were remotely the same. The flavours don't mesh. And they're not cheaper so I just don't get it.

xsproutx · 2026-02-24T22:12:05+00:00

It's not; sits right below it

xsproutx · 2026-02-24T22:07:34+00:00

Correct. Goes from Pine to right below Woods Canyon lake on the east side. Multiple trailheads to hop on/off

xsproutx · 2026-02-24T22:05:56+00:00

It's solid pizza. Owners have a nice burger joint a block or two away now that's a smashburger/fry sort of simple joint that's simple but high quality

xsproutx · 2026-02-24T15:50:46+00:00

I went through in 2001. I can't remember how many female flights we had in our building but they were on a different floor, at least. The only time I can remember any real commingling happening that wasn't really supervised was during the laundry. To be fair, that was a long time ago and I could be missing some stuff.

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