This is a link to the Grand Staircase Escalante Rod Conditions Report which is sporadically updated. https://www.nps.gov/glca/learn/news/road-conditions.htm Just note that they routinely overestimate the difficulty of road conditions. I've driven it end to end numerous times. Cottonwood is well main...

I wouldn't mind knowing how the event was. Kyle? Too specific to the original topic? Did anyone actually attend? I like his work, although I haven't read a lot of it. Mostly in AZ highways I went. Read a lot of his work since much of it is centered in southern Utah. He is pretty knowledgeable about...

Having been called out by Corfman, I'll confess that the Ruess story has intrigued me for a while now. Read both Vagabond for Beauty and Searching for Everett Ruess years back. I've visited Escalante a few times, though the locals aren't real Ruess fans since one of the theories is that he stumbled ...

Yep, I took some friends up to Tom's Thumb a few weeks ago for their first time with promises of visiting both Miner's Camp and Ogre's Den. Both have been cleaned out. The path to Ogre's Den now has cholla balls intentionally placed along the path as an obstacle. Hated to see these fun little side t...

Flew in last night with my route taking me just north of the Pinetop/ShowLow. Could clearly see the outline of the fire perimeter. Southeast side was burning pretty hot. Upper level winds were out of the east, which is uncommon. We hit smoke at 20,000 feet on the descent. Interior of the airplanes s...

I use a Delorme PN-60. Have for quite a few years. DeLorme began, and still is, a mapping company. Pretty easy to plan a trip using their desktop software with the ability to overlay topo mapes, street maps, and satellite imagery. Then you can transfer the entire project to your handheld. The sat co...

MJ and I attended tonight's talk at REI in PV. Really enjoyed the presentation. Most of it was in a motivational vein which was well received. The Q&A session at the end delved into equipment preferences and logistical issues and yielded some good info. Overall, definitely time well spent.

Was at the Seven Springs TH just a couple of weeks ago. Four, um, mature ladies and a foofoo dog were getting into a Prius for the return trip to Scottsdale. You'll be fine.

Another option for a foam pad under your inflatable is Reflectix. Available at Home Depot, Lowes, or most any building supply store, Reflectix is essentially aluminum foil coated bubble wrap with a fairly high R value and minimal weight. I use it for pot cozies and a rehydration sleeve for freezer b...

@flagscott
Yep. My description was pretty weak. Whole thing sits above the canister by folding in the bottom to rest on the canister. I fashion it to where the handles of my cup/pot stay outside the foil. Fairly flimsy, but light weight.

Noticed the same thing. I use a MSR Pocket Rocket and a 750ml Toaks titanium pot. I just started using a small piece of aluminum foil doubled over and wrapped around the setup as a windscreen. Seemed to funnel the heat nicely and knocked off a good chunk of time to get a boil. Press a couple of smal...

I always thought AZ Wandering Bear was a nice person. I'm confused. Don't be confused Jim. Like all bears I'm very nice. Until I'm not. Mostly I am nice to ladies, honest men, well behaved children, well behaved dogs, and the noble denizens of the forest and plain. As for as the rest, well..... I d...

@nonot
I agree that people are the least most trustworthy thing in the back country. Rather sad I think, but it has always been so and will remain so.

@autumnstars There is a huge difference between taking property that isn't yours and taking materials set out for public use. The original post said the box was marked with a specific person's name and then public after a certain date. Obviously this was personal property until that date. My commen...

Along with the lock, add a game camera secreted nearby set for motion sensing. Provide the sheriff the photos and post them here as well. Nothing stops bad behavior like exposure (and jail time).

'Cept for the headphone thing, The Dude is wise!

chumley wrote:A little misogynism in this thread huh? You'd think hiking actually requires a third leg.

Ah, Chums. Cynical as always (which I greatly admire, btw :worthy: ). And in this case OVERLY optomistic, biologically speaking.

Like most things, it depends. If there is any hint of distress, that just ain't happening. If it is a long ride back home and they seemed a bit perturbed that I want to climb just one more hill or go just one more mile, then nah, probably not worth the grief later on the ride back. That of course mi...

Was asleep, but the jolt of the first larger one woke me up. MJ sat up in bed, hit me and said, "Did you feel that?" I said, "Yes, and I felt the earthquake, too."

Yep. Floated by them twice during white water trips through the Grand Canyon. Considered sacred ground by the Hopi, thus the river guides never stop there. Was a right of passage for a young Hopi to trek to the salt caves and bring back salt. It was more complicated than just that, but the trip alon...