jeudi 30 avril 2020

Any recommendations for Lake George Island Camp Site with 5 people inc 4 year old?

Hey all, can anyone recommend a site on a Lake George island that would be a nice spot for a family of 5 including a toddler? Also, we would be looking for a boat rental, who is reputable for a 2 or 3 day boat rental? Also, we would be camping then doing a hotel for 2 nights after the camping portion, any good hotel advice for a family?

Thanks in advance.


Backpacking fishing setup

Does anyone have a recommendation on the most compact fishing rod setup for my backpack? I don’t do many overnights, looking for something that folds down and fits well in a daypack. Fishing isn’t my number one objective when I hike, but it would be cool to spend and hour or two doing it when I come upon a remote pond. Thanks in advance!


mercredi 29 avril 2020

Supporting Foundations & Organizations

Hey All,

In reading on the thread about Earth Day and money, and paying for outdoor recreation other than fishing and hunting, it made me think about charitable giving and funding organizations and foundations that help to protect and maintain the places we love to recreate in.

Currently living in Texas, I am pretty ignorant of the various organizations and foundations out there that do these sort of things in the ADKs, other than the AMC. Since moving from NY, I have continued to subscribe to The Conservationist magazine, which is a great read, but also does a small part to raise awareness about environmental issues throughout NY and I imagine helps to protect and maintain some recreational areas.

All this to say, the question I have is, if I was looking to make a charitable donation to a foundation or organization that works in preservation and maintenance of the ADKs which ones would you recommend and what do they do specifically? Which ones do you think do the most good or are the most effective? Not looking to put down any group that is seeking in these efforts, but I was just kinda curious of people's thoughts on this topic.

Dayjon


Rise of Industry 4.0 and digitalization in Industrial

Rise of Industry 4.0 and digitalization in Industrial
Stephan Neumeier, Managing Director at Kaspersky

Industrial 4.0 or what we otherwise call the digitalization of industries is already here. In fact, four out of five organizations now do recognize the importance of operational network digitalization.

The natural progression from mechanization to electricity to automation and computers has made the shift a reality. We are now in the midst of a new world of cyber physical systems fueled by big data and artificial intelligence.

We have reached the point where humans are harnessing the power of technology to address the inevitable and catastrophic natural challenges our generation is currently facing. Recent years have seen the rise of smart farming, smart energy harnessing and consumption through blockchain, and more.

In fact in Singapore, a smart floating fish farm has been launched recently by Singapore Aquaculture Technologies (SAT), a subsidiary of Wintershine. As the first of its kind in the Asian country, the climate-resilient aquaculture facility promises to address the shortage of fish supply by delivering 350 tonnes of fish per year to Singapore households.

The fishes are so fresh, clean, and taste amazing. I know, because I have tasted them. Thanks to the smart sensors and systems which regulate the fishes’ feeding, the water’s temperature, acid level, and more vital parameters.
By now, you would also have realized that thousands of factories around the world employ robots that perform actions by following pre-programmed routines. These robots, also called industrial robots, are used pervasively in carrying out complex and critical tasks in all major industry sectors such as aerospace, automation, packaging and logistics. But as with any computing system, vulnerabilities in industrial components are inevitable.
While robots simplify the task and boost efficiency on the production floor, such Industry 4.0 technologies have become highly attractive cybercrime targets, too.

Only customers who have and will invest in comprehensive industrial security assessments would know what challenges they face and what steps they need to take care of to be able to handle and overcome the challenges and risks.

For instance, the smart floating fish farm I mentioned is considered to be a critical sector by Singapore Food Agency. SAT acknowledges the need to fend off future cyberattacks, hence tapping Siemens and Kaspersky to protect its networks against malicious virtual intruders.

So far, among the top risks to industrial systems that our security experts see include:
1. Unintentional infection of an industrial network
2. Fraudulent activity by employees
3. Cyberwar
4. Sabotage

Gaining access to a constantly-updated database with information on vulnerabilities in ICS and industrial IoT (IIoT) products is crucial for industrial organizations with Industry 4.0 environments.

Well, that is from an industrial or enterprise perspective.

How does the rise of industrial 4.0 and digitization affect the everyday people?

You and me in IoT

Without knowing, everyone is actually part of this revolutionary change. Everyone, including you and I. Just by clicking a button – you are already part of an Industry 4.0 production.

For example, your customization would be automated from the minute you are online. From selecting the design or perhaps a shoes you wanted personalised, up to its production, the finished product and delivery.

If someone were to disrupt the process midway, it would ruin the shoes but it is not life threatening. However, in some cases, when you are part of an automated process, it can mean physical damage.

For your pharmaceutical needs, just go online and repeat the same process above. The customized drug get produced in the digital way according to your prescriptions. But if a cybercriminal disrupt the process, perhaps change your ordered dosage to a higher level, it can and eventually be life threatening.

Going back to the smart fish farming, suppose the networks and sensors were not secured, a cybergang can infect the water with poison resulting to fresh-looking but poisoned produce which can put lives of consumers at risk.

So having proper security practices and processes in place ensures that data is accessible only to those who should view or manage it. The same security protocol means data will be totally off-limits to unauthorized entities.

Establishing a Security Operation Center (SOC) is an example. With a SOC, possible cybersecurity incidents against an entire organization are immediately mitigated as data of suspicious activities are continuously collected and analyzed by one team.

A SOC is defined both as a shifting 24/7 team and a facility formed to predict, prevent, detect, assess and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents, and to fulfill and assess regulatory compliance.

Look into the financial industry – digitalize for many years. They did not have a choice as they are dealing with a lot of data and a lot of money. They are forced to adopt policies, evolve and deal with live data. They are forced to evolve.

However, for the rest of the industry, they are moving with the natural growth of the industry and digital process. They are already part of the process whether they like it or not. From initiating the process and closing the process, is a closed digital loop. Exactly like a bank.

They have to realize that they need to evolve.
But it is a worthwhile investment. And it’s just the first step towards establishing an organization’s ability to adapt and advance in the context of the existing threat landscape. Having an empowered internal SOC ensures that the business is prepared for any cybersecurity incidents and enables it to recover from an attack more quickly and efficiently.


lundi 27 avril 2020

Lost dog jacket

My friend is pretty sure her dog's fleece jacket fell out of her pack on our hike back out from Bear Lake in the Black River Wild Forest yesterday. We were hiking back to Wolf Lake Landing Road. It has the dog's name, Nala, on it written in puffy paint. If anyone happens to come across this, please let me know. Thank you.




Firebird/Flashfire for Adirondack travel?

Hi All,

I appreciate all of the wisdom on this forum and have enjoyed learning from your posts. I am interested in a new canoe and am looking for feedback regarding the Northstar Firebird or Colden Flashfire.

Some context:

I am an avid solo paddler that kneels most of the time. I only use a single blade, just my preference. I am 5'10" and 185lbs. I pack light, about 25lbs of gear (incl food) for 5 days of travel. So while I am not the lightest person, the total weight in the boat is usually <220 when tripping.

For the past couple years, I have been paddling a Mad River Independence. Mine is the Fiberglass one, ~45 lbs. We have been on a lot of the larger lakes in the Adirondacks and last year I did the Whitney loop with it. And I day paddle it a lot on local flatwater (I am in Columbia County NY). While it's relatively heavy and a little wide (at ~29" gunwale width I sometimes wish it was a bit narrower for ease of paddling), I appeciate the MR Independence's versitility. But for trips that require more portaging and perhaps off trail travel, I am considering a slightly shorter and lighter boat, but something that is not too slow. I am not really interested in a typical pack boat, so small touring canoes like the Northstar Firebird and Colden Flashfire caught my eye. I'd be hanging on to the Independence for when I want to take my dog, more stuff, or for when portages are shorter.

The Firebird and Flashfire are both advertised as freestyle/small river touring boats for smaller paddlers. And I am a larger paddler that would primarily be on flat water, including ponds, lakes and small twisty streams. But the length, weight, and narrow paddling station of these canoes are really appealing to me, especially for those long-portage pond/stream hopping trips. And, compared to my MR Independence, which is fast enough for me, I don't think that either would be all that slow (your thoughts?). With a tripping load of 220 max, I'd fall within the efficient load parameters for the boats (100-240lbs for the Firebird), although not by much.

Given what I am looking for, do you think one of these boats would serve me well? Are there other canoes that you might recommend I look into? I know that a test paddle would be helpful, and after the shutdown I will do so. But for now I am just combing through internet resources.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Dylan


dimanche 26 avril 2020

Climbing after a knee replacement

While my one knee is not yet to the point of needing to be replaced, there is a good chance I might be facing that procedure in a few years. My question to others here who have gone through it already or know people who have, how long were they out of commission after the surgery before climbing again? How different is it after as opposed to before? What restrictions or changes did you have to make afterwards? I'm the kind of backpacker who likes to go in maybe five miles or so and set up camp in one spot. Then climb a mountain or two over several days. Even when I was younger I wasn't the kind of climber who knocked off multiple mountains a couple times during any one trip.


vendredi 24 avril 2020

RTSpoons Ron Clark

Covid-19 claimed one of us yesterday; Ron Clark died after fighting this monster virus for the past month. Ron was a fellow hiker and lover of the Adirondack High Peaks, and many of you knew him by his hiker/forum name of “RTSpoons”. Not so long ago, I posted a photo on Facebook of Ron during a tough winter hike a few of us did 10+ years ago - Ron's characteristic big mustache was a big icicle! That was a helluva hike. We walked up the Lake Road at the AMR and headed up to do the Wolfjaws & Armstrong. A recent snowfall meant we were honored with breaking trail all the way up to the summits. The going was slow and very difficult, and we laughed when we finally reached the WJ col, only to see that the trail was already broken out from the Johns Brook side. I was exhausted, and managed to get only Lower WJ that day. Ron was a much stronger hiker, and tagged both Upper and Lower... and maybe Armstrong - I don’t recall.
Ron's death is the first fatality of the Coronavirus of someone I personally knew or with whom I was acquainted. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to Ron's family in this difficult time.


Closed areas

Do any of you know if certain areas in the south western Adirondacks are closed?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk


Earth Day and money



HEADS UP, CYBERSECURITY ENTHUSIASTS: Kaspersky brings Security Analyst Summit (SAS) online

Annual conference of IT security professionals now open for free registration

Kaspersky today announces the first virtual version of its annual Security Analyst Summit (SAS) packed with three days of presentations and series of training from April 28 to 30. Aimed at sharing knowledge and findings about the current cybersecurity trends and threats, the global cybersecurity company opened the online event to all IT professionals and enthusiasts around the world for free.

Dubbed as “SAS@home”, the online conference will kick-off with a series of threat presentations and threat announcements from select researchers of Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) alongside experts from partners in the industry and academia.

The second and third day will zero in on knowledge sharing as the event will take an educational turn which includes several masterclasses and presentations from Kaspersky experts as well as industry professionals. Key topics range from Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), a post-crisis worlds, national and state threats, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the Internet, and more.

“It is undeniable that our presence online has increased tremendously because of this pandemic. Now more than ever, it has become a necessity to secure our digital lives and assets knowing that cybercriminals are lurking, waiting for their prey,” says Stephan Neumeier, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

“In turn, we at Kaspersky has opened the doors of SAS@home to all cybersecurity enthusiasts from both public and private sectors across the globe. It is now an online event where we share our expertise, observations, and expert findings as well as train the future generation of cyber experts through knowledge sharing because learning and cooperation can continue even when we’re inside the comfort of our homes,” he adds.

The Kaspersky Security Analyst Summit (SAS) is an annual event that attracts high-caliber anti-malware researchers, global law enforcement agencies and CERTs and senior executives from financial services, technology, healthcare, academia, and government agencies.

For more information about SAS@home, visit: https://thesascon.com/

Interested participant can register here: https://kas.pr/kp7j


Turkeys 2020

Thank God it’s almost turkey season. How is everyone’s gobbler situation looking? I’m seeing turkeys in a few of my spots – all woods, no farms – but haven’t been able to pin down any gobblers yet. I’m going to check a trail camera this weekend.

Sadly, due to the virus situation, I’m going to miss the youth hunt for the first time in many years. Looks like this year it will be a family/household deal. On a positive note, DEC is offering a full online course for hunter ed and over 6,000 have taken it in just over a week. I prefer some in-person instruction at the range, but at least this is getting some kids set for turkey season.


jeudi 23 avril 2020

Wassup? 😁

How y'all been?

Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_20200423_182003057.jpg (75.3 KB)


BYE BYE BREACHES: Data protection ranks as top security issue for SEA companies

Businesses unanimous in increasing IT security budget to address pressing cybersecurity challenges

After witnessing organisations and enterprises succumbing to major data breaches for the past years, companies in Southeast Asia (SEA) have tagged data protection as a top priority when it comes to challenges related to IT security. This and more findings were uncovered by the annual Kaspersky Global Corporate IT Security Risks Survey.

Among the other urgent cybersecurity issues identified by the respondents are keeping relationships with partners and customers in the age of digitalisation and ensuring compliance of staff with security policies and regulatory requirements. Security issues related to cloud infrastructure adoption and the cost of securing increasingly complex technology environments are also considered as stumbling blocks for some businesses.

Based on the interviews conducted with nearly 300 IT business decision-makers in SEA last year, companies fear data loss and being exposed to a targeted attack the most (34%), followed by electronic leakage of data from internal systems (31%).

Another 22% of the survey respondents admitted their distressed towards the possibility of surveillance or espionage by competitors. Moreover, 2-in-10 of firms in the region also admitted that they are worried about identifying and remedying vulnerabilities in IT systems they use.

Incidents affecting IT infrastructure hosted by a third party and inappropriate IT resource use by employees are both critical concerns for some 18% of companies in the region.

“The past few years have shown and proved the ugly and costly aftermaths of a successful cyberattack. From the $81M USD heist against a central bank to a data breach leaking names of HIV cases, our past offers timeless lessons on cybersecurity which organisations and businesses in all shapes and sizes should definitely learn from,” comments Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

“It is encouraging to see that local companies are starting to prioritise IT security. In fact, our research showed that, on average, businesses in the region are currently spending $14.4 M to build their cybersecurity capabilities. 84% of the professionals we surveyed also confirmed plans to increase the budget for this area in the next three years which is really important in this era where networks are becoming more advanced and complex, thanks to breakthrough technologies like Internet of Things, 5G, and the rapid adoption of Industry 4.0,” he adds.

Almost 5-in-10 of the respondents cited increased complexity of IT infrastructure as a factor for the expected budget markup. Companies surveyed also noted that the increment aims to improve the level of specialist security expertise (46%) and is due to new business activities or expansion (39%).

To help companies in their budgeting process and in making the most out of their security investments, Kaspersky recommends to:
• Assess your company’s cybersecurity risks when planning your budget. Consider the cost to the company and the probability of their occurrence
• Rely on expertise. Decisions about the purchasing of cybersecurity tools or services should not be taken by one person. Before this stage, expert analysis should be made that reveals the best option for the best price.
• Involve higher management in cybersecurity matters, including budgets and make sure to speak to them in their language. Don’t tell them how cybersecurity works, show them the business risks and the amount of money they can lose by not improving cybersecurity.
• Use a free tool by Kaspersky to check your budget benchmark. Enter your company’s region, size and industry to see the average budget for similar companies to yours.
• Start with a sturdy foundation, a dedicated endpoint product that demands minimum management allowing employees to do their main job but protects from malware, ransomware, account takeover, online fraud and scams such as Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business.
• Further build your cybersecurity capability with security solutions and services founded with in-depth threat intelligence.


mercredi 22 avril 2020

Spake

Caught some splake for the first time last weekend.
They were very good. Cooked them over a fire with nothing on them. And they were very good. I would post a few pics. Not sure how yet. They were full of bait fish. They would cough them up too. They were stacked up in large schools. I thought my fish finder was broke. The whole screen was full of fish.
Was a blast. I be at it again this weekend


Event Managament Services

In Town Events [https://colorzevent.com] consist of a strong creative team of event organizers based in KL and Selangor with our office located in Ampang. We have been serving the industry in all types of event planning and management from individuals to small and large corporations successfully.

We work closely with many partners under our network that specialises in various fields such as entertainers, emcees, performers, equipment rental etc. Our experience in event management ranges from business events, personal events (such as anniversaries), charity events, product launching, carnivals and many more. Our team aims to create unforgettable memories with our professionalism for you and your guests.

At In Town Events, we are an event organizer, helping our customers to organise their event, with the help of our strong connections and extensive umbrella of partners. Once we have discussed, understood and determined the objective of your event, we will consider the budget allocated and help you to get the right equipments, props, entertainment and other services required and to make your event an absolute success!

To get further details on organising your upcoming events, please call us at +601133330210. Our helpful event consultant will be able to assist you. Or alternatively drop us an email in the form below.


mardi 21 avril 2020

Mover Services in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor

Choose My Movers for your next move for a simple and easy moving experience. No moving job is too big or small for us. Let My Movers handle the hassle of moving so you don't have to!*

We provide house mover, office mover, piano mover and other mover services.

Our mover service is now available in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Melaka, Penang and all states in West Malaysia.

ENGLISH version
https://mover2u.com

BM version
https://mover2u.com/lori-sewa/


NYS Recreation Circulars

My late father-in-law grew up in Syracuse and, before he enlisted in WWII, was an avid hiker, etc. in the Adirondacks. I inherited a copy of Recreation Circular 8, The Trails to Marcy, by A. S. Hopkins, dated 1941, and really enjoyed reading it.
The other day I was searching for something on Google and, to my surprise, this circular (and the others in the series) came up! In their goal of digitizing everything, they had googled this document and put it on their free download site, so I downloaded it and have been reading it. https://www.google.com/books/edition...AQAAIAAJ?hl=en
The circulars then published are:
1 - State Parks and Reservations (not included in the download)
2 - Public Use of the Forest Preserve, by C. R. Pettis, 1920
3 - Adirondack Highways, by C. R. Pettis
4 - Catskill Highways, by C. R. Pettis, 1920
5 - St. Lawrence Reservation, by Arthur B. Strough, 1919
6 - Lake George, by A. S. Hopkins, 1920
7 - Adirondack Canoe Routes, by William G. Howard, 1940
8 - The Trails to Marcy, by A. S. Hopkins, 1941
9 - Catskill Trails, by W. D. Mulholland, 1938
10- Lake Placid Trails, by W. D. Mulholland, 1932

Maps seem to have been included in some of these, but were not scanned by Google. Trying to follow the trail descriptions was an enjoyable challenge, because many of them have changed. Three typical example are of winter trails in #10:
1. Heart Lake Loop from the Olympic Stadium past John Brown farm, up to the ADK Lodge, past Rock Falls, down to Bear Cub, and back to the Stadium (24.1 miles)
2. Whiteface Mt. Loop from the Olympic Stadium, across frozen Mirror Lake and Lake Placid to Undercliff, up to and cross the Franklin Falls Trail to Whiteface, ascend Esther, cross Wilmington Trail to Whiteface, go to the Sunrise Notch Trail, pass Connery Pond, cross Mirror Lake and back to start (29.5 miles)
3. Sentinel Range Loop (I won't describe it here except that again it begins and ends at the Olympic Stadium and goes along the West Branch of the Ausable River and (I guess) along the now current Jackrabbit Trail). (22.35 miles)

I would really like to find these trails (on paper) but am hampered by a) trails don't exist anymore; b) landmarks such as "Old Lumber Camp" and "trail splits, red trail goes right, take the blue trail", etc.; and c) I don't have access to an appropriate map (I have older and newer ones).


lundi 20 avril 2020

Coyote Rocks and Bowmans Creek Loop-SGL 57

https://endlessmountains.wordpress.c...en-state-park/


A great hike with views, giant rocks, mountain streams, and a superb hike along Bowmans Creek. There are also some remnants from the ice industry.


https://www.instagram.com/p/B9fQB76A..._web_copy_link


https://www.instagram.com/p/B9fPnbvA..._web_copy_link


dimanche 19 avril 2020

Remote Paddling Suggestions

Hi Everyone,

I rarely post, but my brother and I are looking for recommendations on some remote canoeing, away from crowds and motor boats in early June. We are planning 2 or 3 nights and are looking for lakes that are sizable enough to spend some time exploring. St. Regis area and West Canada Lake Wilderness have peaked our interest. What are your thoughts on these two general areas and does anyone have other recommendations? We truly appreciate it!


samedi 18 avril 2020

Download All USGS Topo Data for ADK Park Here, plus others

I had some time while isolated at home, so I figured I'd give a gift to everyone on the site....some packaged map files I made from USGS source data. The maps are in Mapbox MBTILEs format, which can be loaded into apps on Android (LocusMaps & OruxMaps) and Apple (Maps Plus by Miocool) devices and used as underlying imagery with your GPS position and any other data loaded on top. They can also be loaded on a desktop in QGIS3, GlobalMapper, MBTILE viewer, etc.

The first file is 54MB and contains a (no topo contours) USGS 100K map from 1985 for the entire park, and also includes the blue-line boundary of the park.
(DOWNLOAD HERE)

The data for the above map was found here. Click on anywhere in the park, set the date range at right to 1984-1986 and you will find the source imagery I used. The blue line boundary data was sourced from the Adirondack Park Agency's KML file.

The second file is just under 1GB, and contains all USGS Topo map imagery for the park. The USGS maps are the circa 1950s/60s version. Zoom levels 9-11 are political county maps, level 12 is the same 100K map layer as the above map (no topo contours), 13 is the 100K topo imagery, and zoom levels 14-15 are the 24k topo imagery. I did not incorporate the blue line boundary into this file.
(DOWNLOAD HERE)

The third file is 2GB, and contains all 1901 historical USGS topo imagery for the entire park. The data was sourced from here.
(DOWNLOAD HERE)

I hope you find the maps useful. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers, and happy belated Easter!!! Hope everyone is staying safe!


Adirondack Backpacking Facebook Group

Hi Gang, not sure if this allowed or not but just wanted to pass along that I started an “Adirondack Backpacking” related facebook group if anyone is interested please feel free to join. Thanks. Stay safe, all.
- Justin

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2396...865/?ref=share


West Falls Park (Western N.Y.)

Was originally planning to hit up a bunch of national parks in California this spring including Yosemite, but those plans were derailed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. So I have to settle for local hikes in Western New York and the Western Southern Tier for the time being. Fortunately I continue to discover new places all the time. Here's one of them: J.P. Nicely Memorial West Falls Park:













mercredi 15 avril 2020

Grouse Hunting

Anyone out there target grouse in the adks?


lundi 13 avril 2020

Sperry Pond

Does anyone know about access to this lake between Tupper Lake and Long Lake for kayaking or fishing? On the map it shows it is in a conservation easement. I can't find any details on it.


Vistas of Fish Dam Run Gorge-Sproul State Forest

https://endlessmountains.wordpress.c...-state-forest/


A hike to two superb vistas over the 1,200 foot deep Fish Dam Run Gorge. There are more in the area. Beautiful place.


https://www.instagram.com/p/B-nlKGXj..._web_copy_link


https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pKXXxj..._web_copy_link


dimanche 12 avril 2020

Some questions about solo canoes...

I'm looking at possibly purchasing a solo canoe in the not-too-terribly-distant future. I've got a decent amount of experience with solo boating in practice, but my knowledge of specific brands/models is somewhat lacking. Ideally what I'd like is something that I can use for trips up to a week in length, somewhat into mid- to late Autumn, which I know is going to preclude the lightest and smallest options out there. I'd like to at least have the option to comfortably carry about 250-260+ pounds (including myself plus cold weather gear for longer trips in late October and possibly even into early November). Fortunately, it seems like there's a number of options to facilitate this out there that still fall well within the "ultralight" category- which is a must, as I'd also like something that I can easily portage with (on maintained portage trails, I don't plan to turn into Conk Jr. any time soon).

The two brands so far that I've started looking into are the two most commonly associated with the Adirondacks- Hornbeck and Placid Boatworks. Both have the advantage of allowing me to "buy local." Are there any other brands that are worth considering besides Hornbeck and Placid Boatworks?

Placid Boatworks models are more expensive than the equivalent Hornbeck counterparts (by about half again as much)- but Placid Boatworks models also appear to be a bit more robust, with more features included by default (although this does admittedly add slightly to the weight of the Placid Boatworks models). I do also especially like that Placid Boatworks includes the added coating on the underside to better protect the canoes from abrasions. I have had the opportunity to paddle boats from both companies in the past, although the majority of my solo tripping experience has been in Placid Boatworks canoes so I may also be somewhat biased towards that brand. I would appreciate hearing other's thoughts on comparisons between the two companies- do the added features that come standard with Placid Boatworks canoes justify the added cost over Hornbeck equivalents? Are there other pros/cons between the two companies that should be considered?

I also have some questions about the different skin options available through Hornbeck. The website states that there is "no weight difference" between the different material options (kevlar vs. carbon fiber vs. a matrix combination of the two). My understanding after reading through the materials on the Hornbeck website is that, apart from carbon fiber being more brittle, the majority of the difference in these materials has more to do with the process of constructing the canoe and less to do with the qualities of the finished product. In that case, I'm curious- what would anyone pay more for carbon fiber (or even the matrix combination) over kevlar? Are there other qualities to carbon fiber that I'm not considering that justify the added cost? If cost is not a factor, which is the "ideal" coating?

I've also been looking at the Hornbeck Blackjack options, where the entire boat is constructed with using carbon fiber. By replacing the normally-wooden components (gunwhales, thwarts, etc.), this results in a substantially reduced weight- for a somewhat substantially increased cost (although still cheaper than a Placid Boatworks equivalent). Are there any forum members here that have experience with the Hornbeck Blackjack options that can comment on the pros/cons of this design? Is it worth the added cost, or are there drawbacks to this style of construction that aren't apparent?

My shortlist of models that I'm considering is as follows (PB = Placid Boatworks, HB = Horn Beck): PB Spitfire 13, PF Oseetah, HB Classic 12 (or 13), HB New Tricks 12 (or 13). The Hornbeck boats appear to have a greater capacity for the same length in comparison to the Placid Boatworks boats (presumably due in part do the Hornbecks being a bit wider). Of those 4, I'm leaning pretty heavily at the moment towards the Spitfire 13 or the New Tricks 12/13. I had an opportunity to take an 8 day paddling trip in a borrowed Spitfire 13 last September and it was perfect for everything I needed in a canoe- but if a Hornbeck can work just as well for less cost then that's definitely a consideration.

Any comments on any of these models (or any other aspect of solo-canoe shopping) would be more than appreciated! Thanks in advance. :)


jeudi 9 avril 2020

Florence Shelly Wetlands Preserve

https://endlessmountains.wordpress.c...ands-preserve/


Explore glacial and boreal wetlands, large rocks, streams, stone ruins, old quarries, and diverse forests. Very diverse, almost 400 species of vascular plants are found here. Also good for birdwatching.


https://www.instagram.com/p/B-QPntCD..._web_copy_link


https://www.instagram.com/p/B-QQizDj..._web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-QRtIOD..._web_copy_link


Choke Creek Falls Loop-Pinchot State Forest

https://endlessmountains.wordpress.c...-state-forest/


A great, and easy, dayhike loop with waterfalls, diverse forests, meadow vistas and wetlands.


https://www.instagram.com/p/B-c5dd3D..._web_copy_link


West Boggs Run Vista-Sproul State Forest



mardi 7 avril 2020

Pinnacle closed

Warren County has announced that the popular Pinnacle trail in Bolton is closed until further notice, due to overcrowding in a time of social distancing.

https://www.facebook.com/11382406025...type=3&theater


lundi 6 avril 2020

The Coronacorps: What to do with recovered COVID patients, our new national strength

Should people who recover from coronavirus be drafted for running the businesses and the services since the others of us have to stay in home?

Interesting idea:

"Their privileged immune state makes them ideal candidates for a hopeful concept: the CoronaCorps, a civilian army that may be able to fill in gaps in public services, insulate the vulnerable from infection, help map the spread of the virus, and give our medical system room to breathe.

The instantiation of this army should be a national priority. We need to identify as many immune individuals as possible, certify their immunity in an official and interoperable manner, and deploy them to positions of maximal utility. We are at war, and this is our draft. Immunity comes with responsibility."

https://www.wired.com/story/to-beat-...the-recovered/


samedi 4 avril 2020

pharmapower.net

Truly tons of very good tips!
pharmapower.net


mercredi 1 avril 2020

Any Good (or Bad) Opening Day Stories?

Well here's my doozy... Assume many of you, like me, spend the off-season reading up on/scoping out new grounds. Found just such a spot that I knew would be devoid of the opening day hordes. About an hour's drive and 45 minute hike to get to, but it was the perfect kind of fast pocket water that I like to fish this early in the spring. I'm positioned on a rock such that with a good cast, I can reach a nice pool on the other side of the stream. I slip on the second cast, and there goes my brand new rod and reel. Yes I did attempt a save, but not only did I not get to my gear, but I also got a whole lotta water inside my waders. Suffice it to say that the hike out was cold, wet, and felt like a lot longer than 45 minutes!

Only saving grace is with my old gear in the truck, I did land this nice hold-over stockie (see tail clip). Don't think I can ever recall seeing as many out on opening day as were out today--no doubt "thanks" to COVID. Best of luck to you all this year, and be safe!

NHtroutster

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