u/Adventurous_War_4055 — reddlx

ISM Festival - Experimental music + performance art - Sept 11-13th - Downtown Oly

I thought it would be worth mentioning the ISM Festival here, since we've been working so hard on making it happen. If you want to see / hear some really fascinating, beautiful, weird, relevant art, come downtown and check it out. Many local artists of all stripes + visiting artists from Portland, Seattle, the Bay Area and beyond.

3 Days - Friday, Saturday, Sunday
7 Venues - Le Voyeur, Decay, Moving Parts Dance, Cryptatropa, Wild Child, Bar Francis, Mossy Bottom Records
75+ total performances.
Plus, a local experimental FILM block (at Wild Child)

We are also hosting a stage at Olympia Porchfest, on Sept 7th. Come meet us there, plus hear some experimental sounds.

ISM is by / for local artists and is absolutely NON-corporate.

u/Adventurous_War_4055 — 1 month ago

▲ 12 r/ultralight_jerk+1 crossposts

Liquid Soap - What is Least Attractive to Bears?

I realize this question is not exactly specific to r/Ultralight. However, this community often seems to carry Dr Bronners soap in dropper bottles, so it seems like the best place to ask this question. I backpack in black bear country, most often in the Olympic mountains. I see bear most every time I go out there.

What soap is LEAST attractive to bears? I ask because, in Dr Tom Smith's lecture on bear safety (can be found on Youtube), he states that grizzlies are very attracted to the smell of peppermint. Also, and interestingly, some will even roll around on dirt that has bear spray on it. He seems to have a lot of first hand experience. https://youtu.be/1KWSJ3piSfM?is=ccVhOTVMAUlUjfaF

Anyway, I recently included liquid soap in my hyigene kit, after reading an article by Skurka about hand washing on the trail. So I ordered some of the 'very tiny' dropper bottles from Litesmith. 3ml, 1/2 full of soap is 3.8g. Awesome!

Anyway, I use smelly-proof bags and/or a bear canister. But still, if I wash with soap I am going to smell like it. And bear can smell extremely well.

u/Adventurous_War_4055 — 2 months ago

▲ 0 r/Ultralight

Wayfinding with an Apple Watch - is it possible with the tiny screen?

I am curious to know if anyone has used an Apple Watch for wayfinding, i.e. staying on trail - using their watch only? The screen is tiny compared to a phone or dedicated GPS navigation device, so I have some hesitances.

I usually use an Iphone, with Gaia maps (loaded for offline use) for trails navigation, and it works well. I am referring to wayfinding on existing trails, or unmaintained trails - in situations when the trail disappears under snow patches, or is occasionally less visible. I typically always have paper map and compass with me, as backup, when I am on unfamiliar trails.

If I was doing 100% off-trail navigation, I would not use a watch only. Just wanting to know if it is a viable option for the case I describe above.

This is relevant to r/Ultralight, because IF it is doable, I'd have the option to leave my (clunky 8 oz) phone at home if I wanted to.

reddit.com

u/Adventurous_War_4055 — 3 months ago

▲ 16 r/noisemusic+1 crossposts

ISM Festival 2026 is Looking for Performers

ISM Experimental Music Festival is currently booking artists. Dates are Sept 11-13th 2026. Downtown Olympia, WA. 3 days, 5+ venues, 95+ artists.

ISM is looking for experimental music and performance artists. This could be: music, noise, improv, dance, movement, live video art, or ???

The weirder, the better. Collaborations and group performances encouraged. We book an experimental film block (so film-makers, please inquire.)

ISM is NON-mainstream (in concept or performance), NON-profit, and NON-industry driven. Most all of our proceeds go to the artists.

Email us at: ism-oly@proton.me

NOTE: ISM 2025 was freaking awesome. Lets do this again.

reddit.com

u/Adventurous_War_4055 — 3 months ago

▲ 0 r/Ultralight

Space Blanket - How Necessary?

I am aware that a space blanket is an often-carried item, however I have never used mine, and I am 53 yo. I am curious to hear about the kind of environments / situation where they have come into use (and been helpful). Mine are usually 1.85 oz or 52g, which makes it one of the heavier items in my essentials kit.

I am always carrying wind shells, and either a DCF tent or poncho. So it seems like those items could function similarly, if I had to bivouac (or wrap an injured person up).

Looking forward to hearing your stories.

reddit.com

u/Adventurous_War_4055 — 3 months ago