I'm planning on an overnight trip to Quebec Crreek. I've planned out this route (basically counterclockwise). Where would be a good place to either set up my tent or, if it arrives in time, my hammock?
Couldn't have asked for a nicer day to spend in the WV woods. Blackwater Falls State Park, WV.
Today we're announcing the JK Boots Home Front campaign, our three-part response to the fires burning in and around Spokane.
After the most destructive wildfire in Washington state history swept into Spokane on Saturday; 640+ structures lost, 5,390 acres burned in hours, thousands evacuated, here's what we're doing:
50 pairs of boots, donated, starting today. Active firefighting personnel on the Spokane fires: come to the store, get fitted, walk out in new handmade wildland fire boots. No break-in needed, from our floor to the fire line, same day.
Home Front Day - Wednesday, August 5. 100% of profits from every sale that day — every store, all online, every dealer order, midnight to midnight - donated to the Innovia Foundation's Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund for the families who lost their homes.
Firefighter recharge station - open daily, 7 AM to 9 PM.
Our headquarters is open to the crews on these fires: hot coffee, hot food, water, a place to wash up and rest. Our break room is yours. Text (509) 219-8950 for access.
We've handmade wildland fire boots in Spokane for 20 years for the people who run toward fires. This week, they're defending our own streets.
The fight came to our home.
They hold the line for us, this is the least we can hold for them.
📍JK Boots HQ • 10220 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley
If you know a crew out there, tell them about the boots and the recharge station.
Stay safe, Spokane. ❤️
These get stored for the late fall and winter, and pulled out late spring. One of the most comfortable pairs I own.
Gustin 18oz The Beast Red Fire selvage denim jeans regular straight fit
Bravestar 18oz Ironside Samurai Japan selvedge denim jacket.
The jacket probably has 20ish wears. Hasn't been washed yet, but I did get caught in a rain storm while wearing it.
The jeans have about 10 wears, soaked in the tub.
Both have been in the dryer on no heat and with wool dryer balls to soften them up a bit. Didn't really work.
I'm curious about getting a hammock set up for my next backpacking trip. I'm trying to keep my base weight around 15 lbs, which is where it currently sits. Any suggestions?
From what I understand, the main parts of the hammock setup are:
Is this about right? Could I possibly use one of my ZenBivy quilts as a top quilt? What about size? My current setup packs down fairly small, and since I'm using a trekking pole tent (Zpack Duplex Pro), I don't have any extra poles, and all other pitch and guy lines are already attached to the tent.
TIA
For late July, in WPA, low 70s, nice breeze and ND1s.
I wanted to see how well my laser machine could make stitching holes. I've used it to make round holes, but never any other kinds. So I quickly made a test piece in LethercraftCAD, exported it as an SVG into xTool Studio, and ran the program. I am surprised by the results. The diamond and French ones look pretty good.
One thing to note is that I used 3 different threads, because that's just what I had lying around. I might go back and make another one with the same thread.
I used .6mm Ritza thread on the top 3, some very cheap flat thread on the fourth and ninth, and some round thread of 5-8.
Also, ignore the scorching that happened when the laser cut some of the holes. I didn't do any test pieces, and I just guessed on the power and speed settings. Also, I don't believe the air assist was on either.
If I had to pick, I think the 5mm Diamond and 4mm French are probably my favorites, which is a bit surprising considering the French irons that I own are 3.85, and 3.38.
Why do my Ridgelines have black leather removable insoles?
Why is the lasting board black as opposed to the natural leather color of my other pairs?
Why aren't my ND1s stitched through to the outsole like my MTOs?
For those of you who are unaware, one of Jon's sons, Caleb runs a wilderness guide business in Wexford (north of Pittsburgh), and we're acquaintances. Caleb was hosting an event for wilderness first-aid class, and asked if I'd like to attend. I agreed, and they day of the event came, but I had to go to my parents' house for some reason. I was speaking with my dad, and said that I was going to this event run by Jon Kolb's son. At this point, my dad started telling me this story about his interaction with him and the Steelers in the 1970's.
So according to my father, there was a large gym in Greentree, and the Steelers used to work out there, and so did my dad. They also had an arm wrestling table. He said that Jon beat every other Steeler in arm wrestling, so my dad challenged and beat him. Interesting, but without any real verification, it was just an interesting story.
So later that day, and after the class with Caleb, I introduced myself to Jon, and retold the story my dad told me.
This is what Jon told me; In the 70's along with being a lineman in the NFL, he was also a strongman. The NFL was also hosting a strongman and arm wrestling competition in Vegas and was inviting a few players from each team to compete. Since Jon was already a competing strongman, he threw his hat into the ring to represent the Steelers. In his training for the arm wrestling competition, he starting finding teammates to compete against, but none really could challenge him. So seeing my dad in the gym, and seeing him arm wrestle other guys there, Jon challenged him, and my dad nearly broke his arm. After that, he stopped arm wrestling and completely declined the invite to the NFL event.
We laughed about it, and we ended up talking about other stuff.
It was just weird how it lined up, and the coincidence of my hearing the story from my dad and meeting Jon on the same day.
I just took some random pictures. The third one is glazing (I think that's the proper term), the one harness side I bought. They just started the July shutdown, so a lot of stuff wasn't running, like the tanning vats were empty.
Since I got rained out at the campfire, I figured I'd work on my 5" kilties. I had some scrap natural veg laying around, so finalized the design and off to the laser machine they went.
I can't post a video and images, so I'll post them with the boots as a reply
I had a design that I liked but I had on card stock which I created by hand a few years ago. I usually replace my stock kilties with my own, but didn't have a digital design.
So I had some free time this evening and decided to make it digital. The first longer one just happened to be a happy accident, and it fit my 8" boots, but since the majority of my boots are 6", I had to modify it to make it a bit smaller. I think the results turned out really well.
Ignore the leather color. I had some 3/4 oz Sao Paulo veg scrap laying around so I just used that as a test, but I think they look pretty good.
Budget: I'd like to spend under $1000
Country: USA
Condition: Don't care. I was looking at a refurbished camera, but the price wasn't much different than new
Type of Camera: Mirrorless
Intended use: Photos/videos
End use: Product images for website/social media
If photography: I don't know. Portrait probably
If video what style: youtube
What features do you absolutely need: I don't know
What features would be nice to have: see above
Portability: I'd like to be able to transport it from my house to my store and back
Cameras you're considering: Google recommended the Canon EOS R50
Cameras you already have: I have a cell phone
Notes: (any other considerations you think we should know about): After talking with google, I sort of landed on the Canon EOS R50 with a 2 lens (Canon RF 50mm f/1.8, and Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3). I found the lens used on eBay, so I figured that might save a few bucks. I know next to nothing about cameras and lens and such, so I'm hoping to get some sage advice.
These were supposed to come on Tuesday, but they showed up today! u/smowe said the color would be subtle, and all o have to compare it too is the 64 brown on my ND1s, but according to him, it's has a slight sheen or is a bit more glossy, and I tend to agree. The comparison photos probably doesn't really help, it's there. As a kiltie enjoyer, they look ridiculous as these are only 5" and the kilties are 6", so I'll probably just cut my own, to match the size. Also, as a leather lace enthusiast, I like them, but since these are going to be my hiking boots, I'm going to swap them out for some paracord laces. Overall first impressions are great, but once I put some trail miles on them, I'll get a better feel.
Never really got an official confirmation, but regardless, I'm pretty excited for my Ridgelines.
Quick action shot of the ND1s on a 3 miler this morning.
