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The magnet setup is definitely better than the classic toggle. I wish all of my toggles were magnet-based. The 1.3mm line should be fine. I do end up having to replace 1 or 2 of my guy lines per year due to the lines getting cut up from attaching to sharp rocks in the Sierra. Ive never had one actually fail in the field, but a few have been visually looking pretty close to failure. I'd imagine that the 1.3mm line is just not going to last as long before needing replacement. But if you rarely attach to sharp rocks then its not really a concern. Or if you carry 1.3mm line for a clothes-line like me, then you could just swap a line in the field if that ever happened. :) Happy trails. Thanks for watching!

I created a spreadsheet where I captured all the parts cost and then took an hourly rate and multiolied it by how many hours I spent. I sent that file to them as my evidence. You can also get your DIY build appraised. The first option was much easier to get done quickly and get covered for my investment cost.

That is a Zpacks Rain Kilt. Its a great multifunction piece of gear. I do not carry rain pants because they are a hassle and make me sweat/wet out from inside. The kilt is much easier to take on and off quickly without even removint my pack! It also doubles as a ground sheet for standing or sitting on as well as a pack cover, small tarp, etc. Highly recommended! When i bought it they offered 2 sizes. I got the bigger option because it is geometrically rectangular which is more useful.

12 ticks is A LOT! Yikes! I have been using permethryn spray on all my clothes since this and havent seen any ticks. I would have serious anxiety if I had 12 on me! Wow! Thx for watching

Awesome! Thx for watching 🫡🙂

I have always preferred the zip pocket vs mesh to keep the contents of that back pocket protected. Also nothing can fall out. The zip pocket is not perfectly waterproof but does give protection from elements.

Thx for watching! I think it would be a tight fit with the addition of the dog. Id want a Portal 3 for that.

That is awesome! I continue to use this as well. Most recently I camped 3 nights at Brooks Camp in Katmai in July during peak bear watching season using reservations obtained via this method. :)

Appreciate that!

Thank you! :D

Heck yea! It is an incredible experience! 🤩🏞️

For me the loss of length isnt an issue. The Windsaber is definitely more bomber with the addition of the extra cross pole, smaller vestibules and slightly more aerodynamic shape. That extra cross pole really gives you more interior space which you can sit up in and not be touching the ceiling. For me that added "usable" interior space more than makes up for any loss of length. The doors on the Windsaber you have the option of opening for full mesh. For times when you want airflow, the windsaber has more mesh for better airflow. There are only a few situations where I would reach for the Crossbow instead of the Windsaber. If I didnt already own the Crossbow when the Windsaber came out I woulda just went straight with the Windsaber. A key selling point of the Crossbow is the flexibility to swap out the full wall body with a mess inner body. If you want to have a single system for all weather / all seasons then the Crossbow plus the mesh inner could be that. I just did 8 days backpacking in the arctic circle this summer and these tents would be overkill for what I experienced in Gates of the Arctic. The Crossbow with the mesh inner body would be the best fit for arctic summer. Otherwise you run the risk of overheating regularly. Especially if there is low wind and your tent is not in a shaded area. You will want the added airflow. If you have your heart set on a single tent setup then the Windsaber would be a better choice due to better airflow. It also will fit in more places easier with a slightly smaller pitch footprint with the vestibules staked out. Hope this helps! thanks for watching

Thanks for watching! Maybe I will see you around Nisene! 👋

@@MountainsCallingMe I'm going to do the 15 mile version of the West Ridge Loop on Monday, the 12th.

Have fun! Thanks for watching.

Dealing with the DMV is somehow always a pain! Thanks for watching 🫡

Awesome! It works!! ✅️✅️✅️ thx for watching 🫡

For this video I was using an Oben CTT-1000 tripod in the side pocket of my backpack. The insta360 selfie stick was extended off of that through some lines which crisscross along the side of the pack and a carabiner attacked to the pole as well. This works pretty well. The tripod is light, but heavy enough to provide enough weight to keep it firmly held to the pack. Thanks for watching!

There are a lot of great ones. There are also a few not great ones. For me it is an easy choice. My #1 is Yosemite!

Awesome! Have fun on the JMT! I used this tent on my 2017 NOBO

@@MountainsCallingMe I'm SOBO from Lyell Canyon. I take my Duplex on every trip and these mods are a welcome upgrade. Keep up the good work!!

Awesome! It saves my life too! I am at Brooks Camp in Katmai and snagged 3 nts at the campground using this!

Many many thanks

Yes! I love those parts of this video!

I think so too! Remember when I brought it home? Or before that when I said I wanted to get a van and travel around to all the national parks! Follow your dream!

Lol. Its not scarry after the 5th or so time. Its more of a physical challenge than a mental one now.

Thanks! I have been using it alot during my 2 month Alaska National Park adventure! In addition to video, it also takes great photos on the 10ft stick that look like drone shots! Thanks for watching! 🫡

YES! It was amazing!! I just managed to get my pix and videos posted after sorting thru 1,200 I took during the trip. I also posted a "play by play" of the 8 days in the same post. Check it out on my public facebook page! 👉 facebook.com/share/p/PZNNYPQ1TMSjAScf/?mibextid=qi2Omg

YES! I'm not sure if you would like it or not... Zero trails. Slogging through poor footing and spongy tundra. Wet feet 100% of the time! Hiking in the rain. Setting up and taking down camp in the rain. Eating in the rain. Going number 2 in the rain! And....the....WIND. Soo many places to explore, but I am already thinking about how great it would be to go back for 11 days and explore more of the higher elevation valleys. It is an incredible place and I only explored ~65miles of the 12,000+ square miles!! Gates of the Arctic!!!! 💙🏞️

@@MountainsCallingMe can’t wait for the video footage! I think I would like to be where it is more dry! Lol

You're welcome! Thanks for watching 🫡

LOL. Pretty much! 😃 thanks for watching 🫡

The floor dimensions are 85" x 51" (head) / 42" (foot) (216cm x 129cm / 107cm). The head-end is slightly wider than the foot end. It is not a rectangle, more of a trapezoid... Two "wide" sized inflatable sleeping pads will fit! Thanks for watching! 🫡

Thanks for watching! 🫡

For this I was using a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 mounted on a full size tripod. The Osmo Pocket has a 1" PTZ lens and a face tracking feature. It works great! The picture quality is better than what my phone gets and it automatically pairs with the wireless mic I was wearing. I would love to take that into the backcountry but it seems a little fragile. When I go to Lake Clark + Katmai I am gonna for sure bring the Insta360 Flow smartphone stablizer so I can get good video of the bears at Brooks Camp! 🐻 😃

Man, you really have ALL the tech toys. I’d be lost with all that gadgetry! Lol. It really is amazing that you’re able to juggle the demands of traveling & backpacking all while working and still managing to put out quality content.

Thanks!!

Thanks Sam! I would like that! I will be busy with this trip and then wisconsin n back after, but I am open October and beyond! 🤩 🚐 🏞️

I got the gen 2 in august 2022 before my CA to Maine and back roadie. It was worked well so far. Knowing that I would need to rely on Starlink more heavily on this trip and my worry that might not perform or stop working during some critical juncture lead me to get the gen 3 and get it mounted up there within the weeks leading up to this trip. I have a roadie to Wisconsin after this trip which I will keep both active for, but after that I will be pausing the service on the gen 2 - while leaving it in place for future use and the ability to reactivate service. It is definitely expensive to keep both active every month in perpetuity. My wife and I also talk about moving into the van fulltime and if we did that I'd probably just keep both active all the time. My bandwidth needs are HIGH! :D I dont keep them both powered on all the time - because in areas with cellular my setup usually is fast enough and consumes way less power. The gen 3 does perform better with slightly more field of view and more power it gets better upload speed. Driving through Canada there were some places where the single gen 2 starlink would be "flaky" (because of satellites moving or whatever) so I turn on the gen 3 and the router bonds those together to keep my zoom sessions from dropping. And other times where I am doing large 19GB uploads I turn both on. It all depends on the location and situation of what I am doing at the moment. Thanks for the question and for watching! 🙏

Great!! I used it most recently to obtain 3 consecutive nights at the Brooks Camp campground in Katamai in mid-July, peak bear watching season! It has a lottery which I missed and so I used this and got my 3 nites via 3 seperate notifications in early may! Enjoy Yosemite! Its my favorite national park! 💙🏞

@@MountainsCallingMe Thank you so much, I can't wait! We're also going to Kings Canyon and Sequoia

Awesome! Thanks for watching! 🫡😃

Some people do that. I believe that is unsafe. The only thing holding it into the post is a chinsy metal clip. Since I made this vid in Feb 2023, in June 23 I cut the back off the starlink and mounted it flat within the Starmount enclosure. I also added a 2nd gen3 starlink and flat mounted it too. I have 2 flat mounted starlinks! I am currently in the Yukon Territory and its working great up here. I am on my way to Alaska and will be posting an updated van tour with all my changes I have made to the van in the last 1.5yrs. Thanks for watching! 😃

Glad it was helpful! I went to Iceland in 2019 and used a different tent. (Big Agnes Copper Spur Expedition). The stories of wind are true. The Portal 2 will stand up well in the winds! Take a peak at my channel at "the guyline video" for additional tips on how I rig my guylines on the Portal 2. Happy trails ⛺️ 🫡

Cool. Thanks for watching! 🫡

Cool! Yes, I posted pix from this trip on Yosemite Trailz. Thanks for watching! 😃 🫡

@alyssaborowski thanks for watching! 🥶🤠

Thanks, will do!

Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it 😀

It was. I only had cold feelings in my hands a few times when they were wet. Making hot coffee and holding the nalgene in my hands really helps!