RV Battery Management, Simplified (aka How-To Camp w/o a Generator)

After 10 years of RV’ing, I have noticed that two of the biggest mistakes campers often make is overloading their tow vehicle and not understanding how 12-volt deep cycle battery power management works. Most manufacturers and dealers either add to the confusion through their own ignorance or even outright lie just to make a sale. So here it is, a very simple way to make your battery last…

KM Best Practices: April 19th, 2022 (Event #3)

In this recording of the April 19th KM Best Practices group meeting, you can hear from:

  • Laurel Poertner, Director of Knowledge Services at F5 and former KM leader at Coveo, Irrevo, Aptean, and Knova.
  • Libby Healy, Knowledge Manager at Waters Corporation and former KM leader at Tyler Technologies and Athenahealth.
  • John Ragsdale, Distinguished Researcher and VP of Technology Ecosystems at the Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) and former Forrester analyst as well as former KM/CRM leader at Clarify, Nortel, and Answer Systems.

…share the knowledge management best practices that they have observed, created, and enacted that helped them mitigate the unique challenges presented by Covid-19, including the sudden shift to a remote workforce and the resulting effects of the “great resignation.”

KM Best Practices: Jan 19th Event

In this recording of the January 19th KM Best Practices group meeting, you can hear Jeff Harling, Head of Global Self-Service at Zoom, Monique Cadena, Knowledge & Collaboration Leader at Akamai, and Christina Roosen, Sr. Community Program Manager at Akamai share their combined experience of 50+ years in knowledge management across other companies like Avaya, Comcast, Ring Central, Aspect Software, Zendesk, Quest Software, and Dell, including awards such as “KCS Innovator” and “JD Power & Associates Customer Excellence.”

KM Best Practices: Oct 8th Kickoff Event

Join leaders from Microsoft and NetApp to discuss a variety of best practices around knowledge management and customer support in this special web event facilitated by David Kay and Scott Bideau, both seasoned Knowledge-Centered Service (KCS) and KM experts.

My Inflatable Standup Paddleboard (iSUP) Setup for Fly Fishing

My first attempt at fly fishing from a standup paddleboard was essentially a mitigated disaster while trying to deal with wind, too much clutter on the boat deck, and fish that were easily spooked. I have since learned to actually catch fish from the inflatable SUP but recently spent a lot of effort trying to streamline everything to become more stealthy for sight fishing. I’m pretty happy with the results, which I have documented in this post.

Why I Prefer the Big Agnes Copper Spur Over the Tiger Wall

Big Agnes Tiger Wall (left) vs Copper Spur (right)

As a former Steamboat Springs local, I’m a bit biased toward the hometown team of Big Agnes. Having already used their Fly Creek and Copper Spur tents, I was excited to try the blended design of the new Tiger Wall series. But after a couple of test runs, I decided to forego the weight savings and stick with the Copper Spur. Here are 9 reasons why…

Freeze-Dried Meals For People With Food Sensitivities and Allergies

I know firsthand how challenging it is to deal with food sensitivities and allergies, especially in the backcountry. So after researching what pre-packaged, freeze-dried meals were compatible with my various medical restrictions, I built a comprehensive chart for the more commonly sold meal packets. Each product listed indicates the presence of major food allergens at the time that this post was published, including dairy (D), egg (E), nuts (N), seafood/fish (F), soy (S), and wheat (W), while also indicating lower/medium/high levels of FODMAP ingredients and the existence of meat. Each product then links to the manufacturer’s website where the exact ingredients should be verified before ordering while also verifying the physical labels before consuming.

Kayaking & Camping On the Black Canyon Water Trail

My campsite along the Colorado River just south of Hoover Dam

The Black Canyon Water Trail is a 30-mile section of tailwater that extends out of Lake Mead from the Hoover Dam. This rugged and remote portion of the Colorado River offers clear water, sandy beaches, towering cliffs, colorful caves, and active hot springs, all in the middle of the Nevada and Arizona desert.

My Backpacking Gear

Backpacking the Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico

I started backpacking in high school with an external frame pack, a 4-pound sleeping bag thrown on top of a heavy foam pad, a tent that would drip condensation on my face nearly every night, and a wardrobe that oftentimes included a cotton shirt tucked into my denim jeans. The Eagle badge on my Boy Scout uniform is living proof that you don’t have to be perfectly equipped with the latest and most expensive ultralight gear in order to “be prepared” and enjoy your trip! But flash forward three decades and my aging body certainly appreciates the innovations that modern chemistry has done for my current backpacking gear.

My First Bikepacking Trip

Early spring bikepacking campsite in Arizona

I like biking, camping, and backpacking, so I was sure to enjoy bikepacking. But I didn’t really know much about it or have any specific gear when I decided to give things a try. And thus began a couple weeks of research, several UPS shipments of bags, and one beta test run close to the house before my 11-year old son and I set out with our Aussie on a 2-night bikepacking trip! Our motto was “no owies, no flatties, and no whammies!” That all held true, for the most part, and we had an awesome adventure that has already spurred a few more trips with even more scheduled for the future.

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