@DaleTrexel@mountains.social
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

DaleTrexel

@DaleTrexel@mountains.social

Minnesotan who enjoys skijoring with my huskies, plus hiking and cycling during the snow-free months. Previously https://theskimonster.social/@DaleTrexel

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jerzone, to running
@jerzone@techhub.social avatar

Something totally different on this morning's solo trail run: I didn't stop to take any photos! The few I took were while running. Also, comparing watch vs. phone recording times, see if you can guess which is which (answer in ALT).

The phone’s times, it’s using the Strava app set on trailrun. More details in the other Splits photo ALT
broody skies made it look like imminent rain, the trees are glowing green in that diffuse light

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@jerzone Looks plenty fast to me! Also looks like a great place to turn an ankle if you're not careful.

Maybe try wide angle next time?

DaleTrexel, to random
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

A lot of fitness apps seem to have given up on their own APIs and told users to just connect through Google Fit's API.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/05/google-fit-apis-get-shut-down-in-2025-might-break-fitness-devices/

Now what?

Time for an open fitness data aggregation/API service? Federated? I have no idea how it might work.

DaleTrexel, to Huskies
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

Chilly day for some canicross/trail running with Zeena and Tonttu at Frontenac State Park on the bluffs overlooking Lake Pepin, a widening of the Mississippi River (and one of two claimed birthplaces of water skiing!).

I run them on separate leads instead of a single split lead to give them more freedom and independence, which is fine on the wide prairie trails, but creates some challenges on narrow, bluffside forest trails!

We're still working on our "haw" and "gee".

Two huskies, Zeena and Tonttu, lead the photographer, Dale down a packed dirt trail on a hillside that slopes down steeply to a wide body of water far below on the left. They approach a tree in the middle of the trail, and initially each dog goes down opposite sides, then upon correction switch to each go on the opposite side of the original! Eventually they both go around on the left, or "Haw" and then continue on down the trail with more coordination. Audio: "Tonttu haw! Tonttu haw! Or... Fine, Zeena also haw. All right, this way. Now straight. Zeena, straight!" There is running in silence for a bit, then "Good boy! Good haw and around" as Tonttu chooses to go left around a tree, with Zeena, who also gets praise, "Good Zeena!" And one final "Tonttu haw. Good boy!" as he once again chooses the left side of a tree with Zeena.

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

Not every tree was passed so successfully as in the video...

DaleTrexel, to random
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

Today I learned about solar cycling, and I have to admit that I'm now kind of obsessed with it! So many wonderfully creative ways to add solar power to a bike!

Thanks to @jds & @xChaos for making me aware of this!

https://www.thesuntrip.com

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

So many fascinating DIY solutions to the task of adding solar panels to an electric bicycle!

https://www.thesuntrip.com/les-velos-solaires-les-plus-incroyables/

A man in cycling gear rides an electrified cargo bike with a large storage area out front, above which are two horizontal solar panels. There is a third solar panel out over the rear wheel. They're riding across the scene fast enough to blur a wall of green forest.
A man who clearly has a lot of upper body strength by the size of his shoulders and arms rides an electrified hand-powered tricycle. He's enclosed in a boxy wagon-like canopy of solar panels above and hanging vertically down the sides.
A man rides an electrified recumbent tricycle with a bulbous fairing on the nose, and pulling a tear-drop shaped trailer that presumably holds his solar panels, and looks to be used as a sleeping compartment as well. He's riding through a mountainous region with bright sun overhead.

DaleTrexel, to Huskies
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

New running footwear! Appropriate for canicross.

While Darn Tough claims these are Ladies' size large, they fit me just fine, and the feet are even longer than the Men's size large running socks that I got at the same time.

I may have to get an extra pair or two as these might get worn out quickly!

johncarlosbaez, (edited ) to random
@johncarlosbaez@mathstodon.xyz avatar

The CEO of Exxon just said "we've waited too long" to tackle climate change. He blames "society" and "activists".

Yes, Exxon. Yes, Exxon. Yes, Exxon: the corporation that for decades has been spending millions to slow progress on climate change, despite its own research showing the problem was urgent.

He said:

"We've waited too long to open the aperture on the solution sets in terms of what we need, as a society, to start reducing emissions.... Frankly, society, and the activist — the dominant voice in this discussion — has tried to exclude the industry that has the most capacity and the highest potential for helping with some of the technologies."

What is this — some sort of dark, twisted joke?

The interview is here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20240228015207/https://fortune.com/2024/02/27/exxon-ceo-darren-woods-interview-pay-the-price-for-net-zero/

https://www.salon.com/2024/02/29/exxon-ceo-to-world-climate-isnt-our-fault-now-pay-the-price/

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@NatureMC @johncarlosbaez At first I thought you were referring to that town in Switzerland where the ultra-rich get together to strategize this sort of thing. But that's DAVOS. Ultimately not that much difference?

DaleTrexel, to random
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

After many years of collecting our husky's shed fur with the intention of spinning it into yarn "some day", I've finally gotten started! I'm watching videos and reading blogs to figure things out.

There's plenty of examples of "I was stuck at home during COVID lockdown and decided to pick up spinning with my spare time."

But I just came across this gem from ancient history: "My journey in handspinning began in 1998. ... I chose this medium because ... it was Y2K compliant."

https://joyofhandspinning.com/how-i-started-handspinning/

derekvanvliet, to cycling
@derekvanvliet@mastodon.social avatar

riding bikes every day until I can’t for some reason, day 1158

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@derekvanvliet I particularly like this image! The curve of the trunks makes it look like you're using an ultra-wide angle lens.

bryanhansel, to Minnesota
@bryanhansel@mstdn.social avatar

I just noticed a new McMansion being built on the hill behind Grand Marais. It's the beginning of the end of the illusion that Grand Marais was surrounded by untouched wilderness. Where there's one new McMansion, there will be more, like a blight upon the landscape.

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel "Sealioning" comes from this comic and is used to describe someone who invites themselves into a conversation for "debate": https://wondermark.com/c/1k62/

It's used improperly here because you were the origin of the conversation in the first place. You're not some outsider jumping in looking for attention.

bryanhansel, to cycling
@bryanhansel@mstdn.social avatar

Hiding from rain under my tarp on this last day of my 1,000km bikepacking trip. It's still an hour and a half until sunrise, but I need to motivate to get out in the rain and pack up my gear. Worse weather is heading this way this afternoon.

It seems crazy that I have cell service while camping on the Superior National Forest, but I do

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel I'm curious which was harder: the cold wet rainy morning today, or the much colder freeze the previous morning?

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel We're staying in a three-season cabin with uninsulated floors and just getting out of bed two days ago was a challenge. I salute you for spending the night on the trail!

Ultimately we had a lot less rain up here (Devil Track Lake) than had been forecast for today.

bryanhansel, to cycling
@bryanhansel@mstdn.social avatar

Today's ride involved the best that Cook County has to offer on a gravel ride. Good gravel, bad gravel, gravel the size of your fist, jeep trails, 21° climbs and 16° descents, ATV trails, hike-a-bike, overlooks, lakes, rivers, freshly brushed roads, sketchy roads and confusing intersections.

It is the perfect example of Cook County biking fun. I don't think I've ridden any route in Cook County that compares.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44253906

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Hey! That ride looks familiar.

I'm quite curious where on that route the photo comes from.

We may be back up in the area in October, with bikes! (Not sure we want to tackle that particular segment.)

bryanhansel, to Minnesota
@bryanhansel@mstdn.social avatar

After more than 50 years, iconic Minneapolis outdoor retailer Midwest Mountaineering will close

https://m.startribune.com/after-50-years-iconic-midwest-mountaineering-outdoor-retailer-close-minneapolis-rei-scheels-dicks/600300855/

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Truly sad about this! They were inconvenient to get to, but well worth the visit once there!

bryanhansel, to cycling
@bryanhansel@mstdn.social avatar

Today's gravel ride (with about 8 miles of two track jeep trail) was a fun one!

Here's the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44237291

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Nice! Last weekend we explored the roads south of Greenwood Lake (by car), thinking we might make a connection with 61 somewhere east of Judge CR Magney SP, but conditions got too dodgy for our vehicle and remaining daylight, so we ended up back-tracking out the way we came.

Seems like it might be a fun place to revisit if we're back in the area with bikes instead of dogs.

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Awesome! Thanks for sharing that track.

We looked at Power Lake Rd., but Firebox Rd. was in much better condition, at least initially. However, Firebox also got pretty dodgy after a bit. Also, Open Street Maps and Google Maps seemed to disagree about whether it actually connected back to the Gunflint around the Brule River, so we turned around and headed back to Greenwood Lake Road.

Good to know you can at least travel Firebox by bike!

bryanhansel, to random
@bryanhansel@mstdn.social avatar

The type of vehicle we saw on the Gitchi-Gami State Bike Trail last weekend was the Super 73. They are rentals.

I'm not sure what model they rent, but several go above the 28mph Class 3 limit in Minnesota. Some violate the motor size law.

Review: "Without a doubt, the Super73 R Series Brooklyn is the worst bicycle I've ever ridden. It's too small for many adults, it forces you into an awful riding position, it's unconscionably heavy..." https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/06/the-super73-r-series-e-bike-is-expensive-heavy-and-extremely-fun/

Photo: https://cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/947972/fill/700x0/Electric_Trails_0675.jpg?timestamp=1662659087

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel The weight distribution on that seems to be intentionally as awkward as possible.

bryanhansel, to cycling
@bryanhansel@mstdn.social avatar

Today I rode and hiked the Minnesota Low-High-Low Challenge. That's starting in the Grand Marais harbor (dipping the bike's wheel in Lake Superior), riding to the Eagle Mountain parking lot, and then hiking to the top of Eagle Mountain. After summiting, the route returns to the harbor.

I've wanted to do this for years. It was so fun! I can't believe that I've lived near this route for 20 years and only now did it.

I love payoff season!

Also, I love my new bike!

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Awesome! I'd love to see a graph of altitude change along the route.

How technical is the trail up to Eagle Mountain? We're up at Devils Track Lake for a few days with the huskies, and we're looking for hikes our oldest can still manage. (Lots of boulder/stump hopping & steep scrambling climbs would be a bit much.)

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Thanks for the trail report! Ironically, we were already out of data range so we missed it when we decided to hike the trail anyway. We'd heard it was a popular route, so opted to do it today instead of the coming weekend.

We didn't count on a thunderstorm! (The radar was clear when we left wifi at the cabin.) We were part way up Eagle mountain when the skies started to rumble and we got enough data signal to get some radar.

Very wet hike. About the limit for Gypsy, but she managed the whole way on her own power and even leaped into the car at the end without assistance.

Screenshot of weather radar app on a phone showing two big blobs of heavy rain over the app owner's location and Grand Marais down on the shore of Lake Superior. Other thunderstorms are visible in little clumps up in Canada and down towards Duluth.

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Looks like you got in a couple of good steep climbs on the bike before the last bit up the mountain at the end.

Would be interesting to plug the GPS track into Rouvy and see what the resulting route rode like.

DaleTrexel,
@DaleTrexel@mountains.social avatar

@bryanhansel Rouvy is a virtual cycling app like Zwift, only you can upload your own routes and videos to share trips with others on their smart trainers. https://rouvy.com

Looking at their website, it seems they're downplaying the DIY route-making capabilities, which is too bad. You could (maybe still can) plug in a route and it will simulate the gradient along the way. Your route has some tough looking climbs, not counting the final bit up Eagle Mountain.

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