Oof! It’s squats, not squares. That’s what I get for not proof reading my posts.

I love this idea! Tie it into your existing routine! I decided a year ago to stand on one leg while brushing my teeth. Started as a teeter-totter, now I just sway a bit. I change legs when I change quadrants & do each for 30 seconds.

Also, squares are great. I avoided them (and lunges) for 20+ years because of my knee. Then I worked with a trainer for about 8 months last year. She slowly got me working the knee and after a few months I realized I could do squats! My pampering the knee for decades did nothing for it while her slow but steady working on it has me pain free and able to hike for 5+ hours now.

I also found the book: Built from Broken: A Science-Based Guide to Healing Painful Joints, Preventing Injuries, and Rebuilding Your Body by Scott Hogan

Really helped me out.

Being active is so important to your health. Take where you’re at and just build on it. One thing I always tell myself is that things won’t get better if I don’t act on it. Yeah, I want to loose 10 lbs so I’ll start exercising and eating less. Tomorrow. Nope, it’s got to start now. And give yourself some grace. Changing habits is hard and you will backslide. Don’t beat yourself up, just awknowledge the slip and say you’ll try to do better.

**Ishmael by Daniel Quinn ** Not exactly about religion but a turning point for me.

Ishmael is a half ton silverback gorilla. He is a student of ecology, life, freedom, and the human condition. He is also a teacher. He teaches that which all humans need to learn — must learn — if our species, and the rest of life on Earth as we know it, is to survive.

The book opens with a deceptively ordinary personals ad: “Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world.” Seeking a direction for his life, a young man answers the ad and is startled to find that the teacher is a lowland gorilla named Ishmael, a creature uniquely placed to vision anew the human story.

He worked to build Home Depot and now Trump is using tariffs to pump & dump the stock market for his and his cronies gains. Business owners, who provide product, service or goods are not in on the pump & dump.

So now they are experiencing the leopard first hand.

This. The tariffs will be damaging but long term loss of confidence in the US will be worse.

I just saw the Resource for How to ask for a shakedown, sooooo.

Where are you going and when: Canyonlands National Park, 3 days kayaking thru Stillwater Canyon, 3 days hiking in the Maze.

What temp range and weather do you expect: temp can run from a low in the 30’s to highs in the 70’s

Goal Baseweight (BPW): it’s currently around 15 according to Lighterpack but I’m not sure what it should include.

Budget: up to $500

Non-negotiable Items: insulated thick air mattress (I’m a side sleeper), my high back chair, knee brace

Solo or with another person?: with a group of 6 people

Additional Information: I need to address my first aid kits. I’m mainly concerned about bone breaks & bleeding out.

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/w827c5

I’ve been working on my kit lately due to what I learned in a Wilderness First Aid course I took. Of course I have the usual Ibuprofen, Tylenol, bandaids, & blister bandages, etc. But one of my big fears is falling and getting a big gash/cut that’s bleeding out so I also added a splint, tourniquet, sling,& elastic bandage. I want to create enough time for SAR to get to me or a companion.

lol, I’m somewhere in the middle. Yes, I have hills I will die on.

I bought a Naturhike UL tent on Temu, set it up but haven’t camped in it yet. Just bought a similar Big Agnus tent (3/4 lb lighter) on clearance for $299 and am curious to set them up side by side. Anyway, the Naturehike tent looked fine and for $100 bucks & easier on the budget than most local options. And if it fails in a few years (which I think all UL tents do) then I can see what the latest tech is. Also bought a 30liter backpack on Temu, totally unbranded for $50 and am pleasantly surprised at its features. I could go do half a pound but loose the internal frame which is a no-go for me.

FYI, if your searching Temu, click on the ‘Filter’ drop down, scroll to the bottom to select ‘Local’ for items that will ship from a local warehouse if your concerned with tariffs kicking in.