I’m trying out a new publishing platform that might replace this website. Looking to cut down on costs and the occasional headache (though I’ve gotta admit, I do have a soft spot for this place). Time will tell how it goes! For now, check out my posts over there. If I end up coming back,…

July 18th, 2024: It’s the wilderness that gets you… these little pockets of magic hiding in plain sight. Point Six might not be the tallest peak around Missoula, but there’s something about it that keeps pulling me back, especially in summer when the valley’s cooking like an oven. The mountain’s always got something new to…

It’s barely 6pm on June 18th, and the air is still thick with that summer heat… a blessed relief from the absolute inferno we’ve been dealing with down in the valley all day. Mo is behind me, struggling a bit on the access road, her water bottle already half-empty. I swear, I was born for…

Now… we sit. We stare out the window. We ponder the meaning of life, the unpredictability of the weather, and whether wearing three layers indoors is a sign of wisdom or just giving up. Maybe we lean into the madness… bundle up, step outside, and act like we actually enjoy the so-called “refreshing” air. Or…

The evening air bit with that familiar Montana chill, not quite spring despite what the calendar insisted. Missoula’s seasons have always played by their own rules… one day you’re scraping frost off your windshield, the next you’re scrambling for the AC. I pedaled up the Inez trail with stubborn determination, my mountain bike rolling over…

Planning a Montana camping adventure? Here’s a little money-saving tip I stumbled across recently (wish I’d known this years ago!) If you’re 12 or older, you’ll need a Conservation License to access most state lands in Montana, including their Fishing Access Sites (FAS). But here’s where it gets interesting… License Costs: The Money-Saving Part At…

Every year someone promises web development will finally get simpler… yet here we are, still waiting for the elusive “easy button.” But hold onto your coffee mugs, because AI-powered hosting platforms might just be the heroes we’ve been hoping for. Okay, maybe we’re not sipping margaritas just yet, but things are starting to look pretty…

Claude vs. ChatGPT Trying to decide between Claude AI and ChatGPT for your AI assistant needs? Here’s a straightforward comparison to help you choose the right tool: Key Differences Data Security & Privacy Claude AI provides robust privacy guarantees out of the box, while ChatGPT requires enterprise-level plans to achieve similar security standards. Context Window…

Who decides to mountain bike in Missoula during mud season? (Yep, me.) The trail looked like a chocolate milkshake. Local wisdom? Completely ignored. “It’ll be fine,” I muttered, settling onto my flat pedals. Spoiler: not fine. Melting snows turned the road into a river. Nothing like those crisp summer days at Pipestone, where the trail…

The room was dim, the weight of everything pressing in through the windows… the news, the noise, the relentless hum of a world that never seems to slow down. It had been like this for months. Since last summer. Since the upheaval. Since the job changed and the foundation of what I thought was solid…

My Deep Dive After going down a serious rabbit hole of search results (and way too much coffee), here’s what I’ve pieced together about ChatGPT’s data handling: Data Deletion Process Data Access Controls Internal Access Third-Party Sharing Enterprise vs. Consumer Differences Feature Free/Plus Tier Teams/Enterprise Tier Training Opt-Out Gotta manually change settings on EACH device…

The weekend started with that familiar feeling… we just had to get the hell out of town. Work had piled up, and we were desperate for escape. We’d planned on Lincoln, Montana, this little town we’d passed a dozen times but never explored. The park there allows camping in town… or so we thought. Winter…

Substack, WordPress, or Confluence? Selecting a publishing platform depends on your goals. This post compares Substack, WordPress, and Confluence based on features, customization, and content distribution. Substack: Newsletter-Focused Substack is for writers distributing email newsletters and web-based posts. It offers built-in subscriptions and a simple interface but has limited customization. WordPress: Versatile CMS Powering over…

Last night was meant to be routine, just another winter ride with Hendrix, my trusty mountain bike. I’d outfitted him with studded tires, those sharp little metal teeth designed to bite into ice and packed snow. Yesterday’s attempt at a “spring” adventure had left me soaked, so I figured winter biking was still the way…

The tires of my Toyota droned against the frozen pavement, a steady hum beneath the weight of a questionable decision. My bike swayed in the back, lashed down but not exactly secure… much like my reasoning for heading toward Blue Mountain in the dead of winter. Mountain biking in February wasn’t smart. The trails were…

The evening air is dense with moisture as I propel my gravel bike toward the Blue Mountain Recreation Area, eager to assess the extent of winter’s retreat. Snowmelt courses across the trails, each turn drenching me in cold, murky water. My mind churns with analytical questions: Do the conditions still necessitate studded tires, or can…