Going Solar

After exhaustive research through articles and videos and countless "Youtube Testimonials", we finally decided upon a solar generator kit to get us started this year up the Mountain.

We were going to go all in on a Jackery 5000 Plus. 

Jackery 

We even had the kit in the cart. But one last go round with the candidates, and we thought it might be wiser to start smaller.

Finally, we decided on the Pecron E3000LFP with a full array of panels.

Pecron

Our ultimate rationale was that if it didn't work for the trailer or cabin, it would be more than sufficient for the pop-up. Then we could have working knowledge on how best to upgrade.

This way, we are wading in rather than diving in.

Too bad we couldn't go hydraulic!

Special thanks to the folks at The Solar Lab for all their expertise.

The Solar Lab

https://www.thesolarlab.com/

Pistol Pete

 Here's an article I came across from WyoHistory.org. <https://www.wyohistory.org>

"From Sparti and His Spear to Pete and His Pistol" by John Waggener. Published 25 January 2026

https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/sparti-and-his-spear-pete-and-his-pistol

Lots of interesting characters, as well as plenty of ties to other pieces of history for Wyoming and its University.

Pistol Pete the costumed mascot and a scanitly clad friend prepare for a University of Wyoming Cowboys' football home game in Laramie

January - 2026

 What a year January was!

Wishing everyone a safer and saner string of months through the rest of the calendar.

Merry Christmas - 2025

 

Extra Christmas Trees - before the wind!

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Forecast, Shmorecast!

Seems to me local weather forecasts have been "off" as of late, particularly since the federal shutdown. Reports have seemed more and more inaccurate, changing drastically, day to day, even hour to hour. Indeed, it has so seemed ever since this year's dreadful cuts to the government's scientific agencies charged with studying weather and climate.

For example, we were supposed to get hammered this holiday weekend. For crying out loud, people drove home early from the family's Thanksgiving gathering just to beat the impending storm.

Instead of a blizzard, we got a nice, normal blast of cold with an inch or so of snow--completely seasonal for this lat in November. Nothing nobody couldn't handle. And it is already melting away. 

This photograph came from Casper Mountain.

We honestly expected a whole, helluva lot more snow!

Seriously, check the forecast, then check the actual weather, then check the forecast again and see just how close it keeps.

Perhaps we'd have just as much luck checking the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Of course, it's set to close down as well.

Where and when will the weather have us then?

Ace

All night and all day, 

I keep seeing it spin, and I keep hearing play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIRMLBn8SpE

In For the Long Haul

 This is how I spent a whole lot of the Summer -- messing with this rig.

Picked it up right after work, the last day of school. Finally dragged it up the Mountain, squeezing it through a long bower of evergreens and then backing it right into a beautiful spot.

It's nice. We enjoy it. Still, I already miss the pop-up camper.