Hello friends!

Im creating a monthly email and posting it on my blog here. I'd guess we like similar things and I am stoked to share my quirky and rad finds. I'm calling it "Stokeness" because that's what I hope to create for you. Sign up for the email HERE and let me know what you think!

Be stoked,

Isaac

New Places

Last month Alex Strohl, Myself and some friends threw a leg over our bikes and rode Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. The road doesn't open to vehicles until plow crews remove the snow and place the guardrails, so it's a rare opportunity to explore this area with no crowds.

We started at the Lake McDonald Lodge and road about 28 miles round trip. I know, this seems like a long way to some of you. Luckily they have opened the road 6 miles closer to the pass so that will save you 12 miles.

The road usually opens in early June, but this year the snows were deeper than they have been in years. Late June opening is expected. If you are coming through Montana, rent a road bike ($35 dollars for the day in Whitefish) and get your own private tour of the Crown of the Continent.

Google Maps Pin

Gear

I've been loving my The Orginal Nomad hot tub. It's collapsible and fits in a large duffel bag. I bring it everywhere. It takes about 3 hrs to warm up, is propane or wood fired, and costs around $1,000. That's about $4k less than your parents deck restrained soaker.

The only downside I have found is that when I set it up on the ice in 10 degree F weather it took about 6.5 hrs to heat up. I know, on the ice? I wanted to jump into a hole I cut in the ice and then back in the tub. It worked brilliantly, but damn it took forever.

Full Disclosure: The company sent me this hot tub but this is not a paid endorsement.

You can see more here

Who I'm loving on Instagram

@kirbyjenner

My brother in law asked if I had seen "The guy who photoshops himself into the Kardashian photos"?

That would normally be a "heeelll nooo". I don't do pop news especially when it is about those folks, but he assured me it was funny to the point of tears.

@kirbyjenner is now one of the funniest accounts I follow. Its good to change it up from beautiful photos every once in a while and this dude has a weird/funny niche. I especially love the Kanye airplane video.

Music I'm Diggin'

Recently I've gotten into Head Bob music, ala Casey Niestat vlog music.

I find it super positive and about the best thing to listen to when I'm working on my laptop trying to get a task done when I'd rather be outside. Like right now, I'm listening to this playlist called appropriately "Headbob" on my sweet Grado headphones.

Give it a spin.

Videos, Movies, and TV

I like watching YouTube and other internet based videos. I find them much shorter than TV which works better for my short attention span.

Recently though I have been watching The Patriot on Amazon prime. It's dark, funny, and the folk music is really good.

What is it about? Well, it's a spy tv show. Weird for sure, but my kinda weird. Full of recurring jokes and tense comedy moments. It's slow but attention grabbing.

Give it a watch

Reads

If you are a reader then you will love this section. If you are not a reader you are going to love this section too. I'll be sharing short reads, books, and audiobooks here (I know not reading). I think a lot of creativity and knowledge that creates richer experiences comes from reading good books.

A book I'm loving is Elephant Company by Vicki Croke. It is the true story of an English man who moves to Burma and becomes an elephant logger of Teak trees. When World War II happens he fights the Japanese using his elephants. Richly written and riveting, it will have you wanting to visit Burma (now Myanmar) and ride elephants tomorrow.

Give it a read or listen to the audiobook on your commute.

Photo Technique

Recently I took photos of the Northern Lights from my yard. I have some base setting I use to get started shooting stars and this is a tweak on those settings because the Northern Lights are much brighter. Give it a try with Northern Lights or a Moonlit night.

Use a Tripod
Set a 2-second delay shutter (to reduce vibrations)
Set to 2000 ISO
Set to wide open aperture
Set an 8-15 second exposure
Set focus to manual and adjust to infinite
I use live view

That's a good place to start, adjust shutter speed if needed.

Good luck!

I use a cheap tripod recommended to me by photographer Forrest Mankins. I've used it for over a year and it is rad for the $50 it costs. Check out the Dolica tripod.

Thanks for reading. A couple things I could use your help with:

Have something I should be covering? Reply to this email.
Watch my latest video and let me know what you think.

Be stoked and have a great month,

Isaac

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