[Schenk]

[DIYSteve]

[markweth]

I think that learning how to argue with others about hiking ethics and etiquette on the internet is a skill that has gone unremarked upon and is exceedingly important for new hikers to learn.

[RumiDude]

[Schenk]

I am not a super experienced Scotch drinker, meaning I haven't had a wide variety of the rare and high-dollar brands and batches. I have found one Islay distillery that I really like: Bowmore. The 12 and 18 are both real good...never tried the 26 year. $$$ They have a 10 year too, and it is quite pleasant, to me anyway! Och Aye Laddie! And, to keep thread drift down a bit: if you are in the mountains, finding some good water for your Scotch is an important skill! But, as has been pointed out, you cannot "distill" the quiver of skills needed to travel happily in the mountains down to a single most important skill. BTW...how do you pronounce "Islay" if you're Scotch? iss-lay, or eye-lay? I have been corrected using both pronunciations, so maybe it is I-slay as in "I slayed that bottle of Scotch"

[Blue Dome]

The most important things to teach a beginner? Show you care about the well-being of other people by doing this: 1. Before you leave, tell someone where you’re going, the route you’ll use to get there, and when you expect to be home. Also give them the phone number of your local authorities to call if you’re overdue. 2. Bring and know how to use the ten essentials. (Don’t just bring a map and compass, truly know how to use them.) That will lower the chance you’ll need to be rescued, and if it should come to that, lower the chance that someone will be injured or killed trying to rescue you.

[Brian Curtis]

Thanks Blue Dome. That gets my vote for best and most productive post in this thread.

[Kim Brown]

[jimmymac]

Good scotch and a good cabin fever thread. Spring cannot be far off.

[markh752]

My go to is Pendleton or Crown if I want to carry the extra weight. I've hauled up a bottle or two of Snoqualmie Falls IPA.

[jinx'sboy]

[DIYSteve]

The Scotch say EYE-lay

[ale_capone]

Jura 7 wood is whisky of the month at total wine and more. While not an islay whisky, they get their malted barley from them, so it has some smoky peat notes. They also use longer neck stills so they get a lighter smoother product. I prefer my peat smoke dialed to 11+. I also prefer to drink my scotch once it's opened, not keep it stored in bottles. Nothing worse then letting good whisky go bad by sitting around for a year half full.. if you must, immediately transfer it to a smaller vessel, or get one of those co2 things that people who can't Finnish a whole bottle of wine use. Has any had the pleated single malt from Finland? Can't wait to taste the west land made with Washington peat. They need to keep the barrels in Westport though.

[ale_capone]

[DIYSteve]

If there's peat in Jura, I can't taste it. To my palate, Jura tastes like a wimpy Highland single malt. Fine if that's your thing, I suppose.