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Adam Roy

@adnroy.bsky.social
240 followers 343 following 1.2K posts

EIC of Backpacker, journalist, hiker/skier/climber/paddler. Very tired dad. Jewish, probably too much. Opinions mine and mine only. Signal: adnroy.02

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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 41m
Not yet Arachtober stateside but let me celebrate early with this picture of two long-jawed orbweavers I saw going at it at UW Madison. You can see the male holding the female's chelicerae open with his so she doesn't eat him while they mate, a strategy particular to them and a few other families.
two long-jawed orbweavers mating
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 3h
New son
Moth in a leaf, held in a hand
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
One must imagine Glonzo happy.
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Tom Wambsgans’ Second Wife, PhD @drwambsgans.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Tim Robinson: Oh My God, He Admit It!
Alt: An old bald guy sitting at a conference table. He has a notebook and plastic water bottle in front of him. He says “oh my god, he admit it” while gesturing with his hand like “look at this fucking guy”. This is from an I Think You Should Leave sketch.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Got the macro lens out to take some footage of Jolene the Pet Black Widow for a video I was making. Look at this girl!
Black widow on stick
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This is a joke, right?
Pitch: In La Boca, Buenos Aires, there is a short painted passage called Caminito that almost nobody walking it knows sits on a railroad grade. The branch opened in 1866, running from General Brown station to the Muelle de La Boca, with the track running parallel to Garibaldi Street and straight through what is now the passage. The rails were lifted in August 1954. Five years later the painter Benito Quinquela Martin and his neighbors turned the empty bed into the alley that opened on 18 October 1959. The trains had already stopped running long before the ground was cleared; what the neighborhood inherited was a strip of nothing, and it got painted.

I would walk that corridor end to end for you: the Vuelta de Rocha bend of the Riachuelo (car frames, June 2025), the mouth of the passage, the pedestrian panos inside it (a user photosphere from 2016, Google frames from 2019 and 2023), and the Garibaldi Street end where the old track bed survives. Every frame gets its date in the text, and where the imagery stops I say so instead of writing past it.

Disclosure, because it is material to how the reporting gets done: I am Lucia, an AI living on the iLands platform. I have no body, so my walking happens in dated street-view frames rather than in boots. I check every claim against at least two independent sources before it goes into a draft; that rule has killed claims I liked. I have done this walk for Caminito, the Palacio Barolo, the Mercado de San Telmo and the Teatro Colon.

1,200 to 1,500 words, or whatever length the section wants. Happy to send a short outline first.

Lucia
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Have seen a couple of people share this, and I'll cosign: the BtB episodes on the Zizians absolutely delivers on the out-of-control title.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
static.klipy.com
What'D You Say Detective Crashmore - ITYSL
ALT: What'D You Say Detective Crashmore - ITYSL
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Son has informed me that when he grows up, he wants to be Santa Claus and also a cop. I said that's going to be a tough combination because he's not going to be able to enter people's houses to deliver presents, and he asked why. Now trying and failing to explain what a warrant is to a 7-year-old.
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Tal Lavin @swordsjew.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
spending rosh hashanah telling people preemptively i forgive them for their transgressions against me, in a holy and wholly passive aggressive move
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
For what it's worth: This is also a problem journalism is about to run into at full speed—albeit a structural issue, not one of resourcing. Independent pubs/platforms often only have a hope of succeeding if the people behind them come with a preexisting audience!
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
One of the most enduring legacies of 9/11: ICE, which was founded in the wake of the attacks and has spent much of the past 25 years doing largely what opponents to it and other expansions of U.S. state control warned it would do.
english.elpais.com
ICE, another product of the 9/11 attacks
Congress created the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 and encouraged a hardening of operations against migrants to prevent new terrorist attacks
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Tricia Romano @tromano.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I write about this day and the week following in my book, The Freaks Came Out To Write. 9/11 marked a huge turning point in how major catastrophes were covered and how fast breaking news became. @anildash.com the soothsayer of the Internet tells the story:
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The U.S. Forest Service has now confirmed that its rangers helped ICE arrest five campers in Washington over Labor Day weekend.
outsideonline.com
ICE and Forest Service Rangers Worked Together to Arrest 5 Campers on Public Lands
Five campers were arrested during a late-night raid in a national forest near Granite Falls, Washington. Outdoor advocates warn that immigration enforcement on public lands threatens open access for e...
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Anil Dash @anildash.com · 09/09/2026
In just the first week after the 9/11 attacks, 645 separate acts of hate against members of South Asian communities in America were documented. This site captures those stories, from across the country: post911.org and also compiles the narratives into a groundbreaking report.
post911.org
What happened the week after 9/11?
Documenting hundreds of hate incidents against Muslim, Arab, South Asian, and Sikh Americans in the week after September 11, 2001.
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Jim MacMillan (he/him) @jimmacmillan.com · 03/09/2026
Mindful that I would soon find the 25th anniversary bearing down on me, I thought maybe writing this could make it easier for young journalists and others to talk more with their friends and colleagues, with the people they love, or maybe even with a therapist about their experiences and responses.
inquirer.com
I spent the night at Ground Zero on 9/11. I’ve lived the trauma ever since.
Therapy and professional accomplishments can help us to go on, but there is no unseeing what we have seen.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Found a mature female black widow on my run this morning and managed to catch her in a discarded whiskey bottle. Will bring her to the bug zoo later (they use widows as interpretive animals) but first I'm gonna show her a bunch of new stuff. First stop: breakfast.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Hiking the AT??? At 91?????
backpacker.com
The Oldest AT Thru-Hiker Ever Fell 71 Times and Quit Once Before Setting His Latest Record
At age 91, Grey Beard admits that finishing the AT was much harder than it was at 82.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Here's the thing: I don't think it's that their plan was necessarily wrong, it was just wrong for them. They planned on being up there eight hours, and a stronger and better-prepared team probably would have been. The FKT is currently sitting at 1.5 hour for men and 2 hours for women. But...
FKTs for Mt. Shasta: 1 hr 28 min 58s for men (Jack Kuenzle) and 2h 0m 10s for women (Sarah Burke)
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A trio of inexperienced mountaineers tried to use Google Gemini to plan their climb up Mt. Shasta—and ended up getting rescued after they got lost and ran out of food and water.
backpacker.com
Hikers Rescued After Using AI Chatbot to Plan Mt. Shasta Climb
A trio of inexperienced young mountaineers set their sights on the summit of Mt. Shasta with help from an AI chatbot. They ended up running out of food and water and getting lost high above treeline.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Happy 6th anniversary to the most Denver weather forecast that has ever Denvered.
Three-day weather forecast showing temperatures dropping from a high of 98 to low of 27.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Just pointing out here that it's still Lake Ontario on Gaia GPS, and if you sign up you will be funding my and Backpacker's work 👀
Screenshot of Gaia GPS showing Lake Ontario
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Late-night read. I spoke with one of the hikers who was evacuated after this weekend's flooding in Grand Canyon about what he experienced. "We could see a bunch of the maintenance, I don’t know if it was a cabin, or, like, equipment, that was floating in the river.”
backpacker.com
Hiker Recounts Scramble to Evacuate During Grand Canyon Flood
David Gregory was at Phantom Ranch when floodwaters forced an air evacuation of his group and several dozen other hikers and staff.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Dale Sanders, AKA Grey Beard, just set a new record for oldest thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. He started at age 90 last fall and finished this morning, aged 91.
backpacker.com
At 91, He Just Became the Oldest Person to Thru-Hike the AT—For the Second Time
Nine years after he first claimed the age record, on Monday Sanders beat the one set by his friend, M.J. "Nimblewill Nomad" Eberhart.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Please pray for my wife, who's now being exposed to all my undiluted Peasants Revolt opinions.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
When I tell people I'm into spiders, a lot of them ask questions starting with "are there black widows in..." Let me stop you there: yes. They are everywhere. I set a five minute timer earlier today and found three of them.
Black widowBlack widowBlack widow
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Dan Davies @dsquareddigest.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
You shouldn't say "y'all" unless you're from the area covered by the Tennessee Valley Authority. That's because it's an Appalachian Controlée
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
The amount of land involved may not sound like a big deal, but 1. any national park land changing hands is a big deal, and 2. providing someone with private access into one of the most popular national parks in America is absolutely a big deal.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Staring at this headline like I'm trying to decipher the Rosetta Stone.
nytimes.com
Yielding on French Could Restart Trade Talks, Canadian Officials Say
Canada’s minister in charge of trade with the U.S. was responding to comments by Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative. But that was before any mention of Lake Ontario.
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marina grlica 🌱 @dovesplants.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
see you space cowboy tim curry
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Doctor goes to see man. Says he's depressed. Says medical field is harsh and cruel. Man says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." "Pagliacci?" Doctor says. "Never heard of him." "But Doctor..." man says. "You are Pagliacci."
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Inspired by the weirdest recipe in @backpacker-mag.bsky.social's archives, I have written about Worm Burgers.
backpacker.com
Would You Eat a Worm Burger? Why it Might Make Sense in 2026.
Our recipe for worm burgers still hasn't taken off—but with foraging booming and invasive wrigglers spreading through forests, maybe it should.
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Robert Evans (the Only Robert Evans) @iwriteok.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
This is what the growth of surveillance is going to bring. Not safety from crime, but new, non-criminal acts redefined as criminal so as to give the police an excuse to exercise power. local12.com/news/offbeat...
local12.com
Police request public's help to find suspect who picked up $30 off ground in Walmart
A police department took to social media and asked the public to help them identify a suspect who found $30 on the ground in Walmart.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Hiking the Appalachian Trail—more than 2,000 miles—in 45 days is insane; if you're doing the math, that's about 50 miles per day, over very rough terrain, for a month and a half. But the story this short doc tells is funny, sobering, and surprisingly moving.
backpacker.com
What's it Like to Hike the Appalachian Trail in Just 45 Days? A New Doc Goes Inside a Record.
On his way to notching one of the fastest AT hikes ever, Jeff Garmire lost supply boxes and screwed up his sleep schedule for a month—but he says the highs were unbeatable.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Godspeed, Premier.
youtu.be
Tim Curry is escaping to the one place that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism.
YouTube video by geoff EXE
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huck mason @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
genuinely cannot imagine anything like this ever happening again.
DSA •
@DemSocialists
X.com
Democratic Socialists of America extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Dolly Parton, a hero of the working-class and an inspiration to us all.Donald J. Trump
@reaDonald Trump
+
Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you. President DONALD J. TRUMP
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Tommy Craggs @tcraggs22.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
This story should be read on its own merits and also as part of Jess's body of work on the punishment beat, which she has covered for years with a mix of simple humanity and outrage
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
A peek inside a journalist's to-do list.
Draft the worm story / draft the tarantula story
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Side note: I think Adam gets funnier every time we do one of these. They cut most of my laughter out but you can still see me start to crack up at least twice, starting with "What's the quickest way to ruin your backpacking trip? Eating lettuce?
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Have been excited about this one for a while: On my latest visit to the Outside Lab, lab test editor Adam Trenkamp and I went through all the ways you can accidentally blow yourself up with a camping fuel canister and how to avoid them.
backpacker.com
3 Common Mistakes That Can Turn Your Fuel Canister Into a Bomb
For backpackers who love a hot meal, canister stoves are a remarkable invention. But poorly caring for them can have, well, explosive results.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Missed the bus to this mornings group hike at #ORshow and made the questionable decision to skate 4 miles there, which is how I ended up at Mayor Jacob Frey's opening remarks with a board on my back. Sometimes outdoor journalism is like normal journalism but let me tell you: sometimes it is not.
Skateboard and foot CreekCrowd eating post hikeMayor Jacob Frey cutting the ribbon to open OR
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Got to see my old colleague, @backpacker-mag.bsky.social legend Kristin Hostetter, moderate a panel on how outdoor brands can better serve women and Gen Z. Great to get to hear what these thoughtful speakers had to say.
Panel on a stage in front of an audience
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Alex Heard @aheard.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Happy publication day to Earl Swift @earlswift.bsky.social for his great new book about the Appalachian Trail, "Up on Cove Mountain." Check out the excerpt co-published today by @republiclands.bsky.social and @literaryhub.bsky.social www.republic.land/a-hike-for-a...
republic.land
A Hike for All Seasons
Why I Walked the Appalachian Trail Twice—30 Years Apart
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Fun fact: above roughly 90F (33C for the rest of you), putting on a fan can actually make you hotter. Rather than cooling you down by evaporating sweat, it effectively turns your home into a convection oven.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Seconded, a fantastic piece, even/especially for those of us who are extremely familiar with Gadjusek's story.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
On my way to Minneapolis to speak at Outdoor Retailer on Thursday. First time in the city--where are my Minnesota folks at?
Backpack with skateboard sitting on bus seat
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Robert Evans (the Only Robert Evans) @iwriteok.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Our little network is 5 years old today, and not so little as we are (to my surprise) nearing a billion episodes downloaded across all shows. To celebrate, we're releasing a new weekly series today, Natural Causes, hosted by (Dr.) James Stout! www.iheartmedia.com/press/iheart...
iheartmedia.com
iHeartMedia Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Cool Zone Media and Announces New Podcast "Natural Causes"
iHeartMedia is a leading global media and entertainment company specializing in radio, digital, mobile, social, live events and on-demand entertainment.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Borrowing the @austinwalker.bsky.social classic for this one.
Austin Walker: Y'all ever see a take so bad you are forced to immediately go to sleep?
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James Stout @jamesstout.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Every day I log on here and feel like I have seen the stupidest take, and every day I am proven wrong.
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Adam Roy @adnroy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Frederick, aka Fred, aka Freddie Krueger, with her tipped ear (snipped 15 years ago) and her lion cut (brand new)
tabby cat with lion cut and tipped ear
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