"What am I late for?!"
I can so clearly hear Reuben's voice in a snappy sarcastic retort to this blog title.
But I wonder how Reuben would continue to play up the bit of being late?
Whichever way he ran with the joke, it would result in anyone within earshot to start howling with laughter.
Reuben passed away peacefully in his sleep from tumors(need to confirm) on June 7, 2026.
"Everybody that meets him, immediately likes the guy." -Jason Salyer
Reuben was an outdoor instructor, knife designer, magazine writer, published photographer, professional musician, world traveler, ultralight backpacker, and all around adventurer.
These are just some of the things we know Reuben participated in, imagine when they release the files.
I'm still unpacking(pun intended!) the lessons that I learned from Reuben Bolieu. Not simply the ones he taught, but the ones he demonstrated.
Suspicions that he was a real life superhero have been neither confirmed nor discredited.
However, I can confirm, he was an awesome friend, and kind soul, to many.
I, and Nick, have had the honor to share campfires and cramped cars with the witty and wise Reuben Bolieu.
Jason Salyer(On 3), Reuben, and Nick(Wazoo)
His jokes came fast... almost too fast to keep up with, and at a risk of spraying fancy beer out of your nose.
LESSON 1: "Don't carry your fears. Carry what you need."
"When you go on a trip, take what makes you happy."
"When you come back from that trip, make the same kind of piles 'what I thought I needed but didn't use at all and...'"
"...what I really needed. That's the stuff you need to take the next time!"
LESSON 2: "Only carry things that have multiple uses"
"Make sure everything has at least 3 uses. Some will have only 2 uses, but as long as they're not a one note Charlie."
"You can fill your pack with a lot of things that do a lot of things, right?"
"You're going to get the most out of it. Then you just don't have to take as much."
"Versatile gear that can cover the bases."
"Doesn't need to do everything perfectly. It just needs to get it done. A spoon just needs to get food to your mouth."
Example: Reuben uses his shoes and hydration bladder for his sleeping pillow.
LESSON 3: "The best way to keep your feet dry, is to let them get wet."
"I'm big on light shoes... A lot of mesh, fast drying"
"If you walk through a creek, well- you're gonna get super wet. But on a day like today, you can just walk it off in an hour or two."
"As opposed to a larger, waterproof boot. It will take hours to days to dry."
"No matter if you're military or going out for a day hike... it could be potentially life-threatening. Because all you need is a little cut, a lot of humidity, and heat, and now something is festering. Which you could have eliminated by just letting your feet breathe."
"Best way to keep your feet dry. Let them get wet. Let the air dry."
"If you had no gear, but you still had your legs. You can walk out, that's good."
Reuben's preferred footware
Reuben's go-to was lightweight trail running shoes, and would add low ankle gaiters in muddy, briar, or snowy conditions.
Reuben's preferred socks
"Cotton has a place, but not on your feet"
"Either you have the wrong socks, or thick thick socks. Think of sponges. They absorb a lot of moisture. What gives people blisters is all the moisture in a sock."
"I wear a very thin dress sock and have everywhere in the world for at least 20 years.
Our buddy Reuben
Reuben was ultralight in his packing, but was a heavyweight when it came to kindness, humility, and humor.
~Dustin
PS: Here's some photos with Reuben we took at our group trip last year to the Chapman Ranch, CO at The Survival University.
