Archive for the ‘Backpacking’ Category
Should I use costly down sleeping bag soap or “Green” soap or regular laundry detergent ? I used to manage a high-end backpacking gear shop so I know the manufacturers’ recommendations. Plus I have owned and washed down bags for years. You can safely use either regular Woolite or Ivory Snow (the detergent, NOT the dishwashing liquid.) Use warm, not hot water and a long gentle cycle. Reset the machine after the rinse cycle to run a second rinse cycle. It also helps to run a second spin cycle after the last spin to extract as much water as possible. Lift the wet bag out VERY carefully, supporting it underneath in a big ball — never grab one end and drag it out because the heavy wet clumps of down can tear loose the baffles that separate the down compartments. I usually find it best, if you have space for it, to leave the bag laid out flat on a beach towel or clean sheet, for a day or two to dry it a little more before putting in the dryer, but this is optional. Place in a dryer (don’t use a commercial coin-op dryer because they get too hot.) Dry on the lowest heat setting possible with NO softener sheet — you WANT static electricity because that fluffs the down. Put a couple of those knobby plastic dryer balls or a couple of tennis balls, even an old clean sneaker, tied inside of thin socks or pantihose and tumble them with the bag to break up the down clumps (these items beat up the nylon fabric too much if you don’t wrap them in the socks.) Be prepared for this to take a while. Depending on how much down is in the bag, it will take from 2 to 5 hours to dry. Great DOWN Jackets: Save on The North Face Denali Jacket Magnum Bear Spray and Hip Holster – 7.9 ounces by UDAP
“Between 1900 and 2003 there were about 52 recorded deaths due to black bears, 50 due to brown bears and 5 due to polar bears” Steven Colbert is constantly saying how dangerous bears are.
Iceland warned of polar bear attacks Jun 24 2008 MARAUDING polar bears could cause terror on Iceland after experts claimed global warming could bring the killer beasts across the sea. The alert came as police there shot two bears in just two weeks. The animals – which are not native to Iceland – are thought to have floated across the Arctic Ocean on ice platforms which broke free from Greenland. Climate expert Thor Jakobsson said: “Since two have reached the shore, more could be on the way.” may I have your comments please. POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking Get the DVD !
Duration : 0:2:24
Run? Stay put? Let the bear attack you? Help!? Thanks. In black bear attacks it is advised that you fight back. Fight as if your life depends on it.. gouge eyes, ect. Black bear attacks are often predatory and playing dead will be a fatal mistake because the bear wants you dead so it can eat you. I dont know of any competent wildlife expert that advises playing dead with a black bear. With all other bears it is advised that you hold your ground but if they start to attack you then you should play dead. Grizzly bear most often attack only to neutralize the threat and once you are down on the ground and stop moving then the attack will most likely end. Of course the best thing to do is to have a magnum revolver and know how to use it.
Here is a great Eureka tent Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Tent In fact, here is a 5 star review from the Amazon website for customer satisfaction: By J Coveleski “Took a risk buying this tent Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Tent And here is another review of 5 Stars: (By Wayne Angerame) “Bought this tent Eureka Solo Backcountry 1 Tent Had also wanted something light and sturdy enough for backpacking. Again, dissatisfied with cheap dome tents weighing over 7 pounds; this one is not much more than 3 pounds, being a “half” dome, and is very well constructed. The size is OK for one person; especially easy to get into with the wide side door. The poles and fly worked fine and set up quickly and easily by one person. The fly seems to be necessary for cold weather camping, otherwise there would be too much air flow; with the fly on it feels snug inside. Of course that air flow would be great for warm weather. The short pole for the fly was a bit tight – needed to “bow” it to get it to fit into its slots; may want to use a tube cutter to shorten it 1/4 inch or so. I like the color; it blends in nice with the woods. For backpacking, will probably replace the steel stakes with something lighter. Then again, I have yet to stake it out. It’s totally free-standing, and even in the wind just a few guy lines kept it in place.” Lyme Disease is a tick-borne illness that is acquired by getting bitten by a tick. Deer ticks are the most common carriers of the disease. As outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy being on the trail in the woods you must take precautions because that is where you will find the little critters and that’s where they find you! Lyme disease is a non-contagious infection that can become a serious health problem. The deer tick carries a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorfer that gets transmitted to humans through the skin when the tick latches on to suck blood. They are like little hitchhikers hanging on the ends of grasses and tall weeds just waiting for a host to pass by so they can hitch a ride and get a free meal. You or your dog become the meal or any warm blooded creature that happens to be passing by such as mice, birds or deer. The first key to prevention is awareness. Always be aware that ticks are out there and that you need to do a tick check on yourself after you’ve been in the woods. To prevent ticks from being carried into your home, it is also important to thoroughly check your dog after a walk in the woods as they are much lower to the ground and tend to pick up many more ticks. Before heading out it is a good idea to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts and a hat to help deter the little buggers. They are looking for warm skin so clothing will be a deterrent but is no guarantee, hence the need to still do a body and hair check. Spraying some insect repellent that contains deet on your clothing will also help. Most infections are caused by ticks in the nymph stage as larger, older ticks are more easily seen and removed. The host will often not even feel the bite as the secretions do not cause any pain or itching as most insect bites do. There are some symptoms to be aware of in the event that you did get bitten but did not know. The classic rash that looks like a red bull’s-eye ring around what might look like a mosquito bite or other insect bite. In addition to the rash you might not be feeling so well and experiencing some joint pain or fever. Some people have serious reactions to tick bites and the swelling and pain will be obvious and can be accompanied by aching muscles as well. It is important that you seek medical attention and get a proper diagnosis because if it is indeed lyme disease you will need to be treated with antobiotics. If left untreated you will experience more serious problems often leading to paralysis, neuroligical and cardiac problems. Playing in the outdoors, hiking, camping and backpacking, requires some preparation, awareness and knowledge in order to stay safe. Little tiny things such as deer ticks have the power to ruin your life so take precautions and “Be Prepared !”
On a recent Cub Scout campout (Webelos Weekend), the boys went around to various learning stations such as fire building, nature, fishing, archery, BB Gun shooting and cooking. At the cooking station they were taught how to make a simple campfire dessert using bananas. The campfire should be at the hot embers stage and not in full flame. The recipe is below: Needed: 1 sheet of aluminum foil 1 banana 2 Tablespoons of Chocolate Morsels 2 Tablespoons of Mini Marshmallows Directions: Slice the banana through the skin lengthwise (leave the banana peel on). Put chocolate and marshmallows into the center of the banana. Wrap banana (that is still in its peel) in a piece of aluminum foil to cover it and then toss it into the coals for about 10-12 minutes to cook until candy melts. Allow it to cool. It will be oohey and gooey. Eat with a spoon. Enjoy !
Altrec’s Outlet Warehouse: 30-60% Off During one of our Cub Scout den meetings last year we did a little experiment in order to teach our Cub Scouts some basics about hiking before they moved on to Boy Scouts. The boys were told to bring in ten of the most important things they believed they must have in their backpack to take on a day hike. They had some interesting items to talk about. They had things like full size umbrellas, lots of extra clothes, a football, heavy canned goods (no can opener, though), electronic games, cans of soda, candy snacks, etc. Even at the age of 10 or 11 they had the right idea that they would need protection from the rain or cold and some food to eat.
We continued the lesson with teaching them about the ten essentials every hiker should have in their backpack by showing them a couple of properly filled packs and explaining the use of each item and why it might be needed. Each scout was given a list and had a chance to repack an empty backpack using the list and getting familiar with the items. They enjoyed the activity and definitely learned a lot during that meeting. Many of the boys had ‘aha moments’ and got it. Children are fast learners when it comes to danger or fear. They want to know. They need to know. They like to feel that they are in control. Explaining that the ten essentials could possibly save your life or help you survive a night alone in the woods was enough incentive to teach the lesson. Of course the lesson was to ‘be prepared’, which is the Boy Scout Motto.
Moosejaw Daypack Sale! Because not everyone was a scout in their youth, there are many people who enjoy hiking but end up learning the hard way how to be prepared for a hike out in the woods. It is usually by trial and error and getting stuck in a situation where they needed help. Maybe they sprained an ankle and had no first aid knowledge or supplies. They may have been caught in a storm that popped up out of nowhere and had no rain gear or knowledge about making a temporary shelter or even just an extra jacket to stay warm – hypothermia can be deadly. Or maybe they were deep into the trail on a very hot day and ran out of water and did not know how to find a water source because they did not plan ahead – dehydration can also be very serious. Or the worst case scenario is always getting lost for a day or more and trying to survive without water, matches, warm clothing or the knowledge to handle any of it. What is intended to be a pleasant day on the trail can indeed turn out to be a life threatening situation if things go wrong and you are not prepared. Having knowledge as well as the ten essentials (and a bit more) is the key to a lifetime of safe happy trails.
We’ve all been caught unprepared in all kinds of life situations. That is how we learn best. To be a safe, happy hiker it is wise to learn about the ‘ten essentials’. It is a checklist that has been around for a long time and has not changed much over the years until recently when a few modifications have been made for the modern hiker. The basic ten is still relevant though. The checklist is offered below. You may even have your own modifications to the list. It definitely comes down to personal choice but what you choose makes the difference. For example, if you are on any special medications or inhalers you don’t want to forget that or if your canine companion is along for the hike you will need supplies for him such as food, water, waste pick-up bags, etc.
Shop for Footwear at Moosejaw! Just having these in your pack is not enough – you must know how to use them. Take the time to attend an outdoor class that many outdoor outfitters and sporting goods stores offer. Join a local outdoor club and start hiking with a group to get yourself accustomed to what is involved or start reading on the internet as you are doing now. YouTube is full of helpful videos on all aspects of hiking – how to build a fire, how to sterilize water, how to build a shelter, survival techniques, etc. These video tutorials can be very helpful if you have no experience at all and having a visual video lesson increases your chances of remembering what to do if you are panicking. Experience is of course the best teacher and you will be a hiking pro before you know it.
The Classic Ten Essentials List:
That is the basic version of ‘the list’. That simple list in its most basic form can and will save your life in an emergency situation but it’s really not that simple. Each of these items requires more thought and understanding to really be an effective tool in your backpack arsenal.
For that I am going to refer you to the experts by giving you a link to the REI website below. You will find more detail on each of the items above. You will also note that REI has revised the list slightly and updated what they believe is best practice. You can’t argue with professionals! Here is that link but come back to read the rest of this blog because I have a few things to add to your backpack that you might need or want!
REI: Updated Ten Essential “Systems” http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/ten+essentials.html
In my hiking and camping experience there are a few “essentials” that I don’t leave home without. All are lightweight and just make life on the trail a bit more tolerable when the going gets rough. Here is a list of what I call “Supplemental Essentials” and I don’t take everything on every hike but rather decide as I pack for a particular trip whether I’ll need it or not.
“Supplemental Essentials”
Cell Phone - for emergency and doubles as a camera Insect Repellant – should be in the top ten! Duct tape: wrapped around your water bottle, flashlight or hiking staff – the stuff belongs on the top ten list because it is so versatile and helpful in so many ways. Whistle: In case you get lost a whistle will last much longer than you screaming your lungs out! Toilet Paper: (Not a whole roll but a bit in a Ziploc for when nature calls) Bandana (Many uses: a cool cloth when wet, a splint, a head covering, a signal flag on a stick,) Gum Baby Wipes in a Ziploc (just a few for refreshing your smelly, dusty self when needed) Mini binoculars – for bird watching or can be useful if lost in the woods Flavor Packets for water- just to spice up the beverage department (tea, lemonade or cool aid) Hiking staff or trekking pole – depending on your age, ability and the terrain – this can be a real knee-saver Warm hat (in cold weather) – just toss it in – you’ll be happy you did Hand Sanitizer Camera & Batteries (Keep both in plastic bags to protect from rain) A Trash Bag (can become rain gear or a shelter or actually used to carry out your trash) Emergency Space Blanket (very tiny – just ounces but useful if stranded/lost) Extra Socks – refresh those tired, hot, sweaty feet Field Guide – definitely not required but useful to some folks Journal & Pen – to record the experience
Remember when hiking in a group –some of the items on the ten essentials list as well as the supplemental essentials list can be distributed among the group to reduce weight and duplication. When planning your trip, it is all a personal decision that needs to be balanced against weather conditions, location, personal experience and skill as a hiker and how much weight you really want to carry. When sticking with the top ten essentials you will never go wrong and throwing in a few extra items can’t hurt and just might come in handy. |
News article done by Reece Stein in Salt Lake City about trekking poles, featuring Jayah Faye Paley – www.AdventureBuddies.NET With one exception/error (can you find it?) good info.
for a bike or backpacking trek. It is just the right weight at just over 3 pounds and all seams are factory taped making it very waterproof.