Archive for October, 2009
Earlier this month, a rock slide buried part of State Route 410 in Washington State beneath a mammoth pile of rubble. The road was made impassable, and more than a thousand people were forced to evacuate their homes in the Cascade Mountains. Either that or they remained trapped for a few days without supplies or access to civilization. The fact is, these freak occurrences aren’t unusual in nature.
Part of what makes the great outdoors so intriguing and attractive is its ability to flout man’s expectations. While we cannot control every aspect of a camping trip or backpacking excursion, it’s best to be prepared just in case of disaster. Seasoned outdoorsmen should set aside their pride and invest in a few camping first aid kits. Of course these kits are especially useful for a novice hiker.
The first Swiss army knife was introduced in the late 1800s, and these special blades have been heralded as symbols of resourcefulness and utility ever since. The knife got its start as a standard-issue military staple in the cantons of Switzerland, and eventually its integrity and effectiveness grew popular all over the world. While Swiss army knives achieved pop culture infamy on the ’80s TV show “MacGyver,” their usefulness has outlasted that ephemeral series.
The knives are celebrated for their versatility in camping and hiking situations. Their vast array of additional tools – including screwdrivers, can openers and scissors – makes them a fixture in any avid camper’s backpack or front pocket. Victorinox knives are just as handy for cutting tangled fishing line as they are for splitting a piece of twine or slicing tape to repair a damaged tent.
Whether you’re going camping, backpacking, or hiking, there are a few essential pieces of equipment necessary to ensure safety and an enjoyable wilderness experience for all involved. The most important is your camping first aid kit; it’s essential just in case of injury, snakebites, or infection. It’s also important to have a compass and map, or if you want to go modern, a hiking gps unit. When venturing into the wilderness apparel like warm clothing, rain gear, gloves, and hiking boots can help you to stay dry and warm if you happen to become cold. Hypothermia can be a real danger in the outdoors, even in warmer locations where you wouldn’t think it.
It’s also important to notify a close family member or friend where you are going and when you intend to come back. If you are lost or injured in the wilderness and no one knows about it, you run the risk of not being found until its too late.
It’s important to scout out the climate and weather conditions for a camping trip well ahead of time, but altitude is a consideration that often goes overlooked. That’s unfortunate because hikers are drawn to the splendid vistas and picturesque scenery unique to mountainous regions. In a high-altitude camping situation, one needs to bring a suitable set of backpacking supplies.
Obviously a weather-resistant backpacking tent is the first and most important thing to bring, but a sleeping bag is close behind. Nights cool down quickly in the mountains, so you’ll want to have a cold-rated sleeping bag. Sleeping bags stuffed with down or a comparable synthetic material work best. Most bags will advertise their weather rating right on the packaging, but you can also get an idea by checking the thickness of the material.
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