Northwest Hiking

In July of last year, a man was attacked by a bear while sleeping in his tent.  During the attack, both hands were bitten, multiple puncture wounds were inflicted, and a hand bone was broken.  The story, which originally appeared on Fox News, illustrates one of the reasons many people have come to fear forms of wildlife and the havoc they can potentially wreak on “innocent” recreationists.  However, it is important to remember that in many cases, it is humans that have originally provoked the cause of attack by the animals.  It is this reason that hikers need to hike “green” by being respectful of nature and wildlife.

The various ways to respect nature are not fairly easy to follow, and include the basic common sense that many hear voiced from park rangers and guides:

• Don’t feed or get closed to the animals.
• Don’t leave litter lying around.
• Don’t disturb animals in their natural habitat or provoke them to aggressive habits.
• Stay on designated trails if instructed to do so in a particular region.

The list goes on and on, but the same rule applies: be safe and hike smart in a way that reduces human “footprints” on the environment as much as possible.  The impacts humans leave on the environment can and do alter the ways the nature we hike in.

In the above case, the bear attack was clearly the result of an animal that had grown accustomed to human, their food, and their company.  This is why it showed little fear of the man sleeping in the tent and subsequently attacked it in its search for food.  Remember to hike smart, be safe, and reduce human presence footprints.

Wind can be a significant problem when you are out hiking and enjoying the outdoors.  Whether you are in moist air or not, and whether the temperature is warm or cold, hypothermia is always an inherent risk associated with wind.  The reason is because of the wind chill factor that causes cooling on objects in weather that would normally be cooler.  This is great for a summer’s day, but bad in the spring and fall when usually warm temperatures can become bone-chilling in a matter of minutes.  It is thus vital that one is prepared for wind and the various situations it brings in order to be safe and warm when the situation warrants it.

The most significant ways to deal with wind are shelter and clothing.  Both play a vital role in the ability to resist cold air around the skin and stay dry against the elements.  For hikers, a wind-breaking jacket is vital.  Something that is waterproof/resistant, yet still warm.  The key to use it as the outer shell, and then wear a warmer coat or sweater underneath.  This “breaks” the wind hitting your body by preventing it from flowing through fabric layers; instead, repelling the air with the plastic-like material of the jacket.

Shelters are another important way to stay warm and keep dry.  Craggy rocks make great sheltered areas, and may contain a place to crawl under to stay dry, too.  Remember to watch out where you choose a location, however, since lower areas may fill with water and are susceptible to flash floods.

Wind can be a great thing to hike in, with the smells and fresh flowing air sweeping past your face.  It can also turn a trip into a miserable nightmare.  In any situation, remember there is no treatment like prevention.  Stay safe and have fun!

The day has finally come, and preparation for an extended trip hiking has finally come.  Backpacking, and the prospects thereof, have kept hopes up and spirits high as the time of the trip quickly approaches.  Now it’s time to pack up the various necessities needed for such a trip, and space is an issue still to be reckoned with.  Like the days of old, everything goes into the backpack: toiletry items, utensils, food, clothing, etc—all find their respective places.  The process of packing is an art, and one to take great pleasure in.  For many this art comes naturally, but for still others it is a much coveted skill the outdoors person.  It’s not always easy to stuff everything needed for four, five, seven, or even ten days all in one pack.  The process can contain more than its share of arduous tasks.  Despite this, there are some effective ways to cut down on weight and space usage, and many benefit from learning to pack smart.

Pack Heavy First:
It can be a matter of preference, but packing heavy things at the bottom reduces “wear and tear” on the human body due to imbalance and undistributed loads.  Pack things like utensils, rope gear, etc. at the bottom of the pack so that the weight is on the hips, and not pulling on the shoulders.

Take Out The Water:
If it contains a lot of water, it shouldn’t be going.  Backpacking trips are all about the food you can add water to.  This excludes goodies like whole fruit, canned foods, and desserts.  There are plenty of options available that are dehydrated (de-hydrated as in de-watered) that include pastas, breakfast meals, and desserts.  Most will be “ready with water” type of meals, and only need minimal cooking.  Another option is to dehydrate homemade food, especially fruit and pasta mixes.

Don’t Dress For a Party:
It’s hard for the ladies, but clothing is not an essential over food, water, and emergency supplies.  An extra change of clothes, a heavy sweater, a wicking layer you should be wearing (100% cotton) during the cold weather, and a good all weather coat is more than ample for a 4 day backpacking trip.  The change of clothes not being worn can be washed in a creek and dried by the fire.

Downsize and Go Simple:
A kazillion watt spotlight, three first-aid kits, 100 meters of rope, and 4 books is a little more than safety standards might even mandate for a backpacking trip.  Stick with simple and reliable.  Smaller hand-crank flashlights, a decently stocked first-aid kit, some climbing gear for rock climbing (optional), food, water, utensils, a survival kit, and a few other necessities is going to fill up space fast, so leave it at that.

Remember, backpacking  should be fun and enjoyable.  Lugging 80lbs of gear should be left to the firefighters.  Pack simple and try to keep it to the bare minimum.  Different items will be swapped out depending on conditions and preferences, but the lighter and more reliable, the better.  Have fun out there and enjoy the soon-to-come summer!

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Spring is just around the corner, and I don’t know about readers out there, but I am looking forward to getting out and hiking.  After spraining my ankle a few weeks ago, I am finally walking on it again.  You take walking for granted when you are on crutches for 2 1/2 weeks.  I am definitely looking forward to a backpacking trip here in the new future, but for now, I am still unable to run or jump on my ankle.  Luckily I have another 3 weeks to heal before I head out to go backpacking.

Backpacking Excursion?
My plan to go backpacking occurs in a few weeks here near the tricities of Washington.  Not a particularly extravagant place, but beautiful when the flowers will be blooming soon.  The trip will take a full four days, traveling about 40 miles — 20 miles in and 20 out.  Not a bad hike, with four parts with heavy elevation gain and loss of over 1000 feet.  More details to be posted on the hike after I complete it.

Plan for Global Warming!
Whether you believe it or not, planning for global warming is a good idea.  Here’s why:

Just goes to show, never can tell what change will be!  Maybe not completely accurate, but I had to throw it in there.  Hiking is affected by global warming, and whether that is on a macro scale or a micro scale, I will leave that up to you to decide.

With that, stayed tuned for more information on hiking, great tips, and gear reviews to come!

As you prepare to hike this spring, don’t forget to grab good deals on the shelves while they’re going hot.  It’s getting to be that time of year where buying your granola bars and energy bars is a good idea since they will save through the summer without a problem.  Besides that, also consider stocking up on other things, like dried fruit, energy drink mixes (I mean the good kind, like Gatorade), and candy bars for fast fuel.

There is nothing like being stuck without enough provisions, and I have definitely experienced my fair share of hard times without ample water and electrolytes.  As a rule, plan to take a gallon of water per day, and enough drink mix to add to half of that.  Also take an even balance of energy bars and dried fruit, the former having a tendency to “gum things up” without enough fluid, etc.  As spring approaches, preparation for the hiking season is definitely in order, and I am greatly anticipating the arrival of good weather!

Bargain Deals:

Price: $14.37

Price: $5.99 (treats 2 1/2 gallons)

Wow, things have been slow here at NW Hiking.  Many readers have probably noticed the almost non-existent posting that has happened over the last month.  January is always the hardest to get through for the recreational enthusiast.  Too much snow, too cold, and too few cleared trails.

Luckily, spring is around the corner, and it is exciting to be able to announce that the design, logo, and focus of Northwest Hiking will change a bit as spring rolls around.  First off, winter walks (or the lack thereof) will be dropped off the post list for summer, and regular hiking areas will resume.  Also, like our sister site, Northwest Recreation, we will be implementing a much better theme and overall cleaner look.

As far as today goes, we would like to introduce a training method to get yourself ready for a truly extreme summer.  Between firefighting and posting, our editor will be busy this summer providing new and fun hikes, tips, and guides to hiking in the northwest.  Here are some things to do to keep up:

• Start Training Now:  Get a jump on training now so you will be ready when the big hikes start piling in come April-May.
• Start Slow: Don’t over do it and start slow.  Walking a mile is perfectly acceptable to start with.  Try that once per day, and work up.
• Increment Consistently:  Best results are achieved when you work up on a consistent basis.  Increase distance by 1/4 mile every two days, decrease time per mile by 1 minute every 3-4 days.
• Rest a Day:  Take a day to do nothing at all and give your muscles regenerative time.
• Step It Up:  Try a weight vest to simulate a backpack.

Keep on the training program until hiking begins.  You will be ready for the biggest hikes in a couple months if you stick with it and train diligently.  For weighted vests, try something like this one:

Keep looking up for that good ol’ blue sky!

Whether you are out in the sticks, or boating in the pacific, emergency situations can arise out of no where.  Being prepared is always your best bet, and there is no medicine like prevention.  A while ago I was able to obtain a copy of this book as a gift, and have read it completely through in my own fascination with wilderness survival.  I have trusted its information and believe it is a valuable asset to anyone who desires to be prepared for any situation in the out-of-doors.  Here are some quick facts:

Covers:

• Arctic
• Jungle
• Rain Forest
• Water Survival
• and more….!

Contains:

• Extremely detailed information regarding each survival situation, including shelters, food, water, and environmental hazards.

Overall:

• An excellent book for anyone who feels like thy should be prepared in any situation regardles

By starting this new category, I hope to let readers in on a personal aspect of my life as editor of this resource.  I also hope to give readers the chance to share in the everyday joys, sadness, and fun that is associated with living in the northwest.  Comments, suggestions, and requests are always accepted readily, and are encouraged.  Enjoy!

2/23/09:
A week ago I sprained my ankle free-running.  It is one of my hidden talents that few people know about, but I find an extreme sense of joy in.  The ability to jump at will from various heights to the ground below in a rush of flurry and motion surpasses most of the joys this world offers.  Not to mention is it good exercise.

It is the second week, and I have finally started to walk on it again after extensive tearing and bruising in the ankle.  Healing is going much faster than expected using a new system I found on the internet.  Hopefully I will be back up and doing rigorous exercise in 3 weeks, but that is optimistic.

Meanwhile, this affects a much bigger factor related to this blog. . .hiking!  I have been hiking every weekend after five days of classes in rigorous preparation for firefighter training, and I am without the ability to conquer the highest peaks!  Soon enough it will change, though.  More late. . .

Continuing with the previous survival first-aid theme that we started a few days ago, let us now look at first-aid kits built for more long term hikes.  These are not necessarily overnight hikes, but they are further away from civilization and can entail slightly elevated risks than included in a small couple hour hike.  I know for me, my worst injuries on the trail were when I was hiking more than 2 hours.  The many reasons for this include increased fatigue, tired and sore muscles, susceptibility to sprains, etc.  As such, in addition to the day hike first-aid kit we talks about, you should also include a few more items:

• Electrolyte replacement powder:  Gatorade or similar product will work just fine.
• Splints:  Particularly for the fingers.
• Extra Gauze
• Two days worth of each:
  1. Aspirin
  2. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, whichever you prefer (are not allergic to)
• In addition, you may also want to consider a quick stop bleed reducing powder.  I have had several instances where I wished I had it.

Remember to be safe out there and to add to this list as you customize based on where you go, hiking habits, etc.  Happy trails!

Taking a brief break from the survival series and getting back to the weapon and tool series, it is now time to take a look at another weapon and hunting implement that works exceedingly well when out hiking and stranded, or for personal protection.  The bola has been around for years, and has remained an effective device for those who are skilled in using it.  A bola is a weapon comprised of a rope that splits off into other ropes that have rocks attached to the end.  These can range from numbers of two to nine, but are effective in most variations.

Making one:
To make one, cut a length of rope about two-three feet long.  This will be your “handle.”  Then knot three more ropes about four feet of length on one end of the one rope.  From there, cut two foot off of two of the ropes that are knotted to the “handle.”  Tie a heavier rock about the size of a small, curled fist to each of the short ropes, and a lighter stone to the longer rope that is left over.  Voila, you have a bola.  The two smaller weights fly in front, catching the target by surprise.  The third longer one wraps around and immobilizes the target.

Remember to be careful and practice on a stake in the ground to gain skill.  Then use it to gain practice and aim for better use while hiking.  More information is below, and until next time, happy hiking!

More Information