Northwest Hiking

An essential item to include in your survival kit is a length of para cord.  With phenomenal breaking strength and a variety of uses, para cord is an awesome addition to your survival kit and even first-aid kit.  Most times, para cord is available at your local sporting good store, but you can also get it online at http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=armynavy&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=413509547&Count2=330649971.  Here are some things you can do with para cord:

• Make a shelter using the cord
• Hang your food cache in a tree
• Use as tent lines
• Clothes lines
• and much more!

Again, this is definitely something you will want to carry with you. I recommend at least 10 feet with you at all times, but I carry about 8 with me.  The individual strands can be taken apart and you will still get a breaking strength that is extremely strong.

Unfortunately, even the most experienced hikers sometimes trip and fall or stumble on a hole or obstacle in the trail.  It is not by any means a fun situation, but learning and knowing how to properly treat such a situation is essential to prevent long term effects of a sprain and get you back on your feet in short order.

When you first sprain your ankle, evaluate whether you have some range of motion to ensure that you have not actually broken your ankle instead.  After you have evaluated it and reasoned it to be a sprain, soak the ankle in cold water or apply an ice pack (snow works great, too).  Do not continue your trip on a sprained ankle.  Seek medical attention as soon as possible and use crutch devices or the shoulder of another person to keep your weight off of that ankle.

A great hike and walk, the trail between Rooks Park in Walla Walla, WA and Bennington Lake offers a couple miles of wonderful views and scenery.  Starting out at Rooks Park, the trail rises gently initially, falls about 100 feet, and then rises and falls one more time before finally reaching Bennington Lake.

Although there are several different options, if snow is present, you’ll want to take the main gravel road.  It is well maintained and offers you a nice trail to walk on, even if there is a lot of snow on the ground.

In general, plan on dressing warm, but also look forward to great views of the lake if it does indeed snow (when you’re lucky enough).  To get there, go east on Isaacs, then turn right on Rooks Park Rd.  The trail is located over the bridge and to the left, where you can follow the gravel/dirt road all the way to Bennington Lake.  Happy trails!

As a hiker and writer, I sometimes get the privilege of testing new products and working with some of the finest producers on the market.  This last month, I was able to test the Body Bottle, a new alternative to the overly large hydration bladders.  And after testing this out, I am not sure I could truly go back to the bulky and hard to clean hydration systems.

The makers of Body Bottle had one thing in mind when they developed this product: ease of use and low maintenance.  Ruggedly designed with superior materials, nothing was overlooked on the design of this new hydration system.

The bottle is made of durable plastic with a secure Velcro strap in place around the entire bottle.  A second strap fits snugly around your arm’s bicep and has Velcro on the front.  After filling the bottle, it can be “stuck” on the strap around your arm, and then pulled off when needed for easy access to fluids.  The design and way it was constructed allows you to take on virtually any challenge with this bottle, and after mountain biking, jogging, and running with this, I can say without a doubt that it will for sure be secure enough for almost any sport.

Another plus in the material is the comfort level which was achieved when choosing products.  The armband isn’t itchy, fits comfortably, and it soft to the touch.  As an added bonus, the Velcro on the front of the bottle can even double as an MP3 player holder by securing a piece of Velcro to your player.

The Body Bottle is a one stop shop for even your most intense hydration needs.  The phenomenal construction and extreme ease of use revolutionizes the view on current hydration systems.  Fantastic design and durability make this one of the best new products on the market.  Here at Northwest Hiking, we’re converted—how about you?

 The Body Bottle

If you are like many people in the U.S., you aren’t exempt from headaches that plague pretty much everyone at one time or another.  On trails, I will sometimes get heat headaches or headaches due to lower than usual consumption of water. When out on the trail, here are some tips to remember to keep headaches away, or at a minimum:

• Drink Water:  If you are dehydrated, chances are you’ll get a headache, so there’s a simple way to keep them away.
• Watch Your Elevation:  If you aren’t used to high elevation, start slow to acclimatize.  If you ascend too quickly, you can also get a headache.
• Last Resort:  As a last resort, keep a pain killer with you.  This doesn’t replace drinking plenty of water, but it will help you a lot if you do get a headache.

Remember, be safe on the trail and have fun!

Now that fall is turning into winter in the next couple months and it is no longer warm enough to really get outside, you may be wondering how on earth you are going to get your exercise in and stay in shape.  For a hardcore hiker, no exercise means it will kill their distance hiking in the spring when they are struggling to get back into shape.  Instead of focusing on the winter woes, however, there are some things you can do to help stay in shape.

The most important is to walk as close to your normal amount per week in proportion to hiking as possible.  This may be on a treadmill with an incline ability, or walking outside.  Either way, keep a log of your activity in order to at least stay at the same hiking ability you were in the summer.  If you are going for distance in the spring, try to add a mile every two-three weeks throughout the winter to increase your stamina.

It may seem boring, but you can always read or watch T.V. while on a treadmill, and it will help improve your stamina greatly!  For a hikers who seeks advanced skill in the art of trail walking, this is a perfect way to stay fit and be ready for spring.  Happy hiking!

As a last part in the series, I would like to discuss general camp gear maintenance and care.  Broad as the topic is, there are a few main things to remember when caring for camp gear, and a few items that need close attention:

• Mess kits:  Clean and polish them up, making sure that all rust is removed and that they are free from debris.  Take a note on what needs to be replaced and washed, and then replace accordingly.
• Cooking stoves:  Use a good oven cleaner on the grill areas and make sure you have all the blackened areas clean.  Afterward, drain the lines of any excess fuel and then store in a dry place to avoid rusting.
• Tarps:  Since many campers use tarps for a tent base or as protection, it is thus essential to make sure that your tarps are in good repair.  After summer, wash them and dry them thoroughly, then check for rips or tears that warrant replacement—then store in a dry place to avoid mold and mildew.

In general, wash it, scrub it, and inspect it to make sure it is ready for next summer.  Just because the hiking season is over doesn’t mean equipment should be neglected.  Until next summer, your gear is better off if stored and cared for properly.

As the fourth part in this five part series, tent care is another vital way to prolong the life of your equipment.  Tents aren’t cheap, and that is a good incentive to make sure they are well cared for and kept in good condition.  Although most close up their tents and throw them in the attic for the winter, there are some good tips to remember in tent care and storage:

• Clean them up!   It’s a hard task, but spending an hour cleaning your tent inside and out and inspecting for rips and tears is a good way to prolong tent life.
• Let them dry.  Putting away a wet tent only invites mildew and molds into your tent, and that’s something you’ll be sleeping with.  Always let your tent air dry completely before rolling it up.
• Store them dry.  Store tents in a dry and cool place if possible.  This will keep molds from growing on them.  Also, don’t store them where rodents can possibly chew on the fabric and materials.

Again, it’s a little extra time, but the efforts reap good results if you own a $300-$800 tent and want it to last a long time.  Happy hiking!

Another important item that must be serviced at the end of the hiking season is your knife.  As both your trusty tool and survival tool, you’ll want to possibly perform this maintenance more than once or twice a year; rather, every few months.

To start off, clean your blade with a cleaning solution safe for your type of blade.  Be sure to remove any rust spots that may develop and continue to spread.  From there, be sure to sharpen your knife so it will be ready for use again.  Whether you use a drill head attachment or do it the old fashioned way with a sharpening stone (my personal favorite) is up to you.

As another added tip, don’t be afraid to check out your sheath for your knife as well.  A ripped sheath presents a hazard as well as a potential loss of your knife.

A second item you will want to maintenance this fall is your backpack.  Whatever type you may have, be it a $300 backpacking backpack, or a cheap Walmart backpack, by doing some minor maintenance on them, you can increase their life quite a bit.

Start by washing the bag thoroughly.  If the backpack is synthetic and states clearly that washing the material is okay, then definitely go for that option.  Afterward, let it air dry well to prevent melting plastic components.  If you can’t wash the bag in a washing machine, wipe it down completely with a damp rag and then dry it.

At this point, you will want to inspect for small rips and tears, and then sew them accordingly.  This prevents small tears from becoming larger ones that can cause an unhappy day on the trail.   Afterwards, store your backpack by hanging it on a coat hanger for winter, and you are set to go!