Northwest Hiking

Although camping can be fun and enjoyable, it can also be a wonderful opportunity to try out some skills in crafting and using your own weapons.  Although a gun or knife while camping is an excellent way to protect yourself, there are also other camp crafts that allow you to have fun and enjoy your own weapons and hunting implements.

I remember the first time I made a spear to experiment with.  It was rather repudiated by those who saw it, but it brought a satisfaction few can truly know.  Handmade items tend to do that to a person, and it is this that brings many to learn the trade.  Our primary goal in creating a handmade weapon or device is for either hunting or protection, or for leisure time.

The first is the spear, and it excellent for use when you are finding time inching by.  A spear is useful for both protection and hunting, but is also fun to target practice with.  For practical purposes though, we’ll consider ours for  target practice.  The most important thing to remember when building a spear is weight distribution and arrowhead use.  These will affect the way your spear flies from stick diameter and weight, arrowhead size, and holding point.  Each should be considered when you are choosing one, but remember that it is going to be your own preference that is most important when selecting the size of your spear.

. . .Ready tomorrow’s blog as we continue with more information about a hiking and camping spear!

As a final to the series, I would like to take time to discuss in a little more depth the benefits of using different kinds of fire starter.  A variety of fire starting implements are available on the market, but in most cases, they are specific to only a few applications out in the great outdoors.  Here are some options for fire starting and their general uses.

• Matches:  The good ol’ fashioned way.  Get strike anywhere or hurricane matches.  They burn longer and will work almost anywhere.  Try to use matches only in dry weather and remember that they are always in limited supply.
• Magnesium Sticks:  Forever a personal favorite, this will start anywhere, in any weather, at any time.  Use these like a breath mint — no matter what you’re doing, it will always be good to have.
• Lighters:  Perfect for on the go.  Again, these will start any place, but they only have a limited amount of fuel, so use very wisely.   Wet or dry conditions are perfectly appropriately for this.

Some might suggest that all three is overkill, but my only suggestion is this: better to be caught with a backpack full of untouched survival gear than not found at all.  Safe hiking and stay warm, dry, and enjoying that campfire!

A hassle to deal with, wet conditions offer very few pleasures when it comes to fire starting.  Dry tinder is always a problem to come by, and when a fire is started, dry fuel that will provide constant heat is a hindrance.  Despite these almost insurmountable odds, a fire is possible to come by in wet conditions found in the Pacific Northwest, the New England area, and other areas around the world.  There are a few things to remember when starting a fire in wet environments, and if followed can provide an excellent fire for you to enjoy.

1. Fires in wet conditions, if given the right opportunities, can still start forest fires.  Sap from trees is still very flammable and can easily fuel an intense fire that will burn even wet trees and wood.
2. Start with dry tinder from under logs (i.e. leaves, small twigs, etc.) and under dense cover.  Then cover these in large amounts of sap from conifer trees.  Before lighting your fire, gather more tinder, larger logs that are as dry as possible, and finally your largest fuel for keeping the fire going.  If you can’t find large dry fuel, that’s okay.  Use a pocket knife to make sure the log is not wet deep into the wood, or find dead logs with bark attached and then peel it off to get the dry wood underneath.
3. To start your fires, use a magnesium stick with flint strip.  These will light no matter what condition they are in or how wet the conditions are.  You may also use a lighter, waterproof matches, or matches in a match case, but magnesium sticks last longer and are much more versatile than most other ignition sources.

Remember to still build a fire ring and fire line 6 feet away from the ring.  Stay warm and dry out there.  Happy hiking!

The easiest to deal with when building fires, dry conditions mean quick fires, but they also mean that fire hazards from dry underbrush could potentially start forest or brush fires.  There are two types of dry areas to be concerned with.  The first is desert areas with little to no brush and vegetation.  These include places like the Sahara, but for more practically purposes we’ll think about Death Valley in California.

Dry places like these are extremely difficult when trying to start fires, but pose little danger when it comes to ignition sources due to the low amounts of vegetation.  Caution should be exercised anywhere near brush and trees, but in general, finding firewood is going to be harder than anything.

The next kind of dry regions that exist are places such as eastern Washington.  These have high amounts of vegetation, such as sagebrush, and are usually somewhat to extremely arid.  Brush fires are easy to start and the large expanses of land covered in low vegetation produces prime brush fire conditions.

In either of these conditions and in others that exist, it is extremely important to remember several things:

1. Fires will start much easier, even with larger pieces of material.  Thus, they are easier to start and maintain, but can spread easily and quickly.
2. A fire ring should be built 36″ in diameter in which you will build a fire.
3. 6 feet around this, a fire proof fire line should be built that consists of only dirt or stones.  No brush or combustible material should be present at all.
4. Keep an eye on your fire, keep it going for a longer amount of time by adding green material, and be ready to extinguish it if necessary.

Remember to be safe out there.  Stay tuned for wet condition fire building and more tips on fire starting.  Happy trails!

It’s a scene out of a movie.  Half-starved and half-frozen, a survivor huddles around a patch of dry sticks, face marred and bruised from the preceding days.  He lights a match, hope glimmering in his eyes–face aglow by the meager flame.  As if in an act of cruelty, the wind blows out his last hope.  Alone and cold, he sets in for yet another cold night.

Exaggerated?  Absolutely! Is there truth to it?  Most definitely!  A source of heat is a life-saver, whether you are simply camping or actually in a survival situation, a campfire is a huge benefit.  And thus, it goes that a guide on fire starting is essential to any hiking literary pieces or collections.  There will thus be several guides with various scenarios in upcoming blogs.  The importance of these are for the following:

• Survival
• Cooking
• Wet Conditions and Fire Starting
• Dry Conditions and Fire Safety
• Warmth

Stay tuned and stay dry out there this wintry season of wetness!

As many know, snow is a leading factor in so many cases of the winter blues.  Hiking is inevitably effected, and always in such a manner that the sport becomes undesirable.  Let’s face it, snow isn’t fun to hike in when it is too deep, too cold, or too wet.  Luckily, there are a few tips to remember when out hiking in the snow that can help you have a fun time despite the winter season.

• Dressing with waterproof layers greatly increases the comfort of your hike by repelling water, keeping you dryer.  Always where a waterproof or resistant coat and pants to keep you as dry as possible.
• Wear boots that are water resistant and have either gortex shells or leather with tongues that are attached to the outer layer all the way up the tongue toward the ankle area.  This prevents snow and water from entering through cracks along the tongue and shoe wall, keeping your feet dry.
• Take hand and foot warmers.  These do wonders when you are out in the cold and trying to stay warm and dry.  They are usually activated either by exposure to air or by crinkling the package.  Either way, they will keep both your hands and feet warmer and help you to have a fun time out in the snow!

Remember, winter doesn’t have to keep you cooped up.  Hiking in the snow can be fun, just remember to always keep yourself dry and warm and always tell someone where you are going.  Happy trails!

When out hiking, one thing I find less and less of when watching people set up camps is their knowledge of knots.  Now granted, I’m no knot expert.  Heck, I can count the ones I know ten fingers!  But the point is, there are a few basic knots that come in handy when out hiking, and for any outdoors excursion for that matter.  The essentials I have found are the quick release knots, the non-slip knots (like the bowline), the square knot, and the granny.  Few people know all of them, and even less can tie them quickly.

I remember several harrowing times climbing trees while hiking where I needed a quick knot to secure my rope to something.  Not an experienced rock climber, it can become difficult and dangerous when exploring places you don’t know very well that are steep.  But luckily, knots like the bowline give you superior strength with minimal if any slip.  Many other instances, such as free climbing rock walls and getting into a bind halfway up have also set my attitude about this.

If you don’t know good knots, I implore you to pick up a book or study some knots online.  Of all of them, the essentials I listed above are pretty much necessary.  I can promise you won’t be disappointed  and those knots could even save your life one of these days.  Happy hiking!

Resources:
Online Knots Guide

Whether the winter or summer, spare clothing can be an essential and lifesaver in a survival situation.  Although you don’t want to take a whole wardrobe with you when out in nature (sorry ladies!), there are some tips that you should keep in mind to keep you safe and the risk of exposure down.

First off, pack a hat and gloves — they are essential when stuck in cold whether.  Also bring a windbreaker to help keep the rain and wet from getting in contact with your skin, speeding hypothermia.  Lastly, pack that extra sweater or long sleeve, moisture-wicking shirt.   This is a lifesaver in conditions where exertion may cause you to sweat.

Remember folks, be safe, stay dry, and be prepared!   Happy trails!