Northwest Hiking

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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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

It is essential to always have ample medical gear with you when hiking.  Whether you have a broken leg, or need a band-aid, a medical kit should provide you with enough supplies to at least improvise almost any emergency medical device or technique needed.

We’ll take a look over the next few posts on several different aspects of medical kits and which ones will be suitable for you.  The three categories are:

• Short Term Day Hikes
• Extended Hiking
• Camping
• Backpacking

Each have their own unique need when it comes to medical supplies, and great respect should be dealt with the handling and putting together of medical supplies for each.  In one case, a large medical supply kit might be necessary, but in another, a simple day first-aid kit should be ample.  Either way, stay tuned for the breakdown of survival and what it can do for you when hiking in the Northwest.  Happy trails!

Wilderness survival is a must for all advanced hikers and backpackers.  Some prefer to stay out for a few days, while others will go on long extended backpacking trips.  Either way, it is extremely important to know wilderness survival past more than a day hike.  And even then, such knowledge is valuable and lifesaving in the event of being stranded.  We’ll focus on a few different aspects of wilderness survival in this series, and touch on the important points that you should focus on.

If you feel like you need on-hand experience with wilderness survival, I would definitely suggest taking a course with your local sportsman’s club or outdoor recreation center/trainer.  The information gained is extremely precious when in a survival situation, and you can learn a lot from even a short introductory course.  Stay tuned for more!

Pets can be an awesome companion on the trail, with their infectious personality and need to explore the world around them.  For hikers, a dog can make a trip better and worth the while to get out for some exercise.  Some of the best memories can be made when hiking or backpacking with an ever faithful dog.  There are some things to remember out of courtesy to others, however.

When taking a pet out on the trail, remember that there are appropriate trails and areas to take an animal on.  These should be marked, but always check beforehand to avoid disappointment and to be respectful of other hikers.

Also remember that animals make messes, and these are the obligation of the owner to clean up and pack out.  Many recreational areas and regions even have stringent laws on the picking up of animal feces on the trail.  Take plastic bags or a doggy scooper to solve this problem.

Also remember that an animal must be leashed when on a trail unless otherwise stated.  This is not only wise, but it will also save a lost pet and keep one from wandering off.  Remember, be safe and have fun with your pet on the trail!

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!

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!

Part III:  Human encounters

As a last part in this series, I wanted to touch a little bit on protection from our own “species,” if you will.  Although many don’t like to think about it, the unfortunate fact of life is, not everyone you meet on the trail will always have good intentions.  Luckily in my own experiences, I have had no ill encounters which required any sort of protection.  The occasional redneck that had 3 or 4 too many drinks has been an occurrence, but in most cases, talk of fishing is what they’re really after.  No, the more likely danger would be that of drunken teenagers looking to rough someone up, or a “camper” who wouldn’t mind pilfering someone’s cash and equipment.

Remember that when a situation is potentially dangerous but can be diffused easily by meeting a demand, compliance is always your better option (within reason).  However, when a mere compliance will not alleviate the problem, more drastic measures may be an option for your protection.  There are three things I like to consider using when hiking.

• Pepper Spray:  Pepper spray works by temporarily blinding an assailant, causing extreme pain and loss of vision.  This is a good alternative when taken by surprise by someone.
• Firearm:  A 9mm is going to be a pretty convincing weapon against an attacker.  I discourage any use of deadly force, but when hiking, it is always an option to think about.  Remember that in National Parks, the carrying of weapons is severely limited, so check with the regulations and about getting permissions/permits to carry if you want to pack while in such an area.
• Taser:  The tasers which you can now get for your own protection are excellent when facing someone much larger than yourself and at closer distances.

You don’t want to be a walking soldier, but remember that one of these ways of protecting yourself could conceivably save your life.  Hiking is an amazing recreational opportunity, and no one should ever let themselves be discouraged over the mere possibility of trouble on the trail.  Just the same, protection is a vital thing, and should not be overlooked!

Part II:  Wildlife Encounters

Since wildlife is a fact of hiking, protection against the various critters is sometimes a necessity in some areas.  Bear, cougar, bobcat, and other wild animals pose a mild danger when you stumble upon them.  Most of the time, they’re going to run far away from a stranger stumbling upon their home, but in some rare cases, attacks happen.  Here are some ways to protect yourself:

• Bells:  A bell on a hiking or walking sick works wonders to warn wildlife that you’re on your way in. This is especially important in bear territory where stumbling upon a bear could provoke an attack.
• Pepper spray/bear repellent:  Although a lot of controversy has been focused on the true effectiveness against bear, bear repellent does have some deterrent effects, mild as they may be in some cases.  If nothing else, it won’t hurt to give it a few good shots as you make your careful retreat (without encouraging more aggression).
• Firearms:  I hate to say it, but in many cases, a .357 or .40 caliber is the only thing that will drop a bear bent on taking you out.  I do not under any circumstances encourage a happy trigger finger or a light mindset about packing, but I do know that the dangers are real.  For me, firearms are going to be an important essential when hiking in areas that allow firearms kept with you.  In some areas, this requires a permit and/or special permission.  If you do decide to go with firearms, this might be an option to consider.

Don’t let wildlife discourage you from hiking!  They can be some of the most amazing creatures when dealt with care and responsibility.  Just remember to always be smart and to be respectful when hiking.  Happy trails!