Tips For What To Bring While Vacation Hiking And Walking

Tips For What To Bring While Vacation Hiking And Walking

Here are some suggestions for your walking – hiking vacation equipment. This is not intended as a complete list, just a guide to get you thinking.

The most important item to bring is a quality comfortable daypack or backpack to carry your goodies in. There are few things to keep in mind when choosing the right pack. Wider shoulder straps are more comfortable than narrow ones. Look for extra padding. These two things can save you a good deal of discomfort.

You can also look for packs that have an attached belt that goes around the waist. This can help tremendously to support the weight of the pack.

Make sure you get a pack that is big enough to carry the items you have chosen to bring. This will vary from person to person so try to plan ahead before you purchase your day/back pack.

Look for a pack with quality material that will hold the shape. Multiple compartments can be useful for finding things quickly.

If on a guided tour, keep in mind that the company will probably be moving the big baggage for you.

Water is not an optional item. You should carry enough water to last for the whole duration of your walk. Unfortunately water is fairly heavy and bulky. This is another reason to get a quality comfortable pack that has room enough to hold your water bottles.

The Food that you bring will depend on your individual tastes and the nature of the walk you are planning. High energy snack foods are popular because they are light and carry well in the pack. Others are salty foods, trail mix, hard candy and electrolyte powder or drink.

When it comes to clothing – be prepared for anything.

The key is layers so that you can adjust easily to changes in weather and temperature. For the inner layer, avoid cotton as it absorbs moisture thereby keeping it close to your body. Best are man-made “poly” type fibers. These will wick moisture away from the body.

This includes your socks. A thin inner poly layer can be covered with a thicker layer of another material for cushioning.

The outermost layer should be wind resistant and don’t forget a raincoat. If you are properly prepared walk in the rain can be a wonderful experience.

Make one of your optional layers a heavy wool sweater along with warm wool hat. These can be extremely useful when “sunny and cool” suddenly turns to “cloudy, damp, and cold”.

You can never count on fair weather. Plan for the worst. But don’t let a little bad weather discourage you. Think of it as “atmosphere”. A little wind and rain will make the next pub stop that much cozier.

Invest in a good pair walking, running or hiking shoes that do not bind either at the toes or on the sides. Be sure to break them in before using them on the extended distances.

A hat, preferably with a wide brim, will help keep you cool and protect you from the sun. A bandana is good head protection and is an all around useful item to have.

Sunglasses with polarized lenses are essential eye protection.

For skin protection you will need 30PF or higher sunscreen.

Walking Stick

Moleskin or molefoam for blisters

Insect repellent

Map

First-aid kit

Flashlight (make sure the batteries are fresh)

Camera, film

Notebook and pen

Binoculars

Compass

GPS

Pedometer

Electrical outlet converter (depending where you travel)

How To Get Your Kids Along On Your Next Hike

How To Get Your Kids Along On Your Next Hike

How to get your kids along on your next hike is really a challenging question to answer. No matter, whether you are an experienced hiker or just a beginner, perhaps this is the biggest dilemma a parent can face in their lifetime. Most of us think that it is almost impossible to go on hiking with kids, especially on long and risky trails. But you can get your kids on your hike by considering two things i.e. making some modification in your goal and another is little planning. What type of goal you should choose for hiking with kids and what you should plan are two keys for a successful kids hike. Needless to say, if you win over these two things or combat these two issues then you can certainly take your kids on hiking.

Although you may face a little difficulty with kids but it would be a wonderful experience to carry them with you. Kids really like outdoor events and they can reap different benefits with outdoor events. As a parent or guardian you must take your kids on relatively shorter hikes. Outdoor events such as hiking increase their knowledge, increase their team building skills, and increase their endurance along with other health benefits. Hiking with kids would be a great decision from the perspective of family health and it is also fun. For many children, it’s the journey that’s important, not how long the journey is. So, whenever you get a chance to take them along never miss it. So make your hike a fun with kids; surely you can do it, you dont need to give up your hiking as you have kids. However, you need to be a bit more careful and planned than usual, but it is not very difficult especially when both of you are determined.

So, guys when you plan your hike with kids change your goals. According to experts, goals should be based on the ability of the youngest child, as they are the weakest link in the whole chain. Perhaps the best idea is to take some of their friends or siblings along with them, so that they wont feel bored. As these young buddies are slower, delicate and inexperienced, so they cant move like you adults. Think carefully about your goal or destination where you wish to go, and as far as possible keep your goals easier if you are taking your kids for the first time. While deciding the visiting place keep in mind that it should be easy to reach and near the home because you have a little creature with you and which is not tough like you.

Next, as far as possible encourage them to carry their own backpack as it gives them a sense of belonging as well as a purpose to be there, but be prepared to carry their backpack in case they get tired or exhausted. Sometimes, they dont like to carry their own backpack even when they are not actually tired. In such events encourage them to carry their backpacks and motivate them by candies or chocolates as special treats or rewards. Quite obviously, keep their backpack small and light, otherwise they may hurt themselves. Initially, instead of backpack, you can encourage them to carry their own water bottle or snack. As they get stronger and experienced, let them take their own small backpack. There are different types of child backpacks available in the market, so you should get a good quality backpack for them.

Keeping your goal shorter and easier has multiple benefits. First, you yourself will not be able to go very far or high because you have a much heavier backpack than usual because you have to carry many extra things for kids like napkins, shoes, clothes etc., second there is a less strong companion with you in terms of abilities, third kids often lack in patience and if their delicate feelings are hurt in anyway they may not like to go along with you next time. Therefore, better to start small children on short trails over easy and low terrain. Although, it all depends upon the strength and temperament of your kid along with few other factors, but according to experts in terms of ability, children can cover about 1 mile for every year they are in age. That means if your kid is 4 years old then he/she has an ability to go for 4 miles. But, never treat this formula as a rule of thumb as they may not actually want to hike that far, but in general they could have the ability to do so.

In addition to the above mentioned considerations, actually there are many more things to be considered while going on hiking with kids, such as special kids clothing & footwear, Wet wipes and tissues, kids backpack, water & snacks along with a compass, a map, a flashlight, waterproof matches, bug dope, sunscreen and a whistle.

Last but not the least, you should pay utmost respect and attention to various safety considerations. As they are young, delicate and inexperienced, so you need to be very careful about their safety. First of all equipped them with right gears and accessories such as running or tenis shoes instead of open-toed shoes, adequate clothing as per the weather conditions in several layers that can be removed easily when they get warm, and added when they get cool, special purpose kids backpack to distribute the load evenly on their body. Next, when you go on hiking with kids, be prepared to survive from any injury because they are common especially in the case of kids. Never forget to carry a small, travel sized first aid kit for short hikes in the event of accidental scrapes or insect bites or other small injuries. Moreover, as far as possible keep them in your sight and watch them carefully even when you allow them to play with their buddies. Educate and warn them to keep away from bushes, steep ledges, overhangs, poisonous plants and dangerous falls. And ask them to make signals using whistle or any other alarming device in case of any emergency.

Well, if you can take care of these points, you will be having a rocking time together with your kids while on any hiking or trekking. Not only you will feel great, but your kids would also have a wonderful time in the outdoor trips filled with enough good memories of wonderful sights and time with their family. Although encourage and empower them to take initiatives, but never allow them unattended for a long time. Have patience, positive attitude and realistic expectations during the whole trip to make it more enjoyable and memorable.

I am sure, by following these simple tips, steps and ideas, your children will have a wonderful time in the great outdoors with you. And, the next time they will be more matured and learned to go along with you on longer hikes with more difficult goals!

Four Uncommon Outdoor Adventures

Four Uncommon Outdoor Adventures

When you are ready for outdoor adventures, but want to try something new, you have to think in new ways. Forget the mountain bike or the paid rafting tour. Here are some low budget interesting things you may not have tried.

Mine Hunting

A friend and I have been to Phantom Canyon six times this spring, hiking in the hills and exploring narrow gulches. Five of those times we have found an abandoned mine or two. Most were less than forty feet deep, and a classic hole in the wall. One was discovered by following a trail of beautiful quartz boulders uphill for twenty minutes, until we found where the rocks had been blown apart many years ago. There is a wall of pure quartz there, perhaps fifteen feet high and twenty wide. I have never seen anything like it.

Some of these are old claims on public lands. We just like to poke around, but in recent years treasure hunters have been taking metal detectors to these old mines to work over the tailings piles. Occasional gold nuggets are found inside the rocks there. To make this outdoor adventure more profitable and adventurous, you need to find the mines that are five miles or more from any road, like those in the San Juan mountains of southwestern Colorado.

How do you find them? We started by going online and searching “mines.” We obtained a list of 160 mines in Fremont County, Colorado alone. But only one of the five we recently found was on the list. Just hiking in mining country and keeping your eyes open works too. You can also find old mines noted on many topographical maps.

Searching For Swimming Holes

Ask around and you might get directions to hidden swimming holes. We found a beautiful one a mile down a small creek in this way. We also met fifteen other people there, jumping from the cliffs into a small pool.

If you want to find less populated ones, you need to get a topographical map and start searching. Look for narrow canyons with year-round streams (hard hiking and climbing assures you that there won’t be a crowd). Then you need to get out there and start exploring. I was out the other day swimming in a nice pool below a nine-foot waterfall, and in the six times I have been in that canyon, I have never seen another person.

Huckleberry Finn Adventures

Have you ever thought about building a raft and floating down a river like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer? This works best in wide rivers that have long stretches without rapids. We used to do it on the Manistee River in Michigan.

Our rafting adventures usually started with parking the car downstream from a long wild stretch and walking up the river for a hour or so, taking a shortcut that cut past the big loops and bends. We carried snacks and water, a saw and hatchet, and scraps of rope. By afternoon we had built a raft of dead trees and began the float back to the car. That’s usually when the real fun started. Here’s a tip: have long poles for controlling the 1,500-pound pile of logs and humans you’ll be guiding around and under trees.

Fishing For Smelt By Hand

In Northern Michigan and Wisconsin the smelt run up many streams in the early spring. People love these fish because they are easily cleaned and when deep fried do not need to be scaled. One night I saw the back of a pickup truck filled with the smelt from one small creek. They are caught simply by dipping a net in and scooping them out.

It’s nice to get outdoors at night (when the smelt run), but for a bit more fun, try catching them by hand. Just lay on the creek bank and hold the flashlight over the water. When a smelt swims by, quickly pin it to the bottom and grab it. I have caught 40 in a hour using this technique. They made a decent meal for several of us. This last one isn’t the most exciting of these outdoor adventures, but it is satisfying to catch dinner with your own hands.

Camping In The Wild

Camping In The Wild

Camping is well known as an enjoyable form of recreation, a chance for the family to get in tune with nature and to get away from modern civilization. A household may drive to a campsite for a weekend and choose to stay in an RV or a tent. Families may enjoy the idea of roughing it for a few days so that they can sample the purest joys of natural living.

However, many campers realize that todays idea of roughing it is a bit of a stretch. After all, if campers merely visit national parks, campsites and other publicly owned area they are going on a camping vacationa vacation that merely shares the theme of an outdoor adventure. This is why some campers have taken a more survivalist approach to a camping situation. This type of camping involves camping in the wilderness, away from the modern amenities of campsites. This camping may include hunting food from the wild and relying only on your wits and basic camping tools. Some people enjoy this style of camping as it provides more solitude and a much deeper connection with nature.

Some tools you may need along your camping trip may include a tent (or similar device meant for shelter), a sleeping bag for extra warmth, a lantern or flashlight, and storage bags and boxes for carrying items. Additionally, campers may also require sharp objects for cutting string or even large pieces of firewood. Bring along a hatchet or saw along with a pocketknife. You may also need a fair supply of rope in different sizes for stringing and hanging clotheslines. Remember that in some camping areas, creating your own fire may be illegal or simply impractical. In these situations campsite owners recommend taking along a portable stove.

Last but not least, if you are planning on hunting your own food then pack along a ghillie suit. This camouflage outfit is very effective and will help land you a good meal.

My Experiences With The Hawaii Earthquake And What I Should Tell You

My Experiences With The Hawaii Earthquake And What I Should Tell You

Aloha everyone from Oahu

My family is safe and sound. On Sunday October 15th 2006 at 7:08 AM I was lying in bed when I felt a vibration. For some reason I recall thinking there must be something wrong with the washer and dryer downstairs from our apartment. One minute later another vibration occurred and I sat up. My wife came into the bedroom and asked me if I felt that. I replied yeah and she said she thought it was an earthquake. Less than two minutes later our power went out.

Jan said she saw lights in the other building so I continued with our plans to take the family to breakfast as Pagoda Restaurant near downtown Honolulu. Then I started seeing something very dangerous when one knows what idiots drivers can be. The traffic lights were out. I only saw one light out so I continued until getting stuck on several major intersections with no traffic lights. What a bunch of morons, and yes we can include me in that group for not turning around and going home at the first light, people were driving through the blacked out light as though they had a free pass instead of treating it like a stop sign.

Lesson: Stay home

Finally making it to Pagoda restaurant, wondering if they were even open by now, my family and I parked to assess the situation. It seemed a bus driver had dropped a bunch of tourists off at the restaurant which turned out to be closed. My compliments to the restaurant. The provided free coffee and danishes to everyone. Pagoda Restaurant really shined during such a dark time.

We worked our way back home. Other drivers had woken up to what they were supposed to do at a blacked out signal light and just a few of them were playing chicken with all the good drivers. My wife changed the batteries in our portable radio

Lesson: Have plenty of batteries on hand

KSSK radio did a great job keeping people informed so the city officials contacted KSSK along with using the Civil Defense announcements. All in all the information from KSSK radio was essential.

Lesson: Get a radio with batteries

According to our Governor, she was on the big island (Hawaii) when the 6.5 earthquake hit. She stood in her door frame and watched her TV set get tossed across the room. Upon the second quake the hotel she was staying at was evacuated.

Lesson: Get in the door frame which is well supported if you can’t get out away from falling debris.

Although the phone lines were working via radio city officials suggested not using the phones except for emergencies. I was staying off my cell phone in case I need to keep it charged. Most people have cordless phones now. My wife’s cell phone was almost dead.

Lesson: Get one of those cheap phones that plugs into the wall.

On Oahu we found out power had to be restored slowly over the entire island and most of the state. We were told the water ran to us via gravity and to refill they had to use electric pumps. Some pumps didn’t have electric generators to pump the water. We were told via KSSK to use water sparingly and use bottled water if possible. Now, I had a problem with that. I told my family don’t do dishes don’t shower, but for cooking and drinking I wasn’t going to use up all our bottled water and then run out of city water. So we used the city water for cooking and drinking and saved our bottled water in case we lost the city water.

Lesson: Keep a good supply of bottled water

Getting dark now. My wife decided to fix dinner. We have an electric stove, but she had a propane driven stove used for camping. So she fixed spam, pees and rice. Spam is s staple here. Being an old Illinois boy I was surprised to see it on menus at restaurants. Our neighbors were cooking out on their drill.

Lesson: Make sure you have an alternative means to cook meals for your family

We turned on the high powered flashlights we had so we could see. The radio advised against using candles and I agreed. My son seven year old son Hunter played with the flashlight in all kinds of ways I’d have never thought of before. From hand puppets, which he was quite good at to telling us to close our eyes then covering the flashlight with a towel so he magically disappeared.

Lesson: Keep high powered flashlights. Keep working batteries in them since it’s hard to change batteries in the dark.

KKSK reported power coming on a little at a time. 20,000 homes out of over 800,000 had power in them. This was going to take all night. For some reason, though almost all businesses were closed, there were people lined up three blocks down to buy gas at the one station that was open. Whey they thought they needed to buy gas when their safest place to be was home I’ll never figure out.

Lesson: It costs just as much to fill the top of the gas tank as it does the bottom.

Another huge line was for a place selling huli huli (flip flip) chicken. The traffic got so jammed up one motorcycle officer told the people to stop selling chicken or he’d arrest them. This according to KSSK caller at the place selling the chicken. That was straightened out and hungry people were still allowed to buy chicken.

Lesson: Keep a good supply of canned goods and other staples.

Our own power came back on about 11:00 PM. We were all actually asleep when the power came back on. The city officials had recommended turning off the water heater to help keep the circuits from overloading so we turned that back on in the morning.

Not everything, as of the next morning (this morning) was completed by the city. There were still some traffic lights flashing and a few were still out. Police were directing traffic on some places but the morons who didn’t care for other people managed to find the other lights and risk everyone else’s lives’ by not being courteous drivers. Most people tried to be courteous towards other however and Hawaii drivers do seem to be more courteous than other states I’ve vistied. I recall my first day here being surprised when someone let on the highway and I got on it from the short on ramp.

This really could have gone a lot worse. Imagine the same morons with no signal lights during rush hour traffic on a Friday. Imagine people during rush hour traffic and no signal lights trying to get to the stores and gas stations and hospitals not thinking about the traffic but concerned for their families. One broken arm, according to reports I heard, was all that happened during this whole thing. We were lucky.

Now I have a question for you, since I know most of this is going in one ear and out the other. What is the difference between those unprepared people and you? They didn’t think it would ever happen to them either. They kept meaning to prepare, but had more important things to do.

Lesson: Prepare for an emergency before then emergency

Camping Tips For Families

Camping Tips For Families

Camping outdoors is a great way for families to spend quality time together, but it can sometimes get stressful for parents, especially those with small children. Planning and preparation are the keys to success in any event, so take a little time before your outing to plan some fun camping activities for the kids as well as the whole family.

To make things easier on you and your children, pack each days clothing in a separate plastic bag. At night, your little ones can return their dirty clothes to the bag and keep their clean items separate from the dirty laundry. Allow each child to choose a toy or two to bring along, but encourage them to keep it simple. Books, stuffed animals, or puzzle magazines are good choices.

Provide each child with their own flashlight for the camping trip. A personal light is not only fun for kids, it can make them feel more comfortable in the dark night air. Flashlights or personal lanterns allow children to read before bed, make shadow puppets in their tent, and make it safely to the bathroom at night. You may consider giving each child a Coleman for kids Illumistick when the sun goes down. Once activated the cool glow stick will provide light for up to twelve hours, long enough to make it until sunrise.

Enlist each childs help in preparation, meal time, and planning activities. Let young children help make trail mix for the trip and older children can pack their own suitcases. Plan one major activity each day, like hiking, horseback riding, or kayaking, and allow your children to explore the outdoors in their own way the rest of the time. Allow older children to help prepare meals and assign everyone a meal time duty, like setting the table or cleaning up.

Review your family camping rules before leaving for your trip and again when you set up camp. Remind your young children to stay within your view and older children to never go out of earshot. If your school age children are sleeping in their own tent, pitch the tent next to yours and provide them with a whistle in case they get lost or hurt while playing. Review the rules of nature etiquette with your children as well. Remind them to keep their voices down and to never pick the flowers or disturb the animals. Tell your children to stay on the marked trails while hiking and to always throw away their trash.

When you are camping with children, safety is usually a primary concern. Always carry a first aid kit with bandages, antibiotic cream, pain reliever, and any allergy medications. Remind your children that they can only play near fire or water if an adult is supervising the activity and make them avoid areas with ledges or steep drops while alone. Keep children in the middle if you go hiking or horseback riding to protect them from falls, snakes, and becoming lost and remember to check everyone for ticks each night.

16 Important Hawaii Travel Preparation Tips

16 Important Hawaii Travel Preparation Tips

Traveling to Hawaii for the first time can be hectic and exciting at the same time. Knowing what to pack and what to leave home can make a big difference in the quality of your vacation. These preparation tips will help you stay calm and arrive prepared for an unforgettable Hawaiian vacation.

Call the airline within 24 hours of your scheduled flight to check for delays and cancellations.

Arrive at the airport at least three hours before your flight is scheduled to depart.

Before leaving for the airport, open your wallet and make sure you have your drivers license, credit cards and cash. Double check to make sure you have your flight information and tickets as well.

Mark every piece of luggage clearly with your identification information, both on the inside and outside.

Lightweight luggage with wheels is best. Be sure to pack light and leave room for extra items that you will invariably purchase on the islands.

Call your hotel and check to see if they provide in room items like hair dryers and irons. If so, you can leave these bulky items at home. Packing easy care clothing that is wrinkle resistant or purchasing wrinkle release spray can keep your ironing on vacation as well.

Pack accordingly. Hawaiis weather is warm and sunny and the temperature ranges from 70-85 F all year. Pack light, brightly colored clothing made of breathable fibers.

Occasional showers may spring up, so be sure to include rain gear with that super size bottle of sunscreen! Hawaii is closer to the equator and the suns rays are strong! Even if you normally do not burn or think you have an adequate tan before leaving, you will still need a high SPF sun block.

Comfortable walking shoes and a pair of easy to slip on shoes are a must in Hawaii. Dress for warm weather and pack two or more bathing suits since youll most likely be spending most of your time on the water.

If your hotel has laundry facilities, consider packing half the clothes you will need and washing a load of laundry mid-week.

This really cuts down on your travel gear.

Dont forget to pack your sunglasses and your camera!

If you plan on hiking in the mountains or visiting Volcanoes National Park, temperatures drop drastically and you will need pants and long sleeved shirts that can be layered as the temperature changes during your trek. Packing a flashlight is also a great idea if you plan on hiking trails since some portions of the trail may be dark.

If hiking, pack a small backpack to hold necessities while on the trail.

Be sure to bring your prescription medication since it may be quite difficult to obtain after you arrive on the island.

Make sure your cell phone is programmed with important contact information and phone numbers in case of an emergency. Dont forget to pack your charger as well!

You may need a nice dress or sport coat for fine dining in Hawaii.

Pack light, pack smart, and plan for the unexpected when traveling to Hawaii. Brightly colored clothing is the rule, not the exception in Hawaii so break out your funkiest Aloha shirt and prepare for fun and sun in paradise!

Tornadoes: Basic What-to-dos

Tornadoes: Basic What-to-dos

Tornadoes are the most violent storm and one of Earth’s most dangerous catastrophes. Whirling winds usually exceed 100mph and can reach speeds of 300mph. An average of 1,000 tornadoes spin up beneath thunderstorms in the USA each year.

Tornadoes can occur any time of the year but they are most rampant during USA’s spring season because spring brings favorable tornado conditions.

The National Weather Service’s Glossary of Meteorology defines a tornado as “a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and pendant from a thunderstorm.” The thunderstorm is the first step in the formation of a tornado. If other weather conditions are right, the thunderstorm will spin out more tornadoes and cast catastrophe in land.

In the US, it damages the central and mountain state areas stretching from Texas to Nebraska. These states include Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas (known as Tornado Alley). In fact, tornadoes have already occurred in other states in the East Coast and West Coast but not as violent as what is normally occurring in the central and mountain states.

The six-tiered Fujita Scale ranks the damage that tornadoes make. F0 and F1 tornadoes on the scale are considered weak causing minimal to moderate damage with winds from 40-12 mph. F2 and F3 tornadoes are considered strong, packing winds of 113-206 mph that can cause major, severe damage. F4 and F5 tornadoes are classified with winds exceeding 206 mph.

Weak tornadoes travel in short distances for 10 minutes or less. Violent tornadoes, however, lasts for hours and can travel more than 100 miles.

Tornadoes can come without warning but there is always a tornado warning. Tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted. If it is issued in your area, seek underground storm shelter immediately and bring emergency necessities like aid kits and important documents. Aid kits first aid items, water, food, flashlight, transistor radio, batteries, and waterproof containers. Important documents an inventory of your belongings, appliances, furnitures, fixtures, for insurance purposes, and documents like birth certificates, etc.

BEFORE THE TORNADO

Know the signs of a tornado: Weather forecasting science is not perfect and some tornadoes do occur without a tornado warning. There is no substitute for staying alert to the sky. Besides an obviously visible tornado, here are some things to look and listen for: strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base; whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base — tornadoes sometimes have no funnel; Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen; Day or night – Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder; Night – Small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong wind, maybe a tornado; Night – Persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or silhouetted by lightning — especially if it is on the ground or there is a blue-green-white power flash underneath.

And lastly, have a family tornado plan in place. Flying debris are an added danger along tornadoes. When a tornado watch is issued, think about the drill and check to make sure all your safety supplies are handy. Or immediately check your storm cellar if you have available supplies down there.

DURING THE TONADO

Forget about the old notion of opening windows to equalize pressure; the tornado will blast open the windows for you!

The safest place to be during a tornado is underground. If there’s hurricane safe room in your home, a small room in the middle of house — like a bathroom or a closet — is best. The more walls between you and the outside the better.

AFTER THE TORNADO

Keep your family together and wait for emergency personnel to arrive. Carefully render aid to those who are injured. Stay away from power lines and puddles with wires in them; they may still be carrying electricity! Watch your step to avoid broken glass, nails, and other sharp objects. Stay out of any heavily damaged houses or buildings; they could collapse at any time. Do not use matches or lighters, in case of leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby. Remain calm and alert, and listen for information and instructions from emergency crews or local officials.

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If you are from the Central or Mountain states click this link to visit storm cellars in Oklahoma

Gun Holster Glossary

Gun Holster Glossary

When searching or researching gun holsters, it’s extremely important to fully understand the terms that are common in the industry. Not understanding the terms, can cause a significant issue as you may not be purchasing the style or model that you think you are. In my gun store, I can’t tell you the number of times a customer has ordered an IWB holster, not fully understanding what IWB (inside the waistband) means. As soon as the holster arrives to the customer, they call back claiming that they have received the wrong or incorrect item. In actuality, they received exactly what they ordered; they just didn’t take the time to learn the lingo.

Here are some commonly used terms in the gun holster industry that may help you as you are researching gun holsters:

Kydex – Thermoplastic material used for a number of applications, including holsters, mag carriers, and flashlight carriers

Leather – Material produced from animal hide that is used for a number of various applications, including holsters, mag carriers, and flashlight carriers

Shooting Hand – Refers to the hand that you actually shoot with.

Outside the Waistband or OWB – Means that the holster is worn on the outside of the waistband in some fashion versus inside the waistband.

Inside the Waistband or IWB – Means that the holster is worn inside the waistband in some fashion.

Tactical Holster – Refers to a holster that worn on the thigh of the shooting hand side.

Ankle Holster – A holster specifically designed to worn on the ankle.

Shoulder holster – A holster that incorporates a harness worn over the shoulder or shoulders. The holster portion of this rig usually rides under the armpit of the wearer’s weak side.

Crossdraw – A term used to describe a holster that rides on your weak side, but the drawing motion is performed across the body with the shooting hand. These holsters can be either OWB or IWB.

Small of the Back or SOB – Refers to a holster that carried in the small of the back near your spine. These holsters can be either OWB or IWB.

Strongside – A term used to describe the shooting hand side of the body. For example, if you shoot with your right hand, then the right side of your body (in particular your right side waist) would be considered your strongside.

Weakside – A term used to describe the non-shooting hand side of your body. For example, if you shoot with your right hand, then the left side of your body would be considered your weakside.

Offside – Another term used to describe your weakside hand (see Weakside above).

Cant – Refers to the angle that the holster rides. A straight up (also called a 0 cant) and a forward cant are typical in the shooting industry.

Bodyshield – A term used to describe a shield that serves as a protective barrier between the weapon and shooter’s body.

Tension Screw – Refers to a screw based device mounted within the holster itself that allows the shooter to adjust the draw tension to his/her specifications.

There are other terms that can be used, but the ones listed above will cover most situations. If you are shopping for a handgun holster, take a few moments to get familiar with these terms.

A Brief History Of Flashlights

A Brief History Of Flashlights

Humans have been looking for ways to create portable light sources since the beginning of history. Tree branches gave way to torches which were later replaced by candles and kerosene lamps. The problem was that you still had to rely on fire for light which was dangerous and impractical in certain situations.

The flashlight would soon be the answer to all of these problems. The history of the flashlight really begins with the invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison in 1879. Edison used a carbon filament, but it was replaced in 1906 by a tungsten wire filament. Around the same time, work was being done to create a portable battery. A German scientist, Dr. Carl Gassner, created the first battery in 1888.

The first flashlight was invented in 1898 by Conrad Hubert. He worked alongside David Misell, who would go on to invent the tubular flashlight. Conrad Huberts company, The American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company filed several patents related to flashlights in 1898. (Huberts company would later become Eveready.)

The flashlight changed form a few times, but the basic idea stayed the same. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in flashlights which do not require the use of batteries. This means they are ready to go whenever you need them. LED flashlights still use batteries but they are an improvement over traditional flashlights because they are able to run a significant amount longer on one set of batteries. They also have very bright lights which remain consistent even as the batteries begin to fail. Surefire flashlights are an excellent choice if you are looking for a high quality LED flashlight. Streamlight flashlights are also top of the line.

Today most flashlights fall into two categories. There are flashlights that are very bright which are used by police officers, the military and security teams. These flashlights can be quite advanced and are often expensive. Most people require a much simpler flashlight which is less expensive. You can find flashlights of almost every shape and size starting at only a few dollars.

The flashlight has come a long way from its simple beginnings. It has truly revolutionized portable lighting. As advances in technology continue to occur, it seems likely that at some point battery operated flashlights will be obsolete.

If you are interested in learning more about flashlights, there are several online sites which have photographs which show the progression of the flashlight. There are even flashlight museums that you can visit in order to get a closer look at how the flashlight has changed through the years.