Backpacker’s Checklist

Backpacker’s Checklist

The checklist here includes the essentials for camping in the backcountry. I’ve also included some hot tips and links to necessary gear which can keep the load to a minimum and yet not compromise the gear’s performance. This checklist can be modified and adjusted as necessary.

Backpacker’s Checklist of the Essentials:

_____ Backpack
_____ Water filtration system
_____ Tent
_____ Topographical Map
_____ Sleeping Bag- down or synthetic
_____ Tarp and Rope
_____ Sleeping Pad- lightweight, self-inflating or closed cell
_____ Headlamp/Waterproof Flashlight
_____ Stove/Fuel Canister
_____ Hiking Shoes
_____ Pots/Pans- aluminum pie plates for serving
_____ Rain/Wind Gear
_____ Cooking/ eating utensils/ Drinking Cup
_____ Insulating Layers: Capilene and/or Fleece Down Jacket
_____ Camp Suds/Camp towel
_____ First Aid Kit
_____ Leatherman/multipurpose tool
____ Fire Starter Kit
_____ Small Pillow Case
_____ Insect Repellent

HOT TIP: If your lightweight down jacket (see North Face down jacket or Patagonia Down Sweater) travels with you even in the summer months, stuff it in the pillow case. Instant pillow.

Firestarter Kit

_____ Birthday Candles (the “trick” ones)
_____ Firestarter Sticks (small)
_____ Dry Tinder
_____ Matches with Waterproof container
_____ Cotton Balls (include in your first aid kit)

HOT TIP: Soak your cotton balls in neosporin (included in your first aid kit) and use them as fire starters under your dry tinder.

They may not be in the checklist, but don’t forget your hiking poles. Your body will thank you for remembering them.

Camping Tips To Help Make Your Camping Adventure Tons Of Fun

Camping Tips To Help Make Your Camping Adventure Tons Of Fun

The best camping tip you can get is to abide by the Boy Scout motto and be prepared. There are all sorts of things that can happen on a camping trip so expect the unexpected. Make lists of items that you should bring and pack all the essential equipment. Take into consideration the area where you will be, any rules for the camping site, weather conditions, safety and fun.

The Campsite
Make sure you have the proper equipment for camping. Know what sleeping arrangements are and where you will be cooking. If you are using a camper or RV, much of this will be supplied in your facilities but you will need to know any rules for the particular campsite. If you are sleeping outdoors, make sure you have tents and sleeping bags as well as warm clothing. Bring waterproof matches for campfires and cooking. Set up tents according to instruction. Always leave your campsite the way you found it. The best rule of thumb is to make sure it looks like you were never there.

Food
Bring only the cooking utensils you will need to prepare meals and eat. You will not have a dishwasher and may not have trash bins available. So, make sure you can easily clean and dispose of food items and waste. Bring lightweight, non perishable and easy to cook and clean food items. Canned foods, trail mix, soups and stews are great nutritional meals that are easy to store and carry.

My favorite way to cook while camping is over the fire, using a tripod and aluminum foil. There are lots of delicious meals you can cook by putting a few ingredients in a piece of foil, sealing it, and cooking it. Cleanup is a breeze. There are no dishes to wash. You just need to properly dispose of the used aluminum foil. Do an Internet search for campfire recipes and youll get lots of delicious foil/pouch campfire meal ideas. While getting ready for camping, do not forget the water. Make sure you have plenty available to keep hydrated and to cook with.

Weather
Plan for the expected weather conditions in the area but do not be surprised if there is a sudden climate change. For summer bring hats for protection, sunscreen and insect repellant. For winter, make sure to dress in layers, wear sunscreen, and have waterproof footwear. Always bring extra clothing in case of a climate change. Even in hot weather it can get very chilly at night. Prepare for rain by ensuring you have shelter, tarps and waterproof attire.

Safety
A first aid kit is a required piece of camping equipment. These can be found pre made in pharmacies and outdoor sporting goods stores. Rope, a flashlight and waterproof matches are also important. Having a compass available will help in case you get lost and a whistle can help you call for help even if you are fatigued. If leaving the campsite, make sure you bring food and water supplies.

Fun
Bring games and toys, especially if you are traveling with children. A game of Frisbee or football is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Bring your fishing rods and canoes for fun on the water. Do not forget to bring binoculars and a camera for hikes and nature walks. You may want to bring art supplies and books in case of inclement weather. For nature walks, insect and plant guide books are usually lightweight and can help you identify wildlife and items in nature.

Camping can be great fun but you should always prepare for things that may come up. Sudden changes in weather can occur and accidents can happen. Make a list of the supplies you will need and carefully pack for your trip. Being prepared will help ensure you have a great time and stay as safe as possible in all conditions.

Going On A Camping Trip?

Going On A Camping Trip?

Camping outdoors can be an exciting adventure. Camping is a great way for family, friends, and loved ones to have a wonderful outdoor experience. Camping can create unforgettable memories: from exploring the woods to telling ghost stories around the campfire. Now before you go camping, you should be well equipped. Bringing along the right materials is a necessary when camping. Here is some advice about what you should bring along a camp trip:

Equipment

Tent One of the first things you should bring is a tent. A good idea would be to bring an extra tent as well, in case one of the tents becomes damage on the trip.

Sleeping Bags You will need something to keep yourself warm, and to use as a blanket. The woods, forests, and mountain areas are often cool during the night.

Cell phone to call for help if needed

Backpack Bring a backpack to carry the items you will bring with you

- Other items:
Towels, toilet paper, flashlight, rain gear, bug repellant, and matches (You will need matches for the campfire.)

Clothes

You should only pack clothes that will be necessary for you to wear when camping. You dont want to over-pack, because over-packing will only become a burden to you. You will not exactly have a lot of places to store your clothes. Here is a basic list of clothes to bring:

Jacket For when it is cool outdoors
Shirts
Long pants It is good to wear long sweat pants when jogging to avoid ticks
Bandana These help absorb sweat
Extra Socks
Shorts
Hat

Food Utensils

Cooler You can store your food inside a cooler
Utensil you use to eat with (e.g. forks, spoons, cups, etc.)
Utensil you use to cook with (e.g. pans, pots, knives, can-opener etc.)

The advice in this article will be helpful for anyone planning to go on a camping trip.

Preparing For Disaster. Diabetic Preparedness Key To Survival This Season

Preparing For Disaster. Diabetic Preparedness Key To Survival This Season

When Hurricane Katrina struck last August, people with diabetes faced particular challenges, especially those using insulin. More than 20 million people in America have diabetes, and many others suffer with other chronic health conditions.

During this year’s hurricane and tornado season, Eli Lilly and Company, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of insulin, suggests that individuals with diabetes or any other chronic illness should follow the guidelines below, no matter where you live:

• Medicine and supplies should be stored in a defined location to be easily gathered if you must quickly evacuate home or work.

• Keep cool packs in your freezer to keep medicine cool.

• Compile an easy-to-reach kit including:

• Medical supplies: syringes, cotton balls, tissues, swabs, blood glucose testing strips, blood glucose meter, lancing device and lancets, urine ketone testing strips, items for your therapy and blood sugar monitoring

• An empty hard plastic bottle to dispose of syringes and lancets

• Cooler for insulin

• Pen and notebook

• Glasses

• Copies of prescriptions, insurance cards, medical information and contact list, including caregiver’s and physicians’ names and phone numbers

• Physician’s orders for your child’s care on file at school and in your disaster kit

• Glucagon emergency kit and fast-acting carbohydrate (glucose tablets, orange juice)

• Nonperishable food such as granola bars and water

• First-aid kit, flashlight, whistle, matches, candles, radio with batteries, work gloves

• Supplies for at least a week

• Something containing sugar in case you develop low blood sugar.

“No one can fully anticipate a natural disaster, but with preparation, people with diabetes can manage their disease,” said Dr. Sherry Martin, medical advisor, Eli Lilly and Company. “Taking the time to prepare could make a huge difference in an emergency.”

If disaster strikes, remember to:

• Maintain meal plan, keep hydrated.

• Monitor blood sugar and record numbers.

• Wear shoes and examine feet often. If a foot wound develops, seek medical attention immediately.

• If relocated, call your doctors as soon as possible to maintain the continuity of your medical care.

• Parents of children with diabetes should identify which school staff members will assist children in an emergency.

• If you are displaced, identify yourself immediately as a person with diabetes so authorities can provide medical care.

Entrepreneurialism A Walk In The Dark

Entrepreneurialism A Walk In The Dark

When you chart a course for entrepreneurialism the experience can be exhilarating, stressful, encouraging, discouraging, promising or filled with pitfalls. And the way you would describe your feelings can change moment to moment.

The above roller coaster description is one of the reasons some individuals feel entrepreneurialism is something they would like to pursue, but apprehension hangs over the possibility like a black cloud.

One of the best ways I can describe the experience of an entrepreneur is being shown a beautiful mountaintop with fresh springs and peaceful meadows. You want to get to that mountaintop, you desire to drink from those fresh springs and enjoy moments of tranquility in the meadow. In that moment you are ready to sign up for the adventure.

Youre ready to go, but the tour director tells you to wait just a little bit longer. By the time you get the go ahead its dark outside. The only thing you have to guide you is the memory of the destination and a flashlight.

You point the flashlight in the direction of the mountaintop, but the darkness swallows the light. You look nervously at the tour director and he encourages you to start your journey.

Just as youre ready to quit and go home, the tour director says, Point the flashlight toward your feet. It will light just enough so you know where to put your next step.

In many ways this is the picture of what it is like to become an entrepreneur. You have seen the place you want to go, but the darkness of how to get there can throw you off track. When you deal with issues one at a time its a lot like pointing the flashlight at your feet so you can see where to step next.

The memory of where you want to go is the motivation that keeps you moving forward, and when morning comes you can see how far youve come.

Entrepreneurialism is the fine art of looking at the unknown and deciding its worth the effort to become friends.

There really is an element of faith involved in the pursuit of entrepreneurialism. It takes believing in yourself, believing in an idea and believing that the effort is worth it.

If you are in the midst of pursuing an entrepreneurial goal let me offer this encouragement, if you can keep the end goal in mind and keep making steps toward your goal you have done something many havent. Others may see the mountain, they may dream about the springs and meadows, but darkness is frightening and its easier to do nothing than take a step into the unknown.

Flashlight Buying Guide

Flashlight Buying Guide

Gone are the days when buying a flashlight meant one would automatically seek out Maglite. Whilst recognising the impact and unprecedented success of the Maglite design, LED, HID (High Intensity Discharge) and Xenon technology along with ultra strong casing materials means that the flashlight has evolved to a state where the more powerful the beam does not necessarily mean the larger the flashlight.

When seeking out high performance, reasonably priced lighting tools it is easy to become swamped by the amount of brands on the market. Flashlight technology at the beginning of the 21st century offers a baffling variation of bulb type, body material, body size, power source and price range. This guide is a brief overview of the salient points worth consideration when buying any quality flashlight.

In the same way that feet measure length so lumens measure brightness. The higher the Lumen count the brighter and further the beam will show. Occasionally you may find brightness levels measured in Candlepower or Candelas, this describes a unit of light at source. One Candlepower/Candela is equal to 12.57 Lumens.

Perhaps the most significant breakthrough in lighting technology was the L.E.D. (Light Emitting Diode). The L.E.D. produces light on a molecular level as distinct from a normal bulb, which heats a filament therefore using more energy to produce less light. As a result an L.E.D. will last a lifetime and dramatically lengthen the life of a battery. They do, however, vary in purity. Like diamonds, at the point of production some produce clean white light whereas others have a very slight blue, violet or green tint.

Xenon Lights produce a broad spectrum of light (including infrared) and can be made to have a high maximum lumen output by the inclusion of Xenon gas in the bulb thus enabling light to be produced at a higher pressure, but they are comparatively less efficient users of power. H.I.D technology (High Intensity Discharge) uses a Xenon bulb slightly differently with the addition of a tubular outer bulb and an inner arc tube with a cerium-doped quartz partition in the bulb to block out most ultraviolet. HID torches have lumen output of approximately 500-1000. Lighting technology could be described as a battle between light and heat, as the energy to produce the heat detracts from that which produces the light. The undoubted master is the LED. It makes light without the need to heat a filament, thus lengthening bulb and battery life. However the power from a Xenon bulb can be astoundingly bright yet harder on the batteries.

Casing material has progressed so far as to be almost indestructible if dropped and virtually water resistant in very wet conditions. A good, quality flashlight will invariably have an Aerospace grade aluminium body and a rugged construction and design.

Manufacturers vary in quality and specialism. Surefire have a quality range of Xenon and LEDs with a comprehensive range of accessories. Ledwave produce excellent, powerful and reasonably priced LED and Xenon lights. Nextorch can boast the extraordinary Saint, capable of producing a massive 450 lumens, plus a range of ingeniously, versatile LED, Xenon and rechargeable torches.

Navigating the labyrinth of flashlight production is tricky and ultimately dependant on what job will be asked of it. Lumen output to size ratio, tough hardwearing casing material and bulb / battery life are essential elements to take into consideration when choosing a lighting tool to last and perform over time.

A Sun-burnt Roof!

A Sun-burnt Roof!

We’ve waited so long to enjoy the sun; to sit on the deck while the barbeque sizzles and sip our cold drinks. The last thing we want to consider is the damage it is inflicting on our properties. Inflicting right now, as we sit relaxing…

Wooden decks, roofs and even interiors can really take a beating each year, simply by being exposed to the sun. For those of us who live in permanently sunny areas, the damage can be inflicted quickly and it is a known fast that roofs do not last as long in desert areas.

What of other areas? We know how to protect the exterior, but in order to apply stain and paint but we have to wait, because it is too damp and then suddenly the sun is here – and its hot! We are getting sunburn trying to stop our homes from getting sun burn!

The good news is that some protection is more thorough than others, and if this is applied at least your labor will be paid off. Some of the well recommended stains are Cabot’s, Total Wood Protection (with UV protection), and Penofin.

Also beneficial is a yearly check on your roof and woodwork. The woodwork inspection, you can probably carry out yourself, but often the roof inspection often gets a quick upward glance and that’s it.

Tiled roofs that need attention can often be spotted by close observation. Get up on the roof and look carefully for tiles with corners lifted, tiles slightly askew, curling edges or ones with a tear. If you see substantial damage, it is best to call in a roofing contractor.

Home repairs are only recommended for minor problems. Check that the roofing felt underneath is not cracked or damaged, if it is, you will need to repair this, usually by re-tarring it, before replacing the tile.

It is fairly easy to buy a packet of roof tiles at the hardware store and replace a damaged tile. Simply position it and nail it on by attaching the tile at each corner. It is recommended to ‘waterproof ‘ the nail head by painting it with roof tar, or try the USA Topcoat designed for asphalt shingle roofs (a three coat process).

It is more difficult with flat roofs covered in rolled asphalt. One easy way to check it is to have someone ‘spotting’ in your attic and get up on the roof with a flashlight. If there is a light showing through, there must be a crack in your roofing.

Another indicator is moisture on your one of your beams, not that this will necessarily tell you the whereabouts of a leak, as water runs along beams etc. You could follow the trail, and if you think you have found it then try the flashlight test.

There are many products on the market to patch up an asphalt roof, but obviously a roofing contractor is your best bet. However, if you are toying with the idea of a new roof, and just want to stop the leaks for a while longer, then spot repairs may do the trick!

Bicycle Flashlights: Adding Safety To Your Ride

Bicycle Flashlights: Adding Safety To Your Ride

LED flashlights are an economical and safety conscious choice for any bicycle rider. Many riders overlook this piece of safety equipment because it has been traditionally considered too bulky or heavy to carry on a bike. However, there are a number of bike light options now available that are easy to carry and versatile, making them perfect for bicycle safety.

Why Carry a Light on Your Bicycle
Anyone who bicycles should consider keeping a light on their bicycle. There are a variety of types of lights that can be used on bicycles. Bicycle specific lights, such as an LED bike chip, are wonderful investments. The LED bike chip connects to the bicycle, providing a bright, hands-free source of light. If you need a flashlight, you can easily remove the LED bike chip and use it as a hand held flashlight.

There are a variety of reasons for carrying a flashlight on your bicycle. The most obvious is for safety. In the summer, when many people bicycle in the evening to take advantage of the cooler temperatures, it is easy to end up far from home with darkness rapidly approaching. While there are hours of additional daylight, once darkness settles in, it gets dark quick. What starts as a leisurely ride can quickly turn frightening if you take a wrong turn or encounter a flat tire. A bright LED torch is the perfect companion for your ride. The LED torch has a compact size, a bright light and long battery life.

If you need help, a strobing light can bring it. While you may think the chances of injury or danger on you bicycle are rare, it only takes a pothole to damage your bicycle beyond repair, or even a minor wreck to leave you too sore to ride home. A strobing light will be noticed by passers-by, and is just the thing to bring someone to the rescue. Many strobing lights can be used as a regular flashlight, and switched to strobing if necessary.

What Makes the Best Sort of Light
LED flashlights are a good choice for the bicyclist. The battery life of the LED light is extraordinary, and the clear, bright light that the LED flashlight emits is a wonderful safety feature, particularly in foggy conditions. If you are frequently out in the early morning or late evening hours, or at times when the weather is unpredictable, a strong light, such as an LED torch is a safety conscious choice.

The batteries in an LED flashlight, as well as the bulb, last an extremely long time, often thousands of hours. Compare this to traditional filament flashlights and you can see the benefits of an LED flashlight. Also, an LED flashlight will gradually lose strength over a period of time, while a traditional flashlight will work one time, and the next time, it will be dead. Because you are unlikely to use your flashlight each time you ride your bicycle, it is important that you have a flashlight with a long shelf light. If you have a traditional light bulb, you would find it necessary to carry extra batteries and even a spare bulb, but with an LED flashlight, all you need is your flashlight. You can easily find a small LED flashlight that will fit into the palm of your hand.

~Ben Anton, 2008