Outdoor Quest

Helping the Searchers

2012-03-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

It’s 4:00 in the afternoon and weather conditions are worsening. It has been a long day that started well before first light. As darkness approaches you recognize that the hunt is over and you have no idea where you are, really are. You have your pack with the right gear and extra food. So, what are your options and how can you and help the searchers?

Search and Rescue teams are dedicated volunteers and professionals found in each county and province across North America. They spend hours in training, certifications, and on missions looking for the lost and injured.

Helping the searchers begins at home well before the trip or hunt. In Hunter Education, students are taught to always let a responsible person know where you are going and when you are expected to return. If you don’t return, they are to call 911. But there is more to it than that. I suggest that your fill out a Trip Plan (visit the Link page at www.outdoorqest.biz for the plan) just as a pilot would fill out a flight plan. This plan gives the searchers more to go on; details are important to the searchers. A vague statement of “he said he’d be hunting off the 400 road by Ball Butte” doesn’t help much. Your trip plan should cover a lot more information such as the coordinates of your start point and camp, license plate numbers of your vehicle, a comment regarding any medical issues and the names of your partners in the wilderness. Attach a map of your hunt area to the Trip Plan too.

Leave a copy of your Trip Plan with that responsible person, your family, a copy in camp, a copy with your partner’s family. Be generous.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Brunton Compasses

2012-03-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

(Riverton) — Riverton-based Brunton Outdoor Group formally announced Wednesday the return of its baseplate compass manufacturing from China. Hailing its new “Built Right, Right Here in Wyoming” campaign, the announcement was made in front of cheering employees, Governor Matt Mead, Wyoming National Guard Brigadier General Luke Reiner and a host of local and state dignitaries at the company’s manufacturing facility in the Central Wyoming College Business Park.

To read the rest of the article go here.

Wilderness First Aid

2012-03-16T07:21:00.001-07:00

Are you current in first aid. Technique and practices change. We all need to be ahead of the game.

This is a fine post from Seattlebackpackersmagazine.com.

by Tom Milne

Small pack – check. Right clothing and layers for the weather forecast (and worse) – check. Water and extra food – check. Headlamp – check. Current wilderness medical training and appropriate kit – ?

I enjoyed working as a mountain guide internationally for over a decade. A key responsibility of my job was managing the health and safety of my clients in the face of an overwhelming number of possible medical and logistical issues. Over time in the field and with training including Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Wilderness EMT I learned how to be prepared on the medical side while balancing the rest of my duties.

Planning for the unexpected is part of every experienced outdoorsperson’s preparation regardless of destination, activity or time spent out. Common medical issues in the backcountry range from cuts and scrapes and blisters. Serious scenarios include broken bones, shock, or anaphylaxis from an insect sting. In the frontcountry we have the luxury of a rapid EMS system response- help is here within 2-10 minutes of calling 911.

To read the rest of the post go here:

If the WFR is not afforadable for you check out the Red Cross or NOLS Wilderness First Aid class. Pricing ranges from $120 - $200. - Blake

Compass Accuracy

2012-03-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

After speaking at a land navigation lecture at a recent sportsman’s show, an attendee asked my opinion about the accuracy of his compass. His compass was a new model and about the size of a nickel. The rotating body was a circular plate rather than a more traditional red magnetic needle. The four cardinal points of a compass (e.g., north, east) was the only bearing information displayed. His compass was very limited in the information it could provide. It could only be counted on to provide a general trend of direction. I told him the accuracy of a compass depends on many different factors.

Do not assume all compasses give the same information; they do not. The type of compass purchased impacts the dependability of its information. Compass selection is critical to accuracy.

Grandfather’s compass from decades ago may no longer be the best selection for the hiker. The image below is of a compass made between 1910-1920. Though the dial is fairly detailed, the accuracy may be reduced due to the polarity of the magnetic needle. In general terms, the polarity is how the magnetic needle will react to the earth’s magnetic field. Over a period of almost 100 years, the compass’ magnetic needle may not move in relation to magnetic north as it did when new; that could mean the differences of several degrees. To prove this point take a new baseplate compass and compare the two (do not hold them near each other.) A navigator can also compare it a new compass or a location where a street or trail is known to run true north.

My recommendation then is to leave the old antique compass in a place of honor at home. It is time to consider buying a new compass.

When buying that new compass what compass should the navigator consider using? Unique to backcountry travel, the selection of the compass determines what tolerance for error is acceptable. Are 5° degrees of error acceptable? Remember 5° degrees of compass error over a one mile hike will put the navigator over 400 feet off the desired course. Most backcountry hikers don’t think that way in terms of the capability of their compass but it certainly makes an impact. If an inexpensive compass is purchased (generally less than $5) then the navigator should assume that the tolerance for error is high. Rarely do people consider the accuracy of their compass during a purchase. Having an accurate compass could mean the difference of making it to a critical rendezvous or trail junction.

So, let’s take a general look at the compasses on the market and discuss what options the navigator may expect. For simplicity, the categories fall into four general groups (listed in most accurate to least accurate):

Mirrored sighting compasses
Declination adjustable compasses
Non-adjustable compasses
Trend of direction

The most accurate and best choice would be a mirrored sighting compass such as the Silva Ranger model (below.) It is declination adjustable. The sighting system is unique and the analogy is that it would be like using the sights of a rifle. Such sighting inherently offers more accuracy. Expect to pay approximately $50. Please note that there are sighting compasses that offer a declination diagram etched in the compass housing but these models can not truly be mechanically adjusted.

Baseplate compasses that can be adjusted for declination is another solid option. Expect to pay approximately $15 - $30. Two examples of excellent choices are shown below. The owner’s manual provides instructions to adjust the compass. Remember that the magnetic needle still points to magnetic north but the compass housing’s dial has been adjusted for declination. The accuracy is acceptable but not as good as the mirrored sighting compass. I carry a Brunton 8010 G in my hunting pack and a Suunto M2 in my SAR pack (back up compass.)

Inexpensive base plate compasses ($5 to $10) that cannot be adjusted for declination are just obsolete; I acknowledge my prejudice. It is just not the best option. Though more adequate measurements can be made, the problem is that one must calculate for declination (add or subtract) which may lead to math errors. Such calculation errors can be significant in the backcountry. Finally, in the map and compass classes that I teach, I have observed that students have a degree of difficulty dealing with declination calculations. Navigation should be kept simple and very clear.

The small ball compasses and key chain compasses will provide only a trend of direction. An example would be that the hiker is walking in a northerly direction but not in a specific direction such as 045° (degrees true) or North East. Fine accuracy is just not achievable. Such a trend of direction will get you back to a baseline such as a long road or river. This could be a suitable back up.

Another factor associated with the very old models or cheap compasses is that they lack a liquid filled compass housing. The liquid dampens the movement of the magnetic needle when motion stops while sighting. That dampening capability is a very desirable characteristic because it allows the needle to settle and become steady quickly.

Finally, the correct technique of how the navigator holds and aligns the compass while sighting is very important. First, while following the owner’s manual instructions, adjust the compass for declination. Second, ensure that no magnetic objects are near the compass (such as a flash light, belt buckle or a knife). Third, while holding the compass at waist level, turn squarely towards a distant object. Hold the compass so that the direction of travel arrow points directly at the object. (Point the direction of travel arrow away from you; perpendicular to your body.)

Use a mirrored sighting compass the same way. It has many of the same features as the baseplate compass. Held at arm’s length when used, the sighting compass provides better directional control and bearing accuracy.

Education and knowledge of equipment function is a critical baseline that the hiker must attain. Having a solid foundation of Global Positioning System (GPS) operation, map and compass skills is absolutely essential for land navigation. Practice is important.

GPS receivers are accurate to +/- 15 meters or better. I don’t know anyone who would buy a used GPS unit that has an error of 100 yards; that level of accuracy isn’t acceptable. Why then would any navigator put his or his loved ones’ life at risk by not having a reliable, accurate compass?

Selecting a Magnetic Compass

2012-03-10T08:24:00.002-08:00

I felt fortunate to have been invited to attend a presentation on compass navigation by a senior Boy Scout troop leader. It was a quick overview on the key components of a compass and its use in land navigation. The troop leader quickly touched on purchasing a compass. His overview made me consider just what an outdoorsman should look for in a good compass.

My experience has been that most sales clerks in the large box stores and major retail outlets have no experience in the use of a compass. Their assistance is generally along the line of “…they are on aisle 12, half way down on the right;” and their knowledge isn’t that great. The folks at REI are generally dialed in and best of all, their selection is better. With a little research you will find a nice selection available at REI, Cabelas, and most of your outdoor stores that specialize in hiking and backpacking.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to buy a good quality compass. Consider the following when looking for a compass:

Brunton, Sunnto, and Silva all make good compasses. There are other companies, of course, but these manufacturers can be found nationwide. Prices start at about $20. Each company has less expensive models but I would pass on those.

The compass dial (the circular component with the degree markings) should be “graduated” in two degree increments. Those models with 5 degree increments or the small ball compasses (with the large safety pin type of clip) will give you a trend of direction through the woods but fall short when being used for serious land navigation.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Navigation - the 12 Most Common Errors

2012-03-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

A friend sent me a link to a facebook page of the Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue team.

The facebook post has excerpts from the book The Ultimate Navigation Manual by Lyle Brotherton. This looks like a great book.

Check it out here.

I will be expanding on this in the near future.

Book Review - The Natural Navigator

2012-03-05T16:02:00.000-08:00

I first learned of Tristan Gooley while reading an article in Outside magazine about two years ago. I was intrigued with the discussion and concept of the natural navigator. Navigation is a passion of mine, I bought a copy of The Natural Navigator – Pocket Edition.

First, let me tell you what this book is not. It is not a “how to book” of compass or GPS navigation loaded with maps, charts and technical diagrams with easy to remember mnemonics or rhymes (e.g., East is least, West is best.) I don’t know if the co-founder of the Silva compass firm and master orienteer Bjorn Kjellstrom would be at peace with this book; but that’s OK.

What The Natural Navigator is, is a book about personal observations that provide natural clues to orientation and direction in the backcountry. The book provides a fine discussion where one’s attention is directed to take another look at what has been taken for granted in the past; that which is overlooked. This booked opens the hiker’s awareness to the impact of terrain, weather, and the heavens.

I am especially appreciative of his discussions about not overlooking the obvious. He does provide technical advice regarding direction finding with natural aids such as the use of a shadow stick and the sun to find north. His explanation of the night sky, the stars and the earth’s movement through the seasons is down to earth and easy to understand. Gooley goes well beyond the basic discussion of how to find the North Star.

This is a great read for the backcountry traveler.

Fire Starting In The Rain

2012-03-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

by Peter Kummerfeldt

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Building Fires in the Rain

There's no better time or place to test your fire building skills than in Oregon's Coast Range, in February, in the rain! These were the conditions that eighteen Search and Rescue team members experienced recently. The SAR team-members and I gathered one wet Friday afternoon to brush up their survival skills and to test the effectiveness of their clothing and the equipment they carried.

Intuitively I think we understand the difference between building a fire on a hot July day and building one in February when it's bucketing rain, you're cold and wet, your fingers have lost their dexterity and their strength, you need a fire to help protect the victim of an accident and you need it now! But sometimes we need a reminder on just how difficult building a fire can be. Friday afternoon was just such a reminder!

To read the rest of Peter's post go here.

Oregon - Surviving and Earth Quake and Tsunami

2012-02-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

Direct from the state of Oregon.

NEWS RELEASE: February 28, 2012

Is your family ready to survive an earthquake and tsunami?

Portland, Oregon: Recent earthquakes offshore of Japan and Chile and the
Haiti earthquake remind us that we live in an unstable world and that
everyone needs to be prepared for natural disasters. Scientific evidence
suggests that there is a 10% probability that a Cascadia Subduction Zone
event offshore Oregon will happen in the next 30 years.

To help raise awareness, Governor Kitzhaber has proclaimed March 2012 as
Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Month in Oregon.

You cannot prevent the next earthquake, tsunami, or other disaster but you
can get ready. Even under the best of circumstances, medical aid and first
responders may not be able to reach you for hours, or even days. In a
disaster, local resources can be overwhelmed. Japan is the most
technologically-advanced country in the world, but two weeks after the
earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, some areas were only just being
reached. It is our responsibility - as individuals, families, neighborhoods
and communities - to reduce risks beforehand, prepare for the critical
period immediately after the earthquake or tsunami and to make sure that
planning for disasters has the high priority it deserves.

Have you made sure that your family, friends, and neighbors will survive if
an earthquake or tsunami strikes?

The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) is funded
by the NOAA National Tsunami Hazards Mitigation Program (NTHMP) to mitigate
tsunami risk in Oregon by accurately mapping the tsunami inundation hazard
zone, increasing awareness of where the zone is and what the warning signs
will be for the approaching tsunami, and enhancing formal preparedness and
evacuation planning with local authorities and stakeholders through its
Tsunami Outreach Oregon campaign. Many events are planned for March -
participate and learn how to be prepared!

Calendar of Earthquake and Tsunami Outreach Events on the Oregon Coast:
http://www.oregongeology.org/tsuclearinghouse/calendar.htm

Online tsunami evacuation maps and tsunami zone map viewer:
OregonTsunami.org

Living on Shaky Ground: How to Survive Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Oregon -
from Oregon Emergency Management

The 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami: Lessons for the Oregon Coast - DOGAMI
newsletter

Contact Information:

For more information about DOGAMI's tsunami program and activities, contact:

Ian Madin, Chief Scientist
Oregon Department of Geology
Ian Madin, Chief Scientist
(971) 673-1542
ian.madin@state.or.us

Fire Making

2012-02-28T12:15:00.000-08:00

Here is my go-to fire making method for survival situations and how to use it.

by Leon Pantenburg

It has been over 10 years since I started any wilderness campfire using any ignition method other than flint and steel.

Part of the reason is that I like to keep my survival skills polished, and the other is that flint and steel is just so effective. I’ve used the method successfully in driving rain and snow, wind and zero degree temperatures. But the old time method would not be my first choice as a survival fire making tool during an emergency.

My number one choice is a combination of cotton balls infused with petroleum jelly and ignited with a magnesium stick.

To read the rest of Leon's post go here.

Norwegian Mountain Code

2012-02-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

I enjoy reading about backcountry travel. I am also interested in what is the right gear to carry.

I came across the Norwegian Mountain Code last year.

It's pretty simple.

In 1967, Norway tragically lost 18 outdoors men during the Easter weekend. Later the Norwegian Red Cross and Norwegian Mountain Touring coordinated the development of the code; a common sense approach to back country winter travel.

The code compliments the Ten Essentials and builds on it. Read about the code here.

Trip Panning

2012-02-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

Are you prepared for a bad turn of events on your hike?

The hikers had planned well for the trip. They had purchased their maps and trail guide. Late night internet searches produced tips, pictures and camp site suggestions. They were ready to go. But were they ready for the unexpected?

The unexpected happens even for the best prepared. Accidents just happen. I’d like to cover a few topics that we might not think of or practice as we should.

There are three topics that I’d like to cover.

First, always let a responsible person know of your plans. Pick a person whom you know can be decisive and make a judgment call. If you tell the responsible person that if you aren’t home to call 911 for Search and Rescue (SAR) at 9:00, you know that at 9:01 that person is on the phone making a very difficult call. But help that responsible person out. Give them and the searchers something to go by. The Boreal Wilderness Institute (BWI) of Alberta, Canada offers a fine trip card on their site at www.boreal.net. On my web site I provide what I call the Hiker’s Trip Plan at www.outdoorquest.biz. Remember that rescuers would like know about the number of hikers in the party, medical conditions, and what animals are accompanying the group.

Secondly, have a back-up plan should your GPS break or become lost. That doesn’t mean that the trip has to end but the backcountry navigator certainly needs to understand what the options are. For a deep wilderness trip where the hiker is bushwhacking off trail this becomes more important. Better still; a backup plan begins before leaving home. The BWI Route Card includes a section for route planning notes and an escape route. The Outdoor Quest plan has a section for an alternate route. It is this data that will help a SAR team to focus and provide containment for the search.

Certainly a second GPS in the party will make a difference for the better. That said, having a sound knowledge of map and compass procedures is absolutely essential. All deep wilderness hikers need to have a solid navigation foundation. I always recommend to my students in my land navigation classes to start practicing two weeks before the big trip. Take the GPS and compass everywhere. Mark waypoints, edit waypoints, sight on distant objects with the compass and run a bearing. The hiker needs to develop the muscle memory for the GPS and recall the logic of placing the magnetic needle over the orienting arrow (e.g., red in the shed, mouse in the house.) The web site www.landnavigation.org offers a very good review of the fundamentals to navigation.

Third, BWI web site offers a short discussion about an “escape route.” The hiking group should reflect on the many contingencies that can come into play during a backcountry trip. Weather, terrain, injury and wild land fires come immediately to mind. For example, in the Central Oregon Cascade range, the mountainous slopes have vast expanses of beetle killed trees. Dry summers produce large fires that grow quickly becoming an obvious hazard. The point is to develop options that should the need arise, evacuation is a matter of choice and planning. BWI comments that “An escape route is a simple bearing toward a major highway, road or other linear feature.” Everyone in the party must have an understanding of the geography and terrain. Should the group need to “bug out,” terrain needs to be used to the groups advantage rather than being channeled in the wrong direction and away from safety.

Cascadia Megaquake

2012-02-21T14:34:00.001-08:00

This article is from Sunday, February 19, Seattle Times.

Japan quake studies suggest harder jolt to NW possible

Studies of last year's giant Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan suggest that shaking from a Cascadia megaquake could be stronger than expected along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, researchers reported Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

By Sandi Doughton

Seattle Times science reporter

C/O Nevada Seismological Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno

The red dots represent aftershocks from the Japan quake, which roughly trace the area that shook hardest there. Superimposed on a map of the Northwest, the result shows where the strongest ground motion is likely to strike during the next quake on the Cascadia subduction zone, the underwater fault marked by the black line. The green line is the relative location of Japan's subduction zone.

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Scientists are still unraveling last year's giant Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and some of what they're finding doesn't bode well for the Pacific Northwest.

Detailed analyses of the way the Earth warped along the Japanese coast suggest that shaking from a Cascadia megaquake could be stronger than expected along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, researchers reported Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"The Cascadia subduction zone can be seen as a mirror image of the Tohoku area," said John Anderson, of the University of Nevada.

Anderson compiled ground-motion data from the Japan quake and overlaid it on a map of the Pacific Northwest, which has a similar fault — called a subduction zone — lying offshore.
In Japan, the biggest jolts occurred underwater. The seafloor was displaced by 150 feet or more in some places, triggering the massive tsunami. But in the Northwest, it's the land that will be rocked hardest — because the Pacific coast here lies so close to the subduction zone.

To read the rest of the article go here.

Managing GPS Waypoints

2012-02-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

Most GPS receivers sold on the market today will hold 500 waypoints in memory. These waypoints are your saved/recorded geographic locations that you have saved into the receiver's memory. A waypoint could be the saved location of your camp or truck.

So, just how many waypoints should you have saved? On my GPS I probably have about 5 and 0 would be better.

I like to keep my navigation simple and having hundreds of saved waypoints is can be a headache.

Read my article about waypoint management in Dump the Junk.

Finding North

2012-02-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

Finding North to Help You Stay Found

by Peter Kummerfeldt

It is easy to find yourself a bit disoriented and, lacking a compass or other navigational equipment, being unable to figure out which way to travel to go home! One of the fundamental skills that an experienced outdoors man or women relies on is the ability to determine the cardinal directions (North, East, West and South) from the sun or from Polaris - the North Star. Blake Miller of Outdoor Quest has done a great job of showing you how to use Polaris to determine North and then based on knowing where North is, determine East, West and South. Check out his blog But what about during the daytime when you can't see Polaris? What can be done then to help you determine your way back to your truck?

To read the rest of the post visit Peter's blog.

Taking Good Care of Your Compass

2012-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

A few thoughts on taking care of your compass and what to look for before you go hiking in the backcountry.

The hunter had arrived at the trailhead and was getting ready to start out towards his hunt area. He powered up the GPS to mark his location. He also brought out the compass to double check his heading and first bearing.

Strangely, he knew he was heading in an easterly direction, he was after all, pointing straight down the trail and the trail tracked 090°, due east. But after aligning the compass, the compass heading was 13° off. The hunter correctly held up his movement until he could resolve the issue.

So, just what could have caused a 13° degree error? What can the backcountry traveler do?

Remember that the correct operation of the compass is dependent on the action of the magnetic needle to guide the hunter through the backcountry. Lots of items in a pack and clothing can affect the needle. Most understand that ferrous objects such as a rifle barrel, belt buckle, and car keys will deflect the magnetic needle. Still, take a good look at what is in a day pack. The batteries from the GPS receiver and a flash light may cause a compass needle to move.

High tension power lines and a vehicle’s electrical system may also cause a magnetic needle to deflect. Moving a few steps from the vehicle should be sufficient. One may have to move over one hundred feet from the power lines to avoid deflection. (GPS Made Easy, Michael Ferguson.)

Some locations will have a high concentration of iron near the surface. This is known as “local attraction.” Such concentrations will cause the needle to move too. Unlike declination, moving away from the immediate area may cause the deflection to stop. The local Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service Office should be able to identify areas affected by local attraction.

Recently, a retired forester commented that he had left his GPS and compass left on the dashboard of his truck. The lanyard that came with the compass was wrapped tightly around both the GPS receiver and compass. He estimated that the two sat on the dashboard for a little over three months. He later noticed that the compass was roughly 30° off. It’s an interesting anecdote that does bring up the point of how a compass must be properly stored.

I recommend that a compass be stored away from electronics (e.g., GPS, radios), batteries and many metallic (knives, saw) objects found in a pack. I don’t recommend going overboard on this but a compass could simply go in an exterior compartment, a shirt or coat pocket. Attaching a brake away lanyard to a compass so that is worn around the next is a viable option. This would apply during the off season too; a little separation is a good thing.

It is possible for the magnetic needle to lose its polarity. This is a function of time and manufacture. With research, one can learn how to restore the magnetism. That said, with the modern liquid filled compass this is probably more trouble than it is worth. Occasionally, check the alignment of the compass. In the small town where I live, residential streets are aligned true north and south. Standing on the curb on such a street provides a quick verification of how the compass is working. To me verification means that the compass direction will mirror that of the street; if the street tracks true north then the adjusted compass should provide a bearing to true north.

At the end of the hiking or hunting season take a look at the compass. Flush away dirt or sand that may be on the baseplate or sighting mirror. Look for bubbles that may appear internally and adjacent to the compass needle. A small bubble may not be something to worry about but a large bubble may impact how the needle swings and moves. A compass with a large bubble should be permanently removed from the hiker’s kit.

Lastly, keep in mind that a quality compass will retail for $20 or more. Also, a quality compass can be mechanically adjusted for declination. Such a compass is a precision piece of equipment. This is especially true of the Silva Ranger style or the Brunton Eclipse models. Note that I am prejudice (won’t buy them) towards the cheap stuff found on the racks of the major box sporting goods stores. If a hunter is willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a rifle scope why not spend a bit more for a decent compass; it can make a huge difference.

The Signs of a Heart Attack

2012-02-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

Simple but worth remembering!!! When was your last CPR class? The procedures have changed in the last 18 months.

The Ulitmate Ultra Light stove?

2012-02-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

By Hikin_Jim,

Is the Ti-Tri Caldera Cone the ultimate ultralight stove system?

Hyperbole? Am I being a little "over the top?" Maybe. But maybe not. Let's check it out. At the end of the post, I'll discuss why I think this triple fuel system is so darned useful that I really do consider it the ultimate lightweight stove system, particularly for mixed elevation (above and below the elevation where fires are permitted) backpacking.
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The Ti-Tri Caldera Cone in wood burning mode.

Well, to get started, we're going to need a pot. All Caldera Cones are designed to fit with a particular pot. The Caldera Cone shown in the photo above will only fit an Evernew 1300ml titanium pot -- unless by odd coincidence there's another pot out there with the exact same dimensions. Check the Trail Designs website for which cones will fit with which pots.

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An Evernew 1300ml titanium pot

Now, notice that in the title of this post, I refer to today's stove system as the Ti-Tri Caldera Cone. "Ti-Tri?" What the Dickens does that mean?

Well, "Ti" is short for "titanium" and refers to what the cone (not necessarily the pot) is made out of (titanium), and "Tri" refers to the fact that this is a triple fuel stove system. This stove system will run on three fuels: alcohol, hexamine (e.g. ESBIT), or wood. Now, if you've seen my previous posts on the Caldera Cone (see links at the bottom of this blog post), those were all aluminum cones. Aluminum Caldera Cones will warp and or melt if they get too hot, so you can only burn low heat fuels like alcohol or hexamine in them.

On the other hand, titanium cones can handle heat just fine. With a titanium cone, you can burn wood. Why might burning wood be an advantage? Burning wood is an advantage because you don't have to carry it on your back. I mean, think about it: When was the last time you saw fuel-grade alcohol welling up out of the ground? When was the last time you picked fuel off of the ESBIT tree? The point being that if you use alcohol or hexamine, you're not generally going to find it out on the trail. You have to carry the fuel with you. Wood on the other hand is frequently available from your surroundings.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Snow Caves For Fun and Survival

2012-02-04T15:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Leon reviews the book ‘Snow Caves For Fun and Survival.’

by Leon Pantenburg

A group of Boy Scouts and volunteers were on our annual winter survival skills training day in the foothills of the Cascades in Central Oregon. When it comes to snow caves, the conventional wisdom from most survival manuals, is that the builder tunnels sideways and up into a snow bank, shoveling the snow out through the entrance hole.

Naturally skeptical (because of my newspaper training) I asked my 17-year-old son, Dan, to construct one such shelter by himself, using a small shovel and trowel. More than two hours later, his cave was finished, but Dan was wet, tired and cold. Despite working hard, his cave was not a particularly effective survival shelter. Dan would have had a rough night ahead of him if he had to stay in that cave.

To read the rest of the post go here.

The Top Ten GPS Receivers

2012-02-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

What are the top selling GPS receivers on the market?

Visit GPStracklog to find out what are the top ten receivers on the market.

"It’s that time again, when we look back at our reader’s favorite reviews for the previous month, which is indicative of what many folks are researching as potential purchases. And what a month it’s been, as we have two new number ones! On the auto side, the nuvi 2595LMT knocked out the 1450LMT, which had held the number one spot since April 2011. In handhelds, the eTrex 20 is the new reigning champ, after an incredible 13 month run for the Oregon 450. All told there are nine models on the charts that weren’t there last month. "

To get the complete list go here.

Topographic Maps

2012-01-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here is a fine, free, on line topographic map program! Check this one out.

I have been following Gmap4 for several years. Joseph has really done a nice job offering a free on line map source for the backcountry hiker.

The following is copied from Joseph's post on the www.equipped.org site (edited slightly.)

"......Gmap4 is a 100% free no-ads no-strings enhanced Google Map viewer. Since it runs online there is nothing to download, nothing to install.

Main features include:

* View detailed topographic maps (USA and Canada).

* Current magnetic declination displayed for map center (world wide, NOAA)

* Print maps. In your browser menu, click File==>Print Preview.

* Powerful search feature. You can search on addresses, names of places or natural features, and any reasonable way to write a latitude/longitude. (world wide)

* Display your GPS data and create a permanent link that will display that same map and your data. You can e-mail that link, post it on a website, include it in an iframe, etc.

The link below will display a world map. To search for something click Menu==>Search. To see the detailed topographic maps (USA & Canada) zoom in and then click Terrain==>MyTopo.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=38.259207,-16.760195&t=t1&z=2

Here is the Gmap4 homepage where you will find examples, links to reviews and sites using Gmap4 to display interactive maps, a detailed Help file and a bit about me.http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html."

The clarity of these maps is just outstanding.

Traditional Archery

2012-01-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

Archery equipment made by craftsmen and women of Oregon!

Saturday, Jan 28 I had a chance to participate in the Traditional Archers of Oregon's annual conference held at the Eagle Crest resort in Redmond, Oregon.

Though not a practicing archer now, I was really impressed with the quality of the bows offered for sale.

Bows ranged from a single piece of Yew to long and recurve bows with laminated bodies. All the bows were made by local craftsmen.

Additionally, many other vendors were there that specialized in arrow manufacture, knives napped from obsidian, bow socks (protective covering) and a backcountry magazine (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.)

Outstanding presentations were offered by the Oregon Dept. of Fishing and wildlife on big horn sheep and moose.

What Is In Your First Aid Kit?

2012-01-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

Here is what I carry for Search and Rescue.

The following lists the minimum First Aid gear that I am required to keep in my pack.

2 x Triangular Bandage (40 x 40 x 56)
2 x safety pins (packed with triangular bandage)
2 x 4 x 4 gauze pads
4 x Bandaids
1 x Sam Splint
1 x Trauma shears
1 x CPR mask
1 x Roll Gauze (4")
2 x non-latex gloves
1 x medical tape (waterproof)

This accounts for a very basic kit. Some considerations to keep in mind are that SAR members deploy in groups of two (a minimum) and that a much larger basic life support pack goes on every mission.

My personal hunting First Aid kit follows the recommendations by the American Red Cross and the list from John McCann's book, Build the Perfect Survival Kit.

Communications During Large Scale Disasters

2012-01-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

Is there a way to communicate with family and friends during large scale disasters?

The answer is yes.

We often think of the American Red Cross (ARC) as a group of volunteers that coordinates blood drives, hands out blankets and provides meals during an emergency.

But there is a lot more!

Take a look at ARC's web site at www.redcross.org. At this site you can donate, get signed up for first aid training, shop and learn how to give blood.

There is another ARC site you should check out and that is

https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php

From this site, family and friends can (quoted from the site);

"After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. This website is designed to help make that communication easier.
Register Yourself as “Safe and Well”
Click on the “List Myself as Safe and Well” button to register yourself on the site
Search for Loved Ones
Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well” by clicking on the “Search Registrants” button. The results of a successful search will display a loved one’s first name, last name and a brief message."

Do communicate this information to your families in advance.

A Great First Aid App for Smart/iPhone

2012-01-20T12:01:00.000-08:00

Izzy forwarded another phone App you might want to check out.

It's from MedJetAssit. They comment: "....free application from, MedjetAssist, a leader in medical evacuation membership programs, is a well-rounded first-aid guide for the savvy traveler. Now you can carry an abbreviated version of Medjet’s medical consultation benefit and mobile medical information storage benefit with you wherever you go."

Find their App at the Apple store: Link

Visit their blog at: Blog The blog has links for Anroid phone users.

Family Hiking Tips: Lost Kids and Search Strategies

2012-01-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

From Seattle Packpackers Magazine. A fine article by Rob Bignell.

There perhaps is no greater fear among parents than not knowing where their child is. All of us have experienced moments when our child has wandered off when we had turned away only for a second, leaving us feeling totally helpless as we scanned the busy street or mall but couldn’t locate him or her.

When day hiking with children, the potential for a child to amble off and become lost are high. The wilds are full of intriguing sights that can grab a child’s attention while we’re fiddling with gear, trying to reload our backpack, or find ourselves enamored by some vista. Once lost, we know the child is at the mercy of the elements and faces any number of dangers from drowning in water to suffering an injury in a bad fall.

You can decrease the chances of a child becoming lost by taking some precautionary steps. Before heading onto the trail, discuss with your child the importance of always staying in sight of you and of always remaining on the trail. In addition, go over with them what to do if lost: He should stop walking, remain in that spot, and know that you’re looking for him. Finally, always have your child carry a safety whistle, which he should blow on upon realizing he’s lost.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Disaster Preparedness Phone Apps.

2012-01-18T16:20:00.000-08:00

Phone Apps from Department of Health and Human Services

I found this site while visiting www.equipped.org. This link provides about two pages of App listings.

For example one App provides the following info:

Pocket First Aid & CPR
iPhone
Android

Pocket First Aid & CPR from the American Heart Association provides quick, concise and clear first aid and CPR instructions from a user’s smartphone. This app costs $3.99.

Some very good info.

Visit the link here.

A Star To Guide Us

2012-01-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

The North Star is a beacon that we can use to guide us in the backcountry.

Few hikers use the celestial bodies in the night sky to navigate by. But on a clear night, the night sky provides a feature that is an excellent source of direction. It doesn’t matter if it is June or November, if you are in Wyoming or Oregon.

The North Star or Polaris is the principle star that I will focus on.

For the backcountry hiker consider that Polaris is fixed in position over the northern pole. Unique from other celestial stars and planets, Polaris is very closely aligned to the earth’s axis. Stars and planets rotate around Polaris. And like the sun, this rotation is from east to west through the sky. Polaris will be found approximately half way between the northern horizon and straight overhead. In the northern hemisphere, Polaris can found in our northern sky and is never more 1° from true north – the North Pole.

Constellations help locate Polaris. Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper point to Polaris. Uniquely, Cassiopeia, the Big Dipper and Little Dipper can be seen in relation to Polaris year round. In winter, the constellation of Orion will also help locate Polaris.

To read the complete post go here.

Magnetic Declination

2012-01-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

“Declination: A Noun. The horizontal angle between the true geographic North Pole and the magnetic North Pole, as figured from a specific point on the Earth.”

www.dictionary.com

Declination is a term that causes “brain cramps” for many of my students in my map and compass classes. When I mention Magnetic Declination eyes roll.

The web site www.magnetic-declination.com has an excellent discussion of what declination is and what causes it:

“Magnetic declination varies both from place to place, and with the passage of time. As a traveler cruises the east coast of the United States, for example, the declination varies from 20 degrees west (in Maine) to zero (in Florida), to 10 degrees east (in Texas), meaning a compass adjusted at the beginning of the journey would have a true north error of over 30 degrees if not adjusted for the changing declination. The magnetic declination in a given area will change slowly over time, possibly as much as 2-25 degrees every hundred years or so, depending upon how far from the magnetic poles it is. Complex fluid motion in the outer core of the Earth (the molten metallic region that lies from 2800 to 5000 km below the Earth's surface) causes the magnetic field to change slowly with time. This change is known as secular variation. Because of secular variation, declination values shown on old topographic, marine and aeronautical charts need to be updated if they are to be used without large errors. Unfortunately, the annual change corrections given on most of these maps cannot be applied reliably if the maps are more than a few years old since the secular variation also changes with time in an unpredictable manner.”

Much of land navigation is based on the relationship to the North Pole; also known as “true north. The measure of degrees of direction in relation to true north is called “degrees true.” Maps are laid out in degrees true. Land features (buttes, mountains, streams) on a topographic map are in reference to degrees true. By that I mean the bearing from one mountain peak to another will be referenced in degrees true. The map below illustrates that point.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Signal Mirror

2012-01-15T15:23:00.000-08:00

A good signal mirror should be an essential part of any survival kit. It's old technology but it works. How does 20 plus miles sound?

A small 3" x 5" is a wonderful addition to any day pack. It needs no batteries, is compact and is simple to use.

Care should be taken in the purchase of a mirror. Sadly, most of the sales associates behind the counter at the major box stores (sporting goods section) don't have a clue. Thankfully Doug Ritter at http://www.equipped.org/ knows. He has a fine post that reviews signal mirror essentials here. He identifies what to look for in a quality mirror and further points out those that are fake (above, mirror to the right.) He also mentions that quality mirrors are sold by Coghlan and can be found at REI and Walmart.

I've found several fine videos on YouTube that show you how to use a mirror. Here is an example:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lvMD7u2jOI.

Here is an example of a mirror flash seen from 22 miles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWG6nRvdFiU

Magellan GPS

2012-01-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

The following is a press release from Magellan.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – January 9th, 2012 – Magellan, a pioneering GPS brand, today announced the introduction of the Magellan eXplorist 110 GPS receiver, a waterproof and rugged handheld GPS with core outdoor navigation features. Powerful yet light and portable, the eXplorist 110 demonstrates Magellan’s continued commitment to outdoor navigation.

With a vibrant, sunlight readable color display plus a highly sensitive GPS chipset providing 3-5 meters of accuracy, and the ability to record hundreds of waypoints, tracks, and routes, the eXplorist 110 GPS receiver is an amazing value for any beginning outdoor enthusiast. It comes pre-loaded with Magellan’s World Edition map, which includes a road network of more than 200 countries. Users can start each adventure with a single click, record every step, and monitor their distance travelled, average speed, elevation gain and descent by viewing the track summary statistics. It will even navigate users back at the end of the day.
The newest addition to the eXplorist family of dedicated outdoor GPS receivers, the eXplorist 110 provides the fundamentals for basic outdoor navigation. Ready to use right out of the box, the 5.2-ounce GPS device can be hung around a users’ neck or attached to a pack for easy reference. Both beginners just starting to explore the outdoors and more experienced outdoorsman will find the simple main menu, intuitive contextual menus and vibrant graphics easy-to-use. The eXplorist 110 is the perfect companion for precise GPS signals and tracking while fishing, hiking, hunting, camping and many other outdoor activities.
“As the only device in the market in this price range with a color display and packed with features for the outdoorsman, the eXplorist 110 is an outstanding value,” said Sam Muscariello, director of product marketing, for Magellan GPS.

With the eXplorist 110, users can overlay a series of different transparent compass styles on top of the pre-loaded World Map that shows roads, water features, parks, and city centers. The dashboard screen shows a mini-compass for quick reference and customizable navigation data fields such as latitude, longitude, heading, bearing, distance to end, trip odometer, and much more. The eXplorist 110 also supports paperless geocaching with a variety of unique characteristics and attributes of each cache available for download and view. Two AA batteries provide up to 18 hours of continual outdoor use to guide you to and from your next adventure, wherever in the world that may be.

The eXplorist 110 is available at an MSRP of USD $129.99.

The eXplorist 110 is the newest member of the eXplorist outdoor family. The line, first introduced in 2010, begins with the eXplorist GC and continues with the eXplorist 310 and the high-end eXplorist 510, 610, and 710 GPS receivers. The high-end eXplorist models each feature a 3.0-inch color touch screen and are equipped with a 3.2 mega-pixel camera, microphone, and speaker to enable users to record and share their adventures with friends. The eXplorist 310 provides many of the features found in higher-end devices at a lower price point for essential outdoor navigation, while the eXplorist GC is the only color handheld GPS receiver exclusively dedicated to geocaching.
For optional accessories, visit http://www.magellangps.com.

The North Star

2012-01-07T11:30:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a nice site (here) about locating the North Star. I am working up a post on Polaris and it's utility to the back packer/hiker/hunter. Fascinating stuff.

I have a thread working at www.equipped.org on this topic. Go to forums, select "around the campfire" and look for night navigation. Getting some great feedback and links to look at.

Kummerfeldt's Top 20 Favorite Survival Books

2012-01-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

Winter is a good time to do some reading and if you are interested in expanding your knowledge of survival and surviving here's a list of some of my favorite books. These are books that I go back to time and time again. They are my references for much of what I teach in my seminars. Some are of the "been there, done that" variety. Some are of the "here's what you need to be able to do in a survival situation" genre and others are scientific studies of the physiology of humans in extreme conditions - survival conditions.

To read Peters complete post go here.

Orienting a Topograhic Map

2012-01-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

“Orienting the map visually (or with the greater precision afforded by a compass) connects hikers to their surroundings, helps them see the larger picture, and their place in it. Hikers who nurture this habit are usually both safer and more appreciative of the places they’re exploring.”

From the book Staying Found by June Fleming

Orienting a map is a starting point to identify where I am, where I want to go and where I have been.

I orient my topographic map (topo) before I leave the trail head and at regular intervals during a hike.

It is a process where I involve both map and compass. Of course, orienting a map can be done without a compass and done visually. I find using a compass takes just a tad more time and the more hands on time with the compass the better.

Correctly orienting my map allows me to get “dialed in” to my surroundings. It is a process where I align the map, compass and GPS to the terrain before me.
This orientation procedure is a great opportunity to involve young people in backcountry navigation. Give them a quick review of topo basics and your plan before starting out.

A topo is your key to the backcountry. It unlocks the critical information regarding sources of water, woodlands, trails, roads, grid information and elevation. I use a US Geologic Survey (USGS) map at the scale of the map should be 1:24,000. (National Geographic has superb topos of the National Parks and you may find quality maps of this scale of the area you will travel in.) Quality outdoor, printing and mapping stores will have such a map available. While you get comfortable with a hard copy paper map, experiment with map software (www.mytopo.com) or internet sites that offer free maps (www.mappingsupport.com.) Aerial imagery such as Google Earth (www.google.com/earth/index.html) compliments the topo.
A great reference for navigating a topo is the book “Staying Found” by June Fleming. It’s available at many bookstores and is likely at the local library.

Moving on to the compass, I recommend backcountry travelers use a declination adjustable compass such as the Brunton 8010G, Silva Ranger or a Suunto M2. Declination is the angular difference between true north and magnetic north. A declination adjustable compass keeps things simple. For example, a compass adjusted to degrees true will match the same orientation as the map; all in degrees true.

Declination data can be found in the diagram at the bottom of the USGS topo, (on some commercially produced maps you really have to look for this information.) I recommend that map declination information be verified at www.magnetic-declination.com. This is essential in the Pacific Northwest where maps are notoriously out of date in terms of road, city and some trail data.

Using the manufacturer’s instructions, I adjust the compass for declination. If your declination is east, observe the orienting arrow (on a Brunton 8010G) rotate in a clockwise direction. If declination is westerly adjust counter clockwise.

To correctly orient my topo, I lay the baseplate (edge of the compass) on the border of the topo; below. Use the map’s eastern or western border. I then turn my body (while holding the map and compass) until the map points to true north; the red magnetic needle will be on top of the orienting arrow. (Remember, maps are laid out in degrees true.) Now both the topo and compass will be oriented to true north.

At this point, I evaluate the topographic features of the map and compare it to the terrain in front of me. Identification of features such as buttes, mountains, waterways and the relationship between feature and map are very important. I make a point to visually reconcile what I see with the map.

I do it two ways.

First, correlate from topo map to the terrain. Using the Cascade Mountain range as an example, from the trail head I should see the South Sister summit to the northwest. Second, correlate from terrain to the map. An example would be to observe Broken Top to the north east and then determine if that observation matches the map.

If this relationship cannot be made then I delay forward movement. I want to be as dialed in as the compass. This can be difficult in bad weather with limited visibility. In such a situation I’ll check my GPS, verify and plot my position on the map. I may resort to dead reckoning as I proceed. To be certain, I plot my position more frequently. Further, I’ll identify large terrain features that will become my “backcountry handrails.” (Handrails can include roads, railroad beds, ridgelines, power transmission lines and streams.) If possible, I’ll talk to others on the trail to learn of their observations and recent experience.

I always try to preload map software loaded into my GPS receiver. I can compare this information with that of my map. First, I’ll set-up my receiver to report compass information in degrees true; matching my topo and compass. Now I compare my GPS to my map and terrain.

Now that you have oriented your map, compass and GPS you have completed an important first step in land navigation and are ready to head out.

Cooking Wild Game

2012-01-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

The hunting season is over. I bet you have some small packages of game meat that your not sure what to do with. Here is the answer....a game pie.

I made several yesterday and "re-learned" a few lessons.

It takes time to put this together, several hours.
You have to use current jelly, no kidding, and it's sometimes hard to find at the grocery store. Don't over do it with the jelly.
Yep, you can use several meats in one pie. Yesterday I combined duck, chucker, chicken and lamb.
I used a better quality pastry shell and it is worth the expense. The cheaper pie shells were OK but that is about it.
Corning Ware single serving/individual Casserole dishes (about six inches in diameter) worked nicely.
If you are going to take the time to cook one batch, you might as well cook three, or four or five.....you're in the kitchen, make the most of your time.

So here is the rest of the story:

This truly outstanding recipe came from the November 1996, Food and Drink section from Sports Afield. I paraphrase the following from the article: “Back in the Elizabethan era meat pies were created to be the most impressive and lavish of all dishes...Game pies were a way to celebrate the extraordinary variety of birds and animals...The best pies always have more than one kind of game bird or animal baked in them. This recipe is adapted from one served at the Kings Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg.” When without game, use chicken, turkey or tender beef cuts.

Salt and pepper 1/2 pound (each of cubed venison, duck breast, wild boar or rabbit loin.

Dust with flower then brown in a skillet over medium-high heat in 4 Tbsp of vegetable oil. Remove from skillet.

Saute two slices bacon that have been cut into 1 inch pieces. Remove them from the pan.

Melt 2 Tbsp of butter in the skillet and add 2 diced carrots, 1 diced celery, 10 diced mushrooms and 1/2 cup of blanched pearl onions. Saute for 3 minutes then remove from the skillet.

          Lower the heat, stir in 4 Tbsp of flour and cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Raise      the heat to medium and add 2 cups of game stock or beef stock....bring to a boil then simmer for 2 minutes.

         Return the meats and vegetables to the skillet; add 1 bay leaf and 2 Tbsp of currant jelly (don’t scrimp here). Cover the pan and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

         Add the mixture to a large casserole dish and top with pastry dough, brush with a wash of 1 egg beaten with 1 Tbsp of water, cut several vents in the top to allow steam to escape. Place on a pan/sheet and cook at 400 for 35 to 40 minutes, until the crust is brown. Or, freeze the oven ready pie for serving later.

Maps for Your GPS

2011-12-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to the GPS File Depot

Lots of information and maps. Many of the maps are free.

While you are on the site take a look at the forums for information about quick fixes to many of the Garmin receivers out there.

Poisonous Flowers and Plants

2011-12-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

I have never been an expert on the flora and fauna of my surroundings. I can do better.

I recently received a very nice email from the teacher of a group of young people working on a survival project. They have used some of the references off my web site (http://www.outdoorquest.biz/) for their project.

Best of all, during the course of their research they also found a site on the poisonous flowers and plants in the backcountry. This site offers a collection of links to other web sites. Many are links to universities.

Great information. Thanks guys.

To check out this site go here.

Air Ambulance Support

2011-12-17T11:32:00.000-08:00

Air Ambulance Membership-Is it worth it? Is it too expensive? Or, is it just right?

I have no problem justifying to myself spending money for hunting tags and fishing equipment. My wife thinks it crazy that I hesitate at the thought of purchasing an air ambulance service membership. I mean- how many extra shells and lures could I get for that same expense? I argue that the chance of needing such a service is few and far between. But truthfully, every now and then I hear a story that easily could be any of us.

Take Bob and his good fishing friend Jason. They were fly fishing on a beautiful river in Eastern Oregon. While sitting on the bank and tying on a new fly, Bob experienced excruciating pain that began to radiate throughout his chest. He was certain he was having a heart attack.

It turned out that an air ambulance was critical for Bob’s survival. Accompanying Bob on his flight to Boise was a critical care flight nurse and a respiratory therapist. Bob survived his ordeal, attributing the superb care he received in flight as a major factor to his outcome.

This brings us back to my wife’s point. In Central Oregon, with air ambulance membership, an entire family is covered for only $58.00 a year. Bob, if he didn’t have a membership, would be paying anywhere from $15,000-$30,000 for a single trip. Do the math. That’s one heck of a lot of shells and lures. Not to diminish the added value of having me around for additional hunting seasons too.

How many of us bring our buddies, kids and loved ones with us during an outing? Why do we always pack a First Aid kit? We don’t plan on having to use it, but it sure is nice to have it if needed. So, how does a responsible backcountry traveler prepare?

An air ambulance service is a very viable option. AirLink is the service in Bend, Oregon.

Earlier this summer, I visited with Stacy Durden of Saint Charles Health Care in Bend. It was a very illuminating conversation. I learned that AirLink is a contracted component to the hospital’s critical care service program. AirLink provides helicopter service on site at the hospital and has two fixed wing aircraft at the local air port. The stats are impressive. Routinely, three to four missions are flown daily with over 12,000 missions annually. Since beginning flight operations in 1985 AirLink has transported over 20,000 patients. I asked Stacy what a hunter or hiker should do in an emergency. Her response was don’t delay making a phone call to 911. Those initial minutes in an emergency are precious. Be crystal clear what the situation is. Emergency 911 Dispatch will coordinate and determine what assets to send. Geographic coordinate information (e.g., Latitude and Longitude) from a Global Positioning System receiver and a geographic reference (e.g., the south shore of Suttle Lake) is very helpful. Having a fully charged cell phone is a big plus as you may receive several calls from the 911 dispatch center and other first responders. Though hunter fatality numbers are generally low, the experience and skills an air ambulance crew brings to an emergency is significant. Think how many times do you go out into the woods hiking, fishing or just camping; ever have an unplanned situation come up? What about the travel time on the highways and over the passes-if a knucklehead crosses the line and rams into you? Do you want to chance that critical time to save you or your child’s life?

The response talent is absolutely the best. Crew assignments flex to patient requirements. Critical care, respiratory therapist, and even neonatal nurses are available. Pilots commonly have years of fight time and are exceptionally experienced; many are former military aviators.

I found it comforting to know that AirLink has reciprocal coverage with other services in the Northwest such as Portland’s Life Flight Network. Membership runs $58 annually for the family, including children away at school. Extended family (such as a mother-in-law) permanently living with the member’s family are covered too. In an emergency, the patient’s insurance will cover part of the service costs; membership covers the balance.

For my family, the $58 family membership is worth the cost. It doesn’t rust, need maintenance or replacement batteries. It is a great deal for the investment - just remember to reload it every year.

Buying a GPS for Christmas

2011-12-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

Are you shopping for a new GPS receiver this Christmas? Looking to buy one for a spouse or friend? Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind.

The Holiday Season is a great time to start looking for a new GPS.

Manufactures are offering discounts and coupons can be found on line. Search the Internet for sales promotions and the ads in the Sunday paper. I will occasionally use www.walmart.com to establish a price baseline.

Keep in mind that some models with good discounts could very well be out of production. Evaluate what your needs are and if the price is right and the receiver fits all your requirements, then you are set.

One web site to take a look at is www.GPStracklog.com. I found this site recently via Twitter. GPStracklog.com is packed with information on what’s new and happening in the world of GPS. Importantly, at the top of the page, click on “buyers guide” and then select the category that fits your requirements (e.g., auto, outdoors, etc.)

I think the recommendations provided are spot on the mark.

For example, in the realm of “Budget GPS for hikers” the Garmin Venture HC is recommended. There are less expensive units on the market but for the dollar/pound you do get a lot for the money. Importantly it offers a color screen, is USB capable (upload and down load data) and accepts detailed topographic maps.

The Garmin Oregon 450 is recommended as the mid-range receiver for hikers. The Oregon provides a touch screen display, barometric altimeter, an electronic compass and very capable mapping and imaging systems are available for download.

What would I avoid? I won’t buy a used GPS or one that has been refurbished.

I want a model that allows me to:

· Enter many waypoints

· Edit waypoints

· Manually enter waypoints (example: your friend provides you the coordinates to a wonderful place next to a bubbling brook for a camping site)

· Many map datum selection options

· Will accept topographic maps.

· Those with less steady hands might consider are receiver with buttons on the front. Test this in the store or borrow a friend’s. Ditto for touch screen models.

· Up load and download GPS waypoints and track data.

If I had to, options could I do without:

· An electronic compass

· A touch screen display

· A barometric altimeter

Good luck in your search for that new GPS!!!

Kummerfeldt In Africa

2011-12-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

Peter Kummerfeldt is a survival expert and a master story teller. He is not verbose and gets right to the story! Lions at 50 feet, oh sure, that happens all the time. This is from his blog:

The evening started rather unspectacularly with not much being seen except a few impala. Long after dark the spotter saw some eyes that turned out to be two, and then three lions about fifty yards away. When turning off the road to get closer the driver didn’t see a very large warthog hole into which the front end of the Land Cruiser disappeared! The lions came closer. The driver got out to see what could be done about the situation while the spotter tried to keep tabs on the lions and at the same time illuminate the hole so that the driver could see what needed to be done. What was hilarious was watching the antics of the two staff trying pay attention to the whereabouts of the cats while at the same time fend off the insects which were attracted to the headlights and the spot light. It had rained earlier in the day - the flying ants were swarming and the air was thick with beetles and other assorted insects that crawled all over the driver and his helper. It got so bad they had to cease their efforts to get us unstuck and go into the dark and strip off their clothing to rid themselves of the insects. For the four of photographers sitting in the back of a completely open vehicle in the dark it was both scary and hilarious at the same time. Because we were mostly in the dark the bugs didn't bother us as much as the others.

To read the rest of his post and view his wonderful pictures go here.

GPS Web Site

2011-12-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

Check this web site out for a lot of information on GPS receivers.

I found this new website out on Twitter the other day.

Very comprehensive.

Gear reviews, updates and lots of technical data.

Visit GPS Track Log for more info.

GPS Electronic Compass

2011-12-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

What interferes with your GPS receivers compass?

Even an experienced hiker will forget about gear that is carried in the field that potentially impacts a digital electronic compass. While teaching a community college class on land navigation a student asked me what affects a GPS receiver’s electronic compass? This was a great question and offers an opportunity to assess equipment.

In my map and compass (magnetic) navigation class I make a point of discussing the care that should be taken while handling a compass. A rifle barrel, flash light, radio and other metal and electronic bodies will impact the compass’ magnetic needle. To see this first hand, move a flashlight next to a compass and the needle will move noticeably.

It never occurred to me that my digital compass would behave similarly.

In November while elk hunting and camping east of Oregon’s Cascades mountain range, I decided to check this out.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Night Travel

2011-12-01T07:00:00.001-08:00

What should you consider if you must travel at night in the wilderness?

The day started clear and bright as the hikers left the trail head near Newport, Oregon. The temperatures were to be moderate most of the day with slight cooling in the evening. They pressed on determined to reach the summit before twilight. After reaching the summit at dusk, the group started to make their way back to the trail head as fog began to roll in. Within an hour the darkness was becoming a problem and the safety of continued travel became questionable.

So what are some basic considerations for night time travel and navigation in the backcountry?

First, let us consider that we are not in a “lost hiker” scenario. If lost, the best thing to do is to just stay where you are. This makes the job much easier for the searchers.

Further, recommendations are based on the concerns and issues of hiking when it is really dark, not during the period of a full moon with some ambient light.

One of the key factors in this situation is to have an understanding of the physiology of the eye. Our eyes are designed to provide optimal performance during periods of light. The components of the eye (the retina, rods and cones) are arranged specific to their function. The cones are the discriminators of fine detail and color. Cones are the most effective in light, and are located near the center of the eye interior. In complete darkness, a cones’ effectiveness is significantly reduced. Rods are located on the periphery of our interior eye, are not fine detail discriminators and have a higher sensitivity to low light levels. Rods are important to our night time vision.

To read the complete post go here.

Technology Preparedness

2011-11-29T11:33:00.000-08:00

Are you and your electronics ready for a natural disaster??

Here is an article from last summer that was featured in the Chicago Sun Times.

The article is a bit "chatty" at first so jump to the middle to get to the heart of the matter.

by Andy Ihnatko

If I complain about how Hurricane Irene has left me without power or Internet access for the past three days, please do be assured that I’m keeping it all in perspective. Brattleboro, Vermont -- which has been one of my favorite road trip destinations for years, and the place I will most definitely recommend if you’re visiting this part of the country and want to feel as though you’ve really seen New England -- got absolutely clobbered.

Many residents lost their homes; some lost their lives.

In the face of that . . . yeah, losing a week of productivity and a fridge full of food is just an inconvenience.

Thanks to Irene, I’ve had three consecutive nights of monastic contemplation, free from the distractions of sinful extravagances like television, Internet, interior lighting, and food or drink that’s noticeably hotter or colder than room temperature. During that time, I’ve been thinking about the various preparations I made when the storm alerts started popping up last week. Common household storm advice can be found pretty much anywhere, and it’s all good stuff. But there’s a modern layer of preparation that incorporates the digital dimension of your life. If you need to evacuate, then really all you care about is getting yourself and your loved ones to safety. Second on the list are those preparations for being stuck in the house for days, or without access to the grid.

To read the rest of the article go here.

Understanding The Scale Of A Map

2011-11-25T10:41:00.000-08:00

Maps come in various scales, sizes and variety. This post makes sense of map scale and what that means to the hiker.

Dictionary.com defines map scale as:

“A ratio which compares a measurement on a map to the actual distance between locations identified on the map.”

A topographic (topo) map’s scale information is located at the bottom center of the map. Other maps will generally have scale information in the large map key that outlines many of the features and data printed on the map.

The map scale for a United States Geologic Survey (USGS) 7.5 topo minute map is highlighted below.

A closer look of the scale information:

The area circled in red is the ratio discussed by dictionary.com. Note that the ratio has no units of measurement assigned (e.g., feet, meters, acres.)

To read the rest of the post go here.

The Declination Diagram

2011-11-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

Topographic map users are familiar with the small diagram at the bottom of the map.

The diagram is located at the bottom center of the map.

Let’s zoom in to the diagram itself.

The graphic and information presented relates directly to the declination of the map area, orientation of magnetic north, orientation of grid north and true north.

Let’s discuss what that all means.

The line on the left with the star on top is the reference to true north. True north is the principle geographic reference on all maps. True north is oriented to the North Pole, the top of the earth. The left and right borders of a topographic map are aligned to true north too. True north is the principle compass orientation that the backcountry traveler will use with compass navigation.

Care should be taken when looking at the other grid lines on a map. For example, not all township and range lines are oriented to true north. The red lines on the map below

represent township and range. The red numbers refer to each of the 36 sections found in a township. (A section is a square that is one mile by one mile on each side.) Determine if these red line are oriented to true north in advance of your trip.

The next line over is “grid.” Grid in this case refers to Universal Transverse Mercator Grid (UTM). UTM is a derivative of the military’s grid reference system and came about after World War Two.

Some maps come with UTM grid lines laid out in a shade of light blue. Many topographic maps only have UTM tick marks (color blue) along the four sides of the map. The map above has those tick marks. Small they can be seen as numbers ⁶ 21 and ⁶22 at the bottom. If one was to use a straight edge to connect the ⁶ 21 at top and bottom the line drawn would be in relation to grid on the declination diagram. (For more information on UTM Grid check out Lawrence Letham’s book GPS Made Easy from library.)

The last line refers to magnetic north. This data is circled in red (below.)

The line with the partial arrow head points to magnetic north (MN.) Without getting bogged down in the pole’s location, the key thing is to understand is that magnetic north is what a compass’ red magnetic needle point to. The numerical value of 19° refers to the declination; the angular measurement between true and magnetic north. In this case, the declination is 19° East. It is this value that the hiker will compensate for in navigation.

To keep things simple, I use a declination adjusted compass so that I do not have to calculate compass values. For example, if the hiker is using a standard compass, 19° East declination (from the West Coast) would be subtracted from a bearing/azimuth of 100° True to get the correct magnetic heading. This gets a bit sticky and that is why an adjustable compass is so valuable. With an adjustable compass, you adjust the compass housing once for the local declination. Once adjusted you are set and won’t need to worry about adding or subtracting the declination value.

The declination value on older maps has probably changed from what is printed. Declination changes over time. As a matter of routine I visit www.magnetic-declination.com to get the correct value before leaving home.

Refresh Your GPS Skills

2011-11-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

The hunting season is almost a wrap! Let's take the time to take another look at your GPS skills.

Now is the perfect time to practice and improve your GPS skills to get “dialed-in” with your receiver.

GPS will get you back to the truck or help you return to your favorite spot. Confident use of the receiver comes with practice and frequent use.

Here are some simple recommendations to try in the field.

Dump those old AA batteries, put in new ones, and replace them again in 4 months. If you leave your GPS on all day in the field expect to change the batteries nightly. Consider using lithium AA’s, they last longer and work better in cold temperatures.

Verify that you are receiving enough satellite signals. Check this on the satellite status screen. Four satellites are the minimum.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Marking a GPS Waypoint

2011-11-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

Marking a waypoint with your GPS is easy. I offer a few recommendations improve your techniques and make it a "sure thing."

The solo hiker was ready to return to the car after a long day on the trail. The weather was slowly degrading; it was getting cooler and overcast. It was time to march to the car. He pulled out the GPS, selected the “Find” feature and scanned the waypoint listing. No waypoint. Nothing to identify his car was shown. Now that sinking feeling slowly crept in. It was going to be a longer afternoon.

Marking a waypoint takes just a few button pushes. The process ends with the saving of coordinates, elevation, date, time of entry and a name into the memory of a GPS.

My recommendations to mark a waypoint include the following steps.

Start with a quick look at the “satellite view” page. Ensure the GPS is tracking four or more satellite signals.

Next, select the mark button. Touch screen models will require you to go to the main menu to touch “mark waypoint.”

To read the rest of the post go here.

Thank You!

2011-11-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

I really appreciate the recognition that my post "Navigating a Topographical Map" received on the Survival Mom's website. A big thank you to Leon for posting the article on http://www.survivalcommonsense.com/!

There are dozens of survival blogs, websites, and forums out there, and it's impossible to stay on top of them all. I did a little research and here are the #1 articles from the summer season from some of my favorite survival and preparedness blogs, as well as the Top 5 from The Survival Mom.

I also have a coupon code from a new advertiser, Pantry Paratus ("prepared pantry"), just for my newsletter readers! Get $25 off any purchase of $75 or more* with this code: MOMOCT. This offer expires November 12.

Happy reading!

* * * * * *

Food Storage and Survival: "Make your own survival bars" and "101 uses for empty food storage cans"

Canadian Doomer: "How the very poor live"

Survival Common Sense: "Navigating a Topographical Map"

New Life on a Homestead: "Natural Treatment for Poison Ivy Rash"

SHTFplan: "Congressman Warns: Those who can, should move their families out of the city" and "Economic martial law will be declared"

Ready Nutrition: "The 4 most likely ways you can die if the SHTF"

And the Top 5 stories from the summer season at The Survival Mom blog:

Water Purification

2011-11-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Kummerfeldt's review of water purification.

There are still far too many people using iodine tablets to disinfect their water when there is a much better product on the market - chlorine dioxide. There are also too many people drinking water that has not been disinfected simply because they don't like the taste of iodine not knowing that there is a new product on the market that doesn't leave an after taste.

Chlorine dioxide tablets made available by the Katadyn Company and also by Potable Aqua have been around for several years now but have not been embraced enthusiastically by those who recreate or work in the outdoors. Old habits die hard I guess. Or perhaps it's just ignorance! Either way you are putting your health at risk by drinking water that has not been disinfected.

If for no other reason you should consider using tablets that release chlorine dioxide because of its effectiveness in killing cryptosporidium, an organism commonly found in water - something that iodine was never able to do effectively.

Regardless of the manufacturer the tablets are individually packaged in sheets of ten tablets per sheet and are sold in containers of twenty or thirty tablets for $10 - $13.

Disinfecting your water is easy. Simply drop a tablet into a quart or liter of water and the chemical will destroy viruses, bacteria, Giardia and Cryptosporidium leaving no chlorine after taste.

For more information on Micropur tablets go to Katadyn.

Topo Maps - Update

2011-10-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a wonderful site to check out on Topo Maps!!!

I am currently teaching a Navigation Class (a 3 credit class) at my local community college.

While preparing for my class on topographic maps I came across this fine power point presentation from the "World of Teaching."

The power point presentation is FREE and provides a nice overview on topographic maps.

Go here for the presentation; Maps.

Alcohol Stove Review

2011-10-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hikin Jim has written another excellent post on what is a simple and reliable alcohol stove.

Alcohol stoves seem to be the darling of anyone trying to “lighten up” in terms of their pack weight. Just one problem: There are so many alcohol stoves out there, how can anyone make sense of them all?

Some stoves are fussy and hard to work with. Others are unstable, more likely to spill than to cook your dinner. Still others take forever and the slightest breath of wind robs them of all their heat. While I want to lighten up as much as the next guy, I want a stove that works. There are some good stoves out there, and I’ve “done the math” to pick one out, which is presented below.

But before I go on, let me say that alcohol stoves aren’t for everybody. Most alcohol stoves do only one thing well: boil water. If you’re a gourmet cook, you may as well skip this article. But if you’re seriously trying to lighten your pack, my pick for an alcohol stove is worth a read. With a lightweight stove setup like this one, I’m able to get a typical fair weather weekend load down to under twenty-five pounds including food and one liter of water. That’s without cutting any comforts. If I want to start really scrimping, I can go even lower.

To read the rest of this post go here.

Sharpening Your Knife

2011-10-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

What works to sharpen my knives? This is what works for me.

My friend Leon recently wrote a fine post about what knife to carry in your pack. He provided several recommendations.

This post supplements Leon's by discussing how to keep that knife sharp. What kind of knife sharpener I would want in my pack.

There is no better way to spark a campfire discussion than to offer your suggestion on what is the best knife sharpener or sharpening system. Opinions vary greatly. There will be lots of experts. My intent is to discuss what works for me.

Over many years I have experimented with an electric sharpener, wet stones, ceramic sticks and steels. Most were satisfactory but I was looking for something that was portable, consistently provided a keen edge, worked well both in the field and kitchen and didn't require a box to keep all the implements together. I sought a tool that would sharpen quickly. I was not looking for a tool that would turn my knife into a razor. I was looking for something simple.

At a Outdoor Show in 2005 I bought a sharpener made by Edge Maker (visit http://www.edgemakerpro.com/). I liked it so well that I purchased several as gifts.

The price was less than $20.00.

The model to the left has crossed metal sticks that you pull through. One set sharpens your knife blade; it gets you started. The other hones the blade and is the final step. As I pull or draw my knife's blade I'll vary the pressure so that at the end I apply minimal pressure while honing. I've used this system on my German kitchen blades, my hunting knives and most recently on a Case kitchen knife purchased at a local thrift store.

It there a draw back? The first worth discussing is that with an extremely dull and beat up knife you will pull some metal away from the blade. If the knife is in really tough shape consider that you are restoring the bevel to the blade. Second, the crossed metal sticks can develop flat spots. The manufacturer's packaging discusses how to fix this by using a process actually twists the metal sticks. That said, I have used my set on many, many knives and have yet needed to accomplish this repair.

Similar to the Edgemaker product is a tool called the Hunter Honer.

The first noticeable difference is that it is compact and takes up far less space than the Edgemaker sharpener. I have sharpened a few knives with fine results. This model offers two methods of sharpening the blade. The first is to dry hone the steel as you would with the other unit. Pulling the knife through with modest pressure. The other options is to use a small amount of honing oil (provided with the sharpener) to develop and even sharper edge.

The suggested retail price is $29.00.

Leon's article can be found here.

Topo Maps - Your Key To The Backcountry

2011-10-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

A quality topograhic (topo) is your key to backcountry navigation. Coupled with a compass and GPS, a topo is an important planning tool that identifies land features, contours, trails and resources.

Reviewing a topographic map is usually the starting point for the planning of any back country trip. A topographic map is your road map to the outdoors. It provides you detailed information at a scale that is meaningful and detailed. For years, the US Geologic Survey (USGS) has been the principal publisher of accurate maps. Within the last decade we have seen many innovations in mapping products that include new mapping companies and publishers, software, maps for the GPS, and “Apps” for the iPhone.

Still, the USGS map remains the standard for back country navigation (visit the USGS’s site at www.topomaps.usgs.gov.) I’d also recommend looking at June Fleming’s “Staying Found” or Bjorn Kjellstrom’s “Be Expert With Map & Compass.” Once you develop a map foundation you will easily shift to many of the other products on the market today.

Many publications, videos, and web sites will give you a complete rundown on the features, symbols and components to a map. This article will discuss a few of the key features that you should be aware on a 7.5 minute map.

To read the rest of the post go here.

The Right Knife For Your Pack

2011-10-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Best Choices for Backpacking Knives

by Leon Pantenburg

Elk Lake, Oregon is one of the major re-supply places for through hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. Every year, a handful of long-distance hikers will walk border-to-border on the trail. They generally start in Mexico in April, and start trickling in to the Elk Lake Resort about August, en route to Canada.

I was eating lunch, and noticed a young lady trekker loading her pack for the next section. She had opened her re-supply box, sliced a chunk of cheese, opened several large packages and cut a shoelace, all with her tiny, Classic Swiss Army knife.

“It’s all you need,” she commented. “I have to go lightweight and I don’t carry an ounce that isn’t needed.”

I carry a Swiss Army Classic on my keyring everywhere. (To read my review of the Swiss Army Classic, click here. And for lightweight hikers, who go long distances with minimal equipment, a Classic may be a reasonable choice. On a well-traveled trail like the Pacific Crest or Appalachian, you’ll seldom be isolated from other hikers for very long.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t need a knife for backpacking. Get separated from the group, off the beaten path in the backcountry, or in some sort of wilderness survival situation and you may desperately need the appropriate knife.

If I could only pick one tool to take along in the wilderness, it would be a knife. The uses are limited only by your imagination. But which one is best for your backpacking needs? How do you balance weight versus practicality?

To read the rest of Leon's post go here.

Compass Navigation

2011-10-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Topic Two: Moving Through the Backcountry. This post deals with the considerations a hiker should take while navigating and moving through the wilderness.

Before leaving for a backcountry trip, there are three important steps to accomplish before leaving home. First, tell someone where you are going and when to expect your return. Second, leave a map of your planned route with that responsible person and in your vehicle. Third, fill out the trip plan I have posted on my web site at www.outdoorquest.biz/Links.htm; the trip plan stays with the responsible person. As a Search and Rescue volunteer I have learned that these key steps can make a huge difference in you having to spend an unplanned night in the woods and being found----especially if you incur an unexpected injury or loss of communication.

The following are suggestions to consider before and during a trip into the backcountry.

While compass accuracy is important, many underestimate the topographic map as a key component in backcountry navigation. I recommend carrying a set of maps that include a 7.5’ United States Geological Survey (USGS) map and a map like a United States Forest Survey map. The USGS map gives me the detail information of the immediate area while the other map covers a much broader area. I look for significant land features that will surround my direction of travel. Features such as distinct mountain peaks, a stream, and a ridge line are just of few topographic “hand rails” that can help. For example, if a large stream is to be on your right and it’s not there, it is time to double check your navigation picture.

Figure 1

Additionally, every hiker must account for declination before leaving the trailhead. I like to keep my navigation simple and personally use a compass that can be adjusted for declination such as the Brunton 8010G. This way I don’t have to worry about the math (do I add easterly declination or subtract it?) Declination information found at the bottom of a topographic map is frequently out of date. Check the web site www.magnetic-declination.com to obtain the declination for the location you will be visiting. For more detailed information on declination visit www.outdoorquest.biz/PostsonLandNavigation.htm.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Getting Your GPS Ready For Your Fall Hunt

2011-10-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

Tune up your GPS before you leave for the woods. "Dump the junk" and be ready for the backcountry.

With Elk season approaching, last month was range time with my favorite rifle. I spent several hours sighting-in that rifle and testing my preferred reloads. Altogether, I’ve spent probably five hours shooting, adjusting and cleaning my firearm. Then I am spending time getting gear together, going through my check list to make sure I won’t leave anything behind. I am all done right; wrong.

If I am like the average hunter I am only about 90% complete. To ensure that all my preparations are done correctly I need to factor in my land navigation. I have a few suggestions to get your GPS receiver ready for your trip.

“Dump the Junk” – Delete those old waypoints from last year. Save old waypoints on your PC by using a free program found at www.easygps.com, or write them down on a piece of paper. Don’t use your GPS as a filing cabinet.
Open the GPS’s main menu option and then select tracks. Select the option that allows you to clear your tracks or track log. Tracks are what folks call the “bread crumb” trail and can be seen on your map page.
Visit your receiver’s manufacture’s web site to see if there are any software updates. You won’t improve the maps that may have come preloaded but upgrades will improve the efficiency of your receiver’s operation. Only download the upgrade that specifically matches your GPS.

To read the rest of the post go here

The Hiker's Checklist

2011-10-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

This is a fine article by Matthew Sturdevant from the Hartford Courant.

Just what should the hiker carry in the backcountry?

On a vivid day last fall as the leaves ripened to their fiery hues my fiancee, Susan, and I hiked through woods nearTerryville.

Our itinerary was explained simply in an online hiking guide: walk in, hike a loop for a few miles and return to our starting point. Trouble is, the trail markers we were supposed to follow were about as common as fallen leaves zigzagging in a labyrinth through the woods. A few hours later and we had wandered into another county — ending up on Johnny Cake Mountain Road in Burlington.

It was dusk. No way were we going back into the woods to retrace our steps. Following the road back to our car would take more than a couple of hours because there is no direct route. We took the easy way out and called a friend for a ride.

I didn't expect to get lost during such a short day hike in a patch of Connecticut woods. As an Eagle Scout raised in a camping family and a wilderness canoe guide for five summers in Maine, I thought nothing of a short afternoon jaunt in the Nutmeg State. We couldn't possibly stray too far, right? Wrong.

To read the rest of Matthew's article go here.

Oregon Hunter Rescued

2011-10-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

Oregon hunter rescued from the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. Thankfully they had all the right gear.

PORTLAND, Ore. --

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team, along with Linn County Search & Rescue and the Deschutes County Search & Rescue Horse Team, undertook an all-day rescue effort for Mike McLaughlin, 59, of the Portland suburb of Clackamas, said Jefferson County sheriff's Capt. Marc Heckathorn.

McLaughlin fell while hunting in the Jefferson Lake area late Friday afternoon, making it impossible for him to walk out with his son-in-law and hunting partner, Brett Yeager, Heckathorn said.

Yeager helped him into a sleeping bag and tent and climbed down the mountain for help, taking about four hours along an overgrown trail, Heckathorn said.

A plan was devised, and teams from Jefferson, Linn and Deschutes counties began the search at 6 a.m. Saturday. Teams went in by two different routes, utilizing parts of the Pacific Crest Trail. The first team reached McLaughlin at around 1 p.m., and he was evaluated by medics, Heckathorn said.

The overgrown trail system in the area hampered rescue efforts, making the seven- to eight-mile trek very slow, the sheriff's captain said.

McLaughlin was brought by horseback to the Cabot Lake Trailhead, where he arrived around 8 p.m., Heckathorn said. He then left the area in a private vehicle to seek additional medical assistance, Heckathorn said, adding that he was in stable condition.

Yeager's father, Gary Yeager, said the two had gone up Thursday night and on Friday afternoon decided to switch locations.

“They were all packed and ready to go when Mike just stepped funny,” he added. “He couldn’t put any pressure on it.”

Brett Yeager then set the tent back up and made sure McLaughlin was in a sleeping bag and had plenty of food, then he started hiking back out.

Make A Survival Kit Part Of Your Wardrobe

2011-10-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

by Leon Pantenburg

I hadn’t dumped a canoe in years, so unexpectedly entering the water just above the John Day River’s Clarno rapids was quite a shock. I righted myself, pointed my feet downstream and tried to follow the course originally set for the canoe.

The Central Oregon rapids last about three-quarters of a mile, and we’d managed to hit a rock cross-ways right at the head.

My wife, Debbie, paddling in front, was also thrown out of the canoe. Her head bobbed above the rapids as she navigated the whitewater. Several minutes later, I pulled myself out in the slack waters of an eddy.

From downriver, Debbie waved to show she was OK. Picking my way over the rocks toward her, I did a mental inventory of my survival tools. Everything we had, all of our fishing, camping and survival gear, was headed downstream toward the Columbia River.

It was a hot day, with no danger of hypothermia, and the other members of our float party were at the scene. Neither of us was injured, and it was not a survival situation. But if we had been alone, here’s the survival tools we had left: I didn’t lose my hat, glasses or the GPS in my pocket. But the Moro knife was gone from its sheath on my belt, and the butane lighter in my left front pants pocket had disappeared. A whistle was attached to my life jacket . I had charcloth in a plastic bag, firestarter and my key ring survival gear, except for the flashlight, still worked.

Debbie had a whistle, too, but her survival gear was somewhere downstream. But even soaking wet, we could have started a fire to warm up and signal for help.

You could get dumped out of a canoe, thrown off a horse that runs away or be in a shopping mall or hotel when there is a power failure. In these cases, all you’ll have is a survival mindset and the tools in your pockets or on your person.

But a little planning can help a lot if you make some basic survival tools part of your wardrobe.

This is what I carry on a daily basis:

These items are on a separate key ring that clips to my car keys or belt loop.

Integrate these items into your wardrobe and "wear" them every day. You may be grateful you did!

To read the rest of Leon's post go here.

Only Three Words That Can Get You In Trouble

2011-10-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

The following post is from Peter Kummerfeldt. Three words that can get a back country traveler in trouble quickly.

NEVER SAY "I AM JUST....................."

I spent this past weekend roaming around Rocky Mountain National Park photographing the glorious fall colors and the antics of the elk in the early stages of the rut. I also spent time observing the thousands of people from all over the country there to participate in what has become an annual ritual. With regard to the people I came home with two impressions. Firstly it amazed me how few people of those in the park over the weekend actually set foot on the ground and walked anywhere other than the few manicured walkways around two lakes. The mentality seemed to be "If I can't drive there I ain't going there!" Secondly, of those that did get out of there car how few had given any thought to the possibility of how quickly the weather can change in the Rockies. Other than those that were obviously headed out to climb the tall peaks the rest of the weekend warriors were under dressed, under equipped and under skilled to cope with a weather change - or any other emergency situation that might have occurred. Slip-on shoes, shorts and a tank tops were the name of the game.

I have long maintained that the most dangerous trip that you can go on is the spontaneous "Let's take the kids for a walk this afternoon" type of trip. Little thought goes into the possibility of something bad happening and even less goes into the preparations needed to cope with an accident or incident that place people in danger. They fall into the "I am just............." trap! We're just going to drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park this afternoon and walk the loop around Bear Lake. What could possible go wrong? The sun's out. We won't be very far from the car and if we get in trouble we'll just call the ranger for help! A lot can happen and sometimes people die before help can arrive! Never say "I am just" going to do anything! Again, you are setting a trap for yourself. Instead, in anticipation of a trip stop for a moment and consider all of the "what ifs." Think about the things that might go wrong and ask yourself if you're ready to cope with the consequences of a walk-in-the-park. And if not then don't put yourself or the lives of your family or friends at risk.

Hunters - Get That GPS Setup Before Heading Out

2011-09-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Keep your navigation simple by setting up your GPS now.

Before leaving the trail head or your truck there are a few suggestions that I would make.

"Dump the Junk." Delete those old waypoints. Save them to a file or note book. Keep you navigation simple by keeping only the most important data stored on your GPS.

If your GPS has an electronic compass, calibrate the compass if you have changed the batteries; every time.

Clean out the track log. Go to the main menu, select tracks and then clear the log. A really busy log with a bunch of squiggling lines helps no one. On the other hand, at the end of a hike or hunt save that track log to a file. You may be able use in later.

If your GPS has a trip computer reset the values. Most trip computers have an odometer and other readouts that should be reset to zero.

Make sure your GPS and everyone in camp has the same default settings. For example, all your hunting buddies should use the same position format, either Latitude/Longitude or UTM.

Carry extra batteries.

Have fun!!!!

Buying A GPS Receiver

2011-09-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hunting season for archers begins to wind down as October approaches. Some hunters are looking for a new GPS. Here are a few suggestions

I was in a sporting goods store in and watched a clerk recommend a very expensive and complex Global Positioning System (GPS) to an elderly gentleman. The customer simply wanted a GPS that would “get him back to his camp in Oregon’s Ochocos National Forest during elk season. The clerk kept pushing the latest, high tech, touch screen and very expensive GPS receiver.

The customer would have been satisfied with a basic starter model, and it would have served him very well. Instead, he left the store very frustrated, without buying anything.

Buying your GPS receiver is a lot like shopping for your first car. You want reliability and simplicity in providing transportation from Point A to Point B. There are many outdoor opportunities that may impact what kind of GPS model suits your specific needs. As a hunter you need to shop intelligently. Here is what you need to know:

Start with a quick education on common GPS terms, and why they’re important.

Waypoints – These are your navigation coordinates that you have saved to memory within the GPS. Most receivers will hold 500. That said, you only need to keep a few on your GPS all the time. Use the free program at www.easygps.com to store the rest.
Find/Go To – This is the navigation function of the receiver. It is this function that will “steer” you to your destination.
Coordinates: This refers to a geographic grid system and pinpoints your position in the world. The most common is Latitude and Longitude though many outdoorsmen quickly shift to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) because of its simplicity.
Compass – An electronic counter-part to your magnetic compass. The GPS compass is dependent on batteries, like the rest of the system, so don't leave your magnetic compass at home.

Every GPS has these basic features. Anything additional are bells and whistles. It will be up to you to determine which ones are functionally important. For example, I am both a hunter and backpacker. I like a GPS with a Barometric altimeter because I use that function to monitor atmospheric pressure at high elevations. I know through personal experiences that when the pressure drops the weather is changing - I may be looking for shelter.

When looking to buy a GPS receiver consider the following:

Decide how much you want to spend. If you don’t know what a GPS might cost, visit www.walmart.com and www.rei.com to get a good price baseline. Check the manufacturer’s web site (such as www.garmin.com) for rebate offers. Then research the web with for reviews on specific models.
Ask friends with GPS’s what they use theirs for and what their recommendation would be. One size definitely doesn’t fit all! An avid geocacher would have different needs than a hunter. A hunter might opt for a model with a two way radio such as the Garmin Rino series.
Older folks and those not “tech savvy” seem to do better with a GPS that has buttons on the front (GarminMap 60 series, the Lowrance IFinder Hunt C, or the PN60 by DeLorme); it seems to be more intuitive. As an instructor, I've found that buttons along the side can become frustrating for people with less steady hands.

To read the rest of this article go here.

To read more posts on backcountry navigation visit www.outdoorquest.biz.

Walking A Line Of Bearing

2011-09-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

A short discussion of plotting a line of bearing on a map, determining the direction to a destination and then walking a line of bearing.

Before technology entered the backcountry world of the outdoors, the primary and proven tools of navigation were a map and compass. Compass navigation remains an important component of the “Ten Essentials” for wilderness travel. Knowledge of how to use map and compass takes education and practice. Further, such knowledge will enhance GPS navigation as many concepts are interchangeable.

This article will discuss one of the basic uses of a compass, how to adjust the compass to walk a specific direction to get to a destination; to get from point A to point B.

Let’s start with a review of the key features and parts of a compass; see Figure 1 below. This figure is an example of a standard baseplate compass found in most outdoor stores. I recommend the backcountry navigator use a declination adjustable compass such as the Brunton 8010G or the Silva Ranger 515CL.

Figure 1

The red magnetic needle rotates freely and points to magnetic north. Remember that metal objects such as belt buckles, watchbands, rifle barrels and car bodies will deflect the needle. Battery powered electronics will cause the needle to deflect too.

The “direction of travel arrow” points in the direction of intended travel. Always point the direction of travel arrow away from you; perpendicular to your body.

To read the complete post go here.

Free Topo Maps

2011-09-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

I like free maps!!!

Joseph Elfelt has been working his map site/project for quite some time. It seems like every four months he makes an improvement to it. It's worth checking out. Give him your feedback.

Gmap4 is a 100% free no-ads no-strings enhanced Google Map viewer. Since it runs online there is nothing to download, nothing to install.

Main features include:

* View detailed topographic maps (USA and Canada).

* Current magnetic declination displayed for map center (world wide, NOAA)

* Print maps. In your browser menu, click File==>Print Preview.

* Powerful search feature. You can search on addresses, names of places or natural features, and any reasonable way to write a latitude/longitude. (world wide)

* Display your GPS data and create a permanent link that will display that same map and your data. You can e-mail that link, post it on a website, include it in an iframe, etc.

The link below will display a world map. To search for something click Menu==>Search. To see the detailed topographic maps (USA & Canada) zoom in and then click Terrain==>MyTopo.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=38.259207,-16.760195&t=t1&z=2

Here is the Gmap4 homepage where you will find examples, links to reviews and sites using Gmap4 to display interactive maps, a detailed Help file and a bit about me.
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html

Still thinking this might be some kind of scam? See these threads:
http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=12772 (3,400+ views, 5 star rating)
https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?p=48423 (1,100+ views, 5 star rating)

Enjoy,
Joseph Elfelt - Gmap4 author

Exploits, Now Not So Daring

2011-09-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

A good friend from SAR sent me David Roberts' editorial from the New York Times.

Are the risk takers depending on Rescue team's too much? I remember all to well watching an Army Blackhawk rolling down the side of Mount Hood as the air crew attempted to pull a stranded climber from danger.

Exploits, Now Not So Daring

By DAVID ROBERTS

Published: September 15, 2011

IN 1955, the great Italian climber Walter Bonatti became trapped by storms on the fifth day of a solo climb on the Petit Dru in the French Alps. He had traversed so far in one direction that he’d cut off all possibility of retreat. A blank wall rose above him. He was beyond rescue and knew it. So he fashioned an escape that has never been duplicated in mountaineering.

Mr. Bonatti tied three loops in his rope and attached a carabiner to each. Then he swung the rope up the cliff like a gaucho slinging a bolo. On the 12th throw, a carabiner snagged in an invisible crack 40 feet above, but a slight tug popped it loose. He tried again and again, until another carabiner finally held fast. He tested the rope with all his weight, then pulled himself up, hand over hand.

The ascent was later hailed by Doug Scott, the great British veteran of the Himalayas, as “probably the most important single climbing feat ever to take place in mountaineering.”
The point is, Mr. Bonatti, who died Tuesday at age 81, fully accepted the dictum of adventure that had been true for centuries, but that may no longer hold: if you get into trouble, you have to get yourself out.

In the last 10 or 15 years, all of that has changed — for the worse, in my view. Thanks to satellite phones, radios, helicopters, GPS’s and other technology, extreme adventurers not only can often be rescued from otherwise fatal situations, but they sometimes count on such a rescue as an emergency escape option.

In 2005, Tomaz Humar, a celebrated Slovenian mountaineer, was stranded by storms on a ledge on Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. His team, with whom he was in regular radio contact, called for a risky rescue at almost 20,000 feet by Pakistani Army pilots flying a high-tech helicopter.

To read the rest of the article go here.

Your Personal Outdoor Plan

2011-09-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

There are lots of articles and posts about letting the responsible person know about your travel plans. Should you not return home on time they are the trigger to begin the search process.

This may be the most comprehensive plan made yet!!!

After the loss of James Kim in the Oregon back country in 2006 I wrote a hiker's trip plan and posted it on my web site. I had input from several valued sources. I wanted something better for the wilderness traveler than a note to a neighbor. My intent was to provide the search responders something valuable to go by.

In far too many SAR missions, the reporting party has little information for the searchers to go on to begin their search.

My plan can be found here. It is a basic .pdf form.

Suggestions are certainly welcome.

Today, while reading a Linkedin email, I received a tip on what might be the most complete plan yet. It's from Paul Kirtley's blog. He is an experienced bush craft author in the UK. This plan is much like the hiker's flight plan. It includes a place for a picture of the hiker, data for one's route and much more.

Check out Paul Kirtley's plan here.

911 Call center

Still, that responsible person plays a huge role in contacting authorities to begin a search. My recommendation would be to pick a person that will make the 911 phone call without hesitation.

Travel safely.

Understanding Magnetic Declination

2011-09-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

What is declination? How do you compensate for it?

“Declination: A Noun. The horizontal angle between the true geographic North Pole and the magnetic North Pole, as figured from a specific point on the Earth.”

www.dictionary.com

Declination is a term that causes “brain cramps” for many of my students in my map and compass classes. When I mention Magnetic Declination eyes roll.

The web site www.magnetic-declination.com has an excellent discussion of what declination is and what causes it:

Magnetic compasses do not point to true north (the North Pole); the magnetic needle points to an area that could be considered the magnetic North Pole.

To read the complete article go here.

Another Solar Flare

2011-09-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON -- Forecasters say a new solar flare should provide only a glancing blow on Earth on Friday and is unlikely to cause any problems.

The National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center says northern lights may be slightly more visible, but there should be no radio, satellite or electrical grid disruptions.

They say the flare that erupted from a sunspot Tuesday is fairly big, but most of it will miss Earth, going far above the planet.

Senior forecaster Norm Cohen said the flare should arrive around 1:30 p.m. EDT Friday, but is nothing to worry about.

What Should You Carry

2011-09-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

As summer winds down with Labor Day behind us, a new group of backcountry travelers have moved into the woods – hunters.

All too often, SAR teams locate folks that are lost, poorly prepared and are not carrying the right gear. It’s carrying the right gear in the backcountry that I’d like to focus on for a moment.

Check lists for hunters abound on the Internet. You can find suggested equipment checklists on forums and chat rooms, retailer’s and outfitter’s websites. All good stuff.

Personally, I like to use a modified form of the “ten essentials” as my base line of what to carry; note that I said modified. Here is what I use as my baseline:

Navigation (map, compass & GPS)
Sun protection (Sun screen, sunglasses, a hat)
Insulation (extra cloth)
Illumination (head lamp, flash light)
First-aid supplies (Check with the Red Cross’ web site or McCann’s book listed below)
Fire starting material (metal match, cotton balls soak with petroleum jelly, REI’s storm proof matches, BIC lighter)
Repair kit and tools
Nutrition (extra food)
Hydration (extra water) & filtration system
Emergency shelter (not a space blanket but a windproof water proof shelter, and a blue poly tarp)

I’ll add to the list by including:

Communications (signal mirror, a SPOT or ACR locator beacon, cell phone)_

I’ll take this list two steps further by checking two of my favorite reference books:

Surviving a Wilderness Emergency by Peter Kummerfeldt

Build the Perfect Survival Kit by John D. McCann

The intent of carrying all this gear is that should you have to spend the unintended night or nights out you will be prepared. You may not be comfortable but you'll have far better odds at surviving.

I also recommend you involve children in the development of your family’s gear check list. Listen to their recommendations. Have them carry their gear too. Start them early and teach them what you know. Let them participate.

Have fun and be safe.

Survival Knife Review: the Mora

2011-09-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

What makes for a great, affordable survival knife?

I am a big fan of the Mora knife. It is affordable and it sharpens quickly. I carry one in my SAR pack and hiker's day pack.

Is a Mora better than my prized old Buck knife from the '70s - probably not. That said, it's a fine knife.

I was digging through my friend Leon's site at www.survivalcommonsense.com and thought his article was certainly worth the review.

by Leon Pantenburg

Currently, the rage among some survival schools is the Mora, a small, inexpensive Scandinavian-style sheath knife with a four-inch blade and a large, easy-to-hold

The Cold Steel (SRK top) and the J. Martinni Mora-style knives are good choices for all around use. Combined with a Swiss Army Classic, they can provide a good survival tool kit.

handle. Personally, I think they’re great, and I generally have a Mora close at hand.
It’s all because newspaper guys, like me, research stuff. Sometimes we gather information, statistics and data for no apparent reason, and with a vague idea of what the info might be someday be used for.

That was the case several years ago when I bought my first Mora knife.
While I will never give up my folders, I was looking for a small, inexpensive sheath knife that could be recommended to Boy Scouts.

The knife had to be an all-around, do-everything tool. It would be used for a variety of tasks, which could include whittling, cleaning fish and small game, meat-cutting and peeling potatoes. It needed to be lightweight and small enough to be carried conveniently.

To read the rest of Leon's post go here.

Staying Found Is Better Than Being Lost

2011-09-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

A follow-up to Kummerfeldt's article.

I appreciate Peter Kummerfeldts's recent article about staying found.

I especially appreciate his discussion of boundaries in the first two paragraphs.

In previous posts I discussed large terrain and man made features such as rivers, ridge lines, and roads and called them hand rails. That is accurate.

The discussion of boundaries applies to hand rails too. Peter lays it out well when he says:

"....before you leave your vehicle or camp. Then identify the boundaries that surround the area in which you will be traveling. These boundaries could be prominent roads, railways, power lines or large rivers. Preferably you should identify boundaries on all four sides of the area you will be in."

This isn't rocket science...just great common sense.

We all need a healthy dose of common sense before heading into the wilderness.

Staying Found Is Better Than Being Lost

2011-09-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

Staying found in the backcountry.

By Peter Kummerfeldt

All outdoor users should carry and know how to use a map and compass before they go off into the backcountry. The first step in staying found is locating your position, and marking that position on your map, before you leave your vehicle or camp. Then identify the boundaries that surround the area in which you will be traveling. These boundaries could be prominent roads, railways, power lines or large rivers. Preferably you should identify boundaries on all four sides of the area you will be in. Having located yourself on the map and knowing the boundaries, you can then leave camp with the knowledge that, if you get lost, all you have to do is determine which boundary is closest and walk a straight line to it. Then relocate yourself and return to your vehicle or camp. Sometimes this can be a very long walk out!

Many people experience great difficulty walking a straight line and have wandered in circles until exhausted. The simplest way to walk a straight line is to use a compass, preferably an “orienteering compass.” Having determined the direction to the nearest boundary, point the “direction of travel arrow” towards your destination then turn the dial of the compass until “N” coincides with the north end of the compass needle. Follow the direction indicated by the direction-of-travel arrow always keeping the north end of the compass needle and the orienteering arrow aligned. Look up, sight on a landmark, and walk to it. Repeat these steps until you reach the boundary and can relocate yourself. In some areas only one significant boundary may be present. In this situation, determine, before you leave camp, the direction you will have to travel to get to the boundary in the event you become disoriented.

To read the rest of Peter's article go here.

Dead Reckoning

2011-08-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

You're hiking off trail with out a GPS. The weather changes and now visibility is reduced. How do you navigate back to the trail head?

It’s time to return to base camp. Navigation during this trip has been by map and compass alone; no GPS. During the three days of the outing, navigation has been straightforward and simple. Visibility has been excellent and compass triangulation worked well. Now as the return trip is about to begin, fog has rolled in masking terrain features. The absence of a reliable trail system will make the return trip challenging too; travel will be overland.

A process called Dead Reckoning (DR) can be used to navigate and partially compensate for the loss of terrain features and important visual cues. DR is a method to determine one’s estimated present and future position. Dead Reckoning can be done during periods of darkness, bad weather, in featureless terrain (e.g., the desert, whiteout conditions) or equipment failure (e.g., dead GPS batteries.)

DR is a method of navigation dating back hundreds of years. It works well on both land and sea. It is nothing more than moving in a set direction of travel over a specified distance. By looking at a map, the hiker determines a direction of travel and attainable distance. As illustrated in Figure 1 below, travel is plotted on a map; frequent verification is important.

To read the rest of the article go here.

Garbage Bag Shelters

2011-08-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

Is a garbage bag shelter part of your survival kit?

Just why would you put a garbage bag is your survival kit?

I don't. I use something that I think is better.

I am particular about my survival kit and it's components. I use several of the simple shelters made available from http://www.outdoorsafe.com/. I carry one in my hunting day pack and my hiker's pack.

I don't use a garbage bag. I'll use two brightly colored, 4 mil bags. They weigh next to nothing. They are highly visible. Most importantly they provide a wind and water proof shelter. Don't think that such a shelter is going to be warm and "comfy." Think of them as an emergency shelter that will keep you out of the elements. It's all about maintaining 98.6.
Kummerfeldt has an excellent explanation is his book, "Surviving a Wilderness Emergency."

My friend Leon has an excellent post on such a shelter here. Take note that the shelter bag will be cut to provide an access for your head but your arms are kept inside with no opening for them.

I'll take this one step further. I'll take a large, 2-3 mil bags that are used by my local tire ship. These bags are folded and then compressed with a couple of heavy books. The bags are then put in a sandwich bag for storage in my pack. I'll use these bags to keep my pack and gear dry in a rain or snow storm. After one use I'll toss them.

Signal Mirrors

2011-08-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

Signal Mirrors – an often under appreciated piece of your survival gear

by Peter Kummerfeldt

There may come a time when you will need to attract the attention of a rescuer. It could be because your car has broken down and left you stranded miles from help. You might be injured and unable to get back to family and friends. You might be lost and have no idea which direction to take to get back to your vehicle or perhaps your camp. In situations like these you need to be able to draw attention to yourself, to signal quickly and effectively. Not being able to do so could place your life in danger. With emergency signaling several things must be remembered. First, if you haven’t left a trip plan with a couple of reliable family members or friends indicating what your intentions are, where do those who will be looking for you, search? Second, if no one knows you are in trouble, your attempts to signal for help may be totally ignored. Third, even if search and rescue personnel are looking for you it may still be very difficult to locate you unless you do something to increase your chances of being seen or heard.

To read the complete article go here.

Alcohol Stove Fuel

2011-08-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

The following is another great stove related post by Hikin_Jim

A lot of people interested in going light are trying alcohol as a fuel. But if you head down to the store, you'll see all kinds of alcohol. Which alcohols are good choices for stove fuel? Which ones are poor choices?
Alcohol as a Stove Fuel (in order of best fuel to worst fuel)

The best alcohol fuel is ethanol (ethyl alcohol). It has the highest number of calories per gram* of any alcohol fuel (I really don't consider dirty-burning isopropanol to be an alcohol fuel) and burns the cleanest. If you can get lab grade "absolute" (200 proof) ethanol or 190 proof liquor, that's going to work really well, but both of those (lab grade absolute ethanol or 190 proof "drinking" alcohol) are pretty expensive -- if you can even get them. Lab grade absolute ethanol is often restricted as to whom can purchase it (i.e. not the general public), and many locations prohibit the sale of high proof drinking alcohol. Check the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on lab grade absolute ethanol which may contain benzene which is toxic.

Another option is "denatured" alcohol which should consist primarily of ethanol. The problem in the US is that there are no standards for what constitutes denatured alcohol. In fact, some denatured alcohols in the US are less than 50% ethanol. In addition sometimes nasty stuff is used to denature the alcohol (render it undrinkable), stuff like methyl ethyl ketone, whose fumes you don't really want to breathe. "Green" denatured alcohol generally has a much higher ethanol content and a lower "nasty stuff" content. Check the MSDS. The higher the ethanol content, the better it is for use as a fuel.

To read the rest of the article go here.

Rescue At Sea

2011-08-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Survival at sea. Boy, were these guys lucky!!!!

Fishing six miles out at sea (off Martha's Vineyard) in a 20' boat, their boat sinks and now they are in the water. Thank goodness their marine radio worked.

Check out the video below.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1101148037001/?test=faces

GPS Setup - Calibrating The Electronic Compass

2011-08-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Recently I held a GPS navigation seminar at a Sportsman’s show in Central Oregon.

At one point during the seminar one man described the inaccuracy of his GPS and asked what he could do about it. He was frustrated that on several occasions while returning to camp the GPS compass arrow (while in the “Find,” “Where to” mode) was providing unreliable information. He’d arrive in camp and the receiver would direct him in a new direction and distance.

As he related his story, I noticed that several other attendees nodded in agreement that they too had the same problem. I asked the fellow if he had ever calibrated the electronic compass. “Yes, when I first got the GPS,” was his reply.

When I explained that the electronic compass should be calibrated after EVERY battery change, the group’s response was one of surprise.

To read the complete article go here.

Families In The Outdoors

2011-08-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

Central Oregonians are fortunate to be close to some of the finest forests and trails in the nation. Our woodlands offer spectacular recreation opportunities and vistas, all at amazingly affordable rates. The forest system is an incredible place to recreate with your children. Children find the outdoors a place to learn, explore, and let their imagination run wild.

As you prepare to head for the trails safety is the first thing to consider and it’s best to make a consistent practice of a few key concepts. First, always let a responsible person know what your plans are. Let them know who is going, where you are going and when you will return. Should you not return on time it is this person that contacts 911. Pack a trail kit with you; always. The “10 essentials” is your baseline to start with (See side bar.) Always pack a snack, water and an emergency shelter (such as a heavy duty trash bag.) You will find how little room it takes in your pack. A good book to review is “Build the Perfect Survival Kit” by John McCann. Retailers REI and Cabela’s have fine check lists online too.

A map, compass or GPS always goes with you on the trail. Children are quick to learn how a GPS works and find it “cool.” Navigation can be great show and tell time. June Fleming’s book “Staying Found” is a fine resource for land navigation and has great ideas to orient your child in the campground or back country. Demonstrating your ability to navigate builds your child’s confidence in you and truly breaks you out from your friends; most adults don’t have a clue. Land navigation classes are available through COCC’s Community Learning Department (www. noncredit.cocc.edu, 541 383 7270) and Outdoor Quest (www.outdoorquest.biz, 541 280 0573.)

Let’s leave the electronics in the car and off the trail. Each trip can be a learning experience. Have a simple goal and keep it achievable for the youngest in the group. Ask who can spot an eagle first or what fish can we find in the stream? Field guides are a big help here.

We are the stewards of our woodlands and it’s up to us to develop the respect and share the responsibility. Young people quickly recognize poor woodland behavior amongst others; you set the example. Demonstrate your own respect by picking up litter and staying on the marked trail; “leave no trace” has become the rule in outdoor travel.

Fun on the trail creates special memories for everyone in the family. It’s inexpensive and easy. With little effort it can be rewarding and safe. You will interact with your child on a new level.

Outdoor Quest

Helping the Searchers

Brunton Compasses

Wilderness First Aid

Compass Accuracy

Selecting a Magnetic Compass

Navigation - the 12 Most Common Errors

Book Review - The Natural Navigator

Fire Starting In The Rain

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Building Fires in the Rain

Oregon - Surviving and Earth Quake and Tsunami

Fire Making

Norwegian Mountain Code

Trip Panning

Cascadia Megaquake

Japan quake studies suggest harder jolt to NW possible

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Finding North

Finding North to Help You Stay Found

Taking Good Care of Your Compass

The Signs of a Heart Attack

The Ulitmate Ultra Light stove?

Snow Caves For Fun and Survival

The Top Ten GPS Receivers

Topographic Maps

Traditional Archery

What Is In Your First Aid Kit?

Communications During Large Scale Disasters

A Great First Aid App for Smart/iPhone

Family Hiking Tips: Lost Kids and Search Strategies

Disaster Preparedness Phone Apps.

A Star To Guide Us

Magnetic Declination

Signal Mirror

Magellan GPS

The North Star

Kummerfeldt's Top 20 Favorite Survival Books

Orienting a Topograhic Map

Cooking Wild Game

Maps for Your GPS

Poisonous Flowers and Plants

Air Ambulance Support

Buying a GPS for Christmas

Kummerfeldt In Africa

GPS Web Site

GPS Electronic Compass

Night Travel

Technology Preparedness

Understanding The Scale Of A Map

The Declination Diagram

Refresh Your GPS Skills

Marking a GPS Waypoint

Thank You!

Water Purification

Topo Maps - Update

Alcohol Stove Review

Sharpening Your Knife

Topo Maps - Your Key To The Backcountry

The Right Knife For Your Pack

Best Choices for Backpacking Knives

Compass Navigation

Getting Your GPS Ready For Your Fall Hunt

The Hiker's Checklist

Oregon Hunter Rescued

Make A Survival Kit Part Of Your Wardrobe

Only Three Words That Can Get You In Trouble

Hunters - Get That GPS Setup Before Heading Out

Buying A GPS Receiver

Walking A Line Of Bearing

Free Topo Maps

Exploits, Now Not So Daring

A good friend from SAR sent me David Roberts' editorial from the New York Times.

Are the risk takers depending on Rescue team's too much? I remember all to well watching an Army Blackhawk rolling down the side of Mount Hood as the air crew attempted to pull a stranded climber from danger.

Exploits, Now Not So Daring

By DAVID ROBERTS

Published: September 15, 2011

Your Personal Outdoor Plan

Understanding Magnetic Declination