Great Outdoors
Be prepared for emergencies in the field
You can find yourself in need of medical help anytime, anywhere. It’s bad enough when you’re in town, and the EMTs are only a few blocks away. But when you hurt yourself or get sick […]
camping
Great Outdoors
There are some things you don’t want to hear while you’re camping
I took my kids out on a hike last summer, and as we were truckin’ down the trail, enjoying the scenery, my youngest said, “whoa, that’s a funny cat.” I didn’t think much of it, […]
Great Outdoors
I’m the proud new owner of a tired, old camper
My wife and I have been looking for a camper for a long time. We didn’t want a fancy, shiny, new one with slide-outs, TVs and satellite dishes. All we needed was something we could […]
Great Outdoors
Some hard lessons are easier to remember than others
While thinking about some of the wisdom I’ve gained from experiences in the outdoors, I thought of the most obvious piece of wisdom first: Don’t eat yellow snow. But some of my wisdom has been […]
Great Outdoors
Camping with my cousin always means rain
When we were just kids, my cousin Carrie went with my family on at least a couple of our summer camping trips. I think there had to have been more than two trips she went […]
Great Outdoors
Keep your Gore-Tex gear waterproof
There’s not an awful lot that’s worse than a rain coat that doesn’t keep the rain out. What’s the point of packing it along if it just turns into an extra layer of soaking-wet clothing? […]
Great Outdoors
Horses are a lot of work … but sometimes they’re worth it
In my days in the mountains, I’ve seen some horse wrecks that probably should have turned my hair gray prematurely. I’ve had horses go lame on me deep in the backcountry. I’ve been awakened in […]
Great Outdoors
Carry the right stuff in your first aid kit
Being prepared for the worst is never a bad idea. However, if you carry everything you might need for any emergency, you won’t have room for your tent or sleeping bag. A first aid kit […]
Great Outdoors
Beat the heat this summer … in the woods
I can’t stand heat. I’d rather be cold than hot. Part of it is just how I’m wired. I just don’t do well when I’m overheated. If I’m doing any kind of exercise, I sweat […]
Great Outdoors
Don’t tease city kids about bears
About 15 years ago, my dad, my cousin Vance and I took a weekend trip to Dundee Meadows above Dubois. The “bear use area” signs we encountered where we turned off the main road steered […]