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 […]
camping
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 […]
Great Outdoors
Just get lost — in the woods, that is
Most people try to avoid getting lost in the woods. I’ve long thought my dad’s goal was just the opposite. Every time we headed out into the wild, Dad would get us lost. Never horribly […]
Great Outdoors
The backpack with legs
When I was a kid, my dad used to take me into the mountains above Pinedale each summer. I was quite young when Dad decided I should carry my own weight – literally. Before we […]
Great Outdoors
Test gear before you buy it
Don’t just buy your gear because it looks good. Buy it only if it fits you properly. Hiking boots that don’t fit you well will give you blisters, and you’ll spend your entire trip sitting […]
Great Outdoors
Summer’s already booked
How do I do this every year? Before the summer even starts, I’ve already committed myself for every minute of vacation time I have available. I guess I ought to point out that not every […]