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Fire starting is one of the most coveted survival skills, yet modern technology has seen to it that most people aren’t proficient at it. Yet, anybody can master this skill to the point that they can start a fire, even in wet weather. The three basic ingredients are fuel, oxygen and heat. We’re going to assume, for this discussion that the fuel is wood. Oxygen is a given as long as you’re alive, so let’s look at your heat source. You’ve got to have sufficient heat to ignite your fuel, or at least your tinder so that it can in turn ignite your fuel, or wood. Let’s consider how to get that heat source. The American Indians used friction to generate that heat – well actually to generate a small hot coal. They did this by rubbing wood or other dry woody kinds of materials together. The most common approach to doing this is with the use of a bow and drill or even just a drill, made out of wood. By spinning the wooden drill very quickly against another piece of wood, this tiny hot coal can be generated. It is exhilarating to learn to start a fire this way, but everyone who has will tell you this is the hardest way to start a fire. For that reason, they usually carry a better method with them. Perhaps this is the most important lesson to learn about fire starting. By keeping a small fire striker with you at all times, you can assure yourself that you’ll always be able to start fire. Fire strikers consist of a steel piece and a striker which can produce sufficient spark to light tinder. Good quality strikers will actually produce a shower of sparks. There are many on the market, it comes down to which style is most comfortable for you. The great thing about a good fire steel is that it will produce sparks, even when wet. In closing, a quick word about tinder. There are many natural materials, such as bark shavings, dead moss gathered from trees, and dry grass. If you’re serious enough about being skilled at fire starting that you’re willing to carry a fire steel, you might also consider keeping a tiny container with tinder in it – such as cotton mixed with Vaseline. In any case, even with a fire striker, practice is essential to become skilled enough to be able to start a fire under any conditions. Griz Garzo writes about wilderness survival and primitive skills . We hope you enjoyed this article about firestarting .

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Tags: article, Camping, fuel, given-as-long, Hope, India, skilled-at-fire, such-as-cotton, Survival

Camping in the great outdoors is fun and also a great way for family and friends to bond. Most people prefer to camp outdoors during clear, sunny weather. The prospect of rain makes them put off their camping plans. Rain is part of nature and brings with it several wonderful experiences. However, rain can ruin your camping trip if you are not well prepared. Here are few tips on how to keep dry while camping. Your tent is an important part of your camping equipment. Selecting the correct tent will help you to keep dry when camping. When looking to purchase a tent, always choose one that is waterproof, not just water resistant. Water-resistant tents are just that, resistant to water, but not water proof. Even if you do have a waterproof tent, it is a good idea to put it on a tarp or ground cloth. This creates a moisture proof barrier between the tent and the ground. When you have set up your tent, make sure you use some waterproof spray on the seams. This can be obtained from any outdoor or hardware store. Always use all of the parts that come with your tent, including the stakes. The stakes are very crucial to your tent, the help to maintain the structural stability of the tent in adverse weather conditions. Most tents come with a rain fly which covers the door area of the tent. If your tent doesn’t have one, you can substitute a tarp. Just hang the tarp from some trees and make sure that it does not touch your tent. Make sure to either slope the tarp or place a stick under it to make sure the water runs off of it. Choosing your spot is important if you hope to keep yourself dry. Choose level and higher ground where the tent can be set up properly. Look for evidence of previous water runoff in the spot that you have chosen. Make sure there is enough room for your tent and the ability for water to run off away from the tent. Never place your tent on the bottom of a slope, water always runs downhill. Packing lots of rain gear and several changes of clothes is a good idea. You will need a good rain jacket, that is 100% water proof. Cotton and demin is often chosen by campers for its warmth, but unfortunately it is not very water resistant and takes a long time to dry out. If you plan on camping in the rain, choose polyester or micro-fleece materials. Create a separate area for your clothes to be dried out when they get wet. When the rain stops, you can hang your clothes on a branch to let the wind dry them out. Rain proof shoes are always an excellent idea when camping in the rain. Make sure to always pack lots of extra socks, nothing is worse than walking in wet socks. While camping in monsoon, ensure that your sleeping arrangements suit the weather conditions. Get sleeping bags made from synthetic materials instead of down. The ground may get wet in spite of the precautionary measures you take so it would be a good idea to elevate your sleeping bags using cots or airbeds. Following some of these basic suggestions can a long way in making your camping trip a memorable one for the right reasons. For more information on Camping in Revelstoke please check out Jano & Sonia’s Website .

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Tags: Camping, camping in revelstoke, clothes, Health, Hope, rain, spot, tarp, water

By Anna Mehler Paperny, Globe and Mail, link to original post You work at Spadina and Bloor. Your meeting is in 15 minutes at King and Bay – barely a dozen traffic-choked blocks away. You could take a cab. Or the subway. Or, starting in May, 2011, you could swipe your credit card and borrow a bike. After more than a year of discussion, Toronto is preparing to roll out a bike-sharing program that would put 1,000 two-wheeled public steeds on downtown streets. An agreement going before the city’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee  would see the city partner with the Public Bike System Co., the outfit behind Montreal’s popular Bixi program, which has put 5,000 public bikes at the disposal of more than 10,000 users. The idea has taken off in cities across Europe and North America after being popularized by Paris’s Vélib program, which began in 2007, copied from a similar program in the tiny city of La Rochelle dating back to the 1970s. In Toronto’s case, the bikes will be specially designed to withstand abuse and suit riders of all sizes and styles – from briefcase-toting business types to tourists in skirts or shorts. “You can’t buy anything like this in the store,” said cycling infrastructure and programs manager Daniel Egan. “It’s designed to withstand any kind of abuse. It’s got to be as little maintenance as possible. You could ride these in a dress if you wanted.” Although the city made clear its intention to start a bike-sharing program last year, the original start date of this summer had to be pushed back because the city wanted an arrangement with Public Bike System that didn’t involve cash-strapped Toronto putting forward any funds itself: The current arrangement makes Toronto the company’s guarantor. The company is also responsible for lining up $600,000 in sponsorships and signing up members in advance of next year’s launch. In other cases, such as Montreal and London, the city put up at least part of the funds to purchase the bikes. “We’re starting it in baby steps and … we want to make sure it stays no cost to taxpayers,” said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker. Yvonne Bambrick, executive director of the Toronto Cyclists Union, said this is one small step forward for a city trying to sell itself as both green and global. “The idea of having a very accessible public biking system at least in downtown Toronto is a really important step in the right direction,” she said, adding that she wishes the first stages of the project were more ambitious: The city had originally wanted to roll out 3,000 bikes at 300 stations, but opted for a more modest start. Ms. Bambrick, who braves Queen Street streetcar tracks and utility cuts during her daily commute, hopes popularizing downtown cycling will also give the city added impetus to fix its bike infrastructure. “Right now the east-west routes are pretty bad,” she said. “.… Our roadways are not in great repair – they’re not good for cyclists or drivers.”

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Tags: city, gear, Hope, infrastructure, montreal, new york hiking trails, public, toronto

Mystery,  magic, peace and awe of the great outdoors is realized in the DSD’s writing. Here is a quote from Summit Stones and Adventure Musings Blog, “It’s not about escaping from something back here, its more about working it out by embracing the wonderful elements and rainbows out there…” DSD In adittion to informative and [...]

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Tags: Family Hiking, Hike, Hiking, Hope, Mountains, national park, Outdoors, peace, Summit Stones, Trail, trails, tranquility, Trekking

I love camping, and when an extended day’s hike there’s nothing better than to curl up close to my boyfriend! There’s solely one drawback: With 2 separate sleeping bags, it is not as snug as after we’re at home together in bed. That’s why I made a decision to buy us a double sleeping bag for Christmas. Finding the right one took a little bit of research, because there are many completely different varieties to decide on between. If you wish one, there are some things you need to think about: One of the first things to consider is whether or not you would like a bag that is mummy-shaped or one that is square. Personally I like a square one: while they are not as heat as the mother-shaped ones, it is sometimes not a downside for me. Most of my camping visits are throughout the summer, and compared to the mother-formed ones you get a bit of extra wiggle-space for your toes, abundant like you would in your own bed. With the mum-shaped bag your feet are almost perpetually along, which is not continuously a good thing if your boyfriend (or girlfriend) has cold toes! Having some further area conjointly means that I will amendment position throughout the night without waking my boyfriend. Priceless! There are vital variations in quality with double baggage, just like with regular bags. The main distinction is between goose down and artificial bags. Even though a goose down double sleeping bag is usually more expensive, they are sometimes lighter and additional compressible. They conjointly luggage additionally have a tendency to be higher quality, and last longer than artificial ones. So if you’re shopping for something that can last long-term, a down feather bag might be the most effective choice. If you are allergic, but, a synthetic bag might be better, as there are fewer hypersensitivity with these than with the goose down, simply as with pillows and cover covers at home. My brother is allergic, and swears by his synthetic sleeping bag. Artificial luggage also are speculated to be better when it’s wet – and sometimes you can’t control the weather. One zipper isn’t enough! Also, do not forget to think about zippers. It’s a sensible idea to form certain your bag contains a zipper on each facet, making it simple to induce out and in without too much trouble throughout the night. As a result of I tend to induce a small amount hotter during the night than my boyfriend, having a zipper on each facet conjointly makes it straightforward for him to get a little extra air if he wants to, without it obtaining cold on my side. One and one is one! Sometimes I’m going camping without my different friends, which means that I do not really need a double bag. A drawback is that it takes up unnecessary space and weight if solely one people is going. Because I would rather not have to own a further bag at home for these journeys, I’ve bought one that zips apart, which suggests that that you merely need to bring [*fr1] of the bag if you are going camping with the girls or boys. If you are having a fight (that hopefully you will not!) you furthermore mght don’t must sleep along – Merely zip apart, and sleep on different sides of the tent. Personally, I fully love having a double sleeping bag, and would never return to individual bags. If you are thinking of buying one, it’s a good idea to pay a very little time reviewing the different varieties and types to create sure you get the right sort for your needs! You’ll have a look in an exceedingly store close to you however unfortunately – in my expertise – they typically don’t sell double luggage, or if they do, they only have one kind available. Thus it is typically easier – and cheaper – to search out one online. I am an enormous fan of the outside, and love to go camping. I’m conjointly a large fan of ecotourism, and environmentally-friendly, sustainable development, which suggests that that I write a ton concerning these problems as well. I’m an anthropologist by coaching, and the rest of the time I’m an artist. Click here to learn more down sleeping bags other products: kids sleeping bags

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Tags: boyfriend, Camping, Hope, mother, night, outdoor camping, outdoor products, sleeping bags, summer, time, weather, zipper-on-each

Brian and I love to hike. In fact, we pack our vacations with as much hiking as the weather and our aging bodies will allow. However, this time we tried to squeeze in one hike we shouldn’t have. It all started as we headed out on a Friday towards TN to hike in the Smoky Mountains for a week. We decided we would leave early, stop in Southern Indiana, and hike in the Hoosier Forest before spending the night. Turns out we spent a little longer out in the woods than we planned… And before we go any further, let me share that we’ve been hiking for over 7 years, have hiked in 15 states from Nevada to New York, and have NEVER been “lost” for more than a few minutes before this incident. Here’s what happened, what we did wrong, and thankfully a happy ending. We drove down to Seymour Indiana, checked into the hotel, changed into hiking gear and headed out to Jackson-Washington State Forest to hike the Knobstone Trail. Our trusty “Hiking Indiana” book shows the loop trail as 3 miles with 2 hours hiking time. Since it was about 5:30 pm, getting started we knew we were pushing it a little bit (Mistake #1 not allowing enough time for anything to go wrong) but we hike rather quickly and weren’t terribly concerned. Brian had planned to bring a flashlight just in case it was getting dark on us. I say planned, because in the excitement of getting to the trailhead, the flashlight didn’t make it into the pack and I did not remind him (Mistake #2, not bringing the right gear). As we headed to the trailhead we ran into a couple of other hikers on the way out that told us it was a nice trail, but it had lots of up and down sections and your legs would get a workout… and they were right. What they didn’t tell us was that unlike every other trail we had done in an Indiana park, the trail markings in this one left a lot to be desired. We headed out and as promised, the trail fairly quickly headed up, then down, and repeated this process several times. It was a nice challenging trail and outside of the bugs was quite enjoyable. Parts of the trail were very narrow paths along steep banks that fell a couple of hundred feet down. There were roots and rocks along the trail… definitely have to watch your step especially with such a sheer drop off one side. Oh, and there was Poison Ivy everywhere along the trail. If you are allergic to it, this might be a trail to avoid. Our book said to follow the white blazes and they were plentiful and everywhere you expected to see them, right until they were everywhere! At about two hours into the hike (with the sun setting quickly) we came to a clearing at the top of a ridge where suddenly there was an abundance of choices… but no clear choice as to which one was the right one!!! We had our choice of A) Continuing on in the direction we’d been heading (but which was rather overgrown and didn’t seem to be the right choice), B) Turning right onto a path with blue and white blazes which was a rutted, overgrown, mud hole filled fire trail, C) A fairly well cared for gravel “logging” road going left with white blazes on it, and D) the same logging road backtracking in almost the exact direction we had come from (with no blazes in sight). In the middle of all this was a typical park trail head sign with arrows pointing down the overgrown fire trail and to the gravel logging road proclaiming it to be the Spurgeon Hollow Trail. Tacked to both sides of a large tree were notes saying to get back to Delaney Park (from where we started) to take the blue and white blazed trail down the hill (no hill in sight) and then turn right. At this point, none of these choices seemed to make a lot of sense to us. Since the notes tacked to the tree said to go down the muddy fire road, that’s which way we went. After a a short distance though we decided this couldn’t be the trail. It was too overgrown and didn’t appear like it had been traveled by anyone recently. So we turned around and went back to the “intersection” of all the choices. We now think about our options and conclude that maybe the only sure way to get back where we started is to backtrack on the trail that got us here. Unfortunately its so dark now that we know it simply woulnd’t be safe. No way could we naviagate the narrow path along those hillsides in the dark (as Brian kicks himself for not bringing the flashlight) with the rocks. roots and sheer drop off.

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Tags: blue, cell, Hope, Indiana, light, Nevada, time, tree