4 Steps to an Enjoyable Hike
August 31, 2007
Some people have fought many years of their lives to preserve the rich heritage of the outdoors and nature we now enjoy. That dedication and effort has been rewarded by fantastic hiking opportunities in our local, state, and national park systems. In honor of their efforts, let’s break out of our winter hibernation and venture into the crisp, clean outdoor air and hit some of those dirt trails. Let’s Go Hiking!
Here are 4 steps to having an enjoyable hike, no matter where your feet decide to take you.
1. Know the area you will be hiking in to. Although many states, like California, Colorado, or Wyoming have exceptional hiking hot spots, even your local park will have some kind of useful information. Whether it’s a website with information and trail details, or a map at the park office, trailhead, or visitor center, always check before you head out on your hike so you know what to expect.
Choosing The Fishing Trip Destination Thats Right For Your Group
August 30, 2007
Try doing a web search on the words "fishing lodge" and you will come up with hundreds of thousands of matches. Visit any major sports show and you’ll find dozens of outfitters, each offering promises of the trip of a lifetime. How on earth do you narrow it down and find the fishing destination that’s just right for you?
Identify Your Priorities for you fishing trip…
The first step in selecting a destination is to sit down with everyone else going on the trip and discuss what it is that you want out of the experience. It’s not enough to decide you want great fishing, because that can mean very different things from one person to the next.
One person in your party might be delighted to catch 20 fish per day, while another might expect 20 fish an hour. This is the time to be perfectly clear and up-front, because the more honestly you communicate your wishes, the better the chances you will have a great trip.
Some important things to decide right from the beginning include:
What species of fish do you want to catch?
How To Buy a Used RV - Part 2
August 29, 2007
The key to getting a good bargin, instead of a lemon, when buying your used RV is knowing what to look for. Here is a useful checklist to help with your search.
1. Does the trailer jack work?
2. Do the propane bottles need updating and inspection? This can be costly if the bottles need to be replaced. Generally, if an RV propane tank is older than twelve years, it will have to be reinspected every five years. Also, it is mandatory that the propane tank have an OPD valve. If you don’t know what an OPD valve is, the official description is “Overfilling Protection Device”.
3. Check the hoses leading away from the propane bottle for cracks and splits. You do not want a leaking propane connection. Check the nut that screws into the propane tank. Is it worn? If so, it may need to be replaced.
4. The LP Gas regulator is usually located just a few inches away from the propane tanks. You’ll see the hoses leading from the propane tanks into a device with one pipe at the bottom of it that runs beneath the RV. Regulators begin to leak when they are approximately ten years old. For your information, leaking propane is not a good thing. Don’t hesitate to replace the regulator if it is leaking.
The Low Down On Worms
August 28, 2007
We all know that plastic worms are one of the most productive lures there are, but did you know certain worms have special uses? I have a whole tackle box with nothing but plastic worms in it, hundreds of them!
Here is what I use a certain worm for:
Floating Worm…I use this worm in shallow water and mainly in the spring. I use no weight whatsoever and like to use it when the fish just start thinking about spawning.
Stick Worm…..I use this worm in 60-70 degree water. If you use it whacky style it will vibrate on both ends.
Paddle Tail…..This is one of my favorite shallow water lures. When I fish vegetation I use long casts and just reel it back in slowly.
Gator Tail…This is also a shallow water worm that I use in the summer. It’s also great on streams and rivers.
Curly Tail….I use this worm in the summer around stumps, docks, timber, lily pads and it’s one of my favorite when I fish deep water to 20 feet.
Straight Tail…This is one of my favorites for docks, timber and brush. I have found it doesn’t wrap around brush like most worms do.
How To Buy a Used RV - Part 1
August 28, 2007
If you are on a tight budget and can’t afford a new model RV you might consider buying a used RV. Here are a few suggestions for finding a used, affordable RV:
1. Check newspaper listings. Look in the listings of your local or state daily paper’s classifieds. Most towns and cities have a free shoppers circular that is mostly classified listings.
2. Check for any consignment lots in your area. RV owners who aren’t interested in having strangers to their home often will park their RV at a consignment lot.
3. Run a “want to buy” listing in the classified section of your local paper.
4. Watch for campers parked curbside, in driveways, or front yards with “For Sale” signs posted on them.
5. Drive through local RV and Mobile Home Parks and watch for RV’s with for sale signs posted on them.
When you find an RV you are interested in purchasing, don’t fall in love with it and be too eager to buy. You could regret a hasty decision for a long time. If you aren’t familiar with the functioning of an RV, bring a friend along who is. The chances are excellent that there will be one or more (usually more) components not working that will have to be repaired.
Anglers Who Want Quality Equipment at a Reasonable Price Need the Garmin 160 Fish Finder
August 27, 2007
The Garmin 160 Fish Finder has some big advantages over the competition. First, the exclusive See-Thru? technology allows the Fishfinder 160 to hear both weak and strong signals simultaneously, giving it tremendous dynamic range. The result is a display that is capable of showing strong fish returns even when fish are suspended inside structure and thermoclines. Second, Depth Controlled Gain (DCGTM) automatically adjusts fishfinder sensitivity according to depth, not echo intensity like other fishfinders. The result is a much more detailed and accurate picture of bottom structure.
On several occasions I’ve been on the water, paddling away in my kayak when my alarm will go off. A quick back-paddle to drop the line means that the Garmin 160 Fish Finder almost always pays dividends.
It includes a plastic transom mount transducer with depth temperature. Operating frequency of 200 kHz. Beamwidth of 20 degrees. Transducer kit comes with installation instructions. Follow the instructions carefully so you don’t mangle your boat in the process.
As an added plus to anglers, the Fishfinder 160 offers a protective front cover and water temperature readings as standard unit features. In addition, water temperature is displayed below the depth reading for quick visual reference, and a unique control bar identifies the most commonly used fishing settings.
Visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park
August 26, 2007
If anyplace on earth is a natural paradise, Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is that place. Of all Croatia’s eight National Parks, Plitvice is the oldest and most visited. It’s easy to see why. Bears and wolves lurk in its primeval forest; schools of silvery fish dart through its pristine rivers; its beech trees are a cacophony of chattering birds. The crown jewels are the 16 translucent lakes connected to each other by a breathtaking series of cascades. Dazzling as the Plitvice national park appeared on a recent visit, I couldn’t help recalling that this exceptional site was a war zone during the breakup of former Yugoslavia.
Located near Croatia’s then- disputed border with Bosnia-Hercegovina, the park’s troubles began in 1991 when the Yugoslav army seized the park and turned it into an army barracks. The Croatian army forced them out in 1995 but, a year later, the effects of war were everywhere. The area surrounding the park was a nightmarish landscape of bombed out houses and abandoned farms. The park’s three hotels were shot to pieces and part of the lake system was closed while specialists removed mines from the falls and forests.
Find and Catch Those Pesky Fish with a Garmin 240 Fish Finder
August 25, 2007
Garmin 240 Fish Finder Depthfinder with Transducer - a review
The lakes that I normally fish are deep and quite rocky, and I have been delighted with the performance of the Garmin 240 Fish Finder, which gives a clear picture of what lies below. The image of the bottom shows great detail, and if it is showing fish presence then you can guarantee they will be there. It does a good job of indicating non-fishlines as well. It is at its best when performing in deep water, but perhaps isn’t as impressive in shallow water.
The Depth Control feature works well in continuing to monitor changes in water depth automatically while the Whiteline feature determins bottom hardness well. The screen is easy to read, even in the dark when the backlight comes into its own. You can see the controls easily.
The Garmin 240 Fish Finder is packed full of features for less money than my old Lowrance, while the features are easily compatible.”
Features
The 240-by-240 pixel high-definition display gives you a clear picture of fish, thermoclines, structure and bottom surface. By using various shades of gray, the Fishfinder 240 paints a beautiful picture, leaving little to interpretation.
Alternatives to Pressurized Fuel
August 24, 2007
Recently I attended a Boy Scout Leader Roundtable meeting where they held a Pressurized Fuel Training session. The focus of this training was to teach leaders what they should be teaching boy scouts about safety rules for using primarily cooking stoves, but also lanterns and heaters that use propane or liquid fuels under pressure. The point was not at all to teach how to use these devices, but was purely about safety.
The point of this article is not to discuss the specifics of the safety rules. I’m sure you can find them elsewhere on-line, and frankly a lot of it was common sense (like reading the manual that came with the device you are using and following their instructions). The point of this article is to offer answers to the following questions that came up in my mind during this training: 1) If there are so many safety issues with pressurized fuel, why use it? and 2) What are the alternatives?
The answer to the first question has to do with the BSA and other organizations adopting the Leave No Trace philosophy. I won’t go into all the details on this either, but suffice to say that Leave No Trace is an environmentalist movement which among other things discourages the use (or over-use) of wood found in the wild for campfires or for building camp furniture, etc.
Edible Wild Plants For Backpackers
August 23, 2007
Knowing a few edible wild plants can make your next backpacking trip, or any trip into the wilderness, a lot more enjoyable.
You can pack lighter if you eat wild berries every morning for breakfast, for example, and leave your oatmeal behind. So push the bears out of the way and gorge yourself on blueberries. Less weight on your back always feels better.
You’ll also enjoy your backpacking more when you know that you won’t be completely helpless the moment you lose your pack, or a raccoon empties it for you. You don’t have to be a survivalist to see the value of knowing which of the wild plants around you can be eaten.
I eat dandelions, wild courants, pine nuts and other edible wild plants regularly. I ate hundreds of calories in wild rasberries during a break, while hiking in the Colorado Rockies. During a kayak trip on Lake Superior, a friend and I spent half a day stopping at every litle island, to fill our stomachs with wild blueberries. We were almost out of food, so our foraging helped us get through the rest of the trip. Edible Berries
