My Five-Ounce Sleeping Bag
February 21, 2008
Okay, it wasn’t quite a sleeping bag. However, it was only five ounces, and it kept me warm as the temperature dropped to the low forties on the bank of the Manistee River in Michigan. The secret was the fifteen minutes we spent gathering dead, dry bracken ferns to build a two-foot thick mattress. We set the tent on that. Then, with all my clothes on, I was fine.
In fact, I’ve rarely slept as well camping as I did that night. As I said, it wasn’t a sleeping bag, but actually a sleeping bag liner. I bought it from Campmor, but I’ve since sewn a simple one of bargain-bin nylon material ($1/yard) obtained at Walmart. If it’s possible to stay warm with a light sleeping bag liner in autumn, at a few degrees above freezing, this strategy should work well for summer nights in the sixties.
How To Use A Liner As A Sleeping Bag
Be careful, of course, backpacking with just a liner for a sleeping bag. It could be dangerous, or at least uncomfortable enough to ruin your trip. Experiment near home, and know yourself and your enviroment.
Fancy Catching Something Slightly Different? How About an Angler Fish?
February 20, 2008
The true Angler Fish lives in both shallow and deep water and there is regularly confusion over their identity as either Angler Fish or Monkfish. It is more a case that there is more than one variety of both and at some point the two species cross over. Some Angler Fish can legitimately be called Monkfish and vice versa, but then again, there are some Monkfish (although equally entitled to the name) which are actually from the Shark family. To go into that further would involve getting into the Latin names of the species which I’m not going to do here!
It is not the sort of fish that most people target but more the type that you would happen upon by accident when fishing for Flatties. They’re prefered habitat is a sandy/mud seabed but gravel or shell beds also offer much of an attraction where they eat anything in their path, especially smaller fish and shellfish. Their enormous mouths are adorned with large, extremely sharp and backwards facing teeth and they even have teeth in their throats so as to stop their prey from escaping until it has been safely swallowed.
It is, therefore, advisable to use a wire rig when targeting Angler Fish!
Tips for Mountain Bikers in Spain
February 19, 2008
As any keen mountain biker will know, there are some important rules to follow and bike handling skills to master before subjecting yourself and your bike to the thrills and spills of off-road riding. Although most of us ride within our capabilities most of the time, riding on different trails in hot weather conditions can present a new set of challenges requiring some new biking skills and knowledge.
Here in Southern Spain, I spend most of my time riding in warm and dry conditions, on shale/gravel trails in relatively remote areas, at medium to high altitude (1000 ? 4000 ft). I say relatively remote, in that I seldom meet other bikers, hikers or other like-minded individuals. In other words, you must be prepared to patch yourself up and get yourself off the mountainside in the event of an accident.
Here are some points to consider before embarking on your Spanish MTB adventure.
Planning routes:
Map it out - When planning routes for yourself and other bikers to ride, get hold of a map first. I use the 1:25,000 topographical maps published by the Centro Nacional De Informacion Geografica (CNIG). They show most off-road vehicle tracks, forestry access roads and some single track/footpaths.
Butterfly Jigs Create Buzz with American Fishermen
February 19, 2008
A big buzz within the fishing community that is spreading like wildfire is deep jigging with the new “butterfly” jig. Deep jigging has always been a very productive way of catching fish at all levels up and down the water column. Large heavy bucktail or nylon jigs were typically the angler’s choice of tackle. The jig was allowed to fall to the bottom and then worked back up to the surface.
Recently, one of the leaders in cutting-edge fishing tackle, created a new series of metal jigs that have really taken vertical jigging to the next level. These jigs are widely known as the “butterfly” jig because of their distinctive flutter-like zigzag motion produced under the water. The jig moves this way because of the unique way the lure’s edges are cut. Because of the sporadic movement and action produced by the “butterfly” jig, it entices fish to strike more often than traditional deep jigs.
What people may not know is that it is the entire fishing rig set-up that makes the “butterfly” jig so effective. In addition to the “butterfly” jig, anglers also need to have the correct action rod and reel and also use braided line. This style of fishing originated in Japan and was recently introduced to American anglers with great enthusiasm and success.
Safety Tips While Walking in the Spanish Countryside
February 18, 2008
Spring:
Essential items when preparing for a walk
-Compass
-First aid kit - including an elastic bandage, gauze pads, antiseptic cream and antihistamine tablets.
Mobile Phones ? Always tell at least one person where you will be walking and the estimated time you will be out. Mobile phone coverage can be unreliable in the mountains.
Water and Energy Food ? Even though temperatures may be low it is better to carry plenty of water and juice. Food for energy is important not only to keep your stomach happy but also your mind. If your brain is lacking in essential sugars you cannot make correct decisions for your safety. Healthy foods such as nuts, fruit, muesli bars, (some chocolate) and sandwiches are a better type of food to take walking.
Footwear and Clothing - Wearing comfortable walking shoes or boots is important, especially when tackling difficult terrain. They are designed for comfort and safety and if looked after will last for many years. In spring you may start off walking in good weather conditions, but a gain in altitude of a few hundred meters and it will be a different story. Normally a medium weight sweater and a light wind/rain proof jacket should be sufficient.
On The Road…With Jack Karpawack
February 17, 2008
Jack Karpawack here.
I’ve taken to the road…
Life can be simple,and life can be hard on the road, but mainly it just makes your butt hurt having to drive so far to pursue the call of the fish.
I’d like to say I am in some hip chic coffee house this morning, getting a pulse on the urban mainstream here in Twin Falls Idaho, but……
……I’m writing from a not so cheap motel-because free internet access doesn’t come cheap-ya know. (And my wife and daughter wouldn’t have it any other way) Specifically,I’m writing from the bathroom, since for some reason it’s the only place I can “log on”.
On my way to the Henry’s Fork river in Idaho. Yes, the famous one. It’s a little early for prime time fishing on the Henry’s Fork, but with a trip to Yellowstone planned, I just had to see what all the broo-ha is all about.I may even get a few casts on the Madison, but if I do,it will probably be one of those “drive by” fishing attempts, that only help you strike up a conversation in a bar somewhere. “Yeah, I fished the Madison once up in Yellowstone.”
Tom Sawyer Day - Floating Down The River
February 16, 2008
There were four of us on that first Tom Sawyer Day. I promised my friends an adventure-disaster, sure to get them wet and cold. Three of them took the bait. In a small daypack, we took snacks, water, a hatchet, a small saw, and whatever scraps of rope we could find.
We parked and hiked up the Manistee river a few miles. The plan was to build a raft, using dead trees and scraps of rope. Then we’d get on it and go river rafting back to the car.
It later became a much anticipated event among an ever-changing group of participants. Since it was equally fun AND dangerous, we didn’t bring beer. Even sober it was a challenge to keep a thousand-pound pile of logs, with four people on it, from going where it wanted to go. Where it wanted to go usually involved pain and cold water, but with each trip we learned a little, and sometimes even stayed dry.
River Rafting Geometry
Roland and I were cutting and hauling logs to the river for the first raft, while Cathy and Leslie cooked hotdogs over a fire. We did geometry on a piece of birchbark, trying to figure how many logs were needed, allowing for the dishonesty of the women’s stated weights.
Steroids Running Rampant In Fishing World
February 15, 2008
You knew it would come to this sooner or later….
I was sitting in one of my favorite fishing haunts the other day, getting yet another report from a recent Alaskan fishing trip,when I overheard a conversation between two local guides.
“Todd sure had a great Springer season.”
“Yeah, nobody seemed to be catching any fish except him?!”
“And did you notice the size of his HEAD…it’s getting HUGE!!”
“Must be all that rowing he’s been doing all summer.”
“Yeah, that time spent on his BOWLEX in the off season is really starting to pay off.”
“Some guys think he might be JUICING.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, juicing!!”
“You mean like orange juice??”
“No- you hamburger- STEROIDS.”
“Steroids??!!”
“Yeah, you know the last couple of years Todd has been having a tough go of it out there. Seems like all the younger guides have been giving him a run for the money. His fish catching production had really dropped off the last few seasons. At first, guys started seeing him drinking a lotta SOBE–you know that drink that has a bunch of Creatine, Taurine and Polypropylene in it– anyway, pretty soon he started to need bigger fishing hats, one guy said he saw his head burst right through a ball cap on a day trip the other day.The guys thought he was like the HULK or something.”
Protection from Lightning - Smart Strategies for Hikers and All Outdoor Enthusiasts
February 14, 2008
Prevention is your best protection against lightning. Be sure to check your local weather report before you head outside. Learn how to read the sky and where to run for cover. Lightning can and does strike in the same place twice, do not make yourself vulnerable by becoming a target.
Reading the Sky Stay aware of the sky above you with your eyes and ears. To estimate how far away a lightening storm is, count the time between the lightning flash and the sound of thunder. Every five seconds difference in time equals one mile in distance. If you hear thunder 12 seconds after you see a flash, the lightning struck just over 2 miles away (2 2/5 miles).
Lightweight Backpacking: How Light?
February 14, 2008
You aren’t lightweight backpacking if you are carrying twenty-five pounds for a summer weekend. I invent these standards, but I try to be reasonable. I backpack with less than fifteen pounds total weight for a weekend trip. With a few new pieces of gear, and a little knowledge, you can probably carry less than twenty pounds for a three-day trip, and less than thirty for a week-long trip.
Start by throwing out those pack weight/body weight formulas. Learn the principles of lightweight backpacking, and you’ll never be close to what they say you can carry anyhow. And who wants to carry 25% of their body weight down the trail? The question to ask is “How much do I need to carry to be safe and comfortable?”
Lightweight Backpacking Isn’t Masochistic
The biggest reason for lightweight or ultralight backpacking is to enjoy the trip more. I don’t leave crucial things behind or otherwise make myself miserable, just so I can call it lightweight backpacking.
Here’s a good rule: Go as light as you can without sacrificing things that are most important to you (safety items, a good book, a bottle of rum?). It’s not about giving things up. It’s about carefully choosing what you really need to have an enjoyable, safe trip, AND replacing heavier things with lighter things.
