Joseph's Tips

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Identifying poison ivy, oak and sumac:

These plants contain urushiol, an oil that makes skin itch, burn and break out in watery blisters.

Remember the old saying "leaves of three, let them be" can help you identify poison ivy and poison oak.

POISON IVY. Grows as a low shrub or vine across most of the US. The leaves are attached in clusters of three per stem. I've frequently seen their vines climbing around larger trees.

POISON OAK. The leaves of this plant resemble oak leaves. Tolerant of sun or shade. poison oak grows as a vine in the West, and as a vine or shrub in the Southeast. It typically has three leaflets per stalk, but some have as many as nine per stalk.

POISON SUMAC. With seven to eleven leaflets arranged in pairs, it grows as a shrub or small tree in swampy areas in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast. It also has reddish seed pods at the end of its stems. Sumac turns red, yellow and pinkish in the fall.

Urushiol can transfer from shoes, clothes...and even from pets and garden tools...to your skin.

 

[Red_Dog]

Backpacker's Clothesline:

Take a length of paracord (you carry that stuff anyway)

Loop it around a couple trees and tie it off.
You have two lines of cord between the trees.
Now, find a stick that is a little bit longer than your lines are above the ground.
With the stick, twist the parallel cords until they a taught.
Jamb the long end of the stick against the ground.
Seperate the twisted cord enough to insert the corner of a garment you wish to hang.
No clothes pins !

Dang, that took longer to explain that it actually takes to do.

 

[Judy Ann]

Backpacker's Clothesline:

Take a length of paracord (you carry that stuff anyway)

Loop it around a couple trees and tie it off.
You have two lines of cord between the trees.
Now, find a stick that is a little bit longer than your lines are above the ground.
With the stick, twist the parallel cords until they a taught.
Jamb the long end of the stick against the ground.
Seperate the twisted cord enough to insert the corner of a garment you wish to hang.
No clothes pins !

Dang, that took longer to explain that it actually takes to do.

Glad you posted this because I had forgotten about the necessary stick!

 

[Hikenhunter]

Tip #10 10/12/12-----Learn a few basic knots and learn what they are used for. Then learn how to lash a few different camp gadgets. In this day and age knots and lashings are a dying art but, if you camp with kids,as I do, they like learning these things, it helps to keep their experience interesting, it is one of those things they will remember and pass on to their children. Also knowing these things could help you in a survival situation

 

[Grandpa]

Oct 12 Temperature extremes shorten battery life. Keep battery powered items out of direct sunlight during the day and close to the body to keep them warm at night.

 

[oldsarge]

Always bring an extra compass. Not the one on your GPS either!

 

[Pathfinder1]

Backpacker's Clothesline:

Take a length of paracord (you carry that stuff anyway)

Loop it around a couple trees and tie it off.
You have two lines of cord between the trees.
Now, find a stick that is a little bit longer than your lines are above the ground.
With the stick, twist the parallel cords until they a taught.
Jamb the long end of the stick against the ground.
Seperate the twisted cord enough to insert the corner of a garment you wish to hang.
No clothes pins !

Dang, that took longer to explain that it actually takes to do.

Hi...


That's even better than the barbed wire clotheslines I've seen in Castle Valley, UT...!!

 

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


For today's tip...remember the rule (of thumb) of threes:

You can live for 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter and fire in a harsh environment, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.

Having several methods of fire starting with you at all times is a good start at preparedness.

No survival or emergency kit is complete without fire starters and tinder of some sort.

 

[Hikenhunter]

Tip #11 10/13/12----Keep a journal of all your trips no matter how small and insignificant the trip might seem to be. Even day hikes will produce some of the neatest stuff to record in that journal. It will make for someinteresting reading in the years to come and your chidren and grand children will like to read your journals in years to come. Remember that you are creating memories each time you go afield and some things should never be forgotten.

 

[Pathfinder1]

Tip #11 10/13/12----Keep a journal of all your trips no matter how small and insignificant the trip might seem to be. Even day hikes will produce some of the neatest stuff to record in that journal. It will make for someinteresting reading in the years to come and your chidren and grand children will like to read your journals in years to come. Remember that you are creating memories each time you go afield and some things should never be forgotten.

Hi...


How true. I certainly wish that I didn't lose/misplace the journal I kept from my first trip from NY to AK.

It would make interesting reading today.

 

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Often, the area you are going into is the first clue to items you'll need in your survival kit. You may have not thought about it, but the very clothing you wear is a part of your wilderness survival kit. You need to dress appropriately, from head to toe.

A light jacket can protect you from the sun. Even SPF 40 may not be good enough to prevent a bad case of sunburn at higher elevations. While on that subject, don't forget sun block....and sun glasses.

Dress in layers, and always, even on warm days, put a jacket or poncho in your daypack...just in case.

Don't forget to wear a hat. A hat prevents much heat loss in cold weather (although not to the extent that is frequently touted), and protects you from the heat and sunburn during the hot/sunny days.

NOTE: why in the world do those TV 'survival' programs so frequently show their star(s) wearing only a 'do rag' on their head...??

In cold weather...or even if it's not expected...be sure your hat can cover your ears. A simple wool stocking hat (and warm DRY socks) will also keep you much warmer when sleeping, but a balaclava that can also cover your nose and mouth is much better for keeping warm.

FURTHER NOTE: the above merely touches on the subject of clothing to keep you comfortable in all seasons.

 

[Grandpa]

Oct 13 A decoction of tall sagebrush leaves can be used as an antiseptic wash for cuts, wounds and sores. Boil the leaves to extract the volatile organic compounds, strain the solids out and wash with the liquid.

 

[Hikenhunter]

Tip#12 10/14/12----- If you are using any thing to cook in besides cast iron, you should coat the outside of your pots and pans with a thin coating of liquid soap,before cooking, for easy clean up. The soap prevents the pot or pan from becoming charred and makes cleaning the outside a snap.DO NOT DO THIS WHEN USING CAST IRON FOR COOKING!

 

[Grandpa]

Oct 14 Best time to change socks while cold weather camping? Just before bedtime. Nice clean dry socks really helps to stay warm at night. They also help to keep from burning your feet on the hot water bottle you take to bed.

 

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Today's tip is meant to help an injured, lost or strayed person be found in case an incident keeps them from coming back to base when expected.

SAR and many others may be called out to search for you. There then might be a multitude of footprints to be found in and around the search area. How can these well meaning searchers tell YOUR footprints from all of the others?

When you leave your itinerary with others...also leave them a footprint of your shoes. This can be simply done by placing a piece of aluminum foil on a soft surface such as a carpet and gently stepping on it. This footprint then can be carefully placed in a large ziploc baggie for protection. Sometimes this can also be done by placing the foil in the baggie first, then stepping on it.

It only takes a few seconds, and could increase the chances of your being found sooner...!!

 

[charley]

Cut a piece of ccf pad big enough for your butt. It makes sitting on a log feel much better and can be used to extend a short pad or to splint an arm or leg.

 

[ponderosa]

That's funny, I was going to write Charley's tip today! I always bring a piece of ccf to sit on when I go x-country skiing. Hmm, I'll have to think of something else...

OK, some tips to make your canister stove run better in very cold weather: use that ccf sit pad under the stove to insulate it from the ground (also good for keeping it from sinking into the snow). A computer mouse pad will also work. Also, put the fuel canister in the foot of your sleeping bag overnight to keep it warm.

 

[Hikenhunter]

Tip#13 10/15/12 When backpacking with miles behind you and miles to go and your feet are hot and hurting Stop! Take a break. Take off your boots and socks.If the weather allows it dip your feet in a cool stream for a couple of minutes and if your socks are sweat soaked put on a dry pair. Doing this will change your whole attitude and make the rest of the miles you have to go seem a lot shorter than walking in misery.

 

[Grandpa]

Oct 15 Since I don't wear sunglasses, this tip comes in handy quite often when in the high country and when I have to cross a snow field. To prevent eye damage, just cut a couple of slits in a piece of duct tape. If you don't want the tape stuck on you, fold it in half and cut a couple of slits and tie it over your eyes with a piece of cord.

 

[Grandpa]

Tip#13 10/15/12 When backpacking with miles behind you and miles to go and your feet are hot and hurting Stop! Take a break. Take off your boots and socks.If the weather allows it dip your feet in a cool stream for a couple of minutes and if your socks are sweat soaked put on a dry pair. Doing this will change your whole attitude and make the rest of the miles you have to go seem a lot shorter than walking in misery.

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