Archive for April, 2007

Survival Kit Checklist

Sunday, April 29th, 2007

This survival kit checklist outlines a number of essential items to carry with you anytime one is needed - while backpacking or hiking, on long car trips, or even just around your home in case of natural disaster.

This survival kit will supply you with the items necessary to meet your physiological needs in case of an emergency situation, as well as giving you piece of mind and security just knowing you have one in case you need it.

In order to ensure your survival kit is easy to find, you should keep these items inside of an easily identifiable container, such as a bright zippered pouch, so you can quickly and easily locate the kit whenever you need it.

Please note that this checklist is only a suggestion. You should always customize your survival kit to meet your specific, personal needs.

12″ x 24″ sheets of aluminum foil

Use for cooking or as a signal reflector.

Heavy plastic bags, preferably Zip-Lock

Use to keep things dry, such as food or other dry goods, or to store water.

SPACE® Brand Emergency Blanket

Good for personal shelter and warmth, as well as for signaling.

High shrill whistle

Use to attract attention. Three short blasts is recognized as a distress signal.

Good quality compass

Use to find your bearings and to help navigate if you are lost.

Waterproof matches with tinder

Fires are important for warmth and signaling.

Bright colored bandana or cloth

Bandanas can be used for basic filtering of dirty water, as a sling, or a headband or mask to protect your face. The bright color gives you another signaling device. Tie-die bandanas and blaze orange bandanas are also available.

Instant soup mix or bouillon cubes, salt & pepper

You can boil water in aluminum foil, add the soup or bouillon and spices to sustain yourself.

At least one small AA or AAA flashlight with batteries

Having a light source is crucial at night. Flashlights make great signaling. Don’t forget to keep fresh batteries in your flashlight! Also consider a self generating flashlight.

Extra batteries for each flashlight

Carry an extra set of batteries for each flashlight you have.

Multi-function pocket knife or Leatherman tool

Having a multitude of basic tools, especially knives and pliers, will come in handy during many emergencies.

Water purification tablets

During an emergency, having potable water is invaluable. These tablets will ensure you can make drinkable water out of otherwise non-drinkable water. Use your bandana as a crude filter to remove particulates from the water first.

Small fishing kit

Keeping hooks, lines, lures and snares with you will allow you to catch fish in case you run short on food.

Signal mirror

Another signaling device - works very well to reflect sunlight.

Wire saw

Good for cutting up tinder for fires and for building crude shelters.

Hard candy and/or high energy bars

Calorie-packed foods provide sustenance and the act of eating provides peace of mind.

Heavy-duty cord

Useful in holding together crude shelters, for making repairs, and for making snares.

Thread and needle, or a sewing kit

Provides a means to patch torn clothing or sew smaller pieces of fabric together for larger signaling devices or for shelter. In an extreme emergency, can be used to suture wounds.

Insect repellent

Use for personal comfort.

Lip balm

Use for personal comfort.

Small bottle of high SPF sunscreen

The sun’s can leave you with blistering burns, especially if you don’t have suitable shelter and even during the winter. High SPF (40+) can help protect you from this.

Small first aid kit

Bandages, antiseptic, pain-relievers, snake-bite kit, etc. It’s a good idea to suit your first aid kit to your personal needs and the expectations of your upcoming adventure.

Pocket hand warmers

In the extreme cold, pocket hand warmers can help stave off hypothermia. In the minor cold, they can certainly add to your personal comfort.

Survival guide or notes

Keep a survival guide or set of notes with you to remind you of what to do and what not to do during an emergency.

A map of the local terrain

If possible, having a map of the local terrain, especially one that includes nearby cities, is extremely helpful in finding your way to safety. Use with your good quality compass to navigate to the nearest town or shelter.

A picture of your loved ones

In dire situations, a picture of your loved ones provides you with the will to survive.

Print this list and check off the items as you collect them for your kit

Enjoy Backpacking Year-Round

Sunday, April 29th, 2007

Backpacking is a fabulous adventure for any individual.  There is a beautiful world waiting for those people ready to grasp this type of activity.  It can be a fun and an extraordinary experience.

Many individuals choose to do this activity throughout the year.  This type of event is great for every member of the family or individual’s that want to be alone.  The worries and struggles of normal days can be hectic.

This is a great activity to loose the stress and anxiety of everyday living.  Most people choose to take summer vacations backpacking around the world.  A few individual decides to struggle through winter mountains, exploring the snow animals and plant life.  Whichever time of the year a person decides to venture out onto trails, a glace at weather conditions are a must.

Everyone must be prepared for different styles of backpacking.

At the website, www.nwbackpack.com a person could find all their shopping needs for a trip of this nature.  This company is an excellent one-stop shop for all backpacks and accessories to make the trip fun and safe for all parties.  A person could navigate through the website quickly and without much effort.

It is an excellent tool for backpacks, safety equipment and tools to journey for days or weeks.  Everything an individual could want or need for one day or one week can be located at this company.  They strive to bring the best equipment possible to their consumers.

Backpacking is a wonderful activity.  The fresh air, the sounds of birds chirping and coyotes howling in the background can be a relaxing adventure.  Trails could be found anywhere an individual would like to view.  Either around the world or in a person’s backyard, with the proper gear a person would enjoy the quite solitude they desperately desire.

Maps of pathways could be purchased at a ranger’s station or visitor’s center.  Various locations could be traveled in a short time.  A day trip is a fabulous way to receive a workout or training for those longer and more rugged trails.

Be Prepared for Outdoor Adventure

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007

Various types of people enjoy backpacking. A person could travel the world with a bag on their shoulders. A photographer could spend days gathering the perfect pictures. A person that deserves fun and much needed exercise could walk these paths and enjoy their workout.

There are various kinds of people that adore backpacking and hiking. It is a quiet and peaceful time to meditate and relieve the pressures of the world. With only nature at a person’s fingertips, the time can be spent in thought.

Rare birds can be viewed, wildlife that is uncommonly spotted near the road or a hidden waterfall paradise could all be found with a journey through backpacking trails. A person could spend the day in reflection; an angry individual can calm their nerves. There are many reasons a person would seek this solitude.

When people begin their journey into the wilderness they must have a specific list of items that they cannot forget. Every trip in nature can begin at http://www.nwbackpack.com. The correct backpacking provisions may be sought out in this excellent display.  This website is quick to navigate and easy to find the proper equipment.

It is vital to be prepared for any outdoor entertainment. Plenty of water, food and a first aid kit is a fantastic idea for a day trip. Many items can be purchased from this company plus much more helpful gear for any type of venture.

Backpacking is a fabulous sport that can take an individual into extreme and fantastic conditions. This form of activity is great for families or lone people looking for quiet and privacy. Through trips of this nature a person can relieve their inner demons and relax with the clam nature surroundings. It is a wonderful activity to spend with the kids. It will also give a sense of enjoyment to an avid photographer. The plants, trees and animals a person could view are marvelous.

With all the hustle and bustle of city life, a trip to the forest may be what is well-needed. Through the many trails and destinations an individual could travel on foot. This is an excellent idea for the body and the soul.

Backpacking is a great family activity

Monday, April 23rd, 2007

Backpacking is a great activity to spend time with the family. This method could be a day trip or a week vacation. An individual can gather the correct gear and head out into the wilderness.

These people can purchase a backpack that holds a sleeping bag. Everyone can be equipped with these items and the necessary gear to survive. This would be a great educational tool for children or a honeymoon retreat for newlyweds.

The value of one of these trips is priceless. Various plant and wildlife could be viewed within one day. A family could go backpacking through the wilderness until they reached a small lake or pond to set up camp for the night. It is a perfect get-away for nature lovers.

A family trip that involves backpacking can be achieved in a person’s town or across the world. Various designated paths and walkways are designed for people to take advantage of. Camping by this method is a fantastic choice.

Campgrounds are somewhat fun but they are crowded by other families. Their activities are similar to a hotel room. It would be much more entertaining to gather a family that is in shape and travel until dusk then set up camp.

Backpacking is simple to learn. There are informational tools that assist people in protecting their loved ones and themselves from dangerous situations. It is vital to understand what could happen if an individual is not prepared for the rough ride ahead.
However, even if this method is tough it is well worth the time to try it just once. A person can find all the correct gear to begin a backpacking trip at www.nwbackpack.com.

A lot of knowledge and understanding can come out of a trip of this nature. When a family decides to go backpacking they need to have the correct supplies. With these items their trip will be a safe and pleasant experience. Enjoyment from choosing where to set up camp cannot replace the simpler scheme of a campground.