Junior Needs Your Help!

It’s an Outdoor Adventure Revolution! “Calling all parents… Join the Revolution!” It’s time to declare war on obesity, anti-socialism, asthmatic syndromes and moral confusion. I am sure this topic will upset many, however, if you are reading this blog, chances are you will agree since you are, most likely, outdoor enthusiasts as well. Studies over the past ten years have clearly illustrated the decline of outdoor activities by children by as much as 40% and some studies indicate an over 50% decline. That is truly scary!  The Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts have both shown dramatic decreases in participation over the past decade. Why is that? What could have possibly taken the place of outdoor activities for our youth?

One suggested cause is the change in family roles. Both parents having to work to keep the family financially sound. By both parents working full time jobs, less time is available for family activities. Certainly, there is less availability for a parent to transport a child to functions such as troop meetings or outdoor recreation activities. So, with less ability for the child to go outside the home for recreation or extra-curricular activities, what do they occupy their time with? Homework? What about during non-school periods?

A review of activities for children inside the home indicates a wide variety of entertainment. Would it shock you that children as young as six and seven years of age are frequenting  websites like My space and Face book? Do you know what these sites are? If not, I would make it my business to find out if I had a child or teenager who was spending time on either website. They are communities where people meet on-line to exchange information and chat. Spend a little time visiting some of the profiles and you will quickly learn why this may not be an appropriate “hangout” for your child. I’m not knocking the format… It may be totally appropriate for mature teens and adults, but the mix can be quite a bit mature for some teens and definitely for pre-teens. Another avenue for entertainment is the web itself. Ever type in a search for something and in the results were page after page of pornographic sites? Do you suppose it could happen to a child as well? It does, trust me. I hear stories all the time about someone walking into the room while their child is on the Internet and catching them browsing through pictures and videos of obscene content. You-Tube is another website that most pre-teens discuss on a regular basis at school. It’s free and easily accessible.

Of course, we all are familiar with the gaming stations that our children spend hours on every day. With titles like Doom, Grand Theft Auto and many others designed to win by killing, raping, stealing and deceiving and other illegal tactics. You get extra points by killing cops, picking up prostitutes and car-jacking. And yet, we justify the virtual babysitter by claiming that these type games are not detrimental to the morality of our youth, but are great for strategy building and hand-eye coordination. Please… However, not to ignore some manufacturers that are offering advances in equipment to help with inactivity, I salute the makers of the WII. At least with the WII, gamers are able to physically participate in the virtual activities helping in removing zombie-like gamers from the couch onto their feet.

So, where am I going with all of this? Getting our kids back to a healthy lifestyle, physically as well as mentally. I’m not a physician, scientist or a Rhodes Scholar, but I do have common sense and the ability to observe statistics and come to my own conclusion. “Studies” indicate that people are living longer and claim that new advances in medicine and health products are to blame. Here is my opinion on those “studies”. First off, “studies” are funded by manufactures and government grants to special groups of analysts and laboratories. If the industry funds a study, do you suppose that there may be a bit of outside influence on the results? What about the government providing grants (that don’t have to be paid back) to laboratories? How does the government decide who gets the “free” money? Do you suppose that those making that decision are influenced in some way? And to make matters worse, all drugs have to be approved by the Medical Association made up of “physicians”. I’m sure there is not any pressure from the big pharmaceutical corporations regarding the outcome of the studies or approval status of the drugs.

Here is my contention… The people that are living longer are the same people that invented the hoola-hoop, had the largest number of

Kids Playing Tag...

participants in associations like Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts and turned casual camping and hiking into an outdoor recreational past-time. National Parks and recreation areas became a major attraction. Play-grounds, day trips and Summer camps were created. Games like tag, hide and seek and 1,2,3, red light became popular after-school activities for the neighborhood. Sports were cool and staying indoors was punishment. Fresh air was found outdoors in the wilderness not from a two foot tower in a corner of the bedroom. Our daily medicine consisted of One-a-Day vitamins rather than drugs to prevent cervical cancer “just in case…” Food consisted of meat, vegetables and potatoes with bread and butter. Now our food is rapid growth, doused with chemicals to make it look better longer. Our generation lived healthier lives and it is paying off now by longer lifetimes. I’m sure that some drugs assist in minimizing the effects of disease, but I also believe that all the drugs we pump into our systems on a daily basis will take their tolls later. What will today’s generation be like health-wise? What will their lifespan entail? No one really knows that answer today, and the people that are capitalizing on the riches from the drugs today, will not be here to see the final results, it will be blamed on the leftover generation to answer to those results.

Today, everyone is concerned with the obesity issue among children, violence in schools, the lack of ambition among teenagers and no one seems to be able to put a finger on the causes. Or, no one is willing to take responsibility. The medical community suggests that drugs are needed to control aggression, depression, hyper-anxiety, etc. The purists feel that drugs are the cause, that today’s generation is over-dosed causing most problems with depression, anxiety, etc. Diet pills cause feelings of depression! Why? Could it be because the patients are frustrated because they are not seeing results? Or, maybe they “just don’t work”! If you ever wonder what drugs do for you, pay attention to the ads on TV. The side effects are usually much more fatal than the illness they are designed to treat. Every day it seems that there is a new disease identified and named. Just a few days later there is a drug developed to treat that “new” disease… Ever wonder about that? Here is a question for you… What came first? Cancer or equipment designed to find cancer? If it was cancer, how did they know it? How did they find it if they hadn’t developed equipment to find it yet?

Scouts Of America

The bottom line is this… Let the kids be kids. We can’t change an entire lifestyle, but we can change parts of it to accommodate the children and their need for activities that are healthy for both, their bodies and their minds. Make the activity fun for the entire family. Get out and visit the parks, the zoo, a campground, a hiking trail or anything outdoors so that you and the kids can get a breath of fresh air. If your child is experiencing boredom or hyper-activity, go outside with them and build a snowman, play tag or hide-and-seek. Is Dick or Jane showing signs of being anti-social or withdrawn? Get them interested in groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. Leadership, team spirit and integrity are much better traits than having a quick trigger finger, being an expert with a joy-stick or having the most “kills” in a virtual “reality” environment. Let them have the credentials of “Eagle Scout” rather than “Master Slayer” come resume submitting time. Is transportation an issue? Getting the neighbors interested and involved can provide pooling, sharing the responsibility and increasing participation. I remember when Troop Leaders were willing to pick some of the kids up for their meetings and outings. I’m sure that is still a possibility, if not, then shame on them! Better yet, become a Troop Mom or Dad and take that responsibility.

It’s time, don’t you agree, that we all take a stand on the outcome of our children’s health. Join the Revolution and help promote a healthy lifestyle for our kids by becoming more outdoor oriented. Not only will our children be healthier but, by chance, we will too! Now pick up your packs and hiking sticks and join the fight for healthier kids!  For further information on Parks and Recreation Activities click here.

Winter Wonderland

Talk to regular campers and hikers and you will most certainly hear complaints about poison ivy, mosquitoes, thick brush, dry creeks and crowded campsites. Yet, you will also hear just how much they enjoyed the experience in spite of all the discomforts.

Here is my latest challenge! Winter Camping… perhaps your most memorable experience if done properly with a bit of pre-planning. Consider the advantages. No brush, no leaves means great views. You can literally see forever through the woods providing an abundance of “Kodak Moments” of wildlife and scenery. If you are fortunate enough to be around snow-covered terrain, the opportunities are even better for photo opps. Just the lack of mosquitoes and other pesky critters makes the outdoors, in Winter, my personal favorite.

If your biggest concern is the cold, let me assure you that, unless you have a zero tolerance to cold, you can remain as comfortable, if not more so than you can in the summer. With the proper outdoor gear and a few “know how” tips, you can enjoy the experience and brag about it for years. After all, you will still be among a small, elite group of adventures that have risked the elements in search of true outdoor adventure! At least that is what they will believe, and why in the world would we want to tell them any different…

The first measure in pre-planning is having the proper gear. If you don’t have a four-season tent, you will will want one. The main difference in a four-season versus a three or less season tent is the amount of ventilation provided. In Winter or cold temperatures, your body heat and / or portable heat source is your savior. Thus, you want it to stay inside the tent and close to your body. Most four-season tents are also low profile for two important reasons. First, to keep the heat down low, close to you for added warmth and second, to keep the wind from having a large area of wall to blow against. To dispel a myth that four-season tents are heavy or bulky, most are actually lighter weight  due to their compact size. The materials are somewhat stronger but not much thicker. It’s not like the walls in a four season are insulated or anything like that. Or are they? Maybe there are some that are insulated, but that’s a whole other sort of Winter camping, that we may want to do later, if you’re so inclined to mountain climbing or interested in expeditions. For our purposes, we’ll stick to basic Winter camping. One such tent that has been proven excellent by many professionals for it’s lightweight and durability is the Eureka! K-2 XT 4-Season Expedition Tent at approximately $370.00. Another excellent tent for the more budget minded adventurer is the Eureka! Wabakimi 2 Performance Backpacking Tent ideal for cold weather camping priced at about $160.00.

The next piece of gear essential for Winter camping comfort is a quality sleeping bag. Make sure that the rating is adequate for the temperatures you will be experiencing. Always opt for a higher rating that you need as a buffer. By higher, I mean lower… For instance, if the temperatures are expected to be at or above freezing, select a sleeping bag rated at or below freezing. Down insulation is fine for dry climates such as Utah and Colorado, but synthetic is the preferred choice for damp climates such as Maine, New Hampshire and anywhere along the East Coast. Size is also important. Too big and you will be wasting a lot of body heat, too small and you will be uncomfortable and claustrophobic. The right size is determined by how you fit inside with clothing on. Leave sufficient room for extras such as spare clothes, socks and anything else that you would like to stay warm overnight. Yes, I did say clothes! Another myth is to not wear clothes when sleeping in a sleeping bag. This is incorrect… Wool, “long-johns”, or any other moisture wicking clothing is great and will dramatically increase your comfort while sleeping in cold weather. A quality mat is often overlooked. The main cause for discomfort when camping, regardless of the season is a hard floor. The mat not only softens the platform for sleeping, but also prevents the cold from the ground seeping into your bones! A quality mat by Outdoor Research priced at less than $40.00 weighing less than 2 pounds is the perfect “base” for comfort.

Now for a heat source… There are two schools of thought here. One is to have two separate sources, one for cooking and one for heating. My thought is to have one unit that can function as both. Lightweight and versatile is the Vapor AF All Fuel Expedition Stove by Brunton. At a mere 16 ounces and with the ability to burn any fuel, this little unit will provide heat for any need such as cooking or a quick blast of warmth. If a regular heater is desired, be careful with your choice. Not all heaters are fume-less, so care is needed to insure safe heating in an enclosed tent. Personally, I have managed well in even sub freezing temperatures by body heat alone and well suited gear.

Now for the tips that I promised… Number one is a fuel source for the body. I learned this back during my scouting days. Butter… real butter, not the “I can’t believe this is not butter” type, not margarine… BUTTER! Stop it! I’m not joking! This is very important, now listen (read). In cold temperatures, the body needs fuel. Fat and calories in the human body are fuels. With todays’ diets, most of us do whatever possible to eliminate fat thus when in the cold, we have very little fat to burn. Bring along enough butter to have a tablespoon at every meal. For breakfast, add it to your eggs, oatmeal or biscuits. At lunch add it to your soup and at bedtime add it to your hot chocolate. You will thank me later for the heat source it provided to your body.

Did you know that snow is a natural source of insulation? Now you do… I grew up in the Northeast (Maine actually). I always noticed that

Snow Insulation

in the coldest of Winter, I was always much more comfortable when the snow was falling than not. I thought I was crazy so obviously, I never asked about it thinking everyone else would think I was nuts. Again, in scouting, I found out why… Snow actually absorbs the moisture out of the air. After all, if it wasn’t snowing, it would be what? Correct, raining. Why do I even mention this? Because, if you are fortunate enough to have snow you can use it to your advantage. Much like the igloos in the Arctic and Antarctica, you can construct a modified version by digging a recessed pad for your tent. By constructing a six inch deep pad, you can increase the warmth inside your tent by up to 15 degrees on average. This will vary based on wind conditions. Of course, the deeper you go, the more insulation you will have, in turn, increasing the temperature. Of course, in order to construct the pad you will need the proper gear. I would highly encourage anyone planning a Winter camping excursion to carry a tool kit such as a Compact Multi-Function Shovel. A shovel can come in handy in a number of ways whether out camping, hiking, climbing or any outdoor related activity if for no other reason than survival.

So give Winter Camping a shot, I’m sure you’ll agree that the experience was well worth it. Not to mention becoming part of the “Elite” group! Happy Adventures…

Geocaching!

Button your pants, get off the couch, stop complaining that your miserable because you ate too much! It’s time to get outdoors with that new GPS Device you got for Christmas and put it to use the “Healthy” way. What better time to join the fastest growing outdoor activity, Geocaching? Like hiking? Enjoy a brisk walk in the park? Need a place to get away with the family, pet or friends? It’s easy and with the right outdoor equipment, can be an exhilarating experience. In a moment I’ll share our experiences over the weekend while out geocaching that might inspire you to get out and try it, if you’re not already a cacher… In the meantime, while you have your New Year’s resolution checklist in front of you, write down the following: I will spend more time with the family by introducing them to geocaching and engaging in the sport on weekends in order to get more familiar with the great outdoors as a healthy means of entertainment. This will include (insert dog’s name here).

After a long week and a half of steady eating, napping to forget the miserable feeling of being

High Falls in Alabama

stuffed and laying around watching Ebenezer, Ralphy, Rudolf and George Baily on TV, we decided to put an end to it all and escape to the outdoors, fresh air and exercise! We loaded the GPS (ETrex Vista) with geocaching coordinates from the Geocaching.com website and broke out the jeep and headed for the trails. We have lived in Northeast Alabama for six years and never realized how beautiful the surrounding area really was. One of the caches directed us to “High Falls” near Geraldine, AL. Absolutely Spectacular and only seven miles from our home. Shame on us for taking so long to visit it. As you can see in the photo, it compares with locations shown in National Geographic, The Discovery Channel and many outdoor nature publications. Leave it to geocaching to introduce this majestic waterfall into our neighborhood!

Following the directions on the GPS led us directly to the cache. Kind of like an “over the mountain, through the woods, across the bridge we went” type of deal… A slight climb and “bingo”, there it was! Nothing to it, right? Not if you don’t have a GPS unit or a degree from M.I.T. in orienteering. A bit of sightseeing and water for Meisha and we were on our way to the next catch…

Next was a cache located along the “Lick Skillet” trail in Guntersville State Park. That’s right, I spelled it right, Lick Skillet! I can only imagine a group of campers stopping along the trail for a cookout. After the beans were completely consumed, a hiker by the name of Pierre or Homer or something close, was still hungry and decided to “lick the skillet” for whatever remaining morsels were present. The trail, still un-named, thus became known as “Lick Skillet”! If you know the real story, I’d be more than happy to hear it, but for the meantime, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

Meisha in the Hunt!

Back to geocaching… We entered the trail at the highest point, it was a well laid out trail, clearly marked with orange markers. We followed the trail a little ways and noticed that the trail led away from the cache location, or it appeared that way from our vantage point. So, like Louis and Clark, we decided to blaze our own trail. After descending a drop of approximately 380 feet through wet leaves and moss, we walked right into the trail, smart… I can only assume the trail would have been much more negotiable. The directions to the cache described a burnt log just off the trail, so a hunting we went. It wasn’t long before Pam (wife) spoke up and the cache was found. Two things to note here… One, had I followed the GPS directions, I would have tripped over the log, literally! Two, since my back was turned, it is not clear whether Pam actually found the cache or Meisha. They were both at the spot together. In either case, the cache was found and a great hike it was. Though a bit more extreme than expected, it wasn’t like we didn’t need the exercise.

Mama and her babies

It was a great day! We had great fun! And, as an added bonus, got to see something that many outdoor adventurers never see! A mama and her two babies allowed us to get within 10 yards for a “Kodak” moment. See for yourselves…

Until next time, enjoy the outdoors, it’s God’s provision for relaxation.

Spot Satellite Messenger

Just days before the start of Winter and already, the snow blowers are roaring, the chiropractors are busy and the snow plows are humming down the street. The weather forecasters are calling for another extreme snow season, perhaps worse than last year. That’s great for the outdoor adventurers however, and you can rest assured that they will be out in masses this Winter. Hopefully, this season will be different in one respect… safety. Last year (2007-2008), was the worst year since the 50′s for lost skiers, mountain climbers and adventurers. It’s hard to believe that, with today’s technology, so many beginner and experienced outdoor enthusiasts would venture without the benefit of tracking devices as well as basic preparations ahead of time. Simple steps like letting someone know where you will be and when you will be back, utilizing a GPS device and most of all being equipped with a satellite tracking device to ensure your being found should an unexpected event occur.

One such device making headlines in the trade news for 2008 is the SPOT Satellite Messenger. SPOT is the world’s first satellite messenger. SPOT sends your exact GPS coordinates and selected messages over commercial satellites to tell others of your location and status. All of this at a lower cost than the least expensive GPS Units.

Unlike a traditional GPS device which only receives a satellite signal indicating your location, SPOT utilizes dual satellite networks to receive your location as well as transmit it along with pre-programmed messages to the recipients of your choice. Backed by one of the world’s leading mobile satellite companies, the SPOT satellite network is currently employed by over 50,000 governmental and industrial clients, and averages a greater than 99% message success rate. No matter where you roam, SPOT gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when and where you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it.

Some of the features include the unique ability to send your exact GPS coordinates and selected messages over commercial satellites to tell others of your location and status. SPOT works around the world, independently of cellular networks and features four key functions that enable users to send messages to friends, family or emergency responders, based upon varying levels of need and uses the GPS satellite system to determine a user’s location and the SPOT satellite network to transmit that location and the user’s status. The SPOT satellite network is a commercial satellite network with a proven 99.4% reliability rate while processing over 6 million messages a month – the equivalent of 2.3 messages per second.

So, when you’re making plans for a trip to the outdoors this Winter (or any time, for that matter) make SPOT part of your outdoor gear and make a statement that even though you’re adventurous, you’re safe and considerate to those that will be left behind to worry about your well-being!

Disasters

The times: they are a changin’! “Where were you when…” no longer applies to extremely isolated events. I can remember years ago when someone started a question with “where were you when” meant “when JFK was shot, or MLK or maybe Bobby Kennedy. However, if you ask the question today, it could mean a number of events over a short period of time: Katrina, tsunami, the World Trade Center, the 2007 deep freeze, the California earthquake, Mt. St. Helen’s eruption and the list goes on.

Why were all of these events disasters? Most of them were predicted, fore-casted and even warnings were issued days before the actual event occurred. If you examine the trends with the exception of the Twin Towers, they are geological, natural disasters that crews of scientists and analysts work around the clock “monitoring”. Yet, people lost their lives from hunger, hypothermia and other causes due to the aftermath of the disaster because they were not properly prepared. The number one reason was “Procrastination”. There you have it…

“Don’t put off till tomorrow, what you can do today.” We’ve all heard it more than we wish to admit. The reality is that we all do it, over and over again! The coast of America is populated with expert construction workers. Don’t believe me? Watch the news a day or so before a hurricane is scheduled to hit. Every homeowner along the area fore-casted for the hit is busy with hammer and nails constructing fort-like facades on their residence. Plywood, cut with precision, braces and retaining walls erected in a matter of hours. The hurricane hits, the residents return and the first thing they realize is that maybe the home endured the storm, but now there is no water, no power and no food, or worse, no shelter. Now what?

I was one of the victims of the Southeast snow storm of 1993. I was in Alabama when we received upwards of 24″ of snow in less than 12 hours. I was equipped with a 4-wheel drive, tennis shoes, a jacket and less than a quarter of a tank of fuel. I only had to drive a total of 10 miles to rescue a friend from an apartment that had lost all power. When I started out, the snow was less than an inch deep. I stopped three times on the way to the apartment to assist stranded motorists, completed my pick up and started my return home. By that time, the snow was over 8 inches and up to 15 inches where the snow was drifting due to the wind. I got stuck in one of those drifts and ended up stranded for approximately 6 hours. I tried 911, but they were extremely busy and informed me that unless I was in a death situation, I would have to wait. Understandable…. With literally fumes in the tank, I was able to dig myself out and make it to a friend’s house nearby. Do you suppose I learned a lesson that night? Actually, I “re-learned” a lesson! Be Prepared!

Survival Kit

If you travel at all, live in an area where disasters are likely or even possible, do yourself a favor. Don’t learn the hard way: have a Disaster Preparedness plan and a Survival Kit handy. Everyone should have a survival kit in their home, vehicle and most importantly, in their storm shelter. Have you ever seen a storm shelter? I’ll bet it was empty or at most had chairs and maybe a mat for sleeping on hidden under all the cobwebs. What better location is there for a survival kit and first aid kit? The survival kits started out as equipment to include in your outdoor gear. It was often called an outdoor survival kit and still is, however, everything included in the kit could apply to any disaster. The kits contain food and water as well as purification tablets, (all with a 5 year shelf life), light and communication, shelter and warmth, tools, hygiene and sanitation, first aid and even card games to keep you occupied. The kits were designed by emergency survival experts and government agencies according to their recommendations based on disaster experience.The survival kits are arranged in a backpack making it simple to “Grab & Go” at the last minute or to store in your vehicle or a closet closest to your “safe” place in your home.

Need a Christmas gift for someone that has everything? Show them you care. Chances are they haven’t considered buying themselves the gift that really says, “We care about you and your family!” And… Don’t Procrastinate! Do it NOW!

The Perfect Tree!

What better time to introduce the younguns to their first true outdoor adventure than “finding that perfect Christmas tree”? One of my fondest memories is tromping through the snowy woods with my Dad, Mom, brother and sister, saw in hand. In fact, I can’t remember ever having been in the woods until that day looking for the family Christmas Tree. It was the weekend after Thanksgiving and Mom had already pulled the Christmas decorations from the attic. The excitement had already begun. Visions of Santa had been seen on TV watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He was close! Now we had to hurry and find the tree so things could really get cranking at the house. Everyone knows its not Christmas until you have a place to put the presents! I can still remember the smell of the pines in the forest and the smell of the fresh cut trunk of the tree.

I was fortunate to be living in Maine at that time and even luckier to be back when my son, Matt was old enough for his first Christmas Tree hunt. It was his turn to find the perfect tree and that, he did. Step aside Charlie Brown, you had nothing on Matt. I’ll never forget the look on his face when he pointed at the feeble little tree. Pride never looked so sweet! He found it, by golly and no one would convince him otherwise. Well, I’ve always been a handy-man sort and thought I could fix anything. However, that day brought a considerable amount of self-doubt. How would THAT tree ever look like a Christmas Tree? We cut the poor thing, toted it to the house and decorated it. I’ll be darned if that tree didn’t turn out to be the Perfect Christmas Tree!

If you plan to go hunting for your tree this year, do yourself a favor, bring a child with you. Whether the child is yours, a grandchild, a niece or nephew, or even the neighbor’s kid, take them along. You will never have an opportunity like it to witness the excitement and pride that a child displays when they spot that perfect tree. Make it an adventure by giving them a compass, a saw or a flashlight so they can feel the experience of actually trekking with a purpose. Trust me, they will never forget! Neither will you! Don’t forget to bring the camera, there will definitely be several “Kodak Moments”.

With times being so tough, save some money, go find your own tree. If you can’t find woods for the adventure, go to a tree farm where they let you find and cut your own. The experience for a child will be just as exciting!

Happy hunting!

Vapor AF Expedition Stove

Introducing Brunton’s award winning Vapor AF Expedition Stove! That’s right, the winner of the prestigious Outside Magazine’s “Gear of the Year”, Backpacker’s “Editor’s Choice” and Popular Science’s “Best of What’s New” awards. Only the most major awards given to innovative products in their respective categories.

If I sound excited, it’s for good cause. I have been trying to find the perfect stove to pack in my outdoor gear for years. I have tried many of the compact units and found them to be very poor quality in burn capacity and durability. I tried units that were supposed to fit in a backpack and found out they really didn’t! And, they were all heavy once you included the fuel container. Not to mention the inconvenience of being restricted to butane unless you were a mechanic and could manipulate the fittings to work on some other liquid fuels. Well people, welcome to the age of technology.

Fits in the Palm of Your Hand!

The Vapor AF is the ultimate stove for camping, expeditions, or even at the hunting camp. The “AF” stands for “all fuels”, I repeat, all fuels. That includes butane, white gas, diesel, kerosene, and auto gas. Can’t afford to take the jet out? Great, drain the sucker and put the jet fuel to use. Exactly! That’s what I said too, the Vapor AF will literally burn any liquid fuel. Here’s the best part, you don’t have to change jets, nozzles, or anything. All you have to do is adjust the burner cup. That’s it…

But will it cook? Does Martha Stewart puree? Of course it cooks! How does 10,000 BTU’s with liquid fuel and 12,000 BTU’s with butane sound to you? What about a burn time of 2.5 hours at high output? I think it can cook… All of this in a unit that is built out of stainless steel. aluminum and brass, weighs a whole 16 ounces and fits in the palm of your hand. Oh! Did I mention it will accommodate an 8″ pot and carries a lifetime guarantee?

It’s so convenient and compact, I think I’ll keep one in the jeep and the next time I get stuck out on the road, I’ll just whip it out and start cooking. Heck, I can see it now, I’ll be the envy of the road!

Camera Built for the Elements!

The perfect “postal” camera! Shoots through rain, sleet or snow! Actually, under water too!

You probably wonder why an outdoor adventure blog would include a post on a digital camera the size of your palm. I believe you will understand before much longer. Along with my numerous outdoor adventures is photography. I particularly enjoy digital cameras because of the flexibility of producing the final product. With a little help from Santa, I’ll soon be giving you MY review of the new Olympus Stylus 1030 SW Digital Camera.

Through intensive research into the various aspects of the Stylus, I found it to be the absolute perfect camera to include with my outdoor adventure gear.

Child Proof!

The Stylus 1030SW is the latest in Olympus’s lineup of rough-and-tumble waterproof cameras. With features like a 10-mega-pixel (3648 x 2736) CCD and a large, 2.7” LCD monitor, it is the the camera that redefines tough. The Shockproof, Waterproof, Freeze-proof and Dust-proof design gives active people the confidence to take this camera anywhere and shoot in nearly any condition. Plus, the wide-angle lens lets users capture more of what they see. Great for divers, surfers, rafters, hikers, campers, skiers and anyone with an active lifestyle.

Built like a Bradley! This camera withstands temperatures down to 14 degrees F° (that’s -10° C) and stands up to a 220 lb. crush test, heck, I can’t do that! And that it will survive a fall from a height of six feet (two meters), well all I can say is: I don’t believe I would ever try it, kind of like driving a Hummer through a mud rally. But it nice to know it can and so-called “Impact Damage” is the number one killer of cameras. By virtually eliminating this risk factor, Olympus has improved it’s customer satisfaction to the nth degree.

Like dancing in the rain? No problem getting digital proof with the Stylus! Truly waterproof, in fact, it’s a true underwater camera, suitable for snorkel and shallow SCUBA (waterproof to a depth of 10 meters, or about 33 feet). That makes it perfect for the backyard pool. Even non-divers will appreciate the ability—at long last—to be able to take digital pictures in the rain and snow without running the risk of ruining your camera and voiding the warranty. By the way, the second camera killer is moisture! Combined with its resistance to impact, the watertight feature makes the camera virtually kid proof.

Like um wide? The Olympus Stylus 1030SW has a true wide-angle lens. Many cameras in this price range offer 3X zooms, but few have true wide-angle 28mm lenses.  The 1030SW has the equivalent of a 28-102mm zoom (3.6X) and the advantage is clear: it’s far easier to shoot group pictures, scenic landscapes and even street scenes with a 28mm than the traditional 35mm found on most compact cameras.

We don’t need no stinking macros!One of the challenges we all face when shooting macro (close-up) pictures is the blurriness  that results from not having enough light. In addition to offering Super Macro—the ability to focus as close as 2cm (about 0.8 inches)—the Stylus 1030SW has a built-in extra-bright LED that provides the illumination the camera needs for proper exposure and accurate auto-focus.

Perfect Photo Stitching!

Pictures that you can see, and see and see!Panorama images are created by “stitching” together two or three normal images end-to-end. Some cameras offer assistance in the way of alignment guides; others provide software that lets you manually produce the composites on your PC. The Stylus 1030SW does something beyond extreme. Tell it you want to shoot a panorama (by selecting it from the menu) and shoot the first frame. Slowly swing the camera in the direction you choose and the camera displays a “target” on the LCD screen. Continue moving the camera until the target intersects with a small crosshair-type box and the camera automatically fires and captures the second frame. Keep moving and it fires again. Then, like magic, it quickly stitches the three frames together, binding the overlapping segments, and creates an incredible panorama image. Hey all you Realtors, imagine the sales photo-ops? And, it works indoors too! Just avoid moving objects.

Check it out! No, really, check it out… The “Shoot with Effects Preview” function displays four versions of the scene and allows you to see what the results will look like before you change the settings. You can preview different Zoom settings, Exposure variations, Color (White balance), Metering mode and Movie Smoothness. The Preview mode is activated when you select “Guide” on the main control dial. The selection also enables other on-screen tutorials that help you get great images—easily.

Pictures a la Mode, anyone? Most point-and-shoot cameras have Scene Modes that automatically set the camera for ideal results under certain specified conditions. The Stylus 1030SW goes well beyond the ordinary and offers a couple of very cool shooting modes. One is the Shoot and Select option (two options, actually) that allows you to bang out a rapid-fire series of snapshots then save only the good ones. Another useful mode is the Documents Mode which allows you to photograph printed text, white board scrawls, etc. There are too many scene modes to mention here, but I’m sure you’ll find the perfect one for your project.

A Portrait photographer’s dream!Face Detection is an option from the Auto-focus Mode menu that will automatically zero in on the human faces in any scene. Focus and exposure settings will be based on the faces, not the background clutter behind your main subjects. There’s no longer any need to “lock” the focus or jiggle the camera around to make sure that the people in the picture come out clear and sharp.

Create Calendars!

Where are you going? We’re not done! There’s plenty of other features that make the Olympus Stylus 1030SW easy to recommend. For example, in the Playback Mode you can open the Edit menu and add a border to an image—or make it part of a calendar that can be printed like any other image. Another favorite: you can change the LCD monitor so that it displays a live histogram or composition-friendly grid lines. And then there’s the Silent Mode that turns off all of the noises so you can sneak your snapshots surreptitiously, perfect for the wildlife photographer.

Hey Honey, where’s my Christmas wish list?

Carabiner Tool

With the popularity of the carabiner in today’s world, chances are that you have one for some use and don’t realize what it is called. If you do, then you realize just how incredibly “handy” they are. Personally, I know that I have at least a dozen around the house and use them for just about anything that requires a clip or keyring. I have actually manipulated outdoor gear, clothing and gadgets that I carry into the outdoors just to have a place to clip the carabiner. I know… that’s kind of getting carried away, but, trust me, if you’re into hands free adventuring, it won’t be long before you too, will be cutting clothing, sewing loops and drilling holes in your gear as well!

Hold on! I have a gadget along those same lines, that even Maxwell Smart, Q and Inspector Gadget will be impressed with! The Kershaw Carabiner Tool is the ultimate in convenience, dependability and innovation. Not only is it manufactured by Kershaw, who happens to be one of the elite knife manufacturers, but includes the perfect tools for life’s everyday minor adjustments and impositions. The best part is that you can use it for a keyring and always have it with you. The perfect stocking stuffer!

Range of Colors

The illustrated Kershaw Knife is the Black Kershaw Carabiner Tool that features a 3 1/4″ part serrated sheep-foot blade made of AUS6A stainless steel. The blade of this Kershaw knife has an oval hole for ambidextrous one hand opening. The black aluminum carabiner frame handle, 4 1/8″ closed, has a liner lock, an integral bottle opener, flat screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver and screw type locking latch. The Kershaw Carabiner Tool has an overall open length of 7 3/8″ and weighs 2.7 ounces. It comes in black, blue, red and silver so you can customize your uses.

Use the silver for your silver Jeep, the red for your red pick-up and the black for the black Porsche in your garage. Not to mention your camping gear, backpack, GPS device and 4 wheeler keys. Sorry mountain climbers, you’ll still need your professional carabiners since the Kershaw Carabiner Tool is not a load bearing device.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the tent

Santa in Camo!

Not a cell phone was ringing, not a penny was spent.
The backpacks were hung by the fire with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their cots,
With visions of deer entering their food plots.
And mamma in her flannels, and I in my cap,
Had just smothered our campfire for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the grounds there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my cot to see what was the matter.
Away to the door I flew like a flash,
Tore open the flap and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the brush! to the top of the trees!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away please!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the mountains the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of gear, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the Hickory St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in camo, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of gear he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a hiker, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the backpacks, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the hickory he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”