Photo by Gerry Gosselin
Guest post by Gerry Gosselin
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Every hiker should have a compass right? Eventually I got around to picking one out, not because I felt I needed it, but because I’m a gadget whore and that itch needed to be scratched. A Suunto A-10 found it’s way into my possession for about $15 US. Then it sat in my bag for 2 years barely getting any use. I’m a novice day trip hiker who usually sticks to marked trails. Every now and then I get turned around but the areas I hike in Western MA don’t usually extend more than 10 miles in any direction before hitting a road. Getting truly lost was never a concern, only a minor nuisance.
This last Saturday June 12, 2010 I took a Compass, Map, Survival Course offered free by the State of Massachusetts. It’s a 10 hour course, half classroom and half in the field. The course was light on survival but very detailed on the map and compass work. Read more »
Photo by: Darren Lone Fight
Guest post by Darren Lone Fight
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Day Hiking, Multi-Day Hiking, and Weight
Getting outside and enjoying the outdoors is a great way to maintain and increase fitness levels, burn calories, and has the potential to be a very enjoyable hobby. Nevertheless, the enjoyment can be quickly lost when you’re lugging a pack, pouring sweat, and trying to remember why it is you’re on a trail in the first place. Lowering pack weight, then, becomes a very important component to maximizing your enjoyment of the outdoors and create a positive, healthy experience that you’ll want to repeat in the future. Hiking with a backpack falls very generally into two categories: day hiking and multi-day hiking.
Day hikers don’t need to carry such items as a tent or a sleeping bag, but the pack itself and whatever other supplies that are brought along with the hiker might weigh anywhere from 2-10+ pounds. While this weight is not negligible, it is nevertheless a significantly lighter weight than the average multi-day pack. This article will focus primarily on reducing weight in the larger packs of a multi-day hiker, but most of the general points made here can apply to a lesser degree to the day hiker as well.
For a multi-day hike, one has to carry many supplies for daily use. I’ll be speaking here of a weekend trip, since this is the kind of backpacking trip most of us are able to fit into our schedule (not to exclude the bearded and smelly Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and other multi-week and multi-month hikers). This means a half-day Friday, Saturday, and half-day Sunday (or roughly two full days of supplies). A Base-pack weight for a multi-day hike of this nature includes the “Big Three” of backpacking: the pack itself, sleeping system (sleeping pad/bag), and shelter system (tent, tarp, etc.).
The (Other) Things We Carry
On top of this base-pack, a backpacker will often carry: a first-aid kit, food, water, a compass, Read more »
The Massachuetts Outdoor Expo (or Big MOE) is an opportunity for families to learn about fishing, shooting, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and a whole bunch more outdoor activities. This will be the 13th year for the Big MOE, and best of all it’s FREE… Free parking and admission!
From the Big MOE website:
A Brief History:
The Massachusetts Outdoor Expo, fondly referred to as The Big M.O.E., started out with a group of sportsmen and women who wanted to create an opportunity for kids of all ages to learn more about outdoor skills, wildlife and conservation. They approached the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club in Sturbridge to host the Mass. Outdoor Expo, due to its central location, facilities and the connections the group had to the club. An annual event was born!
A couple years later, members of the Mass. Outdoor Expo group approached FAWNS, (Facts About Wildlife & Nature Society) a non-profit group founded in 1998 to promote the connection of people to the outdoors. FAWNS was interested in promoting educational experiences focusing on the outdoors. A “natural” connection between the Expo group and FAWNS was obvious. A partnership was formed and FAWNS became the organizing entity supporting the Big MOE.
Hope to see you there!
The Mass. Outdoor Expo is September 27, 2009 from 9am to 4pm at the Hamilton Rod & Gun Club in Sturbridge, MA (directions)
This Saturday June, 13th is National Get Outdoors Day. Federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry all over the country get together to offer activities to help get people doing stuff outdoors. You can find a full listing of locations and events at the National Get Outdoors Day Website (http://www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org). Some of the activities you will find include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, rafting, ect. So check the location listing load your kids up in the car and head outside…
One of the outdoor activities I enjoy is fishing. In most states you need a license to fish. On June 6th and 7th the state of Massachusetts allows anyone to fish license or not, I am sure this is to get people “hooked” so they will purchase a license. All license fees go to the MassWildlife Program. I think most states offer this program and it usually falls on this weekend, here is a list of free fishing days (double check the info on your state wildlife web page) or just search google for your state and free fishing day…
You still need to follow fishing laws so make sure you read up a little before you head out. Most states limit fish you can keep and size.
So its time to dig out that old fishing pole and head outside for a couple days… If you have ever though about giving it a try now is the time… Get out and just enjoy being outside!!!
Uncategorized, how to, outdoors, survival | Husky Hiker - Jim Bradley | 
June 17, 2010 9:00 am | 
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