30 Great American Hikes

The following post is from the editors of The Active Times.

It’s hard to say exactly why hiking is such a popular pastime in the U.S. It could be the accessibility; there are hundreds of major trails and countless marked and unmarked offshoots. It could be that getting started is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other, but challenging treks will keep even the most expert hiker on their toes. Maybe it’s witnessing the beauty and diversity of nature with the land beneath your feet.

To read the rest of their article go here.

I guess they have never been to Oregon or Washington.  Hmmmmmmm

Topographic Map Symbols

USGS topographic maps provide a lot of information to the hiker by the use of symbols and bench marks.

Check out my post at www.seattlebackpackersmagazine.com about the symbols found on a USGS topo.

Go here for my post.

To learn more about topographic map contour lines go here.

Selecting A Magnetic Compass

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to buy a good quality compass.  Consider the following when looking for a compass:

•  Brunton, Sunnto, and Silva all make good compasses.  There are other companies, of
  course, but these manufacturers can be found nationwide.  Prices start at about $20.  Each company has less expensive models but I would pass on those.
• The compass dial (the circular component with the degree markings) should be “graduated” in two degree increments.  Those models with 5 degree increments or the small ball compasses (with the large safety pin type of clip) will give you a trend of direction through the woods but fall short when being used for serious land navigation.
• A compass with a good base plate is very handy.  A base plate is essentially a clear, flat plastic rectangular plate.  It is a straight edge when drawing bearing lines or measuring information on a map.  I like a large base plate.  The better compass will have good scaling and measuring information etched into its surface.  Some models have a magnifying lens in the plate for reading the details on a map.

• I won’t buy a compass that cannot be adjusted for declination.  Brunton’s models can be adjusted by simply turning two components while the Sunnto and Silva models come with a small flat screw driver to make adjustments.  The adjustable compass eliminates the requirement to calculate declination.   Do remember that the magnetic needle always points to magnetic north and the adjusting accounts for the angular measurement of declination.
• The compass housing should be liquid filled.  The liquid inside the housing dampens the movement of the magnetic needle when motion stops.  This does make a difference and there are a few compasses out there without this liquid; the difference is noticeable.
• I appreciate a compass that has a small hole in the base plate that allows me to run a short length of parachute cord through it for a lanyard.
• For more precise navigation, a compass with a sighting mechanism is very useful.  The Silva Ranger model immediately comes to mind.  I would urge you to be careful if you intend to purchase a military style or lensatic compass.  A quality lensatic will cost between $40 and $80.   There are several “knock offs” that aren’t worth your time and lack that liquid filling.

After purchasing your compass, test it out right away.  I have sold several hundred compasses

and a handful didn’t work correctly.  In one case, the magnetic needle was painted incorrectly and the red arrow pointed south instead of north.  In my navigation classes I’ll use features (roads, trail segments) that I know are laid out in true north to stay dialed in.  Faulty compasses jump right out with their inaccuracies when you trek along a route that you know runs true north.

So, now that you have your compass, how do you use it?   Well, if you live in Central Oregon you could take my class!  Otherwise, my suggested list of references includes:

• www.landnavigation.org – This is a great web site that features the US military’s lensatic compass.  That’s OK as the concepts presented are universal.
• Staying Found, The Complete Map & Compass Handbook, by June Fleming.  This book offers a simple, straight forward approach to land navigation. 
• Be Expert with Map and Compass, by Bjorn Kjellstrom.  This is a common reference and was a text book for me at Oregon State in 1973.

Compass navigation is a perishable skill; it takes practice.  In my compass classes I suggest that, as a minimum, two weeks before your next outing work with that compass frequently.  Practice bearing triangulation and increase your familiarity with a topographic map.

Compass navigation provides the foundation for GPS navigation.  The more you understand how your compass works the more you will understand how to operate your GPS receiver.

Calibrate Your GPS Receiver's Electronic Compass

Keeping your GPS receiver's electronic compass is critical.

Recently I held a GPS navigation seminar at a Sportsman’s show in Central Oregon.

At one point during the seminar one man described the inaccuracy of his GPS and asked what he could do about it.  He was frustrated that on several occasions while returning to camp the GPS compass arrow (while in the “Find,” “Where to” mode) was providing unreliable information.  He’d arrive in camp and the receiver would direct him in a new direction and distance.

As he related his story, I noticed that several other attendees nodded in agreement that they too had the same problem.  I asked the fellow if he had ever calibrated the electronic compass.  “Yes, when I first got the GPS,” was his reply.

When I explained that the electronic compass should be calibrated after EVERY battery change, the group’s response was one of surprise.

To read the rest of the post go here.

Search and Rescue Works To Save Two Horses Mired in Mud

Oregon's Deschutes County SAR team responds to save two horses mired in belly deep thick mud. Participating were the teams mountain rescue  and horse units, Sister's Fire Department and a Vet from Bend Equine.  By the time it was all over the two horses were extremly hypothermic but they survived.

Everyone loves a happy ending, which is often dependent on people who volunteer their time, skills and strength to rescue someone from misfortune.
 I carefully planned my horse ride on April 19, picking a trail that was safe. I had a new puppy and horses without shoes. The Windigo Trail north of USFS Road 1514 was just right, a favorite trail that I've been riding for over 30 years. 


To read the rest of the story go here.

Knife Review

A Review of Bark River Knives: Bushcrafter

When it comes to bushcraft/survival knives, how much is enough? How do you make sure your knife will be up to the task? Here’s a product from Bark River Knives that might be what you need.

In the past decade or so, my bushcraft and utility knife needs have pretty much been taken care of  by a standard trio. I carry a Swiss Army Classic everywhere, usually include a Mora to handle utility duties, and then include a specialty knife for hunting and/or fishing.

The Bark River Liten Bror, top, is a Scandinavian-design bushcraft knife. It is similar to my long-used, sometimes abused Mora 860.

Mora is a brand. With a Mora, you can get a quality fixed blade, comfortable handle and reasonable price, all in the same package. Generally speaking, I define a Mora-style as a knife with a  rigid, three-to-four-inch blade, a Scandinavian grind and overall length of about eight inches. The handle typically doesn’t have a guard, and the knife is intended to be an all-purpose, general-use cutting tool.

The Mora I carry most often, a model 860, cost $15 about 10 years ago. My C.T. Fischer custom four-inch bushcraft knife goes for about $250. In both cases, I consider the money well-spent.

To read the rest of Leon's review go here.

Emergency Preparedness - Bugging Out

My friend Leon has an intriguing post on why "heading for the hills" might not be the best idea.
  
 by Leon Pantenburg
 
Five reasons why heading for the hills during an emergency is a bad idea:

 At virtually any preparedness event I go to, someone proclaims stockpiling food is a waste of money, and that when everything goes down, he/she will light out for the wilderness.  The topic is one for debate on Facebook and a multitude of prepper/survivalist websites.

The idea is that when (fill in the appropriate acronym) happens, society will collapse and everyone will have to fend for themselves. But some survivalists will head for the wilderness and live off the land, apart from everyone else until the situation resolves itself.

Here’s the reality check: “Heading for the hills,”  or whatever you want to call it, is impractical and probably foolhardy.

Here’s five reasons why you shouldn’t head for the wilderness:

To read the rest of Leon's post go here.