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Woods America w/ Frank Dunbar

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:14:05 +0000

More awesome backpacking tips from Frank Dunbar. —— Music: America

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View to south from Kendrick Mountain Fire Lookout Tower

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:35:26 +0000

Image taken on 2009-07-11 18:41:40 by Al_HikesAZ.

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Matching REI Half Dome tents at Bright Angel Campground – Grand Canyon

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:55:31 +0000

Image taken on 2010-04-25 15:41:22 by Al_HikesAZ.

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Hiking Tips you Haven’t Heard Before

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:16:07 +0000

Do you need these hiking tips? You do if you ever get blisters or twisted ankles or knee pain. In fact, I stopped getting blisters at all over ten years ago. More on that in a moment. First, lets look at some basic preparation and precautions to take when planning a hike. Hiking Tips – Preparation

If you haven’t done anything physical in a while, you really should try to get in shape before taking a long hike or a backpacking trip. Not only will it make much more enjoyable, but the process of getting ready will point out any problems you might have (sore back, knee problems, blisters, etc. ).

Take a hike near home with a fully loaded pack to see how far you can comfortably go. If you are going to be backpacking in running shoes rather than hiking boots, you’ll want to strengthen your ankles. A simple way to do that is to hike on uneven ground. This will flex and exercises your ankles if you do it at least several times in the week or two before your trip.

If you will be traveling in the mountains, try bicycling to get ready. This uses a lot of the same muscles you use when hiking uphill. Of course, regular bicycle rides are also a fast way to boost your aerobic capacity. That can help you walk faster more comfortably.

Buy the right equipment before your hiking or backpacking trip. To be honest, on a short hike you can get by with almost anything. But if you plan to be deep in the wilderness, get some decent clothing for that purpose. Jeans get soaked easily in the rain and stay wet, which is uncomfortable, and can be dangerous if it is cold outside. A nice hat can keep the sun out of your eyes, and a rain jacket can keep you safe and warm.

Carry enough water. If you have any problems with pain when hiking, you should probably carry aspirin or other pain relief, even on short hikes. Map and compass are a good idea of course, and tell someone where you’ll be. Hiking Tips – Taking Care Of Your Body

I stopped getting blisters the moment I gave up hiking boots and hiking socks. They create a hot, humid environment that is perfect for creating blisters. Even on longer backpacking trips, I use thin nylon socks and lightweight running shoes. You may want to try it. Chances are, you’ll never go back to heavy socks and boots. If you are worried about ankle support, strengthen those ankles! (See above. )

You should also develop a routine for keeping your feet dry and comfortable. Stop occasionally and take off your shoes and socks. Air out your feet for a few minutes. If the socks are wet, replace them and hang the wet ones from your pack to dry. Remove any sand or small sticks and stones from your shoes. If your feet get particularly hot, soak them in a cold stream for a while. Do this, and you’ll get a lot more comfortable miles out of them.

If you get knee pains when hiking, the long term solution may be special exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles. Short term, you can buy a simple elastic knee brace to see if that helps. You might also want to try arch supports. They cost less than ten dollars and can help stop knee and back problems that are related to over-pronation (flattening of the foot when walking). The combination of these two seems to have cured my knee problems.

What if you are out hiking and get sudden knee pain? Here are a few tips: Icing the knee for a while with cold water from a stream or with snow can help. Resting with the leg elevated usually helps a little as well. Making a walking stick from a branch or small tree and using it especially on downhill stretches can take some of the pressure of the knee.

Still too painful to walk? The inner bark of willows and poplars contains a compound that is similar to aspirin. You can scrape the spongy bark off and make a tea of it, or try just chewing some up. Better yet, just use the hiking tips in part one and be prepared.

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The Advantages of Using a Backpacking Water Filter

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:39:21 +0000

When you go hiking, one of the most important things that you will bring is fresh drinking water. Next time you go hiking, consider brining a portable water filter instead. You could be saving backpack weight and enjoying the cleanest water available.

Make Your BackPack Lighter

To truly enjoy hiking you need to pack as light as possible. You don’t want a heavy backpack weighing you down and forcing you to take extra breaks. With a light backpack, you can cover more distance with less strain on your muscles.

Most hikers know that the heaviest thing that they will pack is usually their drinking water supply. As water weighs a gram per milliliter, a one liter water bottle can add a whole kilogram to the weight of your backpack. Depending on the length of your hike, one liter might not even be enough drinking water.

A portable water filter can weigh a mere 250 grams. That’s just one quarter the weight of a one liter water bottle. Imagine losing that extra weight from your pack. It will feel like you are ten years younger with your additional stamina.

Enjoy Clean Drinking Water

If you have ever tasted fresh mountain stream water, you know it’s some of the cleanest water you can get. Then pour that pure water into a portable water filter and it really is the cleanest water. There is minimal pollution and no extra additives – just clean, fresh drinking water.

Even pure mountain water can contain dangerous bacteria and pathogens such as typhoid, dysentery, cholera, colibacillosis, amoebic dysentery protozoa, cryptospordium, cysts, fungi, parasites, spores and giardia. Chances are that you have never heard of most of those pathogens. Normally your city’s water treatment plant takes care of these dangers for you. Lightweight, portable water filters are able to effectively remove these pathogens. Plus they remove other pollutants, as well as unpleasant tastes and odors. Dissolved chemicals such as iodine and chlorine are also removed by using a water filter.

Bring Unlimited Water in One Bottle

One of the best advantages to using a portable water filter is that you almost always have enough water. As long as you are near a stream, river or lake, you have access to clean drinking water. Usually it only takes a couple of minutes to properly filter this water to become clean drinking water.

If you were to pack your own water instead, you could be out of luck once your water runs out. You would have little choice but to risk drinking water from a stream of lake. Bacteria in this water could end up making you sick, ruining your hiking trip.

Conclusion

While hiking, your drinking water is extremely important. As long as you will be near a good water source, save some pack weight with a portable water filter. Using a backpacking water filter will make your hike easier and your water cleaner. Don’t let the hassle of carrying water ruin your hike.

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Cheyava Falls from opposite wall with tree

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:06:37 +0000

Image taken on 2010-04-24 11:46:21 by Al_HikesAZ.

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Ordiales [shelter]

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:21:18 +0000

Image taken on 2008-07-27 10:31:08 by alvarolg.

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Backpack Diaper Bags: Perfect For Moms or Dads on the Go

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:40:48 +0000

Backpack diaper bags make one of the most practical baby accessories for busy moms or dads. These bags offer parents a way to carry their baby gear with both hands free. A well-made backpack diaper bag can be strapped on securely, allowing mom or dad to carry baby and any other items needed for a family outing.
Picnics and Hikes Are a Breeze
One of the best uses of a backpack diaper bag is carting baby gear on a family outdoor outing. One of the reasons that parents of babies rarely go hiking or have a family picnic is the vast amount of gear that they must lug with them to take their little one for a family outing. This gear, added to all of the essentials for a picnic, makes it nearly impossible to enjoy an outdoor meal. Backpack diaper bags eliminate this problem. They have enough room for all of the gear, including bottles, diapers, changing pads, wipes, and anything else you could think to bring. Many models even have enough room for food and drinks as well, eliminating the need for an additional cooler.
For a family hike, one parent could carry the backpack diaper bag, and the other could carry the baby in a backpack or front carrier. Now parents who love the outdoors can still enjoy their favorite pastimes without having to hire a babysitter. They can teach their baby to love the outdoors as much as they do with the help of the right diaper bag.
Benefits of Backpack Diaper Bags
Parents who choose to purchase backpack diaper bags receive numerous benefits. First, they eliminate much of the back and shoulder strain that comes from lugging around a heavy bag on one shoulder. A backpack distributes the weight of all of the baby gear on both shoulders, evening out the amount of work the various muscles must do.
Another benefit of backpack diaper bags is the fact that they are not gender-specific. Most dads do not want to carry around a diaper bag covered in cute ducks or teddy bears. A backpack looks great on both guys and gals, so dads do not have to have a separate bag to use when they want to take the baby somewhere.
Shopping for Bags
Whether you are shopping for a backpack diaper bag for yourself or someone else, there are some features you will want to look for before you make a purchase. First, make sure that the backpack has plenty of dividers and compartments. There are some things that you will want to keep separate from others when you pack the bag. Also, compartments make it easier to find the items that you need when you are on the go.
If you would like to use the backpack as a carry all for your items as well as your baby’s things, make sure it has enough room. Look for a bag that has compartments for your gear, such as your PDA or phone, a first aid kit, or drinks for mom and dad. Outside drink holders are a nice feature, and many of the best backpack diaper bags have insulated compartments you can use to keep milk or food cool while you hike. A padded compartment for delicate items, like a camera, is also something to consider.
If you or your friend are planning on using the diaper bag on hikes, make sure you choose one that is easy to clean and made out of water resistant material. You never know when you will be caught in an unexpected shower while you are out with your baby. Also, if you intend to travel with the backpack, make sure it is the right size to fit in the carry-on compartment of the airplane.
Whether you’re a new parent, or an old pro, a backpack diaper bag should be on your list of necessary baby gear. Not only will it simplify your outdoor adventures but you will find it indispensable for your everyday ones as well.

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Backpacking Light – Move Faster, Further and More Comfortably

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:02:33 +0000

Hiking light is much more comfortable and enjoyable than hiking with a heavy backpack. Of course what is defined as light may not be light for another person. It also depends on the level of fitness and strength of the person carrying the backpack. Being fit does make your backpack feel lighter.
Choose gear that are lighter but perform the same function is the obvious solution. Or you can also choose gear that serves multiple functions.
So hiking light is about carry less equipment and lighter and smaller equipment. It’s not about sacrificing essential gear for a lighter backpack.
Benefits of Lighter Load
When you carry a lighter load you feel more comfortable and happier in general. There’s less stress on your shoulders, back and knees. A good backpack will distribute the weight to the different parts of the upper body and make the load feel lighter by reducing stress on the shoulders.
You can also move quicker and cover more miles in a day. In an emergency, you can move away to safety so much quicker without having to sacrifice your backpack.
Reducing Your Load
If you want to travel light by reducing the amount of gear you carry, it’s better to do it in stages than to cut down to bare minimum in one go. Take note of the things that you don’t need or can go without.
Take into account the weather too. You don’t want to leave your raincoat on rainy day.
Five Ways to Keep Your Gear Light
1. Get rid of extra clothing, pots, boots, etc if you can. Usually one pot and one pair of boots is enough but during cold weather extra clothing may be essential.
2. If you’re hiking with a partner or in a group you can share some equipment like tent, stove, cookware, first aid kit, insect repellent and more.
3. Use equipment made of lighter material. For example, use down sleeping bags instead of synthetics and use internal frame backpacks instead external frame backpacks. If available, use simple designs that functions well and minimizes weight.
4. Use equipment that can perform several functions. A poncho for example can be used as rain gear or rigged up as a tent.
5. Carry smaller portions of consumables such as sunscreen, soap, toothpaste and spices. Instead of using the original packaging, whenever possible pack in a small ziploc bag.
As a guideline, your backpack should be no heavier than 4. 5 lbs, your 2 person tent should be no heavier than 5 lbs, solo tents tent no more than 2. 5 lbs, your sleeping bag should be less than 2 lbs, hiking boots less than 2 lbs, rain gear less than 1. 5 lbs and food no more than 2 lbs per day.
However, some hikers prefer to carry more equipment for convenience and ease of mind. It depends on how well you can go without extra equipment in return for a lighter backpack. Be sure that you reduce your load in stages so that you don’t have any regrets on the field.

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Apache Trail along Apache Lake 04-08

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:26:49 +0000

Image taken on 2008-04-18 12:26:46 by Al_HikesAZ.