| A backpacking checklist is usually about
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| | lose your food to a bear.6. Walking. If
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| the "stuff." Good equipment is nice to
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| | you pace yourself and learn how to move
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| have, but even with the best gear you can
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| | comfortably over rocky terrain, you'll be
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| get into trouble in the wilderness. You
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| | less tired, and less likely to twist an
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| might have matches and the latest fire
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| | ankle. Tighten those laces, too.7.
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| starters, but still not be able to get
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| | Understanding animals. Is the bear "bluff
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| that fire going. It takes more than good
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| | charging" or stalking you? The latter
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| gear to assure a safe and enjoyable trip.
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| | means you'll be the bear's supper if you
|
| Towards that end, then, this is a list of
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| | play dead. A clue: making a lot of noise
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| skills you should have or learn.1.
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| | usually means he just wants to frighten
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| Navigation. Contrary to what many novices
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| | you (a "bluff charge"), but you need to
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| think, a compass doesn't tell you where
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| | read up on this one.8. Sky reading. Are
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| you are. For that matter, a map doesn't
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| | those just clouds, or a lightning storm
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| either, if you don't know how to use it.
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| | coming? It would be good to know when
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| Practice close to home if you can't yet
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| | you're on a high ridge. In the rockies,
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| use both of these easily. Do the same
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| | afternoon thunderstorms are the norm in
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| with your GPS unit.2. Staying warm. There
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| | summer. Learn about the weather patterns
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| are tricks to staying warm. Shed layers
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| | of an area, and the basics of predicting
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| as you get warm, for example, so you
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| | weather, and you'll be a lot safer.9.
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| don't have sweat to chill you later. Use
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| | Basic first aid. What are the symptoms of
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| wind-blocking shell clothing, and wear a
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| | hypothermia? Stumbling and slurred speech
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| hat. Eating fatty foods before sleeping
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| | are a couple of them. How do you properly
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| can keep you warmer.3. Pitching a tent.
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| | treat blisters? You can use duct tape if
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| Pitch your tent or tarp wrong and the
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| | you don't have moleskin. These and other
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| rain will come in, or the wind will tear
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| | basics are good things to know.10.
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| the seams. They need to be pitched tight,
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| | Firemaking. Start practicing in your
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| and you should be able to do it in a few
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| | yard. Try to start that fire with one
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| minutes. Practice in the yard.4. Cooking
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| | match. Also try it the next time it's
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| over a fire. Making soup over a small
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| | raining. Get in the habit of collecting
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| fire is not as easy as it seems. Cover
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| | dry tinder before the rain comes. Learn
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| the pan, block the wind, and keep the
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| | what things burn even when wet, like
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| fire small and concentrated. Time
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| | birch bark and pine sap.This last one can
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| yourself when you practice. You don't
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| | be one of the more important skills in an
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| have to rush normally, but speed can be
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| | emergency. Experts can start a fire in
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| important in some situations, and it's
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| | almost any circumstances, but you don't
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| always possible your stove will break.5.
| |
| | need to be an expert in wilderness
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| Identifying edible plants. Learning to
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| | survival to enjoy a safe hiking trip. For
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| identify three or four wild edible
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| | a safer, more enjoyable trip, just do the
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| berries can make a trip more enjoyable.
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| | best you can, and start checking off the
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| Learning to identify cattails and one or
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| | skills on this backpacking
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| two other good survival food plants can
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| | checklist.Steve Gillman is a long-time
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| be very helpful, especially if you ever
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| | advocate of lightweight backpacking.
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