Knife is a symbolic item. If you ever have survival experience in the woods, you will understand how important this tool is to keep you alive. It has long been the tool we rely on a lot to survive living, from the historical to the current modern eras.
A knife should be able to protect you well, build you a haven, and keep you alive. They should be multifunctional.
Until around a hundred years ago, people would not go out from their house without a knife in their pocket or other hidden compartment. We see how much they utilize knives in living.
If you wonder why you should bring a knife, think of emergency or unexpected situations you did not anticipate before. You can get lost, meet a rival, or meet bad people anytime. You can anticipate the probability better when you have a knife in hand.
It is a simple fact that no one knife can have all the features needed. Every knife has its advantages and anyone using a knife will have to make his own decision as to what kind of things are important for him to have on his knife.
It is not only the extra features of the knife that matter, it is also the way the knife itself is crafted and what it is made of.
Today most people are looking for a knife to serve them when they are away in nature for a few days, or sometimes a few weeks. They need something that is very basic and that will provide them with the safety that it could potentially provide them in case something goes wrong.
If you go for outdoor activities such as mountaineering, camping, hiking, fishing, diving, caving, etc, you should bring a knife with you. But which type of knife to bring?
When you buy a knife, make sure you prepare them for the type of emergency situations you are most possible to face. Is it more possible for you to use a knife for hunting, cutting, carving, or maybe just protection? Of course it depends a lot on your destination.
Knives are a major tool for survival in the wild. Make sure you know specifically which one to buy. Look for more information and reviews on the Internet to start your search.
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Winter camping will provide you with a new experience which entirely differs from summer camping and other types of camping. Following are some Winter Camping Ideas to make winter camp an enjoyable one.
Supplies
All the necessary supplies should be taken during winter camping based on the winter camping list because unexpected happenings may happen during winter camping rather than other types of camping. There may be sudden changes in weather conditions so be alert to handle all types of situations. Wear layered dress so that it would suit all weather conditions. One of the Winter Camping tips is to shun wearing cotton during winter camping because it consumes time to get dry.
Outfits
Dressing is an essential part in winter camping. A Winter Camping tips is to wear cloths made out of wool or nylon. While layering the cloths first wear thin cloth close to your. Next use fleece cloth and finally wear cloth which will dry quickly like gore tex, nylon and so on. Never forget to include socks in winter camping list because it can protect your feet and it keeps the feet arid and warm.
To prevent freezing
Including boots in winter camping list it is a must one. Verify whether your shoe is waterproof and it does not absorb water. Another important Winter Camping tip is never leave your head uncovered because more heat from your body can be released from your head, so always cover the head with a hat. Never mind having an additional hat. Winter Camping Ideas to maintain the hands warm is to use gloves. Attach the gloves along with the jacket so that it would not be misplaced. To increase the warmth in the hand use gloves liner.
Tents
When purchasing a tent which stands first in the winter camping list, check whether it is a 3 season tent or four season tent because a four season tent will be more helpful than a three season tent. Winter tent or four season tent can stand against heavy wind and it can bear the heavy weight of the snow during snowfall.
If a tent is not available then a snow shelter can be built but you need to spend a whole day building a snow shelter. Building a snow shelter is a good Winter Camping Ideas but it needs practice.
Sleeping bag
Confirm that you take a sleeping bag along with you because you can prevent yourself from the cold by using a sleeping bag. If the sleeping bag is layered with foam then it protects against the cold and keeps you dry. Even pads can be used as a substitute for foam sheets.
Food
Always prepare food that can be eaten sans any cooking because it is hard to get dry timbers though there are waterproof match sticks and boxes.
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• You can easily get pine sap out of the cut tree. This is an emergency camping gear which act as a good sealant and wilderness glue which is tough to hit. When required, heat it and mix it along with charcoal powder. Make this mixture to a ball and attach it at the ending of the stick. At the time of need it can be easily melted and used.
• Include cod liver oil in the camping survival kit list because before you start fishing apply cod liver oil on the bait and then throw the bait into the water this will increase the attraction towards the fish within a few distance. This idea is a very valuable idea to use.
• Natural outdoor survival gear is to drink more water particularly before you feel thirst to drink more water. If you feel thirsty then you need to drink more and more water. This will prevent you from dehydration. Even in winter you need to drink more water because no sweating occurs so you cannot feel the dehydration so it is must to drink more water in winter camping also. Include potable water in the camping survival kit list.
• During winter the day will be shorter than night so whenever you get in touch with the sun do not avoid it, expose yourself more to sun and collect vitamin D from the sun as much as possible. This would help you more to survive in winter.
• When you need to make a path by digging deep snow lots of energy will be exhausted so to avoid this you can switch off periodically the guide person as wolves in the north do. This will prevent you from over exhaustion.
• Consider rock as outdoor survival gear and heat the rock and roll it inside to a towel and take it along with you to bed and place your legs on it to warm your legs. You can employ DuraFlame log for starting the fire so include it in the camping survival kit list. Cut the log as emergency camping gear into pieces and a small piece will help you to produce plenty of flames. You can even collect moss from the woods for emergency camping gear as of the branches of pine or fir trees. These are commonly found in the Northwest of Pacific. Keep this in the pocket and let it dry. Using a single spark you light the bar of the flint dried moss. Another way is to convert ice into magnificent glass. Take an ice bar as outdoor survival gear and shape it like glass using your body heat to make fire out of it. This method will not be exactly like magnificent glass but it could be done to work.
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For those who want to go camping and experience being outdoors, but do not want to run the risk of running into some lions, tigers, and bears; a great alternative camping location for them to go to would be the beach.
This is perfect for those beach lovers and water babies who just love being near the ocean. A great way to spend the night would be to look at some stars while listening to the sound of the waves lapping in on the ocean. But before individuals can experience this wonderful camping experience that sounds like it came out of a scene from a movie, they would need to prepare for a few things.
Camping-Friendly Locations
Before camping on a beach, individuals would have to make sure that the beach they have set their eyes on does not have any prohibition concerning camping. It is best to contact the local officials that preside over the beach area to find out the regulations.
Another great idea is to camp on the campsite of the beach. There are a lot of commercialized beaches that have special areas set aside for camping. The best thing to do would be to make reservations ahead of time, because sometimes the campsites get too crowded.
Camping overnight
For those who want to spend the night on the beach, they should make some preparations ahead of time. Falling asleep on the beach sands only to wake up the next morning with a harsh sunburn is not the best plan. Instead, get a beach tent. Those pop up beach tents start as low as $19. This offers some shelter and protection for those who want to sleep on the beach.
Bonfires are out
A lot of beaches now do not allow bonfires. Some may, but only with a permit! This makes cooking out a little tricky. For those who still want to cook on the beach, they might want to bring a portable cooking stove. Those who do not want to go through this trouble, dry foods and prepackaged foods that don't need cooking is the way to go.
Camping on the beach for a lot of people is not so much about the outdoors experience, or hunting for prey. For the most part, it is about enjoying the ambiance and majestic view of the ocean. This is a more tamed and romantic approach to camping.
Those who want to have the best beach camping experience should make the proper preparations ahead of time. This way, they would have the most memorable and enjoyable experience during their camping trip on the beach.
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When travelling on the road, eating well is often a challenge. And if you are a camping fan, then you might think that fast food or pre-packaged food is all that you’ll be able to without a real hassle.
But the fact is, with the kind of camping equipment and supplies that are available today, you can turn almost any of your favourite recipes into tasty camping recipes that will keep your family eating well no matter where you pitch your tent.
Of course, how you’ll cook on the road will depend a great deal on what facilities you will have out there. If you are travelling in a fully equipped recreational vehicle, then you don’t need to worry about tasty camping recipes because everything will work pretty much like it does at home.
But even with the space you have in an RV, you’ll still want to examine your favourite dishes to see if you can make your own tasty camping recipes by looking for ways to condense ingredients, substitute ingredients that are easier to bring with you, or limit ingredients that are bulky or unlikely to travel well. For example, consider combining spices for your tasty camping recipes into one container that you frequently use together, such as black pepper and garlic. Or, if cereal with dried fruit is your breakfast choice, go ahead and combine the cereal and fruit into one smaller container.
Also, you’ll want to choose your tasty camping recipes so that the ingredients that you do bring are ones that work for as many recipes as possible. For example, if you’re planning to make cheeseburgers, then select a cheese that will also work for grilled cheese sandwiches, or that you can then melt for nachos or shred onto tacos. Turn the leftover hamburger meat into ground beef for chili or hash.
Be inventive and plan your meals for the trip so that you can pack as little as efficiently as possible and waste as little as possible.
If you are bringing your own grill or if you plan to stay at campgrounds that have barbecue grills available, then it’s only natural to look for tasty camping recipes that involve the grill. You may have camped before and put foil packets of meat and vegetables directly on the coals, which is still a tried and true method.
But you can also purchase foil bags that make it easier and not quite as messy to do the same thing. You simply put your ingredients into the bag, add any seasoning or sauces, then seal it. You can shake it to coat the ingredients thoroughly, then lay it on the coals, turning as necessary.
You cut a slit in it to check the meat and when it’s done, simply slice open and serve. Cleaning up is as simple as throwing away the bag.
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Taking a stroll in the woods can be a healthy and refreshing activity, but without proper preparations, it can easily turn into a tragedy. Every year, there are hundreds of fatal hiking accidents and many more involving serious injuries. Here are some easy yet important tips to take note of before you go for your next hiking trip.
There is a list of items that you must bring along with you on any hiking trip. You should have a map of the trail which you wish to take, a good compass, at least two liters of water, a change of clothes, first aid kit, compass, some snacks, food rations, and a satellite GPS unit. Make sure that your cell phone is fully charged before you leave. These items are extremely crucial, especially if you are going on a hike in forested areas.
You must also be properly attired before you leave for the trip. Wear plenty of warm clothing and a pair of sturdy shoes with good grip. Wearing a good pair of hiking shoes or boots will help prevent injuries caused by slips and falls.
Research the route of the hiking trail. Always find out where the trail leads to and how long the journey will take. If the track takes anything more than 5 hours, you should inform the park authorities. In case you get lost, the authorities would at least have a gauge of where to find you.
Generally it is never a good idea to go hiking alone. In the natural environment, there are always many threats of injury, whether it is by accident or animal attacks. Going hiking in groups will ensure that the victim will be protected and cared for in the event of any such misadventures.
On any hiking trips, besides having a good time and enjoying your solitude with Mother Nature, you must always be mindful to prevent getting lost. When you get lost, you expose yourself to the dangers of being attacked by wild animals, hypothermia, starvation, and sometimes even death. It is best to stick to well worn hiking trails. If you plan to go off the trail, make sure to mark your GPS system and your map.
Even if you are following a worn hiking trail, there still a chance that you may get lost due multiple split turns on the trail. Here, having a pencil and paper with you would be invaluable. Every time you reach a crossroad, mark the direction that you take on the piece of paper. This way, you will be able to find your way back after the hike.
If you ever get lost, this is when your compass comes into play. Remember, a compass is only useful if you know how to use it. Learn how to use your compass, and which directions that you would need to follow if you get lost before you start your hiking trip.
If you can’t find your way out, and you have to spend the night in the woods, keep yourself warm with the extra set of clothing and ration your food and water supply while you wait for help to arrive.
Looking for a site to buy hiking equipment? You can check out Pike Trail.
Few experiences are more thrilling than watching wild animals while camping. The ability to be able to see wild animals in their natural habitat gives a kind of awe inspiring force to all those who witness it. Unfortunately, the increasing disconnect between humans and nature has led to a near abandonment of the skills necessary to do proper animal tracking. The good news is the basic skills of a tracker can still be learned. Here is a list of some suggestions to help increase your chances of finding the wild animals.
1. Research the area to determine what wildlife live in the area. This can be accomplished by doing some basic searches on the web, asking the locals or even talking to that region's game warden.
2. Once you determine what wildlife lives in the area. You want to learn a number of distinct facts about them. Purchase a good animal book that has a lot of visual diagrams and pictures. You will want to bring this with you on your trip. Our recommendation can be found in our camping books section. The facts you are trying to learn should include:
a. What type of tracks do they make and how much do they average in weight?
b. What type of food or plants do they hunt or eat?
c. What type of home do they make?
d. What type of straddle, stride, and gait do they make?
e. What does their scat (waste deposits) look like?
3. Determine what methods you want to use to see the animals. There are essentially three ways to see animals and their by-products in the wild:
a. Using tracking tools- using different scents or calls to entice animals to come into the area.
b. Stalking wildlife- is essentially sneaking up on animals by wearing camouflage and adjusting your walking style so as not to startle the animals.
c. Observing wildlife- setting up a blind in the areas where the animals are likely to go.
4. Bring a good set of binoculars to help aid you in viewing the animals.
5. Avoid quick sudden movements because these can startle the animals and if you have to use the restroom, try to go down wind to lessen the chance of the animals catching the scent.
6. Sometimes it is very difficult to actually see certain animals. In these instances, it can be very satisfying to locate their tracks, bedding area or other animal by-products. This can be best accomplished by looking near watering holes or along game trails.
a. Watering Holes: animal tracks can be found around the rim of the watering hole as animals come down to get a drink.
b. Game Trails: animal tracks are easiest to find in mud, sand, or snow.
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