Fire Building in the Backcountry Leave No Trace (LNT) style

Having a fire while camping can be something that everyone enjoys. However with ecotourism increasing daily we all want to make sure that we minimize our environmental footprints so that the next person can enjoy a pristine setting. When traveling in less remote areas be sure to follow the strict rules and use a fire ring if possible.

Wilderness Areas

If you are hiking and camping in a wilderness area make sure you bring a jet boil or some other cook stove. Many of these areas do not allow fires and have very strict guidelines on what you can and cannot due. Be sure to check at your park office before venturing into the woods.

National Park

Many National parks have set up camp grounds with fire rings but if you want to travel deeper into the park then you will need to get a backcountry camping permit. These are available at the park office. Some parks have different rules depending on the state and locality in which they reside.

National Forest

Our national forests maintain rules just like the national parks do and have a fire season in which it is prohibited to burn. If it is dry and the leaf and ground litter is dry I suggest not risking having a fire unless it is a dire situation.

Selecting a Low Impact Site

Always choose a site that will be able to bear the environmental impact of a fire. For instance you don't want to have a fire right next to a trail or road because these areas have already been impacted greatly from human pressure. It may seem weird to think about our effects on nature and many think that it would not change by following LNT ethics. This might be true for a couple of travelers but along the roads and trails hundreds if not thousands of people might be using them and this can really add up. Areas devoid of brush and cover are great if it is not windy! Be sure to monitor the wind and the level of humidity in the air. The dryer the air the higher the chances of having a fire get out of control. Go a good distance off the trail and find a nice clearing that you can dig a small pit. If you are traveling in a highly traveled area you may have to pack in wood. If this is not the case just be aware of the amount you are consuming and don't collect it all from one place. This will spread out your impact and allow wood for future travelers. Always mix up the soil and ashes when you are done so that mother nature can reclaim the sterile soil.

Fires Along The River

Rivers and streams are great places to construct fires. You can start by collecting river rocks and building a ring. Then collect drift wood and light her up. The only thing you need to do is cast the charred rocks back into the river, and scatter the ashes so that there is no trace of a fire.

If you want to learn more about constructing a LNT fire you can visit their website at www.lnt.org

 Enjoying a Fire along the beautiful Hyland River with my NOLS buddies!!

Hiking Socks of the Future

With the outdoor clothing industry booming the quality of products continues to increase as competitors compete to make the best. New synthetic fibers continue to merge with the outdoor market and have made a revolution in the packability of some products. However with this said there is a huge surge of natural fibers hitting the market and time is only to tell what will happen. I have three different socks that I will be testing in Europe and they are hybrids of the natural and synthetic fibers. All three companies are based in the USA and manufacture their Socks in the USA. One is made natural, one with silver, and one with copper. It will be interesting to see the effects of added antimicrobial metals. I will post the reviews after I have personally field tested the socks!! Here is a little more about each pair.

The Adventure Sock

·         51% Alpaca

·         37% Polyester

·         12% Silver/Nylon

·         http://www.royaltyfiberfarm.com/

Cupron Sock

·         8% Cupron Copper Oxide Polyester

·         84% Cotton

·         1% Lycra Spandex

·         17% Nylon

·         http://www.copperheadclothing.com/

Sabamba Sock

·         75% Alpaca

·         23% Nylon

·         2% Elastic

·         http://www.sabambaalpaca.com/

Feild Guides (Are they worth the Weight?)

When you are traveling in an unfamiliar area Field guides are something that can save your beacon. The small amount of weight that they add to your pack is worth the knowledge in which they hold. I am going to cover many guides that will meet your needs depending on what you are looking for and where you are looking.

Edibles
  If you are planning to forage for food while you are hiking make sure you know what you are eating. Many hikers die each year from eating toxic edibles. Just because you see an animal eating a berry does not mean that it is OK for you to consume it. These animals have adapted and evolved to tolerate the different chemicals that are in these foods that our systems cannot withstand. So if you take only one thing from this learn that you always want to know what you are eating.
          A good book for beginners to pack in is Peterson's Field guide to wild edibles. They have many photos and can give you good descriptions plants and berry's as well as roots and other sources of vital nutrients. There are many more guides out there but this one I strongly recommend.

Travel
   For those wanting to travel to all parts of the world make sure you pack a field guide with you. You can spend hours searching for good restaurants and places to see. Getting a good affordable travel guide can save you time and money. Company's like AAA and travel services can make planning your next backpacking trip a breeze. You will be spending enough time on logistics for the back country so don’t waste your time planning the travel and departure events when you can get them done cheaply and conveniently. Rick Steve's has a good video collection of Europe and hiking in the Alps also guides for many destinations. Contact your local travel service for the best results.

Combo Guides
  If you want to enjoy your trip with the least amount of packed weight and the most bang for your buck then you should get a Combo guide. These are not hard to find that include wildlife, flowers, landscapes and information about local towns, and National Parks. If you are looking for something that is more general and less specific then a combo guide is the way to go.

     By traveling across the U.S or around the world there are an unlimited amount of things to see. Take your time and pick out a good Field guide that will make your trip less stressful and more enjoyable.

Coolpix P90

The Cool pix P90 is a camera that comes with a great quality of zoom both digital and manual. The features cannot be beat but it is not something you want to take on a long backpacking trip. It requires batteries that need to be recharged and will not last long. You would be required to pack in a solar panel and charger that would add weight and volume to your pack. This camera is resistant to water but really takes up a huge amount of space in your pack. I suggest something more packable and durable for the every day hiker.
 " When I was in the Yukon a buddy of mine had an expensive camera and packed it around. If you want high quality photos then it may be worth the extra weight but make sure you protect your investment with a pelican case."
 Personally I think that a camera that can last long on one charge and also take AA batteries is far more convenient for long backpacking trips. Overall Tough gear Grade: C

HP photo smart 735

This model is old when it comes to digital cameras but is great for capturing mountain ranges and friends. All of the photos on my blog from the mountain backpacking in Alaska are from this camera. One thing I really like about it is that it has a manual zoom and digital zoom. You can save a lot of battery  life by only using the manual zoom instead of the digital. It also takes regular AA batteries which are easy to pack and do not require a charger and all of those fancy extras. It can take video and has many unique features. So let's not see where it stands on the Tough Gear Challenge.
Durability
I dropped this camera a few times and it has kept working great. However not to mention that it has been to Afghanistan, Germany, and many other places over the years. This camera is very dependable, and can capture those moments that you will remember forever. Tough gear Durability Grade: B
Affordability
This camera is now very affordable and you can shop around on eBay or other sites to find one. Tough gear Affordability Grade: B
Packability
This camera is not one of the small pocket size ones but fit rather well in any coat pocket or backpack pocket. Tough gear Packability Grade:B
Versatility
This camera has the capabilities of taking pictures and video, as well as having a digital and manual zoom. It can be used with AA batteries and does not need to be charged with the conventional wall outlet. Tough gear Versatility Grade:B

Cameras and (What not to Bring)

Documenting your trip can be a fun thing to do. I love taking pictures of the camp sites, mountain, friends, and the majestic northern sky. However with the new digital age we all can have trouble trying to find cameras that will capture our adventure, not break the bank, and not break! Unless you are a professional photographer I suggest not lugging your 2,000 dollar camera into the back country to only have a battery die or something go wrong.
*Take a solar charger or extra batteries to make sure you don't miss any spectacular views.

I have posted two Toughgear reviews on two very different kinds of cameras and how they match up!

Gear made to Last or Crash??

With the competition in the Outdoor gear business many companies are making equipment less expensive and overseas. Whether you are buying a backpack, tent, sleeping bag or whatever it is best to look into several company's and where they make their product. If you are for supporting goods made in the USA or the country you live in then take the extra time to search for these products and pay a little more to keep your dollars at home.
*There are two types of gear and only two types of gear. Gear that is made to sell and gear that is made to last.
Gear that is made to sell has all of the bells and whistles that really are not needed. They usually come in some fancy color with built in toe warmers, a pocket, and who knows what. Beware of these because they may be nice to look at but when you are miles from the nearest building and without a means of communication these can cut you short. Literally!! Let me tell you a little story...
  "When I was in the Yukon backpacking in the mountains I had a sleeping bag that I thought was good. I had been a tight wad and did not want to pay the 100 bucks more for a really nice sleeping bag that would have kept me toasty and living the high life during a raging snow storm. Well to make a long story short; each night I went to bed with two pairs of socks on, every layer of synthetic pants, all my clean shirts, my coat around the bottom of my sleeping bag and then inside my backpack and my winter hat and gloves on. It made a night after a long day of hiking even longer." Thank you to my NOLS buddies George, Austin, and Leum who showed me how to get through those nights. Real lifesavers and true friends; I would of never thought of putting my sleeping bag into my backpack and tightening it to add insulation!

So spend the extra money on a piece of equipment that you will have for years. It is really worth the extra money and trust me you will buy one the next chance you get anyway so why not be prepared. Please learn from my mistake! However if you do fall victim to one of these cheap items make the best of it and hopefully you have mild weather to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.
*Warning do not buy cheap equipment for Remote Solo trips!!!! This could not only make your trip suck, it could cost you your life!!! If at all possible go with a buddy. But like myself we all need some nurturing alone time with mother nature.
Gear that is made to last is usually made by a small company or one with a reputation for quality goods. You don't want to buy that 30 dollar sleeping bag that is supposed to be rated for zero degrees and can't even keep you warm during a summer night (trust me I've been there). However I do know what it is like to be on a budget so spent your money on the items that are going to be your lively hood while in the back country or at a state park.  Items like a Tent, sleeping bag, backpack, boots, socks, etc. (This will change with the climate you are traveling in). One thing that won't change is your feet!! Spend money on a good pair of hiking boots with several pairs of good socks. I myself like cabala's hiking socks or wool rich socks are nice too. Yes expensive but these are for your feet and without proper foot care you are going nowhere!!! Literally speaking!!

**The military always spends money on quality equipment and that's great for all of us who shop around in army surplus stores and on eBay. Remember that they are equipped for the extreme environments and you can find equipment that was never used for a great price.

The gear that is made to last is made from quality materials. For instance a sleeping bag made with goose down, or a carbon fiber tent pole. You want to make sure what your buying is for the quality equipment and not for the brand. Many brands have moved to alternative materials to save money. If I can pass one word of advice to you it would be this; just remember to do your research. Look at reviews, pictures on Google, prices from different sellers, material its made of and where it is made. But most important buy gear that fits your lifestyle and personality.
Good Hikin,
                      Tough Gear

Backpacking In Europe

As some of us know backpacking in Europe can be an amazing experience. I will be traveling through many countries, the Jurua mountains, black forest, and alps. Many photos will be taken and I will be sure to post them.