Staying Safe Outdoors - Bears

Spending time outdoors is one of the world's favourite past times. However, activities such as camping, hunting, and hiking have the potential to be very dangerous if you do not prepare yourself against what you could encounter. In this first part of a series of articles, I will tell you how you can protect yourself if you encounter a bear.

Bears have been given a bad rap in the news, movies, television, and such. In reality, bears try to avoid human contact as much as possible. This includes the feared grizzly, which so many people think are human killers. The reason we have heard about so many bear attacks is not their fault, it's ours. Bears become the most dangerous when they get used to humans. This is because they learn to not fear us, so they get bolder. Towns that have open garbage pits near bear territory and take no action to prevent bears from scavenging are only making the problem worse. That being said, here is what you should do if you encounter a bear in the wild.

If you are hiking on some secluded mountain trail and you see a bear cross your path, the first thing to do is not panic. If the bear does not immediately run when it sees you, raise your hands in the air and start screaming at it. This makes you appear more threatening and has a good chance of scaring the bear off. If you have an air horn or something else that can make a really loud noise, this is the time to use it. Maintain eye contact and try not to appear frightened. Put on an air of hostility and confidence, and you have a very good chance of avoiding a direct confrontation. If the bear charges you, DO NOT RUN!

This could trigger a predator response and will cause the bear to chase you. Stand still and face the bear when it charges, most of the time it will be a bluff charge. The bear is telling you to back off. You should oblige. Start to back off slowly and maintain eye contact. However, if the bear starts to attack you, go into the fetal position and try to protect your inner organs as much as possible. If that doesn't work, you are going to need to fight back. This is where you use your bear spray or hunting knife, or whatever weapons are available to you. If you survive, you have one kick ass story.

Now go out there and enjoy the outdoors.

Outdoors - Problems And Possible Solutions

Mosquito bites
When you go outdoors, it is lush and green and your companions for the evening, sometimes, are also the local mosquitoes. While some people are not too affected by their bites, others (including me) are. In those allergic to the bites (me too), the irritation of the bite is followed by intense itching and a red swelling around the bite. This is because of the enzymes a female mosquito injects into the skin before sucking blood. While these bites are pretty harmless, there is the rare chance of some infection from them (malaria!) and in any case, they are best avoided.

Mosquito repellents abound in the market, and most of them seem to be pretty effective when used as directed. It helps to wear long trousers and full shirts.

If you get bitten, the best course of action is to do nothing. Scratching o­nly intensifies the itch. If the irritation is very severe, rubbing ice, or any cold metallic surface helps to a great degree. The ideal thing to do is to get involved in something to distract from the itch.

If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!

Snakes

In the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, snakes rule. They seem to be found in every region we go to. Yet, we have not had a snake related casualty o­n a programme. The reason is that snakes are shy creatures. Very few of the snakes we come across are actually venomous and even the o­nes that are, would prefer to flee rather than encounter a creature many times its size and waste the precious venom that it uses for digestion and cannot do without. Humans are not prey sized for any of the snakes in our region in any case.

Still, snakes can bite, are slithery creatures and give most of us a jitter at the very least.

There are many things we can do to avoid snakes and snake bites. Look carefully before reaching into crevices or under rocks. Wear shoes in the wilderness at night and walk slowly to give them time to escape. If you come across a snake, stamp your feet to alert it to flee and move away.

In the rare case that you or someone with you gets bitten, look at the wound carefully bites from venomous snakes leave two puncture marks and non-venomous bites leave scratches. If you are in doubt, or if it is a venomous bite, tie a tourniquet o­n the thigh, or upper arm and reassure the victim and help him or her to be calm, to keep the heart rate as slow as possible and move to the nearest medical services at o­nce.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HANDLE OR CAPTURE SNAKES THAT YOU COME ACROSS UNLESS YOU HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO IDENTIFY THEM ACCURATELY AND HANDLE THEM ADEQUATELY. This is a leading cause of snake related accidents.

Scorpion bites
Scorpions abound in the outdoors in India, and being careful is a virtue second to none. They are nocturnal, so it helps to be aware that they could be around after dark. Basic precautions include shaking the bedding thoroughly before getting in, if it has been laid out for some time, shaking out shoes before putting your feet in, not reaching into dark crevices of any sort without checking them out first. If stung, the procedure is the same as for a snae bite. Keep calm, restrict the spread of venom and rush to the first doctor you find.

Dehydration
Dehydration is the most common medical problem in the outdoors and the chief cause of headaches and faintness. We are unaccustomed to spending a long time under the sun, or in physical activity. We lose a great amount of water through perspiration and even plain evaporation through our skin.

The result is a headache, faintness, chapped lips, exhaustion ... We need to drink water to cover our loss from exposure to the environment. Keep a water bottle with you at all times and make a habit of sipping from it. Hats, sunglasses and full clothing are useful in staying cool and minimizing water loss.

You will need more water than usual and not being used to it, you may not consciously feel thirsty, so try to consciously drink as much as you can. There is no such think as excessive water intake in the outdoors and you are not having enough if you don't need to go and pee every couple of hours.

Sunburn
This o­ne is self explanatory. Please apply adequate sunscreen, and reapply as needed. Hats, sunglasses, scarves and full clothing help. The more sensitive your skin is, the more careful you need to be about these things.

Chapped Lips
The chief cause of chapped lips is dehydration (smoking too). Most of the time, it is fairly safe to say that if a person has chapped lips, he needs to drink more water. Vaseline, lipbalms, etc. help to protect and relieve discomfort, but cannot actually cure the lips that are parched.

Cuts and scratches
These happen o­n exposed skin that gets rubbed o­n things near it. Long trousers and full sleeve shirts solve most of this problem. Being careful and avoiding scrapes does the rest.

Campfires An evening outdoors is all the more cozy around campfires. Some precautions can help make it worry-free.

Avoid campfires unless it is cold enough to require o­ne, or you need it for cooking. The wood is best saved for fuel for locals, who might end up cutting trees in the absence of dead wood.

Build a fire in an area as sheltered from the wind as your site allows. Also build it downwind from your precious nylon tents that could get sparks and tinder from the wind.

Handle the fire from an adequate distance and with appropriate respect for consequences of carelessness. Pay particular attention to long hair and loose clothing when bending over a fire.

Enjoy to your hearts content!

Before retiring for the night, make sure that the fire is dead. Dunking a pail of water and putting a couple of flat stones o­n it is a good way of ensuring this. Wind directions often change in the night and early morning and you don't want to be sleeping soundly in your tent when the wind brings embers that way.

These ideas are precautionary, and there is a huge potential for fun. So don't forget to have a great time.

Cooking Outdoors - Some Ideas

Most people love to do cooking outdoors. Some here are some ideas to help you to do so quickly and easily. The most common way in which people cook outdoors is through a gas grill. This grill is normally powered by propane. These propane burners heat up lava rock or a metal conducting element.

These heat generating items are placed below a metallic grate. The food is place over this hot grate and the magic begins. The styles and types of gas grills can vary greatly. First of all, there are gas grills which run on natural gas. These types of grills are normally connected to a natural gas connection is a person's home.

The advantage of this type of grill is that you don't have to worry about running about of gas. There is nothing worse than having a house full of guests which you are cooking for and then you run out of propane and can't continue to cook the food. Not a good situation. But it often costs a fair amount of money to get a natural gas line included with your home. So many manufacturers have developed grill which operate through propane gas burners. This gas is much easier to obtain and can be purchased and refilled at many locations. In many cases a home owner might own a backup tank in case the primary one unexpectedly runs out of gas.

All kinds of foods can be cooked on a gas grill. Meat tastes great on a gas grill. Different kinds of steaks including sirloin, t-bone, etc. are wonderful cooked this way. And there is much less mess since the grease and smoke remain outdoors. When the steak is cooked, the fat drips down on the hot burners and then typically flares up. This helps to cook the steaks and gives them a smoky aroma and taste.

Pork such as ribs, shoulder roast, and others also taste wonderful on a grill. There are many kinds of pork which works well and a variety of sauces and marinades help to enhance the taste and experience. Chicken and fish are also terrific kinds of food to cook on the grill. Their flavor can be enhanced with sauces and different marinades. Or you may want to stick with the original flavor and grill them with little added flavors. It is also more fun both for the person cooking the food and his guests if you set up the grill to be in a central location. In this way the guests can see what is going on and interact with the host who is usually assigned the cooking duties.

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Outdoors Survival - Prepare For The Worst

By Graham Armitage Graham Armitage
Level: Basic

Graham lives in Nottingham, NH, USA. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys spending time fishing and hunting. His first love is fly fishing ...

Every year we read or hear about hikers or hunters having to be rescued or even worse. You can bet that when these folk left home, the last thought on their mind was having to fight for their lives in a situation they just would not be prepared for.

Being prepared for an outdoor trip means more than taking along a first aid kit. Assuming the worst means you should be prepared to spend at least one night outdoors without shelter. Then, if your day trip turns sour, you are ready for the worst.

Typically, it is major trips and expeditions that are well planned with emphasis on survival. This is natural in some sense, as you are already planning to be outdoors for an extended period of time. It is the weekend warrior going for a Sunday afternoon hike, that can end up in the most trouble as in these situations, no thought is given to wilderness survival. After all, it is just a little afternoon hike, right? Wrong !

Now here are two assumptions people make: 1) "I have a cell phone and/or GPS - I will be ok." Without cell coverage, or problems locating satellites, or even flat batteries, you may end up with no help at all. 2) "I am a couple of miles from a town and civilization." You can get very lost in under two square miles and that is assuming you are not injured. Consider how long it will be before anyone even starts looking for you. Guaranteed it won't be until dark!

Here is a simple and sensible checklist for a day outdoors, doing any activity:

Know the terrain - This is especially important if you are in an area that that you are unfamiliar with. Understand how wet or dry it is. How steep or wooded. How many trails, and where the nearest human habitation is. Know the surrounding area too in case you find yourself wandering far off course. You can get all this information from readily available topographic maps.
Know the climate and weather - This is critical. Weather changes account for some of the highest number of deaths in the outdoors. Some areas can have major weather changes in a matter of minutes, without warning. This can involve lightning storms, sudden snow storms or even rapid drops in temperature or simply rain. With the ubiquity of the web, local weather is easy to find.
Correct dress - Following on climate, you should dress appropriately in layers. You should also pack in extra clothes to accommodate any sudden weather changes. Just as a little insurance. You can always shed clothing if it gets too hot, but you cannot add clothes you never packed. The reason for dressing in layers is that you can remove or add as conditions change. You also want to avoid sweating when the air temperature is cold as your inner layer becomes damp and will chill when you slow down. By dressing in layers you can avoid this.
Tell someone - Tell someone where you are going and how long you will be. This sounds obvious, especially if you are going hiking near home, but is very important. If you leave and nobody is home, just leave a note or a message on your own answering machine. Try and leave a map if possible, but otherwise a description of where you will be. A search and rescue team armed with accurate coordinates will be able to find you quickly. The same team being told "he's in the woods somewhere" may never find you!
Survival Kit - Create a survival kit that is compact and can fit into your pack easily. Take it with you whenever you go out. Leave the items in the survival pack. That way, you just need to pick up and go, without having to worry whether it's all in there. Example Survival Pack: Band-aids, Bandage/tape, Pain Killer, Antiseptic Cream, Needle, Tweezers, Magnesium Fire Starter, Waterproof Matches, Pocket Knife - swiss army, Fixed blade knife, Mini Flashlight, Rope/cording, Duct Tape, Compass, Space blanket, Mirror, or old CD, Whistle, Flare (if you have room), Glow Sticks, Candy bar. The items listed above should fit easily into a small tupperware or bag. This is just an example and you should tailor it for your own needs, terrain and time of year. With a survival pack of this kind, your odds of survival increase dramatically. Do not forget to take along some water, it may be tough to find some clean water under stress. No matter what you take with you and how well you prepare, your brain is still your best defense. Take the time to study basic survival skills or take a course. Knowledge can keep you alive. The information included in this article is just the beginning of what you should know.

Be safe and enjoy the outdoors.

About The Author

Graham Armitage, is founder of the family outdoor website, Georec. The site allows anyone to discover new outdoor places and invites you to review and comment on outdoor locations. To access all the free hiking, fishing, paddling and other information available, or to add your own content, visit http://www.georec.com/

Copyright 2006 - georec.com. All Rights reserved WorldWide. Reprint rights - you may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, and do not edit the article in any way, and give credit to the author.

Enjoy The Outdoors

Our lives are so busy that we do not seem to have enough time for all that we want to do, including being outdoors. We spend our days working and our nights too tired to enjoy anything else. But, what we find when we make time is that we are better capable of enjoying life and performing better as well. One way to get this sense of relaxation is to enjoy the outdoors. There are many ways in which you can add a little outdoor fun to your day or week. And, it really does not have to cost you anything, including a lot of time.

For those who live in the big cities of the world, there is nothing more than hassle stretching from the morning hours until the time we go to bed. All of that rushing around and worrying only leads us to having more and more trouble. Instead of spending all of your time in this endless race, why not find time for something relaxing and enjoyable. Here are some great ideas on how to get the outdoors into your life.

Don't have time for a baseball game at the field? Why not go outside, spend ten minutes throwing the ball around with a child? You not only get to enjoy the air but you get to talk about your day and the child's day as well.

After dinner tonight, instead of heading to the couch and flipping on the television, why not go out for a walk. That thirty minutes you spend in front of the television could be thirty minutes you spend getting some fresh air and exercise!

Instead of a boring old dinner party with the friends, family, or even worse the boss, why not have a BBQ? The whole concept implies simplicity and enjoyment. This is a great way to get outdoors and still mingle.

For those who could use some time with a new hobby, gardening can be a wonderful way to relax and lose some stress. It doesn't have to be a large garden; maybe just a few pots would do the trick. It still gets you outdoors!

If the camping trip with your son you have always wanted to do hasn't happened yet, go for it! How many years have you been saying you were going to do it and haven't'? How old is your son now? If you keep procrastinating, how long until he is no longer interested?

Adding a little bit of the outdoors into your day will help you relax and enjoy small bits of the world's comfort. The fresh air always helps to clear the mind. The relaxation can help you work more efficiently the next day. So, what are you waiting for? Get outdoors!

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Running Outdoors Versus Treadmill Running - Which is Best

Whatever the weather, rain or shine, runners who are passionate about their sport just love to run. However, from time to time the weather is either too hot or too cold, it's maybe too dark to run safely outdoors or perhaps the runner simply fancies a change of pace. So how do treadmills compare to outdoor running? Well, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Some are obvious and others are not.

When using a treadmill the machine actually assists you to move your feet back which makes the workload less than running outdoors. You also do not have to endure the outdoor weather when running on a treadmill. But a disadvantage would be that you do not have the benefit of the changing scenery while running to take your attention away from your perceived exertion.

Another advantage of working out on the treadmill is that at any time you choose you can end your run and you do not need to make your own way home. You can watch TV whilst doing your workout and there are even treadmills available on the market today with their own built-in TV's.

But treadmill running compared to outdoor running also has its disadvantages, such as there is no change of scenery to admire while you are running, you take the same route every day, so to speak, and there are no turns and real hills to involve in your practice.

Running outdoors raises some personal safety issues too. You will need suitable clothing for when you are running in bad weather. However, running outdoors means you can vary your route, take in a change of scenery, run hills and dales and you do not have to do your run alone as your friends can also take a run with you. Running outdoors presents more motivation, burns off more calories and helps you to feel more triumphant in your achievements.

Treadmill running and outdoor running can reach an even plain as long as changes are made to the way you use your treadmill to attain your goals. First of all you should be aware that when using the treadmill with 0% incline your exertion will be less than when running outdoors because of the belt helping you by bringing your foot backwards. If you change the incline to 1% this will make up for the decrease in exertion.

The next thing to do is to find a suitable distraction. Many people discover that they can run much further outdoors than the ground covered on the treadmill. This is because the perceived exertion is greater on the treadmill as there are no distractions to take your mind off it. If you can run whilst listening to music or to a story on tape this will act as a distraction to any discomfort you may be feeling.

Last, if you are working up to a specific event, you should only use the treadmill for 40% of your training. However, if you are not able to carry out 60% of your training outdoors, do not despair. There have been plenty of athletes who have trained more than 60% on a treadmill and have still managed to be both successful and competitive at their sport.

Treadmill running versus outdoor running is really a matter of personal choice but it should be noted that the treadmill method will only work if environmental adjustments are taken into account and adhered to.

Go Outdoors

After you spend all these long days at work, in some office or inside your home, you deserve at the end of the week something to get you out of the ordinary. Participate in activities that will get your muscles and senses to work, so you can be prepared for another hard week of work. The best way you can spend your weekends, and any spare time you may have is outdoors. This it means to choose any type of recreational activity you can have outside your home in the wild nature.

There are many activities from which you can choose according with your temperament and your idea of comfort and relaxation. For example you can go riding, hiking, skiing, diving, fishing, camping or any other thing a person can do to feel all the nature's energy getting inside his body. Beside physical activities you can go for others which are not involving physical strength. These may be meditation, yoga, painting, reading, photography and many other things. Spending time outdoor purpose is to release your self from all the stress and find a new you each weekend. Is the way you can reconnect with your inner. Is the place where you can connect with the Universe and you can feel life as it should feel.

You should not spend your weekends in bed, with the idea that you will feel rested. You may have the surprise to feel even more tired. But a weekend full of energy and adventure, in which you did all the things you love to do, will distress and clear your mind. This is what you have to do so you will feel incredible rested and ready to work. Spending time outdoors can be made at any age and it doesn't involve expenses necessarily. You can have the time of your life with a small blanket, some homemade sandwiches, and a good volleyball game. Having fun doesn't necessarily require money.

Michigan Outdoors - Hidden Places

In Michigan, being outdoors can mean relaxing on a sandy beach or getting lost in the wilderness. One of the hidden places described below will let you do both. Here are three places that you haven't seen in magazine articles and guide books.

Michigan Outdoors - Rivers

You can float the Manistee River from Baxter Bridge (the next crossing down from Hwy 131) north of Cadillac, all day without seeing a house or a road. The majority of the route is in the Manistee National Forest, where you can camp without permits. The Manistee isn't a river full of exciting rapids (at least not on this stretch). It is a river for relaxing.

A few years back, we used to park where Road 17 crosses the river, and hike upstream with a small day pack loaded with snacks, water, a saw, hatchet, and rope. By early afternoon we would build a raft of dead trees cut to length. We spent the following hours floating back to the car. We called it Tom Sawyer Day, and on six of these trips I have never passed another canoe or boat on the river.

Michigan Outdoors - Beaches

Probably you have heard of or been to the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore (and the dunes), and the other sandy spots along the east side of Lake Michigan. They are beautiful, and I highly recommend them, but what if you want a beach to yourself? Head north, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

From Highway 2, a couple miles east of Rapid River, turn south on County road 513. Follow it until it splits, and take the road to Wilsey Bay. Where the road first comes to the water, it is a public access point. Leave your car here and walk a mile to the end of the road, and then along the rocky beach past the last house (stay below the high-water mark and it is legal to walk past private property).

Just past the house you enter the Hiawatha National Forest for the next seven miles of beach. The last time I camped out there, I never saw a person in two days. One morning I followed fresh black bear tracks along the sandy beach, and later explored the ruins of an old cabin. There are no roads into this area, and ATV's are not permitted. If you want forested wilderness, just walk away from the beach - and watch for wild blueberries in the forest clearings if it is August or September.

Michigan Outdoors - Really Hidden

You'll want a topographical map for this one. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, north of Ishpeming, there is some wild and rough country. Driving out of Ishpeming, you'll wind through rocky lakes and woods. An hour north, on a sandy road, you'll come to a river with two-hundred foot high cliffs on the other side. I promised friends not to get more specific than this, so you'll have to work a bit to find it.

Continue a bit further, until the road gets too rough or the puddles too deep. Park the car and find a log to cross the small river on, then head uphill (you may need your hands to go up the wooded hillside). Beyond and on top of those cliffs and hills there are two lakes, just a thirty minute walk away, surrounded by a rocky wilderness, and with no trail going to them. My brother had a trout on the line in ten seconds the first time I took him there. Good luck!

Enjoy the Outdoors Under a Canopy

A first up canopy is a good way of providing cover when you're hosting an event outside in your lawn or at any other venue. A canopy provides a comfortable environment for people to sit when they are outdoors. Canopies for outdoor use usually come in a size of 10 x 10 which is big enough to cover a picnic table and benches. Six people or even more can easily fit under a canopy and enjoy lunch or have a picnic in the outdoor weather.

Canopies for outdoor use are available in a variety of colors and sizes. For larger events such as weddings where many people will be present, a number of canopies can be used to make sure that all guests can be accommodated in the shade. These canopies are ideal for outdoor functions such as birthday parties for children or get togethers. They create a comfortable environment outdoors. To make sure that the canopy reflects the mood of a particular occasion, you can choose from the different colors available. To enhance the beauty of the canopy, you can tie balloons around the metallic legs which would be a great addition.

In case you're looking for more privacy, canopy sidewalls are available. A canopy sidewall covers the area under the canopy from all the sides and encloses the wholes structure. In this way, the people under the canopy are hidden behind the sidewall which ensures privacy. If you are planning to go on a camping trip, you can consider taking a canopy tent along. Owners of cabins and trailers who go camping could also use a canopy to sit under. Having a first up canopy is like having your own portable porch wherever you go.

A canopy can be easily carried and it fits easily inside its own bag. Assembling and disassembling a first up canopy is a pretty simple process which can be completed in a matter of a few minutes. In case you're hosting an event in the summers, a canopy can prevent you from the summer heat when you sit under it. The sidewalls not only help in ensuring privacy but they also keep away pests and other insects. Canopies can be bought or they can be rented for an occasion. Many canopy rental companies also offer banner rentals which you can use in conjunction for special events.

Vacation Ideas For Fans Of The Outdoors

For some people, vacation means heading to a far away sandy beach and sitting by the sea sipping frozen drinks for a week. Relaxing for them means there is little to do and they can let their minds wander and their muscles relax. This is not the ideal situation for everyone though and adventure seekers may soon find themselves bored during a vacation like this. If you are the type that prefers putting your life on the line or making new discoveries during your time away from home, there are still plenty of vacation options for you. All you need to do is pack up your canoe accessories and kayak rigging and head out into the great outdoors in search of a good time. While everyone around you may not think wild outdoor adventures are going to be an ideal vacation, you may be able to persuade them if you include a few of these fun outdoor activities in your trip planning.

A lot of people enjoy hiking, even if they would not consider themselves outdoors people. Hiking is a great way to get exercise and fresh air and you can explore nature without putting your life at risk. Hikes come in a variety of difficulty levels, so even if you are traveling with an inexperienced hiker, you can still have a great time. In many destinations, you can even safely leave your inexperienced loved one behind while you set out on a more difficult hike.

A lot of people combine hiking trips with camping. This is also a great way to share the outdoors with loved ones because if they are more into relaxing than hiking, they can stay behind. Set up a campsite near a river or in a quiet part of the woods, let them relax by the fire, and head out to explore the countryside. Camping is a great way to get back to nature and experience peace without worrying about spending too much or going overboard while you vacation.

Rock climbing is a great way to add an extra challenge to an otherwise simple hike. You can also try adventurous activities like propelling from the rocks. There are plenty of ways to practice rock climbing too in a safe indoor environment, so by the time you have the outdoor experience, you will be comfortable with your climbing skills. Rock climbing can be a great thrill for kids too, as long as you choose a climb within their skill level. It is excellent exercise and really gets you into the great outdoors in a creative and unique way.

Finally, consider planning a vacation in a destination like a state park or a natural landmark. Even those who would not be caught dead in a tent may enjoy a trip to the Grand Canyon or to see Old Faithful erupt. Trips to destinations like this are great family experiences and must-do events that everyone needs to enjoy at least once in their lifetime. If you seek outdoor adventures, consider one of these destinations for your next vacation.