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Nothing ruins a trip faster than a poorly
packed pack. And if you're like me, you want to be prepared for every possible
situation. Think it's impossible to pack with frugality in mind? Think again.
- Pack to save space. If you're taking extra clothes (and we know you are), use a
waterproof compression sack. It'll help you stuff as much in as you need
with taking up valuable real estate.
- Pack for hydration. To save space, I store my extra water in a Platypus. It's a collapsible water bottle
made of tough, durable plastic that rolls up when empty. Because it's not
solid plastic, it can mold itself to other items when stuffed in your
pack.
- Pack for hunger. I don't like being hungry when I'm hiking, and I don't know
anyone who does. But I'm also not a mule and can't carry stores of cans on
my back. Here's what I pack to save space and weight:
- Dried soup packets & pasta
- Pesto sauce (full on flavor but
tiny in weight compared to pasta sauce)
- Dried fruit (much lighter and
less bulky than fresh fruit)
- Trail mix filled with nuts,
raisins and chocolate (each handful is energy-packed and so tasty)
- Tea and hot chocolate
I always used zippered plastic bags rather
than hard plastic containers because they store better and they also pull
double duty as garbage containers. Read more backpacking tips:
Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert
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When I was backpacking in New Zealand, I met Dave while tramping around
the Pinnacles on the Cormandel
Peninsula. A high school
teacher, Dave was the typical New Zealander - extremely friendly and an outdoor
enthusiast. When he invited me to join his high school outdoor education class
for a crazy weekend of outdoor exploring, I couldn't resist.
We spent our first day canyoning, which is
a term used to describe traveling through a canyon by any means necessary,
which usually involves getting wet. At some points we even jumped through
waterfalls with our packs on. When the falls were too high, we rappelled down. Even
though I meticulously waterproofed my pack, I was sure I'd face a waterlogged
mess at the end of the day. But when we arrived at our first campout, I was
astounded to find everything dry.
Whether you're planning on scaling
waterfalls or plan to be outside for more than one day, waterproof packing is
paramount to your success.
- Pack liner - Heavy duty garbage bags will work, but you can also buy pack
liners, which are made of thick, durable plastic.
- Pack cover - Combine this with your pack liner and you may just find
nirvana when you're slipping into dry clothes after a wet day in the
kayak.
- Waterproof stuff sack - Remember, a dry sleeping bag is important. If you can't find
a stuff sack, heavy duty garbage bags will work here as well.
- Waterproof compression
sack - These little gems help with space
saving as well as keeping everything dry.
- Zippered plastic bags - Cheap, easy to find and a mainstay for travelers of all
kinds.
- Water proof matches - Keep them in a zippered bag just to be sure.
- Rope - Even though you've planned ahead, accidents happen.
Read more backpacking tips: Fitting Your
Backpack
Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert
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According to the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
coral disease outbreaks are hitting the healthiest sections of the Great Barrier Reef of the coast of Australia. And because these reefs huddle so
closely together, infection is spreading quickly.
The results, to be published next week in
PloS Biology Journal, track one of the longest and largest surveys of ocean
temperatures and coral diseases and is the first to conclusively link disease
severity with warmer ocean temperatures.
"We've long suspected climate change is
driving disease outbreaks," said lead study author John Bruno, Ph.D., assistant
professor of marine ecology and conservation in UNC's College of Arts
and Sciences. "Our results suggest that
warmer temperatures are increasing the severity of disease in the ocean,"
The Great Barrier Reef,
famous for its colorful coral, populates a complex limestone scaffolding built
from the calcium carbonate secretions of each tiny coral or polyp. While polyps
provide the structure, the vivid colors are the product of a single-celled
algae that live within the polyp's cells. When disease or stressful
environmental conditions strike a coral colony, the polyps expel their algae,
making the coral pale.
The Great Barrier Reef
is one of the Natural Wonders of our world, but it's dying - and that is a
tragedy. It makes me wonder if the next generation will have anything other
than polluted air take their breath away. 
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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If you've ever camped when the clouds rolled in you understand
waterlogged pain. And if you're like me - a perpetual note taker shadowed by
Pig Pen's little black storm cloud, here are some handy items to pack along with
your raingear.
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Waterproof
notebooks:
Both field books and spiral bound notepads come with waterproof pages. Even if
your tent floods or you're caught in a deluge, those precious notes won't get
washed away.
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Weatherproof paper:
Ideal for fieldwork or printing out topographical maps this durable paper can
be folded and unfolded as often as needed and can be written on when wet. Sound
too good to be true? Although you can write on it using standard ink - even
underwater - it won't take pencil.
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Waterproof
pens:
If you're going to use waterproof paper,
you might as well have a rainproof pen. Surprisingly affordable, these pens not
only write in wet conditions, they work at any angle and any temperature.
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Weatherwriter: If
you're only out for the day or feeling particularly lucky, bring standard paper
and use this shielded, waterproof clipboard.
Charmian Christie,
Outdoor Adventure Expert
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Quick, what's the most important gear a
hiker needs? While good fitting boots are priority number one, you backpack
comes in a close second. There's nothing worse than suffering through a trip
with a pack that makes everything feel ten times heavier and leaves you with an
aching back at the end of the day. And since good quality packs are an
investment, getting one that fits you will save on the chiropractic bills for a
long time.
In the store
Try, try, try it on. And use these tips to
help you find your perfect fit.
- Put something heavy in the pack and slip it on your shoulders. Most
of the weight should be absorbed by your hips. If not, either adjust the
straps or move onto the next pack.
- Ensure the waist belt sits just above or below the hipbone,
which will force your hips to earn their keep.
- Measure the space between your shoulders and the shoulder
straps. It should be no more than ½".
- Fit it like a glove. Your pack should move with you and be an
extension of your body, not a cumbersome load with an inertia all its own.
- Ditch anything uncomfortable. If it hurts in the store, it's
going to hurt on your hike.
Most fit problems can be solved by making
simple adjustments to the strap system. Play with the pack or ask an experienced
salesperson to help. A few tweaks might make you feel like you're wearing a completely
different pack.
I've experienced my unfair share of
backpacks, and it's no fun. For years I owned a 70L hiking pack and spent more
time complaining and adjusting than I did enjoying the trails. I assumed all
heavy packs led to bruised hip bones and sore shoulders - until I purchased a
new pack. Sure, my shoulders still ache at the end of a long hike, but not the
bone crushing ache I felt before.
When you find the right pack, your
shoulders and hips will thank you. Mine did.
Nomadik is your best resource for finding the right pack
for your back. Read more: Packing to Stay Dry
Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert
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He was 29, in relatively good shape and only steps away from
a fresh drink of water. Dave was in the Utah
desert, but he was not alone - and he shouldn't have died.
New information obtained under the Freedom of Information
Act revealed today puzzling details about the tragedy that occurred last
summer.
After only two days into a 28-day survival course Dave's skin
turned pale, his body cramped, and his speech began to slur - common signs of
dehydration. He even started to mistake trees for people.
He hadn't drunk any water for 10 hours in 100F (38C) heat. Oddly,
he died within a short walk from a pool of water surrounded by 11 other hikers
and several survival guides each carrying with them emergency supplies of water.
Venturing into the wilderness on long treks can build
character, stimulate survival instincts and push your body beyond usual limits.
But understanding the dangers of your adventure should be priority number one.
Should Dave have given up when he felt the first signs of dehydration set in?
After all, he did pay $3000 to take in the course. Should the guides have given
him water and informed everyone on the excursion that they have a free ticket
out of danger?
The report states he bulked up on cheese steaks before the
trek to combat the amount of weight he thought he'd lose in the wilderness.
Maybe he endangered himself. Regardless, while accountable for his pre-trek
training, signing a waiver doesn't relieve the company from the responsibility
of his death. I'd like to understand why
the guides, trained to recognize the signs of severe dehydration, refused him
water.
Survival exercises teach the basics of knowing how to gather
food, water and building a shelter and fire. Most of all they teach you to
survive. Cases like Dave's are rare, but they do happen and usually because
someone wasn't paying attention to common signs and symptoms. If you're not
sure what dehydration looks like or how to treat it, read our Outdoor Safety Pages.
James W. Coates,
National Park Expert
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When it comes to saving the environment, every little bit
counts, and an Ontario
business is making the world a better place one light bulb at a time. For the
past 12 years, Fluorescent Lamp Recyclers has been
recycling fluorescent bulbs with a 98% efficiency rate. Pretty impressive when
you consider they recycle approximately four million bulbs a year.
With Ontario
bringing in new legislation for higher efficiency lights, incandescent bulbs
will soon be a thing of the past. Since incandescent bulbs don't contain
mercury, but fluorescent bulbs do, will we be swapping electrical savings for
toxic waste? Not if we're smart about it.
According to Tom Maxwell, President of Fluorescent
Lamp Recyclers, their process ensures that:
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Glass gets recycled into fiber glass
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Aluminum is cleaned and sent to smelters for
recycling
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Mercury, which attaches to calcium phosphate
(the white powder inside the bulb) is recycled into new products, like the next
generation of fluorescent bulbs
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Calcium phosphate is used in plastics or
pigments
That's the good news. The bad news? In Ontario, "We're pretty much it," Maxwell
says. Quebec and British
Columbia each have a similar recycling facility, but Canada
has 10 provinces and three territories.
By my count we're several recycling facilities shy. Maybe
it's time to shed some light on the issue for Mr. Harper
- he's obviously in the dark when it comes to eco-friendly initiatives.
Charmian Christie,
Outdoor Adventure Expert
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Many parents believe educational TV and DVDs stimulate their baby's brains, but according to Dr. Frederick Zimmerman of the University of Washington, this high tech approach to
parenting is counterproductive. "Excessive viewing before age 3 has been shown
to be associated with problems of attention control,
aggressive behavior and poor cognitive development," he says.
According to a study published today in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine, a staggering 40% or three-month-olds and 90% of two-year-olds
watch TV or DVDs regularly.
Am I the only one who finds those stats frightening?
While more study is needed, researchers urge parents to take
a more hands-on approach. "High-quality social interaction with babies, inducing
reading and talking with them, provides all the stimulation that the growing
brain needs," Zimmerman says. "Children thrive on physical closeness."
Fortunately, it's easy to give children any age the
high-quality social interactions and physical closeness they need with a bit of
outdoor time.
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Take a hike in the woods with your little one
strapped on
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Explore your garden together
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Replace the TV with a bird feeder
For more ideas on getting children of any age outdoors, the National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour Program has plenty of age-appropriate suggestions.
Charmian Christie,
Outdoor Adventure Expert
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Oh, L.A.
- hot bodies, movie star glam and ...smog. So much smog that Los
Angeles has once again topped the American Lung Association's list
of the most polluted cities in America.
Based on data collected from 2003-2005, the association
confirmed that the greater Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside area has the worst
air quality in the country despite the Clean Air Act. Is it any wonder that the
sun only shines on TV? No one can actually see it outside.
The study based its data on ozone pollution levels that
occur as heat and sunlight merge with pollutants from vehicles, factories and
other sources. Exposure to such pollution can lead to heart disease, lung cancer and
asthma attacks. Such pollution has especially harmful effects on children,
seniors and people who work outdoors. And in this kind of environment, going for a jog in the park
could actually do you more harm than good.
Los Angeles
doesn't have the corner on all of the country's pollutants (winter movie season
excluded), the study also found that half the nation's population lives in
counties that have moderately unhealthy air pollution.
Bakersfield, CA, came in second on the list followed by
Birmingham, Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland,
Visalia,
Cincinnati, Indianapolis
and St. Louis.
Thankfully Washington D.C. and Texas
weren't included. Now at least George W. Bush can keep on
living in his bubble and continue to deny the whole environment
pollution nonsense.
James W. Coates,
National Park Expert
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I spent an hour or so in Mountain Equipment
Co-op yesterday looking for a summer weight sleeping bag. I already have the
MEC Raven, a hybrid (synthetic and down combo) mummy sleeping bag, which is rated
at 10oF (-12oC). It's good for winter, spring and fall,
but it's just too warm for summer nights.
I was looking for something light and
durable that wouldn't take up too much room in my pack and luckily there were a
few models in my price range. The warmer-weather sleeping bags ranged from
ratings of 40, 50, 60 oF (5, 10 and 15 oC). I knew that
the MEC Gosling for 40oF (5oC) would still be too warm
for my liking, and started to lean towards the MEC Caravan, 50oF (10oC).
I thought it would also be adequate from warmer spring and fall camping, which
meant I wouldn't be carrying my bulkier and heavier winter sleeping bag. Since
my main goal was to find something small and lightweight, I went with the MEC
Equatorial (15oC, 60oF). It was significantly lighter
than the MEC Caravan, it took up half of the space and I would still be able to
use it for four months of camping in North America every year as well as for any travel in hot
climates. For the other months, I could use my winter bag.
I also noticed the Western Mountaineering
Beothuk, which fell into the 40oF (5oC) category. I found
it impressive that it was the same size as the Equatorial model I chose and
much warmer. But it was four times the cost. This model was insulated with down,
rather than synthetic and actually fit in a 1L Nalgene bottle, if you can
imagine.
An alternative to buying a summer weight
sleeping bag is to purchase a sleeping bag liner. If you're planning on a trip
that involves camping or sleeping in hostels where the temperature remains hot
at night, a sleeping bag liner is perfect - it's extremely lightweight, low
volume and great for camping in hot climates, not to mention inexpensive. I
used one when traveling in Southeast Asia two
years ago, and it definitely did the trick.
Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert
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The old travel advice, "Bring half the clothes and twice the
money" can be extended to RV camping. Just substitute "stuff" for "clothes."
While you can rely on hotel shampoo when you're staying at a Best Western, you
don't have the luxury of forgetting essential items when your hotel is an RV. Knowing
that you are your own concierge can lead to packing paranoia and turn otherwise
sane people turn into road tripping packrats.
To stay within the safety zone of your RV load limits and have
room to breathe, knowing what not to bring can be as valuable as your tool kit
- your small, emergency-only tool kit, right? Remember, every 100 pounds of
cargo you tote eats up an extra percent or two of your fuel budget. Sure it's
cheaper to bring your own firewood than buy the overpriced logs at the camp,
but it's a false economy, especially with rising gas prices.
What to leave behind:
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Gourmet Gadgets:
Unless you're a full-timer, stick with a couple of pots, a frying pan, a good
knife and basic kettle. While hot waffles are a camping treat, leave the waffle
iron at home. It won't miss you since the bread maker, espresso machine and
food processor will be keeping it company.
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Cases of "in-case"
food: Don't bring enough tinned beans and jars of spaghetti sauce to feed
an army or outlast your trip. Unless you're boondocking in the backcountry, you
can buy groceries along the way. This will free up space and lighten the load.
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Trim the tools:
While a basic tool kit is necessary, you don't need an entire hardware store at
your fingertips. All tools should be appropriate for your RV (a slot
screwdriver won't tighten Philips hinges) and in good working condition.
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Weighty water:
A single gallon of water weighs more than eight pounds. If you do the math,
your 100-gallon tank can hold almost half a ton of water and even a modest 20
gallons will equate to transporting an extra person. To keep your fuel costs
down, carry only as much water as is necessary and rely on camp hookups for
fresh water. Be sure to dump your grey or black water often, especially if
you're going to be logging a lot of miles between sites.
Read our other great RV
Camping Posts
Charmian Christie,
Outdoor Adventure Expert
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Misleading, vague and downright shocking. This
past weekend, Gore made his 8th Canadian appearance in less than a
week - and thanks to Harper he was armed and ready to fight.
Thursday, conservative environment
minister, John Baird, released his plan to reduce emissions - or rather the
plan to make Exon Mobile happy. "In my opinion it's a complete and total fraud,"
Gore said Saturday. "It is designed to mislead the Canadian people."
Gore delivered his famous slide show at the
Hummingbird Theatre Saturday evening, and at one point frustration overtook and
he began to yell. And then he honestly and openly admitted there is no one perfect
solution to this problem. "We don't have a silver bullet, but have silver
buckshot - there are so many things we can do easily that we're not doing," he
said.
Although Baird issued a statement inviting
Gore to discuss climate change, he was clear Gore was out of bounds and
unwelcome. Liberal Leader, Stephen Dion sided with Gore though.
"Mr. Baird is embarrassing Canada around
the world, "Dion said. " The world expects Canada
will do its share - more than that, that Canada will be a leader and we are
failing the world. We are failing Canadians."
We couldn't agree more - chew on these
facts:
- The initiative seeks to reduce current
levels of greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020.
- The Kyoto Protocol requires greenhouse gas
emissions to be 5 % below 1990 levels by 1212.
- Canada is
currently 30% above 1990 levels.
Whew, it's getting hot in here. Read Part One - Listen Up: Al Gore Brings His Message to Toronto
Read Part Two - An Evening with Al Gore Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Harper has officially joined Bush in the Kyoto shuffle. You know,
the one where they hold hands and chant, ‘It's not our problem.' At the Green
Living Show in Toronto
yesterday, Al Gore called it the easy road and later that evening at the
Hummingbird Centre, he charged the conservatives with a sloppy environmental
agenda.
"Canada has contributed to more
peacekeeping missions than any other country in the world and has established
moral authority and ethical leadership - standing up for what's right," he said
last night. "And one thing that's clear is political will is a renewable
resource, and I hope Canadians will begin to be individually accountable."
Environment minister, John Baird issued a
statement in response to Gore's accusations. "The fact is our plan is vastly
tougher than any measures introduced by the administration of which the former
vice-president was a member."
I wonder if Baird's mother ever told him
that it's not a good idea to throw stones when you live in a glass house.....
In the U.S.,
where the Kyoto accord has not been ratified,
472 cities are meeting their Kyoto
obligations - maybe we should take the hint. Gore also shared an option recently
suggested to him - maybe we should just colonize another planet. His response:
"We couldn't even evacuate New Orleans."
Changing the way we all live our lives may feel
overwhelmingly impossible, but according to Gore the answers lie in history. In
this century alone, we've won two world wars, took down the Berlin Wall, waged
war on fascism, racism and genocide. We replaced the industrial revolution with
electronic innovation, declared war on cancer, AIDS and SARS - to name just a
few. And while we aren't winning all of those battles, we have proved working
together helps ease suffering and make the world better.
So, what's so different about reducing
carbon emissions? Canadians did it once before when we lead the charge to reduce
chemicals contributing to ozone depletion. I was proud to be a Canadian then,
but I felt shame last night.
We have a lot to do if we want to preserve
the environment for the next generation. And as Gore said last night, I'd
rather have them thank me and ask me how we found the fortitude to make such
massive changes instead of a desperate, ‘why didn't you do something?' Read Part One: Listen Up - Al Gore Brings His Message to Toronto
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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Hiking trails can be accessed from many
locations in and around the Lake Placid area (Lake Placid, Keene,
Keene Valley, etc). A lot of the trails can be
accessed right from the road, and two of the main trailheads include the
Adirondack Loj (Lake Placid) and The Garden (Keene Valley).
The beauty of this trail system is that it's free. Yes, free. The only cost is
parking, which is $10 per day.
If you plan to camp while on the trails of
the Adirondacks, be aware that you can only camp in designated spots. Most of the sites have lean-tos
(3 walled wooden shelters), which are extremely handy in wet or cold weather. These
structures can house up to 8 people, and there's always space for a couple of
tents at each campsite.
Even better, you don't have to book your campsites
in advance, or at all. I love this because sometimes you aren't able to cover
as much ground as you predicted or maybe you end up covering much more. The
lean-tos are on a first come first serve basis, but you are required to share
with another group if your lean-to isn't full. I always hope for the luxury of
the lean-to, but I also bring my tent just in case.
Read more of my Adirondack Adventures:
Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert
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If you followed our blog prior to Earth
Day, you know I'm pretty fanatical about saving this big beautiful world. In my
opinion, we're not doing enough - even if we're doing more than our neighbors -
and we all need to ramp up our dedication to slowing global warming.
- Steve Shriver and his team ran 260 miles in
ten days across Iowa
to promote the importance of organics and a sustainable lifestyle.
- Dennis Hayes, Mr. Earth Day himself, has
devoted his entire career to environmental issues.
Tonight I'm going to see another hero, Al
Gore former Vice President of the United States, environmental
activist and the passion behind An
Inconvenient Truth. He's in Toronto at the
Green Living Show, and he's giving his famous slide show presentation at the Hummingbird Center tonight to a private audience. The
theatre holds more than 3000 people, so it's unlikely I'll get up close and
personal with him, but what a thrill to see the show in person.
If you haven't seen An Inconvenient Truth yet, get yourself to a video store - today His passionate and inspirational crusade to
stop global warming's deadly progression will challenge you to rethink the way
you live your life. He calls the situation our planetary emergency and a
similar to walk through the book of Revelations. This ain't no dress rehearsal.
Read Part Two: An Evening With Al Gore
Julia Rosien,
Nomadik Editor
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