"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."Marie Curie
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Feeding Cattle
A cow can eat 25 to 30 pounds of hay a day and waste a couple of more pounds. This adds up to 27 to 32 pounds per day per cow. Allow about half this amount for weanling calves and about three-quarters for yearlings.Large round bales often do not weigh as ...
Five Life Skills for BackCountry Enjoyment
As outdoor enthusiasts spend more and more time in our backcountry, a handful of skills become more and more essential. All of these skills are easy to learn and add considerably to the overall enjoyment of spending time out-of-doors. The key word here ...
How To Get Your Kids Along On Your Next Hike
How to get your kids along on your next hike is really a challenging question to answer. No matter, whether you are an experienced hiker or just a beginner, perhaps this is the biggest dilemma a parent can face in their lifetime. Most of us think that it ...
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Time out of doors is a precious commodity to the outdoor enthusiast - but are we getting the most out of this time. One way to ensure maximum backcountry enjoyment is to get the most possible value from the gear you acquire and use. Here are 5 ways to get the most out of your backcountry gear - and your backcountry experience.
- Purchase the best gear you can possibly afford. If you are going to spend a year planning your next excursion on the continental divide, spend three months getting into great shape, take three weeks vacation when it’s time for the hike, purchase an airline ticket, and so on - then why are you using the cheapest backpack you can find? A good backpack will make all the difference in the world. This applies to all of your backcountry gear. Whether its your GPS unit, sleeping bag, rain gear or dual-fuel portable stove, be sure to carry good equipment in order to get the most value for your money. Don’t buy cheap!
- Learn how to use all of your gear correctly and practice using it. When you are completely lost, it’s not the time to learn how to navigate with a compass and map. When you and your firewood are wet, it’s not the time to learn how to start a fire with the flare you’ve been carrying for 5 years in your pack. Take time to learn all of the features of your gear. You might be surprised to learn just how useful your GPS really is when you understand how to use the backtrack feature. You’ll be mighty thankful when you learn the proper weight distribution for your backpack. Take time to learn - practice around your home before you venture into the backcountry.
- Keep your gear with you and use it as much as possible. Your backcountry gear isn’t just for the backcountry. It has unlimited uses in everyday life. Never go on a
road trip without your pack. You’ll almost always find an opportunity to use your binoculars or GPS unit. If you don’t have your gear with you, you’ll need it - never fails.
- Take great care of your gear. Hopefully you’ve learned this from your parents and not necessarily from experience. Your gear will only take good care of you if you take good care of it. Conversely, your gear will let you down if you don’t take good care of it. That’s a bad situation to be in. Inspect everything before you embark on your adventure. Clean and properly store all of your gear upon your return. Have you check your gear’s straps, fuel, waterproofing, batteries and overall condition lately? Taking good care of your gear is an important part of enjoying your backcountry trip.
- When you’re done with it, donate it - and some of your time - to a local scout troop. They are always looking for assistance from outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll feel great getting this last piece of benefit out of your old trusty gear!
Optimize your time in the backcountry. The easiest way ensure maximum outdoor enjoyment is to get the most possible value from your gear. Let these 5 ways guide you in getting the most out of your backcountry gear - and your backcountry experience. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time.
Get Outdoors!
Chuck Fitzgerald is the President of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information for outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call (800) 316-9055.
chuck@backcountrytoys.com
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6 Places to Skateboard Outdoors in ConnecticutYahoo! SportsThere are a number of outdoor skateparks scattered across the state. Here's a brief look at a six of them: The Calf Pasture Skatepark is located on Calf Pasture Beach Road in Norwalk. It is an outdoor skatepark that features a manual pad, pyramid, ...and more » |
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Marin outdoor calendar for the week of Feb. 6, 2012Marin Independent-JournalPOINT REYES OUTDOORS — 663-8192; www.pointreyesoutdoors.com. Feb. 11: White Gulch tule elk kayaking tour. 10 am to 2 pm $85. Weekends: Full day and morning wildlife kayaking tours. Call for reservations. Private tours are also available anytime.and more » |
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