More forests and wilderness exploration

Here are some snapshots of my recent forest exploration.

Cutting Edge of Outdoor Life

Every good boy scout knows about having a decent penknife in his pocket.

Today, multi-tools available to outdoor types have come a long way since Robert Baden Powell first persuaded young lads to experience life under canvas 100 years ago.

Leatherman and Wenger are experts in the design and manufacture of what is still also known as the Swiss Army Knife, with a comprehensive range of multi-purpose blades, pliers, files, saws and screwdrivers in a compact, all-in-one piece of kit that weighs far less than an old-fashioned penknife so beloved by schoolboys years ago.

Trusted By Adventurers All Over the World
Leatherman’s best-selling Wave and Skeletool CX are amongst those trusted by adventurers and explorers all over the world, weighing next to nothing and taking up minimal room in your rucksack…yet with enough attachments to see you through the toughest tasks on the hill and mountain.

Wenger’s EvoWood and EvoGrip are equally well-known; fitting for a company that was original supplier to the Swiss national army that gave this extraordinary piece of kit its name in the late 1800s.

Every Swiss soldier was equipped with a regulation single-blade folding knife, until 1889 when a new rifle was introduced. To disassemble the rifle, a screwdriver was needed, and a decision was made to create a multi-purpose tool incorporating a knife, screwdriver, reamer and can-opener - and the Swiss Army Knife was born.



Cutting Edge of Design and Development
Leatherman have been in the multi-tool market for a much shorter period of time….but in nearly 30 years they have been at the cutting edge of design and development since bringing out their original Pocket Survival Tool in the early 1980s.

Their 1986 Mini-Tool was the most compact multi-tool in the world, with a unique folding system which allowed the handle to fold down so small it was hardly noticeable in your pocket, and its miniature successor, the aptly-named Squirt series, measured just two-and-a-quarter inches long…yet still managed to pack in a range of knives, screwdrivers, pliers and wire strippers.

Today, both these iconic brands are revered by camping types and outdoor enthusiasts across the globe - who delight in the combinations of gadgets on offer, which today can include anything from toothpicks to tweezers, corkscrews to can openers, spring-loaded scissors to sheep's foot serrated knives.

• Gerber, also long known for its expertise in the outdoor world, has teamed up with survival expert Bear Grylls to produce a range of vital survival equipment for climbers, cavers and camping aficionados, including the Gerber Bear Grylls Compact Multi-tool, Basic Survival Kit and Firestarter.

The popular TV adventurer and former SAS sabre soldier knows what it takes to be a survivor in extreme situations, and has not just given his name to the collection - each item in the series has been meticulously researched and designed by the man himself in association with Gerber.


Copy writer Nicki Williams works for Gear-Zone, leading on-line, outdoor specialists stocking all the major camping, climbing and clothing brands including Leatherman, Wenger, The North Face, Rab and Berghaus
Click here for details
Picture source: Compfight

The Great Outdoors and How to Survive it

tent  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Camping shouldn’t mean you have to be a bearded, half-crazed survivalist, but with the British weather as it is at the moment, you could end up wishing you’d listened to all those tips for life in the great outdoors.  Camping offers the original budget break, but with the poor conditions to contend with this year, it could offer the original breakdown as well.  Here are a few tips on the wet survival and sanity front.
Tent essentials

Tents should be checked thoroughly for waterproofing before you go.  The outer skin and groundsheet are the most important bits to check – invest in an extra groundsheet to add extra damp-proofing.  Consider an additional tarpaulin that can be slung over the tent to add extra protection from all that rain, and use an inflatable mattress to keep you even further from the damp ground.

Cooking and Heating
Choose a tent that has an adequate porch/entry area that’s sheltered and protected in which you can cook safely.  Staying dry and warm inside is great, but not so great if you have to cook in a force ten gale accompanied by torrential rain.  The entrance should have adequate space to manoeuvre and cook safely, without getting wet but still with adequate ventilation.  Do not, under any circumstances, be tempted to use the stove as additional heating overnight.

Drying Room
Create wet and dry storage areas.  Where possible get wet clothes dried in a laundry room on the camp site and ensure that your wet and dry areas are kept strictly separate.  If you have to dry clothes in the tent you’ll need ventilation; condensation in the tent will as cause as much dampness as letting all that lovely, fresh, healthy rain in.

Light layered clothing
In terms of clothes you’ll have to accept that you’re going to get wet while out and about this year.  Try to have warm, dry clothes for evenings in the tent and light weight easy dry clothing for hiking, sailing and general gambolling around in the fields.  Less is more in rainy weather, and if you’re staying active you’ll not feel the cold too badly, but have additional layers to hand to protect against wind chill.
Packing precautions

If you are camping and hiking don’t over-pack your rucksack when setting off.  If you have to carry damp kit, which is unavoidable sometimes, it’s not only heavier but will also take up more space.  If you’re camping with the car and want to move around take plenty of towels to dry off the wet tent before striking camp.  This will help to dry it more quickly and allow you to get moving, towels will ring out (which a tent won’t) and they can be relatively easily dried off.


For wet weather camping (a.k.a. camping in the UK) tents should be good quality and lightweight.  Wet and dry areas in the tent helps to ensure you’ve a warm dry change of clothes for those evenings ‘in’ and outdoor clothing which should be light and easy to dry.

Catching Bigfoot: A Beginners Guide

Big Foot!

The mythical beast Sasquatch has evaded capture for decades and currently stands supreme champion of a long standing game of hide and seek, having out-hid Saddam Hussein and Raul Moat with some ease.
All evidence points to the fact that Sasquatch or Bigfoot as he is also known is similar in biological form to a human. Thus, it can be said that any attempt to capture this beast could be accomplished with ideas and apparatus that you would also use if you were searching for a person.
So, what would you need in your Bigfoot hunting kit?

Camouflage

Sasquatches are elusive creatures, for the best chance of finding one in its natural habitat you are going to have to become one with nature. Buy some good quality outdoor gear, as you may be out in the wild for some considerable time. Rub some mud from the local area onto any exposed skin and you’re ready to go. If you are unsure if the effect of this has been successful, try concealing yourself in your neighbour’s front garden for a day. If you are unnoticed, the first stage of training is complete.

Cameras and recording equipment

Now for one of the most integral parts of any hunter’s kit - the infrared wildlife camera: This technology was completely out of reach for anything less than the most well funded of Bigfoot hunters but it is now available at an affordable price.
Recording devices that can be activated by sound are also a great idea as you can buy enough to set up a perimeter. There’s even a myth that the Sasquatches residing in the northern Canadian Rockies are partial to the song Orinoco Flow, should you choose to try and lure them near your camera...

Helicopter

If you have an army of accountants funding your quest, you could go all out and get a helicopter to your quest. Using a helicopter, you are able to cover vast distances and access areas that would not be accessible via any other method.

Peanut butter sandwiches

Well, you are going to get hungry if you are in the wilderness for a sustained period of time.
 You may want to think about attending a survival course if you are really in it for the long haul.

Tranquiliser gun

When you finally confront the beast that you have been searching for, you will have to think about your next step. You are most likely wanting to show your capture to the rest of the world, but the rest of the world isn’t  going to travel out to the middle of nowhere...you need to take bigfoot somewhere for all to see!
Of course, even with all this equipment to hand, you will still have to fend for yourself when it comes to actually capturing the beast, a feat that has never been completed before. Why not enlist the help of someone from a safari park or even a military background to help you have your wits about you?
In any case, do let me know how you got on your hunt...I wish you success.

Image: Steven Perez

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Estelle Page is a thirty something interior designer, loving life with her husband and two kids! She loves the outdoors and is currently enrolled on a number of photography courses. She also writes and blogs for flyonthewall.uk.com

Protecting Your Family And Home In 5 Simple Steps

So you've just bought a new house? Should this be the time to rejoice and relax? I'm afraid it isn't. Buying a home for you and your family is only half of the battle. Now you must protect it from criminals who may be eyeing your possessions. But how do you protect your family and home from these people? Can you pull it off without wrecking your savings account or wallet? Fortunately, the answer is Yes. And I am about to show you how to do it in five simple steps.

Assess Your House and Corresponding Needs

Step one is to know your house inside out. Check how many doors and windows you have that could be used as an entry point by criminals. Doors located in the basement, garage and balcony should also be considered. Know which areas of the house should be put as the highest priority. Find out which floors or walls have weak points that could be easily smashed open and used to access by criminals. Also, assess how much money you can shell out for home security as you will be needing money to pay for good door locks, alarm systems, etc.

Install a Home Security System

A home security system is the simplest yet most effective measure you can implement when working on your home's security. A home security is both a product and service due to the fact that the device is linked to a home security company that monitors signals made by the device during detection of a threat. Through this system, you get immediate help from the police when a suspected break-in occurs. Aside from alarms, fire and gas detection devices can also be installed if possible. This will safeguard you against fires, floods and gas leaks that could be as dangerous as theft.

Have a Plan

Always have a plan. At our house, I taught my family where to go during a fire, what measures should be carried out and so on. These safety drills have somewhat become our precious bonding time. By having a plan, you improve the security of your home plus survival of your family during the most dangerous of circumstances. Know your way out or what tools to fight with if necessary.
Improve Privacy

By closing the drapes at all times, you not only get privacy but also a way to deter criminals from knowing if you are inside the house, where your valued items are, and how to get inside the house. Criminals won't be stupid enough to break into a house if they don't know what is going on inside.

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This article is brought to you by HappyHealth.Net

How To Survive A Nuclear Holocaust

From: BestHealthDegrees.com

A funny info graphic about surviving a nuclear holocaust

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