Alaskan Survival Kits
By Amy Carpenter

Even experienced backpackers and climbers need to know what to bring when hiking or camping in Alaska. Though the place is not scary or very dangerous however, when you decide to experience the wild in Alaska you should be prepared for anything. It is better to be ready anytime, all the time for anything. The tough terrains of Alaska can give you a good challenge, the temperature can be really freezing and an unexpected avalanche could happen. Therefore, it is very much recommended to prepare and take the necessary precautions on your trip to Alaska. Alaskan survival kits are one of the things to bring.

Utah Canyoneering
By Holly Matheson

Utah is one truly amazing place. The weather and geology fuse to generate a phenomenal landscape replete with sweeping rock, desolate deserts, and extraordinary canyons. Such environments have spurred a new kind of exploration sport in Utah called canyoneering. The sport can range anywhere from leisurely strolls through smooth terrain or more technical and physically challenging explorations which require ropes, wetsuits, helmets, and other extreme equipment.

You have a variety of options when it comes to choosing the particular canyon and area you want to do canyoneering in; easy to difficult, short or long, close to civilization or remote, or a popular place versus a more obscure one.

Survival Skill: How to Find Potable Water
By JJ Murphy

When the weather is nice, a day hike can turn into hours of meandering along trails. It's easy to run out of water. I've even forgotten to repack my water bottle after taking a break. Streams and ponds may be everywhere, but don't be tempted. You have no idea if that water is safe to drink.

Potable water is available if you know what to look for.

Water follows shelter in the sacred order of wilderness survival.

Summer 2007 Vacation Adventures – Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
By Donald Pyle

Hopefully you have taken a spring vacation with the family. If not, there is still time before the crowds and the heat limit privacy and comfort. But it’s not too early to be thinking about a special summer vacation in the Colorado Rockies. But where?

Wilderness Camps Let Campers Really Rough It
By J. Lloyd

If your idea of a great vacation is being pampered, wilderness camping is not for you. Since these camps generally offer a variety of high excitement activities with not much in the way of modern conveniences pampering is not an option. However, during a week or two at a wilderness camp, children can learn important lessons such as survival skills, first aid and wilderness safety. As a plus, kids will also be forced away from the television and video games for a spell so they can connect with nature.

One of the first and most obvious aspects of wilderness camping is, of course, the wilderness. These campers do not visit already set up camps with cabins, kitchens and bathroom facilities. Along with leaders experienced in wilderness survival, they set out to make their own adventure and their own camps.

Using A GPS Safely In A Remote Area
By Lis Sowerbutts

Using a portable GPS unit to find your way around traffic jams is one thing: but using a GPS in remote areas requires a different mindset. Taking a handheld GPS into remote areas there is one key thing to remember: DO NOT RELY ENTIRELY ON A GPS FOR YOUR LOCATION. Although even the cheap versions of portable GPS units are reliable these days: there are some key things to do to keep safe in remote areas:

Wilderness Survival - Getting Water to Drink
By Gabriel J. Adams

More important than food and perhaps even more important than fire, water is necessary for survival. Maybe it is obvious, but our bodies are comprised of a lot of it.

You can harvest water in a variety of ways. Unless you live in Michigan (the Great Lakes State) or Minnesota (Land of 10,000 Lakes) or such locales where ponds and lakes are prevalent, free-flowing water may not always be readily available. Standing water can be a bit sketchy, so if you don't have a kit to test or a way to purify, you need to seek it elsewhere.

Adventure Travel Wilderness and Hiking Trails Fees Rise
By Bob Therrien

The good news for adventure travel and wilderness hiking trails is that the USA has protected some of the most unique and incredible places to see on earth. Our National, State Parks, Monuments and Wilderness Areas are awesome, but for years there have been reduced number of visitors. Many citizens have said that a four-year program to increase national parks entrance fees to make them more uniform may discourage some Americans from visiting their national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion and Yellowstone.

Basic Survival Kit - Make Your Own
By Ilse Hagen

Survival kits are an essential part of your outdoor gear, whether you’re going sailing, hiking, or camping. You have to be prepared for emergencies such as storms, injuries, getting stranded, or losing your way. You can buy pre-packed survival kits from the shop, or you can put one together yourself. If you choose the latter, you have to keep in mind how much provision you will need, the type of environment you will be in, and how you can call for help when necessary. Here are some of the things to consider when you make your own survival kit.

What is a GPS unit?
GPS stands for Global Position System. A GPS unit is an electronic navigational device that indicates the user’s longitude and latitude. It can be used to get from one point to another point, to measure distance traveled, speed, and other related parameters. It works by broadcasting a signal to satellites, and interpreting the response data to triangulate a location. GPS units range from $100 to $1000, and are used for a variety of purposes both recreational and official.

Fun activities with a GPS unit:
• Geocaching: Geocaching is like a treasure hunt, with a very accurate map. Individuals and organizations set up “caches” of rewards all over the world, ranging from toy army soldiers to bragging rights. The cache creator then reveals the latitude and longitude of these caches online, and provides additional clues if necessary. The general rule of thumb is, “If you take an item, leave an item, and write in the logbook.”
• Benchmark Hunting: Similar to geocaching, but benchmark hunters seek National Geodetic Survey markers, used by the NGS to enable land surveying, civil engineering and mapping activities. These markers are generally metal disks. Benchmark hunters who locate a benchmark report their find online and often share pictures of the moment of discovery.
• Trail running: Wrist-bound GPS units not only measure distance travel, but are also able to monitor heart rate, speed, pace and calories burned. Many of these devices also log lap times, so you can gauge performance over time.
• Boating and Fishing: GPS units are great for nautical adventurers, as they help with following fish patterns, marking casting points, favorite fishing spots, etc.

Garmin E- Trex GPS Price: 104.50 FREE SHIPPING - The Garmin E- Trex is Truly a small wonder, the E-Trex takes the best features of a 12 parallel channel GPS receiver and put them into a six ounce package that is only four inches high and two inches wide. The result is a unit that will literally fit in the palm of your hand. Besides its small size, mariners and outdoorsmen will likely notice the sleek design of the eTrex. All buttons are located on either side of the unit, allowing for simple, one-handed operation that won't obstruct your view of the display. In fact, the eTrex features only five operator buttons for the ultimate in user-friendly design. The eTrex will store up to 500 user waypoints with graphic icons and boasts Garmin's exclusive TracBack feature that will reverse your track log and help you navigate your way back home. Other Features: Antenna: Internal Mapping: No Waypoints: 500 Waterproof: Yes Digital Compass: No Dimensions: 4.4x 2 x 1.2in Power: 2AA Battery Life: 22 hrs Weight: 5.4oz Warranty: 1 Year Use: Backcountry

Garmin Geko 101 GPS Price: 112.95 FREE SHIPPING - The Garmin Geko's are the smallest and lightest waterproof GPS units on the market—inexpensive, with sleek designs and simple operating systems. With its sun-yellow case, the economical Geko 101 is perfect for navigational novices. Features such as one-touch waypoint marking make it a snap to use. Easily maneuver from one waypoint to the next using its 250-waypoint storage capacity with symbols, and pan along your track with PanTrack. Pantrack as automatic track storage: 3,000 trackpoints. Other Features: Antenna: Internal Mapping: No Waypoints: 250 Waterproof: Yes Digital Compass: No Dimensions: 1.9x 3.9 x 96 Power: 2AAA Battery Life: 12 hrs Weight: 3.1oz Warranty: 1 Year Use: Backcountry

Garmin E- Trex Legend GPS Price: 181.50 FREE SHIPPING - The eTrex Legend is Garmin's exciting, new, pocket-sized handheld that brings color, automatic routing, longer battery life, plus more to the popular-selling eTrex Legend. You won’t miss a thing when you take this colorful, lightweight, easy-to-use handheld out hiking, biking, boating or even geocaching. The eTrex Legend Garmin's smallest, least expensive products to combine GPS routing capabilities in a waterproof design. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the latest improvements made to the eTrex Legend. Other Features: Antenna: Internal Mapping: Yes Waypoints: 500 Waterproof: Yes, to 1 meter Digital Compass: Yes Dimensions: 4.4x 2 x 1.2in Power: 2AA Battery Life: 22 hrs Weight: 5.4oz Warranty: 1 Year Use: Backcountry

Garmin E- Trex Cigarette Lighter Adapter Price: 39.95 The Garmin E-Trex Cigarette Lighter Adapter will keep your GPS unit charged no matter where you are off roading or car camping. Compatible with all Garmin's E- Trex units.

How To Deal With Bears When Camping In Alaska
By Joshua Poyoh

When camping in Alaska, be warn that there are lots of bear roaming around. When I was rafting the Anasek and Noatak rivers, I saw at least a grizzly dozen bears. One bear even harassed me down a river bank our first day in the bush. Fortunately, none of us was eaten or injured. They were actually after our food. Therefore it is important to camp in the Alaskan wilderness and be safe from the bears. A little bit of care and preparation is needed.

What is backcountry skiing?
Imagine pointing your skis down the face of mountain covered with pure, untouched virgin snow. It is that very feeling that draws experienced skiiers into the sparsely populated backcountry. In backcountry skiing, snow packs aren't groomed by anyone other than Mother Nature, and the land is untouched by human hands. There are no runs, no trails, no ski patrol, no lift. Simply the backcountry skiier and the mountain. Backcountry skiing is an extreme winter sport, and it can be dangerous. There is the risk of avalanche, communication may be limited in extremely remote areas, and skiiers may experience some level of exhaustion from the climb. The reward, however, is skiing where no one has gone before, and the sheer beauty of the outdoors.

Navigation Tips
By George Spearing

Hiking, and in particular hiking in remote areas, is a great experience if approached with due regard for fitness, safety and skill.

Finally Traveling to the Yukon! Now What?
By Paul Chatten

For many people a trip to the Yukon is a once in a lifetime experience. People think of the midnight sunsets, endless wildlife and pristine wilderness and little about planning for the journey. As any vacation can either be enhanced or stifled by the amount of planning that one does up-front, when traveling to Canada’s north it becomes even more important. Goods & services that are readily available in your hometown may not always be available in Haines Junction, Watson Lake or Dawson City. Or, if they are available they may be in limited supply or booked solid for the summer. The planning you do before your trip will go a long way in ensuring your Yukon adventure will be all that it should be.

Hiking In The Smokies-Top Five Trails
By Keith Valentine

What can you expect to find in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Let's start with a few examples of what to see when you are hiking along some of the trails in the Smokies.

New Zealand RV Rentals
By Elizabeth Morgan

RVs have become a popular indulgence in America and across the world. Many people have come to realize the ease and convenience they provide. It eliminates the need for reservation of hotels and resorts, time- defined travel, inconvenience and expensive hotel bills. RVs enable freedom and leisure while traveling across vast landscapes. A travel route can be pre-planned and with the RV there is no restriction on when it commences or ends.

New Zealand lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises of two large islands, the North Island and South Island and many other smaller islands. New Zealand is a popular travel destination, for leisure and business travelers alike. It is noted for its geographic isolation. The closest large land mass is Australia, approximately 2000 kilometers away. This is one of the many factors that add to the beauty of New Zealand. It is abundant with beautiful landscapes and pristine sceneries, best viewed from an RV. RV rental companies are available all over New Zealand. The RVs rented out are easy to drive with luxurious interiors and efficient storage. New Zealand RV rental companies lease out RVs for short and long-term vacations.

There are many companies that offer RV rentals and a popular one is Maui Motor home. KEA Camper provides premier campervans. The standard rates for renting out RVs usually includes limitless usage and insurance cover. The minimum rental duration is for a week and the rentals are calculated on a per day basis. These RV rental companies treat the day that the RV is returned as a full day, irrespective of what time it is returned.

Geocaching - A Beginners Guide
By Heather Bayer

Geocaching crazy – join the hunt!

I’m a self-confessed technophobe. I have never sent a text message or taken a photo with a cell phone; played a video game or watched a movie on a personal DVD player. In fact, I never quite mastered working the video machine so I could be a lost cause altogether. But not quite...not since I discovered geocaching – the latest outdoor craze to hit treasure hunting enthusiasts across the world. Because, to be successful at geocaching you need to be familiar with a global positioning unit or gps for short…and I am pleased to say, I not only have said unit, but I can use it!

Stocking Stuffers for Paddlers
By John Pugh

Have a paddler on your Christmas list but don't know what to put in their stocking? Here's a list of things that will delight anyone who likes to canoe or kayak. All are under $25, so it won't break Santa's wallet!

Denali National Park in Alaska - 2006 Travel
By Ryan T.

The best sightseeing I have ever experienced was this year during a recent trip to Denali National Park in Alaska. I could not have hoped for better weather, wildlife viewing opportunities or friends to share it all with. Our accommodations at the Denali Princess Lodge were fantastic as well.

Bull of the Woods Wilderness Trip Report
By Alex Head

A few weeks ago I went hiking twice in Bull of the Woods Wilderness south of Mt. Hood in Oregon. The first hike was on a Sunday. I woke up late, but the sun was shining so I decided to look through my trail guides to see if I could find something. When I'm looking for half-day hikes I usually try to find a trail 5 to 10 miles long, far enough away from it all so there won't be many people out but within a two hour drive from where I live. Bull of the Woods Wilderness looked like just the trail for me. I hike fast so I figured I'd be fine starting the 7.5 mile trail before 3 PM.

Navigation Tips
By George Spearing

Hiking, and in particular hiking in remote areas, is a great experience if approached with due regard for fitness, safety and skill.
One of the major skill categories, is the ability to navigate with or without compass and map. Ideally, no one should head off the beaten track without map or compass, but what if you find yourself in that situation, or you lose or damage your compass?
Here are a few basic skills that could one day be of use to you.

Snake Bites Kill 125,000 Annually World Wide
By Lance Winslow

If you see a snake and you are unaware of what type it is, then you might consider simply avoiding it. Snakes generally do not want anything do with larger animals and for the most part will simply go away if you do not harass them or challenge them. Providing there is a direct escape route for cover. Why should you avoid snakes if you know nothing about them and do not know what type of snake you are dealing with? Well simple really; did you know that snake bites kill some 125,000 people per year.

Wilderness Survival Tips
By Janette Butt

Survival Tips
Pine sap, which is easily gathered from tree wounds, makes a wilderness glue and sealant that is hard to beat. To give it some body, heat and mix with a little powdered black charcoal from your campfire. (Then ball it to the end of a stick, let it cool, and it will be easily transportable and ready to melt off as you need it.

Wild Plants Backpackers Should Know
By Steven Gillman

Why learn about wild plants just to go backpacking? Of course it is interesting for some of us, but beyond that, a little knowledge of plants can save your life. This isn't just about the edible ones. Food is actually a low priority in most wilderness emergencies. However, there are many other important uses for the plants out there.

The Ten Most Essential Survival Items You Should Never Leave Camp Without
By Mike Tetreault

There are ten items that are almost essential for survival for more than a few hours. Even if you’re only taking a short walk from base camp, you should bring these items along with you. None of these can be improvised from materials you may find on the forest floor, which is what makes them essential.

Mountain Lions - The Beauty, The Danger
By Elizabeth Smith

Every year mountain lions are spotted in many great outdoors locations throughout the country. Although it is not uncommon to have a mountain lion sighting in the country, it is somewhat alarming when they are spotted in highly trafficked areas, putting people and domestic animals at risk of being attacked.

Advantages of Lightweight Backpacking
By Michael Russell

Backpackers who pack light can travel further and faster. Lightweight backpacking allows one to wear running shoes and a fifteen-pound backpack instead of heavy hiking boots and packs in excess of 45 pounds. This allows the backpacker not only to travel further in shorter period of time, but provides an increased level of comfort and safety, which equates to more fun.

Lessons in Lightning ~ Staying Safe During Storms
By Elizabeth Smith

Many areas across the United States experience lightning storms throughout the year. And although it is not high on the list of causes of death, it is still a danger to people and animals when one is not prepared and protected when caught outdoors during an electrical storm.

Watch Your Step - Rattlesnake Safety Tips for Outdoor Adventurers
By Elizabeth Smith

Spending summer months in the great outdoors often means dealing with rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes roam across several states, from coastal to mountain ranges. Many western states are afflicted by this poisonous creature include California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. In California alone, 800 residents are bitten each year and about two end up dying from their bites. The species that are most common to the Western US include the Northern Pacific Rattler, Western Diamond Back, Sidewinder, Speckled Rattlesnake, Red Diamond Rattler, Southern Pacific, Great Basin and Mohave Rattlesnake.

Survival Tips For Backpackers
By Steven Gillman

Why survival tips for backpackers? Certainly backpacking may never become a matter of wilderness survival for you, especially if you are careful in your planning. Still, getting lost or twisting an ankle far from any road is always a possibility. In any case, learning a few new things from time to time is a great way to make your trips safer and more interesting. With that in mind, here are a few random survival tricks and skills based on my own experience.

Top Tips for Successful BackCountry Navigation
By Chuck Fitzgerald

As an outdoor enthusiast you will at some point make a decision to learn how to navigate in the backcountry. Whether you use a map, compass, GPS receiver or all three, there are several things you should know about successful navigation. Your safety and the safety of your companions depend upon it.

Stay Healthy During Your Trip - How? Part-2
By Ashley Green

Sometimes a simple thing such as taking time off before your planned vacation to chalk out the possible health hazards and remedies could save you a lot of trouble. Here are a few more risks you must add to your check list...

Fungal infection-

Fungal infections occur more commonly in hot weather and are usually found on the scalp, between the toes or fingers, in the groin and on the body(ringworm). You get ringworm from infected animals or by walking on damp areas such as shower floors. To prevent fungal infections wear loose, comfortable clothes, avoid artificial fibres, wash frequently and dry carefully.

The Ultimate Skiing Experience
By Lockie Brown

For downhill skiers, “powder snow” provides the ultimate skiing experience. For most skiers however, good powder skiing is a short-lived and infrequent event. Ski areas in some geographic areas enjoy fairly frequent “powder days” but in most areas, powder days are rare and the dryness and depth of snow is often marginal.

Backcountry Safety - An Essential 10-Point Checklist
By Karen Cohen

The call of the wild can be seductive. The exquisite beauty of the wilderness, the incomparable solitude, the simplicity of life on the trail, and the rush of living a bit on the edge attract thousands of eager backcountry enthusiasts. Sometimes enthusiasm gets in the way of wisdom and adequate preparation. Hikers, campers and other nature lovers can find themselves lost, unprepared or badly hurt. Colorado’s Mountain Rescue Association reports its teams respond to more than 1,000 search and rescues per year. Victims often suffer from frostbite, dehydration, shock or severe trauma. Not all emergencies can be prevented, but many can. Poor preparation, poor judgment and hubris can be a dangerous combination that can lead