Chasing The Wind

Encounter With The Moose!

In the rugged Bitterroot mountains of northwestern Montana, wood’s wisdom, shared by locals, advises hikers to be more afraid of a moose than a bear. Moose are volatile, unpredictable and aggressive when challenged or protecting a newborn calf. This sound advice rang true when I encountered a “mean momma” moose as I forded the creek in Oregon Gulch, on a blustery day late last spring.

Outfitted with a day-pack, sturdy hiking boots, winter clothing, camera and rain gear, I was ready to brave the elements. My destination, the Oregon Lake trailhead, was a gentle three-mile hike. The first half-mile of the climb was sublime; the towering cedar trees wrapped in shrouds of silver mist. I savored the high mountain air, pungent with the scents of cedar, fir and balsam.

As I started to cross the stream, my attention focused on my feet. I attempted to find firm footing on the slippery, moss covered boulders. I had a solid grip on my walking stick and the hood of my slicker pulled tightly around my face to break the bite of the wind. I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings.

Suddenly a piercing bellow, followed by several loud and aggressive snorts shattered the tranquility. Startled, I looked up and found myself face-to-face with a very large and very angry cow moose. Less than 10 feet away from where I stood, the cow moose had been feeding on the opposite bank of the stream. I interrupted her browsing. The moose was mad.

Violently thrashing her head, the disturbed moose flung long ropes of saliva from her flared nostrils. Petrified, I stood perfectly still, too frightened to attempt a retreat. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact while the moose sorted out her options. A plaintive bleating, diverted the mother moose’s attention. Her calf was calling. With a final angry glare over her shoulder, the cow bolted up the hillside to protect her baby. I made a hasty exit in the opposite direction. I guess I scared the cow as much as she scared me. 

My encounter with the moose could have had a very unhappy ending. Always remember to make plenty of noise when walking in the forests. A startled animal can be a dangerous animal.

 

Wolf Attacks Dog

By PERRY BACKUS Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, MT

Don Burgess loves a good outdoor adventure story. The former hunting editor of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Bugle magazine never imagined one of his best would happen right in his backyard. It’s been about a week and a half now since Burgess was awakened from a deep sleep at about 5 a.m. to the sound of an obvious struggle right outside his bedroom.

Burgess lives about 100 feet from One Horse Creek, just about one mile west of the only stoplight in Florence. “It was a pretty loud vocalization just outside the house,” he remembered. “It was a real alarming kind of sound. It was like someone was hollering with a gag in their mouth. I thought, ‘Gee, that dog is in trouble.’ ” He jumped out of bed and reached for his flashlight, but ended up grabbing a canister of pepper spray instead. “Ordinarily, I would have grabbed my pistol, but there wasn’t time,” Burgess said. “I ran downstairs in my skivvies and put on a pair of flip-flops and ran outside.”

He was met with a strange silence. “The noise had been going pretty strong all this time, but by the time I got out the door, it had gone quiet,” he said. He shone his flashlight around. One of his dogs was there sniffing the ground next to the back step, but he couldn’t see the other, a heavily muscled boxer that weighs about 65 pounds.

He walked over to the creek and shone his light there. “I didn’t see or hear anything,” he said. So he turned upstream and walked along a little trail that went back toward the creek. “I was starting to feel like it was too late,” he said. “I didn’t hear any sound any more. It seemed like such a bad deal. I mean, we both love our dog.” And then he heard something just across the creek.  

It sounded like something was attempting to growl with its mouth full. In his flashlight’s beam, he spotted something on the other side of the creek. “It was a little spooky,” Burgess said. “It gave me a bearing where the dog was and so I waded across the creek.” He lost a flip-flop along the way. When he lifted his flashlight again, he spotted them five feet away up against the base of a big cottonwood tree.

“They were real close,” he said. “Way closer than I thought they would be. This thing was facing me with its head down and apparently holding my dog in its mouth. Nothing was moving. I popped the pepper spray.”

Immediately, the light-colored wolf let go of the dog and stood sideways to Burgess. “Here I was with this light looking through an orange cloud at this scene unfolding before me,” he said. “It was like a flash photo of this wolf with its head leaning forward and its tail standing straight out. “I had this little snapshot of him and then he was gone,” Burgess said.

Burgess was sure that his dog was going to be shredded to pieces. “I’ll be darn if it didn’t crawl out of the brush and slink back across the creek without even stopping to say hi to me,” he said. “It waded back across the creek and back to the house.” It was met by Burgess’ wife, standing there on the deck with a rifle in her hands. “The only thing she could find to grab was a pellet gun,” he said. “The dog was so traumatized that all it could do was quiver. It went under the kitchen table and stayed for a long time.”

The dog’s only injuries were two puncture wounds. One was on top of its muzzle and the other underneath one of its eyes. Later in the week, Burgess asked a state wolf biologist about the difference between the bite on the canine teeth of a coyote and a wolf. He was told a coyote’s teeth might span up to an inch and a half. A wolf’s would measure more than 2 inches wide. “I measured the span at 2 1/4 inches,” he said. “That sealed the deal for me that it was a wolf.“

His boxer is 65 pounds of muscle. “He’s a buff boxer. He looks like he’s half pit bull,” Burgess said. “He definitely more than met his match that night. Psychologically, it’s taken him several days to get over it. He still goes out on the deck and sniffs and looks around. He’s not very sure of himself any more.”

To this day, Burgess can’t be sure what it was that wolf wanted with his dog. “I still puzzled over what that wolf was trying to do,” he said. “My dog may have attacked it and it was just defending itself. It might just have been thinking how it was going to let this thing in its mouth go. “I’m still shaking my head about it all,” Burgess said. “It all happened so fast.

All of it probably happened in a span of two or three minutes.“ It will definitely be one of those stories told and retold. “It’s a good one to tell for a long time to come,” he said. “I can tell people to top that when they say they have a good wolf story to tell.” Reporter Perry Backus can be reached at 363-3300 or at pbackus@ravallirepublic.com.

Barter and Trade

During these difficult economic times, we all need to conserve our cash. Lots of times they are things we want or need, but we just don’t have the “dollars to do it.”

My older model jeep is a dependable workhorse, getting up hardscrabble mountain roads and through the deep snowdrifts of Montana winters. Because it is an older vehicle, I hesitate to invest a lot of money in up keep and repairs. However, after a long summer of aggressive use, a couple of chores could be put off no longer. “Jessie” the jeep required an oil change, fuel filer, and a tune-up and brake adjustment. 

In Montana, barter and trade are a way of life. We trade horses, services, talent and time. I am not mechanical, so I searched for someone who was. Lucky me, my auto mechanic is planning to add a substantial addition to his shop. He knows what he wanted to accomplish and was armed with plans and prices. His only problem was that he was a bit intimidated by the bank loan application and needed help writing a business plan. We talked a bit and agreed to trade services. I would prepare, type and edit his business plan. He would repair my vehicle. We are both happy with our agreement. No money changed hands, but we both achieved our goals.

Barter has been a method of exchange of goods and services since the days of the cavemen. Today, the technology of the Internet enables barter between individuals and companies all across the country. BarterQuest.com, an online exchange site, helps save time and money. They advertise, “With Barter Quest, you can trade what you have for what you want.” 

Click here to visit Gold Prospectors Supply Company Great Bargains and Great Goods!

TradeAway.com is another site where you can trade just about anything including real estate, furniture, automobiles, boats, books or other miscellaneous goods or services. Most items are for sale or trade. You can find some great buys here, but it takes a lot of searching to find exactly what you are looking for.

The Barter Company is another online company website that facilitates barter between businesses.

Investigate barter opportunities in your local community.

Barter Quest: Welcome

http://www.barterquest.com/    

Trade Away: Welcome

http://www.tradeaway.com/index.php        

United States Internal Revenue Service: Bartering

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=187920,00.html

Photo Gallery Of Claims For Sale - Mineral County, Montana

marneaffeld@mac.com

509-389-2606

 

You Do What You Have To Do To Stay Alive!

Mt. Rainier snowshoer burned money -- and socks -- to stay alive

 

Interesting story of man's will to survive courtesy; Los Angeles Times

January 17, 2012 | 11:16 am

A snowshoer stranded for two nights in a blizzard on frozen Mt. Rainier stayed alive by eating chocolate, burning his money -- and dreaming of a sauna.

Yon Chun Kim seemed none the worse for his chilly ordeal as he chatted amiably Monday night with a TV crew and rangers at Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington state. He had set off Saturday, leading a snowshoeing trip, but became separated from his group when he fell down a steep slope.

"I feel pretty good," he told KOMO-TV, crediting the more than 100 searchers who combed the icy valleys around the landmark peak in the Cascade Mountains. They finally found Kim and hauled him to safety.

"He was conscious and alert, able to walk, and appeared to be in stable condition when they found him," park spokeswoman Lee Taylor said in a statement.

Kim, a 66-year-old resident of Tacoma, Wash., is an experienced snowshoer who was well-equipped for a day hike. But he didn't have overnight gear, Taylor said, not with temperatures dipping into the teens, winds rising and several inches of new snow falling on the mountain's already deep drifts.

After falling and becoming separated from his group, Kim radioed his fellow snowshoers that he would make his own way back and meet them in the parking lot. "I can't go up, you know. I can't walk," Kim said he told the group.

When he didn't show up, fellow hikers alerted rangers. But being less familiar with the area than Kim, they initially weren't able to precisely describe Kim's location.

Teams of searchers and dogs fanned out across the valley, and finally found the stranded hiker Monday afternoon. From there, he had to be placed on a sled, pulled out of the valley and then loaded onto a snow machine for the trip back to the ranger station, where he arrived Monday night.

Kim told KOMO-TV reporters he had some fire starters but eventually had to resort to burning his socks and then some $1 and $5 bills to stay warm. He ate chocolate, ran in place and "dreamed of a sauna," he said.

Malcom An, Kim's son, released a statement through the park service in which the family expressed thanks to rescuers for bringing him back alive.

"I want to thank all of the volunteers and national park staff who worked so hard to find my father," he said. "It’s a miracle that he's alive, but it's an assisted miracle."

ALSO:

Mt. Rainier ranger called 'hero' who died protecting others

Fast food made faster: Burger King gives home delivery a try

Threatened by giant snakes, U.S. will ban import of four species

-- Kim Murphy in Seattle

Photo: Yon Chun Kim at Mt. Rainier National Park. Credit: Mount Rainier National Park

 

Insect Repellents

When you head for the woods or the desert, do not forget the bug spray. Mosquitoes, ticks and flies can take a lot of the fun out of prospecting. Plan ahead and avoid the irritation. 

Insect Repellents Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences,  The University of Arizona

Written by  Dawn H. Gouge, Assistant Specialist, Entomology Carl Olson, Associate Curator, Insects Kirk A. Smith,Assistant Research Scientist   Introduction Choosing Insect Repellents Using Insect Repellents Safely Important Information on Using Repellents Types of Repellents Chemical DEET IR3535-based repellent Botanicals Citronella or Lavender Oil Eucalyptus oil Soyabean oil Mineral oil Permethrin Reference Introduction Mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers and ticks can be annoying and sometimes pose a serious risk to public health. In certain areas of the United States, mosquitoes can transmit diseases like equine and St. Louis encephalitis. More recently transmission of West Nile Virus has become a major concern. Biting flies can inflict a painful bite that can persist for days, swell, and become infected. Ticks can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease (the north western corner of Arizona is classed as a low risk area, it is only in this part of Arizona that the vector exists at all) and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When properly used, arthropod (insects, ticks, mites, etc.) repellents can discourage biting arthropods from landing on treated skin or clothing. Choosing Insect Repellents Insect repellents are available in various forms and concentrations. Aerosol and pump-spray products are intended for skin applications as well as for treating clothing. Liquid, cream, lotion, spray, and stick products enable direct skin application. Products with a low concentration of active ingredient may be appropriate for situations where exposure to insects is minimal. Higher concentration of active ingredient may be useful in highly infested areas or with insect species which are more difficult to repel. Where appropriate, consider non-chemical ways to deter biting insects — window and door screens, bed netting, long sleeves, and long pants.   Browndogtick Tabanus Using Insect Repellents Safely The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents: Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use under clothing. Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin. Do not apply to eyes and mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays do not spray directly onto face; spray on hands first and then apply to face. Do not allow children to handle the products, and do not apply to children’s hands. When using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child. Do not spray in enclosed areas. Avoid breathing a repellent spray, and do not use it near food. Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation is generally unnecessary for effectiveness; if biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. If you suspect that you or your child are reacting to an insect repellent, discontinue use, wash treated skin, and then call your local poison control center if symptoms persist. If you go to a doctor, take the repellent with you. Reactions to repellents usually take the form of burning or irritated skin where the repellent has been applied. Get specific medical information about the active ingredients in repellents and other pesticides by calling the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378. NPIC operates from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Time), 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), 7 days a week. The NPIC Web site is:http://npic.orst.edu/ Important Information on Using Repellents EPA recommends the following precautions when using an insect repellent: Check the container to ensure that the product bears an EPA-approved label and registration number. Never use a product that has not been approved for use by EPA! Read the entire label before using a pesticide. Even if you have used it before, read the label again - don’t trust your memory. Follow use directions carefully, use only the amount directed, at the time and under the conditions specified, and for the purpose listed. For example, if you need a tick repellent, make sure that the product label lists this use. If ticks are not listed, the product may not be formulated for that use. Store repellants away from children’s reach, in a locked utility cabinet. Types of Repellents  CHEMICAL   DEET  DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in many insect repellent products. DEET’s most significant benefit is its ability to repel potentially disease-carrying insects and ticks. Products containing DEET currently are available to the public in a variety of liquids, lotions, sprays, and impregnated materials (e.g., wrist bands). Formulations registered for direct application to human skin contain from 4 to 100% DEET. DEET is designed for direct application to human skin to repel insects, rather than kill them. After it was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946, DEET was registered for use by the general public in 1957. Approximately 230 products containing DEET are currently registered with EPA by about 70 different companies. Skin sensitivity to DEET can develop after repeated use. EPA is no longer allowing child safety claims on product labels. These claims currently appear on certain products containing a DEET concentration of 15% or less. Use lower levels (<6%) of DEET on children and apply to clothing not onto skin. Do not use DEET on infants or if you are pregnant. Amount DEET Approx. Hours of Protection 30% 6.5 15% 5 10% 3 5% 2   Off Deep Woods  (SC Johnson) 23.8% DEET  301.5 minutes of protection time Off Skintastic for Kids  (SC Johnson) 4.75% DEET  88.4 minutes of protection time IR3535-based repellent A chemical repellent that has been used in Europe for over 20 years, IR3535 was approved for use in the United States in 1999.   Skin So Soft Bug Guard  (Avon) IR3535 22.9 minutes protection time   BOTANICALS Citronella or Lavender Oil   It is recommended that personal insect repellents such as citronella and oil of lavender not be used on children under 2 years of age. Registered citronella oil repellents protect people against mosquito bites for less than one hour. The registered lavender oil repellent protects for half an hour or less. The citronella-based repellents tested protected for 20 minutes or less. Slow release products do not provide significant added benefit. Based on animal studies, citronella-based products appear to be potential dermal sensitizers. Therefore, allergic reactions may occur in some individuals . Eucalyptus oil Products containing eucalyptus oil were the most effective herbal repellents tested and lasted as long as low concentrations of DEET!!   Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent  (WPC Brands)  120.1 minutes protection time Fite Bite Plant-Based Insect Repellent  (Travel Medicine) 120.1 minutes protection time   Soyabean oil   Bite Blocker for Kids  (HOMS)  soybean oil  94.6 minutes protection time   Mineral oil   Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil  (Avon) 9.6 minutes of protection   Permethrin As a treatment for clothing only. Use by itself or with skin applied repellents. Permethrin is a contact insecticide. That is, it kills ticks or other insects when it comes in contact with them. It is used on clothing and materials only. It uses the same active ingredient used in hair shampoos for head lice. Skin contact should be avoided and deactivates Permethrin within fifteen minutes. As a clothing, tent or sleeping bag application, Permethrin is very effective at keeping ticks from attaching to you and at reducing mosquito bites. Permethrin is an effective repellent against mosquitoes and flies and can be used in conjunction with a skin based repellent. Spray applications of Permethrin can remain effective up to 14 days of exposure to light or oxygen, or through two aggressive washings. By storing the treated clothing in black plastic bags between uses the fourteen days of protection can be extended considerably. If necessary a heavier application can remain effective even longer. Bed nets can be treated with permethrin. Reference Product data has been taken from: Fradin MF, Day JF. Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002. 4;347(1):13-8. Triatoma protracta dorsal Triatoma protracta ventral Triatoma recurua dorsal Triatoma recurua dorsal Triatoma rubida dorsal Triatoma rubida ventral

 

The Best Types of Evergreen Trees for Wilderness Survival

by Filip Tkaczyk

How can you tell the different types of evergreen trees apart and which ones are your best allies in a survival situation? Where are they found and what do they look like?

In the Pacific Northwest we are blessed with a variety of evergreen trees. Three stand out as some of the best for survival purposes. These are species that you will want to get familiar with, so you can count on them if you get into a survival situation. These three types of evergreen trees also happen to be common and widespread in their preferred habitats and are often found growing together. The types of evergreen trees we are talking about here are Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Western Hemlock(Tsuga heterophylla).

TYPES OF EVERGREEN TREES:

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

Overall: a statuesque tree which can grow to a incredible size of up to nearly 200 feet tall and with a massive, buttress trunk that can be up to 19 feet in diameter.

Leaves:The leaves of these types of evergreens are easily distinguished from the needles of other evergreens. They are compressed and scaly, closely hugging the stem. If closely observed, leaves can be seen growing in opposite pairs in 4 rows so that leaves in the first pair are folded, the next pair is not and so on.

Cones: Female cones are small, around half an inch long and formed of 8-12 large scales. The cones stand up on the branches. Male cones are minute, numerous, reddish and found at branch tips.

Habitat: Prefers moist to wet forested moistly in lowlands, but also up to mid-elevation.

Comments:
Known as “the tree of life” by many, this incredible tree has provided a wealth of use to many Native people throughout the Pacific Northwest. Many of the peoples of the coast collected cedar bark in the springtime for many purposes. Cedar bark was then dried, pounded and separated into layers. Then these materials were used to make many different articles including: baskets, ropes, mats, blankets, canoe bailers, and clothing. The wood of red cedar was used to make things that included: dishes, arrow shafts, harpoon shafts, spear poles, barbecuing sticks, fish spreaders and hangers, dipnet hooks, fish clubs, masks, rattles, benches, cradles, coffins and paddles.

Red cedars make amazing tinder bundles for starting fires. Even when it is raining, you can collect the bark and then scrape the inner part of it back and forth with a knife or stone so that it forms a fluffy bundle of fibers. You can then ignite this bundle with a spark, coal or flame. It helps to make this bundle large enough to fill both of your hands. The wood of red cedar is also one of the best and most reliable woods for making friction fires using the bow-and-drill. The spindle, fire board, handhold and a temporary bowline (using a long, thin cedar rootlet) can be created from the wood of this wonderful tree! Hollow bases of standing old-growth trees and old stumps can provide good temporary survival shelters. This tree is arguably the most important of all the types of evergreens to know for survival. 


Douglas fir (Psuedotsuga menziesii)

Overall: Potentially a tree of tremendous height, up to 300 plus feet and with a maximum diameter of over 15 feet. Almost matches the coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) as one of the tallest trees in the world!The bark of this tree is very thick, fluted, rough, with ridges and often dark brown. 

Leaves: Flat needles that are green to yellowish-green, with pointed tips and about 1 inch long. Needles have two pale bands underneath and one groove on the bottom. Needles spirally arranged, though depending on the tree and location may appear more flattened in arrangement when viewed in cross-section. The buds are pointed.

Cones: Female cones 3 to 4 inches in length. Green when young, and at flowering, but browning with age. Scales are papery and overlapping. Papery 3 forked bracts project beyond scales. Can be described as hanging out like the bottoms of trapped mice (hind legs and a tail in between). Male pollen cones are small, reddish-brown at branch ends. The cones on these types of evergreen trees hang downward.

Habitat: Adaptable and found in a variety of locations including extremely dry and low elevation areas to moist mountain zones. Of the 3 types of evergreen trees mentioned here, Douglas firs are the most fire-resistant 

Comments:This is an iconic tree of the west coast, found growing among the dry ponderosa pines of the eastern Cascade slopes and many other drier mountain areas. Just as much it is a part of the sopping, wet coastal temperate rainforests where it is often one of the towering giants.


Native peoples used Douglas fir for many things, including: fishhooks, caulking for canoes and water bearing containers, harpoon heads, spear shafts, torches from heartwood, spoons and spear handles. The pitch was used to make healing salves for wounds and skin problems.

The pitch of Douglas fir makes for an excellent asset to have when starting fires. Gather some of the pitch on a stick and carry it with you for easy fire starting with a lighter. The needles make a good, vitamin C-rich tea.

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)

Overall: A very tall tree of up to nearly 200 feet, with a fairly narrow crown and often a drooping leader on top. The largest western hemlocks have a diameter at breast height of up to 8 feet. The bark of this tree is scaly, rough, reddish-brown to grayish and furrowed, especially with age.

Leaves: The needles are the key to identifying these types of evergreen trees. They are yellowish-green, short, flat, blunted tips, of variable lengths, widely and irregularly spaced. The needles have 2 pale lines underneath.

Cones:The cones are also a useful key to identifying these types of evergreen trees. Males cones are small and numerous. Female cones are also numerous, around 1 inch long, starting out purplish but maturing to a brown. Scales are rounded and papery.


Habitat: Moderately dry to wet areas. This is the most common coniferous tree you will meet in the coastal temperate rainforest. This tree is shade tolerant and also creates a great deal of shade when it matures, to the extent where a dense hemlock forest may have little undergrowth.


Comments: These types of evergreen trees are a classic part of the Pacific Northwest scenery, whether towering over you in the rainforest or growing as tiny seedlings underfoot. Much of the deep, mysterious shade you experience in the rainforest is provided by these wonderful trees. Hemlocks grow well on humus and decaying wood, and it is a common sight to see lines of hemlock seedlings growing in rows on top of decaying logs. These will eventually straddle the log as they mature.


Native people used hemlock for a number of things, including: wood for spoons, combs, wedges, children’s bows, hemlock-bark solution for tanning, dye for basket materials, and feast bowls. Hemlock branches were seen as a great bedding material, and were also used to collect herring spawn. The pitch was used as salve when mixed with deer tallow to prevent sunburn, made into poultices or poultice coverings. 

You can chew young branch tips for short term hunger suppressant. The young growth of these types of evergreen trees contains a fair amount of vitamin C. Western hemlock is another great source of fire materials in survival situations. Because of the density of the foliage, the lowest branches are often shaded out and die back. This leaves very fine, dry materials for very fine kindling. This is especially useful when it is wet and rainy outside and you are struggling to find any dry wood anywhere. Under those conditions, it helps to look for dry wood on the trees, rather than under them. 

Evergreens Are Your Friend

Whenever you are exploring the wonderfully lush forest of the Pacific Northwest, remember these types of evergreen trees. They are your best friends and assets, especially in a survival situation. Consider all the many things they provide, from fire and shelter to medicine and tools. Remember to practice good harvesting ethics, and take only what you need and when you need it.

Next time you see any types of evergreen trees, go and introduce yourself. The best way to get to know them is to fully immerse yourself with all of your senses. Feel its needles against your hands and face. Smell them. Run your hands up and down the trunk of the tree. Notice the shape, texture and look of all parts of the tree. Look at the way the light plays on the tree's overall form. Maybe sit under it for a while and enjoy its shade or protection from the wind or rain.

Go out and meet an evergreen tree today!

Further Resources

Learn survival uses of evergreen trees and other wilderness skills at theWilderness Survival Skills Intensive.

Courtesy: Alderwood Wilderness College

 

Dressing For Survival

 

Winter winds are blowing and temperatures continue to change dramatically. Warm sunshine brightens the morning air, however the sun is deceiving and the bitter cold permeates one’s bones. Today, as I head for the high country, I am well prepared, wearing a soft-shell, North Face performance-fit jacket over two layers of thermal silk leggings, a cotton top and wool sweater. Thermal insulated boots, a snug fitting wool cap and to pairs of gloves complete my prospecting ensemble. 

Dressing to meet the challenges of the elements is imperative to both comfort and survival. Practiced by miners, hunters and wilderness explorers for centuries, the multi-layered clothing system is the time tested way to support peak efficiency, protect your body from the elements and keep you comfortable regardless of changes in the weather. 

Dressing in layers allows you to utilize the items of your outdoor wardrobe in ways best suited to keeping you protected and your body temperature regulated. Each layer of clothing can be removed or added as conditions change. 

Heavy exertion can lead to overheating and excessive perspiration that can dampen clothing. Wet clothing looses its ability to retain heat. The ability to dress according to weather conditions is the key to body heat regulation, optimal comfort and survival. 

Experienced woodsmen, will often wear relatively light clothing while exerting themselves in cold weather. They will pace themselves to limit the amount of sweat produced by their their labors so that the layer against their skin does not become wet. Removing clothing layers when your are too warm, and adding layers as the body cools will provide safety and comfort. 

Keeping cool and dry is the secret to survival. Avoid becoming dehydrated, chilled, wet or exhausted which can lead to hypothermia. 

Constructed from lightweight, breathable material, North Face Jackets block the wind and light precipitation to keep you warm and comfortable, even at high altitudes. 

 

The Novice Outdoorsman Hunting Tips

November is hunting season in Montana! If you or someone you know is new to hunting or if you know of someone who is going for the first time, please pass these tips along. Most would seem like common sense, but you'd be amazed at some of the hunter horror stories we hear every year. Be safe, be smart and good luck in filling your freezer. Happy Hunting!

By Anthony Meyers

If you plan a winter hunt when it might snow, don't purchase a white SUV or 4 wheel drive pickup. You want to be able to find your vehicle in a blizzard.

Leave a hunting plan with a relative. Cell phone service is spotty in many mountainous areas where hunting is allowed. If you don't return on time, your family needs to know where to send a search team.

Don't hunt on private property without permission. Posted No Trespassing signs mean no hunting.

Be familiar with the terrain where you plan to hunt. Take the family on a few picnics in the months before hunting season. Familiarity may help you hike out if you lose track of where you are as you retrieve the game you shot.

Have a pack animal or sufficient numbers in your hunting party to carry out an elk or a deer. Do not waste what Mother Nature has provided. It's not nice to only eat the choice cuts and leave the rest behind to rot. Eat what you shoot.

Be prepared for the weather conditions. Camouflage colors depend on the season. Always bring plenty of water. Wear sun screen and a hat to avoid sun burn. Layer your clothes so you don't get hypothermia when the sun goes down.

Leave the alcohol at home; it actually contributes to dehydration or hypothermia.

Be aware of other hunters. Be careful of ricochet events and that there might be another hunter behind that bush across the meadow.

Bird hunting can be disappointing for young hunters. You may want to pay to hunt on a pheasant or quail farm for a child's first hunting experience. These guided hunting parties may be expensive, but it ensures that the child has a positive first hunt. The guide dogs are able to retrieve birds saving time hunting for what was shot. The hikes will also be shorter and not too taxing for the youngster which lowers chances for someone getting lost.

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Be Bear Aware!

By: Marlene Affeld

Contact between bears and humans have always been wary at best;  we both would rather avoid the confrontation. However, on rare occasions, there are circum-stances or conditions that may trigger unusual aggression in bears. The bear may attack as a defensive maneuver. This may lead to a violent encounter, and sometimes death.

While bear attacks and maulings are relatively rare, they do happen. Don't let it happen to you.

Be bear aware. When in bear country seek information from the local authorities about bear conditions, listen to their good advice, use common sense and practice bear safety. 

Precautions when camping:

If you don't want bears in your camp, do not send out an olfactory invitation. 

Keep a clean camp; store foodstuffs, toiletries and scented items well away from your sleeping area in secure airtight or bear proof containers. Properly dispose of all garbage by burning garbage completely in a hot fire. Please pack out your trash, do not bury it. Garbage and food are equally enticing to bears; treat them with equal care. Wash all dishes and cooking utensils, wipe down tables and coolers. (Using a little household bleach on a clean, wet rag will discourage bees, wasp and flies as well as bears.)

Never feed wildlife.

Cook and eat away from your sleeping area or tent. Never store food, cook or eat near your tent. Avoid odorous foods that attract bears. Keep food smells off your clothing.

Be extremely careful when handling prospecting or camp fuel!  Spilled fuel is a strong bear attractant, especially kerosene and diesel.  - refill Coleman stoves and lanterns with funnels and over spill containment. Fuel mining equipment, dredges and ATVs well away from your camp site

Wash well, change clothing and remove all scented items before retiring to your tent or sleeping area. (Wear only unscented toiletries - never wear cologne, hair products or scented grooming items in the woods.)

Always keep young children in your sight and supervise their activities. Control your pets - do not allow them to roam free. Pets are best left at home. Dogs can lead an angry bear back to your camp and easily get into conflicts with other wildlife. 

Sleep in tents large enough to position gear between you and the tent walls. 

Precautions when hiking or prospecting

Pay attention - be vigilant and bear aware. Never hike alone in bear country - make noise by clapping, singing or shouting when in dense brush, heavy foliage or when coming around a blind corner on the trail. 

Stay alert. Notice obvious bear habitat signs such as paw prints, bear scat and clawed tree markings.

If you come upon an animal carcass, vacate the area immediately. Bears will feed on a kill for days; remaining in the immediate area to protect their prey. A gathering of vultures or ravens often indicates a dead or injured animal. Avoid these areas.

Be aware of wind direction. Bears have a very keen sense of smell. If the wind is at your back, it is likely the bear will catch your scent and leave the area. If, however, the if the wind is blowing in your face, your scent is carried away from the bear; the likelihood of an encounter will greatly increase. Although bears have a great sense of smell, their hearing is poor. In situations of high wind, or noise from a creek or stream, a bear is unlikely to hear your approach.

Always use extreme caution at night or at either end of day; dusk and dawn are the bear's most active time period.

If you should see a bear cub, it is very likely that the sow is nearby. Female mother bears will aggressively protect their young. It is wise to leave the area immediately. The most dangerous place in the woods is between a mother bear and her cub.

Almost all of the recorded bear attacks on humans in the wild happen to hunters. It is a hunter’s nature to be quiet, wear camouflage and in many cases they are trying to attract other game. Often the bears cannot see the hunter or hear his approach. 

Many bear attacks result from hunters suddenly appearing in front of them; startling a bear into an instinctive act of violent aggression. Hunters are in even greater danger when they have game down and are dressing out a carcass.

If you surprise a bear

Be quiet or talk softly; try to remain calm. The time to create a lot of loud noise is before you ever see a bear.

Avoid eye contact with the bear. Use peripheral vision. Like many wild animals, bears interpret direct eye contact as threatening.

Assume a non-threatening posture. Turn sideways, crouch or bend at the knees to appear smaller.

If possible, try to back away slowly and detour around the bear. Don’t continue to move if this seems to agitate the bear’s behavior.

Do not run! A running bear can reach speeds of up to 40 MPH. Even without a heavy pack weighing you down, a human can not outrun a bear. Running will trigger a bear’s attack response. 

Drop something such as a camera or water bottle, never food. If you are wearing a backpack, keep your pack on for protection should the bear decide to attack. 

If you carry bear deterrent such as spray, bear bangers or a pistol, have it ready. Do not fire pepper spray unless you are sure the bear is close enough to spray it in the face.

If the bear makes contact, protect your chest and abdomen by assuming a fetal position or falling to the ground on your stomach, to reduce the severity of an attack. Cover the back of your neck with your hands. Do not move until you are confident the bear has left the area.

Keep Your Fear In Perspective 

Statistically you are 10 times more likely to die from a dog attack than a grizzly bear attack, and 45 times more likely, compared to a black bear attack. In the woods, far more people perish from snake bite, bee stings or lightening than from bear maulings. So, enjoy your outdoor adventures, just remain bear aware.

         

How To Signal For Help

For those of us who choose to spend time in the desert, the high mountain country or anywhere remote, this article offers some great tips to keep in mind. Next time you are out prospecting, think twice and make sure that you have the survival gear and equipment to meet whatever emergency you may encounter.

This article focuses on a kayak emergency, but is good information for river rafters, hikers, hunters and gold prospectors. Have a safe trip and wishing you color in your pan.

Be prepared. You’ve heard that saying over and over. When there is an Kayak emergency, hopefully you will have the available resources to help you get out of trouble. And if you say to yourself, I should have brought….. it’s too late. There are many methods to help gain attention to your situation.

Whistle
A whistle is an easy, inexpensive way to attract attention. The whistle should be attached to the zipper on your PFD. The whistle should be a ball-less type that works when it gets wet with water. Make 3 loud whistles in a row, wait and then 3 loud whistles.

Air horn
The air horn is small, fits in a PFD and is inexpensive. Make sure it will work when wet. Blast the air horn 3 times in a row, wait and then 3 other blasts. Test out the air horn each year.

Flares
There are two types of flares – rocket and smoke. Make sure that the expiration date of the flare hasn’t expired. Flares are sometimes not 100% reliable, so be prepared for some duds. The rocket flares will only be successful if you can see the people you want to contact. The rocket flares only last for a little while, so if no one sees you during the time that they are lit, you are out of luck. Smoke flares are usually used when someone has already located you and not usually the flare of choice for kayakers.

VHF radio
VHF radios are one the best solutions during an emergency as long as there are people within a 5 mile radius that also have a VHF radio turned on. Always be familiar with the mayday steps, channels, etc. using a VHF radio (you might forget when you haven’t paddled in a while). VHF radios are now waterproof, small and can fit into a PFD pocket. Always make sure to keep your VHF in your PFD with a short cord attached to the PFD as the radio will not float.

Signal mirror
A signal mirror is inexpensive and can fit into your PFD pocket. Obviously, if it is not sunny, the signal mirror will not attract anyone.

Paddle waving with reflector tape
You can stick some reflector tape on the back of your kayak paddles and wave the paddles in the air during an emergency. Obviously, if you have colored paddles (not white), the paddle will be less likely to be seen and if you are in the water, this option might be available.

Cell phone
Cell phones will only be useful if there is a connection and if the cell phone is in a waterproof bag that allows you to dial the phone and control all the buttons. There are an assortment of waterproof bags available for cell phones.

GPS
If you have a GPS, it will be a benefit to give your location to someone when talking on the VHF radio.

Be prepared is the first step for signaling help during an emergency.

Courtesy: Outdoor Eyes