offgridsurvival — Yesterday in Tampa, stunned spectators watched as American Special Forces and international combat troops performed urban warfare training drills that included; an assault by land, sea and air and a simulated terrorist attack that included the mock kidnapping of Tamapa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.....
sectionhiker — What do all of these hikers have in common? Beside hiking the AT, we all contributed chapters to a new book published by Stackpole, called Hiker’s Stories from the Appalachian Trail. Amanda “Veggie” Redpath Amanda, Jarrod “Hansel” and Becca “Gretel” Schlenker Bruce “Birdman” Nichols Corwin “Major Chafage” Neuse Deb “Ramkitten”...
offgridsurvival — President Obama gives White House Counterterrorism Chief John Brennan the lead role of deciding who will die under the White House top-secret assassination program….. No Due Process, No Trial....
sectionhiker — Andrew Skurka and I spent an afternoon together about a month ago, talking about the things that separate more experienced hikers and backpackers from less experienced ones and the kinds of skills he’ll be emphasizing in his guided Ultimate Hiker instructional trips this year. The top skill on both of...
offgridsurvival — Having an emergency evacuation plan is a crucial step in being prepared. In my opinion, it’s one of the most important elements in any survival plan. Do you have a plan?
sectionhiker — Last week I took a 5-day Leave No Trace, Master Educator class in the White Mountains. This is the highest level of training provided by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and enables me to train people who want to become Leave No Trace trainers as well as children, teens,...
offgridsurvival — The disaster in Japan is far from over. In fact, a growing number of experts are warning” the fate of the world depends on the stability of Japan’s Fukushima Reactor 4.” The situation is so dire that U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, a senior member of the Senate’s energy committee, is...
offgridsurvival — Several congressmen are looking to pass an amendment that would once again allow the government to legally use propaganda on the American Public.......
sectionhiker — Last summer I was on the fence about switching from a sleeping bag to a quilt (see The Tentative Quilter), but I’ve been camping with a Therm-a-Rest Alpine Down Blanket (35F) this spring and I’m now a convert. As a side sleeper, I’ve spent years trying to get used to...
montucky.wordpress — Common Dandelions – Taraxacum officinale Today the Dandelions growing where a small trout stream meandered through a bright green meadow were especially large and lush; seemed anything but “common”.
montucky.wordpress — It’s a sure bet that before summer is over I will have flooded cyberspace with photos of Penstemons, but it might be a good start to look at just one individual blossom of this species which is found only in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Blue Penstemon, Penstemon cyaneus, May 14
offgridsurvival — A WORD OF WARNING FOR THOSE WHO CARRY CASH. A New Jersey man had $22,000 dollars of his hard earned cash stolen by the Tennessee Police department, and apparently it's perfectly legal!
modernhiker — An accessible, just-under four mile loop in Griffith Park to the peak of Mount Hollywood. On a clear day, this hike will give you tremendous views of the L.A. basin and nearby Griffith Observatory, and its short length belies some genuinely sweat-inducing stretches of incline. A great little...
getoutdoors — Outside Magazine has a fun article this month that encourages readers to break the rules this summer and engage in activities that are the right mix of dangerous and fun. Nothing in the article is especially outrageous, but each suggestion reminds me of the freedom summer meant when I was...
sectionhiker — I am raffling off the MSR Fast Stash UL Tarp Shelter, a $300 value, that I reviewed a few weeks ago. REI calls it While it’s big and fairly lightweight, especially if you substitute the poles with your trekking poles, I’m not sure I’d go so far to say it’s on the...
montucky.wordpress — Large-flowered Tritelia, Brodiaea douglasii, Triteleia grandiflora, May 9 Sticky Geranium, Geranium viscosissimum, May13
offgridsurvival — Imagine returning home from multiple tours of duty, where you are asked to put your life on the line on a daily basis, only to find yourself sitting in jail for something the government pays you to do.... CARRY A GUN
sectionhiker — I popped up to New Hampshire for a quick hike last week, climbing two 4,000 footers, Mount Osceola and and bushwhacking to Middle Osceola. The first time I climbed on Mount Osceola, this was a few years back, I met a guy named JR, who is a well known bushwhacking hiker...
offgridsurvival — News broke this morning that fears over the Greek exit from the euro has caused a major run on the banks in Greece. A number of financial experts are warning that we are seeing the beginning of a full scale collapse of the European currency.....
sectionhiker — Have you even been the person who has bonked on a hike and made the entire group turnaround? I’ve been that guy a couple of times and it is a sobering experience. One the one hand, it can be a real relief both physically and mentally to raise your hand...
offgridsurvival — Over the last couple of years the mysterious mass deaths of birds, bees, fish and other wildlife has been raising alarm bells for many in the scientific community. While the reaction from those in the mainstream news has been largely dismissive, it's getting hard to ignore the numbers.
sectionhiker — Water is one of the heaviest things in your backpack at at 2 pounds per liter it can really weigh you down if you carry to0 much of it when you don’t need to. I used to do this all of the time, first as a day hiker and then later...
montucky.wordpress — Here in the southeastern part of the Cabinet Mountains of western Montana a small stream flows down from the TeePee – Spring Creek Roadless Area at the end of KooKooSint Ridge below Big Hole Peak for about ten miles through tall old-growth cedars in a deep, steep and narrow canyon...
