Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2022 i American Outdoor Guide

When people begin to think about survival and self-reliance, a number of different things might present themselves at the forefront of their concerns. I like to hunt remote areas and to hike and camp where I can leave the crowds behind. So, for me, survival evokes the need for the skills, experiences and tools I can use to get out of the woods safe and sound after one of my outings. Being self-reliant means I won’t need a search and rescue crew to come find me. I’ve been turned around in the woods a couple of times. It’s not a comfortable feeling, so now I rarely go from my bedroom to the bathroom without a compass and a flashlight. I’m fortunate to live in an area where flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes,…

We might not like to admit it to ourselves or to others that we’re not perfect. Even the very best of us can end up making a bad decision, taking a wrong turn, or just plain getting confused and, as a result, suddenly find ourselves hopelessly lost. To make matters worse, sometimes we fall prey to our own ego and decide that there’s no way we could be lost, we just need to walk a bit further to find the trail again. More often than not, that just gets us into deeper trouble. Let’s take a look at how you can plan ahead for this eventuality, as well as some options for signaling devices that are easy to carry and use. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION Before you leave the house,…

Over the past decades, I’ve had the chance to backpack in several settings, such as the Mojave Desert, the southeast woodlands, the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Sierra Mountains of California. I observed all types of hikers carrying all kinds of gear. Base weight measures gear and clothing stowed inside or outside a backpack, excluding items worn and consumables such as food, water, and fuel. Lightweight is under 20 pounds, and ultralight is under 10 pounds. However, there is another category for sub-5 pounds called super ultralight, which is what I prefer. SUB-4 POUNDS After my first two Grand Canyon backpacking trips and summiting California’s Mt. Whitney 14,500-foot peak twice in 2007—I got my gear dialed in. I use and make my gear—only the lightest. I use a featherweight spinnaker…

While a DIY bed in the wilderness may not ever equal a Tempur-Pedic sleep number, it will insulate and provide more comfort than the alternative. RAISED LOG BED If the ground is covered in snow or very damp—get up. Quite simply and most likely the first bushcraft-style bed most of us make out of the gate is a raised log bed. I’d recommend a sturdy saw and a pair of leather work gloves for this project. Once your campsite has been selected, saw yourself two thick logs about thigh-thickness or more. These serve as the support bars, which will run perpendicular to your body. Saw about six long poles that are bicep to calf thick, roughly six feet long. Place the bed poles on your two initial support logs (parallel…

I don’t like to feel helpless. As a result, when I am considering a purchase, I’ll often opt for the more portable model so that I’ll always have the ability to have what I need with me when I need it. Naturally, this obsessive need to carry it with me, whatever the “it” might be, presents its own problems. While what I deem necessary to bring along might vary according to the situation and my expectations, often I know I can’t fit everything in my pockets. So, over the years, I’ve accumulated a good number of full-size backpacks (some with frames, some without), smaller daypacks, shoulder sacks, lumbar packs, duffels, fanny/waist packs, and belt pouches. Most of the pants I own have cargo pockets too. Now, I’m testing the ALPS…

If you’re determined to be self-reliant, you might be preparing to stay safe from tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires or urban crime, depending on where you live. But there’s one inevitable situation for all of us that perhaps should demand more of our attention: old age. At some point, we’ll all be looking at being more frail. Bones will break more easily. We might have trouble maintaining our balance. We’ll have less strength and stamina. We’ll be slower. Our senses might be somewhat diminished with weaker eyesight and hearing impairment. Our memory might be failing. We’re likely to have medical conditions that require drugs or devices to keep us going. These things will only compound the challenges we’ll face in the event of any environmental threats. So, what can we do about?…

1 FIX IT STICK RATCHET TOOL KIT Fix It Sticks makes a wide range of innovative tools. Many are geared specifically for gunsmithing, while others have a much wider range of use. One of their best in the latter category is the new Compact Ratcheting Multitool. This multitool is actually a full kit that consists of a reversible T-way ratchet wrench, 15 hex bits and a mini pry bar. It all stores in a rubbery polymer holder for easy packing in a range bag, vehicle glove box or backpack. The wrench holds tools magnetically and it will accept standard ¼-inch bits. It’s excellent for working in tight spaces. Specific bits in the kit include: 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 5/64, 5/32, and 3/32 hex bits; T6, T8, T10, T15, T20, and T25…

There is no one firearm that is perfect for every situation. That’s especially true when selecting a handgun. Some are easier to conceal, some offer more power, some have higher ammo capacities, some are lighter in weight, and some are easier to shoot well. That being said, when it comes to a handgun for off-pavement adventures, I want one that’s as versatile as possible. It must be able to do many things well, but it is not a specialist. Specialists might include a tricked-out pistol for competition, a micro gun for deep concealment in an urban setting, or a long-barreled revolver if a handgun was to be my primary weapon on a hunt. An all-around handgun might not excel in any of those areas, but could be serviceable in them…

If you’re looking for an underwater adventure that doesn’t require the training scuba diving does, consider snorkeling. All you need for warmer waters is a mask, a snorkel, and some fins. Sure, you can snorkel without the fins, but you’ll tire less easily if you have fins. You can purchase new equipment for about $50-$75 dollars or simply rent it for the day if you’re wary of commitment. If you’re snorkeling in cooler waters, you’ll want a wet suit. Most of our picks are in warm waters so that you won’t need to bother. The hardest thing about snorkeling is learning how to clear the snorkel after you’ve taken a dive to look around. Old school snorkels are a bit more difficult to clear. Once back on the surface, you…

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, the master plan to evacuate people from its path did not include pets of any kind. The news during the emergency was peppered with abandoned dogs and cats left to fend for themselves. There was even an example of a boy’s dog being taken from him as he boarded a bus. The mental impact of these directives was long-lasting and traumatic, as it was estimated that nearly 200,000 animals were left behind to fend for themselves during Katrina (only about five percent were reunited). A 2009 University of Massachusetts study found that the post-traumatic stress following a natural disaster was compounded when a pet was lost. David Grimm, author of Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs, writes that…