Tag Archives: Trip

Trip

Things I Cannot Do Without On A Camping Trip

Some of my favorite places to camp in Alaska are Denali National Park, the White Mountain Recreational area, and along the Denali highway. I just become all kinds of excited when preparing for a hiking and camping trip. I pore through my backcountry camping recipes for new ideas and camping gear is strewn across the floor to assist in the decision-making process of what goes this time and what doesn’t.

Certain items, however, simply must be packed. The tent and sleeping bag are a must. The mosquitoes in Alaska have a very bad reputation for picking people up and carrying them off in their sleep and the weather here can change in minutes. Definitely not a place to sleep out in the open sans cover. Camera and binoculars also must be packed. One never wants to pass up a chance to see the multitude of wildlife that is often at a distance (and many times, preferably at a distance) such as bear, caribou, sheep, wolves, moose and the occasional lynx. There are amazing photo opportunities everywhere you look, from the tundra under your feet to the birds overhead. In fact, if photography is a passion, I can think of no better place to live than Alaska.

Unless you are completely self-sufficient and know how to live off the land, I highly suggest bringing food and some sort of water purification system with you. Into The Wild was a great story and movie, but I don’t suggest one follow in that young man’s footsteps – look how he ended up. There are backcountry cookbooks with wonderfully tasty recipes that you can prepare ahead of time and pack for your trip as well as some yummy freeze-dried meals stocked by various camping outlets. Long gone are the days that freeze-dried meant tasteless, these prepared meals are very good and usually only require hot water to prepare. Your water purification system can consist of filters, iodine tablets, or simply boiling your water. I don’t suggest boiling water though, it takes time and precious fuel. Do not ever assume rivers and ponds are safe to drink from without taking precautions.

When it comes to hot water and cooking without worrying about finding wood to start a fire with, my absolute favorite piece of equipment to carry is my little cooker. It essentially is a heat safe, insulated mug with an igniter and little container of white gas made specifically for it. Attach the igniter to the gas container, sit the mug on top of the setup and click the igniter. A knob on the side of the igniter allows you to control the flame. Boil the water, turn off the igniter, add your dried food, mix and there is dinner. You can eat and drink right out of the cup. When finished, simply boil some water again, wash and dry your cup, and put away. It takes away the need for a bulky Coleman stove or the little setups requiring separate bottles of fuel and separate eating containers.

Now, suppose it is a cold, drizzly day, or it is evening and you are comfortably ensconced in your tent with absolutely no desire whatsoever to go outside. Unfortunately you have to go to the bathroom. Now what? Brave the cold and dark? Who wants to do that? Portable urinals to the rescue! This is another handy-dandy item that I absolutely must pack when going camping. It is disposable and turns urine into gel. The package has no odor, does not leak, and is completely self-contained. I consider it an essential when I camp.

So, my suggested essentials are a tent, sleeping bag, camera, binoculars, food, water purification system, compact cook stove and disposable urinals. Take these and have a totally marvelous camping trip. Happy Trails!

Trip

There Is More To A Fishing Trip Than The Fish

I have never really carried much for fishing myself. But, as I sit upstream watching an older gentleman and probably his grandson, I realize that there is more to a fishing trip than the fish they will bring home.

I watch almost mesmerized as the older man so patiently shows the young boy how to bait his hook and cast the line into the water. The young boy is hanging on every word and action.

And as they sit there waiting for a bite you can almost feel the grandfather hoping with all his heart that his grandson will at least catch one small fish today.

You can see the young boy asking questions and the grandfather encouraging patience.

Then the big moment comes. There is a tug on the young boy’s line and grandfather springs into action helping and teaching him how to get his prize out of the water. And in just moments, yes indeed he is placing his small fish into the fishing pail that they have brought along.

From the big smiles on their faces it is hard to tell who is happier with their success.

So we start the baiting process all over and this time the young boy is allowed to bait his own hook and cast it into the water. You can see the pride on his face as he accomplishes this task to his grandfather’s satisfaction and approval.

I watch for a while longer as they both bring in another catch or two to add to their pail. Then you notice that there is some serious talking happening between the two. I can’t really hear what they are saying from my distant location. But I know that intertwined in that conversation is some life’s lessons for the young boy and great satisfaction and pride for the grandfather as he teaches and passes on heritage to his grandson. Just the two of them alone on the bank; no cell phones, no traffic noise, no hurry; just life and love between the two of them.

And as you watch the day coming to a close and the two fishing buddies packing up their gear you realize that this has been a very special day of bonding for the two of them and that it will be remembered and talked about with fondness by both for years to come. There will be tales and taller tales about this day but underneath them all will be the unspoken bond that has bound them together and will see them through any rough times until the end.

And as I reflect upon this scene one realizes that it was not how many fish, or the size of them, that made this fishing trip special, but the human relationship between grandfather and grandson that will set the stage for the young man’s future for years to come. These are indeed the bonds that bind. I’m sure that as the grandfather’s twilight years approach the lessons of caring, love and kindness, learned on this day, will be put into practice by the young boy who will then be a young man.

Even after grandfather has gone on, this young man will have this memory to reflect upon and bring him pleasure for the rest of his life. And I’m certain that the lessons taught will be passed on for generations to come.

So the great lesson learned here is “There Is Indeed More to a Fishing Trip than Just the Fish”!

XNews

There Is More To A Fishing Trip Than The Fish

I have never really carried much for fishing myself. But, as I sit upstream watching an older gentleman and probably his grandson, I realize that there is more to a fishing trip than the fish they will bring home.

I watch almost mesmerized as the older man so patiently shows the young boy how to bait his hook and cast the line into the water. The young boy is hanging on every word and action.

And as they sit there waiting for a bite you can almost feel the grandfather hoping with all his heart that his grandson will at least catch one small fish today.

You can see the young boy asking questions and the grandfather encouraging patience.

Then the big moment comes. There is a tug on the young boy’s line and grandfather springs into action helping and teaching him how to get his prize out of the water. And in just moments, yes indeed he is placing his small fish into the fishing pail that they have brought along.

From the big smiles on their faces it is hard to tell who is happier with their success.

So we start the baiting process all over and this time the young boy is allowed to bait his own hook and cast it into the water. You can see the pride on his face as he accomplishes this task to his grandfather’s satisfaction and approval.

I watch for a while longer as they both bring in another catch or two to add to their pail. Then you notice that there is some serious talking happening between the two. I can’t really hear what they are saying from my distant location. But I know that intertwined in that conversation is some life’s lessons for the young boy and great satisfaction and pride for the grandfather as he teaches and passes on heritage to his grandson. Just the two of them alone on the bank; no cell phones, no traffic noise, no hurry; just life and love between the two of them.

And as you watch the day coming to a close and the two fishing buddies packing up their gear you realize that this has been a very special day of bonding for the two of them and that it will be remembered and talked about with fondness by both for years to come. There will be tales and taller tales about this day but underneath them all will be the unspoken bond that has bound them together and will see them through any rough times until the end.

And as I reflect upon this scene one realizes that it was not how many fish, or the size of them, that made this fishing trip special, but the human relationship between grandfather and grandson that will set the stage for the young man’s future for years to come. These are indeed the bonds that bind. I’m sure that as the grandfather’s twilight years approach the lessons of caring, love and kindness, learned on this day, will be put into practice by the young boy who will then be a young man.

Even after grandfather has gone on, this young man will have this memory to reflect upon and bring him pleasure for the rest of his life. And I’m certain that the lessons taught will be passed on for generations to come.

So the great lesson learned here is “There Is Indeed More to a Fishing Trip than Just the Fish”!