[Sportsandrec] camping

Wed Feb 6 14:15:14 UTC 2013

Thanks!  I'm not sure yet how rough the terrain will be.  If it is rocky 
or in the mountains, where would you suggest I shop for these poles?  
I'd prefer to go to a brick and mortar store so I can physically check 
out the options.  I'm in rural Nebraska so this will probably involve a 
road trip. There is a Scheels sp? in Lincoln and Cabella's in Kearney, 
would they carry this stuff?

Thanks!
Julie

On 2/5/2013 7:59 PM, JUSTIN LOUCHART wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Just a quick note about Kelly's cane advice, you might also find that
> adapting a titanium ski pole into a telescoping cane could make a
> million things easier in hiking. I typically use a standard ski pole
> in my left hand and a long cane/adapted cane in my right hand. That
> provides me support, reach, and acuity. Everyone has their own
> techniques, but I think Kelly's advice is spot on. Whatever way you
> find, make sure to practice it until it's second nature.
>
> Justin Louchart
>
> On 2/5/13, Kelly Thornbury<kthornbury at bresnan.net>  wrote:
>> Julie,
>>
>> My first suggestion, and maybe most important in my eyes, is to know your
>> gear. Things like being able to set up camp in any weather conditions goes a
>> long way.
>>
>> As for edible plants as a blind individual, spend extra time on this and ask
>> lots of questions. Learn how to distinguish between edible plants and
>> similar feeling/smelling non edible varieties. Avoid plants that are too
>> close to call, and learn first aide techniques for the less palatable ones.
>>
>>
>> Navigation and orientation- the moss generally grows on the North side of
>> large rocks and trees. Learn at what compass coordinates the sun rises and
>> sets at the latitude you will be practicing your skills. Then, based on time
>> of day you can get a general direction of travel. As soon as you orientate
>> yourself based on whatever technique you use, take note of the general wind
>> direction and how it gusts and blows. A bar magnet hanging from a piece of
>> string packs easily and will give you magnetic north when properly marked
>> and practiced. Take note of landmarks as described already in other
>> responses, including the sounds of water, wind, animals (birds for example
>> often to stay in more wooded areas or areas of cover rather than wide open
>> spaces), and smells (the smell of a pond over a river, or a patch of wild
>> onions over a patch of mint).
>>
>> For travel over rougher terrain, I ditch the normal white canes (no one in
>> the wild cares what color your cane is) for collapsable hiking poles. I
>> remove the baskets and can use it as either a cane or a trekking pole. My
>> cane of choice, if I take one, is aluminum and foldable. Straight canes tend
>> to get in the way and collapsable canes collapse if you happen to lean on
>> them for support. Aluminum is durable, and practice repairing the shock
>> cords inside.
>>
>> Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions of the instructors; discuss
>> adaptive techniques because they may have some ideas, or at least you can
>> brainstorm new ideas; and practice practice practice. Soon, you'll be the
>> best in the group at tying knots in the dark, traveling by the stealth of
>> night, and leading the group back to basecamp.
>>
>> There's more but hopefully this is a descent start.
>>
>> Enjoy, and be sure to share how it works out.
>>
>> Kelly
>>
>> On Feb 5, 2013, at 4:55 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>>
>>> Heya!
>>>
>>> It's me with another adventure vacation question.  Last year it was sea
>>> kayaking, clam digging and fishing.  This year my teenage son and I are
>>> going camping.  Actually we are going to survival school where we will be
>>> learning how to build a fire without matches, tie knots, make rope from
>>> native plants, which plants are edible, how to make tools from natural
>>> materials at hand and all sorts of other stuff.  I'm affectionately
>>> referring to this adventure as my opportunity to learn independent living
>>> skills. *smile*
>>>
>>> I looked at loads of opportunities we could utilize to do this and settled
>>> on one of the less intense options.  We are going to be staying in a cabin
>>> and doing day hikes to learn and practice the survival skills we have been
>>> taught.  I'm not quite as adventurous as I once was. Sleeping under a
>>> hedge and being reliant on figuring out which mushrooms are edible won't
>>> be a part of this trip.
>>>
>>> Still it will be a lot of new things for me and a lot of skills I haven't
>>> used for around 15 years.  I don't anticipate having any particular
>>> difficulties because of my blindness, but I'm trying to figure out as much
>>> as I can ahead of time.
>>>
>>> I would love to hear from people who have been camping both the normal
>>> variety and the rougher sort of survival camping that is becoming popular.
>>>   Also ideas on keeping oriented where there are no paths would be helpful.
>>>     If anyone can think of specific non electronic blindness equipment I
>>> should take along that would also be helpful.
>>>
>>> I welcome all thoughts and ideas.  If you can think of something that I'm
>>> overlooking in preparing for this trip please let me know.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance!  You guys always have awesome ideas and have been
>>> really helpful.
>>>
>>> Julie
>>>
>>>
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