[Sportsandrec] camping

Wed Feb 6 15:13:09 UTC 2013

Ski poles and trekking poles can be purchased at any of several shops.
Sporting goods stores often have discounted poles this time of year,
as well as the outdoor sections of many superstores/department stores.
Personally, I'd be focusing on the sporting specialty shops. If you
get lucky, you might also find usable quality poles at nearby
secondhand shops.

Justin Louchart

On 2/6/13, Kelly Thornbury <kthornbury at bresnan.net> wrote:
> The wind chime on your tent or cabin is a good idea, as long as you can rely
> on a breeze (thank goodness for the constant winds of Wyoming). Plus, the
> chimes don't have to be out all the time, just when you leave the site. As I
> suspect many of your activities, especially in the beginning, will be group
> activities, so there will probably be no one around the site to be bothered
> by the chimes. The luggage markers idea I have used a couple times, but you
> generally have to be within 9 meters (under thirty feet) from the marker,
> and I find they didn't hold up well to adverse weather conditions (like
> rain). This is all part of practicing, and if you can try out a couple
> different techniques under controlled conditions like a class, this is the
> time.
>
> The bar magnet can be found at many hobby or craft stores, or, maybe from a
> science teacher at a local elementary school. Basically, you will tie a
> single string to the center of the magnet so it spins freely, then you just
> want to make sure you take your bearings somewhere blocked from the wind. I
> hold the magnet up for a bit to let it settle, then lower it to the ground
> so I can feel the direction it is pointing. If you do get the magnet from a
> teacher, mention what your intentions are and I'll bet she/he can show you
> real quick how this works.
>
> As for the guide dog, just remember that they are not typically trained to
> guide off the beaten path or sidewalk. I hike with my guide often, but I
> don't expect or rely on her for direction. Also remember that on top of
> everything else you will be trying to learn at a survival-type camp, you
> will have the added stressor of controlling your guide, and the mental part
> of survival is about managing stressors. Finally, on guides on your survival
> experience, talk to someone about the local wildlife and predators. While
> the ADA allows you to bring your guide, bears and mountain cats don't read
> the ADA. I take a camping class/trip with the local college every year, and
> have this conversation with the instructor (who loves my guide) often. The
> class rule is no pets, but she always wants me to bring my guide. Predators
> don't know the difference, so sometimes the guide comes, sometimes she stays
> home, depending on predator activity and how well they have been feeding.
> Just something else to consider during your guide dog decision. In the
> spirit of practicing techniques, I do bring mine just to learn how to deal
> with that added stressor from time to time. Something else to discuss with
> your potential survival guides.
>
>
> On Feb 6, 2013, at 7:09 AM, Julie J. wrote:
>
>> This is awesome!
>>
>> I don't know yet what sort of terrain we will be in.  I am looking at
>> several options in entirely different regions.  If we end up in Montana
>> your hiking ideas will be very useful.  If we end up at the place in
>> Indiana, I think I'll be okay with a regular cane or the dog maybe.
>>
>> I had no clue about your magnet idea.  I will have to Google it to get
>> directions on how to make one of these.  I was thinking of purchasing a
>> compass, but this sounds like it would do the same thing for a lot
>> cheaper.  Also I don't know that I'd use the compass much after this trip
>> and don't really want to spend the money on something I'm not going to get
>> a lot of use.
>>
>> I also hadn't thought of your gear idea.  It makes perfect sense and is
>> very doable.  If we tent camp I will practice setting up the tent here at
>> home until I can do it easily on my own.  Not sure what other gear I'll be
>> taking but I'll put it on the practice list too.
>>
>> I spoke with a guide from one of the companies I am considering yesterday.
>>  He seemed very knowledgeable and easy to talk to.  I did mention my
>> blindness, although usually I don't bring it up in advance.  However I
>> felt that this is one of those times where it would be important for him
>> to know in advance.  He had some questions, but was more curious than
>> nervous or skeptical.  I think perhaps he views my blindness as a
>> challenge to his teaching ability.  I'm very optimistic about that program
>> and guide.
>>
>> Thanks so much for the great ideas!  I'm filing this away for later
>> reference.
>> Julie
>>
>>
>> On 2/5/2013 7:16 PM, Kelly Thornbury 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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>>
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-- 
Justin Louchart
JALOUCHART at GMAIL.COM

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