Survival

A little forethought and organization will payoff in a great memorable adventure for that next outdoors excursion you may have planned.

The older liquid gas lanterns give off just as much light but you will have to refill the tank with liquid gas and this can be messy as well as dangerous if you are not careful. Both types of lanterns use mantels so be sure to carry extras.

Bring along some good sunscreen. Even in the winter time a person can get a sun burn. You may want to get some type of bug repellant also. Don't combine the sunscreen and bug repellant as sunscreen may have to be used more frequently. If you have a second tarp place it on the ground under the tarp tent be sure not to place the ground tarp outside the tent if you do any rain water may flow in on the ground tarp and you may get wet. Severe weather can occur anytime of year and often with little warning. According to NOAA, lightning is one of the most underrated severe weather hazards because it usually claims one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction.

Horseback riding might be a fun and exciting option while visiting a national park. Several parks offer gravel roads for horseback riding, certain parks also have horse rentals and guided excursions available.

The only problem is that camping in areas that are not designated for camping can cause problems with the law. Many land owners do not wish campers to be on their property and some nature reserves prohibit camping due to damage it can cause to the environment.

A definite upcoming trend is more and more people seeking untouched locales and wilderness. Had it with the "rat race"? Got time off but not much cash to spend? Losing touch with your family? Sounds like an old-fashioned campout is just what you need.

Survival Tips: What To Do When Kidnapped

For so long, parents have taught children to stay away from strangers. And for good reason. Children are vulnerable and need to learn how to keep safe and to protect themselves from kidnapping. We drill them to never take candy from a stranger and never to ride in a car with someone they don't know. However, children do not necessarily have the same concept of a stranger that an adult has. A child that has been brought up with encouragement and has built self-confidence will be in a better position to identify a potentially dangerous situation and to get away from it. Still, kidnappings are perpetrated not only by strangers. There are statistics that show almost half of juvenile kidnappings were done by family members. More than a quarter by an acquaintance, and the rest by strangers.

In the face of all these, and even though kidnappings are not so common it is still important to be aware, to learn how to protect yourself, and how to escape if you ever become a victim.

During the first moments when a kidnapper tries to grab you, create a commotion by yelling and screaming and getting the attention of other people. Try to get to a public place where you can find people who can help you.

Do a search on “discount camping gear” and you will find a number of online camping stores that sell all kinds of affordable and cheap camping gear from some of the best name brands like Hillary, Coleman, Ozark Trail, Brunton, Eureka, Jansport, Swiss Army, Boy Scout, Quest, Kelty, North Face, Gregory, Closeout and Motorcycle. Cross country skiing is a wonderful way to experience the parks wilderness during the winter season. Snowshoeing trails may also be available in parks.

On the other hand when you go camping, the clothes that you wear at home will not be sufficient to shield you nor keep you comfy. It is a known fact that nature does not always make things easy for the venturers.

Activities such as hiking, fishing, cycling, horseback riding, white water rafting and kayaking, skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering are just a few of the sports you might want to include on your camping adventure.

Some of the functions of these websites include being able to search by state, campground, lake, or forest name. You can access maps of each campground to see the layout of the grounds and how close each site is to shower, bathrooms, playgrounds, beaches, etc... This feature is great because you may choose which site you would like to reserves and check for availability.

The thought of camping alone can be very intimidating, especially if you’re a woman. Ideally, it is not something recommended to women new to camping.

Be aware that the glass globe of all gas and propane lanterns get extremely hot and can give you a serious burn.

You will need ice to keep the frozen foods cool. Save up you milk containers plastic works best wash out and fill ¾ full of water an place in the freezer. When you have a few frozen containers you now have the ice that will keep your food cold.

The point is to treat your family to an unforgettable outdoor adventure, so it doesn't matter how you plan to camp or where you intend to go.

While you struggle with your kidnapper, pushing against him with all your strength can knock him off balance and give you the opportunity to be free from his grip, even for a second. If the kidnapper succeeded in getting you into his car, you can try to quickly go out one of the other doors. When that is not possible, lean on the horn and make as much noise as possible - again to catch the attention of other people. Anytime there are people on the street or in other cars who can see you, make a commotion.

In the event the kidnapper was able to take you to his house, continue finding a way to get noticed by other people who can help you. If they observe strange things happening in the kidnapper's house, they will get suspicious and hopefully call the police. Use whatever means available to you -- turning the lights on and off, making loud noises, screaming for help.

Look around for other things you can use like a telephone. Try all windows and doors. There may be a way out that is unlocked. You can attempt to unlock a door with tools you find or break a window. Don't give up the hope of finding a way to escape and reporting the crime.

Just like your old scoutmaster used to say, "Always be prepared". Make a list and check it three times before you leave on your camping trip.

Apart from being submerged in wilderness, an important component of camping is the interaction with the localities, villagers and natives. These native guides know the unexplored places, the less traveled paths, the unknown facts, myths and stories about the locations. Hiking is a wonderful way to view nature at its finest, as the parks really are preserving special pieces of our wilderness. Depending on what park you will be hiking, the trails will offer different ranges of difficulty levels. Many trails will lead to scenic vistas as easy hikes, while other hikes may be significantly more challenging and too steep for some.

Whatever activity you decide to enjoy, it is always wise to do a little research to know ahead of time what to expect, always check what the weather conditions will be to avoid any dangerous situations.

Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition. You’re number one priority when you’re camping should be to have a good time and enjoy nature – something that is difficult to do when you’re sick and exhausted. Be sure to take camping food with you that will keep you well fed and your energy level up. Energy bars and gels don’t usually weigh a lot and pack a serious nutrition punch, making them great for the trail. If you don’t cook a lot at home and don’t plan to while you’re camping, do yourself a favor and eat more than candy bars and licorice. Just about anyone can boil water, so just about anyone can take some prepared camping foods on their trip and eat well.

Then once you purchase the tent, practice setting it up several times. This will give you an idea of what tools you will need to take with you. Doing this will also give you a great idea about the functionality and usage for your tent. You may also need to take some spare parts for the tent incase of breakage or damage to some parts. More on Camping Outdoors Tips at http://www.camping-outdoor.info

Just the thing for negotiating the wilds of the West Elk Mountains. I cruised south from Glenwood Springs, turned short of the road to Aspen, and passed the beehive coke ovens of Redstone to the town of Marble. In some ways, Marble is a modern ghost town, with dirt roads and weather-beaten cabins, but as it hosts a Post Office and fire department, it retains its "living" status. More on Wilderness Survival Tips. Then we had enough space for dressing or cooking. The bench-seat in back folds out into a comfortable bed, so we were all set for camping.

Instead of going up to other campers and saying, “Hi, I’m Kerry and I’m here by myself” ask questions like “How can I contact you if I experience a problem” or “is this campground regularly patrolled?”Don’t advertise you are by yourself by finding campsites away from walking trails
By: Hazel Leong