#outdoorsmanship

[burninglights]

Apropos of forest and national parks rangers (the dedicated Shit Has Gone Sideways Handlers) having their jobs axed, and as a former hiker, I think that if you’re outdoorsy, you ought to be aware of the following resources:

- Where There Is No Doctor by David Werner & Carol Thurman, regarded by the WHO as the reference text for remote medicine (Internet Archive PDF link)

- Stop the Bleed training, available in the US & UK, which provides training on how to stop haemorrhage in an emergency situation outside of a clinical environment (website link to local training)

- Manual CPR instruction via Revivr, the dedicated British Heart Foundation manual CPR training programme (website link)

- what3words, which generates three unique words that allow emergency response & public safety bodies to locate users (available on android & Apple app stores)

WHILST NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP IN A TIMELY MANNER, I’d really recommend that folks familiarise themselves with these resources, particularly emergent wound care & how to use what3words, as in an emergency situation, all preparedness is helpful.

In addition to all of this, I really recommend that folks have a first aid kit in their backpacks/vehicles.

You do not need the Batcave in your rucksack or your car boot, but it never hurts to be prepared. You can find stocked first aid kits in most pharmacies and retailers.

Failing that, here is how I stock my personal ‘on the go’ first aid kit for my backpack:

- 1 x card of paracetamol/acetaminophen tablets

- 1 x card of aspirin tablets (substitute for ibuprofen if you’re on blood thinners, have a clotting disorder or have other contraindications for aspirin use)

- 5 x alcohol antiseptic wipes

- 1 x tube of antiseptic cream

- 1 x tube of antihistamine cream (bug bite cream)

- 2 x pairs nitrile gloves

- 30 x plasters assorted size

- 3 x large sterile wound dressings

- 2 x hydrocolloid plasters

- 1 x sterile gauze bandage

- 1 x micropore tape

You may also want to include;

- 3 x large non-adhesive wound dressings

- 1 x roll of comprehensive bandage (self adhesive; useful for fixing wound dressings in place or for stabilising sprains)

- 1 x tube arnica bruise cream

Emergency medications (asthma inhaler/EpiPen/glucagon gel for hypoglycaemia etc) should also be either on your person or in your kits.

Ensure that you’re wearing proper clothing.

In the summer, you need protective sunhats and sunglasses, as well as SPF; you should also ensure that you’re carrying more water than you think you need, as you’ll be dehydrating faster due to a combination of heat loss and exertion. Loose, covering clothing made natural fibres like cotton etc., will shield you from the sun and wick sweat.

If you’re in tick country, sleeves and long trousers that are tucked into socks are non-negotiables. Lyme disease sucks absolute ass and can take months to recover from, as does tick borne encephalitis, tularemia and anaplasmosis. Long hair should be tied up and covered with a hat; after your hike, inspect your clothing and yourself thoroughly for ticks.

Footwear is more important than you’d think. Hiking in your Converse is a sure fire way to twist your ankle to fuck, and if you’re a solo hiker, that’s a good way to get in deep shit very quickly. Hiking trainers or boots are ideal, though any well fitting, waterproof trainer with a good tread and a decent grip will also suffice providing you’re not going through harsh terrain.

Finally, marked trails and campgrounds are there for a reason. Going off trail, especially in terrain you’re unfamiliar with, is a spectacular way to get swallowed up by a ravine or unmarked cave system, get lost and die of exposure, or get eaten.

Human exceptionalism is a real phenomenon, and a detrimental one. For all intents and purposes, when in nature, you’re a ham hock with delusions of grandeur. Bears will kill you just as dead as they would a deer. Same goes for wolves, coyotes, exposure, thirst, caves and flash flooding.

Speaking of wild animals; do not approach them. If you’re close enough to pet them, you are close enough to get bitten/gored/trampled/clawed/otherwise killed in a grotesque manner. Make an effort to learn about any wildlife you may encounter before your trip, and what to do if you encounter them.

Enjoy the natural environment, learn about it, and have fun in it, as loving it and learning about it is the best way to get invested in it’s protection and preservation, but do so in a way that means you’re alive to advocate for it when your adventure is done.

[bastard-woodsman]

Common sense stuff here but trust me it’s hard to think straight if this happens to you. Happened to me in New Hampshire about 3 years ago and you go from zero to balls-out panic instantly. The magnitude of the cold and the shock just sucks all rational thinking right out of you.

[forresterbushcraft]

The archaeon 45 has become my daily carry bag for work. For being in the woods each day I need something that is durable, comfortable and practical thus pack ticks all the boxes and looks the part aswell! @ospreyeurope #outdoorsmanship #ospreyuk #adventure #outdoorlife #bushcraft #recycled #getoutdoors #woodcraft #adventure https://www.instagram.com/p/CFp6G57B4je/?igshid=19a66a13jij5f

[theamericangirlscout]

Building a Campfire

From the Junior Camper Badge

Use an established fireplace or fire ring.  A fire ring is an area of bare soil that will contain the fire.  It should be an area without roots, dry materials, and overhanging branches. 

SAFETY TIPS

Tie back your hair and wear long pants 

Have a bucket of water and a shovel ready before building your fire. You might need to smother the fire with dirt, or to stir wet coals when you put it out. Let the fire die down until only ashes are left. 

Then use a long stick or shovel to stir the ashes. 

Sprinkle the ashes with water, and then stir them again. Continue until there is no gray ash and the fire bed is cool. 

Be careful when you pour water on a fire – it will become steam, which can burn your face and hands. Pouring water on hot rocks might cause them to crack or explode. 

TINDER: is thin material that burns as soon as it is lit with a match.  Tinder could be tiny dry twigs, dry leaves, or wood shavings.

KINDLING: is larger in diameter than tinder, thin enough to catch fire before the tinder burns out, and large enough to help the fuel to light.  Kindling is about the same diameter as you thumb and should be dry enough to snap when you bend it.

FUEL: is thicker pieces of wood that keep a fire going.  Fuel should be dry, seasoned wood found on the ground or in a woodpile.  Have enough tinder, kindling, and fuel so you don’t have to leave your fire once you start it. 

[bastard-woodsman]

A Home-Made Compass

If you happen to have a magnet, it is easy to make a compass. Rub a fine needle on the magnet; then on the side of your nose. Then lay it gently on the surface of a cup full of water. The needle well float and point north. The cup must not be of metal.

Source: The Birch Bark Roll of Woodcraft, by Ernest Thomas Seton (1927)

[bastard-woodsman]

[bastard-woodsman]

Twitch-Up Snare Trap

Tie a small overhand loop knot in your parachute cord, then fold the loop back on itself to form Mickey Mouse ears and weave the tag end through the ears as illustrated.

To build the twitch-up snare, use more cord to tie a spring pole or the branch of a small tree in tension.

Set up a trigger mechanism like the one shown. When the animal's head goes through the loop, the trigger is released, and it snatches the animal into the air, out of reach of other predators.

[bastard-woodsman]

Some solid skills to have for anyone spending time in the outdoors