Not "new" to the forum, but to the outdoors. This comes from MPI's web-site; they make the space blankets. 1st of 3 parts.
Outdoor Knowledge
Easy Fire Starting Tinder
Tinder: one of the critical elements to starting a fire in the wilderness is to get good tinder to ignite easily so you can build your fire on top of this initial ignition point. Most people rely on available pine needles, bird's nest, dry grass, etc. as their primary source of tinder. Sometimes these critical elements are not readily available or in a crisis situation you don't have time to look for them. Here is one you may not have thought of, Dryer Lint. Ask your wife how much accumulates in the dryer catch screen, believe me its readily available, plentiful and the cost is nothing. Considering that most of your clothes are polyester or cotton blends, the off flow lint is a good fire ignition source. You can get a large supply into a very small flat polyethylene bag. If you add a few strike-anywhere matches you have a ready-made fire starting kit. You can increase the volatility of the lint by packing a 35mm film canister tightly with a supply, then carefully saturating it with some white gas or kerosene. Close the container securely, wipe off all spillage and then tightly seal the canister around the cap with duct tape. Be very careful when you use this method of fire starting in the field, stay back from the source, as it will flash up very quickly. Always practice at home first, preferably in your back yard, with whatever components you select, so you will know how to use them when the need arises.
A pair of bootlaces
BootlacesA pair of heavy-duty bootlaces packed in with your gear can offer a multitude of useful and potentially safety related assistance in any outdoor environment. There are some benefits to leather laces, but the new heavy-duty type will work just as well in most cases. Aside from the fact that if you break a bootlace on the trail you can remedy a very uncomfortable experience, there are many other uses you may encounter where this simple $3.00 item will help benefit your outdoor enjoyment. Some of the things bootlaces can help you with you in the field are:
* lashing poles together for an emergency shelter or for a cooking tripod.
* replacing a torn out tent tie down or a broken rain flap tie.
* fish stringer, lantern hanger, net wrist strap, securing things in choppy water.
* first-aid as a tourniquet, arm sling, holding a compress in place.
* holding your hat or glasses on in high wind or while climbing.
* tying possible need items on the outside of your pack like a coat or rain gear.
* temporary repair of broken tackle boxes, watch bands, snaps or buckles.
* lanyards for whistles, compasses, pocket knives, keys, or your GPS.
* chest strap for pulling back pack straps tighter inward with a heavy load.
If you really think of your own outdoor experiences, I am sure you can add 10 more potential uses. Bootlaces weight nothing, don't take up any space, and they are economical. Think about adding them to your gear for your next trip.
Waterproofing Matches
MatchThe common perception for waterproofing common stick matches is to dip your "strike anywhere" match heads into wax as a preventative to water penetration. Though this may work it is very difficult to do successfully. First of all not many of us want to melt down a candle or a bar of wax for coating a few matches, secondly there is the chance that the wax may become too hot in its liquid stage and ignite the match. It also is extremely difficult to scrape away the wax in order to ignite the match in times of crisis. The easier and more practical way to waterproof your "stick matches" is with an application of a heavy coating of clear nail polish over the match head and down the wood stick. Don't forget to coat the bottom of the matchstick. Think of it as the same way you would waterproof your deck. Clear nail polish will seal the match head and coat the wood to prevent penetration of any moisture.
Finding direction with a watch and the sun
Watch the sunThis method is pretty accurate to within 10° -- plus or minus 5°. It will give you some other method to help you determine an approximate direction in the outdoors without a compass.
* Take your analog watch (one with hands) not a digital, and reset the time to Greenwich Mean Time, that is Eastern Standard Time plus 5 hours. (NOTE: determine the number of hours difference from GMT in your area before using this method.)
* Place your watch on a flat surface, preferably on the ground. Have a small stick ready to stick into the ground. (see illustration to right)
* In the Northern Hemisphere (this is the US and Canada) point the hour hand of your watch directly at the sun. SOUTH is now halfway between the hour hand and the 12. Place the stick in the intersection of these points, now you have a marker.
* In the Southern Hemisphere (for those of you happen to find yourselves south of the equator) point the number 12 at the sun and NORTH will be approximately half way between the 12 and the hour hand.
* This
PLEASE NOTE: The above described method of obtaining a sense of direction is considered ONLY fairly accurate and should be used only when and if needed. Nothing in the outdoors environment takes the place of a good compass or a GPS and up to date terrain maps.
DAYLIGHT REMAINING
DaylightI have found myself at times being a great distance from my camp and the hours of daylight are quickly passing. I have used this simple and fairly accurate " trick/skill" to determine how many hours of daylight are left. This way I can decide if I should quickly establish an overnight camp or if I might have time to walk back down to base camp in the daylight.
To "estimate", the hours of daylight remaining all you need are your hands to approximate this time frame.
* Extend your arms completely outstretched at face level.
* Bend your wrists inward so your palms face you.
* Place one hand on top of the other with fingers pointing in opposite directions and with the bottom of your lower hand even with the horizon.
* Raise your top hand fingers one by one until the bottom of the sun is on top of one of your fingers.
* Each finger below the sun and above the horizon represents about 15 minutes of daylight remaining.
* Everybody has different width of fingers, so for better results practice at home and time the sunset to see if your fingers represent 15 minutes, 10 minutes or maybe even 20 minutes.
FOR SAFETY'S SAKE…. Whistle
* Blowing a whistle, if you are lost or separated from your party in the outdoors, requires very little energy and is a highly audible distress signal.
* A shrill whistle blast can be heard up to a mile away on land and up to 2 miles over water, and it can be easily tracked to its source and can be answered by a return whistle blast.
* A whistle is a simple, low cost and easy, but effective outdoor signaling device. It is especially simple and easy for children to use and understand.
* All children going into the outdoors should be equipped with a whistle, adults too. As little as 50 feet off the trail is deep wilderness for a child.
* Remember to blow in long blasts of three in a row every few minutes, or every time you think you see or hear something. The "3" blasts in a row is a recognized distress signal.
* Blowing a whistle uses significantly less energy than screaming, and screaming can cause additional panic and frustration.
* A whistle in the outdoors stops being a simple toy, and becomes a very valuable piece of personal safety equipment.
A special note to parents:
* Emphasize the use of the whistle for emergency purposes only, NOT to cry "wolf" or use as a game.
* Anything your child can do to alert others to their presence will help to locate them quickly, if they become lost.
* Make sure the lanyard is securely tied to the whistle and affixed to the child's jacket zipper, on their belt loop, or around their neck.
* Have your child practice the three short blasts, before venturing off into the outdoors, and explain to them the reason for the whistle.
* Let them know that you are very well aware that anyone can get lost, and you will not be angry if this should happen. This assurance is vital to them using the whistle in case of an emergency.
* Teach them to remain in one place when they realize they are lost, and blow the whistle. Tell them calmly, but emphatically, that you will be there to find them.
ABOUT WATER….
* Sixty to seventy percent of the average human body is made up of water.
* A loss in liquids equivalent to 2% of the body weight reduces the mental and muscular capacity by 20%, a loss of 4% reduces it by 40%.
* Water from melted snow or ice can cause cramps and digestive problems because it is devoid of mineral salts. When possible accompany the drinking of melted snow or ice with the intake of food.
* Do not put snow or ice directly into your mouth to melt. It is best to melt it over an open flame in a cup. Cold in your mouth could cause local cooling and may cause diarrhea that would aggravate potential dehydration.
ENJOY!:cool:
