Wilderness Tips by Richard Fowler:
Be prepared: Boy Scouts of America
Never give up: U.S. Special Forces
Positive mental attitude: Auckoo
Opportunity favors the prepared mind
The first rule of nature:
The more noise you make the less you will see.
The more you go, the more you see.
The longer you stay, the more you see.
Location, location, location. The real estate agents have it right!
As in hunting, when you are in the right location,
more will come to you than you can find on your own.
First rule of hiking:
Travel light, with well broken-in foot gear.
Fastest way to break in leather boots. Put them on and get them soaked in water.
Then wear them until they dry, change socks during the break-in period.
Do this several times, they will contour to your feet.
This can be done around the house before any trip.
Always bring extra socks and foot powder on all trips.
Back packs: Love-em
Back packs: Hate-em
The bigger they are the more you take. The more you take, the heavier they get.
If you think your pack feels right in your living room, how about after five miles,
or ten?
Stay light, and use the adjustable straps to change position as necessary.
Special operations, need special gear.
Ropes, fish gear, snake or insect collecting equipment, scuba equipment, cameras, generators, tents, rafts, boats, pack animals.
Your load can increase. This is normal.
First rule on breaking in:
It takes most people three days to break-in to an activity
they are not use to.
Weather its hiking, canoeing, climbing, horseback riding, etc.
After the third day the person will start sleeping better, eating better, body functions will become more regular.
Young people seem to break in faster (darn it!)
First rule of first aid:
Clear the the airway,
Stop the bleeding,
Treat for shock,
Get a doc!
First rule for camp:
Before you set up for the night, look up!
Large dead limbs can fall during the night and can kill you.
Be careful where you pitch your tent!
This is a very serious consideration!
Don't set up in a flood zone!
Flash floods can wash out your camp and your gear including your boats.
The location may look great and it may not rain on you but a rain upstream from you
can still wash you out.
If its not raining it will be.
Always set up for rain. If you have dry wood at night and want dry wood in the morning . Cover it up!
Richard likes to set up camp around 4 pm. That gives him almost two hours of light to get firewood, cook & eat, and get orientated around camp before night.
Stay organized.
Check camp throughly before you leave.
Clean up all your mess. Donīt pollute!
Check, check, and double check.
First rule for moving through the jungle:
Donīt run through the jungle at night.
Move accordingly
Look through the jungle - not at it.
Walk through the jungle, not into it.
Make every step a practice of being quiet.
Unless called for.
First rule of gear:
long pants, long shirts.
hat,
rain gear,
flashlight, with spare batteries and bulbs,
sun & insect protection.
water bottle...duh, canteen.
good foot gear and extra foot gear with dry socks and powder.
always choose a lighter over matches. take several.
First rule of navigation:
You're never lost. Stay cool.
Learn to use a compass, use it,
develop confidence in your compass skills -- and practice, practice and practice!!!
This is an important tool. (use it!!)
maps, GPS, star navigation, and shadow stick
(forget moss on north side of tree stuff!!),
use two compasses because, don't depend on just one.
(Same with GPS, carry two.)
First rules of hygiene:
Keep finger nails short and out of your mouth.
Protazoans collect and are spread by your fingers.
Also avoid scratching insect bites or rashes.
Liberal use of alcohol on hands, utensils, toothbrush
and fresh cuts and scratches.
Sanitation:
No one wants to talk about it, hear it, smell it, look at it, or step in it.
Get away from camp -get off the trail- bury it, cover it up well.
Heres what others are saying about Richard`s wilderness tips.
"There`re revolutionary" Che Guevara
"Worth there weight in gold" Atahuallpa
"Id be lost with out them" Lt Col. Percy Fawcett
