Dramatic Photos of Griz Chasing Burnt Bison

I am a member of http://coolworks.com

a great website that links employees with employers in the some of the coolest spots around the world. I have worked in Yellowstone National Park, and Zion National Park, thanks to the connection facilitated by CoolWorks.

People become members, join groups and stay in touch with their friends and happenings in their favorite spots. Very informative, interactive, give it a look if you love to travel or work in beautiful places.

The owner of the website, Bill Berg, posted this link for those who love Yellowstone, or are fascinated with the goings on there.

http://www.krtv.com/news/grizzly-versus-bison-the-rest-of-the-story

The photos were taken in snowy April by a man taking his wife to work. These photos will amaze you, and truly rare.

I felt very sorry for the poor bison who first gets so close to hot spots he is nearly burned to death, the has to run for his life from a full grown griz. Sadly, he met his fate the next day. There are no Darwin Awards for animals that I know of. This poor guy would qualify.

The Cabin

I have this favorite shelter going on; every time I hike up to the mountain top, I add to the Cabin.

It started out as a learning project. If you're faced with nightfall and no shelter, how long would it take to create something from scratch? There are no caves, overhangs,or large blow downs. Its fairly open with small trees because years ago it was clear cut: a method whereby all trees are cut down and removed at once.

With winter approaching, I find myself adding to the shelter with plans to do an overnighter there. I'll bring a thermometer to measure the difference in temperatures inside and out.

Playing in the woods like this is just practice for if one had to hole up and wait for rescue. Its important to feel some control over the outcome so that panic doesn't set in. With purposeful work, like improving the shelter by adding more leaves or branches, a person can stay put and not panic.

One disadvantage to this location is no ready source of water. A stream is shown on the topographical map, but it is nearly 700 feet lower in elevation, way down the slope. An advantage however would be easy to spot by air search and rescue teams.

Playing with survival scenarios is like practicing basketball. The practice sessions hone skills for the real game.

Preparing the Peanut Butter Jar for Trail

I heated water in my coffee pot just to pour into these two plastic jars. Once the near boiling water was in the container, I screwed on the lids so that they would maintain their shapes.

The plastic will shrink, and deform if the lid is not used in this process.

I allow the water to completely cool before dumping it.

This plastic container is very useful in an ultralight cook set. The lid can become a spoon holder, the plastic a mixer, coffee cup, or solar cooker.

I used a plastic peanut butter jar extensively when I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.

In the desert, I discovered solar cooking with my empty peanut butter jar. Ramen noodles were broken into bite size pieces, placed in the jar and covered with water. This filled jar was placed in the sun for about an hour, and became the perfect afternoon lunch. Many days when the temperatures soared over 100 degrees, resting during the heat of the day, and hiking til near sunset became the method of operation, allowing us to make good miles while carrying only 5 quarts of water for the long stretches. During this resting and waiting period a person could solar cook and take a nap.

Later in the Sierras, a couple friends and I crested a snow covered Forester Pass. At 13,000 plus-feet it is the highest point on the PCT. As we began our decent down its slope, we stopped in the snow for a home made ice cream break. We each pulled out our trusty empty peanut butter jars and each a package of hot coco powder mix. We filled our containers with snow, each emptied a package of hot coco mix into it. Stirring with the trail spoon, our ice cream was complete.

This larger plastic container is from instant coffee. Either one could be used in a hobo cook set. Because they contained dry goods, not liquids, they can't be considered leak proof, but will make a great powdered pudding shaker, too.

Fresh Smells of Fall

It rained early this morning, the kind of rain that refreshes everything and gives that musky raw earth smell. The dust and pollen is washed away, the colors much more vibrant.

I walk in the rain, taking a deep breath, learning the smells and sounds of the forest in fall.

Even the slightest breeze or drop of rain can move a distant leaf, causing the dark background of trunks to look as though they are moving, an optical illusion. Smells are like that too. A sweet smell. Is it muskadines ripening, distant fallen apples? The fall is a time of harvest, sweet smells are not flowers.

The smoky smell of campfires, less intense than a wood burning stove, much more pleasant that cigarettes or burning garbage, will tell of nearby campers.

As survivalists, we learn to recognize the smells, whether it be a stream, moss or vegetation, wild animals, urine, wet dog, humans. All these give us information.

Care must be taken because our initial recognition can evaporate quickly. Scientists tell us our brain becomes accustomed to a smell quickly, hence the warning if you ever smell smoke, investigate it. Get out of bed, find the source. If you go back to sleep, your nose won't wake you up again.

We can train our noses to be more sensitive by taking deep breaths and identifying what we are smelling. You can practice in the kitchen, at work, in the forest, any time of the day. Our noses give us a lot of information. Strange how desensitized we can become with cigarette smoke, perfumes, furniture polish and detergents we add to our lives.

I remember hiking the Colorado Trail and passing a bunch of hikers. We could smell the detergent on their clothing, the perfume in their hair and play a game of identifying the brand. Our packs picked up trail odors, not always so pleasant. We smelled very wild, like the places we'd been.

Some smells can be pleasant to one, and disgusting to another. I love the smell of black jelly beans. My friend finds them appauling.

Waterproof Paper Website

If you're looking for water proof paper, check out this company: http://riteintherain.com/ . I started researching this product and found a link to Rite In The Rain-Cool Stories which is also at their website.


A cool product for a trail club or scouts, you can order these books by the dozen and feel confident they'll hold up. Just reading the stories from around the world by firefighters and adventurers give you an idea of what types of projects you could embark on.

There's tablets, notebooks, printable paper, too. Imaginations run wild with this sort of thing. We tend to avoid bad weather, but a purposeful expedition in bad weather teaches much.
Packing up in the rain, leaving shelter, hiking all day to set up in a deluge, sleeping on two inches of hail are all experiences I treasure.
These experiences teach methods that come in handy: organization, prioritization, clear thinking, delayed gratification.

Give everyone a tablet of waterproof paper, have them record their thoughts and experiences and you'll have a learning experience worthy of the best schools.

Brooks-Range Backcountry Map Toolkit- Gear Review

Brooks-Range.com sent me a back country map toolkit for a gear review. I was surprised when it arrived at the contents of this kit. It weighs 4.5 ounces and has this nice bright fabric wallet to carry everything in. A person still needs a magnetic compass, regardless of their skills, which is not included.

I read the instruction pamphlet, learning about how they calculate inclines and slopes using the plastic card tool and a string.

If a person had co ordinates from an online source, or say, GPS co ordinates from an article in Backpacker magazine this back country tool kit would help in locating it on the correct map.

This tool kit is not for novices or regular trail hiking. If you got lost, it could help in reorienting, but a compass and map is still needed. A person needs to take time with the instructions and not be mathmatically phobic.

I liked the wallet and waterproof paper. The book was generous in size and pages. The fabric was bright, well made, with plenty of side opening pockets. A nice place for three pens on the outside, with a secure closure.

Where the Wind Blows Bittersweet-Book Review

Published in 1975 , Jim Klobuchar still rings true with the winter adventurer. The glossy photo pages are a delight even if you can feel the winter chill deep in your bones.

Jim introduces us to the experienced mountaineers who we later will find spending the night up in the Beartooth Mountains when their snowmobile party becomes hopelessly stranded in a blizzard. The party of 16 breaks into 4 groups, and although one dies, the rest survive the chilling cold using different methods. One can learn much reading about each method, and the people who suffered through them. Bottom line: a little bit of the right gear and snacks can make a huge difference.

This harrowing experience does not prevent future explorations. Three go on to Oregon to hunt for signs of the elusive Bigfoot of the Siskiyous, up near Lonesome Ridge.

Thankfully, the book was written by a man who knows and enjoys his topic, reflecting a love for foot and ski travel as well as machine.

Only 128 pages, this book is a good read and sobering look at a winter world both amazing and terrifying. I turned the last page with a greater appreciation for preparation and the elements.

It is good to boldly go, but better to return.

Wild Persimmons

I tasted my first wild persimmon after a warning that it could be hideous. Mine was fully ripe, soft to the touch, a lovely peach color and tasted like an apricot. Immediately I started thinking of jam, jelly, wine, and salsa.

I did some research. Wikipedia has a lot of information, dealing widely with all varieties of persimmons, not necessarily wild.

At http://www.treetrail.net/diospyros.html I found photos, a little history, and tips on harvesting wild fruits. Cultivation was discussed as well. Some trees are male, some female and some can self pollinate.

Good thing I gathered a dozen or so wild fruit just in these don't self pollinate and planted them in groupings around the perimeter of the yard. Even though it may take six years to produce fruit, its worth doing.

Wildlife and Native Americans loved wild persimmons. They can be dried when too abundant for immediate consumption.

Along with acorns, sassafras, common plantain and shelf mushrooms, we have a bountiful array of wild foods that are easily identified.

Final Day Packless System

I call the above clip the Nitty Gritty. If you've been following along and perhaps even revamping your external frame, today is the day we put it all together.

It can get a little strange at first, making sure everything is secure, will carry well and fits. Silnylon is slippery, so having the main bag full creates a ledge for the top bag to rest on. This helps when cinching it down.

As you can see in the video, my tent is in a long skinny bag. This helps keep things on as well. If you want, you can add the anchoring loops in the long seam as well to pass the cinching straps through.

You can use bags that are not necessarily waterproof. Just be prepared to cover with a pack cover. You can get ultralight silnylon pack covers at Campmor for a very reasonable price.

Even if all you bags are waterproof, pack covers are recommended. Those three day rains on the Appalachian Trail have a way of soaking everything unless you seriously compensate. I always line the stuff sack which will contain the sleeping bag and sleeping clothes with a plastic bag.

Its good to have this project completed. Write me if you have any questions.

Packless System-Day Three

Today we did a lengthy blog at

http://www.brawnyview.blogspot.com/

on the steps involved in making your own stuff sack to serve as the central, main bag. I sewed a mesh pocket onto the fabric before sewing the side seams. This main bag can be removed and used as a day pack. For that reason it is vertically oriented, instead of horizontal as the other bags will be.

The short clips here are showing how to add anchor points to your existing stuff sacks. As we know, the packless system is all about using what you have and just strapping it securely in place via cordage of some type.

If you've been using an internal frame, you probably stuff your sleeping bag into a stuff sack. Your food would also be in a stuff sack, as well as the tent, the cook system, and hygiene kit. Then, all these various sacks would be placed into an internal frame.

My extensive testing on the Pacific Crest Trail of the Packless System led me to the conclusion that 3-4 stuff sacks properly ordered, were sufficient for a long distance hiker's needs.

Tomorrow, we will put it all together on the pack, and by Friday have a complete video uploaded to my channel at YouTube.

Packless Conversion-Day Two

Today we take measurements and analyze our assortment of stuff sacks and gear. My pack is 14 inches wide. The stuff sacks need to be close to that length to cinch on. If you don't have them, you can make them, buy them, or modify existing gear.

Check out my video on how to make stuff sacks at my channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03

or view it at my Alternative Gear page at this blog.

I have several sleeping pads to choose from. Even if I take the thermarest in its stuff sack, it will fit. My tents are all in stuff sacks that can easily be strapped on via your common cinch strap.

Several stuff sacks would work if they had loops sewn in the bottom, but my main need is for a large central stuff sack. As long as I am making it, I will add a few perks.

Stuff sacks can be oriented either horizontally or vertically. My main bag for this system I've decided to make horizontal, so that I can add a pocket for water bottles.

See http://www.brawnyview.blogspot.com/

for more information on the Packless System Project.

Tomorrow we will make the Main Bag because I do not have a stuff sack large enough for the central bag. If you have a bag on hand which only needs modifying, we will show you how tomorrow.

Free Food Update

Here's the video on removing and cooking with acorns. We've learned that white oaks have little or no tannin, and can be used with just one soaking and rinsing.

The food value of acorns is not to be underestimated. A great way to spend the fall afternoon with the kids, too. A free project.

Packless System Conversion-Day One

Taking an external frame to an ultralight backpacking mode is very easy.

External frames last forever, even though the packs bound to them with Clevis pins may be worn out. Many times a pack has zippers, heavy pack cloth with holes, or simply way too much outdated metal hardware which is extremely heavy. The simple procedure of stripping all the old worn out equipment from the pack takes just a few minutes.

Once stripped, the external frame with shoulder straps and cushy hip belt weigh just under two pounds. The silnylon stuff sacks with gear are sacks normally used inside the pack. The method we will employ cinches these sacks directly to the frame. All can be covered with an ultralight silnylon pack cover, if desired, for rain protection.

My pack has a modern custom silnylon pack which I made to accommodate a Garcia Bear Canister for a long distance hike in Montana, grizzly country. Now I am in Appalachian Mountains and will use this pack for other adventures so a packless system is in order.

This week we'll be blogging about that process. Tomorrow, taking measurements and analyzing our stash of stuff sack, we'll begin assembling the system.

Check out http://www.brawnyview.blogspot.com/ for more details.

Sierra Magazine-A Review

I'm working my way through the July/August 2009 issue of Sierra, the magazine put out by Sierra Club.

There's a website, http://www.sierraclubtrails.org/ which is a relatively new social network promoted in it, as well as very interesting articles.

One, How Not to Die in the Woods, written by Paul Rauber,a senior editor at Serra, left me pondering many things.

Paul talks about the wilderness clinic he took sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game. Everyone was supposed to bring their personal survival kit to class. He threw together some stuff so he didn't arrive empty handed.

I loved his honesty. Refreshing.

How many times I've headed out in the woods with nothing but my hiking poles, and maybe a bottle of water. Then, taking a notion to explore some back area I realize how important it is not to get lost because all my "survival stuff" is at home. Well, not everything. My brain is my biggest asset. I've been practicing, some call it playing, in the woods for many years.

Back to the article. Paul really describes the class, or clinic very well and the instructors key advice when you feel, or really are, lost : "Sit down, breathe deeply. Think things over. Fear is like being hot or cold. You just learn how to deal with it."

I love that. My partner used to tell me true courage is when you are afraid. If you weren't afraid, there would be no need for courage.

Fear is a survival instinct. It wakes us up from nonchalance. Our senses give us necessary clues to survive if we know how to utilize them. Panic, not fear, is the enemy.

His Survival Pack Checklist :

Cell Phone

Compass

Lighter, flint and steel, waterproof matches

Duct Tape

First Aide supplies

Parachute cord

Knife

Whistle

Signaling mirror

Garbage bags

Space blanket

Water purification Tablets

Pictures of Loved ones

Dryer Lint

Paul goes onto remind us that these survival skills used to be taught to children by their parents, and now they are learned from reality shows, books, and Department of Fish and Game. I'll add that we learn from the Internet. I do a lot of research online.

Sierra Magazine is a great read, and I recommend it for enthusiasts regardless of which coast they live on.

New Wild Foods

Now that I pretty much have the acorn thing down, I'm looking at other wild edibles. So many things can make tea, that's not an issue.

What I want is something you can chew, and feel good about. Not gritty or slimy, but something our ancestors might have collected for the table like dandelions.

This week I've found Sassafras and Common Plantain. Both of these wild foods can be used as salad greens or cooked greens when young and tender, or made into a tea if you like. Being fall, and everything in tough Old mode, I collected leaves. I firmly believe in bringing book knowledge into the field, keeping it real.

We have a lot of kudzu around here in the South. It was a gift from a Japanese Ambassador at the turn of the century. A plant that is much maligned, it can be used to feed animals and humans, weave baskets and furniture, prevent erosion and has enough cellulose to create fuel for cars.

I've tasted it raw and its not bad, a little coarse. Once I try some cooked I'll report back.

The Hobo Cook Set

After making a gear loft from an onion sack, I decided to make a ditty bag for a cook set. This cook set is comprised of all recyclables, except for the matches and cigarette lighter, so I named it the Hobo Cook set.

My pot is a 26 ounce can of tomatoes. The plastic lid comes from a coffee can of the same diameter.

My cup is a plastic bowl from a dry cereal, Kashi. The soda can stove is made from a soda can. You can use tent stakes for a pot support, or make your own pot support with scrap hardware cloth or wire.

Any spoon completes the cook set. Place it all in this ditty bag.

When I was in girl scouts, we all had dunk sacks made of netting. A large kettle of hot soapy water, a kettle of clean rinse water, and a final kettle of sanitizer were lined up. Each girl would place her personal dishes in such a dunk sack, and wash her own cookware by dunking into these kettles.

It worked, and we eliminated dreaded kitchen duty.

I used a small hobo cook set while hiking the Appalachian Trail. It only weighed 3 ounces, and was used for creating simple hot foods via re hydration in cups.

Packless Systems Explained

My Packless System was first tested and streamline for my Pacific Crest Trail hike in 2001. Testing, results and conclusions can be read at the link above.

My homepage at http://trailquest.net/BRindex.html

is full of trail journals, gear designs, links and stuff.

Hard to describe it all.

Starting next week, I will show you how to strip your external frame pack and create a packless system. All you need is an external frame, fabric, and sewing machine. If you want to use some larger stuff sacks you have on hand, and a few hand sewing moves, that will work too.

I posted this information at http://www.brawnyview.blogspot.com/

Included at Brawnyview are links where to get fabric, hardware and ideas where to find inexpensive, used external frames.

It should be a fun project and very cost effective.

People have asked me for years to demonstrate this. Our end goal is a workable system for my readers as well as a complete How To video for YouTube .

An external frame pack can be updated, modified and customized to fit the specific needs of the owner. Because external frames last forever, you can share your pack with family and friends, adapting it to each trail as needed.

Each day next week we'll post until the video is completed and uploaded. Join me here next week as we delve into this project.

Glossary of Terms

I wrote a new page for this blog, called Glossary of Terms, because it occurred to me that I use words in ways many people may not be used to. I take it for granted that everyone knows what "stealth camping" means, or what the difference between a stuff sack, compression sack, or ditty bag is.

Well, no more. Check out the page attached to this blog. The link is on the right, in the list of pages under HOME.

If you'd like me to cover something, please leave a comment, or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure.

This short clip is part of a longer video I did for youtube.

It demonstrates why chosing colors for gear is important. Blending into our environment is a safety issue as well as an astetic one. If backpackers chose colors that blend, even on a crowded trail like the John Muir Trail in California, a level of wilderness can still be felt. When groups are camped in bright colored tents the human presence is unavoidable and detracts from the natural setting.

I first learned about the idea of stealth camping from Ray Jardine's books over ten years ago. He felt the easiest way to avoid unwanted bear encounters at night was to pick a place just before dark with no signs of human presence: no campfire rings, no traces of garbage, no cut down vegetation. Bears which are acustomed to the backpacker's food sack will revist areas where these smells may linger. A bear with these habits is not afraid of humans, and therefore much more dangerous.

I used these tactics on all my trails. One afternoon, hiking alone just north of Glen Alden Campground in Yosemite National Park, on the Pacific Trail, I left the trail in the grassy field, with a stream running through it. I climbed a hill, checked around to be sure there were no signs any human had ever been there. After setting up camp and arranging all my ultralight gear inside the tent, I noticed another backpacker come into view and sit down on a log near the stream. I waited. I knew him as Patch.

My tent was gray, and most of my other colors black or green. He ate a snack, and relaxed as the sun began to set. I carefully made my way down behind him, and tapped him on the back. He'd never seen me. Thats stealth.

Backpacker Magazine published a study which showed how bears would stop what they were doing to investigate strange colors, especially bright blue, in their environment and that bear bells were perceived as birds.

Having something bright in your pack comes in handy when hunters are out. Then, I strap my blue pad outside my pack for visibility. A bright bandana can be used as well.

Thinking about colors before buying gear is a sensible thing to do.

Get Some Acorns

My Acorn Project video is now available on my channel at

http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03

I took all the footage, compiled it with that down home touch hoping to inspire all my friends to check out this cool nut alternative.

While I was up at the picnic site processing these acorns, a nice older couple came by to chat. Turns out she had taught boy scouts back in the day how to use acorns to make pancakes. My whole thing, I told them, was to find ways to use acorns with the simplest of tools and least energy expended. I use these acorns, after processing, like one would use walnuts, pecans, almonds or cooked beans.

Being an experienced cook, I have some preferred methods to create flavor. Sauteing with canola oil and spices creates a product which can be eaten as a garnish or with fried rice. I prefer to use canola oil because it has higher burn point than butter, and contains healthy omega 3 fatty acids which raise our beneficial HDL cholesterol.

By mincing this prepared product we can incorporate acorns into vegetarian burgers or patties and serve with a variety of condiments.

Preparing the acorns with cinnamon and nutmeg instead of savory spices would make an excellent addition to baked goods such as muffins and nut breads.

Some acorns do not require processing. Their tannin levels are so low that they can be eaten raw or cooked in foods. Before processing, taste raw shelled acorns and decide how bitter they are. Then use water to remove bitter tannins as needed.

According to my research, the only animal that can not eat acorns is horses because acorns are toxic to them.

Make a Gear Loft or Survival Cabin

Today I hiked up to my new survival shelter on top of what locals call "clear cut mountain". Years ago the trees were all logged leaving just a few trees on steep slopes. Now, all the trees are small and spaced close enough together so I could chose a grouping to create a cabin style shelter. I saw an old Appalachian Trail Shelter similar to this: no floor and open on one side. I decided not to sleep in it on my thru hike, prefering to use my tent.

To build my survival shelter, I found long dead branches and layered them log cabin style. This fall I'll continue to visit my shelter utilizing the fallen leaves for bedding and insulation.

I made this gear loft from an onion sack. The directions are posted on my other blog Brawnyview. It only weighs 6 grams, less than 1/4 ounce. Easy to make, and inexpensive, this alternative gear project is simple enough for anyone to tackle with success.

With a blog, its easy to miss something logged here. Please use the search button to the right to surf this site.

Thanks for reading.

Acorn Burgers-Delicious

After removing the shells and tannins from acorns fantastic things can happen. I am in the process of creating a total learning video for my channel at

http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03

The project last night involved mincing my sauteed, spiced acorns and combining them with other grains to form patties. The actual recipe is :

1 cup minced spiced acorns

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup self-rising cornmeal

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

Mix all ingredient together to form stiff paste. Allow mixture to rest for half an hour. Then, heat 1/4 cup of canola oil in skillet. I prefer a cast iron pan, myself. Form into 4 patties, and fry until crispy brown on each side. I used a cover for just a few minutes to create enough heat for the centers to fully bake as well.

Serve with catsup, or brown mushroom gravy. We had brown rice and garden salads to complete this healthy meal.

Bon Apetite!

Dual Survival Lessons Learned

The Discovery Channel has a good thing going. Dual Survival's Art of Self Reliance is a series I could watch over and over. They say you can only retain 10% of what you hear, see or read, so I'm inclined to think its worth several viewings of these excellent survival portrayals.

Dave gave us his list of Five C's , things he would like to have in any situation: Cutting tool, Cover, Combustion, Containers, and Cordage.

Cody reminds us that its all about adaptation, awareness, and a positive attitude. Cody firmly believes we should never hunt something that can seriously hurt us, like honey bees, alligators, poisonous snakes.

Because they have differing world views, Dave calls Cody a hippie, while Dave is hardcore military bearing, we get some serious philosophy and skills being demonstrated. Dave is into meat, hunting and serious trapping and weaponry making. Cody walks barefoot, and has a lot of gathering and primitive fire making skills.

I file all this information away in my mind, accessible for practicing at a future date. For instance, we see Dave using toilet paper as a sponge to sop up water from a broad leaf plant. I hiked with a special forces guy on the Appalachian Trail who taught me that a straw was invaluable for picking up water. You put the straw into the water, just below the scum that floats on the top, being careful not to disturb the sediment that sinks to the bottom. You can drink this way if necessary and avoid most of the hazardous material.

A straw is also handy for picking up water off a seep in a rock face. Use the straw to funnel the water into a container, hopefully a water bottle. I carry a flexible plastic cup which also helps to pick up water in shallow pools or seepages. I've also used a broad leaf to create a water slide for the filling of water bottles.

All these examples show the skill we want to develop is innovation, adapting what is available for the desired outcome.

I think we can teach adaptation skills to our children. Basically, instead of giving them premade costumes for Halloween, coloring books, and prepackaged foods, we can provide the materials to create their own.

Problem solving skills with adaptation in mind will go a long ways especially in this rotten economy.

If you get a chance to watch these episodes, I think you'll find it time well spent.

Modern Risk Management

Knowledge is power.

No matter what;s happening, the brain is a valuable ally. By trusting our instincts, which is based on past experiences as well as stories we've heard, and researching issues we can make better decisions. We can improve our reaction time to threats.

One website I'm surfing is Live Science, found at

http://www.livescience.com

There's new information on technology and computer risks, health issues, animals and more.

The worse the economy gets the more we have to watch for scams, thefts and crimes of all kinds.

We have to be alert in health care matters as well. Watching the latest news reports and statistics for infections and preventable deaths at hospitals is alarming. A person has to check the correct name is on the prescription, make sure the nurses and doctors wash their hands before touching you, watch to see that brand new needles are used, and get brushed off with the diagnosis of "its a virus".

No one can protect us as well as we can ourselves. We must be in charge of our own survival. In my neighborhood, calling 911 is a last resort.

Product Review-Sticky Back Velcro

I've been shopping for Velcro to sew onto silnylon for a tent project. Seems all I find around here locally is the sticky back variety. Sure, I can and have ordered stuff from fabric -hardware outfitters (Quest in Florida, Noah Lamport in Los Angeles, Outdoor Wilderness in Nampa Idaho). But by the time I pay shipping and handling on 5 yards, and wait a couple days, then drive into town again to pick it up, buying locally just made more sense. And I was in the mood to get this tent project done for the next expedition.

So, picking up a 20 foot package of black sticky-back brand name Velcro at Walmarts I headed home to put it to the test.

I sewed a sample onto silnylon. In no way did it want to stick on its own. It sticks to no-see-um netting, but only on a short term basis.

It looked like the machine would handle it. Sadly, I did not know the glue would build up until only gasoline would remove it from the needle. The thread breaks with the glue buildup as well, making the process of sewing by hand even laborious.

Bottom line, this is not a product to use on your backpacking gear.

I was able to place small staples through the fabric and Velcro as a temporary stitch, and will continue to sew it, dealing with the stickiness.

Lesson learned: the sticky back Velcro can be used with paper products, or perhaps to hold decorations on shelves. Next time, I will order regular Velcro, and wait for the shipping process.