Sometimes it can be fun to go on walks or hikes in the outdoors without a planned route or destination. However, such an adventure only stays fun as long as you can navigate your way to where you need to be. Being able to determine your cardinal directions (north, south, east or west) without a compass is one of the most important navigational tools.
You've probably heard about this one: moss grows thicker on the north side of the tree. This tip is handy if you live in the middle latitudes of the northern hemisphere, otherwise it might not do you any
Archives for Hiking
Water Purification
by Louise November 24th, 2009 | Camping, Hiking
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that 90% of the world's water is contaminated in some way. The water might look clear, but chances are that there are microscopic dangers, lurking unseen. There are three basic methods of water purification: boiling, filtering, and using chemical additives. All have pros and cons.
Boiling is the age-old method, which always has proven effective. Bringing water to a boil kills whatever is living inside of it. However, boiling water takes time. You'll need a device to boil the water, and it probably will be a hassle. On a hot day, who would want to
Boiling is the age-old method, which always has proven effective. Bringing water to a boil kills whatever is living inside of it. However, boiling water takes time. You'll need a device to boil the water, and it probably will be a hassle. On a hot day, who would want to
Outdoor Cooking Made Easier
by Bea November 3rd, 2009 | Camping, HikingSure, a lot of people say that camping is not camping if you are using some sort of electric stove instead of the good ole' gas or over the fire methods. I personally would object to seeing someone use some sort of a "cooking made easy!" device if they were simply at a campground for their leisure. However, when you are climbing with a purpose, hiking, or doing some other sort of extreme exercise where food is an essential necessity, I think that being able to make dinner in a short amount of time could be very useful.
I recently was
Franconia Notch State Park
by Louise August 10th, 2009 | Hiking
Franconia Notch State Park was once known as the home of New Hampshire's famous Old Man of the Mountain. One could see it driving northbound on Interstate 93. As most know, the Old Man of the Mountain collapsed back in 2003, but there are still plenty of worthwhile locations to visit in this beautiful area. Depending on the season, Franconia Notch State Park can be useful for the activities of which we, outdoors eagles, are fond: camping, swimming, hiking, picnicking, fishing, boating, biking, skiing/snowboarding, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.
This past weekend my friends and I decided to drive up to
This past weekend my friends and I decided to drive up to
Northeast Kingdom
by Bea July 20th, 2009 | Boating, Hiking
While I was visiting Montreal with a school organization this weekend, my friend from Vermont picked me up, and we went to her house for Saturday night. The drive from Montreal to her house took about two hours. As we drove to her house, I gazed at my surroundings. We drove up a slightly inclined rocky path for about a mile; as I looked to my left, I saw rolling hills and the mountains of New Hampshire, and as I looked to my right, I saw farm houses and more mountains in the background. I imagined how this place would
