Sleeping beauty

I love to sleep outside. In my tent, under the stars, away from the city - I find great joy in the lack of walls around me. I know a concern of many people is sleeping on the ground, with sore backs, or daily aches and pains. Self-inflating sleeping pads (like Therm-a-rests) are key to a comfortable night's sleep on the ground. Therm-a-rest makes pads in a variety of thicknesses, weights and widths; aware that people want and need different things from their sleeping pad.

Sometimes sleeping on my pad, though, I still wake up with a stiff low back. I like to sleep on my back, and the sleeping pads are very flat. One day I was sleeping on a slight down slope, and started tucking small articles of clothing under the edges of the sleeping pad to try and keep me from sliding down my pad and into the bottom of the tent. It not only succeeded at keeping me in place, it was more comfortable. The clothes gave contour to the pad to help support my body.

Now when I get in the tent at night, I lay on my pad, on my back and see where (or if) I want a little lift or curve of the pad, and tuck clothes in a variety of spots. I have also started to lay a light-weight fleece or my rain jacket underneath the pad at knee level (it should lay perpendicular to the pad) to give my low back some support. Imagine it like a bolster under your knees when getting a massage. Except that you don't want the knee "support" too bulky because if you want to turn over it impedes laying on your pad on your side or stomach. You also want it placed underneath the pad so it doesn't slide out of place. I have to play around with the "system" each night, and you will need to find what works best for you. I recommend it - I have had fewer aches the next morning. -- Deb

This past weekend, my family and I spent our Earth Day planting new spring flowers, recovering the beds in mulch, and enjoying all the wonderful sights, sounds, and smells of springtime. We look ahead to our coming weekend as we begin planning our menus and activities for a weekend of camping at Fort Mountain in the mountains of North Georgia. I adore this time of year, and as I contemplated what I should write for the Adventures in Good Company blog this month, I am reminded of last weekend and the one to come and how we celebrate and enjoy our natural world. I love every aspect of this glorious planet and all the creatures in it, and hope to instill that love not only in my children but those people that I come into contact with on my trips and on a day to day basis. I decided this month, the best way to share my love for this world was to share a wonderful poem with you.

In Tune With Mother Nature

If you listen for the songbirds
As they greet the summer sun,
And love the way the wind can make
The trees sings just for fun;

If you like to hear the ocean
As it drums upon the shore,
And imagine all the whales out there,
And hope they'll sing some more;

If you think of all the animals
As players in a band,
Each with a lovely tune to play,
All needed on the land;

And know that as a boy or girl
A woman or a man
You have a vital role to play
In Mother Nature's plan;

If you honor every living thing
As a part of nature's treasure
You're in tune with Mother Nature
So let's all sing her song together.

Spend quality time in a spectacular place, where true health is more than a strong body. It is fine-tuning the relationship between your body, mind and spirit to achieve fitness from the inside out.
I hope you feel inspired to spend sometime in the great outdoors. Dale Bowers

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend buying travel insurance, and every confirmation packet we send out includes a brochure for Travelex travel insurance. Before working full time at this job, I used to think it was unnecessary and a waste of money. But now I think otherwise. Not because I have personally needed travel insurance to cover my losses, but because I have seen so many others need it, including 2 last-minute international trip cancellations in the past month. It's heartbreaking for me - I can only imagine how it is for them.

I have also learned that trip insurance actually isn't all that expensive. The cost of the insurance depends on your age and the price of the trip. For a $2500 trip, 1-31 days in length, a woman 35-60 pays $178. This will reimburse not only for the cost of the trip expense, but for the plane ticket as well. The insurance also covers things that aren't even if you cancel - rental car damage, lost baggage, missed flight connections, and medical benefits to name a few.

If you don't want to pay for complete coverage, there is an option for emergency medical benefits ($500,000), which also includes coverage for lost baggage, rental car damage, and missed connections or flight schedule changes,etc. Anne, our guide going to Nepal, just got this insurance for $45, and that includes an $8 processing fee! That's less than 2% of the entire trip cost. True - she may not need it, but isn't this the case of having any insurance? It is a small amount of money to cover large expenses if she should need them. Plus, there is a peace of mind that goes with having emergency medical benefits and travel insurance. Isn't that worth the price? -- deb

Is peanut butter a liquid?

I am sitting in the Las Vegas airport as I write this post (just finishing our Utah hiking trip, not gambling), pondering this question because my peanut butter was confiscated by TSA when I went through security. When the screener took my daypack, my immediate thought was that I had left my First Aid kit in it with its scissors and needles. But no, she pulled out my jars of left over tahini and peanut butter that I had been planning to put on my left over bagels for the long trip home. Frankly it didn't occur to me that the prohibition against liquids would apply. The screener was nice; she allowed me to take my contraband back out of security and spread it on the bagels and then toss the rest. And in the process I met a woman who had just been busted for two bottles of unopened gatorade; she couldn't chug them both so she gave me one. But does all this make me feel safer? I wish it did. -- Marian

add to the wardrobe

Dressing in layers is the best way to regulate your body temperature while being active in the outdoors. For most weather conditions we recommend 3 basic layers. The 1st layer (or base layer) is long underwear, preferably wool or synthetic; the second layer an insulating layer like a fleece jacket or wool sweater; and 3rd layer is the wind/waterproof layer - a Gore-tex jacket, or nylon wind shell. As the weather starts to warm up 3 layers is often too many. However, with a chill still in the air in mornings and nights, sometimes 2 is not enough. So I recommend investing in a fleece or wool vest. This has become one of the most versatile items in my wardrobe. If it is too warm for a fleece jacket, but not quite warm enough for just a shirt - put on the vest. Got hot hiking in your long underwear and have a slight chill at your break? Put on a vest. I even wear my fleece vest around my house in the winter when it is just a bit chilly. You can get a wide variety of vests: fleece, wool, down, wind-block, with cute designs, etc. Pick your style and try it. It really will change the way you dress for (outdoor) success. -- Deb

environmental film about caribou migration

Last night I saw the documentary film "Being Caribou" and I highly recommend it. In 2003 a Canadian couple traveled on foot for five months across the tundra following the annual caribou migration from Yukon Territory to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where the caribou give birth. (They got periodic food drops, but their packs were pretty heavy!) The scenery is beautiful, I learned a lot, and there are elements of humor throughout (for example, they bring along a George Bush doll so he can see the land he wants to open to drilling). The baby caribou are very cute! If you're interested in getting a copy of the award-winning film or having a screening in your home town, go to www.beingcaribou.com.

Anne

homemade granola

Granola is a great camping food. It is lightweight, quick, and with the right mix of ingredients, nutritious. It is delicious with milk (even powdered), mixed in with pancakes, sprinkled on hot cereal, stirred in a yogurt and fruit parfait, and even just as a snack. Freshly made granola is a tasty, inexpensive, and easy-to- make alternative to store bought granola. Plus, the variations are endless. Here is a basic recipe that I really like:

4 cups uncooked rolled oats
3/4 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/2 t salt
1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
1/3 cup sunflower oil
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup coconut (unsweetened)
3/4 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 300F. In a medium sized bowl, mix together oats, nuts and coconut. In a separate bowl mix honey, oil, salt and water over the mixture and stir well. Pour over the oats mixture Spread on a large cookie sheet and bake 35 to 40 minutes until nicely browned pn top. Stir the granola often while baking, every 5-10 minutes. Make sure it doesn't get too brown.

Remove from oven and let cool. Add dried fruit and stir. Makes 6 cups. Store in a tightly sealed container.

Variations: *add other dried fruit: currants, apricots, raisins, dried cherries, dehydrated raspberries
*add sesame seeds, wheat germ or oat bran
*add chocolate chips or m&ms
*add a teaspoon of cinnamon or vanilla extract
*add other chopped nuts: sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, pecans
*if you want it a little sweeter, add 2 -4 T of brown sugar, dissolve in the wet ingredients

Enjoy - Deb

Lighten' Up!

This is the time of year I’m “chopping at the bit” to get on a trail, somewhere, anywhere! Please let that snow melt so I can get out there! The last few years my emphasis has been on reducing pack weight any way I can. Now is the time for checking equipment and clothing, replacing what your checkbook will allow and reviewing everything with a critical eye toward how it will ultimately feel on your back.

Want to lighten’ up your backpack without spending lots of money? My favorite way of cutting weight always gets a few snickers. Yes, I am one of those who cut tags, shorten shoe laces, trim edges from maps, repackage food items, cut extra straps off backpacks and any other equipment, repackage toothpaste and yes, cut my toothbrush in half. OK, I know---funny stuff! But! I can go out on a six day backpack with food, equipment, clothing and water for a mere twenty-six pounds!

Give it a try one of these rainy spring days when you can’t be out tromping the trails. Start with your backpack. Those of your who hike with a lid have an instant advantage for weight reduction, unstrap that lid and lose an immediate 6-12 oz, amazing. I know, lids are good for organizing but think of how much better it will feel to lose the weight. Next, look at straps, get rid of all that are not used and shorten others to the proper length for use. Now, on to the contents! All tags on equipment and clothing can go, completely useless. Repackage everything from food stuff to Band-Aids, packaging often weighs more than the item. Think of dental floss---huge package and the floss itself weighs nothing. If you’re doing a 5 day hike do you really need that whole tube of toothpaste? Yes, I know it’s a travel size but just for kicks squeeze the amount you would use in 5 days into a zip lock and then weigh the two. Why carry ANY extra? That extra, if you want to carry it, could be chocolate! Last, take a look at what you wear. Any extra stuff hanging off? How about that draw string in your elastic waist short? Not needed if the elastic works. How about those shorts? Do they have a medal zipper? Could you trade them for a lighter pair of pull on shorts without the hardware? Try to look at everything you carry, use or wear in a different way, looking at weight and function. You’ll be surprised at what you see. I hope you save all that you cut off, un-package and trade. Put it all together and weigh to see what a favor you have done for yourself.

Spend a little time this season lightening up! Your back will like it and as the weight decreases your enjoyment will increase. A few websites that I enjoy checking out are; www.backpacking.net , www.bellaonline.com (a website for women) and www.ultralight-hiking.com. If you prefer to hold your reading material in your hands two excellent books are Backpacking: A Woman’s Guide by Adrienne Hall and Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardines Guide to Lightweight Hiking by Ray Jardine.

See your lighter self on the trail! Jan

Another hiking tip: Cut your toenails

Yesterday I sent out a list of 5 tips for happy and healthy hiking to everyone on our e-newsletter list. Here is a sixth tip:
Cut your toenails before your hiking trip. Toenails that are too long will inevitably end up getting jammed into the front of your boot when you go downhill. This will lead to bruising and swelling under the big toenail, which is incredibly painful. The simplest prevention is to cut your toenails after a shower, when standing in water has softened them up some. This allows you to get them quite short.-- Marian