Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Caffeine Withdrawal
I forgot AGCs favorite method for making coffee: the coffee sock. We learned about this on our Baja kayaking trips and now use it on most trips. It is a long cone of soft material (usually cotton) on a wire ring with a handle. You put the grounds into the sock cone and then pour boiling water over it, and the coffee liquid drains out the porous sock. We often make this into a pot and then pour it into thermoses to keep it hot. You can also do individual cups. It is easy to use, easy to clean, small and lightweight to carry. It is also reusable, though it does take on a grayish color after a few uses, even with a bleach solution. You can buy one for about $5 at many kitchen stores as well. Enjoy! --Deb
Friday, March 2, 2007
Double tall latte, please
I am going on a personal backpacking trip soon and my traveling companion and I love a good cup of coffee in the morning. It got me thinking about all the ways we could make our morning cup of joe happen in the wilderness. Apparently I am not the only one - there are over 20 products on the camping market just for making coffee! Here are many of the ways you can wake up with a cup:
1) Coffee bags. These are similar to tea bags, where you just pour boiling water over it and let it steep in your cup. It is a convenient lightweight option, but does not provide the strength and flavor I like.
2) The camping percolator. Makes great coffee, is great for a group or more than one cup drinkers, and is easy to do. It is bulky to carry in a backpack and sometimes the pot handle ends up poking you in the back! Plus, it can be a little bit of messy to clean out the coffee grounds, especially camping where there may be limited water. Make sure the grind of the coffee isn't too fine.
3) Espresso makers. These you set on your camping stove and in a few short minutes produces a nice strong cup of back-country espresso. These are reasonably priced ($24.95 for a 4 cup, $19.95 for a one cup from REI) and are small and lightweight. I know people who own one and wouldn't camp without it. Somehow this just seems a bit too froo froo for me, though. Plus, it is one more thing to carry in your backpack. I also imagine that unless you use one of those espresso pre-packaged pods that places like Starbucks sell, it is probably also a bit messy to clean. And not everyone likes espresso.
4) Press pots - There are Lexan (a hard non-breakable plastic) press pots and individual mug European presses. The press pot makes great coffee, and if your camping companions don't like coffee, they can just as easily make their own hot drink, since all that is required is boiling water. The Lexan pot, though, is not ideal for backpacking (see percolator). The individual press mugs and thermos are insulated so ideally your coffee stays hot, and can double as your mug for tea, soup or cocoa later (the press is often removeable). It does have that wet-compact-coffee ground mess to clean up. You do have to wait 5 minutes for it to steep before pushing the plunger, and this can result in a less hot cup of coffee. With some of the thermos style mugs, too, you have to unscrew the lid each time you want a sip, and this is not only more time consuming but allows heat to escape at each sip.
5) Cowgirl coffee: You boil the grounds in with the water for a few minutes. To get the grounds to settle you let the pot sit for a couple minutes and then tap the side of the pot with a spoon. Daring campers can try centrifugal force - where you spin the pot in a large circle with an outstretched arm. Gravity keeps the lid on as you spin the pot. This makes good coffee, but is quite messy to clean up and sometimes you get fine grounds in your cup.
6) Coffee cone. You can make a great cup of drip-style coffee with a paper filter and an inexpensive, lightweight and small plastic coffee cone. All you need is boiling water and you can make a cup to your own strength. This also can be slightly time consuming, and in cold weather the coffee doesn't stay super hot. You can use a bandana or clean sock as a reusable filter.
7) Instant coffee. Not the best tasting, but easy, lightweight and after all, you are out "roughing it" Mix in some cocoa and powdered milk (or better yet, non-dairy creamer) and you will have a delightful back country mocha.
Whatever your preference, there is a method for you. Enjoy that coffee as you sit in your Crazy Creek chair looking at the beauty of nature around you. Ahhh! -- deb
1) Coffee bags. These are similar to tea bags, where you just pour boiling water over it and let it steep in your cup. It is a convenient lightweight option, but does not provide the strength and flavor I like.
2) The camping percolator. Makes great coffee, is great for a group or more than one cup drinkers, and is easy to do. It is bulky to carry in a backpack and sometimes the pot handle ends up poking you in the back! Plus, it can be a little bit of messy to clean out the coffee grounds, especially camping where there may be limited water. Make sure the grind of the coffee isn't too fine.
3) Espresso makers. These you set on your camping stove and in a few short minutes produces a nice strong cup of back-country espresso. These are reasonably priced ($24.95 for a 4 cup, $19.95 for a one cup from REI) and are small and lightweight. I know people who own one and wouldn't camp without it. Somehow this just seems a bit too froo froo for me, though. Plus, it is one more thing to carry in your backpack. I also imagine that unless you use one of those espresso pre-packaged pods that places like Starbucks sell, it is probably also a bit messy to clean. And not everyone likes espresso.
4) Press pots - There are Lexan (a hard non-breakable plastic) press pots and individual mug European presses. The press pot makes great coffee, and if your camping companions don't like coffee, they can just as easily make their own hot drink, since all that is required is boiling water. The Lexan pot, though, is not ideal for backpacking (see percolator). The individual press mugs and thermos are insulated so ideally your coffee stays hot, and can double as your mug for tea, soup or cocoa later (the press is often removeable). It does have that wet-compact-coffee ground mess to clean up. You do have to wait 5 minutes for it to steep before pushing the plunger, and this can result in a less hot cup of coffee. With some of the thermos style mugs, too, you have to unscrew the lid each time you want a sip, and this is not only more time consuming but allows heat to escape at each sip.
5) Cowgirl coffee: You boil the grounds in with the water for a few minutes. To get the grounds to settle you let the pot sit for a couple minutes and then tap the side of the pot with a spoon. Daring campers can try centrifugal force - where you spin the pot in a large circle with an outstretched arm. Gravity keeps the lid on as you spin the pot. This makes good coffee, but is quite messy to clean up and sometimes you get fine grounds in your cup.
6) Coffee cone. You can make a great cup of drip-style coffee with a paper filter and an inexpensive, lightweight and small plastic coffee cone. All you need is boiling water and you can make a cup to your own strength. This also can be slightly time consuming, and in cold weather the coffee doesn't stay super hot. You can use a bandana or clean sock as a reusable filter.
7) Instant coffee. Not the best tasting, but easy, lightweight and after all, you are out "roughing it" Mix in some cocoa and powdered milk (or better yet, non-dairy creamer) and you will have a delightful back country mocha.
Whatever your preference, there is a method for you. Enjoy that coffee as you sit in your Crazy Creek chair looking at the beauty of nature around you. Ahhh! -- deb
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Taking Children Outdoors
As a mother of two very active daughters, we love to explore our natural environment. We take them hiking, biking, kayaking; anything to be outside in this incredible world. I encourage you to explore the outdoors with a child as well. Whether it is your own or a grandchild, niece or nephew, or give your friend a break and take her kids on an adventure. I promise you that you will see the outdoors in a whole new light.
Taking children outdoors... What a wondrous time to use all your senses -- especially your sense of humor! Be generous with your time and attention. Be flexible with your schedule. You are making memories that will last a lifetime - Leave your worries at home (they'll wait for you...) relax, and have fun!
Let's take a quick look at tips for success, including setting appropriate expectations, preparing for safety and some tips for keeping children happy, moving and learning such as: drinks and snacks, activities for discovering and other resources.
Expectations
Expectations will make or break your trip outdoors with children.
Yours:
Expect to stop and smell the roses, or more likely, look at the bug or skip stones. The more flexible and easy going you are, the better time you'll all have. Keep trips shorter for best results, and remember that their stamina may not be a good as yours when it comes to hiking. Try not to go too far or too long the first times you go out. Carrying children back long distances gets old really fast!! Sing, tell stories, and by all means, bribe children with the snacks you've brought. And, as mothers know, be prepared that there's always one kid who's going to be unhappy about something. Don't worry, however. It won't last. It'll just switch to another kid. It's really no different than being indoors in that respect!
Theirs:
Let them know what to expect. A long car ride to get there? Something new to do or a favorite activity? Will there be playgrounds? Swimming? Pit toilets?? The more they know and are prepared, the less hassle you'll have later. Just be calm and matter of fact (especially important the first time little ones meet a pit toilet) and keep smiling!
If there's a long car ride involved, let them bring toys to keep entertained on the trip. Consider making the trip overnight so everyone is rested and in a good mood.
Safety
We all know safety is important. Here are a few tips. Know where you're going and let others know your plan. If you are hiking with young children, your best bet is to stay on well-established trails. Be sure to look behind you often so the trail looks familiar on the return trip!
Keep young children in sight at all times. Have all the children wear bright colors and have everyone, including you, wear a whistle.
Have a plan getting help in an emergency. Can you use a cell phone where you are going or would you lose cell service out on the trail? Is someone expecting you at a certain time? Could you signal for help if you needed to?
Bring a good first aid kit.
The Essentials: Drinks and Snacks
Always have a canteen or source of clean drinking water. It's easy to get dehydrated. You can bring other drinks, but water is still the best thirst-quencher, and nobody's got sticky faces after drinking it. Let each child carry a small, LIGHT WEIGHT pack with a canteen.
Someone can carry snacks. Stop often and use the snacks to help them rest and to mark the time of the outing or distance on the trail. (When on the trail, "bribing" with snacks is okay!) Everyone is using plenty of calories and actually needs to eat. Trail mix is popular: a mixture of dried fruit, raisins, peanuts, M&Ms, etc. Fruit is good, but keep in mind you'll need to pack out peels, cores, etc. (Tossing the fruit into the weeds isn't a good idea. Animals begin to rely on people food instead of natural food sources more suitable for their digestive systems. Also, animals can easily become pests in a highly-visited area. Better to see an animal in its native habitat than a garbage dump we've created!)
Activities for Discovering
Remember that you don't need to be a scientist, naturalist or expert in outdoor skills to take children on a nature hike or enjoy nature while fishing, hunting, boating, or picnicking. Just take a look around.
• If you see an animal, let your children try and figure out how the animal's size or shape or color helps it. How does a rabbit use its big ears and big back legs? Why does the rabbit need them to survive? Basic knowledge that, for example, rabbits are tasty food to most animals, is all the knowledge you really need behind you. Let the children think up all kinds of things. Some ideas will be correct, some funny, and some out-of-this world. It's a great excuse to follow up with a trip to the library afterwards. Remember that discovery is the key, not that you have all the answers. Show them how to observe and how to find answers, and you will have given them a skill for lifelong learning!
• Challenge the children to use their senses. Look for colors, textures and smells. Count the colors in a rock.Take a piece of paper and a crayon and do rubbings on different tree bark. If you have permission from the landowner, you can take along a little collection bag and your children can collect small objects such as rocks and sort them in an egg carton at home. Remember that you cannot remove objects from state or national parks.
• What season is it and what do you see? Come back during another season and compare what you saw then and now.
• Observe how things outdoors such as plants, animals, rocks are either same or different. You don't need to be a scientist and know fancy names for things. Just let your children discover how things can be the same or different. The first scientists got started this way, trying to organize the natural world into something they could understand. Let the children discover this for themselves.
• Look for signs of wildlife. Is there a path in the weeds beaten down by deer? Is there a hidden animal home at the base of a tree or in a bank of dirt? Can you find ants carrying food to their home?
• Try to discover how plants, animals, people and natural resources are all part of one system. What happens to one part of the system can affect the other. Was there a big rain recently or a drought? How were things outdoors affected? What do you see around a tree that has fallen? Can you find animal tracks around a puddle or stream?
• For grade-school children, think about how our folklore, music, arts and crafts, our history and even many of our jobs are based on what's found in nature. Have the chilren draw or write about their discoveries in their own journal.
Resources
• Check out State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas and Visitor Centers
• Visit local community parks or ask permission to visit private lands.
• Create your own backyard habitat.
Enjoy and thank you for introducing the next generation to the wonders of the great outdoors!
From: Dale Bowers
As a mother of two very active daughters, we love to explore our natural environment. We take them hiking, biking, kayaking; anything to be outside in this incredible world. I encourage you to explore the outdoors with a child as well. Whether it is your own or a grandchild, niece or nephew, or give your friend a break and take her kids on an adventure. I promise you that you will see the outdoors in a whole new light.
Taking children outdoors... What a wondrous time to use all your senses -- especially your sense of humor! Be generous with your time and attention. Be flexible with your schedule. You are making memories that will last a lifetime - Leave your worries at home (they'll wait for you...) relax, and have fun!
Let's take a quick look at tips for success, including setting appropriate expectations, preparing for safety and some tips for keeping children happy, moving and learning such as: drinks and snacks, activities for discovering and other resources.
Expectations
Expectations will make or break your trip outdoors with children.
Yours:
Expect to stop and smell the roses, or more likely, look at the bug or skip stones. The more flexible and easy going you are, the better time you'll all have. Keep trips shorter for best results, and remember that their stamina may not be a good as yours when it comes to hiking. Try not to go too far or too long the first times you go out. Carrying children back long distances gets old really fast!! Sing, tell stories, and by all means, bribe children with the snacks you've brought. And, as mothers know, be prepared that there's always one kid who's going to be unhappy about something. Don't worry, however. It won't last. It'll just switch to another kid. It's really no different than being indoors in that respect!
Theirs:
Let them know what to expect. A long car ride to get there? Something new to do or a favorite activity? Will there be playgrounds? Swimming? Pit toilets?? The more they know and are prepared, the less hassle you'll have later. Just be calm and matter of fact (especially important the first time little ones meet a pit toilet) and keep smiling!
If there's a long car ride involved, let them bring toys to keep entertained on the trip. Consider making the trip overnight so everyone is rested and in a good mood.
Safety
We all know safety is important. Here are a few tips. Know where you're going and let others know your plan. If you are hiking with young children, your best bet is to stay on well-established trails. Be sure to look behind you often so the trail looks familiar on the return trip!
Keep young children in sight at all times. Have all the children wear bright colors and have everyone, including you, wear a whistle.
Have a plan getting help in an emergency. Can you use a cell phone where you are going or would you lose cell service out on the trail? Is someone expecting you at a certain time? Could you signal for help if you needed to?
Bring a good first aid kit.
The Essentials: Drinks and Snacks
Always have a canteen or source of clean drinking water. It's easy to get dehydrated. You can bring other drinks, but water is still the best thirst-quencher, and nobody's got sticky faces after drinking it. Let each child carry a small, LIGHT WEIGHT pack with a canteen.
Someone can carry snacks. Stop often and use the snacks to help them rest and to mark the time of the outing or distance on the trail. (When on the trail, "bribing" with snacks is okay!) Everyone is using plenty of calories and actually needs to eat. Trail mix is popular: a mixture of dried fruit, raisins, peanuts, M&Ms, etc. Fruit is good, but keep in mind you'll need to pack out peels, cores, etc. (Tossing the fruit into the weeds isn't a good idea. Animals begin to rely on people food instead of natural food sources more suitable for their digestive systems. Also, animals can easily become pests in a highly-visited area. Better to see an animal in its native habitat than a garbage dump we've created!)
Activities for Discovering
Remember that you don't need to be a scientist, naturalist or expert in outdoor skills to take children on a nature hike or enjoy nature while fishing, hunting, boating, or picnicking. Just take a look around.
• If you see an animal, let your children try and figure out how the animal's size or shape or color helps it. How does a rabbit use its big ears and big back legs? Why does the rabbit need them to survive? Basic knowledge that, for example, rabbits are tasty food to most animals, is all the knowledge you really need behind you. Let the children think up all kinds of things. Some ideas will be correct, some funny, and some out-of-this world. It's a great excuse to follow up with a trip to the library afterwards. Remember that discovery is the key, not that you have all the answers. Show them how to observe and how to find answers, and you will have given them a skill for lifelong learning!
• Challenge the children to use their senses. Look for colors, textures and smells. Count the colors in a rock.Take a piece of paper and a crayon and do rubbings on different tree bark. If you have permission from the landowner, you can take along a little collection bag and your children can collect small objects such as rocks and sort them in an egg carton at home. Remember that you cannot remove objects from state or national parks.
• What season is it and what do you see? Come back during another season and compare what you saw then and now.
• Observe how things outdoors such as plants, animals, rocks are either same or different. You don't need to be a scientist and know fancy names for things. Just let your children discover how things can be the same or different. The first scientists got started this way, trying to organize the natural world into something they could understand. Let the children discover this for themselves.
• Look for signs of wildlife. Is there a path in the weeds beaten down by deer? Is there a hidden animal home at the base of a tree or in a bank of dirt? Can you find ants carrying food to their home?
• Try to discover how plants, animals, people and natural resources are all part of one system. What happens to one part of the system can affect the other. Was there a big rain recently or a drought? How were things outdoors affected? What do you see around a tree that has fallen? Can you find animal tracks around a puddle or stream?
• For grade-school children, think about how our folklore, music, arts and crafts, our history and even many of our jobs are based on what's found in nature. Have the chilren draw or write about their discoveries in their own journal.
Resources
• Check out State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas and Visitor Centers
• Visit local community parks or ask permission to visit private lands.
• Create your own backyard habitat.
Enjoy and thank you for introducing the next generation to the wonders of the great outdoors!
From: Dale Bowers
Friday, February 23, 2007
A Hydration Coach
I was reading a running magazine yesterday and came across this new product. We like coaching for so many other activities why not for our hydration? The HydraCoach is marketed as the "first interactive water bottle". A patented hydration monitor enables users to program in their hydration needs, track their daily water consumption, and be coached through the day to drink. Based on a user's weight, the duration of exercise, and manual adjustments if necessary, the HydraCoach calculates hydration needs and monitors fluid intake to make sure goals are met. A magnetized impeller that floats in a sealed cartridge in the straw-like mouthpiece of the water bottle works with a microprocessor to monitor the amount of fluid consumed. HydraCoach was founded by world-class climbers and life-long outdoor enthusiasts, Craig and Kelly Perkins, who conceived the idea out of personal necessity. The bottle retails for $30 and a portion of the proceeds of HydraCoach go towards Organ Donor Research. To learn more go to www.hydracoach.com -- Deb
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Keeping your knees happy
Knee problems among women are extremely common. ACL injuries occur much more frequently and this probably has something to do with the angle of stress on our knees due to the width of our hips. As we get older, knee pain becomes a more frequent complaint.
Since we can't change our hip width or our age, how do we keep our knees happy? The best way I know is strength training, and especially lunges and squats. If you don't know the proper form, make sure you get good instruction or you can end up damaging your knees more than helping them. Done correctly (and many repetitions with low weights is much more effective than fewer repetitions with high weights) can make a huge difference. About four years ago I found myself eating more IBprofen than chocolate on our hiking trips. Now, as long as I make myself work out (my personal preference is a class called BodyPump) I can hike pain-free for hours.-- Marian
Since we can't change our hip width or our age, how do we keep our knees happy? The best way I know is strength training, and especially lunges and squats. If you don't know the proper form, make sure you get good instruction or you can end up damaging your knees more than helping them. Done correctly (and many repetitions with low weights is much more effective than fewer repetitions with high weights) can make a huge difference. About four years ago I found myself eating more IBprofen than chocolate on our hiking trips. Now, as long as I make myself work out (my personal preference is a class called BodyPump) I can hike pain-free for hours.-- Marian
Friday, February 16, 2007
Magazines, magazines everywhere!
There are so many great magazines available on the market today - and I want to keep up on all my interests. Yet, I often feel guilty for subscribing to some of my favorites. Either they pile up on the counter, waiting to be read or I read them and then feel bad about all those trees that I have "assisted" in cutting down. So, I have taken to subscribing to many as on-line magazines. It is not always identical information as in the printed version, but it is faster to read (I can pick and choose the articles I want to read more about), I feel able to keep up on more topics, and there is no post-consumer guilt, especially if I don't get around to reading each issue. If you are wondering if there is an on-line version, just go to the magazine's web site- usually there is a tab to click to subscribe. In addition, I now pick one printed subscription that I want to read cover to cover. I use it to get me through indoor winter workouts (because let's face it, these get pretty boring). I bring it to the gym with me, read it while on the aerobic machines (sometimes the issue lasts one work-out, sometimes two) and then I leave it behind for others to read. I have motivation, I read the whole issue, and I re-cycle it for others. --Deb
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Watching the fox
February 13, 2007, Golden, Colorado
The red fox jumped onto a rock overlook without noticing me. For about three minutes—which seemed like an eternity—I was able to secretly observe the beautiful creature as it rock-hopped among the boulders of North Table Mountain. I was on my daily walk before work, less than a mile from my home; I frequently see mule deer, coyotes, and cotton tail rabbits, but it had been a long time since I had seen a fox.
I was awe-struck at its beauty. The fox looked as though it had just emerged from a beauty parlor. Its winter coat looked silky and full, the golden red fur shimmered in the early morning sunshine. Characteristic of red foxes, its tail had a bushy, pure white tip. In high school (twenty five years ago!) we used to say someone was a “fox” if they were really attractive, and as I admired the fox, I actually thought about bringing the phrase back into my vocabulary.
I was also intrigued at the fox’s apparent curiosity and playfulness as it hopped in a dance-like fashion from rock to rock, pausing to observe, perhaps looking for breakfast, before moving gracefully again. All too soon, it noticed me on the trail above, and ran off in a flash.
The focus and dexterity I observed reminded me of my own quest for mindfulness and desire to experience each moment in its fullest. When I am in nature, I find it much easier to center my attention and be in tune with my own needs and thoughts, while being intensely aware of the world surrounding me. -- Brenda
The red fox jumped onto a rock overlook without noticing me. For about three minutes—which seemed like an eternity—I was able to secretly observe the beautiful creature as it rock-hopped among the boulders of North Table Mountain. I was on my daily walk before work, less than a mile from my home; I frequently see mule deer, coyotes, and cotton tail rabbits, but it had been a long time since I had seen a fox.
I was awe-struck at its beauty. The fox looked as though it had just emerged from a beauty parlor. Its winter coat looked silky and full, the golden red fur shimmered in the early morning sunshine. Characteristic of red foxes, its tail had a bushy, pure white tip. In high school (twenty five years ago!) we used to say someone was a “fox” if they were really attractive, and as I admired the fox, I actually thought about bringing the phrase back into my vocabulary.
I was also intrigued at the fox’s apparent curiosity and playfulness as it hopped in a dance-like fashion from rock to rock, pausing to observe, perhaps looking for breakfast, before moving gracefully again. All too soon, it noticed me on the trail above, and ran off in a flash.
The focus and dexterity I observed reminded me of my own quest for mindfulness and desire to experience each moment in its fullest. When I am in nature, I find it much easier to center my attention and be in tune with my own needs and thoughts, while being intensely aware of the world surrounding me. -- Brenda
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