Top Tips for Successful BackCountry Navigation

Written by Chuck Fitzgerald


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* Always measure for yourself. You’ve prepared for your trip, now you should use what you learned. Bearing (direction of travel) and distance (number of steps or lapsed time) arerepparttar two most important measurements to you when traveling inrepparttar 133216 backcountry. Always measure for yourself, do not rely on anyone else for this. If your partner comes up with something different, sort it out. If you come up withrepparttar 133217 same thing as your partner, then move on in confidence. * Never travel at night. Although a star lit sky can offer accurate navigational data, traveling at night is risky. Only experienced travelers should travel after dark. The major risk of traveling at night is injury. It is difficult to judge “footfall” distances and terrain inrepparttar 133218 dark. * Keep a log book. If you are traveling from station to station (map feature to map feature) keep a written log ofrepparttar 133219 bearing and distance decisions you’ve made. This will aid you in recovering from navigational errors and will also aid you in returning to a known location. * If you think you’re lost S.T.O.P. Oftentimes admitting you are lost isrepparttar 133220 toughest thing to do. It is alsorepparttar 133221 most important thing you can do. Once you’re lost, Sit, Think, Observe and Plan. S.T.O.P. will save you.

Some final thoughts: * It’s OK to write on your map. * You should know how many steps you take to travel 100 yards. Write this number down on your map and in your log book. * When a new land feature presents itself to you, compare it to your map. * Keep your compass hanging around your neck, not in your pack. * Never use your compass onrepparttar 133222 hood of your car or truck. Compass accuracy is adversely effected by metal objects. * Always travel with extra batteries for your GPS. * Pay attention to natural and manmade features such as fence lines, power lines, railroad tracks, ridges, valleys and rivers.

Backcountry activities are fun…until you get lost. That’s why you should know how to navigate. Take a map reading class, read an orienteering book and practice. Like most life skills, navigating inrepparttar 133223 backcountry is easy to learn. Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is Owner and President of Phoenix, Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information to outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call (800) 316-9055.


A wave from the Tour

Written by Craig McGinty


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And like a wave it is not always clear on whom it is going to fall as over 100 cyclists pour downrepparttar road you need to keep away fromrepparttar 133215 edge as some briefly go astray. But asrepparttar 133216 pack heads off uprepparttar 133217 road,repparttar 133218 crowds further on are hit byrepparttar 133219 wave with cheers and car horns echoing inrepparttar 133220 distance. Then asrepparttar 133221 last few cyclists ride by, still working hard to stay inrepparttar 133222 race,repparttar 133223 Tour comes to a close, but what ofrepparttar 133224 beginning? The build-up torepparttar 133225 passing ofrepparttar 133226 Tour starts earlier inrepparttar 133227 day and takes place onrepparttar 133228 grass verges and inrepparttar 133229 fields that borderrepparttar 133230 route. Villages prepare fetes, amateur cyclists ride up and downrepparttar 133231 route to see whatrepparttar 133232 pros will face and children get ready forrepparttar 133233 caravane. An hour beforerepparttar 133234 race actually arrivesrepparttar 133235 sponsors’ cavalcade drives past with their crazy cars, disco music and freebies. Here you see coffee pots, inflatable ducks and even a giant, furry lion parading past throwing sweets, magazines and toys atrepparttar 133236 feet ofrepparttar 133237 children stood besiderepparttar 133238 road. The fans scream and shout hoping to pick up some goodies as parents duck and dive out ofrepparttar 133239 way of stray packets of coffee, which fly past their heads. Sincerepparttar 133240 Tour started in 1903 it has become one ofrepparttar 133241 world’s major sporting events and can lay claim to possessingrepparttar 133242 largest number of spectators. And it isrepparttar 133243 fans that makerepparttar 133244 Tour such a spectacle, as they stretch out along more than 3,500km of tarmac, shouting and screaming encouragement asrepparttar 133245 wave passes by. But todayrepparttar 133246 fishes out ranrepparttar 133247 wave and a breakaway by local rider, David Moncoutie proved strong enough to giverepparttar 133248 Frenchman his first-ever stage win.

For more articles by Craig McGinty on living in France including tips on buying a home, the legal process and more, visit his website and live life the French way. http://www.thisfrenchlife.com




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