Mountain Hiking Tips, Mountain Trekking Gear & Equipment Hints.Written by Marc Wiltse
Mountain hiking demands great gear and more education than your typical trail hike. Why? Because as you ascend breathing becomes less efficient, passage grows rugged, and rescue becomes more challenging. So consider your mountain equipment to be your life support system.Where in day hiking you may be able to get away with wearing light-weight boots or shoes, in remote mountain hiking it's a good idea to wear heavier supportive boots to protect your ankles and feet. Walking with a sprained ankle on a day hike is inconvenient compared to trying to limp out of back-country mountains with same problem and a heavy pack. Thinking ahead and being prepared with right mountain gear, guides, and information can literally mean difference between a minor mishap and at times death. Take your safety seriously. As elevation increases atmospheric pressure decreases (amount of oxygen doesn't actually drop until over 50,000 feet) which means there's less pressure to 'push' air into and fill your lungs. Because there is less air going into your lungs you'll fatigue more quickly. How much does pressure really change? According to an academiclibrary.com article (that can be applied to mountain hiking) barometric pressure can drop by 40% between sea level (average 760 millimeters of mercury) and 12,000 feet (483 millimeters of mercury). Obviously having 40% less oxygen available to your body (because of pressure drop) will impact you.
| | What You Must Know About Trampoline SafetyWritten by Paul Johnson
Tumbling on trampoline caught on like wildfire in early 1960s, and still enjoys great popularity today, but sport also still involves same potential dangers. Trampolines in last 45 years have gone from being an institutional or recreation center piece of equipment, to something that is found in many homes, in a variety of sizes and quality.From a simple, round trampoline of relatively small dimensions, to large, outdoor models sold for family fun, every trampoline represents possibility of injury, if not used properly, or if used by those not experienced in tumbling or acrobatics. Here are some simple tips to make your sure that you enjoy fun of a trampoline, while eliminating many of risks. * Placement Never set up even a small, exercise trampoline indoors where there is a risk of hitting light fixtures or ceiling. Outdoors, place trampolines well away from clotheslines, tree limbs, fences, outdoor furniture, and other objects that can cause injury when someone falls off. If at all possible, secure your trampoline by setting its legs/supports down into ground, thereby reducing distance of a fall. At same time, it's advisable to provide padding to a depth of 10" or more, for at least 10' around trampoline. * Clothing Anyone using trampoline should wear clothing loose enough to allow freedom of movement, but not chance that limbs could become entangled in extra folds. Jewelry should be removed before getting on, as should contents of any pockets, and eyeglasses that are not secured by a headband. If you do not have trampoline footwear, then bare feet are best, as socks can cause you to slip.
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