My favorite outdoor related quote comes from John Muir, the father of our national park system and founder of the Sierra Club. He said, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” This quote means more to me today than it did twenty years ago and will undoubtedly mean more to me still as I spend an increasing amount of time out of doors. Muir is telling us something of great importance - we are attached to nature too. Therefore, how we think and act while visiting wild places today will ultimately determine the amount of enjoyment by outdoor enthusiasts for ever more. So how should we think and act?
A code of conduct exists for outdoor enthusiasts. It is called the Principles of Leave No Trace. This set of best practices was designed specifically to ensure our outdoor recreational activities are sustainable over long periods of time. Leave No Trace is an organization dedicated to educating people on how to minimize their impacts while enjoying the outdoors. Here are their seven principles.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
BackCountry Toys is a supporter of Leave No Trace and we encourage all outdoor enthusiasts to do likewise. To learn how to put these principles into action, you may find more information on their website at www.lnt.org or on our website as well.
Over the years, I have tugged on countless things in nature. I have found out they are indeed attached to everything else - including me. As outdoor enthusiasts we understand the importance of our relationship with the backcountry and we are keenly aware of how our attitudes and our actions determine the long term viability of these wild places. Here is another of my favorite quotes. This one is by Michel Montaigne. “Let us permit Nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we." Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!
My Perfect Campsite
It’s the time of year to beat the heat and head for higher elevation. For many people that means loading up the RV, grabbing the boat and finding a campground by the lake. My idea for the perfect getaway means loading the truck with our camping gear and our two Labrador Retrievers and getting as far away from the pavement as we can get. While these two styles are quite different, they are both perfect. Let’s take a look at what makes a campsite perfect for me—and perhaps for you.
What to Know When Buying a GPS
Why are GPS units showing up everywhere? You might find one in your rental car, on your wristwatch or even built into your wireless phone. Anti-theft systems use one, heavy construction equipment might use one and having one on your boat now seems to be a requirement. Anytime we want to know our exact location on the face of the Earth, the GPS becomes indispensable. Like many other technologies, feature rich GPS units are now affordable for the average person. So how do you know which one to purchase? Let’s look at few things to consider prior to buying your next GPS unit, but first, what is a GPS unit?
Get the Most Out of Your Hike
Hiking is one of life’s great joys. Fresh air, nature, exercise and good friends. It’s difficult to imagine anything better – if you’re prepared. When you’re not prepared properly, it’s difficult to imagine anything worse. If you hike a few hundred yards around your neighborhood or a few hundred miles around the backcountry, use these tips to get the most enjoyment out of your hiking experience.
