Make safe drinking water. KATADYN MICROFILTER PRICES INCLUDE FREE SHIPPING.
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Seasonal Reminder: Dress for the weather, not the car.
Winter camping. Just because
the calendar says winter, the thermometer says cold, and the landscape looks
white is no reason to stay out of the wildlands. For more info…Click here
Be Safe Out There. Driving to the trailhead, hiking along the trail or bushwhacking and camping in the backcountry need some special techniques and good equipment. Keep your tent, sleeping bag, backpack and other gear in tip top condition.
Wildlife needs your respect, especially if you are part of their food chain. Learn to incorporate preventative techniques in your normal routine and you’ll not need to be apprehensive while in bear orcougar country.
Safe drinking wateris one of your main concerns. Water filters and water purifiers provide safe and convenient water wherever you are.
To fully enjoy the great outdoors you must feel safe and secure. Whether you're new to the wildlands or have spent several years trammeling about, learning or reviewing safety tips is always beneficial.
Be aware of hypothermia whenever in cool, moist windy situations.
So pack up your tent, sleeping bag, and camping gear on your pack frame and get out there.
NOTE: Please click on bolded words for additional safety information< ><-->
Cougar
Country Awareness
Sleek and graceful, cougars (Puma concolor) are solitary and secretive animals rarely seen in
the wild. Also known as mountain lions or pumas, cougars are known for their
strength, agility, and awesome ability to jump. Their exceptionally powerful
legs enable them to leap 30 feet from a standstill, or to jump 15 feet straight
up a cliff wall.
Precautions
for Hikers and Campers
While
recreating in a cougar’s territory, you can avoid close encounters by taking
the following precautions:
Hike
in groups and make enough noise to prevent surprising a cougar.
Avoid
hiking after dark.
Keep
small children close to the group, preferably in plain sight ahead of you.
Do
not approach dead animals, especially recently killed or partially covered
deer and elk.
Be
aware of your surroundings, particularly when hiking in dense cover or
when sitting, crouching, or lying down. Look for tracks, scratch posts,
and partially covered droppings.
While camping in cougar habitat, you should:
1.Keep a
clean camp. Reduce odors that might attract mammals such as raccoons, which in
turn could attract cougars. Store meat, other foods, pet food, and garbage in
double plastic bags.
2.Keep small
children close to the group, preferably in plain sight from camp
If you encounter a cougar:
Cougars make
their living by not being seen. In areas disturbed by humans, these cats are
most active during twilight and early morning hours. (In dim light, cougars see
up to six times better than humans.) However, cougars can be active at dawn or
dusk if prey is active at that time.
Relatively few
people will ever catch a glimpse of a cougar much less confront one. If you
come face to face with a cougar, your actions can either help or hinder a quick
retreat by the animal.
Here are some things to remember:
1.Stop,
stand tall and don't run. Pick up small children. Don't run. A cougar's
instinct is to chase.
2.Do not
approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens.
3.Try to
appear larger than the cougar. Never take your eyes off the animal or turn your
back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
4.If the
animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The
idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.
5.If the
cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars
have been driven away by people who have fought back.
