I am going to deviate a little with this post and focus on something we all need reminding about: Doing things to stay healthy and take care of ourselves. It may not be something you care to think about, but keeping ourselves in shape and protected against the elements is a key component to making sure we can enjoy our love of the outdoors for years to come.
"Let me guess, you're going to tell me I need to eat better and be more active?" Well, yes, that is very important to maintaining health and our active lifestyles. Don't believe me? Sit around on the couch for a month in your free time, eat all junk food and strap a 50 pound pack on your back. Now go for just a mile-walk up a moderately sloped trail. Not as easy as it was a month ago was it? But that is not what this "soap box" is about, it's about the other things we often don't think about. Take for example carrying bug spray with you on summer camping trip. Sure it may not be life or death, but dealing with horse flies and mosquitoes most likely will a) leave you covered in bug bites, b) itch and c) make you cut your trip short.
"But I eat healthy, workout 5 times a week and am always prepared!" While that may be true, I bet I can think of one thing that 90% of the people reading this forget to do or don't think about doing until it is too late. Can you guess what that is? No, it's not carry a jacket, though that will help keep you dry and fight off a "summer" cold when ever a thunderstorm pops up while out in the middle of the woods or on the lake. One word: Sunscreen. I am as guilty as the next person about not putting any on while out fishing or waiting until I am already getting sun burnt to put it on. Skin cancer is a growing concern in the world and something that can easily be prevented with the simple use of one product. You can also use clothes to protect you from the sun and as long as they are not dark colored, you won't overheat (which is another point - be sure to take frequent breaks to cool off when the summer heat arrives). And be sure to apply that sunscreen on your ears, face and back of the hands too, as these are all places most of us overlook when applying it.
A few other quick hitting tips are:
-C.B.
"Let me guess, you're going to tell me I need to eat better and be more active?" Well, yes, that is very important to maintaining health and our active lifestyles. Don't believe me? Sit around on the couch for a month in your free time, eat all junk food and strap a 50 pound pack on your back. Now go for just a mile-walk up a moderately sloped trail. Not as easy as it was a month ago was it? But that is not what this "soap box" is about, it's about the other things we often don't think about. Take for example carrying bug spray with you on summer camping trip. Sure it may not be life or death, but dealing with horse flies and mosquitoes most likely will a) leave you covered in bug bites, b) itch and c) make you cut your trip short.
"But I eat healthy, workout 5 times a week and am always prepared!" While that may be true, I bet I can think of one thing that 90% of the people reading this forget to do or don't think about doing until it is too late. Can you guess what that is? No, it's not carry a jacket, though that will help keep you dry and fight off a "summer" cold when ever a thunderstorm pops up while out in the middle of the woods or on the lake. One word: Sunscreen. I am as guilty as the next person about not putting any on while out fishing or waiting until I am already getting sun burnt to put it on. Skin cancer is a growing concern in the world and something that can easily be prevented with the simple use of one product. You can also use clothes to protect you from the sun and as long as they are not dark colored, you won't overheat (which is another point - be sure to take frequent breaks to cool off when the summer heat arrives). And be sure to apply that sunscreen on your ears, face and back of the hands too, as these are all places most of us overlook when applying it.
A few other quick hitting tips are:
- If you are going to be heading up high into the mountains for any type of activity, be sure to acclimate to the altitude before hitting the trail or chasing after big game.
- Successful hunting in the mountains often comes down to how prepared the hunter is. Often times endurance is the root of bad experiences for this type of hunting and being in shape is a key component to enjoying hunting in this type of terrain. Preparing for your trip weeks/months in advance by doing daily hikes up any type of hill, especially with a heavy pack, will help you with your endurance as well as strengthen your legs, knees and core - plus you'll lose some weight, get in shape and have the women (or men if you are a woman) turning their heads.
- Drink plenty of water, even if you aren't thirsty and especially in hot weather. It's better to have to use the bathroom a lot than being dehydrated.
-C.B.
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