Get Ready for a Great Year Outdoors

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“I asscended to the top of the cutt bluff this morning, from whence I had a most delightfull view of the country, the whole of which except the vally formed by the Missouri is void of timber or underbrush, exposing to the first glance of the spectator immence herds of Buffaloe, Elk, deer, & Antelopes feeding in one common and boundless pasture.” — Meriwether Lewis, The Journals of Lewis and Clark

Skill Building

Practice really does make perfect, so why not spend some off-season time sharpening skills and building know-how you can use to enjoy the outdoors more fully, and more safely?

First Aid First. You’ve been putting this off for too long, right? If you haven’t already, take at least a basic first-aid course and another in CPR. Contact your local Red Cross office for a schedule of community classes.

Some organizations, such as the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Washington Trails Association, offer wilderness first-aid courses designed specifically for outdoor-related maladies — from sprains and blisters to broken limbs — and situations beyond the ready reach of ambulances and paramedics. Contact local hiking clubs and outdoor stores to find classes in your area.

Hiker’s Basic First Aid Kit

• Moleskin or duct tape (for blisters)
• Antibiotic ointment
• Adhesive bandage strips
• Adhesive closure strips
• Tweezers
• Ibuprofen
• Antihistamine
• ACE bandage
• Safety pins

Just Say “No” to Granny Knots. The common overhand or “granny” knot is great for tying shoes, but there are better knots for most outdoor (and, for that matter, household) purposes. Get yourself a 4-foot length of rope and use some idle time to learn and practice knots that really do the job. For starters master the bowline, square knot, clove hitch and taut-line hitch — those will cover a variety of applications. You’ll find dozens of good, illustrated knot-tying how-to sites on the Internet. Among the many books on the subject, I like The Complete Book of Knots by Geoffrey Budworth.

How to Tie the Taut-Line Hitch

The taut-line hitch is a terrific, versatile knot, and the knot to use on tent guy lines (or a clothesline), because you can slide it up or down to loosen or tighten the rope.

1. Wrap the free end of the rope around the standing (not free) part twice, and pull it tight, keeping the turns neat.
2. Bring the end over the standing part, slip it through the loop formed, and tighten enough so the knot grips the standing part, but not so tight that it can’t slide up and down.

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