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Leisure time in the outdoors
Pure leisure-time involves the
freedom to: explore without constraints, limits, time or schedule.
While in the wilderness then, experiencing leisure is similar to
getting side-tracked. It is these unplanned side-tracks that make the
experience more dynamic and exciting. Side-tracks open up the
‘‘wild'' aspects of the wilderness, long-lost in urban
environments.
Coming from a background of leading wilderness trips and experiences I have found that it is not the grande destination or the mileage that makes the experience richer, but rather the journey itself. Whether an afternoon walk or a two month trek, take the time to get side-tracked and do not miss-out on the unique aspects of the wilderness experience.
The A to B schedule of urban lifestyles then has no valuable place in the wilderness. One potential problem with having a destination (or time constraint) while enjoying the wilderness is that it often does not allow for those unforseen pleasures to be experienced. This could mean not being able to spend that extra day by a waterfall or time to follow interesting animal tracks or even just spending a few minutes getting acquainted with a new plant. But consider which experience would be remembered ten years after the fact: the time spent getting side-tracked or the passing by of the little points of interests because of time and destination restraints.
Another common hindrance to the wilderness experience is media propaganda. The market is flooded with outdoor magazines that advertize all manner of gadgets draped over fair-looking outdoors-people in an attempt to romanticize a product with the wilderness experience. The fact is that these gadgets have been shown to detract from the experience, not add to it. Many wilderness writers, poets and modern day researchers have found that by keeping more of your surroundings (including gear) natural, the chance of having a positive wilderness experience increases. As Henry Thoreau would say: simplify, simplify, simplify. By trying to substitute interpretive knowledge and bush-craft with manufactured gadgets and high-tech. gear we miss out on the natural and waste money at the same time. As Aldo Leopold (father of the ecology movement and the ‘‘land ethic'') wrote: the wilderness experience is really primitivistic in nature, when we bring all manner of unnecessary gadgets into the woods, the experience is lost; it is like bringing the factory into the woods.
If we therefore simplify and view the needed gear, i.e. the canoe, backpack and other gadgets as merely the tools to get us into the experience and not to be the focus of trip, we may free-up considerable time for getting side-tracked.
To the one who becomes as a child again, spontaneously roaming and
seeking the wild, discoveries will abound. It is not those whom seek
out the great marvels of nature whom best understand it, but those who
take the time to get sidetracked in its little wonders.
By Chad Clifford
Back to topA short paper questioning the need for hiking boots. During my time at Lakehead I have come to realize that most people in the recreation industry, in the name of safety and professionalism, tend to wear rigid hiking boots with soles that could swipe the face off mother earth with just one hike. The arguments for using hiking boots may include issues such as support, protection, dryness and comfort, but let's re-think these claims. I would like to share a different philosophy on outdoor footwear because I do not believe that many people have given much serious thought or question to the ‘norms' of the industry on such an important issue. I have used hiking boots myself but have for several years now have been using sneakers, moccasins or preferably just bare-feet. Lend me your eye good people and allow me to explain the reasons for my deviant behaviour.
First, consider what hiking boots are and what they do. How much erosion is caused by the viciously lugged soles of hiking boots? Have you ever questioned why we have raised heels under our feet? Some authorities recommend high heels, others do not. I've discussed this topic with the sales people at various shoe stores (which did not carry any flat soled footwear). I was told we really needed high heels to absorb impact. I of course contemplated aloud this claim and then left, leaving us both to ponder the others saneness. Are our ankle joints and feet muscles so helpless that armoured ankle support and stiff soles have become necessary? Has the thousands of years of evolution let us down with respect to our feet and gait, so much so, that we need a heel raised, padded, stiff soled, nobby treaded, ankle supporting devices to walk safely in the woods? If our feet and ankles need extra support, then would it not be nice to go all the way up to our knees and brace them also? O.K. I'm being silly, but: "Look at the shit we wear on our feet", as stated by Tom Brown Jr., well known tracker and author of various wilderness guide books, and founder of the popular outdoor wilderness school ( Tom Brown Jr., personal communication 1992). Brown states that people have become clumsy in their walking gait and too accused to walking heavily on their heels which is compensated for by wearing thick heel pads under-foot. It is no small wander that we have become clumsy in the woods after spending so much time in the flat paved jungles of our urban centres. and a growing number of others prefer flat, soft soled shoes for many reasons.
By landing heavily on our heels we send jolts directly up our spine to our head (landing heavily on heels, bare foot on a hardwood floor is a good way to feel the jolting). Did you know that headaches are sometimes caused by this type of walking? Some martial arts, back specialists and a small sect of outdoor enthusiasts actually spend a great deal of time practising a smooth, quiet and skilful walk or gait. Gait or walking patterns can be developed a great deal and can waiver any need to compensate a clumsy walk with IMPACT absorbing heels. What about glass and sharp stones? There is a gait, or a skilful way to walk which when practised and developed, allows the feet to feel the ground for obstructions. This type of walk is a philosophy in itself but in 26 words or less: with erect posture and prior to committing weight, land slightly on the outside of the foot, then roll inwards thereby feeling the ground, then apply weight. I personally have stepped on glass in deep grass (unintentionally of course), in bare feet with no injury due to this type of walking gait.
Are hiking boots nothing more than "something worn by people in urban infrastructures in an attempt to appear more ecologically conscious thereby riding some kind of environmental wave" (Yee, D, personal communication 1995)? "Raised footwear, such as hiking boots, increase your chances of twisting an ankle or injury, flat soled runners are more appropriate for hiking" (Martin, T., RN, personal communication 1995). It seems obvious to me that stiff, heavy, elevated footwear can be nothing more than clumsy and awkward. Hiking boots tend to catch rocks, roots and other obstructions far more frequently than flat soled runners, moccasins or bare feet. With respect to twisting an ankle, picture yourself walking across the side of a steep incline. It is natural for your ankles to absorb, to some extent, the extra twist put on them by the slope. If the ankles were supported to the extent that limits this capability, we would have to absorb the added stress in other joints like our knees or hips. Also, by limiting the full movement of our feet and ankles, we would actually be more prone to tumbling from lost flexibility, thereby relying too much on a tread to hold our grip. Of course, a clumsy gait and/or underdeveloped feet and ankle muscles (caused partly by cast-like footwear), is a concern for safety.
Lightweight shoes or moccasins allow one to feel the ground and offer free movement for a more natural walk. Our feet muscles need exercise and when encased in supportive footwear, the muscles are not being used to the same extent. Like wearing a cast, the muscles become weak from under use, and that is a real shame. Consider this parable: in the game of hockey, players with plastic moulded skates have considerable support and protection but, when compared to canvass skates, which have much less protection and support, are sadly outperformed. There are other comparisons that can be used, such as the game of squash or volleyball. These sports demand quick sudden turns and twists but the footwear used is flat, soft soled and lightweight with no ankle support.
Well then, is it appropriate for outdoor recreational users in terms of backpacking or hiking to wear hiking boots? Or are they just an aesthetic feature of the outdoor experience, conjured up by various footwear factions, hoping to convince people to buy something other than what is necessary (like so many other trivial gadgets and gear that are supposed offer enhanced technique but all to often simply replace traditional skill).
The Quabaug rubber company of Massachusetts are the American manufacturers of Vibram soles (the most widely used lug sole). Quabaug co. was concerned enough about the erosion caused by hiking boots that they developed alternative soles which would be less damaging. The companies president, Herbert Varnum, did not believe these alternative soles would do well because they did not have the 'climbing look' (Watterman 1982). One point for fashion.
The Vermont Green Mountain Club has urged people not to hike in the early spring when trails are wet because of the damage done by hiking boots and went on to say "Take off your Vibram soled shoes as soon as you can" & "sneakers, moccasins, or even bare feet, have far less impact on the ground cover" (Watterman 1982).
In an article in Backpacker Magazine, knowledgeable New England hiker Nicholas Howe, stated that during the second world war the army calculated the fatigue difference that heavy footwear caused. The army found that the extra weight of a little sand in the foot-soldiers shoes (in the desert) accounted for the consumption of an extra 250 lbs of rations / person / 6 months. Watterman (1982), stated that if a sneaker weighs .75 lbs (for example) , then over a mile (2 000 steps) the totalled weight lifted would be 1500 lbs. A hiking boot (even light weight ones) are at least twice or more like 4-5 times the weight of a sneaker, and many times the weight of a moccasin, so the weight lifted over a mile would be considerably more.
In another article in Backpacker Magazine, a hiker named William Harlow stated that every hiking-boot track [in the right soil conditions] often raises or loosens 1 ounce of dirt. Over the distance of 1 mile (at 2 ½' stride), 120 pounds of dirt will have been displaced and will wash away at the next rainfall. So a group of 4 hikers (wearing hiking boots), walking 5 miles could be accountable for 1 ton of dirt being washed away. Harlow pleaded readers to wear smooth, soft soled footwear to avoid this (Watterman 1982).
Can we really get away from the hiking boot and all it offers? Hiking can be very strenuous. Should we take the chance and wear footwear that is not as tough and durable as our modern hiking boot? Gatewood, a grandmother, hiked 2000 miles on the Appalachian trail , 3 times, the first time at age 67 with sneakers (Watterman 1982). Trudy Healy another grandmother, did all 46 of the 4000 ft. mountains in the Adirondacks, 6 times in sneakers (so did her children) and went on to write the first guide to rock climbing in that region (Watterman 1982). It seems clear to me that an average person can get by without hiking boots, yay and verily perhaps even better off without them.
In summary and comparison: hiking boots are comfortable, but not as comfortable as sneakers or moccasins. Hiking boots are lighter now days and so are sneakers. Hiking boots offer more support than any other footwear but simulate casts. Do hiking boots have the treads needed for hiking? For the most rigorous adventures maybe, but sneakers work fine with less ill effect. Do hiking boots keep feet dry? Expensive ones, some of the time, but sneakers can be treated or have overshoes put on and they dry out more quickly. Hiking boots will keep the feet warmer but so does an extra pair of socks not to mention a nice lined mukluk. Hiking boots last longer but one could buy 2 pairs of shoes for the same price. Sneakers do require stronger feet muscles along a little bit of attention to gait pattern and footing, should that be a problem!?!
Song
(To the beat of Carrot Juice is Murder by The Arrogant Worms who used the beat of the piano man by ‘whats his name')
1. Hiking boots are casts worn by people, who don't seem to care for their feet. Don't think that feet don't have feelings, just because boots mask their screams. Boots kill vegetation, clawing and thrashing the trail, hiking would be so easy, if we would just let our feet be. "Chorus"
I heard the screams from the vegetation, watching as boots tear up the trails, degraded and eroded with no mercy, how do you think that it feels (that it hurts really bad). Hiking boots constitutes weak feet, by not allowing our feet to move, your feet really want to support you, but right now they can't seem to move. Most feet live in oppression, trapped in overpriced Serrels, Its time to stop all this madness, yes even if its ½ price on sale.
2. How low as people do we dare to stoop, Making young people sport hiking boots. Sneakers are cheap, moccasins are better don't wear hiking boots just to look better. Untie your feet, unleash those laces, let all feet be free, for the next generation. (chorus)
References
, T (1983) Field Guide to Wilderness Survival Berkley Publishing Co.
Watterman, G (1982) Backwoods Ethics Stone Wall Press Inc.
By Chad Clifford
A returning pair of osprey have again delivered a lone chick, witnessed taking flight from a 4 foot diameter nest in the Joes Lake region in Lanark County. Under the aided power of a birding scope and a pair of binoculars, we attained a relatively close view of the immature bird, distinguishable from its parents by size and the possession of lighter coloured, feathers with white fringe on its back. Last year I had often witnessed the female, while incubating, delivering its crisp, piercing whistle, keeyew, keeyew upon seeing its mate return with fish-in-talon. Remarkably, the returning male never came into my limited 20/20 vision until some time after the female's call.
Ospreys feed almost exclusively on fish and have been observed fishing in the area. The osprey flies high over a lake and upon spotting a fish near the surface, will hover for a moment, take aim and dive down, down silently in a masterful tucked sculpt and then just before the strike, project long legs baring curled talons, spread wide and ready to pierce, often fully submerging itself during the capture. Their offensive talons are aided by zygodactyl feet which allow for their outside toe to swivel around like a thumb to the back of the foot for an enhanced grip. To further ensure that the slippery prey does not escape, the surface area under-foot consists of many, small spike-like ridges that protrude, similar perhaps, to a fisher-man's glove.
We are fortunate to still have this specie of bird to observe. At one time the osprey population was at dangerously low levels, a result of a quickly disappearing natural habitat and excessive use of insecticides and herbicides which contaminated the bird's staple diet of fish. The osprey made a comeback because of controls placed on certain chemicals, an ability to coexist with humans, and the efforts of many individuals performing research and creating nesting platforms, etc. Lethal threats to birds today include: pesticides, herbicides, cats, large windows, and destruction of natural habitat.
One early summer morning while out on a li'l saunter near Flower
Station, I paused for a rest in the shade of some birch trees. I was
instantly greeted by the resident daddy-long-legs (also called
harvestmen). This friendly forest dweller promptly crawled up my arm
and onto my chin, I then blew it off abruptly, knocking it to the
ground. I was disappointed with my irrational response, after all I
was the visitor to this grove. The miffed little Arachnid then
traversed away through the green vegetation like nothing had happened.
I observed it as closely as I could without troubling it. The
daddy-long-legs would stop occasionally, probably to locate potential
food sources, which it does through sensory organs on its legs, a
compensation for its poor vision. Daddy-long-legs will feed on an a
wide variety of invertebrates like worms, aphids, flies, decaying
organic matter and the juices of fruits and plants.
Over the ten minutes that I spent watching this daddy-long-legs, what
impressed me the most was its ability to navigate the heavily
vegetated landscape with ease. Its long legs allowed it to ascend over
every obstruction. Most forest insects and spiders would probably
consider trading their left antennae for that kind of all-terrain
agility. Upon coming to one rather large obstruction, a violet leaf,
the daddy-long-legs performed an astounding maneuver. With its hind
legs, it reached over its back and grabbed the leaf of the violet
plant. At this point, with its front legs, it grabbed its hind legs
and pulled itself up onto the leaf where its middle legs then grasped
the leaf to complete the maneuver. It made it over the obstruction
with an artistic ease that would leave a gymnast of our species
dumbfounded. Satisfied with this display of creative dexterity, I then
continued my saunter down the trail.
Although daddy-long-legs are not really spiders, they do belong to
the same class Arachnida. What differs about daddy-long-legs, is that
they do not spin silk webs or possess the ability to inject venom. If
you are one of the many who are a little weary of spiders, try getting
close to a daddy-long-legs. I have never heard of one biting anyone;
be gentle if handling however, because unlike spiders, they do not
regrow lost limbs. The limbs detach rather easily as an advantage to
escape predation.
By Chad CliffordBack to top
The armored reptiles are on the move again, slowly crossing the roadways in search of a good location to lay eggs. Every spring, female turtles have the dangerous responsibility of finding a suitable nesting location. Cars encountered on the roadways are probably their greatest threat.
The snapping and painted turtles are most commonly seen turtles in our area with the snapper often venturing further from the water to lay its eggs. The life span of a snapping turtle once it gets past the juvenile stages of high predation is somewhere between 40 and 90 years old, considerably longer then the vast majority of wild animals. Snappers are only vicious when they are being threatened and have no escape. At all other times they simply avoid confrontations. The turtles basic physical structure has gone mostly unchanged for the last 200 million years and dummies they're not. For example, the less common wood turtle has shown its ability to get through the classic maze experiment as fast as the Rat (one of the most intelligent mammals). It is the wood turtle that can be aged by counting the scales on the shell, but this is not the case with the others.
The nesting area that the female searches for needs to have good sun exposure so the eggs will be incubated. She will dig numerous holes to try and out-smart the skunks and foxes who predate on the nutritious and no doubt tasty eggs. The depth at which the turtle will burry the eggs may even affect sex determination of the young turtles because at a certain stage of embryonic development the temperature of the egg will dictate which sex the developing turtle will be.
Snappers seem to fancy the gravel along our roadsides for nest sites
and are often seen venturing across the roads. So keep a watchful eye
for turtles on the roadways this year, and offer them their historic
right of way, besides it's their once a year vacation from the swamp
and they just might be your elder in years.
Do you remember the very first time you encountered a dragonfly or observed someone else seeing his/her first? For many, the first-time encounter with a dragonfly results in the fear of being stung by one of these ferocious looking insects. This initial fear is not fully unsubstantiated when one observes how they tend to hover around us with fearless interest. Of course, later we realize that they are interested in being our allies against the onslaught of the blood sucking insects that feed upon us.
It does not take long to realize the great privilege of being in company with dragonflies while sauntering out in the woods. One sunny afternoon last summer, while taking a short siesta under the shade of a tree, I had a dragonfly land on my chest. I studied it carefully wondering if it knew that I was alive or just some stump that looked like a convenient perch to take a rest. I lay still so that I would not frighten it away. I noticed that it had a little notch missing from its left front wing and that it was a female (identified by the absence of genitalia on the second abdomen segment from the thorax or body, common to males). The friendly intruder then took flight just as quickly as she landed. Well within ten seconds she landed right back on my chest. After a minute or so she took flight again, and returned yet once more. I soon realized not only was this the same dragonfly that kept returning to me, but was also doing me an admirable service. It would take flight from my chest, grab an insect with its legs and return to eat it. I could actually hear her mouthparts grinding up the caught insect. I had my own personal dragonfly on duty, guarding me from the attacking mosquitos. This went on for ten to fifteen minutes and then I saw the dragonfly no more.
Last week while canoeing on the Clyde River, near Clyde Forks, dragonfly nymphs (or juveniles) were present on many of the lily pads. Dragonflies spend the winter and in some species, two to three years living in water going through as many as ten to fifteen molts (shedding of its cuticle or exoskeleton) before reaching reproductive maturity and flight. A comforting fact to those of us who spend time outside in mosquito and black fly country is that dragonflies are predacious even while in nymph stage and prey on the larvae of mosquitos and black flies in the water before they even get a chance to take flight. Dragonflies, in nymph stage, will often wait concealed in the mud for unsuspecting small fish and/or other small creatures, and then with a fast, jet-like propulsion attack. The labium (mouth part), in a flash too quick to see, extends out from beneath the head by internal blood (hemolymth) pressure at just the right moment, seizing its prey easily. Jet propulsion is created by water being quickly forced out of a hole located in their rear end from which they respire by the use of gills.
Nevertheless, back to the Clyde River story. I came across one particular nymph on a lily pad that was in the process of breaking out of its exoskeleton. It was in its final metamorphosis, changing from immature water nymph stages to the reproductive adult flying stage. My companions and I watched the entire process, which took about 25 minutes in all. The process of this final metamorphosis roughly involves the nymph creating internal pressure which breaks its exoskeleton open along its back, right behind the head. At this point, we saw the light-green coloured dragonfly emerge head first out of its old exoskeleton. As it pulled its body out of the exoskeleton it took a step or two away and remained still. It was now in the form of the familiar adult flying dragonfly, except for the fact that its wings were not apparent. Over the next five or ten minutes the wings began to appear. The dragonfly pumped-up or inflated its wings with hemolymth, which is the insects equivalent to our blood. As the wings slowly grew to full length, the dragonfly remained bathing in the warm sun, allowing its wings to dry. The wind also seemed to aid greatly in the process of drying the dragonfly's transparent wings. Unfortunately while we were waiting for the dragonfly to take flight we got sidetracked and missed the big event, this was unfortunate but I did take some good photos of the process.
Once in the adult form, which lasts around six to eight weeks depending on species, a peculiar habit of the dragonfly is to fly attached in tandem with another dragonfly. As one could probably guess, it does have something to do with reproduction. A male will find a female and attach himself by his claspers which are on the end of his tail (or abdomen) to the top of the females neck, right behind her head. She will then reach with the end of her abdomen around to the males genitalia and grab the sperm. However, this is not the end of the process. The male (of some species) will remain attached to the females head until she deposits her eggs into the water. This attachment can last up to several days. In some species of dragonflies, the male will keep a very close eye on the female after mating to ensure that another male does not interfere with the process of his genes being utilized in the eggs.
Another interesting point about dragonflies is that they are believed by many to possess the best vision of all known insects. A particularly close look at the dragonflies colourful eyes reveal that there is up to 20,000 facets or visual areas in the insect's pair of compound eyes. In addition to this, the dragonfly has three ocelli (simple eyes) which allows a 360 degree area of vision. Researchers believe that dragonflies not only see in colour, but also see colours in the ultraviolet spectrum, well out of our range. One way to distinguish the dragonfly from its relative the damselfly is by the eyes; the dragonfly's eyes cover most of its head, whereas the damselfly has eyes that tend to bulge out to the sides. Also, while at rest, the dragonfly holds its wings flat extending away from its body and the damselfly will hold its wings vertically over its back along side its body. Species of dragonflies can also be differentiated by the altitude by which they fly.
Instead of naming dragonflies by the old nickname of ‘darning
needles' which portrays them as enemies that lie in wait, anxious to
stitch up an unsuspecting mouth, perhaps we should give dragonflies
the more fitting title of ‘(hu)man's best friend', dogs just
don't care.
Winter Camping-generic things to bring
listback to top
NOTE: Should not be considered a complete list either--just some
ideas.
CLOTHES
Feet and Hands
Minimal Impact Outdoor Winter Campingback to top
by Chad Clifford
Appearing in Peace and Environment Newsletter [P.E.N.] (1999,
December 1).
