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September 17, 2020
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Field Facts
If you live in the western United States, there used to be five seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall, and fire season. Thanks to long-lasting drought and climate change, that season of wildfire infernos has now blown into a full-tilt fire year. Since 1970, the frequency of wildfires in the western U.S. has
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September 3, 2020
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Fauna
The marine otter (Lontra felina) is a rare and extremely shy mammal found only along South America’s southwestern coast. With an estimated population of less than 1,000, the marine otter is one of two species in the weasel family that spends its time in the ocean. The marine otter lives on land and makes brief
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August 20, 2020
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Camp Kitchen
Farm-to-table restaurants and known direct sourcing of food is all the rage in the restaurant scene right now. Go to a steakhouse and you’ll hear from your waiter where the cows graze. Go to a coffee shop and you’ll likely see photos of the fair-market coffee harvesters carrying coffee sacks on burros and working
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August 13, 2020
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Field Facts
Born into slavery, Charles Young became one of America’s top military leaders while facing nearly insurmountable social barriers. Young was the third African American West Point graduate, the first black military attaché, the highest-ranking black officer in the regular army, and the first black U.S. national
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August 6, 2020
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Flora
Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is a form of brown algae and the largest of all kelp species. It is not a plant, but rather a complex form of single cells that work together sharing nutrients and performing specific tasks. It has three basic structures: at its base is the holdfast which anchors the kelp to …
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July 30, 2020
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Field Facts
Zion National Park, home to majestic red cliffs and breathtaking sandstone slot canyons, is one of five national parks in Utah. Featuring a myriad of desert wildlife and stunning geological formations, Zion offers a landscape that soothes and challenges artists, climbers, canyoneers, hikers, and outdoor
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July 24, 2020
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Fauna
The brush mouse (Peromyscus boylii) is a long-tailed rodent found in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. Since the mouse is nocturnal, most humans will never cross paths with this tiny mammal except when cleaning their droppings from tents, cabins, or campers. Although adorable in their unique rodent
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July 16, 2020
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Do's & Don'ts
To the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians the rising of the star Sirius signaled the start of “The Dog Days of Summer” when the oppressive heat was attributed to causing madness, war, and even befouled the taste of wine. (Nobody likes befouled tasting wine) Though we are pretty sure there are no evil spirits
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July 9, 2020
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Flora
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) should be renamed the Pharmacy of the Forest. For centuries, Native Americans, pioneers, and modern-day herbalists have been using this plant to fight infections, heal wounds, break fevers, and aid digestion. Yarrow belongs to the genus Achillea named after the mythological figure
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July 2, 2020
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Do's & Don'ts
We are getting into the the peak of the summer season and almost everybody likes going to the beach, to cool off, play in the water and have fun. But just like anywhere else you go in the outdoors it’s good to do a little pre-planning and be aware of your surroundings when you get …
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June 25, 2020
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Fauna
“And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sittingOn the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;And my soul from out that shadow
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June 18, 2020
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Field Craft
When I was a child, my father made me my first slingshot. It was underpowered by most standards since it was constructed of rubber bands linked together but to me it was awesome. I shot little pebbles with it in the backyard and it created a monster inside me. As years went on, this monster …
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June 11, 2020
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Flora
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) tree, which once blanketed the eastern United States for thousands of years, has become the star of an American botanical horror story. The American chestnut tree, which could reach heights of nearly 100 feet and grow trunks up to 10 feet in diameter, was treasured for its
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June 4, 2020
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Field Facts
From Baffin Island, Franklin headed west and made it to Beechey Island, about 475 nautical miles north of the Arctic Circle, before the pack ice forced the expedition to a halt. That first winter, three crew members, Royal Marine Private William Braine, Able Seaman John Harkness, and Petty Officer John
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May 28, 2020
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Fauna
The javelina (Tayassu tajacu), also known as a collared peccary, is a pig-like mammal found throughout the arid climates of the southwestern United States. Covered with coarse black hair peppered with gray and brown, the javelina sports a lighter colored band or collar, circling the shoulders. Adult javelina
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May 14, 2020
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Field Facts
Before setting out on his final polar expedition in 1845 and creating one of history’s more intriguing and enduring maritime mysteries, Sir John Franklin had served in three wars, surveyed Australia, and mapped unexplored areas of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Throughout his five-decade career in the
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May 7, 2020
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Flora
The Prickly Pear Cactus, known more formally as Opuntia is probably one of the most recognizable Cacti in the world. With dozens of variations it is originally from the Americas in what is now Central Mexico, but Opuntia has radiated out to arid and semi-arid regions all around the world. Said to be given to …
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April 30, 2020
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Camp Kitchen
All around the world different civilizations and cultures have developed ways to get necessary and filling carbohydrates by making bread while on the go and/or from minimum ingredients. Fry bread, tortillas, pita- some baked directly in the ashes of a campfire have kept people going for centuries. Today’s Camp
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April 23, 2020
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Fauna
The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is one of three species of mountain sheep living in North America. Recognized by the male’s large, curving horns, the bighorn sheep is a legendary climber and resident of the continent’s western rocky terrain. The three living subspecies are the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
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April 16, 2020
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Gear Reviews
It’s always great to have extra lights for area lighting and performing immediate tasks while outdoors. In the past options were limited and varying sized battery requirements were a hassle. Now with rechargeable lights you can get away for a long weekend and not have to carry a twenty pound bag of spares.
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April 9, 2020
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Flora
Treasured for its sweet, delicate fruit, the wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is a member of the rose family and is found throughout most of the U.S. and Canada. The wild strawberry prefers fertile loamy soils in dry locations and can be found throughout North America in meadows, roadsides, hillsides, and
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April 3, 2020
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Field Facts
How do you follow up making the most successful surf movie of all time? You turn your cameras inland and make a movie about motorcycles, of course! As unconventional as that may sound that is exactly what California film maker Bruce Brown did and in doing so made another classic that set standard that all
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April 1, 2020
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Fauna
Jackalope (Lepus cornutus) is a medium to large lagomorph found only in small pockets of the Western United States, the largest populations being found near Douglas Wyoming and Groom Lake in Southern Nevada. Contrary to popular belief Jackalope are not the result of amorousness between an antelope and a jackrabbit,
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March 19, 2020
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Field Facts
Rising from the depths of Lake Superior, Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park is one of America’s more remote and rugged parks. The 45-mile long island offers a mixture of adventure and solitude for kayakers, canoeists, backpackers, day hikers, SCUBA divers, and anglers. Isle Royale was formed by the
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March 12, 2020
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Flora
The birch (Betulaceae) is a deciduous hardwood tree easily recognized by its distinguished thin bark, which peels away in layers like paper. The bark is usually white but can also be found in colors ranging from purple to salmon. There are 15 species of birch in the colder regions of the United States, with
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March 5, 2020
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Field Facts
“Earthbound souls know only the underside of the atmosphere in which they live . . . but go higher – above the dust and water vapor – and the sky turns dark until one can see the stars at noon.” Jacqueline Cochran was the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound (Mach …
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February 27, 2020
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Field Facts
Humans (Homo sapiens) aren’t the only species who have found value in partnering with competing predators in the Canidae family. While early man and wolves formed hunting alliances which led to the rise of the domestic dog, other animals have also found value in developing symbiotic relationships with
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February 20, 2020
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Fauna
The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is one of North America’s larger raptors, weighing in between two and four pounds with a wingspan up to 56 inches. This bird of prey with the distinctive rust-colored tail is found in just about every type of open habitat on the continent. Chances are there is a Red-Tail
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February 13, 2020
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Field Facts
Yellowstone National Park has the distinction of being the first national park ever created in the United States and also the first of its kind in the world. The Act of Dedication was signed into law on March 1st, 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant and set aside more than 2 million acres in the …
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February 6, 2020
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Flora
The Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) is native to the Monterey Bay, California area, and has been cultivated throughout the western and southern United States. This cypress has high wind and aerosol salt tolerance, making it the perfect coastal tree. The Monterey Cypress is found naturally in only two
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February 1, 2020
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Gear Reviews
I have owned almost a dozen headlamps in my time. One “walked off” after a nighttime rescue, all the rest failed in some way or another. I don’t think that will ever be a problem with the SureFire Minimus. Contructed from aircraft aluminum that has been hard anodized. That means it won’t crack
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January 30, 2020
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Fauna
The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus, which translates to maritime bear) is the apex predator of the Arctic. Spending most of its life on Arctic ocean sea ice, the Polar Bear is the only species of bear to be classified as a marine mammal. Polar bears can be found in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia, and some
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January 23, 2020
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Field Craft
Whenever I’m out camping or hiking on a cool day, I always bring along a small selection of easy to make warm beverage packets and a small camp stove. Having a hot beverage available is great while taking a break on the trail and can be a real morale booster during unexpected changes in weather. …
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January 16, 2020
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Flora
The lichen is a remarkable composite organism that can be frequently seen attached to rocks, trees, and even the soil. Often confused for moss, the lichen is actually not a plant at all since it has no roots, stems, or leaves. Lichens are actually a partnership between two organisms: fungus and alga. The fungi
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January 9, 2020
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Field Facts
A pack book is a book to keep in your backpack or travel bag for any kind of journey. We consider a good paperback book an essential part of any packing list whether you are going for a short hike or a trip around the world. A pack book should be not too big and …
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December 26, 2019
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Fauna
The caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a large hoofed mammal belonging to the deer family. Depending on where you live, caribou and reindeer are the same animals. Caribou are native to North America while reindeer are native to Asia, Europe, and Santa’s home in the North Pole. There are, however, some reindeer in
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December 19, 2019
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Field Facts
Rising over 10,000 feet in the air, the granite peak of Mt. San Jacinto stands in stark contrast to the Sonoran Desert below. High above in the subalpine, it is cool and green; covered in pines, cedars and in a blanket of snow. The desert below is 40 degrees hotter and sparsely dotted with creosote …
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December 12, 2019
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Flora
The Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a large evergreen tree that is a mainstay of the American West. It also goes by the name Yellow Pine, Bull Pine and about a dozen others depending on the region and the tree’s age. Typically they are found in elevations between 6,000- 10,000 feet, in areas that receive
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December 5, 2019
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Do's & Don'ts
As winter sets in some of us take a break from our adventuring. We retire to hearth and home. Sit by the fire, make repairs to our adventure gear and plan for the spring and summer ahead-Some of us, the rest of us get out after it. Adventuring in cold weather can be a great …
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November 28, 2019
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Fauna
The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is often misaligned by city dwellers as a dumb bird, suitable only for the Thanksgiving table. Those of us who are closer in touch with our wild roots, however, know this large colorful thunder chicken as a crafty, wary, and magnificent creature of the forest. Weighing between
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November 21, 2019
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Field Craft
In this article, we are going to discuss one of the oldest fire-starting sources that dates back into the 1500’s, perhaps even further. During its history fatwood was often used as a lamp or torch wick source due to its water-resistant properties. Also during this time period another use for fatwood was found when
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November 14, 2019
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Flora
The Snow plant (Sarcodes sanguinea) is a strikingly red parasitic plant that can found in the conifer forests in the Sierra Nevada range in California, Oregon, and some isolated pockets in western Nevada. The plant’s scientific name, Sarcodes sanguinea, which is loosely translated as “the bloody flesh-like
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November 7, 2019
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Adventure Mobiles
Make: Subaru Model: Outback Year: 2019 Mileage: 9,200 How long have you had your adventure-mobile? 6 months. The Original Dadwagon was totaled and this is the Dadwagon 2.0 Owners’ name: Greg Finke What do you do? Work for the Department of the Navy Hobbies? Coaching my
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October 30, 2019
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Fauna
If you believe what you see in the movies, rattlesnakes have nothing better to do all day except to wait for humans to walk by and inject them with venom. The western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), however, usually has better things to do. Some of its favorite activities are regulating its body temperature
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October 25, 2019
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Field Facts
When I was kid living in small towns in and around the mountains of the East Coast, I remember marveling at the tall fire watch lookouts we’d come across on our family hikes through the region. To my young self these were the guard towers for the brave, solitary sentinels who watched over our forests, …
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October 18, 2019
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Flora
Related to both the blueberry and the cranberry, the huckleberry represents the best of both fruits when it comes to the near-perfect blend of tartness and sweetness. With more than 12 species of huckleberries located in the Pacific Northwest, this little berry has been a long-time favorite on the menus of
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October 10, 2019
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Do's & Don'ts
“Take care of your gear, and your gear will take care of you” is one of Danger Ranger Bear’s basic rules for the outdoors. The proper care, use and maintenance of your outdoor equipment will not only extend its life and provide you with more use and enjoyment, it also means your gear will be …
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October 3, 2019
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Fauna
If you have even the remotest hint of arachnophobia, don’t visit Nevada’s Walker Lake in August during the blue damselfly hatch. For decades, this desert oasis has become party central for the orb weaver spider family reunion. Hundreds of thousands of these silk-spinning masters set up their large circular webs on
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September 26, 2019
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Field Facts
Foreword: In 2016, I had the chance to see Alaska for the first time and also check off “take a flight in a float plane” on my bucket list with a trip over the North Slope of the Brooks Range. Ever since that trip, I’ve longed to go back to the land of the endless …
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