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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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