How about we not let this one die.

 

Went to Antelope Island today, saw some bison, hiked up about 5ish mi. They were heli-lifting Bighorn Sheep for some reason, so I saw some Bighorn Sheep flying around in nets. Its a nice state park, the views kinda get ruined by SLC's smog problem though.

 

Getting ready to put in for the Mt Whitney lottery. I'm reading the books, just getting prepared mentally for the switchbacks. Kinda been training by sleeping at high elevations (9-10k feet) just to see where my altitude tolerance is at. So far I've been pretty good, I'm going to try crawling around the Wasatch Front in the spring and if I can do Half-dome just to acquaint myself.

 

I know for most of you the outdoors at the moment are unpleasant, but now is the time to start making those spring/summer plans.

Spring/Summer plans? It's ice fishing season for me, and the ice is about as good as it will ever be all throughout the Midwest.

Spring/Summer plans? It's ice fishing season for me, and the ice is about as good as it will ever be all throughout the Midwest.

 

I love fishing, and absolutely despise ice fishing.

 

I've already made plans for spring/summer trips, vacation time is in, and routes are planned. Winter sucks, and I can't wait for it to end.

If I can get anytime off of work this year, I'd like to go back to Yosemite National Park.

 

 

I love fishing, and absolutely despise ice fishing.

 

I've already made plans for spring/summer trips, vacation time is in, and routes are planned. Winter sucks, and I can't wait for it to end.

 

You and I can't be internet friends anymore.

You and I can't be internet friends anymore.

 

I love fishing, even fly fishing...but ice fishing sucks.

Im heading to Lac Vieux Desert(headwaters of the wisconsin river) this upcoming summer for the first time in over 10 years. Pretty excited to fish again, especially with my son

I'll be climbing this sucker in the summer, Mt. Rainier.

 

I'll be climbing this sucker in the summer, Mt. Rainier.

 

 

Beautiful...

 

But not much of a challenge for you, since you can simply reach up and touch the top of the mountain from the ground...

I just got back from Big Bend and will be back in March. This summer we will be travelling the upper Midwest, the itinerary hasn't been fully thrashed out.

I'll be climbing this sucker in the summer, Mt. Rainier.

 

Are you doing the Wonderland trail? Or just a straight peak ascent?

 

I just got back from Big Bend and will be back in March. This summer we will be travelling the upper Midwest, the itinerary hasn't been fully thrashed out.

Upper Midwest? If you are looking for outdoor stuff, I'd have suggestions, depending on where you are going.

 

For backpacking, Porcupine Mountains in the UP, or the Superior Trail in MN are both worthwhile. For canoeing or kayaking, Boundary Waters or Quetico.

 

Are you doing the Wonderland trail? Or just a straight peak ascent?

 

It'll likely be a straight ascent.

Are you doing the Wonderland trail? Or just a straight peak ascent?

 

 

Upper Midwest? If you are looking for outdoor stuff, I'd have suggestions, depending on where you are going.

 

For backpacking, Porcupine Mountains in the UP, or the Superior Trail in MN are both worthwhile. For canoeing or kayaking, Boundary Waters or Quetico.

 

Thank you for the suggestions, I will check them out.

 

Currently we are considering Apostle Islands but Boundary Waters is getting interesting. My Scout Troop will be there starting around the first of july for ten days. I also was just contacted tofay about running a Scout camp in Alaska. My entire summer may change.

Boundary waters was probably the most rewarding and grueling vacation i have ever taken

Thank you for the suggestions, I will check them out.

 

Currently we are considering Apostle Islands but Boundary Waters is getting interesting. My Scout Troop will be there starting around the first of july for ten days. I also was just contacted tofay about running a Scout camp in Alaska. My entire summer may change.

 

Apostle Islands are beautiful. But if your plan is to put a canoe or kayak in the water there, just know you are getting into something big. Lake Superior can get big and angry real quick. I wouldn't advise going out there in a small craft unless you know what you are doing. That is where BWCA or Quetico are better options, perhaps.

 

Boundary waters was probably the most rewarding and grueling vacation i have ever taken

 

BWCA is great, Quetico (the Canadian side park) is even better. Love them both.

 

I really enjoyed backpacking the length of Pictured Rocks NL. Probably my favorite Midwestern destination overall. And yea, Superior is a brutal creature.

 

Apostle Islands are beautiful. But if your plan is to put a canoe or kayak in the water there, just know you are getting into something big. Lake Superior can get big and angry real quick. I wouldn't advise going out there in a small craft unless you know what you are doing. That is where BWCA or Quetico are better options, perhaps.

 

 

 

BWCA is great, Quetico (the Canadian side park) is even better. Love them both.

 

We were looking at either kayaking, (and we are aware our Laguna Madre off the Gulf of Mexico is not perfect preparation) or taking a shuttle. We only had a day or so to explore the area the past summer and want to get back and take our time.

Anyone have any opinions on Wilmot vs. Alpine Valley for skiing?

 

edit: just looking for somewhere close to go to get used to a set of skis again before heading to Colorado, I know they're both small hills at best but I've never been to Wilmot.

Edited February 7, 201412 yr by StrangeSox

16 years ago, the last time I was there, Alpine Valley was a superior experience. Nicer facilites, more and better runs.

Anyone have any opinions on Wilmot vs. Alpine Valley for skiing?

 

edit: just looking for somewhere close to go to get used to a set of skis again before heading to Colorado, I know they're both small hills at best but I've never been to Wilmot.

 

If you have to chose one of those, go to Alpine.

 

If you can go further north, go to Cascade.

Yeah back when I skiied a lot Apline was my preference over Wilmot.

Anyone ever take a Wilderness First Aid class like this one offered through REI?

 

http://www.rei.com/class/46423/market/340

Anyone ever take a Wilderness First Aid class like this one offered through REI?

 

http://www.rei.com/class/46423/market/340

I used to hold an EMT license, and took a W-EMT adjunct course once, but it was before all the certifications existed. Was more like just continuing ed in a specialized field.

 

If you plan to spend a lot of time in the backcountry, especially if with groups, it is worth having someone who knows that stuff. More is better.

 

Anyone ever take a Wilderness First Aid class like this one offered through REI?

 

http://www.rei.com/class/46423/market/340

 

It was required when I ran a high adventure sea base for the Boy Scouts. We operated in the shadow of million dollar condos and huge resorts. Calling 911 was going to be far more appropriate response. But when we were off shore sailing or fishing well up the Laguna Madre, it would have been useful. It was a big stretch for me from Community First Aid and CPR training.

Part of the reason you have these wilderness/backcountry add-ons to first aid, FR and EMT licenses, is that rendering medical assistance in the backcountry is fundamentally different than in civilization. And primarily not for the reasons you may think - lack of equipment, adverse terrain, rescue situations - though those are factors too. The key difference is, first aid and in-field emergency medical care training is generally predicated on the idea that you are doing something for a short period of time, while in the act of getting the victim to a hospital. Care is measured in minutes. In the wilderness, care is measured in hours or days, which completely changes your methods.