The Great Outdoor Fight

Wilderness & Conservancy Blog

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John Collins

How To Brush Your Teeth When Camping

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Brushing your teeth on the camping trips you take is going to be a lot easier for you when you are using the Westchase Dentist tips, and you can get general dentistry help when you are on the road. You can take a couple steps to make sure that you are going to be able to brush your teeth easily. There are a lot of people who are going to have to brush their teeth when they are traveling because they know that they have to do something that is going to keep their teeth clean. There are a lot of people who are going to be able to get their teeth brushed easily.

The Water

You need to have clean water that you can use to make sure that you can clean your teeth. You can swish the water or you can brush your teeth with the water even if you do not have toothpaste. You might not have clean water, and you might have a problem if you have not got any filtered water. The water that you are using should be checked before you brush, and you cannot brush your teeth with murky water.

Brushing Your Teeth

You need to bring a brush with you that is going to be easy to care for, and you have to make sure that you are going to be able to brush your teeth easily. You need to know that the brush is going to be clean when you are using it, and you can get a nice case for your toothbrush that will protect the bristles.

The Time

You need to brush your teeth at the beginning and the end of the day to make sure that you have gotten your teeth clean even if it has been a really hard day. You want to make sure that your mouth is clean, and you need to know that you can get some time in to brush your teeth before you go to bed. You can brush them in the morning to make sure that you are going to be able to feel clean in the morning.

The Toothpaste

You need to have toothpaste that you can use over the course of several days, and you need to remember that there are a lot of ways for you to get the teeth brushed. The toothpaste that you are using is going. To be a lot easier for you to use because it will be the right flavor and style that you like. You should remember that you have a lot of people with you who could share the toothpaste, and you can all brush under some running water in the morning.

It is more interesting for you to get the results that you want when you are brushing your teeth every day, and you need to make sure that you have many things that will make your life easier. Brushing your teeth is easier when you are in a place that is a lot like the bathroom.

The 5 Best Family Camping Sites in America

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America, land of the beautiful, is a place full of diverse natural settings. You’ll find everything from deserts to mountains, rain forests, temperate climates and tropical climates. There are countless campsites in America that are ideal for camping with toddlers. So, here is a list of five of the amazing places that you can go camping with your family. Have a great trip, and don’t forget to pack your toddler moccasins for your little guys and gals!

Grand Canyon National Park
You can go camping on either the North Rim or the South Rim of the park. The North Rim is more rugged, wild and secluded, while the South Rim is where most people go. There are numerous campgrounds on the South Rim.

One of them is called Mather Campground. Mather Campground is open all year and is operated by the National Park Service. It offers RV and tent camping. Various amenities are provided, such as restrooms, grills, wood, laundry and showers.

Zion National Park
Zion National Park has three campgrounds: Watchman Campground, South Campground and The Lava Point Campground. Watchman Campground and South Campground are located in Zion Canyon, while The Lava Point Campground is located on the Kolob Terrace Road, which is about an hour’s drive from Zion Canyon. Something to consider is the fact that many campsites do not get shade at all, though some do get shade for part of the day. During the summer, it can be difficult to stay cool, considering the fact that temperatures easily go up above 95 degrees and hardly ever go below 65 degrees.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in California has campgrounds that are surrounded by Redwood trees that are larger than life. It will truly mesmerize your family. You can bring tents and RVs, though there are also cabins available to rent. Summer temperatures are usually somewhere in the range of 45 to 85 degrees, while winter temperatures are usually in the range between 30 and 60 degrees. There is rarely ever snow during the winter, though there is an average of 100 inches of rain that falls.

Joshua Tree National Park
Located in California, Joshua Tree National Park has about 8 different campgrounds: Black Rock, Indian Cove, Belle, Cottonwood, Hidden Valley, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan and White Tank. The park features desert landscapes, rugged rock formations and Joshua Trees a-plenty.

Kalopa State Recreation Area
Kalopa State Recreation Area is located on the island of Hawaii. There is an easy, family oriented nature hike that consists of a 0.70 mile loop trail. If you are planning on taking your toddler with you, don’t forgot to strap on those baby moccs! The trail passes though an arboretum of native plants and connects to a horse trail. The park allows tent camping, though it also provides cabins for rent

Biting Bugs to Avoid When Camping

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Summer is the time when folks usually head out on camping trips in the US. Unfortunately, bugs also love the warm temperatures. They tend to flourish in summers and can be a major pain in the backside when you are trying to enjoy the outdoors. Handling bugs back at home can be relatively easy. You just need to call an experienced local pest control agency. But when you venture into the woods, you are basically in the bugs’ home and backyard. The best you can do is take the necessary precautions.

Regardless of the state or region, some biting bugs are found across the continental US. The most of these are:

1. Mosquitoes

These bloodsuckers are the most dangerous among the biting bugs. They are everywhere, especially in damp and wet areas, and close to water. Since they are most active at dusk, they can ruin your night under the stars. Sure, their bite is not as bad as a bee sting, causing only minor itching and swelling. But even worse, some mosquitoes are vectors of many dangerous diseases, like West Nile Fever, La Crosse Encephalitis, malaria, and dengue.

Insect repellents like DEET, Citronella, and pyrethrum can be used to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes while camping. These chemicals are available in the form of sprays, creams, coils, and candles. You can also use protective clothing, head nets, and screen rooms to create a shield between you and the bugs.

2. Ticks

Probably the most disgusting campsite pest out there is the tick. The way it crawls up your body and sucks your blood is the stuff of nightmares. And tick bites can also result in deadly diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, and of course, the dreaded Lyme Disease. Ticks usually hang out on blades of grass, waiting for any warm-blooded animal to pass by.

Since they thrive in humid vegetation, stick to sunny areas as much as possible. Insect repellents like DEET and premethrin are quite effective against ticks. But most tick bites happen closer to home, rather than while camping or hiking. If you live in Jefferson County, AL, Birmingham pest control services like Vulcan are a reliable shield against ticks and other nasty bugs.

3. Chiggers

These tiny mites live in grasslands and woods and are most numerous in summers. They like to feed on skin, and can cause severe itching. A relative of the tick, these hard to spot critters can ruin your day with extreme discomfort. Their bite injects an enzyme that digests the skin cells, allowing the bug to suck the juices. But they do not transmit any diseases, luckily.

As with ticks and mosquitoes, DEET and Permethrin are your primary weapons against this bug as well. Wearing clothes and footwear that does not leave your skin exposed is an effective way to avoid chigger bites. Since they proliferate in vegetation, avoid the underbrush and stick to the trails to minimize the chances of getting bitten.

You cannot eradicate pests and bugs in the wilderness. But in your backyard, you have the option. Call the largest family owned Birmingham mosquito control services at Vulcan to deal with all your bug related troubles in Alabama now.

What to Pack on a Full Day Hike

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It is important to plan ahead when you are thinking about taking a full day hike. There is nothing better than enjoying the day and relaxing out in the wilderness. But you should always be prepared for all situations, so you are not stranded out in the middle of no where with no one to help you.

It is important to bring snacks along so you are able to maintain your energy. Healthy, protein filled snacks will provide you with the fuel and nutrients that you need in order to continue on your hike comfortably. Even if you do not plan on staying for a very long time or you ate before you started, it is a good idea to pack a granola bar or similar snack in case you get lost and take a wrong turns somewhere. There are plenty of snacks are packaged conveniently so that they are easy to pack, store, and eat on the go.

One of the most important things that you should hike is a first aid kit. You might find yourself injured and be in a area without cell phone service. You should be prepared to bandage yourself up in the event that you are injured in the middle of a trail, far away from your car or other people. This will helpful for scrapes, bites, and twisted ankles. A wilderness survival book is another great thing to bring along with the first aid kit. It is not likely that you will be able to remember exactly how to treat every wound, so the book will be a great point of reference. Always bring the first aid kit with you, even if you do not think the trail you are going to be on is very difficult. It is extremely easy to fall and twist an ankle or scratch your leg on a rock. First aid kits are easy to come by so there is no reason you should not have one.

It is also necessary to protect your skin for overexposure to the sun. You should always remember to use sun protection before a hike, but it will also need for be reapplied throughout the hike. Many people do not know that so they do not bother to bring it with them. The sunscreen will wear off after an hour or two so you risk getting sunburned if you do not bring it with you and continue to reapply. This is especially important while hiking before you are likely to be sweating, and the sweat will wash the sunscreen off faster.

Lastly, never forget to bring water. You are going to get thirsty, and there is nothing worse than being three hours from your car and realizing you are out of water. Failing to keep up your hydration also extremely dangerous, even if the temperature is not hot. You body can dehydrate very quickly and dehydration can cause you to stumble around get injured more easily. It is typically a good idea to bring twice as much water as you expect to drink in order to get hydrated on your hike.

The Dangers of Ill-Fitting Hiking Boots

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Even with the best fitting boots in the world, hiking can result in foot injuries. This is primarily due to the amount of stress and pressure exerted on your feet on a daily basis. In the human feet, there are over 120 muscles, ligaments, and nerves held together across 33 joints, formed by a network of 26 different bones. Even daily walking is a repetitive action that keeps a constant pressure, often in excess of twice your body weight, on these tiny bones, tissue, and joints. The potential for stress related strain and damage is pretty much constant.

And when you are out hiking across uneven terrain, the pressure can be magnified several times over. With ill-fitting hiking boots, the chance of injury to your feet becomes even more acute. A foot injury can result in severe or chronic foot pain. It is estimated by the American Podiatric Medical Association that 77% of Americans experience foot pain at some point in their lives. And hiking is one of the five top exercise related activities that result in injury and foot pain.

Three main regions of the foot are most vulnerable to damage from ill-fitting hiking boots:

  • The toes
  • The forefoot, involving the metatarsal and sesamoid bones
  • The hindfoot, involving the heel and the sole of the feet

The heel is the side that comes in direct contact with the ground. It is the sponge or rather shock absorber that has to adjust itself to uneven terrain to help us stay upright. Heel injuries are one of the most common types of hiking injuries. Typical foot injuries caused by a poor selection of hiking boots include:

  • Plantar Fasciitis: one of the most common causes of heel pain. This is a stress injury caused to the plantar fascia, the flat tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. Heel pain from Plantar Fasciitis leads to swelling, inflammation, and chronic discomfort.
  • Heel Spurs: Continuous stress and tears in the bones and tissue in the heel eventually lead to a gradual build-up of calcium in the heel bone. The result is a painful growth on the bottom of the heel bone, a condition called heel spur.
  • Sesamoiditis: Stress in the ball of the feet can injure the sesamoids, two corn-like bones under the big toe joint. Pain and aches in the forefoot are the results.
  • Achilles Tendonitis: The Achilles tendon is used for everything from walking, running, jumping and even standing still. Excessive stress to this tendon leads to tendonitis, causing acute pain and swelling in your feet.

Regardless of the reason, foot pain is always an abnormality, one that should be looked at by skilled podiatrists at the earliest. Taking foot injuries and symptoms like heel pain lightly can lead to severe complications in future, often resulting in vastly increased treatment costs. If you are suffering from hiking related pain in central Texas, consider fixing and appointment with a skilled foot doctor in Austin, Dr. Jeff LaMour. His clinic offers highly specialized podiatry services.

Injury Liability in State & National Parks

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When Accidents Occur At A State Or National Park
If you have ever been in or around a state or national park accidents can happen just like anywhere else in life. Should such an incident occur, then you may be entitled to some form of compensation from said places.

If this is something that has happened to you while in the Houston area, then it might be a good time to get in touch with a traumatic brain injury lawyers.

Lapeze & Johns are just the Houston Injury attorney that you want to speak about your rights in such matters.

Lapeze & Johns know the law and know how to help you get your compensation should anything have happened to you while in a state park while you just out having a good time and the worst occurred.

Lapeze & Johns have been able to get 350 million dollars across all of their clients because they have years of experience, training and expertise when it comes working for their clients and getting the job done when fighting for you in a court of law.

State and National Parks are places of beautiful scenery and millions of people love going out to them each year to see all that nature has to offer in these parks nationwide, but accidents can and do occur sometimes while you are out enjoying yourself in these parks and when these times arise you will need someone that is going to be on your side to help you fight for your rights and everything that you deserve when it comes to compensation should you need to pay for doctors bills or any other types of expenses.

When situations like this happen and you are in dire need of a Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston then any one of the attorneys at Lapeze & Johns are going to be the perfect choice for someone that is going to work diligently and as hard as possible to get you everything that you want when it comes to your case.

The attorneys at Lapeze & Johns win or resolve 98% of their cases. Think about that for a moment and you will then know that you need to come to them if you have had an accident in any state or national parks. You are almost sure to absolutely win your case and get what it is that you deserve to help you against the big guys who will have their own lawyers on their side.

You should have someone on your side who will stand up for you so that you will not be taken advantage of when comes to any type of cases like these. Lapeze & Johns will always have your back when you need them the most.