Keep your outdoor experience safe
PHOTO/ ANNA FALTERMEIEF
by Kim Wallace
Foraging for food
As the weather gets warmer, take advantage of the 65-degree nights with a camping trip followed by a sunshine-filled day hiking. Before you set up your bonfire and build a beer-can pyramid, take these camping and hiking tips from area experts to ensure a safe and memorable weekend in the wilderness.
It's best to bring along your own nuts and berries and leave the others to the animals outside. Berries from daphne, jasmine, red sage, moonseed and yew plants are especially fatal, according to the National Safety Council. Stick to non-perishable foods such as peanut butter, granola bars, trail mix and dried fruits.
If you plan to cook chicken or steak, make sure to pack a food thermometer. Most meat must be cooked at over 140 degrees to kill harmful bacteria, and a campfire or portable food is essential.Keep cold foods chilled at less than 40 degrees to prevent bacteria
growth. Remember, always wash your hands after handling raw meat to prevent spreading germs that can cause diseases such as salmonella. Bring along some antibacterial hand sanitizer to avoid re-contaminating yourself by washing in lake or river water, which can contain animal droppings or sewage runoff.
Layering it on
Just because it's warm outside during the day doesn't mean the temperatures won't drop in the middle of the night. Wear thin layers of clothing instead of a sweater and a bulky jacket to keep warm. When temperatures rise, it's easier to peel off clothes layer by layer and remain warm.
Choose shirts and pants made of polyester, wool and fleece for your layers. Wear polyester-blend shirts to absorb sweat, then pile on lightweight synthetic fabrics and top it off with wool or fleece for insulation. "It's best to not wear cotton at all because it stays wet and keeps you cold when you sweat," says Wes O'Neal, manager at Sunflower Outdoor and Bike, 802 Massachusetts St. O'Neal recommends wearing wool as an inner layer because when wool gets wet with sweat, it actually
keeps the body warm.
If you plan on hiking, invest in some comfortable and durable boots to provide traction against rocks and other rough terrain. Don't forget to bring along proper socks — 100-percent cotton socks don't dry as quickly as other materials and can lead to painful blisters and chafing, so they won't cut it if you plan on doing some heavy hiking. Look for wool socks and sock liners, which pull moisture away and keep your feet happy.
Sleeping under the stars
Whether you're on a weekend getaway with your lover or on a hiatus from the bar scene with your friends, choosing the right tent when you're setting up camp is essential for a comfortable experience. Most tents are weatherproof and sturdy, so focus on size when choosing a spring camping tent. If you plan to camp year-round, invest in an all-weather tent that can withstand rain, sleet and snow.
For added comfort, purchase cots and air mattresses to place inside the tent, and stock up on thick sleeping bags. Don't forget to pack along enough chairs for your camping group — it's
uncomfortable and unsafe to sit on the ground because pesky bugs and poisonous plants can make contact with your body.
If you want to keep warm without having to spend all of your time inside the tent, start a fire that will last most of the evening. Easy fire starters such as dryer lint or frayed rope make good base layers for adding small twigs and logs to a bonfire, says Brian Lechner, Leavenworth senior and an Eagle Scout. Top it off with lighter fluid and a few matches, and you'll have a blazing fire in no time. Remember to have plenty of water to put out the fire when the night is over. "If you can't touch the coals when the fire is out, then you need to keep putting water on them," Lechner says. "It should look like a mushy soup when the bonfire is out."
Avoiding rashes and bites
Familiarize yourself with what poison ivy, sumac and oak look like: Poison sumac has seven to 13 leaves per branch; poison ivy and oak have three leaves per cluster. Craig Martin, professor and chair of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology, says to remember the old adages, "leaflets of three, let it be" to avoid
poison ivy, and "berries white, poisonous sight" to remind you of poison sumac.
Poison ivy can grow in vines, shrubs and small trees, so be wary of these plants when you're searching for firewood or hiking through the forest. If you do run into either of these,be careful not to touch anything and spread the urushiol oil — the poisonous, sticky residue from the leaves — to your camping supplies or uninfected body parts.
Rinse the contaminated areas with cold water as soon as possible. If you can do this within five minutes of contact, washing can prevent the oil from penetrating the skin and spreading to other parts of the body, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Be careful of burning any wood with leaves or vines on them because urushiol oil from poison ivy can contaminate the air and, if inhaled, can have the same internal effect as it does on your skin, which may require hospitalization.
Keeping yourself covered is the best way to avoid pesky insect bites. Routinely check your legs, feet, arms and back for ticks. Always use a bug repellent to ward off unwanted pests.
CAMPING HOT SPOTS
KOA
Kampgrounds of America offers a free Saturday of camping for its "Come Camp & Care With Us Weekend" when you pay to camp on Friday, May 11. Make reservations online at www.koa.com/comecampwithus/list.htm. KOA memberships are $16 per year.
1473 Highway 40 (785) 842-3877
Clinton State Park
Clinton State Park Just four miles west of Lawrence, Clinton State Park boasts more than 500 campsites and offers easy access to Clinton Lake. Clinton has 15 campsites with utilities available for reservation; all other campsites are first come, first serve. Campers must pay vehicle and camping fees in advance at the self-pay station located at campsite entrances and the park office.
2
798 N.1415 Road.
(785) 842-8562
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