Make a Mini Survival Kit in iPhone Case

Inspired by Field & Stream's Make a Survival Kit out of an Altoids Tin I decided to make a mini survival kit in an iphone case.

My case includes:

Extra tough extra large Band-aids
Several additional Band-aids
Waterproof matches
Mechanical Pencil wrapped in pink Duct Tape
Tube of Neosporin
Tube of Vaseline soaked cotton balls for fire starting

Ways to improve it and things to add:

fishing line
pocket knife
small compass
mini flashlight

Check out Field & Stream's article for a great comprehensive list on the last page of things to include in your kit.

Stacking Wood

There is nothing more satisfying than stacking your own wood into a neat little woodpile. It’s been several years since we have heated by wood, but I remember it fondly each time we venture off to one of our favorite vacation spots in Northern Maine.

Source

A carefully planned, stacked, and dried woodpile means easier living in the winter months. Placed nearby a door and you can pop in and out with the winter winds are blowing and grab a few pieces without freezing your buns off.

Wood is purchased by a measurement called a cord. One cord of wood is equal to roughly 4x8 feet of stacked wood or roughly 128 cubic feet. A few cords of wood will warm a small to medium sized house for a winter.

Just as there are this is more than one way to skin a cat, there is more than one way to stack your firewood.When determining where to stack your wood, look for someplace with a lot of direct sun to help dry out the wood. Having a garage wall or gate to line the wood up against is also a great idea and should still dry appropriately given time.

The most traditional way to stack wood is by creating a long single stack of wood. Stack a few pieces at a time and then turn the next line of wood in the opposite direction. This is called cribbing and is absolutely necessary to avoid an avalanche of wood when the wind blows. By the way, nothing stacks wood quicker than stopping to sip a beer. So I definitely recommend considering that as well.

Ten Tips for Staying Warm Outdoors in the Winter

Winter is a great time of year for spending some time outdoors- ice skating, ice hockey games, making snowmen, sledding, and making snow angels. Here's how to stay warm outside:

1. Eat-- One of the easiest (and most fun!) ways to stay warm outside is making sure your have something (but not too much!) to eat. Being hungry zaps your energy. Fatty and nutrient rich foods such as nuts, yogurt, and cheeses help. When I am on the move (hiking, etc.) I prefer high calorie drinks- hot cocoa, smoothie type drinks, tea and gatorade mix, etc.
2. Focus on Extremities-- Lots of heat escapes from our extremities (think head and feet). Keep your head covered with hat and hood will keep you a lot warmer than you would think.
3. Keep Moving-- Sports such as ice skating, sledding, and making snowmen (it's a sport!) involve moments of being sedentary. Staying moving helps your body stay warm from its own heat. I find that moving is a sure fire way to get my feet warm again!
4. Drink-- Stay hydrated as being dehydrated zaps energy very quickly outdoors.
5. Stay Dry-- This can be tricky if you are trying to stay moving. When you are wet, especially if you are wearing something that doesn't wick or dry quickly your body rapidly loses heat. Stay dry by wearing layers so you can remove them as you heat up. Wear only wicking fast drying clothes and change out of wet clothes as quickly as possible
6. Warm it up-- find other ways to stay warm such as using hand or foot warmers
7. Think about your feet-- So much heat escapes from our feet! Think about it--- your feet are touching the ground which is covered in snow and ice. Wear snow or pack boots if possible, smartwool or wool socks, and two layers of socks if they'll fit.
8. Layer up-- Having a lot of layers on is key to staying warm. You can remove layers as you heat up and put on layers as you cool down. You can also remove any layers that are wet.
9. Think wool-- My personal preference is wool. I find even the thinnest layer to be incredibly warming. 
10. Hot Water-- Hold onto a thermos of hot water (warms your hands). Drinking from it slowly will also help maintain a warmer body temperature.

Stay tuned for future posts- staying warm winter hiking and staying warm winter camping!!

How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Outer Layers, Softshells, Waterproof Jackets, and Down

Waterproof jackets such as hardshells, softshells, and other gear with waterproofing can really take a beating without proper washing. Sweat and oil from your body can interfere with the membranes ability to breath as well as repel water. Washing and Caring for your technical gear will improve function and longevity.

(NOTE-- Carefully read your clothing and gears labels and follow them carefully. If you have questions or are unsure of how to appropriately care for an item contact the manufacturer/retail store directly.)

For Outer Layers (softshells, hardshells, waterproof jackets)

How often should you wash your waterproof jacket and gear? Of course it's dependent on usage and the maker's recommendations. I wash my softshells and waterproof jackets every other month if they've seen a lot of usage. A tell tale sign that you are due for a wash is finding that your waterproof jacket "isn't so waterproof anymore." While it probably needed to be washed months, or in some cases, years ago- I have seen jackets come back to life with a good wash in TechWash (NikWax).

• Wash on gentle cycle or reduce agitation on the normal cycle
• Wash in cold water (check your label-- I happen to prefer washing everything in cold water)
• Wash with like things- be careful of velcro, snaps, clips or anything else that can snag. 
• I like to zip up pockets so they won't snag on anything.
• Unroll hood if it's rolled up
• You can use a very gentle detergent, but I prefer using TechWash by NikWax. I've used it for years and it really has done a nice job time and time again.
• One time I had a jacket that I neglected far too long and I washed it twice with TechWash. This did the trick and it was much more waterproof.
• Hang dry on a rack or chair
• I've used TX.Direct Spray On in the past and found it to be fabulous. I only used it on waterproof hardshells and I actually tried it on my tent. It had a nasty smell (this was years ago that I used it so I am not sure if this is still the case), but it really helped with waterproofing. After the product dried it no longer smelled. I haven't tried their softshell similar product yet.
• Fix or repair any holes, rips, or tears (see your local outdoor retailer for products- depends on the material of the item in repair)
• Always thoroughly dry out your gear when returning from a trip. Even if it doesn't feel wet it still may be damp and need to be dried over a chair or rack.

Also in this series:

How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Baselayers

How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Midlayers

Disclaimer: Product Reviews and How to's are based on opinion only and are not intended to condone, encourage, or promote a product. Some products are sent to me by the manufacturer or affiliates and are mine to keep. I mention this specifically on products sent to me. Compensation and/or product and/or services never interfere with the review of the product. Otherwise, products and services are purchased by me for personal use. I have purchased way too many bottles of Techwash and TX.Direct Spray On than I care to recall. 

How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Midlayers, Wool, Softshells, and Fleece

Caring for your midlayer technical jackets such as wool layers, merino wool layers, fleece, and softshells helps your gear last longer with improved function and appearance. I regularly monitor my equipment especially my pricey jackets and wool items so that I get the most from them. Here's some tips for washing and caring for your gear.

(NOTE-- Carefully read your clothing and gears labels and follow them carefully. If you have questions or are unsure of how to appropriately care for an item contact the manufacturer/retail store directly.)

For Midlayers (wool, merino wool, fleece, softshell)

Once again I regularly monitor my usage and wash when needed. How often should you wash your wool or softshell jackets? It's very dependent on how often you use the jacket or layer. We spend nearly every weekend hiking and tend to run or snowshoe several times a week. Due to this, we probably wash our gear more frequently than, say, someone who mainly uses their gear for walking the dog around town. So adjust to your needs and usage.

• Wash on gentle cycle (less agitation is very important for wool) or skip some of agitation on the regular cycle
• Wash with like colors and materials. Avoid washing midlayers with velcro or things with clips/snaps that could snag. Velcro and I have a love hate relationship. 
• I always wash with cold water.
• Use a mild detergent for things like wool or fleece-- I like ALL hypoallergenic (no perfume smell) or Seventh Generation (harder to find depending on where you live)
• Use a wash like Nikwax TechWash for softshells or items with waterproofing. TechWash removes dirt and helps revitalize waterproofing.
• I always hang dry these items. Read your labels. 
• Dry wool flat so you don't get weird shapes or stretched out arms.
• Have a weird stain on your wool clothing? Ibex has a great section for how to care for your wool here.
• Have a weird smell on your wool clothing? Ibex has a great section for how to get out the odor here. I've tried the baking soda method (not with borax though, just baking soda) and it works like a freakin charm. Once again check your labels and always check with the maker of the product if in doubt.

Also in this series:

How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Base Layers
How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Outer Layers

Disclaimer: Product Reviews and How to's are based on opinion only and are not intended to condone, encourage, or promote a product. Some products are sent to me by the manufacturer or affiliates and are mine to keep. I mention this specifically on products sent to me. Compensation and/or product and/or services never interfere with the review of the product. Otherwise, products and services are purchased by me for personal use. I have purchased way too many bottles of Techwash and TX.Direct Spray On than I care to recall. I was sent BaseFresh recently to try.

How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Baselayers

I know what it is like to spend lots of money on outdoor gear and clothing and not have it hold up to the elements. One thing I've discovered through lots of trial and error is that it is really important how you care for your outdoor gear. While you may love your wicking baselayers, softshell jacket, and waterproof hardshell so much that it is hard to give them a wash--- it is one of the most important things you can do to protect your gear.

All the activity you do while wearing your gear clogs up membranes that are critical for waterproofing and breathability of the gear. By washing and caring for your gear appropriately you will get better performance. Here is some general tips and products that help me keep my gear in top shape:

(NOTE-- Carefully read your clothing and gears labels and follow them carefully. If you have questions or are unsure of how to appropriately care for an item contact the manufacturer/retail store directly.)

For Baselayers (wicking shirts, running tights, hiking pants and shorts--mainly synthetic material)

How often should you wash your baselayers and other technical gear? Depends on how often you use them. I like to wash my baselayers everytime or everyother time I use them. I find that regularly washing these items prevents stinky smells.

• I typically wash mine in cold water (check your clothing label and follow it exactly)
• Wash like items together
• Don't place your base layers in with items that contain velcro or clips. One of the most common ways my wicking shirts get ruined is from snags, many of which are from other pieces of gear.
• I was recently sent BaseFresh by Nikwax to try and find it to be a great addition to my cleaning gear. You know when you can't get that stink out of your favorite running shirt or wicking layer? This stuff's a charmer and seems to deodorize the stinkiest of gear. Recently after a drenching winter hike where we sweated through several layers of gear, froze it, and then resweated in it-- we tried this product. I'm please to say I can finally get the smell out of both my outdoor gear and my gym gear.
• I always hang dry all my synthetic items. If you read the label on your item it may say dry on low, but personally I find that my gear lasts longer and looks better if I hang dry items. I have a large rack to hang dry things or I hang things over chairs and available items.

Check back for upcoming features:

How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Midlayers
How to Wash and Care for Your Gear: Outerlayers

Disclaimer: Product Reviews and How to's are based on opinion only and are not intended to condone, encourage, or promote a product. Some products are sent to me by the manufacturer or affiliates and are mine to keep. I mention this specifically on products sent to me. Compensation and/or product and/or services never interfere with the review of the product. Otherwise, products and services are purchased by me for personal use. I have purchased way too many bottles of Techwash and TX.Direct Spray On than I care to recall. I was sent BaseFresh recently to try.

Blisters

For years I have touted the Asolo women's Stynger Hiking boots as being the perfect shoe for me. They are lightweight, waterproof, feel good- but lately they have not been making the cut.

Since we have been hiking so much my feet have become chopped liver. Both heels are covered in layers of blisters that are in various stages of healing. It leads to a very painful hike to say the least.

I have been reading up on "how to prevent blisters" on the blogs. They all recommend preventing them before they flare up, obviously wool/synthetic something socks, tieing your boots differently, etc. But nothing was really working for me.

So I tried a few things. Here is what I have tried:

• moleskins before hiking
• giant band-aids before the blister starts
• two layers of socks- thin and thick etc
• moleskins on the back of the hiking boot where my foot rubs
• something called heel inserts that are supposed to keep your heel from rubbing

Really nothing was working. I went into the local hiking store to seek advice from the experts. Unfortunately it meant buying another pair of shoes. I have way too many shoes and way too many hiking boots. So this was not my ideal situation.

All of the boots that were recommended to me were "cushiony" on the idea that the Asolo Stynger was too stiff in the heel for my particular foot. I tried the new shoes around the house but I just felt like they wouldn't provide the support I needed on longer hikes. And since we were shooting for Owl's Head in August, an eighteen mile hike, these just didn't seem to be the right boots.

Instead I tried my Asolo TPS backpacking boots. These shoes haven't gotten much wear over the years since my Asolo Stynger's are so much lighter, but I thought I would give it a try.

Happily these seemed to do the trick. No moleskins. No band-aids. Just two layers of socks and these boots.

Weirdly the front of my foot swelled up after the hike. I think this was just because these boots need to be broken in, but I am certainly willing to take suggestions from people. Let me know if you have any experience and/or tips with this!!

How to Hang a Bear Bag

I first learned to hang a bear bag at Boy Scout camp, where every single tiny bit of food needed to be hung in order to avoid a raccoon problem at night. While we were still in bear country area, they weren't have as much of a problem as the raccoons and skunks were.

I literally had two raccoons pick up my half packed backpack and drag it off into the woods howling. Luckily back then I could run faster than a raccoon- now days I think I need to I hang things right.

Here is the skinny on keeping your camp bear or raccoon proof:

• Cook away from camp (200 ft)
• Don't cook your smelliest meal out in the woods (i.e., fish, etc.)
• Pour out things like pasta water into a sump hole (more to come on this later)
• Put all your food- even wrapped granola bars into your bear bag

How to Hang the Bear Bag

Supplies:

• Food and cooking utensils/dishes etc (I hang my dishes too)
• 75 foot parachute cord or rope
• Food sack (I really like my bright yellow Sea to Summit bag- It helps me find the bag again)

How to:

• Find a tree at least 200 ft from camp
• Find a branch on a tree that is at least 15-20 feet off the ground with no other branches below it
• Tie a rock or other weighted item to one end
• Toss the item over the branch
• Retie your food bag to the end
• Raise the food bag
• Tie off the rope as high as you can to the tree

I'm using a permanent bear hang here, but the principle is the same.



I swear I just randomly invented this knot. I just started twisting and tieing things and voila! It's probably like a half hitch or something...

How to Avoid the Ho-Hum

I've saved this post for hump day- because let's face it- even the most active & energetic of us outdoor peeps get the ho-hums. Late fall/ early winter tends to be when the ho-hums set in for me. I think it is a combination of darker days & cold winds that brings it on. So here are some strategies for avoiding the ho-hums:

Night Hike

When I transitioned from full-time student to full-time worker I had to start mixing up the work week. Monday through Friday is so dull. But Monday to Wednesday's Night Hike in the woods- to Friday's night hike up nearby peaks is sooooo much more livable.

Fire

Survival experts always tout the motivating, let alone warming, powers of having a fire. Well sometimes a little bit of campfire is needed to ward off the ho-hums. Give it a try- got your own backyard with a firepit? Have a nearby cheapy campground or state park with firepits? Fire em (or one) up and watch the ho-hums fizzle out.

Cartwheels

Seriously there is nothing that a few cartwheels can't cure. I cartwheel on mountain tops, walking the dog on the sidewalk, and even during hike & bike push fests.

TP Your Friends Tent

Sure it's a total waste of TP but it brings the hilarious back to camping as an adult. Plus, who's to say you can't reuse all that TP?

Biking at Night

Biking at night turns the tamest trails into something wildly fun. There is something so appealingly dangerous about limited vision while whipping through the woods on two wheels ;)

Smores on the Grill

Some nights I'm so dead on feet that I just can't gather the energy for the above jaunts. These nights I try to keep the ho-hums away by grilling up some smores on the grill. I find the best way to grill smores is to: put down graham cracker with chocolate and two marshmallows on top, heat for 3-4 minutes with cover on, remove and place another graham cracker on top. Voila! Peanut butter or nutella are nice additions too.

Cold Weather Camping Tip #1

Cold Weather Camping Tip #1- Entertainment becomes essential

Try headlamp tic-tac-toe or writing your name with light...

Tips to Keep from Being Bikeless

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am currently bikeless. While my current bike-misfortune is due to faulty components, I have had my share of self induced bikelessness. Self induced bikelessness is basically when you should’ve known better. Here’s some shouldn’t-have-done-that advice that may keep you from the plague of bikelessness.



Lube your Chain- A little

This is such a foolish mistake that took me years to finally figure out. You need to lube your chain to keep it running well and avoid that seriously annoying squeak noise. But… you don’t need to lube it every ride or even every week. Just lube your chain when you notice a little bit of noise. Just use a little bit of lube (I like Pedro’s lubes). And wipe off the excess.

I’m going to say that again because it’s pretty darned important. Wipe off the excess.

Too much bike lube is a wicked rooky mistake. Sure you’ll never squeak. But you’ll go through gears, chains, and derualliers pretty quickly from over lubing.

Keep an eye on your tires

Your tires are pretty crucial to forward momentum and there are a few things you can do to keep them in shape. First off is to make sure that they are always trued. Do this by lifting up your bike or flipping it over and spinning the wheels. Do they wobble slightly? Take them in to be trued. This helps prevent the seriously more expensive problem of bent rims.

Also, keep a constant eye on your tire pressure. Once you start it will be easy to obsess over your tire pressure. Too much and you’ll bounce around a lot of technical trails. Too little and you’ll bog out on the straight always. Check what your pressure is on your wheel and figure out what works for you. Your weight is a factor in this. I’m on the lighter side so I can run on a lower PSI. If you are heavier you’ll want to run on the high end of the suggested PSI.

Keep it clean

A clean bike during peak mud season sounds like an oxymoron. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the best at keeping my mountain bike clean. But, it’s really important and worth mentioning. Basically the more mud that gets into your brakes and chain areas the more mechanicals you are opening yourself up for.



I’ve seen that some people take a hose to their bikes to keep it clean. This isn’t really the best option either since it shoots water into every nook and cranny of your bike making it near impossible to completely dry off.

I used to have a bike buddy who would meticulously clean off her bike post every ride. First she’d start at the chain and wipe it down with one of those handy brush/ hook things. Then she’d do the wheels, then the frame and so on. By the time she finished her bike was shiny clean and she had spent probably 45 minutes cleaning it off. It was way more work than I could put into it, but you know what? She hardly ever had mechanicals- so maybe there may be something to say about crazy cleaning.

How to Shave Your Legs Outside

I'm not a very high maintenance girl. In fact, I really pride myself in being low maintenance and down to earth. But, on long cycling trips, backpacking, or regular old camping trips I eventually get down right embarrassed enough of the Sasquatch legs to bring along a razor.

Here is the skinny on staying smooth:

Ultra Light Method

I'm all about cutting weight where ever possible, but I now bring along the shaving supplies. It's just one of those sanity things for me now. Most people I run into decide to forgo the shaving while on trips. Since my trips aren't up Everest- I bring a razor.

Regular Old Razor

If you've ever been really out in the wilderness you may have tried this simple option. I find it annoying and cumbersome though. First off is the water- find a little bucket, plastic bag, or bottle to drag with you into the woods. Next off is the positioning. Leg on a stump? Okie dokie. What to do for shaving cream since I may be crazy enough to bring a razor, but I ain't carrying a can of cream- go with Mountain Suds. Not perfect, but they'll work.

The Modern Shaving Solution

I find the shaving option that works the best, hands down, is Shick Intuition. It's a little bulky and certainly adds some extra weight, but it's easy to use in a pinch- whether it be the woods, the campsite, or the type of shower where you are afraid to put anything down.

Basically it has the soap already on the razor, so you get to skip the extra step and weight.

My other solution is to make sure I am good and exhausted. If the day involves fourteen miles backpacking or maybe a 75 mile cycling day, I'm good no matter how my legs look.

How to Introduce Your Dog to Your Tent for the First Time

I advocate for bringing your dog with you whenever you can. Backpacking poses an interesting challenge for your dog if they aren’t used to sleeping in a tent yet. Here are some ideas to get your dog interested in the idea of sharing some ground space with you: (be careful and use your own judgement here- if your dog is too much of a handful this may require further adjustments and treats)

Get them tired

This should be your first step with them, because you don’t want to introduce them to something new like this when they still have tons of jumping around energy. Go for a nice walk, play catch, read a book together- get them pooped out.

Pitch your tent somewhere familiar

If your tent is freestanding try pitching it in your living room or a familiar grassy area. Move around freely and normally while you are pitching it. Next open up the door or doors if you have them and let Fido go in and out as they please. Another idea is to put a favorite toy, pillow, or blanket in the tent so the dog can smell they smell inside it too. Practice getting in and out together- give them treats and praise. If you can do this more than once that would be helpful.



Show them where they should sleep

Dogs sometimes need pointers about what you want them to do. They won’t know right off the bat that you want them to sleep down by your feet (if that is where you choose). Get a blanket or pillow that smells like them and show them that you want them to sleep there. Use encouragement to get them to sit there and relax. Maybe a belly rub even.

Misty's Spot

We have our dog so used to sleeping in tent she tries to sneak in all the time. Sometimes I need to unzip the tent to throw something in and she's right there trying to get in for bed time.

Camp Cooking and Writing with a Headlamp

We're back for bit- off and on again this week. This weekend I tried some camp recipes and discovered some great easy recipes, as well as some killer messy recipes. What can I say- I'm your Guinea Pig. I seriously burned some cobbler into my Jetboil too. So I'll be trying to rescue that pan today. In the mean time, some camping artwork. I'll have a fun how-to tutorial on this soon.





(You know you should)

How to find a comfortable bike seat and solving butt pain while biking

We’ve all been there before, your butt hurts, your butt chafes, you butt or legs go numb when you ride your bike. So what can you do when your butt hurts from riding? How do you solve butt pain from too many miles of cycling? I’ve compiled all my thoughts and ideas on this touchy subject in a multi post series. I’ll be posting this week and next week about how to find a comfortable bike seat and solving butt pain while biking.



First Off- let’s get specific about your butt pain

Each cycling season, no matter how much I try to prepare, I start the season with a sore bum. There is something about the first few rides of the season that just plain old makes your bum hurt. The only solution I’ve found to this beginning of the season pain is- suffer through it. It typically only lasts a handful of rides and isn’t worth the time or expense of switching bike seats or bike shorts.

Has your pain been an all season type of thing or it’s really preventing you from riding? Then it is time to look for some more comfortable options. See my Solving Butt Pain While Biking Ideas Post for additional ideas, as well as check back in for the rest of this series.

What kind of riding you do affects your bike seat choice

If you are interested in a bike seat that allows you to feel the road while riding, need a slim silhouette for easy mounting for cross, or race frequently you may be looking for a completely different type of bicycle seat than say someone who cruises around town on their single speed. I like the way Terry Cycling breaks their bicycle saddle categories into either: performance, touring or recreation so with a few modifications, I’ll be using these same terms in my series to talk about different types of riders.

Performance

You like to feel the road and how your bike is handling it. You need to have a strong anchor on your saddle to sharply turn corners during the crit race. Or maybe you’re a mountain biker that needs a bike seat with a slim fit, so you can lean back on the steep downhills and dismount quickly in a rock garden. Performance saddles are probably the type of seat you’re looking for. These seats are typically light weight and more narrow, with less padding.

this is the type I am referring to for performance

Touring

Fifty miles on your bike sounds like a light day to you. Long club rides, century rides or maybe a multi day tour is when you find yourself in bicycle heaven. You are more interested in cushion and shape than performance saddles.



Recreation

I have to say, this is the hardest category for me to give advice on. At the same time though, I am looking for a lightweight bike that I can make into a single speed for grocery runs and trips to the farmer’s market. What I am trying to say, is I’m in the market for a recreational type saddle that has more comfort than performance, and certainly more looks than anything else. So let’s take this journey together…

We’ll continue to build on from here, with information tailored for each of these three categories.

Upcoming butt pain from biking topics:

• Bike cushion
• Bike shape
• Chamois choices

More tips on How to Pee Outside like a Lady

It’s my most popular post How to Pee Outside Like a Lady, mainly because it seems so contradictory. Peeing outside and still being ladylike? Hard to imagine. Having had to tuck behind a tree and venture off the path many times to take a tinkle, here is some more advice:

Singing helps

If you are in a populated area, or just trying to keep the onlookers at bay, singing a simple song notifies people that you are nearby. It wouldn’t hurt to have the song be about tinkling in case there was any confusion. Maybe “I am off to take a tinkle….”

The downed tree

Trees or large tree branches that have fallen are great potty seats. Find one that has come down across two rocks or anything that props it up off the ground more.

Flush out wild life before you start peeing

If you are going for the open field pee, consider making a lot of noise prior to the pants pull down. On a recent trip we flushed out 20-30 turkeys before we had our pee.

Minimize buckles

The less layers and buckles and snaps you have to undo the simpler. It also helps for the quick pants pull up when you spot people heading your way.

Girl’s Guide to Better Mountain Biking: Technical Rock Gardens

Spurred by my original article at MTB by 198, Girl's Guide to Better Mountain Biking contains some great riding basics. Check back for more in this series.



Practice track stands

You know, when you’re waiting for everyone else to get their stuff together on a group ride and you’re riding around the parking lot trying to stay in one place to talk, but not fall over. This is the track stand and more advanced technical riding requires the ability to slow your bike’s momentum, even stop it, like in a track stand, so that you can change your line. Plus they look pretty darned cool.

Easy relaxed body positioning, with more weight centered towards the back

This can be very rider specific, so try different positions out. You want to be in an easy relaxed body position. Raise yourself slightly off your seat before you hit the rocks, slightly bent arms and legs and try to go with the rocks rather than fight them.

Easy gear

Goes without saying for some, but you generally need to be in an easier gear here. It’s pretty common to hit rock gardens in the wrong gear when you are starting out- generally I see people hitting it in too hard of a gear. Make sure you shift to an easier gear before you hit the rocks.

Speed is a factor

Another goldilocks moment here, but you need to be going not too fast and not too slow. If you’re new to cycling I think the most common problem going through a rock garden is not going fast enough. You need a certain amount of speed to get over rocks, no matter how good you are. Don’t come flying into the rock garden at break neck pace to accomplish this. Instead, try to keep your momentum going fairly evenly throughout the rock garden. As you progress and find that you can handle more technical sections, practice going through them really slow or picking a different line.

Where to look

This is pretty common advice, but worth repeating. You need to look where you want your bike to go. There are a lot of things to be pulling together when you hit a rock garden, and this isn’t the time for sightseeing. Moreover, your bike really will go where you are looking (and steering).Find your line and handle it one obstacle at a time. Look just a few feet out in front of your wheel, maybe two or three, but this also depends on your terrain and skills. If you look too far ahead, you won’t be able to handle the rock directly in front of you.


More video to come!

Camping Tip #1

Bring Spices.

Sure you could get a fancy camping spice holder or you could resort to the simple ziploc plastic baggy method, but this method has never let me down.

Outside Etiquette

Not the seasoned Mountain Girl quite yet? Well have no fear, you are at the right place. Us Mountain Girls aren’t just a bunch of hairy smelly hics. No sir. We’ve got class. Here are a few outdoor etiquette tips. Feel free to add your own. We’ll post more as they come along.

• If you are the first up at camp boil enough water for everyone.

• Spray your toothpaste water rather than spitting it. Do this by pressing your lips hard together, and blowing air out at the same time. Sound effects often help—sort of humming seems to work too.

• Share your gu. Then make sure the wrapper is safely tucked away.

• Never let your dog pee on someone tent- no matter how loud they were the night before.

• When passing the guys mountain biking yell out “on your right” or which ever side you are passing on. Try to avoid passing them on bridges or over rock gardens as they have a hard time watching us and watching the trail too.

• Try not to look directly at people with your headlamp on.

How to Pee Outdoors like a Lady

Yup, you just read the words pee and lady in the same sentence. This is a topic that you don’t hear about often on the ladies end of things. So let’s start with a few simple facts. The first is you should be peeing outdoors. I have been out hiking with many friends who say they “just don’t have to pee” and that is just plain scary. If you don’t have to pee there is a good chance that you are not drinking enough water. It is time just pee ladies and here are some tips:

1) Be prepared to walk. While guys think it is alright to do it right on the side of the trail or behind the tent, we cannot. For one, get some class right? Nobody wants to see the yellow snow on the side of the trail. For two, you need front and back coverage. Being a lady means you have to truck it way off the trail to find privacy.

2) Find a tree. Preferably evergreen as these always have good branch coverage. If not, anything wider than you are.

3) What to wipe with. Most ladies choose the TP for obvious reasons the only downfall is you must either bury it, burn it, or carry it out. Other options include leaves (no poison ivy please), snow, ugh or rocks I’ve heard. I think the top choices are as follows: leaves, snow, TP, and I don’t ever want to try rocks.

4) If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you are going to increase your chances of being caught with your pants down. Best thing to do? Joke. Say something like “oh look there is a bear.” This will cause the other person to leave in a hurry rather than just stand there apologizing.

Now get out!