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Camping and hiking are wonderful ways to get close to nature. Adventuring in the wilderness is uplifting and refreshing. However, there are something important things that every camper should be aware of on a camping trip in the great outdoors.

If you’re heading off into a remote area, there is always the possibility that someone, adult or child, will get lost. Prepare everyone in your party ahead of time with the do’s and don’ts of navigation in the wilderness.

Someday you WILL become lost if you wander the backwoods long enough. The important thing is to be prepared when it does happen.

Have you ever heard the old adage, “Indian no lost; teepee lost.” Be at home in the woods, and you’ll never be truly lost. A night in the woods can’t be too uncomfortable if you know how to deal with the situation.

Standard advice to a lost person: Don’t panic. Everyone feels some trepidation, but never loose your sense of reason. Stop and listen to common sense. Don’t let fear take over your sensibilities. Even experienced woodsmen have been lost, and panicked, then lost their life after becoming disoriented, losing their reasoning abilities to panic.

Instruct children what to do if they should become separated from you. Give everyone a whistle to hang around their neck. Teach a child that if he becomes lost, people will be looking for him, and not to hide from the “strangers” that are trying to help. Of course, they should know to be cautious around strangers at all other times. A recent boy scout who was lost in a Utah wilderness, stayed hidden for several days while searchers combed the woods around him!

Make sure your child understands that he shouldn’t keep wandering when separated. Stop and wait for someone to come, instead of wandering farther away from the searchers.

Never head into the woods with out the basics along with you. Bring a map, compass, matches, and knife on every hike. You never know when something unpredicted will happen.

Bring along a compass and map of the area in which you are traveling. In these days of technology, a GPS is indispensable on wilderness backpacking and camping trips.

Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. If you do this, rescuers will know where to start looking.

There are many ways to find your directions in the wilderness. The most common way is to locate the North Star at night. The wind in wilderness areas usually blows from the northwest, so the tall pine trees will lean slightly to the southeast. This is another way that can be quite accurate. The old folk tale about moss on the north side of trees, can’t be relied on for positive directions, as moss can grow on all sides of a tree trunk.

Follow a stream downhill. This generally leads to civilization. (In the US that is.) Don’t walk along the immediate bank, where there are many thickets, bog holes, side streams, and swamps. Follow the general water flow and it will lead you out of the woods.

When you finally realize that you are lost, stop, don’t make the search into a foot race between you and the rescuers! In most parts of the US you can’t be more than 24 hours away from searchers, if you will just cooperate.

Sit down think things out. Build a campsite on a riverbank or lakeshore if possible. Gather as much wood as you can before nightfall. Try to make yourself comfortable next to your campfire throughout the night.

The next morning is the time to go about getting yourself rescued. Gather up a large armful of green branch and pile them on your campfire. The smoke will billow into the air, making it simple for searchers to find you. Don’t build more fires, just keep the one you have billowing smoke into the air. Sooner or later the forest service will see the smoke, and come to check out what’s happening. Wave a piece of clothing (preferably light-colored) to signal that you are unhurt. Even if the plane leaves, stay put. They are probably radioing to the ground crew your location.

Stay by your fire, even when you hear people approaching. It’s dangerous to leave the fire blazing. Also, the sounds in the woods can be deceiving. You may just be running in the opposite direction of the searchers if you head off after voices. Give them a chance to find you. If you have a gun, fire a shot. If not, shout loudly.

Getting lost can happen to anyone, even experience backpackers. The most important thing, is to stay sensible and help yourself by helping the searchers find you.

True wilderness survival is a matter of prevention and preparation. If you are prepared every time you enter the woods, you’ll never be caught unprepared. Then you can enjoy the wilderness fully, be confident and even if you get lost, it’s just another adventure!

Copyright 2004 Camp Spot all rights reserved. Republished with permission from author.

About Author: Maria is the editor of http://www.My-Favorite-Camping-Store.com, an excellent resource for campers. Visit her site for more fun camping tips and articles. Get ready for your next camping vacation by learning about outdoors camping gear. http://www.my-favorite-camping-store.com/camping-kits.html

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Publication is permitted so long as the article is unchanged and the resource information at the end of the article remains intact, and links are live and intact with no redirect.

Leeds is a city in the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds in
West Yorkshire in the north of England. The River Aire runs through the
city. In 1974 the former county borough of Leeds was merged with the
towns of Wetherby, Morley, Otley, Pudsey, and other surrounding areas
to form a metropolitan borough — the city status of the county borough
being conferred on the new metropolitan borough.

History

Leeds was an agricultural market town in the middle ages, and received
its first charter in 1207. In the Tudor period Leeds was mainly a
merchant town manufacturing woollen cloths and trading with Europe via
the Humber estuary. At one point nearly half of England’s total export
passed through Leeds. The introduction of the Leeds and Leeds Canal in
1816 and the railway in 1848 catalysed the city’s industrial growth.

Places of interest

Despite its longtime reputation as a grimy northern industrial city,
Leeds will surprise anyone with the beauty and diversity of its City
Centre. Some places to visit except the museums and art galleries:
* Quarry Hill Cultural Quarter
* Millennium Square
* Leeds Arena
* Harewood / Eastgate shopping quarters (commence
Late 2006/Early 2007)
* Trinity Shopping Quarter (commence 2006)
* South Leeds Sport Centre

Museums and Art Galleries

Leeds has a large number of museums, being the home of the Royal
Armouries Museum (opened in 1996), the Leeds City Museum which is
dedicated to the history of Yorkshire, the Thackray’s Medical Museum
and the Leeds City Art Gallery. Leeds also boasts the Grand Theatre,
the City Varieties music hall and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Shopping

While many cities can boast innumerable shopping centres and high
street stores Leeds trademark is sophistication. It has become the
shopping Mecca of the North - Gucci, Prada, D&G grace Harvey Nic’s
rails. Excepts these, street shops like - Karen Millen, Jigsaw, Kookai,
Lambretta, Vivienne Westwood, Joseph, Ted Baker and Mexx jostle, are
waiting there to feast the shopping spree in Leeds. The heart of Leeds
is The Headrow, the city’s main thoroughfare. Along its length one can
find some of the city’s main attractions; the City Museum, City Art
Gallery and The Henry Moore Institute which has the finest collection
of 20th Century paintings outside of the Tate. Off The Headrow is
Briggate with its ornate shopping centres. The Grand Theatre and Opera
House are located here also. Major shows visit regularly so it’s worth
checking out. Over all the City Center hosts a shopping center that
fulfills every need of hopping.

Food & Drink

The city of Leeds offers an extensive choice of places to eat, drink
and relax. Award winning restaurants, Victorian pubs, fashionable wine
bars and venues offering every type of ethnic cuisine ensure that all
tastes. Leeds has a very large student population and boasts a large
number of bars and nightclubs, as well as venues for live bands such as
the Cockpit, The New Roscoe, and Joseph’s Well, which combine to
generate a vibrant nightlife. For American style restaurants TGI
Fridays, Wellington Street, Frankie and Benny’s, Cardigan Fields,
Kirkstall, Hard Rock Café are few to name. Babylon, 10 York
Place, Browns, The Headrow, The Calls Grill are some of European style
restaurants. From Chinese, French to Italian all type of food is
available in Leeds. Listed are some famous among them: Cafe Rouge,
Canton Flavour, Lucky Dragon, Little Tokyo, Cactus Lounge etc.

Education

Leeds has two universities, the University of Leeds, and Leeds
Metropolitan University as well as various higher education colleges,
including Trinity & All Saints’ College accredited by the
University of Leeds, giving it one of the largest student populations
in the country. The main campuses of both universities are near the
city centre, as is that of the similarly revered College of Art. Leeds
Grammar School, situated on the outskirts of the city at Alwoodley
Gates and dating back to 1552, is the principal public school for boys.
Leeds Girls’ High School is an independent, selective school for girls,
located in Headingley and consistently ranked highly in education
tables.

Sports

The town has a strong sporting heritage, with the Yorkshire County
Cricket Club, Leeds Rhinos (the Rugby League team) and Leeds Tykes (the
Rugby Union team) playing at Headingley Stadium, and Leeds United F.C.
playing at Elland Road.

Tours and Sightseeing

An organized tour in Leeds consists of local sightseeing including
museums and playhouses, shopping and Leeds Castle.

Hotels and accommodations

The dedicated team at SleepUK can assist and advise on all your Leeds
hotel requirements. Online and offline access to Leeds’ accommodation
network ensures travelers will be offered the best possible deal at the
time of your visit whether you require luxury hotels in Leeds or budget
hotels in Leeds.

Hotels in all categories are opening in Leeds all the time, reflecting
the city’s renewed prosperity and popularity as a short-break
destination.

Whether you are visiting Leeds on vacation or just on business trip,
you may need to find accommodation in Leeds and stay overnight in a
B&B or a budget or luxury hotel.

Leeds has lots of budget and luxury hotels. They are very much
convenient, friendly and comfortable. Among them - Ascot Grange Hotel,
Malmaison Hotel,Hotel Leeds Express by Holiday Inn Leeds,City Centre,
The
Butlers Hotel,Haley’s Hotel and Restaurant, Weetwood Hall Conference
Centre & Hotel, 42 The Calls, Harewood Arms, Quebecs, The Leeds
Boutique Hotel, Golden
Lion Hotel, Comfort Inn Leeds, Merrion Hotel,Harman Suites 1 & 2,
self-Catering Apartments, Nea Ramada, Leeds Parkway Hotel,Village Hotel
&
Leisure Club Leeds are few to name about.

Transport

It has in the past been served well by its canal, and today by its rail
network at Leeds station, from where Metro Trains operate to all parts
of West Yorkshire and other operators to the rest of the country. Leeds
Station is the busiest in the UK, outside London. With two motorway
(the A1 (M), M1 and M62) intersecting at Leeds, it is the principal
northern hub of the motorway network. Leeds Bradford International
Airportis located to the north-west of the
city and has scheduled flights to destinations within the U.K and
Europe.

Biography

Name: Maria Williams
Occupation: Traveller
Website: http://www.sleepuk.com
Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK - providers of discounted hotels to make your stay in the UK as comfortable as possible.

“The good news is that there is no reason to cower in the corner of your RV trying to avoid the gasoline bogeyman,” asserts Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home. “While none of us are thrilled about the new reality of gas prices, this is not a reason to cancel your travel plans, particularly if you are planning that dream trip of a lifetime.”

White, who along with her husband Phil, took off and traveled the country for a year in their Pleasure-Way class B motorhome, know more than a little about how much it costs to travel for an extended period. When they budgeted for their trip initially, they planned on an average of $1.75 a gallon for gas. When they returned, 37,500 miles and a year later, their actual average cost had been $1.56 a gallon. They paid as high as $2.35 a gallon in California, and as little as $1.22 in Georgia.

“Although some RV owners are concerned about fuel prices, the added cost is only a small part of the equation and not an overriding issue,” observes David J. Humphreys, president of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). “For most RV owners, the advantages of RVing–such as greater flexibility, control and comfort–outweigh the higher costs of fuel,” he concludes.

“Gas prices were fluctuating like crazy then also, and we weren’t sure what to really expect, but we did know that the price of gas wasn’t going to prevent us from getting out and seeing our great country,” Carol confirmed. “We knew that in the overall scope of trip expenses, this was not going to be a ‘deal breaker’ for us.”

“As it turned out, at $1.56 average over the year, it represented only five percent of our total budget and it was only our fifth largest expenditure,” Phil added.

Carol went on to update their information, “We recently recalculated our actual budget, using $2.25 as the average price over the same 37,500 miles, and it only moved the expense to eight percent of the total cost, and still the fifth largest expense.”

Phil and Carol go into great detail in their book not only about budgetary concerns, like gas, but also provide would-be travelers with tips about everything from what to do with your house and cars, to how to manage relationships while you are gone, to what to do about mail, bills and investments.

The Whites, who are definitely upbeat about encouraging others to get moving from the “dreaming to the doing,” laugh when describing the most often asked question: How to be with your travel companion on a 24/7 basis.

Phil provides a decidedly unabashed answer when he suggests, “You learn those two precious little words ‘yes, dear’ early on!” He continues on a more serious note adding, “You really learn to support each other on your off days, which you will both have. This is much easier than at home, because it is just the two of you with no outside influences to be considered. You really get to be two kids again, and it is great fun.”

Their final piece of advice? Don’t let the price of gas keep you from living your road trip dream. You will never forget or regret the times that you spend exploring your fondest travel ideas – whether it is a road trip like ours, a sailboat trip around the world, a trek through Asia or backpacking through Europe. The planning basics are the same regardless of the destination – and the White’s book is ready to help you plan your trip of a lifetime.

For more information on planning your dream trip, to order your copy of the book, or to invite the Whites to speak to your organization about taking your trip of a lifetime, go to their website at http://www.roadtripdream.com. The book is also available from online retailers or your favorite bookstore.

About RLI Press:
RLI Press is a full service publisher of travel related materials. Incorporated in 1999 by Phil and Carol White, RLI Press is a DBA of Retirement Lifestyles, Inc., an Oregon Corporation. Contact pr@roadtripdream.com or 888 522-TRIP (8747). Mail to PO Box 1115, Wilsonville, OR 97070

Would you like to go to camp? Would your child? Are you thinking about making lanyards in craft class, canoeing across the lake, or those funky lunches in the mess hall? Although those experiences are common to many people who have gone to summer camp in the past, they are not the only types of experiences out there today. You can learn to surf, play in a rock and roll band, learn computer programming or even be in a play. Camp doesn’t even have to be in the summer anymore-it is changing, and it is for the better.

If you think that any of these alternatives to the “traditional” sound exciting, you should take a look online to see all of the opportunities that are available. For your children, you can choose from an extended sleep away camp experience, or you can choose from the day variety right in your local area. Many cities, churches, and even child care centers have programs that might interest your child. They can learn about film-making, basketball, how to speak French, or do some cool scientific experiments. Your older teen may even want to find a job as a counselor at a summer camp.

What you may not be aware of is the choices that are available to “grown-ups.” You have probably heard of fantasy camps for baseball or other sports-but did you know that there is one for rock and roll as well? Some colleges and universities sponsor programs over the summer to keep the revenue coming in over breaks and in the summer. For decades, retired or semi-retired people have participated in Elderhostel which is another kind of “grown up” camp. They can take courses on learning a language, doing genealogy, culture, and so on and so on. You can find a lot of information about these programs on the internet as well.

Talk to people who have gone to the programs you are looking at so that you can get a personal opinion of what the experience is like. Ask a lot of questions to the staff. Find out about costs. Are there scholarships or grants available? (This is probably more applicable to children.) Ask to see a sample schedule. Who will be conducting the classes and what is their training? Where will you be staying? What are the facilities like? How many people will be attending?

Take a dive and jump right into the experience.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Home and Family. For more information about choosing a camp visit yscamp.com

Binoculars are devices that make small objects at a distance appear expanded and clear before your eyes. They are also known as binocular telescopes as they are basically two monocular placed together to allow perfect two-eye viewing. It is surprising to find that those objects, which are completely invisible to human eyes, appear so near and enlarged in the eyes of the binoculars.

Factors to consider while purchasing binoculars

When you want to choose the binoculars you should try them out and then purchase them. Although the enhanced image through binoculars might appear surprising, yet the working of binoculars is quite simple. You have the lenses at the end of the barrel called objective lens that gathers the light from distant objects and focuses it on the lens nearest to your eyes. With side-by-side two small telescopes fitted, the binoculars impart a great measure of depth of field, than single monocular glasses.

When you go to purchase binoculars you will be confused to hear two specific numbers “6 x30” or something similar. Do not get surprised. The first number always refer to the magnification power of the binoculars or how many times the image is magnified. This means that if the number is 6, the image that you view through the lens will be 6 times more magnified than its normal size.

However, the second number deals with the size of the objective lens at the end of the binoculars. You should know that the larger the diameter of the objective lens, the more light from the distant objects is attracted and the distant image can be viewed perfectly.

However, powerful the binocular is, you must be aware of the way to handle them. Holding the binoculars by the hand will be truly effective as shaking might make the magnification less useful. So if you are planning to use the binoculars for active activities, then get for yourself a pair of binoculars that has 4-7 times magnification. If your work demands using the binoculars in low light situation or indoors, then you should get larger objective lens with 30 power or above.

The weight of the binoculars should be considered before you purchase them. When you are using the binoculars for trekking, boating, fishing, or for astronomical purposes, you should see that the weight should not be very heavy. When you are going for these traveling purposes, you should plastic lens in binoculars that will help produce high quality and sharp image. Glass lenses can be available at lower cost but they are very fragile. So you should use plastic lens binoculars for better results. Get a pair of binoculars to enjoy distant objects clearer and nearer to your eyes.

Sharon Albright is the owner of binoculars Site. Read more articles on binoculars and visit her recommended resources.

Camping And Outdoors Adventure Scenario

Camping and outdoors activities are a really great way to get in touch with mother nature and to spend some “quality” time with yourself and even your loved ones; BUT; getting lost is a scenario you should always allow for in your mindset and basic preparedness.This note is not meant to scare anybody, just to inform and possibly make a difference. It’s a little like
getting a flat tire on the car; at least if you know how to fix it when it happens, you are already and able!

Whether hunting,climbing, hiking,rescueing or just camping in a remote wilderness area, both your family members and friends could get separated and ultimately lost; either individually or in groups; so everybody needs to be prepared and be aware of the do’s and don’t’s in the wilderness and general common sense survival techniques.

Before you go off on your journey , tell somebody where you are going , how many are going, and the length of time you will be away so there is an outside person who can sound the alarm bells if you don’t arrive back

Never think it will not happen to you! Getting lost is a milestone event that even the most experienced bushmen can relate to and rememder the time ‘they’ got lost; these folks know the roller coaster of emotions you will experience from terror, to panic, to hopelessness, to desperation, ad infinitum; I will always remember the time I got lost and the chain of events that helped me get “out of there”.

Always carry the basics for your outdoors experience, if you use a g.p.s.; these are a fantastic piece of technology; maps,compass,matches/lighter,knife, and then add on from there…tent, sleeping bag, water, first aid ; but the basic compass and map and some matches/lighter should always be carried.

Don’t panic, stay calm and show this to yourself and everybody else around you as well; just be ready to work it out when the time comes.

A simple and handy idea especially with kids is to carry a whistle, either in a safe pocket where it will not get lost or fall out or on a lanyard around the neck although this is not my preferred.

Although kids are always taught about ‘stranger danger’, this is a different position and that strangers could be rescuers [some children have been recorded as having hidden from ‘would be’ rescuers]

Once a person realizes that they are lost; STOP AND WAIT ! Settle down and think things out, stay calm.

Orientation methods are local to every location; such as ; the sun comes up in the west/east ; finding the north star and so on.
My favourite is to follow the streams/creeks downstream; since if you keep following the streams downstream , you will usually find ‘civilisation’ and have drinking water along the way.
If nightfall approaches- get ready for a night alone [ except for the creatures ] – both mentally and physically – you will hear every little sound in the darkness and this could get freaky.You may decide to find a campfire spot uphill from the creek away from the mosquitoes and where rescuers could see you come daylight; organize enough fire wood to keep it smoldering all night; a good fire is a warm comfort at this time ; but don’t forget the saying ‘the bigger the fire, the bigger the fool ‘.

Next morning; get the fire going steadily without starting a bush fire and put on some green leaves to make enough smoke so the rescuers can find you ; this is a long job but necessary.If you hear any noises just shoot your gun , blow that whistle or yell.

So don’t worry—it happens—just stop/wait and be calm.

This way you can enjoy the great outdoors knowing fullwell that you can get yourself out of there!

These are just some of my thoughts on this matter and there would be plenty other great bush survival techniques ‘out there’

Happy trails to you !

The author; Donald Vanderlugt hosts http://www.campingandgear.com where a great selection of camping gear can be found [coleman, atwater carey, blackpine etc ] and at real discounts; tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, first aid, kids stuff and much more; all with free shipping U.S. and a handy newsletter for those articles and free recipes; see you there at http://www.campingandgear.com !

Bird watching is just about the most unobjectionable hobby in the world. With Halloween approaching, however, it is time to discuss the dark, dark, dark side of birding.

Bird watching enthusiasts are always looking for good spots to whip out the binoculars and visually hunt for a new life bird. There are really only two potential downsides to this for bird watchers.

What Are You Looking At?

For backyard birding, one runs the risk of neighbors thinking you are a pervert of some type trying to look in their windows with your binoculars. This can usually be overcome by spreading the word in the neighborhood that you’re an avid birder and the binoculars are not pointing at anyone’s windows. Really.

If this doesn’t work, invite the offended neighbors over to do some watching. They will either grow bored and leave or get hooked. Either way, you’ll benefit and no longer have to deal with negative gossip.

Buffy the Bird Watcher

Cemeteries! Not just for demons, vampires and Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

A nasty little secret in the bird watching world is the fact cemeteries are good places to bird watch. Generally, the cemetery is quite, has lots of trees and hunters typically aren’t bold enough to have a go at the fowl. In short, a perfect place for birds to congregate and you to watch.

Now, it goes without saying that bird watching in a cemetery requires a certain etiquette. First, the staff at the cemetery may have a “get the hell off the property” policy towards birding enthusiasts. This can quickly be overcome by explaining that uncle/aunt [look at closest grave stone] was an avid bird watcher and you are bringing their equipment in remembrance. A little wailing may help with senior staff, while cigarettes seem to be preferred by staff carrying shovels.

Having dealt with the staff, small mention should be made regarding actual funerals. If a dearly beloved is being interred, do not pursue your birding within site of the event! Doing so could result in serious physical injury, as funeral goers do not seem to react well to a person with binoculars staring in the direction of funeral and writing down things. Keep in mind emotions are justifiably high. This means they can outrun you.

Typically, most will cluck in dismay at the idea of bird watching in a cemetery. You may be doing so now. Ah, but as Halloween approaches and you’re dying for a new sighting, you just might start to feel differently.

After all, where else will you be able to finally see Vladious Vampirous in its natural habitat?

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com makers of diary and writing journals for bird watching. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles on bird watching and the great outdoors.

Many of the tour operators in the southern half of the Baja peninsula, in the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico base out of Loreto or La Paz; coastal communities on the Sea of Cortes side of the peninsula. Most of the tours visit uninhabited islands and coastlines near those two starting points. The reason no multi-day tours go out of Cabo San Lucas is because there are no nearby islands to paddle to and the sea is much more exposed there.

Loreto & La Paz comparison

Loreto is a sleepy Mexican fishing village about 8 hours by car from Cabo San Lucas. It was the original capital of the peninsula until 1828 when a hurricane leveled the town and the capital was permanently moved to La Paz. La Paz, a city of 250,000, is the main ferry terminus to mainland Mexico, and is located approximately half way between Loreto and Cabo.

Loreto has limited flights arriving daily from Los Angeles or San Diego on Aero Mexico, Alaska and Aero California. La Paz has more options of flights in and out on those carriers and others. Loreto is a 2-day drive south from San Diego in California, USA. Some guests elect to fly into Cabo San Lucas to take advantage of cheap flights, and take an air-conditioned bus to either Loreto or La Paz for a fraction of what it would cost in USA.

Both Loreto and La Paz have several large uninhabited islands nearby that are exquisite for paddling and exploring. Both Loreto and La Paz are within reach of Magdalena Bay, the gray whale lagoon on the Pacific side of the peninsula. All the islands in the Sea of Cortez and all three gray whale lagoons on the Pacific Coast have Mexican national park status, and all outfitters and private parties must have the proper permits. Be sure to go with an outfitter than has the proper operating permits, or if you are in a private party do obtain the proper permits from the national park office in both communities, as federal officers do regular site inspections in the park areas.

Private parties are not permitted at all in Magdalena Bay, although they are allowed with permits in the Sea of Cortez. Permitted outfitters are committed to preserving the laws and environment in which they operate and must pay all appropriate taxes to Mexico, must hire and train locals to be sea kayak guides and logistics managers, and have proper liability insurance and safety procedures/training.

Self-supported vs. motorboat supported tours

Most sea kayak tour operators fall into either of these two camps, so be sure you inquire about what kind of tour the company runs, and what they include in the tour price. Most tour outfitters have mostly double kayaks since the majority of guests are fairly new to kayaking, but some will have single kayaks along, too, for folks to rotate into. So this is another issue to explore.
Weather in Baja California Sur

Daytime temperatures late December through February range from the 70’s to 80’s (degrees F), and night temperatures can dip to the 40’s, requiring a warm sweater and hat. March thought early May they range from the mid-80’s to mid-90’s during the day, and 55-60 at night. While rain is infrequent on the Baja peninsula, it does occur December – February. Bring synthetic and cotton clothes, in layers to provide for weather extremes (your outfitter will provide an equipment list).

Water temperatures range from 68 to72 degrees F (some find a wet suit a good idea December through March for snorkeling). SPF clothing, light-colored, long-sleeved shirt and long pants & hats are rapidly gaining in popularity and are great for outdoor travel in sunny climes. Periods of strong winds for up to 2-3 days at a time can occur in this part of the world from November through March, although they start tapering off in February and March. Hurricane season is August through November. Temperatures soar above 110 degrees F in June, July and August, thus most outfitters don’t operate tours then.

Whales in Baja California Sur

The rare blue whale/ largest loving creature in the world today, and the fin whale frequent the Sea of Cortez February through mid April, as well as the occasional humpback. The once endangered California gray whale, whose population now numbers about 28,000, migrates each fall and winter down the Pacific coast from Alaska to spend the month of February and first couple weeks of March in the three large lagoon/inner waterways of Baja California peninsula’s Pacific coast. There they rest, give birth and mate before heading beck toward Alaska in late March.

Mexico strictly protects the California gray whale lagoons, thus one can only go into the lagoons with a licensed kayak tour operator or motorized tour operator. Common dolphins/ bottle nose dolphins and California sea lions are commonly seen throughout the waters of Baja. A common myth is that one can pet a whale from a kayak - this has never been known to happen. They move much faster than a kayak can paddle, and have never shown curiosity in kayaks.

However, it is becoming more and more common for gray whales in the lagoons of the Pacific coast to approach motorized boats and even occasionally be petted by humans. The boat operators licensed by the Mexican government are quite expert at knowing how to let the whales approach them, and on ways to avoid stressing the whales.

Why go with an outfitter

The seas and winds can be quite challenging at times, and destinations remote, thus seasoned guides are an invaluable asset unless you are very experienced in self supported tours in this kind of environment -and even then, there are weather patterns unique to the Sea of Cortez. A permitted outfitter will have the knowledge; experience, sound equipment, and the commitment to safety and service that can allow you to relax and enjoy your vacation in Baja California. Also, due to the remoteness of the southern part of the Baja peninsula, the weather, and liability issues, finding expedition kayaks to rent in Loreto or La Paz is extremely difficult (outfitters don’t want to rent out their touring boats since they need them to run their tours).

Why Sea Kayaking

It is a magical, quiet sport quickly and easily learned; the craft are stable and seaworthy. Wildlife is less threatened by a person quietly drifting by in a kayak than any other approach. It is a great way to spend time with new friends in a wilderness setting. Kayaks can carry more gear than backpacks so many former hikers are turning to sea kayaking. Come see why sea kayaking is exploding in popularity, by going on a guided sea kayak tour in a beautiful setting.

Nancy lives in Coeur d’Alene Idaho and her company, Sea Kayak Adventures, offers guided kayak tours in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and British Columbia Canada’s Vancouver Island. An avid paddler, she started sea kayaking in Baja in 1988 and since then has explored waters from Yukon to Ecuador.

How to survive a Bear attack!

Bears can attack people if they feel they are in danger, if they are surprised, have cubs or are protecting their territory. If at all possible - steer clear of the bear! But if you have put your self in a situation where you can’t avoid them, make sure they are not surprised by you.

Here are some crucial rules to live by.

1. Never camp or hike alone.

2. Avoid bears. That “teddy” bear can turn you into ground beef really quick - this includes the smaller black bear.

3. Don’t feed it even from the “safety” of your car. There have been movies made that show people being ripped from their cars because they were dim-witted enough to feed it. If you have to feed an animal, feed your cat or dog at home. The wild is well, wild and wild animals will attack given the right circumstance.

4. Don’t leave food around camp. This is the chief reason a bear will come into your camp as they smell food. Zip up your tent even if it’s hot and clammy. Always keep an eye out. Please clean your camp and put any fires out before you leave. If you have any food left, seal it in plastic or in a container far up into a tree away from the camp site. Better he has that food for dinner than “camper ala cart”.

Bear profiles:

The black bear is a scavenger and although small is very dangerous. More commonly seen around human habitats, it may not think of you as an enemy. Be careful and use the procedure below.

Grizzly bears will attack you on a whim. Although not aggressive by nature they are very unpredictable. He might run away. He might see you and act as though you’re just another animal or he might charge you if he woke up on the wrong side of his bed. Grizzly bears rarely maintain the attack however, with their huge size and weight they can with little effort mangle an average size man.

Polar bears are a different nightmare. Indians still live in fear of them and there is plenty of history to divulge the terror of what they can do. These creatures can and do stalk humans. They are highly intelligent and deadly. Staying out of polar bear area is wise and will keep you alive. Unless you’re doing a project for national geographic, do not engage!

What to do. . .

Singing, talking or listening to music out loud is a good way to not surprise any animal. In any case most bears will leave your area as they don’t really look for a conflict.

The rule is if you are facing a bear, talk gently while holding your arms above your head and slowly walk away. Be aware of your surroundings so you don’t trip over something as this can create a problem! Holding your arms above your head not only makes you look bigger but keeps his attention as you walk away.

Bears may grunt, growl and some times put their head low with their ears back before an attack. If a bear stands on its legs it’s not a sign of aggression, it’s just trying to get a view of where you are at.

So what happens if that doesn’t work and you realize your going to be attacked? While this can be a horrifying experience you must keep your wits about you. Shooting a bear does not usually stop an attack. Sometimes the more valuable weapon is bear spray.

If you notice the bear is going to charge you, spray! Bear sprays shoot out at a great distance. In any case don’t try to run. Some bears can run as fast as a horse and definitely run faster then you. Quickly do one of two things. The best thing to do is find a large tree that you can quickly climb. Make a lot of noise and waving your hands as this might make the animal leave. If you are stuck on the ground keep your back-pack on, this will give you some protection for your back. Cover your head and neck and get into a fetal position. PLAY DEAD. Continue even if you are being bitten. In many cases the bear will quickly realize you’re not a threat and leave. What if he doesn’t stop? Scream, yell and fight back, this includes throwing dirt in its eyes, throwing large rocks at its head- anything to make him realize your not going to be an easy meal.

Wes Tafoya, partner with Russ Beecher(pres. and CEO Beecher Technologies) is the VP for Beechtek. SN Dir for IT marketing and sales he runs two divisions, Internet Division and s&m division for NEC FT servers in the northern midwest. Raised in OC, California and moved to Illinois in ‘94.

The Selous Game reserve is internationally recognized as one of best managed areas in Africa. Poaching in this reserve is minimal and animal populations including Elephants are thriving. What is the storey behind this success? This was not always the storey for this area – once the Selous Game Reserve was under threat from the blight of the poachers.

The Selous Game Reserve is huge with only a small section of the park used for photography safaris and another section used for hunting safaris. Many people, including myself, have a hard time understanding that the hunting safari is a good thing for conservation. However, if it were not for the hunting safari the Selous would be a waste land devoid of animals.

Hunting is the success storey behind the Selous which is fast becoming an area that is the place to see game whilst on safari in Africa. The reserve suffered greatly from poaching in the late 1970’s and most of the 1980’s.

Disaster struck in 1973 when the Tanzania Government gave way – under considerable international pressure – to ban hunting from the Selous. Once this ban took hold the rot set in, the decline of this park was as rapid as it was dramatic. Poaching gangs of up to sixty people descended into the reserve. The many rhino’s in Stiegler’s Gorge were poached out and elephants slaughtered in colossal numbers.

Despite the reserve being declared a World Heritage Site in 1982, the massive slaughter of elephants had begun. Numbers of 100,000 elephants were reduced to less than 30,000 by 1991. It was reported that every day twenty elephants died at the hands of these poaching gangs.

With the help several conservation organizations from outside and within Africa and the determination of the Tanzanian Government this downward spiral was halted. Determined and brave young wardens were put into the parks and the fight against illegal poaching began, at last, to be won. Hunting was reintroduced into the reserve; with the hunters kept well away from the photographic tourists. The revenue generated from the hunting helps greatly to fund the effective management of the Selous.

Animals are carefully monitored and this enables quotes of specific animals to be allocated to the short hunting season. Hunting is therefore returning the Selous Game Reserve to its former glory. As mentioned at the beginning of this article this area of Tanzania is now thriving thanks to a careful managed policies including hunting; which is used as a means of conservation.

For more information on any of these subjects visit http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and also for tourism and cultural issues see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk – Using tourism to change lives.