Tag: bear spray

Gift ideas for your adventure traveler

livevigorously

Waxing nostalgic…When I was a kid, my Mother used to hand my brother and me the Sears Christmas Wish Book. She’d give us both magic markers and tell us to mark everything we wanted Santa to bring us for x-mas. We spent hours mesmerized by the glossy, colorful 600 page tome, poring over 200 plus pages each bursting toys galore. Even after we knew that Mom was Santa, there was still a certain sense of excitement every year as we huddled together over those dazzling pages.trying not to circle every toy. It was so hard to decide. Once the presents were delivered, we were always confused. We didn’t recall  circling Yahtzee, or Rack-O…Later, we realized it was just one of our Mother’s schemes to keep us occupied for endless hours.

sears-wishbook

Today, do parents send their kids to the web to create their wish list shopping carts? For fun, I went window shopping online at Amazon and “circled” some items. I’ll start with some stocking stuffers and keep adding as I browse and hear back from you. What’s the best travel adventure gift you’ve ever received? And what’s on your wish list this year?

Stocking stuffers

$5 and under

mad-libsThe Mad Libs WORST CASE SCENARIO Survival Handbook: Travel Fun for all ages on a road trip, in the tent, or by the campfire. : )

 

mosquito-netMosquito Head Net

Sure wish I had this when I was hiking in Yosemite. The face flies were so brutal I nearly turned back. Other hikers did. Luckily, once you get above 8k feet they drop off. This could be the best $2 bucks you’ll ever spend.

$10-$20

survival-bracelet_TECH-P 5 in 1 Multifunctional Paracord Bracelet with Compass Flint Fire Starter Scraper Whistle Your mom would want you to have this survival bracelet.

 

lifestrawLifeStraw Personal Water Filter Your mom would want you to have this one too. Warning, this does not does not filter out viruses, but is good in a pinch.

bandanaKalily Headband Bandana 16-in-1 sports & casual headwear with UV protection.Be sporty and stylish, even with sleeping bag head.

ultra-lightweight-foldable-backpckFoldable, Ultra Lightweight Packable Backpack

Handy for travel and day hikes

headlampWaterproof Headlamp with rechargeable batteries, AC charger and car charger 

bear-sprayBear Spray

I prefer the one without the holster. Ideally, you should have it on the ready and carry it in your hand.

sleeping-bag-net

Mosquito Net for 1 sleeping bag  I really enjoy camping out under the starts without a tent. Unfortunately, so do the bugs. Here’s a solution.

 

Other ideas

Gift certificates to their favorite outdoor store

Airline tickets or points

State Park Passes

 

 

Big Sky, MT: Beehive Basin Hike

Big Sky, MT: Beehive Basin Hike

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Big Sky,  unlike Anaconda, has a name that captures its essence as you can see. This vista above was a big highlight on an otherwise fairly unremarkable first couple miles. I’m a bit surprised that this out and back hike in the Gallatin National Forest was rated one of the top 10 in the world.  (Guess I’m becoming a bit of a hiking snob.) In wildflower season, I suspect it blossoms beautifully, bewitching its visitors. November is not her best month. It’s either dry and reedy or muddy and icy, but there are shimmering sights at the basin that do reward those with the  tenacity to trudge through the thick slime and slog through the snow in the off-season…(Yes, that would be me.)

In my first video, I mistake the first, unnamed lake for the destination lake.

 

 

As for equipping myself with the bear spray, I learned that the “griz” are the most active before hibernation and there have been recent attacks in nearby  Ennis and Yellowstone National Park. Not to mention that the sign at the trail head was difficult to ignore.

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You may notice that I’m wearing a bell around my neck to alert bears of my presence. (Let’s see a bell, chocolate in my pocket -you got it, I’m a walking, talking bear toy.) Have you heard the rangers joke about how you can tell black bear scat from grizzly scat? The grizzly scat has bells in it. I’ve stopped wearing the bell as they say the bears might find the ringing intriguing (or perhaps annoying). They say it’s better just to talk loudly and make a lot of noise in areas with limited visibility. You don’t want to surprise a griz. Supposedly, they’ll hear you coming and go the other way.

 

 

The panoramic views were breathtaking. And slogging through mud, ice, and snow mean I’m getting a more intense workout. What’s not to like, right?

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Topped off a fantastic day with a feast at the Gallatin River House Grill, what a great spot on the river with outdoor seating, a band stage and volley ball court. Their Famous Flank Steak Sandwich is as outstanding as is their riverfront view. One day, I will return to see the trail in its wildflower splendor and for post hike festivities and another feast at the River House.