The Smith & Wesson M&P (Military and Police) product line has a well-deserved reputation for quality and reliability. First introduced in 2005, it has proven to be extremely popular across the LE and Civilian markets. This is a review of the Performance Center Pro Series C.O.R.E. featuring a threaded barrel and tactical (tall) sights. I […]
Performance Center M&P9 C.O.R.E. Threaded Barrel Pistol Review Read More »
Sig went to the Altama booth during Shot Show their are two different pairs that have been released. The over the beach assault shoes Altama released the woodland camo with black soles they are currently only available on Altamas website and the reason for that is because it’s some good American made quality! They are […]
The post Altama Multi Cam OTBs with Black and BROWN SOLES! appeared first on Tactical Sh*t.
Altama Multi Cam OTBs with Black and BROWN SOLES! Read More »
First shots of the decade for me. I was invited to a local indoor range, so I shot the Ill-Annoy POlice qual and the Swiss CCW qual with a .22 revolver and .22 autoloader.
The ammo was Winchester M22. The 43C had one Failure to Fire so I applied Immediate Action, to wit: press the trigger again. That solved the stoppage.
With the M&P 22 Compact I had no Failures to Fire or other stoppages.
The Ill-Annoy qual is 30 rounds and the Swiss qual is 18. The target for the Ill-Annoy qual is a piece of legal size paper in portrait mode, so I used my letter size equivalent. The specified target for the Swiss qual has a hit zone approximately equal to the -1 zone of an IDPA target so I used my letter size target to increase the challenge slightly.
They are both timed courses, which can be problematic on indoor ranges. I used theDry Fire Par Time Tracker phone app and corded the phone to Howard Leight Sync Muffs. That solution worked reasonably well.
It was nice to get out and do some shooting.
First shots of the decade Read More »
Today it’s time for the expert council show. To ask a question for a show like this, just send an email to me at jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com with “TSPC Expert” in the subject line. Today on The Survival Podcast, the … Continue reading →
Episode-2593- The Expert Council Show for 1-31-20 Read More »
Security overload leads to apathy. How often do you hear a car alarm go off and roll your eyes hoping the owner would disable the blasted thing before the incoming headache comes a knocking? The primary objection I have to such systems is they work too well. Every week I hear an alarm being triggered […]
This is just the start of the post Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy. Continue reading and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy, written by Thomas Xavier, was created exclusively for readers of the survival blog More Than Just Surviving.
Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy Read More »
Security overload leads to apathy. How often do you hear a car alarm go off and roll your eyes hoping the owner would disable the blasted thing before the incoming headache comes a knocking? The primary objection I have to such systems is they work too well. Every week I hear an alarm being triggered […]
This is just the start of the post Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy. Continue reading and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy, written by Thomas Xavier, was created exclusively for readers of the survival blog More Than Just Surviving.
Security Information Overload: From Panic to Apathy & the Remedy Read More »
Are you gearing up for spring and summer hiking? Then you’ll want to enter this month’s Hiking Lady giveaway of a pair of KÜHL hiking pants! Over at Hiking Baby I recently posted a review of KÜHL’s boys’ apparel (the KÜHL Revolvr Pants and the KÜHL Revel 1/4 Zip Pullover). KÜHL was so impressed that …
The post Win KÜHL Women’s Hiking Pants appeared first on Hiking Lady.
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When I was getting ready to leave Lonquimay after one night in a hotel I encountered two other GPT hikers in the supermarket. Big surprise for both parties and of course we both delayed our departure and chatted quite a while. Although this Swiss couple with hiking my direction I would not meet them again because they were behind me – and I was now taking a huge detour! On the upcoming trail section there had been a big landslide last year and every hiker had complained how dangerous it was to get around it. And I had realised that in order to enjoy this difficult trail I wanted to avoid any risks if possible. And as there existed a detour around this section I decided to take it!
Problem was that nobody had ever hiked the entire length of this long detour before! It involved a lot of road walking – and two bridges which I could not confirm 100% on google earth. This was going to be an adventure … The section started with a long road walk and first impressions of the volcano Lonquimay. When I turned onto the paved road accessing the National Reserve I was surprised by the amount of tourist traffic. My plan was to continue hiking on that road that would soon turn into dirt. But when I arrived at the entrance of the reserve a very friendly female ranger more or less talked me into taking an even longer hike into the reserve … In hindsight I can’t believe I took that risk because I had no gpx track of this route, there was no official map of it – there only was a small one page color photocopy of google earth. But the ranger praised this route so much and swore that her colleagues had only recently blazed it that changed my mind and embarked on this 45 km route through the reserve. According to the ranger it would take 4 days ….
To my delight the trail marking was indeed fantastic! I had never seen anything similar before. There were wooden posts and painted blazes on rocks the entire way. The views were outright spectacular and not too much snow was left. I even found a great water source that was not marked on my “map”. But instead of camping there I made the mistake of continuing. My “map” called the next kilometers the “labyrinth” and I was soon to find out why. I had to traverse a huge lava field and the trail zig-zagged through sharp lava outcrops. It was very strenous hiking but the waymarking was excellent! I was reluctant to camp in this lava field because it was so high up and completely exposed and pressed on until almost sunset. Despite my fears the night was completely calm with no wind and it was not as cold as expected. The view in the morning was incredibly: I was camped between two snow covered volcanoes under a completely blue sky!
Trail marking continued to be great and a water source appeared just in time. Soon I was descending below tree line again. On a steep slope a whole herd of cows was walking in front of me because the trail was so narrow that they could not let me pass …
It took me only two days to hike this traverse and I did not see a single soul during that time. In hindsight this was one of the most beautiful sections of the GPT – although it is not even the main route! Finally I had found the perfect mix of great landscape, good trail and trail marking. I sent an email to the ranger to de-register and embarked on the upcoming long road walk to rejoin the main GPT route.
The road walk turned out to be much nicer than expected. It was pure dirt and hardly any traffic – expect this French cyclist. He was not making a lot more kilometers cycling than I was hiking! Coming from where I was going to he assured me that the two bridges really existed – a great relief for me! He also told me that there was tunnel! Tunnel? I could not believe that but sure enough the next day I had to walk through a 400 meter long tunnel. There was no pavement and lots of horse droppings inside because there were more riders than drivers using it … Of course there was no lighting either ….
I camped close to the dirt road and was convinced that it was so bad that cars did not use it any more. In the morning I learnt that I was completely wrong: not only a car, but a small bus fought its way up the mountain …
I even passed an abandoned orchard full of cherry trees. I enjoyed the unexpected vitamins a lot …
The second bridge was a narrow metal construction over a deep river gorge with plenty of horse droppings on it. I cannot understand how the cowboys manage to drive cattle over such a bridge where even I felt uncomfortable looking down. There was a well stocked minimarket on the other side where I had a very long lunch break before finally joining the main GPT route again. I had made a detour of over 100 kilometers but I have enjoyed it a lot. In hindsight this has been one of my favourite stretches of the entire GPT! Even the road walk has been pleasant …
Greater Patagonian Trail GPT 11 Read More »
“Early to bed and early to rise. Out jogging about 5:30am. Jog a mile and walk it back briskly. It takes me 12 minutes to jog the mile and 15 minutes to walk it. Do some upper trunk exercises, work in the yard, and walk to the market, and work.”
-Hulda “Grandma Whitney” Crooks (1896-1997; climbed Mt. Whitney 23 times, including at age 91)
While not everyone has to be Hulda Crooks to enjoy time in the outdoors, hiking can be a wonderful activity for senior citizens to help stay healthy of body and mind. The Center for Disease Control recommends at least 2.5 hours per week of moderate to intensive aerobic activity for seniors. According to this article from Medicareful, hiking and walking not only help with cardiovascular function, but also have been shown to boost brain power and memory. The author also explains, “The importance of low-impact exercise for seniors cannot be overstated. With the increased chance of injury that many seniors face, due to our bones losing density as we age and other fitness challenges, older Americans need to find ways to mitigate the risk while keeping in shape. Luckily, hiking, a low-impact exercise, may be able to fulfill this need perfectly.”
Of course, while all hikers need to prepare appropriately for the hike and use caution and good judgment on the trails, with older hikers, consequences for not doing so become more severe. The L.A. hiking community recently mourned the loss of Sam Kim, whose death at age 78 on Mt. Baldy (a mountain he had climbed over 1,000 times) is a sobering example of how even experienced hikers aren’t immune from tragic accidents. Whether you are a senior who is looking to (re)discover the outdoors or a younger hiker who wants to encourage an older friend or relative to explore nature here are a few tips to help make your trip as safe and enjoyable as possible.
If you are planning an ambitious hiking trip, consult your doctor. Even if you don’t have any known conditions and even if you feel good in general, your body may have deteriorated in ways that are gradual and as such not obvious. According to this article from Harvard Medical School, a man’s heart’s capacity to pump blood decreases by 5-10% per decade: “[A] healthy 25-year-old heart can pump 2½ quarts of blood a minute, but a 65-year-old heart can’t get above 1½ quarts, and an 80-year-old heart can pump only about a quart, even if it’s disease-free.” As with all hikers, routine precautions – letting people know where you are going and what time you are expected to return and carrying the ten essentials – are important.
It’s really important to do some simple stretching exercises to warm up before you get going, regardless of how challenging the hike is. Even if a trail seems easy, in reality, hikers of any age and fitness level need to stretch their muscles and prepare them for the hike before starting any hike, even if it’s not a big ascent. For senior-specific stretches, click here.
These are important for hikers of any age to consider, but senior hikers have special requirements. If you are a senior hiker returning to the trails after some time off, your nutritional needs have changed; if you are a younger hiker looking to hike with an older friend or relative, their needs will be different from yours.
While younger backpackers may rely on the 100 calorie per ounce of food rule of thumb to stay fueled, older hikers, especially those out for moderate day hikes, need to consider lower calorie options. This article provides insight about the ideal daily caloric intake for seniors.
As for hydration, ccording to this article, “As we age our bodies lose kidney function and are less able to conserve fluid (this is progressive from around the age of 50, but becomes more acute and noticeable over the age of 70).” Additionally, a “person’s sense thirst becomes less acute as they age.” Medications may also cause dehydration.
This might seem self-explanatory, but given how many hikers have gotten into trouble for under-preparedness, a word on dressing for the weather and conditions is in order.
Scott Grant of Graying with Grace recommends velcro boots: “Seniors often avoid boots because they worry about their feet swelling which makes them feel restricted, uncomfortable, and unstable. This is why velcro boots for the elderly are so important. But, if you shop smart and consider all the factors that go into a quality pair of winter boots for seniors, you’ll be much better off during snowy winter months.”
Hunter MacKenzie, a health blogger at Writinity and Last Minute Writing, says to “get some work out clothes or clothes that are breathable and can wick away sweat as you hike. The key is to wear layers so you can easily strip them off or add them on according to the weather.”
Sometimes you can notice something more when it’s not there than when it is. Used correctly, the right trekking poles can make a big difference. According to this article from “Fit After Fifty”, “Trudging your way up a hill is easier when you have poles to pull up on, and using poles for support going downhill will save your knees from all the pounding.” For more information about picking trekking poles, click here.
Seniors can start hiking at any age, there’s no doubt about it. What’s important, though, is easing into it and starting with shorter hike so your muscles get used to it. Bring a watch and limit yourself to 30-minute to an hour hikes to start, and then see how you feel after, and the next day. Keep this up twice a week and if you feel like it’s getting easier to do this length, then start adding time, in 15-minute increments. This Hike Difficulty Calculator can provide a rough estimate of how difficult a hike is, based on elevation gain and distance (other factors such as altitude, navigation, trail condition and steepness may come into play too).
Whether you’re going alone or in a group, hiking is not a race and there is no need to push yourself or go too fast. The point is not to finish the hike quicker than your last time or someone else in the group – the point is to enjoy your time outdoors, look at the nature around you, and get a nice activity in the fresh air. According to Cleo Mullins, a sports writer at Draft Beyond and Research Papers UK, “don’t push yourself faster than your body wants you to go and keep to your pace. If you hit an obstacle, you can take your time to go over or around it, or head back. Hiking is not an extreme sport.” This article advocates keeping the three “S”s in mind – simplicity, suitability, sustainability.
Enjoy the trails!
Ashley Halsey, a professional writer for Lucky Assignments and Gum Essays, loves to share her camping and hiking tips with her readers. She is passionate long-distance backpacking hikes and enjoys opening up people’s eyes to this wonderful activity. Her favorite hiking companions are her two dogs, Skip and Bounce.
Top tips for active seniors interested in hiking: Guest post by Ashley Halsey Read More »
The Temescal Canyon hike, tucked into the hills of LA’s west side in the Pacific Palisades, is one of the great Los Angeles city hikes. The hike starts in serene Temescal Gateway Park, climbs up a shaded oak and sycamore canyon, and then returns along a ridge high above the Pacific Ocean. On a clear day you can see from the San Gabriel Mountains to Catalina. The trail is easy to follow, the route isn’t long, and I highly recommend it.
The post Temescal Canyon Hike appeared first on HikingGuy.com.
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