Morse Code 101

Morse code used to be a very effective way to communicate over long distances, but these days with the invention of smart phones and other devices which help us communicate easily it is becoming more and more obsolete.

You most likely will never use Morse code in the city, but out in the wilderness it could be used for multitudes of fun games for your family and friends.

Below you will find a few suggestions on how you could use Morse code.

Secret Language:

As a young child I used to love learning secret languages with my best friends. The reason being is I could talk in front of others and no one would ever understand a thing. Kids these days haven’t changed and by providing them with a secret language such as the Morse code they are able to not only use flash lights but also write whole letters to one another making it super cool.

Night time signals:
At night time use a torch to spell out different words with Morse code and get others to guess them. A simple game that you can play in complete darkness or even around the fire. Best thing is that by playing this game you will be able to learn Morse code faster and have fun doing so.

How it works
It’s fairly simple when writing Morse code just use dots . and dashes –

When using lights for dots . shine the light for a short period of time (less than a second) and for the dashes – shine the light for a longer period of time (around 1+ seconds)

The alphabet

.- A --. G -- M ... S -.-- Y
-... B .... H -. N - T --.. Z
-.-. C .. I --- O ..- U 
-.. D .--- J .--. P ...- V 
. E -.- K --.- Q .-- W 
..-. F .-.. L .-. R -..- X

Numbers

.---- 1 -.... 6
..--- 2 --... 7
...-- 3 ---.. 8
....- 4 ----. 9
..... 5 ----- 0

 

Morse Code 101

Camping Gear you MUST take with you next time you go Camping

Essential Camping Gear

Camping is one of the greatest ways to get outdoors.  It’s often as simple as picking a destination, loading up your gear and family, and hitting the road.  Whether you’re spending a week camped out at the lake or a couple of days in your local National Park, don’t forget to pack your essential camping gear!

To begin with, your most important piece of gear is always going to be your shelter.  Most campers will choose a large tent that is big enough to fit their whole family in it, but it’s certainly not your only choice.  Consider smaller and lighter tents.  They are often easier to set up and don’t take up as much room around your campsite.  If your campground has a lot of trees, consider using a hammock.  They’re great places to sleep and lounge around in.

 

Next, don’t forget your sleeping bags, pads or air mattresses, and pillows.  If you’re car camping, you can even bring the blankets right off of your bed!  Since you won’t be hiking your gear to your campsite, weight isn’t a huge concern here.  Bring whatever you need to be comfortable.  Additionally, bring as many changes of clothes as you need.  Changing into clean clothes after a long day of hanging around the campsite can be a wonderful feeling.  If the weather has a chance of getting colder, remember to bring warmer clothes.  One item often overlooked is a pair of tough, reliable camp shoes.  Slipping on a pair of lightweight shoes to walk around camp is much more comfortable than having to lace up your shoes every time you want to leave your shelter.

 

Of course, you’re going to have to eat while you’re out camping.  The amount of ways to cook your food outdoors is almost as innumerable as at home.  You can bring a smaller, lightweight hiking stove, a portable propane or charcoal grill, frying pans, cooking pots, or anything else you can think of.  Starting a fire and cooking your food over the open flame is always great, so don’t forget the marshmallow and hot dog skewers!  Have a plan in mind about how you’re going to cook food while out camping, and bring only the necessary gear for this method.  If you decide you’re going to cook over your fire, there’s no point in bringing your hiking stove, for instance.  Don’t forget to bring an ample supply of water, if there’s no clean water source nearby.

 

Finally, don’t forget all of your personal toiletries.  Bring toilet paper, sunscreen, insect repellant, hand sanitizer, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and anything else you use in a day to day basis.  Bring some games, cards, or anything else to keep you entertained at your campsite.

 

Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list of what you will need while out camping.  Recognize what your necessities will be and tailor your list to what fits your needs.  You may want to bring more or less, but always remember to bring the essentials!

To help you out deciding what equipment you require on your next camping trip check out my camping checklist which will assist you with picking out everything for yourself and your camping buddies.

Camping Gear you MUST take with you next time you go Camping

Camping VS Hiking

For those who don’t get outdoors a lot, the terms camping and hiking are often used interchangeably.  While they share some of the same gear and both require setting up a camp, they couldn’t be any more different.  Camping is the activity of setting up your camp and generally staying at the same campsite throughout your trip, while hiking often features a day away from camp, or in many cases, finding and setting up a new camp every night.  Both are great ways to get outdoors and enjoy nature, but if you’re looking for some serious exercise and some peace and quiet, consider taking a hike.

If you’re looking at getting into hiking, it’s important to realize how hiking is similar and different when compared to camping.  Camping and hiking share much of the same gear: tents, hammocks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and many easy cook meals.  Camping is most often experienced by driving to a popular campground, putting up a large tent, and hanging out around a campfire.  Hiking is certainly similar to camping in this regard, though in most cases, you’ll be walking to your campsite instead of driving.  Most days, you’ll spend your time walking on trails, climbing mountains, and crossing streams.  Whether you choose to hike back to your campsite each day or simply pack up and find a new one every evening is up to you.

If you decide hiking is for you, it’s important to invest in a high quality backpack.  After all, you’re going to have to carry everything you need for your trip on your back, so it’s important to select the perfect backpack for you.  Some carry more items at the expense of weighing more.  Others feature straps to distribute weight more evenly, giving you a more comfortable hike.  It’s important to get fitted and find the perfect backpack for you.

If you’re going to be walking to your campsite, it’s important that you are able to carry everything you’ll need for your trip on your back.  Oftentimes, you’ll be walking up and down hills or mountains, so it’s important to cut out as many heavy items as possible.  Heavy tents are often traded out in favor of smaller, lightweight tents or hammocks.  Inflatable air mattresses and blankets are left at home in favor of inflatable sleeping pads and lightweight sleeping bags.

Food is another concern when switching from car camping to hiking.  Many traditional camping foods are heavy and are often left at home.  Most skillets, pots, and pans are also usually not taken when backpacking.  Instead, hikers often bring specially made lightweight hiking stoves.  When you’re hiking, every ounce adds up to weight you must carry in and out, and heavy cooking gear is usually one of the first items to go.  Single serve meals, such as rice and instant mashed potatoes, are a hiker’s food staple.

If you have to sacrifice the luxuries of camping, then what is the point of hiking?  Why would you want to spend your day hiking, climbing, and wearing yourself out just to set up a less luxurious camp than you could set up at the lake?  In short, it’s a great way to get outside, get some exercise, and explore nature.  If you find your favorite camping spots becoming crowded and loud, hitting the trail and finding a secluded campsite can be the difference between a relaxing weekend getaway and being stuck at party central.

Next time you’re considering camping, think about hiking to a campsite instead.  You’ll get some great exercise, have an adventure, and really have to rely on yourself.  It is fun, healthy, and you’ll see sights most of the population never sees.

Camping VS Hiking

Snake Bites - What you need to know, to Help you Survive

Hiking, camping, and enjoying the outdoors are often great experiences many people use to get away from mundane day to day life.  Whether it’s spending a weekend hiking to a mountain retreat or simply relaxing around a campfire at the lake, almost nothing beats the bliss of being outdoors and roughing it.  Still, many people are still afraid of the great outdoors.  What about getting lost?  Bears?  Snakes?  The odds of getting injured outdoors are slim to none.  In fact, you’re more likely to die from getting struck by lightning than dying from a snake bite.  But what if you find yourself in the wilderness and you or your friend does get bit by a snake?

 

To begin with, absolutely do not cut your snake bite open and try to suck out the venom!  This popular myth is often seen in movies, but it absolutely does not work!  By the time you start trying to suck the venom out, it has already traveled through the victim’s body.  Sucking on the wound, or cutting it, can further damage the already damaged tissue around the bite.  Additionally, do not apply a tourniquet to the afflicted limb.  It can’t stop the venom and can seriously damage or destroy the limb by restricting blood flow.  Ice can also cause damage.  So if you can’t do these things to help you or your friend, what can you do?

 

Start by trying to identify the snake.  Don’t get close to it, try to capture, or kill it.  After all, you don’t want two people to get bit!  See if you can tell what kind of snake it is.  Later, this information will be invaluable to getting your friend treatment with the correct anti-venom.  Next, keep the snake bite victim calm.  The venom will travel through their body slower if their heart isn’t racing a million miles an hour.  It may be hard to remain calm, but it is vital to do so.  Dial 911 immediately!  The best course of action is to wait for help to arrive.  If necessary, you can drive your victim to the emergency room, though waiting is recommended.  The fast trip to the emergency room can cause the venom to spread faster, so always wait if possible.  However, waiting for help doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do to help the snake bite victim.

 

Have the victim lay or sit down, ensuring that the bite is below the level of their heart.  Remove any rings, shoes, or anything near the bite area.  The bite will rapidly swell and leaving these on will restrict blood flow and cause, at the very least, extreme pain.  In some situations, the restricted blood flow can kill the limb.  There are some recommendations to wash the bite with soap and water to lower the risk of infection.  Others recommend that you don’t wash the wound, as the venom on the outside of the wound can help identify which snake was responsible for the bite.  There’s no agreed upon best course of action, so use your best judgment.  If possible, splint the affected limb or use a sling to minimize movement.

 

Dress the wound in a clean and dry dressing.  Do not make this dressing tight!  Next, you need to put some pressure bands around the bite wound.  If you don’t have any pressure bands, handkerchiefs, ripped up clothing, or the like can be substituted.  Ensure that each band is approximately two inches above and below the bite.  Never put the two bands around a joint, such as a knee or elbow, as this can lead to loss of the limb.  You want the band to be tight enough to restrict lymphatic flow, but not tight enough to stop blood from flowing.  When thinking of how tight to make the band, think of when a nurse applies one while drawing blood.  Tight bandages, wraps, and tourniquets often result in the amputation of limbs after a snakebite, so be sure it isn’t too tight!  

 

If by some chance you can’t apply a bandage to the bite area, you can still help the bite victim.  If you have a pen or marker, begin by tracing the edge of the inflammation around the bite area and writing down the time.  Swelling will most likely occur in as little as five minutes after the bite.  As the swelling progresses, trace the expanding edge of the swelling, once again marking the time.  If you have a smart phone or a camera, you can also take pictures with timestamps if you don’t have a pen.  Any information about the severity and speed of the swelling is important.

 

In some cases, you may be in a situation where help can’t reach you.  In these situations, have the afflicted sit down for around 20 to 30 minutes.  This helps the victim calm down and slows the spread of venom.  From there, walk out of the area at a calm and slow pace.  It may seem counter-intuitive to take your time, but this is truly the best way to ensure the venom doesn’t spread as fast.

 

Remember that your chances of dying from a snakebite are slim to none.  You’re more likely to die from a bee sting than a snake bite, so remain calm and don’t panic.  Remember that identifying the snake and proper documentation of the snakebite will greatly help the bite victim out.  After a snakebite, ensure the victim remains calm and seeks medical attention immediately.  Don’t do anything you see in movies and you will be fine!

The information on this website is as up to date as possible to how to treat a snake bite. In saying that it’s not updated as often as official first aid websites. Make sure to visit those before you go out into the wild to make sure that you know all the best ways to stay alive after being bitten by a snake.

Snake Bites - What you need to know, to Help you Survive