Ah, another night, another raid. Those humans sure do keep it interesting. One night we hit the jackpot. Another night, it’s zippo. As in nothing. You just never know what to expect. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Learning the ropes quickly Hello, I’m Frank. A native of South Lake… Continue reading
Four-wheeling isn’t inherently hazardous. But like all outdoors activity, some risks are always present. Now is a good time to review a few common issues encountered while outdoors. Included are steps to mitigate the situation and prevent it from happening altogether. As a wilderness first responder, I am familiar with… Continue reading
“Begin with the end in mind” is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things. Stephen R. Covey, “7 Habits Of Highly Effective People” That passage is from Habit 2 of Covey’s best-selling… Continue reading
You pull up to the campsite after a long day on the trails. You’re tired and anxious for the evening to begin. A light drizzle has followed you along all afternoon, with no end in sight. So much for relaxing around the campfire. What to do? Get creative during inclement… Continue reading
One December about five years ago, I took a group to Saline Valley to celebrate New Year’s Eve. While at the campsite I realized I didn’t have a tent. Completely forgot to pack it that day. As a seasoned four-wheeler, this basic blunder was especially difficult to swallow. On top… Continue reading
Tis the season for gift giving…whether for yourself or another four-wheeling aficionado. With that in mind, Santa Tom offers up these fine gifts and ideas sure to please any four-wheeler or other outdoors enthusiast. Continuous ratchet strap: Most ratchet straps have a hook on each end. A continuous ratchet strap,… Continue reading
Dutch ovens are great for cooking in the outdoors over charcoal and wood. Most hot dishes prepared at home can be enjoyed in the field as well. Four-wheelers often cook stews, casseroles, and similar dishes in a Dutch oven. What if you’re in the mood for baked goods? My triple… Continue reading
Hazards are an accepted part of four-wheeling. Driving off-road, in remote parts of the country (or the world), oftentimes on uneven or (treacherous terrain) is naturally risky. But it’s not just mechanical issues we face. Toxins occasionally present themselves, so it’s important to be aware of the situations that may… Continue reading
Due to time constraints while four-wheeling, breakfast and lunch are sometimes rushed and shortchanged. The result can be a growling stomach before the next meal. That doesn’t have to be. It is possible to prepare tasty and fulfilling meals that don’t require a lot of effort. I know. I don’t… Continue reading
Anyone old enough to remember the Apollo space program may recall hearing the term redundancy. Back then, NASA was referring to extra electronics or other systems in the space capsule and lunar module. Today’s commercial aircraft also employ a certain amount of redundancy. In either case, the principle is the… Continue reading
“Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.” attributed to Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord on Coffee. Whenever I stop at a doughnut shop in the morning, I walk over and say hi to the old guys, enjoying their morning coffee with old friends. I… Continue reading
Each day brings more troubling news about the devastating wildfires raging in the western U.S. The Dixie Fire, in northern California, has burned more than 500,000 acres, including most of the town of Greenville. As I write this, on Aug. 12, the fire is less than one-third contained. In Montana… Continue reading
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