Mom and Dads first experience with Browns Camp

Adventures have been few and far between for Mom and Dad. Well, unless you count the approaching end of winter term in school. Dad in panicking about finals, Mom is in denial that they are coming up. So here I sit typing a blog instead of studying or doing house work.

If you have not noticed I have added a slide show at the top of the page. I'm going to try and change it out periodically.

I figured to fill in on my lack of adventures and interviews. ( I am waiting on several interviews to come in) I would share some of our adventures from last year with you guys and gals.


Our very first tip out  was to Browns camp but before we met any other  off roaders in person . One of the guys on Wranglerforum.com told us about the Powerline Trail at Browns camp. He told us it was a nice easy drive and a great place to have a picnic lunch. So we packed up our lunch and our SAR trained son and his girlfriend ( Mom was a bit worried about getting lost)  Both the boy and  his gal pal are proficient at reading maps and wilderness survival. Mom was afraid dad's skills at SAR and wilderness survival where a bit outdated and rusty. Shhhhhh Don't tell him that!

We knew nothing about sway bars and disconnecting them.  Ok we had read about them but where not confident enough to play with them the first time out with no one else with us.  YES, yes shame on Mom and Dad for going out in one vehicle alone. I had no idea just how much difference there was in  being disconnected in ride quality and flex. I disconnect and air down now just on gravels roads LOL oh the ride is so much nicers!  And yes I did learn first hand why we reconnect before hitting the freeway at high speeds LOL can you say body rollllllllll

Baby Dolls first photo off road. AWW how young  she looks there.

This is where I learned what I missed most about the F-250 I traded in for Baby Doll. THE TAIL GATE!   We have had trucks for so many years I took for granted I had a built in table for picnics
We now have a small roll up table we carry with us or we use the hood.

Mom panicked and made Dad leave before it got completely dark. Now  we hardly ever get out of there before dark. Oh how quickly things change when you have fun LOL
I did make the kids double check each others mapping though. They did as I asked even if they did roll their eyes at me every time I asked! Dad just ignored me after 20 years he is use to it :-)




We all have to start somewhere!
Play Safe and Tread Lightly
Mom

Be Prepared

Even when Dad and I go out to play just for the day, with a group of people, we still take all our survival gear. It is better to be overly prepared than lost in the woods and no equipment. Maybe it's because Dad did Search and Rescue in his younger years, and both our boys gave 4 years to our local Search and Rescue team that I'm anal about being prepared.

   



We always carry with us:

1. Fire starting material:  flint and steel, wind proof matches, hatchet, and lint from our dryer ( works great as tender if you can't find anything near by. Some people I know use cotton balls dipped in wax)
2. First Aid Kit
3. Tarps for making shelter
4. Ropes 
5. 6 gallons of water. Water is good for drinking, cleansing, and putting out unwanted fires.
6. Water filtration system.
7. Food for several days per person. ( yes even if we are planning just a few hour trip I load the cooler up and toss it in) 
8. Hand and foot warmers
9. Several different weight jackets. I live in the Pacific Northwest. Weather can change quickly. 
10. Dry socks. 
11. Hat
12. If  Dad and I are going out alone we toss the chain saw in. We use this for clearing trails and for fire wood for the camp fire. 
13.  I NEVER leave home with out my Spot Locator device. I have the basic device with basic plan. Makes my family feel much better about Dad and I playing in the woods. 
14. Survival Knife
15. Shovel
16. and stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting several things that are always in the rigs

This list does not include tools and other such gear we carry all the time.

4 days of gear for 4 people

Another big thing is making sure someone knows where you are going to be. So if you are not home by X time or day they can send out the Calvary to find you.  Again Spot serves me well. I check in when I start my journey and it post on facebook we are OK and our location. I check in several times during the day and again one last time when we get home or back to camp for the night. That way there is always record of our last know GPS location.  Spot also has a 911 button so if we do have an emergency like being lost or injured so badly we can't make it out of the woods we can get help to us. I never want to have to look the SAR people in the face and say I'm sorry I wasn't prepared! I also don't want to be "that" story on the news. 

OH and NEVER rely 100% on your GPS. Get maps of the area. Look them over and get somewhat familiar with where you are and where you are going! 

Because we carry all that and more we can go to places like this and not worry so much about the what if's while we are there! We took care of the worrying while packing our bags! 

Play Safe and Tread Lightly
Mom