https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/kayak-storage.html Where to Store Your Kayak: Follow the link above for proper storage of your boats. These helpful hints will prolong the life of your kayak or canoe. If you have an inflatable or folding kayak, storage is simple; you can loosely roll or fold your boat up and stash it in a cool, dry place. But, if you have a traditional hard-shell kayak, the size and heft of the boat can make it challenging to find a spot to store it. When thinking about where to keep your boat, remember that a good location is one that limits exposure to sunlight, moisture and extreme temperatures: Sunlight: The ultraviolet rays that accompany bright sunlight can degrade just about any kayak hull material, from fiberglass to plastic to coated fabric. Moisture: Consistent exposure to moisture from rain and snow can cause hull materials to degrade over time. Heat: Extreme heat can cause deformation of hull materials, so it’s important to keep your boat away from heat sources, out of rooms that get really warm and away from direct sunlight. Cold: Cold temperatures aren’t as big of a concern as heat, but repeated freezing and thawing can potentially damage your boat. This is especially pertinent if you have a fiberglass boat that has been repeatedly exposed to moisture during storage. Storage Locations You have two options: indoors or out. Indoor storage: If you have the room to do so, keeping your kayak indoors, whether that’s in your house, garage or a shed, is the preferred option because of the protection it offers from the elements. Outdoor storage: For many people, especially those who live in small spaces like an apartment or condo, indoor storage just isn’t feasible. Outdoor spots, like under a deck, below the eaves of a roof or beneath a strung-up tarp, are all suitable options for protecting your boat. As you look for the right outdoor spot, think about these points: Shoot for shade: Try to find a shaded spot outside to protect your boat from UV rays and heat. If shade is limited or not available, use a weather-resistant tarp that will cover the entire hull at all times of day. Suspend the tarp above the hull rather than simply wrapping the tarp around the boat; direct contact with the hull can promote mold or fungal growth in wet environments. Protect against moisture: Make sure rain and snow can't collect in or on the boat. If you’re suspending a tarp above the boat, be sure the tarp won’t fill up and press down on the hull, which can deform the boat.

We recently posted on our Facebook page the Question of What to do to prevent and treat blister on the trail. I have a attached a couple of really good information links that might help you learn different techniques. We did have a lady Jen Courtney Reply this information if you are on the trail. and what you can do. This was her response: I agree with leukotape or moleskin for a hotspot before the blister forms. But at this stage, (and I know this will be a little controversial), I would wash my foot and poke the tiniest hole in the blister down close to the skin and let it drain. Leave the skin in place. Then I would use something tannic or drying for a soak. Black tea or Epsom salts; plantain or pine needle tea if I have to forage; or calamine or antiperspirant. Let it air overnight. Before hiking the next day, I would cut a piece of moleskin with a hole it it like somebody mentioned above. Don't tape over the damaged skin, just surround it to make a little buffer and keep friction off it. Wear thick, clean socks. Wear a different pair of shoes if possible or if you have to wear the same ones, change the lacing to slightly change the pressure points. If it gets to the point of the skin peeling off or bleeding, You got a whole another problem. Clean, provide wound care, and rest for as long as possible. When you have to hike again, create a moleskin circle around it, cover the raw skin with a colloidal Band-Aid or Band-Aid or gauze cut to fit inside the circle, the cap the whole thing with another layer of moleskin. As soon as you're done hiking, remove the cap layer of tape, leave the circle and change the dressing if needed. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/blister-prevention-care.html

To view and save the most recently updated Google Map, click here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/vie... For the video steps & tips for best use of this map, read on: STEP 1. Copy the map link above, and paste the link into Safari on your phone. (0:14) I've found that using the map from Safari, and NOT from the Google Maps App, is much easier to do. STEP 2. Add the map link to Favorites. (0:23) Once you've pasted the map to Safari, I recommend you add it to your phone Favorites in Safari so you don't have to keep looking it up. Do this by using the "forward (share) icon at the bottom of your phone screen, similar to if you were about to text it to a friend, but instead choose the "Add to Favorites" option. STEP 3.Open the map up again in Safari. (0:40) - Tap the map title at the bottom of your phone screen to open up the map layers.(0:45) You will see that they can easily be filtered by selecting / unselecting the desired layers. **Reminder! if you UNCHECK the Parking layer, then the PARKING LOCATIONS won't show on the map until you select that layer again! - Tap the Description box at the top of your screen to open up the map explanation and legend. (1:08) While my dog may be an Olympic Athlete, I'm just an an average Joe in my 50's. The ratings are my perception of hiking difficulty at the time. Waterfall/Hiking Symbols indicate that I have been there within the last 3 years, and there is a video clip with more detail behind it. The small dots are basically still my to do list! (Blue for Tim Ernst falls and red for Rick Henry documented falls) STEP 4. Plan a Trip! (1:23) - Use you fingers to manipulate the viewing area on your phone screen, and find a fall or area you would like to visit. Tap on the waterfall symbol, and it's title will appear at the bottom of your screen. Tap on the title and it will expand, showing the GPS waypoint and a hyperlink to a short video. Most videos are intentionally only around 3 minutes long, all showing a little of what the trail looks like as well as the fall. - Tap the drop-down arrow to access the video description box.(1:55) You'll find access to an INCREDIBLE amount of detail in that box. Sure, there's a couple of paragraphs of what Super Leeds got up to on the trip, but there are GPS waypoints, and links to my GAIA tracks (All Trails too in more more recent vids) for you to download and follow if you'd like. TIP: Screenshot the waypoints so you have them for your vehicle navigation system, or for manual entry to your own apps / GPS devices. I'd HIGHLY recommend you download maps for off line use while you're at it too - many MANY places simply have signal that is poor to none when you are out there! STEP 5. Get the directions! (2:25) - Simply navigate back to the map, and tap the Parking symbol. A google map link will open up, all you have to do is enter your starting location and you're off! If I'm aware of google maps routing you along dead ends or impassable roads, then that will be indicated in the DESCRIPTION SECTION of the YOUTUBE VIDEO TIP: We are able to see many falls in the same day or over the same weekend. We do so by notating nearby falls or ones along the way to and from. #arkansaswaterfallmap#fallingwaterfalls

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html This is a great read and good source of information. Ten Essential Systems Navigation: map, compass, altimeter, GPS device, personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite messenger Headlamp: plus extra batteries Sun protection: sunglasses, sun-protective clothes and sunscreen First aid including foot care and insect repellent (as needed) Knife plus a gear repair kit Fire matches, lighter, tinder and/or stove Shelter carried at all times (can be a light emergency bivy) Extra food Beyond the minimum expectation Extra water Beyond the minimum expectation Extra clothes Beyond the minimum expectation The exact items from each system that you take can be tailored to the trip you’re taking. For example, on a short day hike that’s easy to navigate you might choose to take a map, compass and PLB, but leave your GPS and altimeter behind. On a longer, more complex outing, you might decide you want all those tools to help you find your way. When deciding what to bring, consider factors like weather, difficulty, duration, and distance from help. Continue reading below for more information about each of the Ten Essential systems. And for help figuring out what else to bring with you, check out these hiking checklists. Hiking Checklist links https://www.rei.com/learn/c/hiking/t/checklists https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/topo-maps-how-to-use.html https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/navigation-basics.html https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/gps-receiver.html https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/day-hiking-checklist.html https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/first-aid-checklist.html