Tamia Nelson's Outside » Let’s Hike! Stroll, Ski, Scramble,Snowshoe

Lightning Is Frigntening—And Deadly

Tamia Nelson — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:01:38 +0000

I've said it before, but given the nasty weather we had over the weekend, it bears mentioning again. Thunderstorms can be deadly. They can even spawn tornadoes. Nowhere seems immune…

Spring Into the Season: A Photomontage by Anthony T. Jancek

Tamia Nelson — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 07:01:54 +0000

Spring has been fickle in the Adirondack Mountains. One day you could walk around in a t-shirt and be perfectly comfortable, while the next it was difficult to warm up in the cold wind and spitting snow. And so it goes. To live in this part of the world, you have to be hardy, and that goes for the plants and animals who make their homes in the mountains, too. Photographer Anthony Jancek has been spending as much time as he can out of doors with his camera to his eye, capturing the changing season. Join him on his journey from winter to summer… or as near as we've gotten so far…

Here We Go Again: On the Lookout for Turtles Tempting Fate

Tamia Nelson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:01:47 +0000

It's that time of year again. Turtles are on the move, and they often move into danger. Sometimes, though, they hit it lucky. Last week I saw a large snapper quickly cross a road on her own along my favorite bike route. Safe and sound. And a few days ago, I got a letter from Shawn Orbanic, who also keeps his eyes open for turtles. Here's what he has to say…

Burning Issues

Tamia Nelson — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:01:11 +0000

Québec is burning. And even though I live well to the south of the border, in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, I can smell the smoke on my doorstep. "Smell" is far too mild a word, in fact. The acrid haze now drifting down on a fitful breeze is strong enough to make my eyes water and my lungs burn. But this is nothing compared to the burning farther north, as flames consume tens of thousands of acres of boreal forest and doom many of the wild creatures who call those woodlands home, condemning them to horrific deaths.…

The Things We Carry: Ponchos Cover Your Keister

Tamia Nelson — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:01:33 +0000

Ponchos aren't elegant, and they're a nuisance (or worse) in high winds and big waves. But for day in, day out utility, versatility, and economy they're mighty hard to beat. Having said that, I've a confession to make: I didn't always appreciate them. When I first took to the woods and waters, I wanted only high-tech, high fashion raingear. If it was endorsed by a Himalayan climber, that was ideal. I wasn't impressed by the fact that ponchos worked. They were too everyday, too down-home, too utilitarian, too simple. I wanted flash…

Making Connections: Carabiner Basics

Tamia Nelson — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:01:21 +0000

Climbers have been using carabiners for a long time, but in recent decades paddlers have discovered them, as well. No surprise there. Carabiners are great for making connections, both on the water and off. They hold things together, in other words, and they help you lift, lower, and haul. They're handy time‑savers, too. With a carabiner, you can attach a line to a boat — or a lanyard to your pack — with just a quick click. If there's already a loop in the line, there's no need to fuss with knots or hitches. And you can release the line as quickly as you attached it. Carabiners can also be used, alone or with pulleys, to rig improvised tackles like the Z‑drag, and these "force multipliers" are essential tools in salvage and rescue operations. Carabiners even make lashing boats for storage or transport easier.

But I'm getting ahead of my story.

It’s Turtle Time! Give Them a Helping Hand

Tamia Nelson — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:01:40 +0000

On Sunday I took a long hike in the mountains to take advantage of the unusually warm early spring weather. A gusty breeze hushed through tall pines and ruffled last year's parchment dry beech leaves still clinging to saplings. A strong sun coaxed balsam to release the heady aroma of its sap. Freshets carried snowmelt off the mountain and rotting ice remained on the trails only in the most sheltered places. Chickadees called feeee-beeee as they hunted for food, and yellow-rumped warblers sang from hidden perches high in red spruce stands. Chipmunks scurried across the forest floor, rustling in beech leaves and sounding like bears, while red squirrels churred and chased one another as they spiraled round the fat trunks of their favorite pines…