-
Hiking Terminology 101
Anyone who has taken up a hobby on more than a semi-regular basis knows that with each hobby or endeavor, there are typically certain words that develop known only to the community devoted to that hobby. Hiking is no different, and if you want to become a truly avid hiker, you’re going to have to speak the language. Don’t worry; this isn’t like learning Spanish. It simply means picking up some basic hiking terms, some of which are listed here.
- Day Packs: Day packs are like smaller versions of backpacks that you’ll use for a common hiking jaunt, packing only what you need for a day’s worth. Backpacks are more suitable for more long-distance hikes and for the different activity of backpacking.
- “From the Skin Out” or FSO Weight: As the title suggests, “from the skin out” refers to everything you’re carrying with you that you weren’t born with. In other words, FSO weight includes everything you’re carrying, from your sunglasses and clothes to your backpack and hiking stick.
- Packweight: Different from “From the skin out” weight, the packweight refers to the actual backpack you’re carrying itself. Don’t include food and water in this weight: simply refer to the actual weight of your backpack.
- Pronation/supination: Both of these refer to the angle at which your foot hits the ground. Pronation refers to rotating your foot inward; supination refers to rotating your foot outward. These are also popular terms with runners, who need to make sure that their form is ideal for the pounding that their feet will take. As you can imagine, this is also important for hikers.
- Guiding stars: Guiding starts are ways that help you find your direction at night; they’re different in the northern and southern hemispheres. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, you’ll look for the North Star; if you’re in the southern hemisphere, try to find the Southern Cross.
- Cairn: A formation of rocks or simply a pile of rocks that helps indicate the direction of the trail. Needless to say, keeping on your trail is of vital importance to a hiker that doesn’t want to get lost.
These terms simply work as some “basic” hiking terminology: if you want to learn more, simply remain exposed to the hiking community and you’ll pick up more advanced terms. Don’t be embarrassed to ask another hiker what a term might refer to; after all, we all had to learn them at some point or another.
Photo Credits: Rick McCharles -
How to Save Money on Fishing
These days, finding ways to save money aren’t hard. Everyone’s trying to save money, whether it’s using coupons, cutting back on expenses, or just making clear-cut sacrifices. What most people get wrong is believing it’s necessary to go through a lot of pain in order to scrimp and save. Sure, it might take some thinking, planning, and preparation, but that’s it: really, in the end, the purpose of saving is to sustain a high quality of life.
You can do that while keeping your fishing outings. If you’re an avid fisherman, there’s no reason to cut back on a hobby you love simply because times are tough. Instead, follow these quick tips and you’ll be saving money on fishing in no time.
Tip #1: Catch or make your own bait.
Admittedly, a small container of worms won’t exactly set you back so far that you’ll never financially recover. But there are some forms of tackle that are simply too expensive to really give a care about. Dig a hole after a rainy day to find your worms and consider making your own tackle: some quick research will yield a treasure trove of fun ways to do this at home. You’ll also re-connect with your fisherman’s roots when you create your own tackle, as you can truly say you “caught your own fish.”
Tip #2: Buy used equipment.
This is a quick way to save money in any endeavor that requires purchasing new equipment on a semi-regular basis, and it holds true for fishing. If you don’t mind a scratch or two on your fishing reel, you can easily purchase some effective equipment that works just as well as new equipment – except for a few extra miles on the odometer.
Tip #3: Rent!
One of the most effective ways to save money in the short-term is simply to rent equipment you would otherwise purchase. When we’re talking about fishing, the term “equipment” can even refer to a boat. Only rent if you’re sure you want the experience that renting provides – don’t rent simply because it’s cheaper. Use “renting” as option of last resort when you have no other way to get the fishing experience you’re after.
Combining all three of these tips, you’ll find that you understand how to have fun, effective fishing trips that provide just as much of the fun fun for half the price. Consider applying these tips to everything – make your own tackle, buy a used fish detector online, rent a boat – and you’ll be living the high life for average-Joe prices. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for?
Photo Credits: Michael (mx5tx)
