Bonus Tab-Clearing Post: Bears, Bear Spray, and Pistols

A look at the actual data at The Truth About Guns

TLDR: Use what you have at hand.  They both work, and the differences are statistically meaningless.  Use one.  Use both.  Use whatever's legal.  Use whatever you've got.

Tick Tick Tick – but no Tock

Short and sweet, How to Remove a Tick Safely and Avoid Lyme Disease at Outside magazine.

It's very short so read the whole thing.  However, just in case, here's a refresher:

• Get it off ASAP, preferably with tweezers grabbing the head.  Don't delay for a trip to the ER!
• SNAP A PICTURE of it.  Hadn't thought of this one, but it'll help if follow-up treatment is needed.
• Wash the bite with soap & water, hand sanitizer, or similar.  Whatever you've got.

There are a few more twists and turns at the article, so go read that, but those are the basics.  I'll add two more:

• Always carry suitable tick tweezers when in the outdoors.  Way better than fingers, but if that's all you've got, get the bug off ASAP with your fingers.
• Take some form of B vitamin before heading into the woods.  Pill or a B-heavy energy drink will do.  Ticks, along with many other bugs, don't seem to like the smell.

Sorry, no pictures here.  That may come as some minor relief.

Gap Point & Catfaces

Hiked the Gap Point Trail again today (see 2021 & 2022).  Nothing really new, though I did talk with a nice couple from Thomasville who are staying in Apalach.

Anyway, on to today's pics.  While discussing a recent talk by Kermit Brown hosted by the Apalachicola Area Historical Society at the Rainey House (no links; search engine use left as an exercise for the reader) with a friend, the topic of catfaces came up.  These are scars left on pine trees decades ago by the turpentine industry, the idea being to drain off some of the tree's sap without killing the tree.  Anyway, my friend had no idea what I was talking about, so here are some pictures.

A tree with a catface.

Closeup of the same catface, showing a metal gutter to guide sap into a Herty cup.  The nail to hang the cup is still there too, just below the gutter.

In fact, here's an entire documentary from the 1940's showing how it was done.  Looks like incredibly hard work.  These days, I understand that turpentine and rosin are by-products of the paper industry, and of course petrochemical products have replaced many of the former uses for pine-sap products.  BTW, turpentine from St. George Island was particularly prized for its clarity.  It reportedly didn't affect light paint colors as much as other turpentines.

Finally, on the way out, here's a shot of East Slough.  You can see where the main creek winds through by the change in the color of the reeds and needle grass.

I'm tired now.  Going to hit 'post' and hit the rack.

Jurassic Duck Mk III & PRC-26

From that last post, you could probably tell that I've been up to something.  Following up on last month's Three Days In The Woods, it was painfully clear that we needed serious radio power in a backpack-able format.  Some discussion of updating the old AN/PRC-25/77 radio concept was batted around.  Starting with the Jurassic Duck Mk II as a prototype antenna and building up a backpack frame with a TYT-9000D 2m radio and a 20 AH LiFePO4 batt, we took the original DoD realization from 42 pounds and 2 watts for $5000 (inflation adjusted) to a much improved 14 pounds and 60 watts for $300.  Of course, that's 60 watts on 2m, which for the typical 40 MHz used with the PRC-25/77 series, has about the same punch as 5 watts at that frequency.  OK, so a third the weight and two and a half times the power for a sixteenth the cost.  Wrap it up, I'll take it.  Also, this being 2026, we dubbed it the "PRC-26."  Picture on the right.

Of course, any project such as this one will naturally bring in a few refinements and construction notes.  Here they are for this iteration:

• We used a cam-lock lever to allow the antenna pole to pivot over to half-size for storage and transport.  This has caused all kinds of havoc, and I don't recommend it.  First, it necessitated bringing the coax out through the side of the PVC pipe above the pivot, which makes slipping things in and out during adjustment a bear.  Also, it necessitates a longer lower segment, which makes the whole thing wobbly.
• Recommended for next iteration: Two glue-on male threaded adapters with a female threaded coupler to join them.  Note, the UHF plug connector can slip through all of these and come out through the bottom of the lower pipe.  Much simpler, more rugged, and easier to construct.
• Be damned sure to get thin-walled PVC!  Bring a section of 450 ohm window line to the hardware store with you and try slip-fitting it in.  It'll be snug, but make sure it fits fairly easily.
• Revised lengths for the j-pole internals: 
• main radiator = 38" with an inch or so of loop-over (cut it a little long and tune down 1/4" at a time)
• 450 ohm segment = 17" total length, remembering to leave enough to solder the bottom legs together and an extension on the hot side for the main radiator wire attachment
• tap 1.75" from the bottom of the window line

And that's it!  I'll be building up my own personal copy of this revised version in the near future.

Wright's Lake Trail, Once More

With the cold weather finally here, I drove north and hiked the Wright's Lake Loop Trail again.  It's looking a little rough, needs some trail TLC, but it's still perfectly hike-able.  Tried out new gaiters and permethrin-treated clothes, and the ticks didn't seem to like that at all, which means that I did like these items quite a lot.  Why gaiters?  Boots aren't high enough to tuck pants legs in, so gaiters just sealed up everything and kept the little creepy-crawlies out.  Treated the gaiters and boots with permethrin as well!

Brought along the FT-70, and made a few contacts through the local SARNET-FL repeater.  When I first pulled up to the user pay kiosk, the campground host saw my call sign hat and immediately asked if I could help him with his Baofeng radio.  Well yeah, of course.  He's not licensed, but enjoys scanning for and listening in on deer hunters, and now he can listen in on SARNET-FL as well (nb: I didn't program in the CTCSS tone code, so there's no chance of him transmitting into it).

Not a lot else to say beyond some earlier posts (1, 2, 3).  Here's pic of the bridge over Coffee Creek, a full four feet less water than I've earlier seen it.  Not much of a creek today, just a slowly meandering remnant in the bottom of the streambed.

Quick Hike

With the cool snap today, on the way back from Carrabelle I took a (very) short hike on the High Bluff Trail.  Mostly it was to confirm that the picnic table near the east trailhead is still there and useable.  It is, so it looks like we're good to go for more hiking-with-radio adventures in this cooler weather.

Hits the Carrabelle repeater very easily, especially with the upgraded antenna.

Hiking Over 60: The Talk

I reviewed Philip Werner's book Hiking After 60 last April (link).  Now he's on a New England-area library speaking tour.  If that's too far for you to walk, here's a video of a recent talk he gave.  About 50 minutes, so pour another cup of coffee and settle in.

Good talk, good information, good presentation.

Now if we can just get the daily high temperatures down into the mid-70's, we'll be all set.

Cool Down Scheduled for Tomorrow

With highs in the low 80's, it's still not quite prime hiking weather.  One more front though should push us  into the 75 | 55 range, and that will be quite satisfactory.  Gear ready, getting small tasks cleared presently.

Two More Months to Hiking Season

I keep getting these banners whenever I go to the QRPer.com site, randomly showing an FT-817oid* radio:

Nice photography, and a great site.  It is odd though that various 817s keep popping up in the randomly selected banner whenever I go there.  Downright taunting.  I really, really could use good hike about now, but it's just too hot and buggy to go have fun in the N FL woods at the moment.  FWIW, here's a picture of my FT-817nd out on the High Bluff Trail a couple of years ago:

Two more months, fall is coming.  Are we there yet?

No.  Not yet.

----

*FT-817oid: Any of the variants of the Yaesu FT-817 radio: FT-817, FT-817nd, FT-818nd.  More here.

A Pretty Good Idea

Fishing shirts for hiking, over at Section Hiker.  Kind of obvious, but I needed this pointed out.  Well, day before yesterday was the summer solstice, so I guess that I have a good three months to spray mine down with permethrin.  Really is a good idea though.

Book Mention: Hiking Over 60

Full title: Hiking Over 60: A Modern Guide to Hiking Gear and Techniques for Active Adults

Philip Werner from over at Section Hiker has put together a comprehensive guide to day hiking, which despite the 'over 60' in the title, applies to most anyone interested in taking up day hiking.  Furthermore, those day hikes can be a foundation and springboard into full-on multi-day backpacking trips.  It seems to only be available in kindle format, so here's the link.  Here's the review I left over at Amazon (so please excuse the possible change in type face; as a former printer, these things still bug me); 4 out of 5 stars:

pro: Good intro section to hiking, mostly pertaining to day trips.  Lots of up-to-date recommendations on gear.

con: Doesn't delve into the 'why' of lightweight gear.  No mention of two-way radios in either of the communication sections.  Really could use an outro chapter to cap the end of the book.

If you're hiking or even thinking of taking up hiking, you should probably buy this book.  It's divided into two major sections, the first on general hiking advice and how-tos, the second on specific gear selection.  It makes for a good mix of "why do this" and "now go do this" to get anyone started, including both those under and over 60.  It's packed with honest, no bull wisdom and gear advice from an experienced hiker.

I wish the author had put in a word for how lighter gear makes everything easier on older bodies.   However, that topic was amply covered a decade ago in Rick Allnutt's "A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike," so pick up a copy of that book when you finish this one.  This book is more about day hiking than multi-day backpacking, but the same weight reduction principles apply.  For all the discussion of communications, there was no mention of either FRS walkie-talkies or ham radio, both of which I find immensely useful in the woods.  Finally, a brief closing chapter to cap the book's main text would have been nice.  As it is, it simply ends and crashes into an appendix of retailer and manufacturer links.  A transition chapter to these links would have signaled the end of the main part and been smoother.

In brief, if you've read this far you should probably buy this book.  The next time a friend asks about hiking books, it's the one I'll recommend to pick up first.

Garden of Eden Trail on New Year's Day

Lots of people out for the hike.  Perfect New Year's Day sunny & cool weather.  Beyond that, not a lot to add from the original post about the place.  It was a nice way to start the year.

Gap Point Trail in the Fog

Hiked the Gap Point Trail on St. George Island yet again yesterday, this time with the eldest brother.  It was so foggy that I didn't bother with pictures, but you can see some from previous hikes here and here.  For all the fog, the land itself was remarkably dry and the usual shoe-damping puddles were merely slightly muddy spots in the trail.

Heard some duck hunters blazing away somewhere out on the bay, and later saw them coming in at the Goose Island boat launch.  They were unloading with mostly buffleheads and widgeon, ducks of dubious culinary value, but hey, you get what you get.

Then we stopped off at the Blue Parrot for lunch (regrettably, Signor Ferrari seemed to be out for the day) and then headed back to Apalach.  All in all, a Saturday morning well spent.  So that's three local trails hiked so far this winter – High Bluff and Wright's Lake done previously – with Garden of Eden, Wakulla Springs, and Sheppard Spring still to go.  Maybe more, time will tell.

Wilderness Missing Persons Cases Adequately (if imperfectly) Explained

There's a whole genre of books and podcasts centering around people going missing in wilderness areas, popularized by the "Missing 411" series of books and late-night paranormal radio interviews.  It's mildly (very mildly) worrying stuff for a person like me, who often goes hiking, backpacking, or mountain biking alone.  Deep down you know there's really nothing out of the ordinary going on, and yet late at night while listening to ghostly AM talk shows alone in a tent miles from anywhere and yet very near something called the "Bigfoot Trail" (real name, really), the mind does wander.  (graphic from Vecteezy)

I've never wanted to take the time for a thorough dive into what's going on with this, and fortunately now you and I don't have to, because Joe Scott does it for us over at his vlog: The Missing 411 Mystery Has a Solution.  You Won't Like It.  (just under 30 minutes, but you can skip parts)  TLDW:  There are a variety of reasons why people disappear in the wilderness.  Sometimes people go missing because they want to, or sometimes because other people want them to.  There are plenty of holes and rivers to fall into, never to be seen again.  Finally, when you're in nature, you just may involuntarily re-join the food chain.  All totaled, it's enough to explain nearly all of the documented cases.  Macabre, yes, but woo-woo, no.  And highly, highly unlikely to happen to you personally.  Knock on wood.

This Banner...

...makes me want to go take a hike and play radio.  Still about 10degF too warm though.  In the meantime, go visit the site.  Also for a bonus, there's a lot about Hurricane Helene's effects on western NC there; here's the link to just that tag.

Monday at Wright's Lake Trail

Just knocking out one of the old standards before the cool weather gets away again.  Been there, done that, did it again today.  Here are some pics; as usual, click to embiggen:

The Lake

Just some flowers along the trail.

Lowest I've ever seen the water under The Bridge of Truth, maybe 2' below the deck.

Yep, low.  Often the water's 6" over the deck.

That's all for today.  Just another hike.

With All This Going-to-the-Woods...

... in this great fall weather, here's a fitting cartoon:

Time to re-watch The Blair Witch Project while sorting out camping gear.  It's so much more relaxing than dealing with the actual monsters that come to play in my neighborhood.

High Bluff Thursday

This week was the first real cool snap of this fall, so I hiked High Bluff trail... yet again.  Previous outings here.  Not much to say beyond, damn if it isn't one of my favorites.  Dragged along the FT-70 and talked to a few people via the Carrabelle repeater.  Used the 18" Nagoya antenna, and just tilted it a little on my pack harness to keep it from banging against my hat brim.  Worked well enough.

Here, have a couple of pics.

Cool snap, yes, but that's sand not snow.

These grown-over bridges always bring back half-remembered stories from childhood.  Weird.

Stay tuned, because the cool hiking weather's just begun.

Book Mention: Hiking the Gulf Coast

I borrowed this from the library, and I am glad that I did in both ways that statement can be taken.  I was hoping to find some local hidden gems and perhaps find out a new thing or two about trails I've hiked, however was left with an overall sense of disappointment.  In the areas that I know well – the Forgotten Coast and the Mississippi Gulf Coast – the real centerpieces were skipped.  Furthermore, the book focuses on very short day hikes, with many of them being little more than short things that used to be labeled as nature walks and birding trails.

OK that's the bad, but there's still a lot of good stuff to be found in this book.  I really do need to get over to the St. Marks lighthouse area to explore some of those trails, and the Ochlockonee River Loop looks promising.  I used to go quite a bit to the Leon Sinks Loop back in the day, and it was good to be reminded to get back there.  It is extremely well organized, and there is a useful overview map showing all of the reviewed trails on page vi.  Beyond showing trails in general areas, it also reveals the author's bias towards his home in Mobile, where there is a thick cluster of listed trails.  I wish he'd just stuck closer to home and done a more thorough job.

If you're just planning a brief trip through any of the Gulf Coast that might include some short hikes, this book is an OK – but little more – place to start.  Pick your area and start digging deeper.  This blog is one place to start (hiking and for longer endeavors backpacking tags, and yes there is a lot of overlap), and there are about a zillion other resources.  Again, I'm glad that I borrowed this book from the library, but there's not as much there there in it as I'd hoped and will be glad to return it as well.

Wright's Lake Trail, Spring 2024 Version

Took a hike at the Wright's Lake Trail today.  I'm working on checking off all of the local trails for the year – High Bluff, Garden of Eden, Wright's, and St. George.  Just one left to take in before the hot weather hits.  It's been written up before, but here are some pics from today.  As always, click to embiggen.

Recent control burn.  Looks messy, but it is very necessary.  If it looks like something out of Area X, that's because, well, it is.

Zooming in on a couple of the palmetto heads, you can see the green sprouting back out.  Beautiful, healthy, and a natural part of these woods.

One of the big slumps, aka nascent sinkholes.  Nicely burned, to the waterline.

Easy to see the path today.

Walking this bridge is a true leap of faith.  Here it is in dryer times.  About a foot deep over the top of the bridge at present.  The blue thing on the right is a trail marker blaze.

Little to no cell coverage of the area, so I simply put my phone on airplane mode.  Not out of touch though, I brought along my FT-70.  Talked to an acquaintance over in Live Oak just to make sure it was working well enough, and it was.

So overall another good day in the woods!  Shoes are in front of fan drying right now.