2014 Retrospective

 

Welcome to 2015!

A blank calendar is full of possibilities!  Do you have any big plans for 2015?  Have you made any resolutions?  Set any goals?

For 2015, I am going to make a better effort to try new and different things.  As the great philosopher Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Before we plunge into the new year, let’s take a quick look back at a few of the most popular articles on NatureOutside in 2014.

 

Edibles

How to Turn Acorns Into Food

Indigenous peoples around the world used acorns for food wherever they occur.   Acorns have a rare combination of nutrients that today we would call a “superfood.”  Here is a 3-part series on how you can process acorns into food.

 

Stinging Nettle – Yum!

Despite its fearsome name, Stinging nettle is your friend.  It is a wild edible with character!  It is attractive, has an element of danger, and promises great reward.  It provides food for us in the spring and cordage in the fall.  Stinging nettle is one of my favorite wild edibles.

 

The Forager’s Feast

Wild edible plants intrigue me.  The idea of snacking on edibles while walking down the trail appeals to me in a primal way.  Most of us explore the outdoors with our sight, smell, and hearing.  But you can also use your sense of taste!

 

Skills

How to Build a Debris Hut

This post describes how to build a debris hut.  It is a simple shelter you can construct from natural materials.  Crucially, it does not require any special tools or equipment to construct.  It provides protection from the elements and is simple to build.  A primary feature of this shelter is that it works without need of a fire to warm it.

 

Tick Aware – Get a Free Tick Identification Card

Viewing wildlife is invigorating – unless it’s a tick crawling up your arm!  This post provides some basic information about ticks you are likely to encounter.   There is a downloadable tick identification card at the bottom of this post for you to carry in your first-aid kit.

 

You’re No Ray Mears, and Here’s Why!

Ray Mears is one of the foremost bushcraft experts in the world, and you’re not.  Neither am I.  But we all have something unique to offer that makes us “experts” in our own right.

 

Nature

Mountain Kingsnake – Beauty and Danger!

As I approached the kingsnake, my feeling was one of anticipation.  I was eager to learn about this charismatic animal.  But then something changed…

 

Insect Safari

It’s been many years since I have traveled through Africa.  But I still remember the thrill of encountering animals that were strange to me.  I just experienced the same excitement of discovery only a few steps from my own door.  I took part in an entomology outing.  The goal of our hike was to observe the amazing variety of insects that surround us every time we step outside.

 

Mountain Lion Attacks Six Year Old Boy

Not all the news of 2015 was good news.  Here are my tips for staying safe in mountain lion country.

 

Tracking

Mountain Lion Tracks – Learn to Read Them

Finding a mountain lion track is an electric experience.  While you may “know” there are big cats out there, seeing evidence in person is quite another matter.  Here are my tips for tracking mountain lions.

 

Trips

The High Sierra Loop

I hiked 54 miles in 7 days through Yosemite’s high sierra.  This 7-part series describes my adventure.

 

My Hundred-Dollar Hamburger

Everyone needs a hundred-dollar hamburger once in a while.

 

Reviews

Fallkniven F1 Knife Review

My review of the Fallkniven F1 pilot survival knife.

 

Parent’s Corner

Create Your Own Field Guide

This website from the Smithsonian is very cool!  It permits you to search for mammals using common names, scientific names, or home ranges.  You can compile them into a “field guide” that it creates for you in PDF format.

 

 

Have a happy and healthy 2015!!!