Yesterday I was rattled in a way that will forever affect my feeling of safety on our public lands. I was headed into the Chiricahua Mountains, a beautiful, remote, and rugged mountain range in Southeast Arizona that is about 65 miles north of the Mexico border. That morning, I left my winter hangout in Deming,…
As I prepare for my 6-week summer camping trip, my mind wanders again to the subject of safety. I also think about how to feed myself in an emergency situation, perhaps stranded after some natural disaster. If I trusted myself with a gun that would solve both problems. Last year I purchased two stun guns…
My personal locator beacon (PLB) arrived and is ready to use. Couldn’t be easier to set up. It comes activated with batteries that expire in 2019 and has a test button. The only other action required is to register the device and your name at NOAA. Their registration website comes with the PLB literature. Should…
A few years ago I planned an early spring van-camping trip to the Tetons. As part of my preparation I ordered a large canister of bear pepper spray. The male grizzlies were due to come out of hibernation around the same time I was planning to leave. Bear spray, therefore, seemed a reasonable precaution. I…