D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
December
2008
Why Didn't I Think of That?
Holiday gift ideas for anyone who'd rather be outside than in-.
Gadzooks! Can it be December already? Where did 2008 go? But that means that it is time once more to think of Christmas gifts for that special outdoors-person in your life. Here are some ideas that will universally appeal and be useful to an outdoor person of any pursuit regardless of gender.
One of the first things to come to mind is a quality hiking staff or stick, the commercial kind. These can be had in exotic hardwoods or in aluminum and even have a telescopic feature to make them a custom length suited just to the owner; I prefer mine to be five to six feet long and come up to just above my shoulder. Hikers, hunters and fishers will really love this gift!
Every year I mention the GPS unit and so will continue to do so. Every person of the outdoors should have one and know how to use it to keep from getting lost. I have models in both Garmin and Magellan, but I prefer the Magellan because it is more user-friendly.
Wally World has informed me that it no longer will offer one-hour service for 35mm film, which means the writing is on the wall and film cameras are on the way to extinction — so think digital camera and think simple! My idea would be one that is not much larger than a cell phone, that ha little or no extra gadgets on it but has a small zoom telephoto lens. Don't forget a nylon case to carry it in.
Everyone needs a quality pair of binoculars, but especially those who are birders or hunters. May I suggest Alpen brand, which, by the way, are gaining quite a following among birdwatchers. Alpens are point for point as good as the best optics and for about one-third to one-half the cost. (I confess, I'm also an Alpen dealer!)
In the past I liked to carry two good, compact flashlights with me in my pack. Along about five years ago I discovered hands-free LED headlamps and my night world changed. Cabela's mail-order catalog has Petzal and Guide Gear brands at decent prices.
What outdoors-person can't use a quality sleeping bag? One of the worst and most miserable events in the world is to be cold all night in an inadequate bag. Been there, done that! I prefer an oversized bag, 36 by 90 inches in mummy persuasion that is good down to minus-20 degrees F for my winter bag, and the same dimensions but down to plus-20 degrees for my summer bag. It must have a waterproof outer shell made of rip-stop nylon, synthetic down insulation (real feather down loses warmth when it gets wet) and a slippery inner liner so I can turn inside of it. And don't forget a three-inch-thick pad of closed-cell foam to sleep on!
Along with that is a real neat gizmo called a bag liner that you slip into before getting into your sleeping bag. It keeps the bag from getting soiled from body oils and odor along with grime. You wash it instead of the bag, thus making your bag investment last a whole lot longer. It can be had in either cotton or silk; get the silk!
I don't like to be noticed when I'm outdoors, so I almost always wear camouflage clothing, even when I'm not hunting. This enables me to put sneaks on birds in trees or fawns in the grass; it's especially useful when I'm studying the critter or trying to take its picture, not to mention that humans aren't aware that I'm around.
Hooded sweatshirts, either insulated or not, are my preferred clothing. The hood can be used to hide my head or protect it from cold, wind or sun. Just remember to match the colors to the surrounding scenery!
Bird, animal and plant guides are worth their weight in paper; mine come from Audubon, Peterson or Sibley. I have a mammal and medicinal plant guide plus a bird guide. All are compact, soft-covered and pliable. I probably use my Sibley's Bird Guide more than any book I own except for my trusty Bible.
Everyone needs a hat when outdoors and I've tried them all, I think, from an Indiana Jones fedora, to Stetson "cowboy hat," to knit hats, to full-face knit hats. I had trouble with branches knocking the fedora and Stetsons off of my head when in the woods, and knit hats got too warm in direct sunlight. I have finally settled on the good ol' baseball cap; I must have 20 of them. I like camo or solid earth-tone colors and the one that serves me best is a soft, waxed cotton in dull olive green.
A quality knife is a must — and I mean quality! No foreign knockoffs, thank you. Figure on spending 35 bucks minimum for a Buck or Case brand or other US-made knife. I like my knife to be a folder with two or three blades that are three or four inches long. I carry it in my pocket or in a belt sheath.
Besides a good knife, I carry a good US-made utility tool in a sheath on my belt, too. Don't buy a "micro," but get a full-sized tool — one with a semi-needle nose pliers and at least three types of blades and a screwdriver or two. Mine is an old US-made Schrade, but the best-known is the Leatherman; Buck also makes a quality tool. Figure on spending $50 to $100. Again, no cheap foreign jobs!
To wear all of these sheaths and your GPS, you need a good, stout leather belt; I prefer cowhide, a quarter-inch inch thick and one and one half inches wide, and about three inches longer than my waist size to allow for expansion in the winter when I wear more layers. It must have a have a simple steel buckle.
Andrews Custom Saddles in Silver City can make belts to suit. While in there, pick up a good pair of tight-fitting, soft pigskin gloves to keep your hands from the many hazards out there.
Lastly, for those of you who are looking forward to the soon coming Obama years, and don't feel a need to keep those firearms that have been gathering dust in a drawer or closet, please, please feel free to give them to me for Christmas! I promise to take good care of them! You can let the boss, Fryxell-Man know at the office!
That's it. Happy shopping! As always, keep the sun forever at your back, the wind forever in your face, and may the Forever God bless your Christmas or other holidays!
Larry Lightner writes Ramblin' Outdoors exclusively for Desert Exposure.