The Great Outdoors

This is my outdoors site, I've put together some info that I hope you will find useful.

FOOD
If you're going on a one night trip the best thing to bring is some rice and some frozen meat, the meat will stay cold until night if it's frozen in the morning, if the weather is hot you can rap it in some news paper t keep it cool.

CAMPING SAW
These are generally very light, if you have one of these with you can build a pretty good hut if you happen to get stuck in the wilderness for a whole winter.

FIRST AID
Rather than going on about what kind of first aid supplies you need to bring I recommend buying a ready made kit, they usually come in little orange pouches.

STRING
If you've ever gone on an over night backpacking trip and didn't bring string you probably ended up wishing you would have brought some string with you. String is very useful every time.

FOLDING TOOL
Once you get used to always carrying a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool you feel totally handicapped without one.

STOVE
A lot of hikers are switching the wood burning Trailstove after years of frustration with gas stoves. I to made the switch not long ago and so far I'm very happy with my Trailstove.

1. FIND BRANCHES. Cut down two thickly vegetative branches 2-3 ft long (60-90 cm) from a fir or similar tree.

2. TIE STRING. Tie a string about 2 ft long (60 cm) around the base of the branch at a branching near the cut off end, in the branch.

3. TIE STRING AGAIN. Tie string again around the base but on the opposite side of the branching. This ensures that the string is fixed in any direction.

4. ATTACH TO SHOE. Tie string to the front of your shoe. Make sure it goes through the front shoe lace threading holes. Make sure all ends and sides of the branch are pointing up away from the ground.

5. ANGLE. Your shoe should be able to flip up to an angle of around 30 degrees. This is very important, the snowshoes must pivot around your toes and drag in the back. If the snow shoes don't pivot the front ends will go into the snow and you can't move forwards.

6. WALK. If you have done everything right you will be able to walk on the snow with your emergency snowshoes.

Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve

The Aniakchak Caldera, is the result of a series of eruptions, the latest in 1931. Nearly six miles in diameter and covering some ten square miles, it is one of the finest examples of dry caldera in the world. Located in the volcanically active Aleutian Mountains, the crater contains many outstanding examples of volcanic features, including lava flows, cinder cones, and explosion pits. Surprise Lake, located within the caldera, is the source of the Aniakchak River, which cascades through a 1,500-foot gash in the caldera wall. The site also contains the Aniakchak Wild River.

Write to
Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve
P O Box 7
King Salmon, AK 99613

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
There are no federal facilities at the Monument.

Getting There
PLANE - Access to the park is by plane or float plane from King Salmon, Alaska or by power boat from any one of the numerous villages along the Pacific Ocean coastline.

Weather & Climate
Expect windy conditions especially through the "Gates" area and often within the caldera as well. The coastal area is often shrouded in fog and rain.

Accessibility
Check with fly-in services for specific needs. There are no accessible trails within the monument/preserve.

Getting Around
There are a no formal trails within the monument/preserve although open ash fields provide hiking/backpacking opportunities.

FOOD	If you're going on a one night trip the best thing to bring is some rice and some frozen meat, the meat will stay cold until night if it's frozen in the morning, if the weather is hot you can rap it in some news paper t keep it cool.
CAMPING SAW	These are generally very light, if you have one of these with you can build a pretty good hut if you happen to get stuck in the wilderness for a whole winter.
FIRST AID	Rather than going on about what kind of first aid supplies you need to bring I recommend buying a ready made kit, they usually come in little orange pouches.
STRING	If you've ever gone on an over night backpacking trip and didn't bring string you probably ended up wishing you would have brought some string with you. String is very useful every time.
FOLDING TOOL	Once you get used to always carrying a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool you feel totally handicapped without one.
STOVE	A lot of hikers are switching the wood burning Trailstove after years of frustration with gas stoves. I to made the switch not long ago and so far I'm very happy with my Trailstove.