Watch An Episode Now with Hosts Bob Simek and Bill Rogers Each week American Outdoors hits the trail for new adventures: Fishing, Hunting, Backpacking, Hiking, Climbing and Camping. We also have comprhensive new gear reviews plus tips from the masters and we also have a great deal of fun. Click on the picture to the left to view one of the many different segments streamed on the American Outdoors website. The great American Outdoors is America's #1 past time. According to the latest statistics, 34 million sportsmen in the United States and 22 million sportsmen in Canada spent more than $96 billion last year, supporting 2.1 million jobs in North America. All of these outdoor activities require planning, preparation, an eye towards safety and a heart for adventure. Bridgford Foods. . . Tastes Great - Long Shelf Life One of the areas not to be overlooked includes that of light-weight, easy to cary food that is is packed with nutrition and packed with flavor. We found all of that wrapped up in a light weight delicious sandwich from Bridgford Foods. We like it on American Outdoors because when it comes to long term food storage packed with flavor, it is perfect for camping, hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing and cycling. It is convenient, takes no preparation, has a long shelf life and is better tasting than anything else we've taken on the trail. Sena Technologies Bridgford Foods Thermo Soles
Make Your Outdoor Shoes Indoor Fresh - Stuffitts Shoe Savers Helly Hansen - Keeping Us Warm and Dry  How to Survive a Winter Storm Part One
by: Meteorologist Dr. Bill Rogers Exploring the wilderness in winter is a wonderful experience. Far from the crowded city, in a silent tranquil world of winter white. Whether gliding through a glade of maple trees on cross-country skis, hiking up a ridge on snowshoes, or ice climbing, winter can be a spectacular time of year. At the same time you must realize that this environment can be extremely dangerous. It takes proper trip planning, experience, and the right equipment to travel safely in the winter environment. If you aren't aware of the hazards you can be at great risk. The greatest dangers in the winter environment are hypothermia and frostbite. On American Outdoors, Bob and I have encountered sideways rain in the northeast, dangerous winter blizzards in the Great Lakes, pea soup fog on the West Coast and the powerful Chinook winds of the Rocky Mountains. Thus began our association with volatile weather. But being caught out in the elements can be a life or death situation. How can one prepare? Dress Warm - Head To Toe Because the head has a very high surface to volume ratio and the head is heavily vascularized, you can lose a great deal of heat (up to 70%) from the head. Therefore, hats are essential in winter camping. The adage - if your toes are cold, put on a hat - is true. A balaclava is particularly effective and versatile. A facemask may be required if there are high wind conditions due to the susceptibility of the face to frostbite. At the recent Outdoor Retailer we discovered the ultimate outdoor survival geat to shield you against the elements, head to to. Their a company steeped in history of keeping men dry at sea and keeping the worker warm in the harsh elements. The company is called Helly Hansen and you can learn more and view the segment now by clicking the viewer above. Ramblers Way
Join over 250,00 who subscribe to our free monthly electronic newsletter with videos of our recent discoveries and latest adventures. Keep Hydrated Everything between the top of your head to the tips of your toes stays warmer and does so better if you remain hydrated. If you try to melt snow in your mouth you will be inviting disaster. Keep a canteen or a flask filled with water. Let any snow melting take place in your container to avoid any danger. It's always best to purify any water you encounter on your trip. Check out the Hydro Flask which we discovered at Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City. Hands - mittens are warmer that gloves because you don't contend with the curvature problem described above. Also the fingers tend to keep each other warm, rather than being isolated as in gloves. It is useful to have an inner mitten with an outer shell to give you layering capabilities. Also "idiot strings" are important to keep you from losing mittens in the snow. However, gloves are always essential as well in winter because of the need for dexterity in various operations. Feet - finding the right footgear depends a great deal on the activity you are involved in as well as temperature and environment. The two general modes of travel are skiing or snowshoeing (in areas with only a few inches of snow you can hike in just boots). Survey the land, terrain can both intensify or deflect severe weather, analyze local topography before heading out to choose the most protected routes. For every 1,000-foot gain in elevation, the temperature generally drops by 5°F. At night, however, the cold air will drain into the valley areas. Frostbite and Hypothermia
The two main cold-weather illnesses are frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite means that your skin has fallen below the freezing point, and ice crystals are forming within your skin cells, killing them. If you're able to warm your skin, it will form a blister, change from blue to black in color and harden into a shell. This shell will eventually fall off to expose new skin underneath if the damage isn't too severe. This is the very painful "superficial" frostbite. Severe frostbite penetrates all the way to the muscle and bone and is characterized by tingling of extremities and changes in your skin's color and texture. The stages of frostbite are:  Red skin - initial stage
White skin - middle stage
Hard skin - getting severe
Blisters - severe
Blackened skin - advanced stage Severe frostbite usually causes tissue damage, and can even lead to amputation of fingers, toes, hands and feet. It's vital when afflicted with frostbite to warm your skin gradually. Cover your ears and put your fingers under your arms. Don't ever rub the damaged skin or submerge it in hot water -- you'll cause even more damage. Water between 100 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal to use as a warming agent. If you can, get into a warmer area immediately, even if it's just a tent or shelter. Remove any tight clothing that may restrict blood flow. You can put gauze or cloth between your fingers and toes to soak up moisture and prevent them from sticking together. It also helps to slightly elevate the affected area to reduce swelling. Hypothermia Many times, getting wet in addition to the cold leads to hypothermia, and the result can be as severe as coma or death. To combat hypothermia, get yourself into a warmer environment as soon as possible. Cover with any items you can find -- blankets, sleeping bag, pillows or even newspaper. Most heat is lost through your head, so cover yours immediately if it's not already. If you have on wet clothing, take it off and replace it with some dry duds. If you have no dry clothing, it's better to strip naked than to wear something wet. You should always handle hypothermia victims carefully, as it's easy for them to go into cardiac arrest. Keep them horizontal and calm -- reassure them that they're going to be fine. If you're with someone, get into a sleeping bag together or simply hug each other tight to create warmth. If you're not trapped in the wilderness, seek professional medical attention as soon as possible. Hypothermia is when your body loses more heat than it produces and your core body temperature drops. Some of the symptoms of hypothermia are: Slurred speech Stiff joints Loss of coordination
Slow pulse Uncontrollable shivering Puffy Face Loss of bladder control Mental confusion Shelter
A good shelter is the first thing you need to survive the freezing cold. Choosing your shelter's location is extremely important. Don't be lured in by clearings in the mountains -- they can be prime spots for avalanches. Check for accumulated debris and broken tree stumps at the base of the clearing. If you find both, chances are you're in an avalanche chute. The side of the clearing is a much better shelter location. You should also avoid areas near overlooks and cliffs.
If night is falling fast, you need to build an emergency shelter as soon as possible. Don't get too fancy -- your goal is to make it through the night. Dig a snow trench deep enough to provide a wind break. Pile and pack additional snow on the windy side for further protection. Get as much soft material as you can to line the bottom for insulation -- pine boughs are plentiful in most wooded areas. Once in, cover yourself with copious amounts of pine or any other leaves you can get. Snow is a better insulator than your average tent, so your emergency shelter should get you through the night.
If you have the time, build a more elaborate snow cave. Not only will it provide better protection from the elements, but constructing it will get your heart rate going and warm you up. Just make sure you don't sweat -- moisture is your enemy in the freezing cold. Hillsides provide good wind shelter and low-lying areas are colder and more damp. Make your shelter as small as possible to help retain heat. This is especially true for the entrance, which should be blocked with a backpack or stacked up tree branches.
It's also important to ventilate your shelter. Poke small air holes in the ceiling with tree branches and make sure your blocked entrance allows enough airflow. If you have a cooking stove or lantern, avoid using it inside unless the shelter is extremely well ventilated. It's best to not risk it at all -- carbon monoxide poisoning is a killer in the woods and sneaks up on you fast. Avoid using metal like a plane wing or found tin roofing to aid your shelter -- it will suck up the heat you need. When you're trapped in the cold and there is no snow, build a debris hut:
Place a ridgepole, the pole that runs the length of the shelter, with one end on the ground and the other on top of a sturdy base like a tree stump or boulder. You can also lash it to a tree. Take two more thick branches and place them diagonally at the top of the ridgepole and lash them together with vine or rope. Use thick branches to line the length of the ridgepole to create the ribbed frame. Make sure it's wide enough to accommodate you. Place smaller sticks crosswise to make a lattice effect. Add lighter soft debris like pine needles and leaves until it's at least two feet thick -- the thicker the debris, the more protection it offers. Cover the interior floor with pine and leaves and block the entrance with a rock or more debris.
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