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SPRING IS COMING

Be Prepared!

by bryant helgeland
W e’ve been dealing with COVID-19 for a year, but there is light

at the end of the tunnel in more ways than one. It has been a
brutal year for families, businesses, friendships, and sanity.

Our great snowy winter provided plenty of opportunities to
get outside, but there have also been some reality checks about enjoying the
outdoors. We recently lost two locals to an avalanche in our backcountry. They
were not beginners to the space either. They both knew what they were doing
and still, unfortunately, lost their lives doing what they loved. The backcountry
is an awesome place to recreate, but has inherent risks that can be much more
severe and potentially deadly in the winter.

We’ve turned our clocks forward and are enjoying the longer days. Spring, with
its warmer temperatures, has paraded daffodils, irises, and tulips. Trees are in
bud, and a few have leafed out. Now is the time to plan for upcoming adven-
tures, busting the gear out of the garage or storage to see what needs some TLC
and what needs to be updated or relaced. A few things to check:

» Check the O-rings on your stove and water filter for dry cracking.

» Liquid fuel (white gas) more than one to two years old should be discarded (safely
and appropriately).

» Is the shock cord on your tent poles still stretchy? If not, it can probably be replaced
easily by your local shop.

» Does the leather on your boots need a little moisturizer? If so, waxes and oils help
the waterproofing but kill breathability. Water based treatments can help as much
as waxes and oils but will not kill the breathability. They just require more than a
single layer application.

» Did any critters get into and chew holes in your equipment? Fabric and mesh
repair kits are available at your local shop.

» Are the gaskets on your dry top/dry suit still in good condition? If not, send them
back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement.

» You didn’t store your sleeping bag compressed did you? Don’t store it compressed!

We have an awesome spring and summer of outdoor activities to look forward
to. As you may have noticed over the past year, there are a lot more people
camping in established campgrounds, in the backcountry, and on the river or
lake. Outside was one of the safest places to be COVID-wise. It is awesome
that more people are getting excited about exploring the beauty of the natural
world! A lot of them are new to it. Those of us who are more experienced
should do what we can to help the newbies learn how to be out there safely and
respectfully. Remember we were all newbies at one point.

That increased traffic in the outdoors leads to some

spring 2021 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 67