Prepare for Winter Driving

Hey Everyone,

Here in Nashville, we got hit pretty hard with snow and ice yesterday. I measured the snow and we have about 7.5 inches of the white stuff. The weather reporters are saying that things are going to clear up but the snow and ice may get worse do to tempertures dropping tonight. I want to post some safe winter driving tips and a list of what you would need in a winter car kit. Yes, some of these maybe overkill but the Metro Nashville covers a vast area with many different types of terrain.


Here is the link to Tennessee Emergency Management Agency:
http://www.tnema.org/


The link will provided you with the information on how the roads and driving condition are around Tennessee. There is a link to the conditions by county and you can look at real time cameras of Nashville's roadways.


I did a search on the TNEMA website and found this PDF file that listed Winter Safe Driving Tips.
www.tdot.state.tn.us/mediaroom/snowbuster/driving_tips.pdf

Things that you need to have in your Winter Emergency Car Kit.
-flashlight with extra batteries
-charged cell phone/automobile charger
-basic first aid kit
-necessary medications
-pocket knife with can opener
-blankets or sleeping bag
-extra clothes (include rain gear, boots, mittens, socks)
-high-calorie, non-perishable food (MREs, dried/canned fruit)
-container of water (nalgene)
-windsheild scarpaer and brush
-fire exteinguisher
-shovel
-cat litter for generating traction
-basic tool kit
-tow rope
-battery jump cables
-road flares/reflectors
-brightly colored cloth to utilize as a flag to mark your location
-road maps

This list is intense, but I have traveled many places and all it takes is a split secoond and your in the ditch or ravine. You may have been seen or not and it is up to you to get help. As the scouts say "Be Prepared". I prefer to use an army wool blanket instead of a sleeping bag because it can stay warm when wet or dry. I also prefer headlamp instead of a flashlight do to being able to have hands free.

Be Safe
Bentley - VentureTree Team

Cleaning and Organizing Time!!!

Hey Fellow Campers,

Ya, I know the title of this blog brings some mixed opinions. Yet this is the time when backpacking, camping and hiking are limited due to all this rainy weather. Times like these you stare out the window watching a leaf float down the street and wish the rain would stop. That is no way to be! Why not go clean and organize your gear for when that weather changes for the better!

You may think that I am one who is always on top of things and have everything neatly organized and better yet it is packed and ready to go. WRONG!!! I am the worst when it comes down to cleaning gear. I usually try to clean/rinse off everything before I put it up but sometimes that does not always happen. Yes, you guessed it. I on occasion find those smelly unknown areas in the gear box. I struggle through the gut wrenching stench to clean and cuss my self internally for letting it get this bad. Enough of my horror stories.

This is the time to clean and organize your gear. Several stores have plastic bins on sale and these bins make great for organization for your stuff. You can label the boxes with duct tape and post notes. I try to separate summer from winter gear. I have a bin for cooking stuff and so on. I have a little more gear than some because we like to backpack and car camp at different times of the year. These bins once organize can be loaded up in the truck and off you go.


Cleaning some of the high dollar gear can be a challenge. Be sure to check with the outdoor gear company of your local gear store to see what products you can use. There are several products by Nixwax that can help that smelly sleeping bag or rain coat. A helpful hint when cleaning your sleeping bag throw in a few tennis balls to help in the drying process.


For more information on Nikwax visit there site:
http://www.nikwax.com/



Bentley - VentureTree Team

HighGear Summit Review

Yes, the review is ready. I have been on many trips and have fallen in love with my low budget purchase on my Summit Altimeter. It has saved me on several occasions when the map and my orienteering skills would have let us down the wrong trail. On one trip, I had gotten turned around a bit and the trail blazes as in many areas are just a little confusing. I tried the old trusty compass and map but no luck. We decided to continue with the blaze that we had original began with and I just kept getting this feeling that we were going the wrong way. I quickly checked the altitude on the altimeter and then compared it to the map. No surprise we were heading the wrong way and it was definitely the wrong way!!!! If we had kept going on that trail we would have ended up about a two day hike in the wrong direction.



Now lets get to the pros and cons of the Summit Altimeter:



Pros: Price, Dependable, durable, ease of use, multiple useful features, Battery replacement is the same as the Suunto watches, discounted on Campmor, no smelly wrist band



Cons: degree marking on bezel have warn off (see picture), takes a little time understanding how to set different settings because watch buttons have two functions when setting some you have to hold button longer to get the second setting to work



The Bottom Line: This is my altimeter. I enjoy it and have gotten very dependent on it. Now, do not get me wrong. I will use these as another tool along with my experience, compass, and orienteering skills. I would never recommend to use a device such as this alone, there are just too many variables. I prefer to reset the altimeter at the trail because riding in the car makes the setting become inaccurate. Oh! I also found that if you choose to change the barometer and then change the altimeter, it will cause a conflict between the two. Be sure to check the quick guide that is easy to slide in a coat pocket to make calibrations on watch as accurate as possible.

Here is a link to Campmor if you are interested in purchasing the HighGear Summit.
http://www.campmor.com/high-gear-summit-wrist-computer.shtml




Bentley - VentureTree Team

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone,

I hope that everyone is enjoying the beginning of 2010. The VentureTree Team has been out and about for awhile and we are sorry to have not posted lately. We are undergoing some changes and have lots of new posts planned for this year.

Some of the post to come:
Midland 1001z CB Radio review and install
Update on the HighGear Summit Altimeter
Update on the Vasque Velocity
And Much More.

Bentley - VentureTree Team

Tread Lightly!’s 2nd Annual Charity Auction on eBay

Hey Everyone,

It is that time of year again. Com check out the great items up for auction and help support the Tread Lightly program.

NOW LIVE!! Tread Lightly!’s 2nd Annual Charity Auction on eBay: The outdoor, off-road, and powersports industries have come together for one important cause: Tread Lightly!. With more than 175 products, you are sure to score something on your outdoor shopping list.

Here is the Link:

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/treadlightly!_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ

For a list of some auction items check out our sister site at:

http://www.vt-terramoon.blogspot.com/

Bentley - VentureTree Team

Patagonia Web Specials

Hey everyone,

I hope that you were able to enjoy that great weather and the Earth Day Celebration. I just browsed the Patagonia website and found some great deals. I just purchased the R1 hoody and there are many more great buys for those on a tight budget. A penny saved is a penny for another piece of camping gear.

Here is the link to the patagonia web specials:

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/shops/shop.jsp?sct=US&S=SALE&psDrilldown=true&slc=en_US&PC=SPECIAL&N=4294967289+30016611+30017331&OPTION=ESHOP


Bentley - VentureTree Team