Trail Carnage and Battle Scars

Trail Carnage and Battle Scars

Now we all now that the vast trips either by land, water, or earth leave their mark on the mere mortal. Let’s get to the point. What trail carnage or battle scars do you have? We here at VentureTree want to know your injuries. Did it occur during a daring waterfall drop in your kayak, had a tree bear hug you in that corner on that mountain bike trail, or etc? We want to the horrifying details and if able maybe a picture of the carnage. (Let’s be sure to keep it clean with the pics, please). Now, we all know that most times it is human error in why these accidents occur but if some gear was to have been the main cause give us a little detail about it.

I had a wipeout while attending Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN. I was dodging students and running late for class when I took a jump off three stairs to neatly land in a gravel parking lot. I negotiated the parking weaving through cars when I went to crank on my left pedal and then. Bam! The pedal arm snaps off causing me to impale my right rib cage on the handle bar bolt, catapulting my body to the left landing with all my weight on my left shoulder, and finally landing softly into the gravel.

Now, I know this sounds gruesome and man did it hurt!! But, being that great student I was, I picked up the bike hooked it to the nearest bike stand, and continued on my way to class. After class, I examined the carnage to find out that my left forearm has road rash from wrist to elbow, my ribs had not actually been impaled but had three bruised ribs that hurt when you breathe and laughed, a torn left rotator cuff, some other road rash scattered about my body, a shot to my pride, and expensive repair bill to follow. That darn bike pedal stem just snapped off leaving me with one good story to add to the never-ending list.

Below is a list describing some of my past and current injuries. Send us your photos of trail carnage to: venturetree@gmail.com

-Bentley VentureTree Team

Bentley’s Battle Scars and Carnage List

Head:
Forehead- bumper to short and taller things
Forehead- closed head injury (car accident)
Migraine- (car accident related)
Rt. Eyebrow- scar from being kissed with the butt of an ax (long story)
Ear- constant ear infections
Nose- broken while playing a modified game of soccer (work related)
Teeth- cracked (football related)
Chin- scar (mountain bike related) front brakes and hill is bad combo
Neck:
Back of neck: scar (camping related) friend flipped hot coal in sleeping bag
when sleeping to close to campfire. Gee, Thanks man!!
Back:
Back- mild scoliosis (birth related)
Shoulder- torn left rotator cuff (mountain bike related) at MTSU
Rib cage- scar (mountain bike related) at MTSU happened same incident
Left Arm:
Forearm- green line fracture (acting a fool related)
Palm- knife puncture (not thinking related)
Pinky finger- broken/sprain multiple times (football related)
Right Arm:
Thumb- sprain (flag football related)
Left leg:
Bicep Femoris-puncture from tree stump (swimming related)
Knee- hyper-extended (football related)
Ankle- hereditary weak joint
Pinky toe- multiple fractures/sprains (coffee table/ bookcase related)
Right leg:
Knee- tore four ligaments (football related)
Shin- scar/puncture (work related)
Big toe- sprain (trip over object related)
Pinky toe- multiple fractures/sprains (coffee table/ bookcase related)

Here is a picture of my broken nose. Ouch! - Bentley

New Age Ways to Save our Precious Environment

When you think of recycling what comes to mind?


I think about recycling paper products, plastics, aluminum cans and cardboard products. Now, if you are a weekend mechanic you might be aware that you can recycle oil. This is all fine and dandy, but what do you do with the other waste around the house or office? Do you just throw it away in the trashcan or dumpster?



I have come to find some information on our state website, http://www.tennessee.gov/. They have a program that helps to dispose of the computers, televisions, printers, copiers, fax machines, audio equipment, and etc. They call this material electronic waste or for short e-waste. E-waste can either be recycled or recovered. Recycling the waste starts by taking the glass, metal or plastic components out of the electronic device. Recovering consists of taking certain components and refurbishing them in order to use the components in some other device or application. The e-waste program is backed by manufacturers, retailers, and special community based events. To view a full list of e-waste programs in your area check here: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/swm/ewaste/.



I also discovered that there are ways to recycle oil and antifreeze. For some of us who may not know antifreeze is a freeze protection that helps to protect our vehicles. As a part of your regular radiator maintenance antifreeze should be flushed every 1-2 years. The down side to antifreeze is that it is toxic to humans and animals in small doses. Here in Tennessee you can recycle in three ways:
1. In an on-site unit
2. A mobile unit
3. Off-site

Recycled antifreeze is more cost effective than virgin antifreeze and it eliminates the need for disposal. To find a collection site near you call 1-800-287-9013 or check this link: www.tennessee.gov/environment/swm/oil/oildrop.shtml
Or you can check out Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program: www.tennessee.gov/environment/swm/hhw/index.shtml

The VentureTree Team believes in doing what we can to better our environment. By doing the little things, we can help the bigger picture.

-Bentley VentureTree Team

Leatherman WAVE review | Could this be the ultimate multi-tool?

It's really ridiculous how durable this tool is. Really folks... I've used in many trips and adventures as well as small jobs around the house. I'll be the first to admit that this guy is kind of a heavy tool to be lugging around, but its well worth the weight. Its stainless steel design proves true when using it on the field. With it's armament of tools and bits, I've used it in jobs such as putting my friends dining set together to sharpening a hatchet using the locking diamond file. I find the needle-nose pliers useful for pulling tent stakes, lifting a boiling pot, or untwisting wire hangers into hot dog skewers. There are too many jobs for me to list here but I'll tell ya about a few. Two locking blades, clip-point and serrated, are located outside the closed pliers for one-handed opening. I find this very convenient when trying to open thick food packages (I like to get to my food fast!) There is also a locking saw blade that is great for hacking through wrist-sized pieces of wood. These are the tools that I end up using the most aside from the little scissors located inside the Leatherman. I use these bad boys mainly for cutting up my credit cards(joke) or unsightly strings hanging from my shirts and jeans, you know, the small chores. While in Mexico for 3 months, I had forgotten to take my nail clippers and ended up using the scissors to keep my hands well manicured.

I've had the Wave now for almost 3 years and it has always provided consistent service. I take it on every hike and when I'm on a road trip I throw it in the glove box. Search hard enough and you can find the Wave for about $65. Mine was a Christmas gift. It quickly replaced my Gerber Multi tool. In fact I ended up giving my Gerber to my brother. One day he borrowed my Wave after leaving his multi-tool at home and was so impressed he wanted to trade back his Gerber for my Wave. I politely declined and said. "What. Was my gift not good enough dear brother?" - Er. Something to that nature. Needless to say, hes been eyeing my Wave every time we go camping together.
So, will I be giving away my Swiss Army knife? Probably not, but its good to know that when I need a durable tool to finish the job, my Wave will be waiting.

Below are the features that makes this multi-tool a jam-packed beast.
Needlenose Pliers
Wire Cutters
Hard-Wire Cutters
Clip-Point Knife
Serrated Knife
Saw
Scissors
Wood/Metal File
Diamond-Coated File
Large Bit Driver
Small Bit Driver
Large Screwdriver
Ruler (8 inch/19 cm)
Bottle/Can Opener
Wire Stripper
Lanyard Attachment
Two Double-Ended Bits Length: 4 in. / 10 cm closed - 6.3 in / 16 cm open
Weight: 8.5 ounces / 241 grams Materials: 100% stainless steel (Optimum grade hardness for each tool/blade) Included Screw Bits:

Phillips and flat tip eyeglass screwdriver
Phillips #1-2 and screwdriver 3/16"
Pikka | Venturetree Team

source: leatherman.com

Pikka | Venturetree Team

Stinky versus Clean

Have you ever been on a long camping trip and you start to smell something that is rather stinky? What or who could it be? The trip continues and the smell gets worse. How do you deal with it? Do you take the chance to go get clean and be attacked by the whole insect world or do you go stinky?

There are two sides to this issue:

The first side is that some say that if you put on deodorant, after shave, and/or fruity smelling body sprays and whatnots that it will attract insects. I have been personally attacked by no-seeums after a recent shower during a trip. I have recently realized that after a long backpacking trip, I stop for a quick shower before heading out to mow the yard and got bombarded by mosquitoes.

The second side is being clean more important. Your outdoor adventure buddies my enjoy your clean side oppose to that horrid stinky side.
I have taken chosen both sides of this topic depending on the trip. I have been on a long backcountry backpacking trip and only rinsed off my face and added very minimal deodorant. Then on another trip I have bath just like I was at home just avoided the cologne. I think it just depends on the trip and who is going with you on that trip.

Depending on the situation what would you do?
Would you be bold and daring and go stinky?
Or cave to the clean and good smelling side of things?

Send us your thoughts and commments!

Bentley Venturetree Team