Do you love the outdoors and can’t wait for the weekend so you can leave the job behind and go camping, fishing or hiking? You are not alone; there are many people who dream of having their jobs outside in the open air. There are many people who have chosen to make their outdoor hobby a career, it takes effort and a bit of digging but the jobs can be found. One place to search is the occupational outlook handbook that the United States Government publishes each year online and in print. These are just a few examples of the jobs that allow you to pursue your hobby and make a living doing that.

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Foresters are employed to manage the nations national forests and direct the various activities on them for the benefit of the public which has interests involving economic, conservational, recreational, and environmental. The forestry jobs can range from the preservation of forests and protection from wildfires and deciding which trees can be safely harvested for economic use. The procurement foresters come to know and appreciate the timber and land use as they balance the logging interests with conservation and the myriad of environmental regulations from the Federal, State and local areas.

The other career fields in the outdoor arena are as varied as the types of outdoor recreation that are used by the public; from the tour guides in our national parks to the oceanographers who study the world’s oceans and how they impact and are in turn, impacted by humans. The state and local parks as well as national landmarks are usually in need of workers, both seasonal and longer term.  One of the places to find out about outdoor jobs is http://wilderdom.com ; another is the http://www.outdoorindustryjobs.com . These are reputable places to look and there are many others online.

When considering changing careers to an outdoor one, it is a wise idea to do your research first. Find out what is available and ties in best with the work you already do, so that you can use your experience to obtain that job you dream of.  One other place to check for turning seasonal jobs into careers is http://jobsearch.about.com/od/tempjobs/a/seasonal.htm . Most importantly, plan your moves as carefully as you do the fishing or hunting trip to bag the trophy game. Planning and research for outdoor jobs will lead to finding the specific outdoor job that will allow you to do what you love for a living.

These creeks are all slate bottomed and extremely slick. I’ve had a few nasty spillsin freezing water before I invested in felt soled waders so make sure that you’ve got something that’s going to help you keep your footing when you visit this area for steelhead.

There are usually a lot of fish where you can see them feeding and spawning. Theyare line shy and you have to use 4 to 8 pound test line and know how to set yourdrag and play them out.

When you do hook a fish if there are other fishermen in the
same hole and you will need to let them know that you’ve got something on.. Make sure that you say “fish on” and  they will usually get out of the way.

As for fishing rods there are endless possibilities from fly rods and noodle rods. I
prefer spinning rod and reel. As for bait I’ve had luck with any thing from night
crawlers, live emerald shiners and egg sacks which are fish eggs tied up inside of
little squares cut from nylon stockings.

I usually use a size 2 or 4 hook and just enough split shot to get a good drift past the fish. When you do get a hit the take is usually very light so you need to watch your line if it quits moving you need to react. When you hook a fish they fight like crazy 3 and 4 foot jumps are not uncommon, be prepared to follow the fish when runs up and down stream. Fish from 20 to 30 inches are not uncommon.

As far as fishing out on Lake Erie is concerned the lake is huge and the waves can come up very fast. My advice would be to hire one of the many charter captains to take you out most of them can handle up 6 persons and they know where to locate the fish. Fishing is usually done with down riggers and planer boards and you can learn a lot from the boats crew.

You will need medium to heavy action fishing rods. I prefer casting reels with clickers that can be set on free spool and will click when a fish starts moving with your bait, spooled with 30lb test or heavier. For hooks 6/0 seem to work well. You will need big sinkers to keep your bait on bottom preferably run through type with a split shot clamped on the hook side around two feet above the hook works well. A big size landing net will help with getting the fish on shore or into the boat.

The fish seem to prefer live bait, the bigger the better. this can get quite costly unless you catch your own. where I fished on the Allegheny river in northwest pa there were plenty of streams where you could catch horn day chubs and shiners. the hard part is keeping them alive and healthy until you are ready to use them. for this a little ice in the bait buckets along with portable aireators helps a lot.

I prefer eight to ten feet of fast moving water with lots of rocks. the fish will move through here searching for food. the dark of the moon can be the best time to fish. for bank fishing I use a lantern with the side towards you blocked with alumnium foil this helps see the rods better. You will need some sort of rod holders. if the bank is soft a forked stick work fine. you can also lean the rods on bait buckets or tackle boxes or coolers.

when it comes time to fish just cast out let the bait settle take up the slack and if you are using a clicker reel engage the clicker and put the reel in free spool just don’t forget this part or the fish can leave with your fishing rod, making for a short night. when you a hit let the fish run with the bait. They usually move a short way and then stop to eat the bait. When the fish stops engage the reel and turn off the clicker, when the fish starts moving again let the slack go out of the line and set the hook real hard and hold on like you mean it. These fish can get quite large and they all fight hard. This will be the time when a fishing buddy comes in real handy.

if you chose to try this sport I think you will love it. and if you are in Arizona maybe I’ll see you out there.

This Tips items comes to us from T Drake in Golden Valley Arizona. A seasoned fisherman and something of a legend in his home state of Pennsylvania, Tom is a fisherman and hunter who’s got more years of experience under his belt than most people have hairs on their head. (well okay so he’s maybe not THAT old) His tips are well worth reading and paying attention to when it comes to pulling out the big guys.

Others prefer the state parks to camp for a week or even a long weekend. There is a need for people to escape the normal everyday grind to feel the wind in their face and smell the rain on pine needles.

But enjoying the outdoors takes a bit of planning, one does not just jump in the car and drive. If you are camping, there are things to be considered such as where to stay, what to eat and activities to do. If you are cooking over a campfire or gas stove, keep the meals simple and easy to make. A first aid kit is one of the most essential items you will need in case of injury.
Make a list of what you need to take with you, compare it to one that various camping equipment sites have online in case there is something you have overlooked.  Layer clothing, it allows you to adjust to the weather changes as needed. Extra socks and a tee shirt or two are handy also.

Camping gear can be as simple or complicated as you wish. Some families are happy with a camper trailer and others only require what can be carried on their back for sleeping and shelter. Before you go camping research the place you are going and take maps of the area.

Tell members of your family who are not going where you are going and when you plan on returning in case of an unexpected delay. This will help if there is a need to find you if an emergency should arise.

Many people are camping at places within a fairly short distance from their homes due to the economic deprivations on income.  One place to check for ideas on where to camp is your state website; it has national and state park information as well. It may take a time to plan out an outdoor camping adventure, but it will be remembered for years after by family members.

Activities can include the usual fishing, swimming, hiking and also such sports events as mountain biking, rafting and orienteering; what you choose will depend on where you go and what your family is interested in. Have fun camping and let the breeze blow in your face while you are enjoying the outdoors.

Made popular many years ago by the music of CW McCall, the Green Rivers canyons are legendary with each one offering its own challenges and it’s own incredible scenery.

For those who are new to white water rafting, there is a short nine mile stretch that offers a great solution to the newcomer to the sport who wants to test their mettle.

Running through the lower part of the Gray Canyon, on the Green river  there is a super stretch that will take you about a day to accomplish, and can be done along or in a group. There are seven rapids, most of which are quite mild in nature, although when the water is high some do form class three rapids.

Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons part of the river is also popular with canoe folks, as it is a mostly peaceful section that runs about a hundred miles along the Green River.

There are guides who will take you through Labyrinth and STillwater in power boats.  Your path will take you past the Crystal Geyser and if your timing is good you can see it shooting for more than sixty feet into the air.

One of the most scenic and also the most exciting and enjoyable trips will be Lodore Canyon, with incredibly tall rock formations, waterfalls, petroglyphs and superb chances for photographs all along the way. The trip runs about forty four miles and runs through Dinosaur National Monument as well as through some incredible rapids that include three of the most exciting and best in the entire Green River area.These rapids will be the most powerful duding the late summer months of July and August.

You’re not going to see just rapids and water, but also a wide array of scenery and wildlife along your way.

If you’re a river rafter and you’re up for some great scenery, some breath taking rapids and a trip that you’re not going to forget in a lifetime, head out for the Green River and see if you have what it takes to navigate your way through the rapids here.

North western Arizona is a premiere place to view wildlife simply because of the multiple types of climate and geography there.

The wildlife in Arizona, unbeknownst to many people, is more diverse than nearly anywhere else in the United states, with animals ranging from wild burros all the way to black bears, depending of course on what you might want to see.

Knowing a bit about what to view in what area will give you a hand in finding the right place to go to view it, but Arizona is, despite its reputation as a dry and lifeless place, literally teeming with wildlife of all kinds.

You might, on any given day, see a mountain lion, a mule deer or a black bear, and along the rivers, the variety is just about endless.

As with any other hobby, there are techniques that will serve you well when it comes to wildlife viewing. You know for instance that many types of wildlife will have a far more acute sense of smell and sight than we do, so its quite likely that they will see you before you see them unless you follow a few simple guidelines.

**Don’t wear perfumes or lotions when you set out to view wildlife

**Wear more natural colors which are geared toward the environment you will be viewing wildlife in.

**Make sure that your clothing is more natural and more quiet in nature, things such as nylon or windbreaker gear is going to rustle and make a good bit of noise as you enter the viewing area.

** Move slowly through the area, and make stops here and there to simply wait and watch.

** Make sure that you use the land or the rocks etc as some natural cover for you when you are viewing wildlife.

**When you must speak, speak very softly and only when necessary.

**NEVER attemtpt to approach the animals closely, or to feed them, particularly the predatory ones. You may find yourself in a situation that is a bit to close for comfort.

To learn a bit more about viewing wildlife in Arizona, pay a visit to the wildlife viewing pages and take stock of what there is to see and do there.

* Distance: 3 miles
* Time:  approximately 2 hours
* Elevation gain over hike: 200 feet
* Difficulty: mild to moderate
* Location: Southeast-central Utah, about 15 miles west of the town of Green River.
* Permitted: Hikers, dogs, horses. Good hike for kids however there is no wheelchair accessibility.

Directions

From Green River, UT, go on  Interstate 70 west for about 15 miles. Turn north onto a dirt road  which you will find after mile marker 145, and when you’ve gone a bit over a mile, then you will turn west onto another dirt road, which you will travel for about half a mile until you reach the mouth of the Dragon Canyon.
Maps

Contact Information:

BLM Moab District, San Rafael Resource Area, 125 South 600 West, Price, UT 84501; (435) 636-3600.
Trail notes

Black Dragon Canyon is an easier hike through a deep canyon which will delight you in that it is covered in pictographs and wonderful finds from early Native Americans.

Near the mouth, a large overhang,  which is also one you’ll probably be able to drive right up to with your vehicle affords you a wonderful campsite if you’re in the market for staying the night.

An old jeep track gives you a super level walking surface for most the hike.

About 200 yards past the overhang, you’ll find the first panel of exceptional ancient drawings, and in reality, these are the reason why you’re going to find most of the hikers coming here. The hiking isn’t all that spectacular, and isn’t truly a challenge but the pictographs are most amazing and they are absolutely must see parts of the canyon.

Beyond the panel, after less than two miles of walking below tall, sculpted sandstone walls, the canyon forks off. The south fork takes you back towards Interstate 70, while the  north fork offers more fascinating canyon walls and further pictographs for you to view.

Among the cameras in my arsenal is of course the Canon EOS series. A 10 D is an older model, will get you by very very nicely when its time to photograph some weather or wildlife and won’t cost an arm and a leg. Ebay afficionados can find a nice Canon EOS 10D or 20D setup for under 500 dollars these days and they will offer you a perfect shot from the hip, as it were.

Some of the shots you don’t plan on, and don’ t have time to plan FOR can be accomplished quite nicely with the Canon, as shown here. This gorgeous albino  fawn didn’t quite have time to beat feet with their mom before the camera was up and snapping in Tionesta, Pennsylvania.

Springtime also brings out a few critters you’re wishing would have stayed in bed, but the photos are great aren’t they? This rattler was up and moving but not overly curious when the flash went off so he wasn’t a problem for anyone. The deep woods of Pennsylvania brings out timber rattlers that are reasonably long and decently proportioned. Meeting one of them  isn’t always pleasant and isn’t all that rare really .So whats a good rule of thumb someone asked me, for photographing rattlesnakes? My ONLY rule of thumb is, if they aren’t behind glass, use a good zoom and stand back.

Although I do recommend a Canon or a Nikon for your wildlife photos, one of the better models that you can use multiple lenses with, the truth is that just about anything you want can offer you a decent photo. Digital cameras hve given us some incredible new freedom with regard to images. Disposables offer us great photos and a lower cost if we drop it or lose it, while the lower priced digitals can afford you a decent image. For example, the photo below was taken with a FinePix camera, which isn’t top range, but as you can see, it does a relatively good job when the subject isn’t a quick mover.

These folks were captured at LE Ray Lake near Grand Island Nebraska.

Get out there, now that spring is on top of us. Get hiking.. and don’t forget your camera..

Foot orienteering is a sport that involves map reading, strategic use of time and locations, but there are several other methods of travel including mountain bicycles, ski, trail, canoe or mounted on horseback.

The first public orienteering competition in Sweden was held in 1901 and two famous churches, Spanga kyrka and Bromma kyrka, were some of the special locations that those competing were to find. The international flag for orienteering consists of one white triangle and one orange triangle. Since the beginning of orienteering, the sport has evolved to become a World Game, with specific rules and equipment used.
Orienteering is a terrific way to enjoy your time outdoors and the love of competing against yourself and your friends in something that is not as dull as a competitive football or basketball game can become. The large style event that often lasts twenty four hours is called a Rogaine. It encompasses a large area and often whole clubs compete. One of the desirable features of orienteering is varied terrain as it offers more of a challenge to competitors.
The basic skills of using a compass and reading a map are essential to the outdoor sport of orienteering but the attributes of common sense and a healthy body are not to be discounted either. The International Orienteering Federation has been campaigning for years to have the sport of orienteering as an Olympic sport, but so far it has not succeeded.
Control cards are used by the competitors and the cards are often punched electronically at the specific control point as the competitor reaches it. The use of electronic aids such as a Global positioning device is not allowed. The winner of the orienteering is the one with the fastest time and now with the use of computers, the results can be narrowed down to closer times as the competitors come closer to each other at the finish line. It is a wise idea to do some research and reading to become familiar with this fascination outdoor sport that is unique in itself, then grab your map, compass and find your way to the nearest competition offered in your area.

Whether you live in the city, small town or rural area, there are some common precautions to think about when hiking.
First of all, know the area you plan to hike in, dress in layers, because the weather often changes quickly and you need to be ready for rain or sunshine.

Layers keep you warmer and are easier to remove or add if you need to. One other thing to do is wear comfortable footwear; bring extra socks in case of blisters. A small first aid kit is a good idea as is water, cell phone; high energy snacks and above all, let someone know where you are going and when you plan on getting back.

Hiking alone is not the best idea; it is more fun with someone else around to share the beauty you find with. Take a lot of pictures, not native plants or rocks. If you are not in good physical condition, take time to get in shape by walking a few times around the block before tackling a trail that is more challenging. Stretching out and warming up with some simple exercises will pay off because your muscles are better able to handle the hiking trails.
There are maps available from the national park service and the local library will have guide books to check out. Many city recreation departments have guidelines as to if your pets are allowed or special restrictions due to nesting season of waterfowl or other precautions you should be aware of.

This is an area where research will pay off in knowing what to expect and something of the history of the area you are hiking. It is in the out of the way spots you can find the most memorable moments and opportunities for pictures. Hiking is a fairly inexpensive way to enjoy the outdoors and reduce the stress that we all are under from everyday life.

National park passes are inexpensive and often available for special population groups at a discount, check out the website of the state you live in, they have updated information and more ideas on enjoying hiking. Wherever you go, whatever you do, be careful and enjoy your hiking!

That  doesn’t mean take your mega million dollar camera down the rapids unless you know how to make it waterproof, it means understanding lighting, how your camera works and how to get the most out of whatever kind of camera you happen to be using, from the  least expensive to the most expensive.

For my money, you can’t beat a digital these days and the pixel rate has gone up while the price has gone down.   Each of them has its drawbacks of course and its positive side, but the up side of a digital is that you needn’t bother with the film, double exposures are few and far between and you can and do get the same quality that the film camera gave you with out some of the added expenses. Add to that that its a lot easier to not have to change film in the middle of the water or a ski trip.

As to taking a camera with you on the outside forays into new adventures, absolutely.

I never leave home without one, and I’m the person you hate when it comes to spending time with me. Whether its a camping trip, picnic, family gathering, a storm or an avalanche, I’m happily clicking away taking pictures of everything and everyone.

What’s my favorite camera? In all honesty I’d have to say the Canon EOS series cameras give the best bang for your buck, when you want some quality and the extra options that it takes to get some great action shots.  I love the extra functions and I like what kind of return I get for wildlife as well as lightning photos, and the ease of use they offer to even the most rank amateur. I take it hiking, to the Grand Canyon, to the national parks and a little bit of everywhere, but I do pay a price for it. My own Canon has dings, scratches and bangs, but I’d have to say, its held up remarkably well for all that. It’s hit the ground a time or two, been banged against a few rocks while climbing or hiking and shows a little wear and tear on the  body.

Is that what I recommend for a rafting trip.. well yes and no.  You’re definitely going to get the best pictures, but here’s the thing… I’ve had mine dunked a few times and the reality is that they don’t respond well to water.

For a river rafting trip, take a cheap imitation, or waterproof your good one, otherwise you’re going to be sad and its going to be wet unless you’re the guy on the shore waiting for the raft to come past you, which is a lot less fun than taking part.

When you’re new to a given type of outdoor entertainment, my personal recommendation is, take a disposable, study it and its capabilities and use it. If it drops, falls or bounces off a few rocks, it beats killing your favorite more costly camera. Learn what you’re doing in that new activity prior to trying to take photos while you’re doing it with your best camera.

In the Oatman arizona area live wild burros. Holdouts from another era. They are, according to reports, leftover from the prospecting days, descendents of those burro’s who served masters who may or may not have died there, and left them to fend for themselves.

In the United States, with its rich prospecting history in the American southwest, the donkey was one of the most important parts of the prospecting, since it was used as a beast of burden, and bred mules. These animals played a major part in opening up the west to newcomers, with their hardiness and their ability to survive nearly anything.

The wild burros of Arizona are, just as the name implies, wild. There are normally about twelve or more. They can be seen in many parts of Arizona, but some, near the towns of Kingman, Golden Valley, or near Oatman Arizona.

They forage and fend for themselves, coming and going as they please. They show up often on the roadways and in the town looking for a hand out from the tourists and residents. Feeding them is acceptable, and even sometimes encouraged, but do use caution when you do so. They may seem tame and pleasant but they are in fact, wild animals, with several generations of wild animals behind them.

While there are many Burros that do seem to go into the towns regularly you’ll find many many more that do not in the hills that surround Oatman.
According to the town of Oatman web site …” These burros are direct decendants of those which were brought here by Gold Miners.. Then the coming of World War Two when the gold mines surrounding Oatman and Gold Roads, Arizona was shut down the burros were set free to roam the hills.”

If you’re traveling in Arizona, stop in at Oatman and pay a call on the wild burros that roam the streets of the town. Use good sense and some amount of caution so that your experience with the wild burros is a pleasant one for both of you.
Take some time out  to view these remnants of our mining and prospecting past. You can purchase carrots in a lot of the shops that exist locally near where the burros are seen but please don’t feed them things like candy, bread or other processed foods.
Its not good for tthem and it can gt them accustomed to a food thats not going to be there for them

Granted, the walking isn’t always easy and the time span to cover the same amount of time is a little longer.. well scratch that I suppose.. it could be as much as double, but what you get back makes it worth your extra time and effort. As you can see by some of the photos I’ve snapped on my winter hiking forays, the world outside in the wintertime is nothing short of magic.

Word to the wise: Dress in layers.. carry a walking stick or a ski pole, take a cell phone or walkie talkie in case you run into trouble and make sure someone knows where you’re going to be hiking or climbing if you’re going alone. Take some water, matches or a lighter and something high energy to snack on. Its fun and I recommend it, but its also got its down side.

Coming from Pennsylvania, my first experience as a winter hiker took place there and was in fact an accident. We’re not only hikers, we’re hunters and as such, the deer hunt usually takes place in the snow, or at least frigid temperatures.

My first successful hunt took place when I was 18. Let me back up and explain. We’re a family of walkers. Hunting deer doesn’t mean that we sit in a comfy tree stand and wait for someone to come to us. It means we walk, for literally miles until we find a deer crossing that looks promising and then we take a seat at the base of a tree and wait. If we don’t see what we’re looking for, we move on to another promising place.

Having found that promising place, I was seated when a buck of a fairly good size and a promising spread presented himself in front of me. Without accounting for the brush in between, I lifted, sighted and fired. He fell, stood, bounded about twenty steps, fell again and stood up and left.  I was shattered. First because it was a pride thing, and I didn’t like to miss. Second because he was injured and we weren’t allowed to come home til we’d found him and lastly, because it was cold, I was tired and I didn’t honestly feel like spending half a day tracking.

He was leaving a good blood trail on about two inches of new snow, so the tracking wasn’t hard, but with the underbrush covered, it wasn’t easy walking. Still as I looked around, saw the ice crystals sparkling on the tree tops, and  the new snow stretched over trees and underbrush for miles around me, and the complete silence of the Pennsylvania forest broken only by the occasional call of some bird or a scolding squirrel, the walking got to be a lot more fun and interesting.

Eventually I found the deer, an hour later. Of course, he’d walked down to the bottom of a ravine about twelve feet deep and had to be brought up, but I’d also found a new hobby that grew and evolved into winter hiking, winter camping and a whole lot more. Now I hike wintertime with a camera in hand. The wildlife are gorgeous when framed in a pristine snowfall, the world is quiet and usually, there aren’t too many people on that trail or in the woods so you’ve largely got the place to yourself.

Don’t let the cold or a snowfall keep you inside. The things you’re missing will absolutely amaze you and make you wish  you’d tackled that hill in the winter time a long time ago.

For Muddy Terrain
If you envision mud being an issue on your trail, and you see no way clear to avoid it, then you’re going to want to use narrow tires which have lugs that are spaced quite widely so that you don’t end up having your frame and forks covered in mud. The buildup can create havoc with your speed and with your stability.

 For Softer Terrain
When the conditions are such that you’re going to be riding over softer areas, things such as rocks that are loose, soft dirt and etc, the best bet for you will be to pick a wide tire with broad knobs.

These will give you a great deal more stability and help you to keep traction and that the tread be thick and stable, to give you a firm base of support.

For Hardpacked Terrain
When your surface is going to be hard packed, then you’re going to want tires that have very close spacing between the hard knobs, and it may be that you don’t want any center knob whatsoever.
The hard packed surface will accept a narrower tire than you might use when conditions see you riding a soft surface, and you want to make sure that your knob is two times the width at the base at it is high.
If the knob is too tall, your tire’s going to deflect when you’re cornering.

Fishing in the early spring is a real blast isn’t it.. well.. it is if you’re catching fish. If you’re just hanging out on the sidelines with a wet line and no bites, its a bit less than fun and the most polite of us have uttered a word or two that probably shouldn’t be printed. NOt only trout are abundant in the springtime, but lots of other fish as well.

If springtime fishing is your cup of tea and you’re looking for the best way to catch your limit and be home by lunchtime, then you probably need to take a few tips on the water temperature with regard to certain kinds of fish.

Crappie and bass totally love that warmer water, and if you want to catch them, you’ve got to be where they are. that means along the edges, where the water is warmer, or under that log or jam of brush is where the most of them are going to hang out waiting for you to drop a line.

Bass too like it a bit warmer and will spawn whe the temps in the water are about 70 degrees. April and May are a great time for Bass and if you fish the shallows, you’re going to find what you’re looking for with regard to catching that big bass.

Open water of course is a lot cooler than along the edges, so you won’t find as many fish there of the crappie and bass variety as you might like, making fishing a lot less prolific.

For those of us who are brookie fans.. that is to say, the brook trout that are so amazing, put up such a nice fight and fry up so amazingly, they like a ton of oxygen and want to have a water temperature thats below 50 as a general rule.

You will find those, actually, migrating, up and down the river or creek looking for the right place to hang out. Springtime makes it a lot easier. Anyplace you see a lot of rapids, white water or strong currents, you will find a trout. When it begins to warm up a lot in spring and early summer, you’ll find those further down stream, where the water will run through rocky areas and cool it considerably for them.
Look for areas for trout where the water is going to be considerably colder and fish them. Chances are you’re going to have some great luck this first day of fishing season, just by paying attention to common sense ideas about the water temperature and what the fish actually like.