Deer season is over and the winter is beginning to recede. With springtime some of the most outdoor fun, but also some of the outdoor issues.Among the problems we see in the spring and summertime are the weeds, mosquitos and other things that can make us itch and be uncomfortable. Try to pay attention to where you’re walking and what kind of plants that you’re in. That’s step number one to treating poison ivy. Prevent it…

The threat of things like poison ivy and poison oak return nearly as soon as things begin to grow in the summer time. No matter where you live, chances are poison ivy lives there too. You try to watch for it but the fact is that sometimes you’re just not paying attention.

If you’ve been bitten by the poison ivy in your area more than once, you’ve probably used just about every home remedy known to man for the itch and the sting.

The doctors will give you calamine, perhaps even antibiotics or steriods if you’ve been well doused enough in it. The Natives and the old people know of a few better remedies that you might want to try if that calamine isn’t doing the trick.

Here are a couple home remedies that will work for the outdoorsman who didnt’ dodge the Poison Ivy plant.

As a young girl growing up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia I had a sister who was incredibly allergic to Poison Ivy. if the plants were accidentally burned and she stood in the smoke she could catch it. No exaggeration folks

Being unable to get rid of it even after four doctor visits, our gran, who was an old mountain woman in West Virginia split the shoots of the jewelweed, what some of you call touch-me-nots, and rubbed the sap on her legs. She permitted that to dry and stay in place for several minutes. The parts that were more swollen, she covered in a poultic that she made of boiled shoots of the elderberry tree.

The doctors were incredulous when the poison ivy they had treated for  more than two weeks was gone within five days.

If you’re someone who has gotten into a poison ivy patch, wash the area thoroughly and if you do still get some residual effects, rub it with the inner sap that is emitted by the jewelweed plant.

Bear in mind that you can have an allergy to anything at all. While most people don’t find this with jewelweed, it can happen so be cautious when you first try the remedy. You’re going to be amazed at how rapidly the poison ivy goes away.

Supplemental feeding can be the only thing thing that keeps them going through these tough times. It is fairly cheap to do and can be a lot of fun. You will get to see a lot of different wild life.

I even found shed deer antlers around my turkey feeders, so you know they are also coming in to help the turkeys with their supplied dinner.

If you can find an empty wire spool and some square holed fence you can make a nice feeder that will hold corn still on the cobb. I find this works the best as you want the food off of the ground, so as it doesn’t freeze over and defeat the purpose.

Any thing you want to use to hold it off the ground should work just fine. I have even seen some that were hung from trees with rope or wire. Just make sure to make a hole in the top with a door that you can wire shut to keep raccoons and other things from stealing all the food. As far as when to go check on the feeder and refill it I always tried to go at a time when I thought the turkeys might not be around so I didn’t have to spook them away.I’m sure it wouldn’t matter if you did or not. This is also a great way to get some super wildlife photos. You can build a blind and even photograph wild life around feeders.

I usually tried to pick a spot I knew they fed in before, that was also close to a creek or stream. You want to make this an easy spot for you as well. Bear in mind that the further you you walk the heavier the corn seems to get. Also being dressed so much more heavily for the weather will also wear on you. A good way to do it is to always try to have some one with you to help out.

Feeding wildlife in the winter time isn’t something that everyone agrees with. I tend to think that they are going to feed me in the fall so I might as well return the favor until then.

This past week the Red Rock was the scene of some wonderful weather. At least for us, it was wonderful weather. The scene was a winter wonderland. A few hiking trails were closed, but most remained open, making the trail an amazing sight that offered a glimpse of a northern lifestyle.

Trekking across some of the pathways, the mountains in the distance covered in snow were breathtaking in their beauty. Snowball fights and hiking generally don’t go hand in hand, but they did.

Red Rock, for those of you who don’t know is  a veritable outdoor playground just a few miles from Vegas so you can hike the day away and go home to a luxury hotel for the evening.

Red Rock Canyon is nestled in the mountains and hills, and is also part of the Mohave Desert.. It has a wide array of things to see and do, among them hiking, as well as photography opportunities. The wildlife is amazing.

Seeing  the many different larger animals as well as  the smaller desert animals is one of the best parts of the Mojave. The array of things that Red Rock offers is incredible.

While you’re there, you can shop, buying some of the native jewelry and other items, as well as visit the many different centers that the Canyon offers you. In the right season the wildflowers are well worth photographing along with the different kinds of plant life that the Mojave has to offer you. It isn’t an overly difficult hike for anyone. There are multiple trails to use and the Canyone offers you a fairly good glmpse of the world around you from a driving route as well.

Last year the Canyon offered a Photographic contest that you might also be interested in.

Hiking the Red Rock is a treat in and of itself, but the many other things to see and do there make it a full days adventure not far from the city lights. Take advantage of this wonder of nature and pay a call on the Red Rock Canyon the next time your travels take you to Las Vegas Nevada.

No matter how you choose to do it  I think it is  exiting. I shot one once that
weighed 280 pounds dressed out and it was by far the most exiting hunt I’ve ever
had.

I was hunting with my older brother and a good friend of ours which made it
even more memorable.  I could not believe how quiiet and hard to see the bear was. He
was twenty yards away and just stepped out of a shadow. I went from freezing cold to
sweating instantly.

I some how calmed myself enough to get the gun up and settle
the cross hairs right behind his shoulder and somehow shot where i was aiming. He went down
right away but I waited for the two guys to show up before I went to the spot just to be on the safe side. What a gorgeous animal he was.

Which brings up another thought. You’re going to need a lot of help getting a bear out of the woods. Trust me when I say that there is no way I could have done that part alone. Lucky for me the gun fire drew quite
a crowd one of which had a big four wheeler and was nice enough to take the bear out
after we field dressed it.

As far as guns for bear go my feeling is the bigger the better as long as you can
handle it well. I used my 35 Rem. and it worked quite well. You absolutely want to knock him down first shot.If you don’t know the area you are going to hunt you may want to consider hiring a guide or outfitter. There are some great ones in nearly all areas where bear hunting goes on.

As always when choosing one I would get references and check them out well.
Check well ahead of time on licensing procedures as some areas you have to enter a
drawing to get them. Some seasons are open now and some aren’t until late in November.

If you choose to go and you are lucky enough to get a bear in range I can promise
you your adrenalin will be pumping and that’s what it’s all about.

One last thought… before you take your bear to a taxidermist, get some good references and get a contract. I’ve lost bear hides through bad taxidermy and some through what the dresser told me was “lost” You don’t want to end up with nothing for your trouble. Check them out before you deliver your animal to them.

Of course you need to consider that hunting season may be open and take precautions.
I know a lot of areas exist where there are no open hunting seasons.

Where I used to go near Bennezette Pa. the elk were plentiful and you could bugle them in and get plenty of picture and video

opportunities.On a few occasions we probably had elk in waaay to close, but it really
got your heart rate up and made for good stories later on. Bear in mind that you need to respect
an elk of any size because they are powerful and more than large. In our own excursions we’ve seen them walk over and
destroy a 10 foot tall pine tree just raking their antlers up them one time.

But if you are up for some excitement and exercise grab some camouflage and a cow call or
bugle call you can use and head on out.

My favorite areas were near meadows or strip mines where elk like to feed.
We would walk around and look and listen for elk and then move in and set up little way away from them and
try to call them in. We’ve always seemed to have very good luck this way.

The hike in the autumn air is good for you and the elk are wonderful to view, whatever your distance. Remember to camo up and to take a good spotting scope with you.

Of course you need to consider that hunting season may be open and take precautions. I know a lot of areas exist where there are no open hunting seasons. Where I used to go near Bennezette Pa. the elk were plentiful and you could bugle them in and get plenty of picture and video opportunities. We don’t normally hunt the elk, given that it’s a lottery but that doesn’t stop us from creeping in as closely as we can and getting great video of these most amazing animals.

On a few occasions we probably had elk in way to close but it really
got your heart rate up and made for good stories later on. You do need to respect
an elk of any size because they are powerful and truly weigh a ton.

I’ve stood nearby quietly and watched them completely destroy a10 foot tall pine tree just raking their antlers up them one time.

The truth is that no matter how you slice it they are incredible. It’s breath taking to move in closely and watch them interact. You are up for some excitement and exercise. The exercise does enter into play when you go to view them or videotape them.

It’s going to take a little effort. These guys are a little hinky at this time of year. You’re going to be walking a reasonable distance and you’re going to need to be well camouflaged. Grab some camouflage and a cow call or bugle call you can use and head on out.

My favorite areas were near meadows or strip mines where elk like to feed. We would walk around and look and listen for elk and then move in and set up little ways away from them and try to call them in. We seemed to have very good luck this way. Choose some relatively deep cover and get a decent camera that will let you set up for brush and other things that are definitely going to get in the way.

We’ve come up with some great photos. My wife took this one. We were enveloped in dense fog, so thick that we didn’t see this guy below til he was right on top of us.
The rest of us were scrambling to get out of the way, and she was clicking away. This photo wasn’t touched up in any way. The huge shape of the elk coming near us is exactly what we saw and she was the only one with the presence of mind to shoot her camera.

Kind of makes you wonder why we sometimes call them the weaker sex doesn’t it..

I was hunting with my older brother and a good friend of ours which made it
even more memorable. Granted, the nay-sayers are going to tell you that hunting is a male thing, but I’ve got female friends who do it too and we’re not compensating for anything, nor is it a hormone driven event folks. It’s plain sport. It’s pitting ourselves against something that could just as easily see us before we see it.

I could not believe how quiet and hard to see the bear was. He was twenty yards away and just stepped out of a shadow. I went from freezing cold to sweating instantly. I some how calmed myself enough to get the gun up and settle the cross hairs right behind his shoulder and my shot was somehow amazingly on target( and yes it was amazing) and he went down right away but I waited for the other two guys to show up before we went where he fell.

What a beautiful animal he was. Which brings up another thought. You will need a lot of help getting a bear out of the woods. Lucky for me the gun fire drew quite
a crowd one of which had a big four wheeler and was nice enough to hall the bear out after we field dressed it.

As far as guns for bear go my feeling is the bigger the better as long as you can
handle it well. I used my 35 rem. and it worked quite well. If you don’t know the
area you are going to hunt you may want to consider hiring a guide or outfitter
there are a lot of fine ones with good reputations. As always when choosing one I
would get references and check them out well.

Check well ahead of time on licensing procedures as some areas you have to enter a
drawing to get them. Some seasons are open now and some aren’t until November. But if you choose to go and you are lucky enough to get a bear in range I can promise you your adrenalin will be pumping and that’s what it’s all about.

There are areas on the Snake, Boise, Salmon Rivers that are less challenging with class I and II rapids that allow the kayaker to enjoy the scenery, gain confidence and skill. These areas offer little difficulty with easy self rescue when necessary. In the northern part of Idaho, near Coeur d Alene lake and river system, the Kootenai, Pend Oreille, St. Maries and Teton Rivers provide good class I and II waters to enjoy along with the fantastic scenery. Most of the dates available for kayaking vary from January to September, with some only available for a few months based on climate and snowfall the previous winter. Depending on which river you chose, you can kayak from a half day to multiday trips.

A good source of information is the following website: http://www.visitidaho.org/whitewater; it lists whitewaters by class and by type of river trip. One the most renown areas is the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, which many people chose to take guided raft trips with comfortable camping and cuisine that is better than many of the high class hotels in vacation resorts can offer. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is one of the original rivers included in the Wild and Scenic River System; it is in one of the most beautiful parts of Idaho, the Frank Church Wilderness area near the Continental Divide.

If you live out of state, the best way to get to Idaho is to fly and rent a car in Boise or fly to an area closer to the place you intend on visiting. Driving to Idaho is an option also as it allows you to bring your gear with you instead of renting equipment after arriving here.

Make sure your equipment and gear is in excellent condition and let yourself have time to adjust to the climate and elevation. Some areas are steep and mountainous and require more physically from kayakers who are used to lower elevations. Make sure you let people know where you are going and how long you plan on being gone and be prepared. A good planning in advance of a trip is worth a lot; it may make a great deal of difference if something unforeseen should happen.

The roll and ripple of the current sliding over the dark green slick rocks, high canyon walls overhead and the trout jumping ahead of you as your kayak crosses a calm pool; the smell and taste of coffee flavored by pine scented air– these and more are what call you to test your skill in Idaho’s whitewater rapids.

New Mexico’s nickname is the ‘Land of Enchantment’ and wherever you roam in this state there are examples of history and romance of the desert mysteries to draw you into the wind carved stone and remains of ancient civilizations. There are a number of people who think the desert is plain barren ground that has little or no life on it. This is not true, especially in Cerrillos Hills; from the crusty growth that established nitrogen in the ground to the various cacti, herbs, grasses, shrubs and trees show that life does flourish here. These in their turn, provide food and shelter for the reptiles and animals that call these hills home.

Several springs provide water to the area, with the wildlife flourishing nearby. The geology too, plays an important part in the area, with the total area of the Cerrillos Hills being about eighteen square miles, with the elevation ranging from 5,600 ft to 6,200 ft above sea level at the highest point.

An important reminder, please stay on the established trails when exploring Cerrillos Hills. Desert plants are fragile and take years to grow, a careless walk across the ground could damage decades of growth. A restoration project has been in place for some years, with establishment of a slow seep of water to see if near native plants can be re-introduced in the areas where the devastation of erosion is extensive.

Today, the park is a great place to come, visit and learn about the culture and type of life in this clump of hills where the sky blue turquoise prized by Native Americans of various ethnic groups and tongues traveled along the empires that rivaled those of European descent, as the written records and petroglyphs along the walls and in the mines show. Be sure and take plenty of water when you explore the trails of the park and stay on the trail to help preserve the treasure of this place for other generations to enjoy.

Leigh Image

Granddaughter Leigh

Tom Drake, an avid archer and fisherman from Pennsylvania and a sometimes  contributor to Outdoor writes:
We get so busy that we very often forget about the little people in our lives that we should be teaching the outdoor lessons we learned at our own parents and grandparents knee. I’m the same way. There is always something that needs doing, and time is in short supply, but taking time for the children in or lives is something we all need to make a point to do. They learn from us, about family, giving your time, and the outside world.

I got a phone call that my seven year old grand daughter, Leigh, was home without her sister. She was bored and driving her mother crazy. We talked it over and she said she might like to go fishing. I headed to her house and had her get her miniature sized Zebco out of the garage. We grabbed a couple bobbers and hooks and off we went.

She asked where my pole was, as I hadn’t taken the time to get it. I told her I was just her guide today. We stopped and bought a dozen night crawlers and a cold soda pop and chips of course.

We headed for L.E. Ray lake in Grand Island Nebraska. We looked around a little and
found a picnic table almost in the water. We sat right on the bench seat, where she
could lay her pole right on the table.

We could see Blue gills and small Bass swimming by all the time. As soon as we got her baited up and her worm hit the water the bobber went under.

She was fairly unhappy when she missed the first couple of fish but once she got on to
setting the hook she rarely missed. This little girl ended up making some of the pro’s look bad that day when she caught about seventeen Blue Gills and two small Large Mouth Bass.

Now after all that she was not going to be talked into throwing the bigger ones back. She had never eaten fresh fish before, so we took them home and cleaned them and had them for dinner that night. I assumed that kid style, she’d be turning up her nose at them before she would eat them, but she didn’t. She ate every scrap of it, probably because she had caught her own dinner. She was as proud of herself as I’ve ever seen her.
That night, she was the queen of the world…then again she is every day to me.

Take time to explore the outdoors with your kids and your grand kids. They won’t forget it, and neither will you.

Zion National Park is all of these and more, drawing tourists from across the globe to view the bands of sandstone worn by wind and water into fantastic shapes and images. Over two hundred square miles of Utah land in size; the park was founded in 1919, nearly one hundred years ago.

It is over half a mile in depth and fifteen miles long; with the North Fork of the Virgin River winding through it reveals a wonderland of four main types of zones: desert; riparian, coniferous forest and woodland. The plants range from the common yucca, cactus to the datura, sagebrush cottonwood, juniper and pine; mountain lions, mule deer, golden eagles, California condors and bighorn sheep share the diversity of Zion National Park.

Native American family groups were the first to live here in Zion, crumbled remains of their homes and art can be seen in the hidden nooks of the canyons that make up the park. Emigrating Mormons discovered the area in 1858 and settled a few years later.

Today, almost three million visitors come to Utah annually to see the incredible canyon country of Zion National Park. Vehicle access is limited to shuttle busses during the months of April to October for the Zion Canyon scenic drive. The first roads were upgraded versions of the old wagon trails providing access to the east side of the park and the town of Springdale. The Zion Mount Carmel tunnel which cuts through over a mile of sandstone cliff has six large windows cut into the solid rock.

Among the activities people chose to participate in are: hiking, auto touring, bike riding, exploring the canyons and climbing. One of the best deals to choose when deciding on fees is to use the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. It costs $80.00 and is a great deal for people who visit multiple parks within a year’s time. For a seven day pass good for private vehicles and RV’s the charge is $25.00.

As with all national parks, it is a good idea to research online and familiarize yourself with the area you are visiting. Remember to keep enough water and food nearby and dress for the climate when hiking in Zion. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan on returning. Enjoy the beauty of the sandstone sculptured by wind, rain and time in Zion National Park.

If you’re going to swim in a public pool, you have the advantage of being with a group of people. There is typically a lifeguard present to help you if you get in a bind. An outdoor pool is a great place to practice to get good at swimming. When you go to a public pool, you don’t need to bring a lot of things with you. A swimsuit, a towel, and just a little money is all you need. You’ll need to pay to get in and you should have a quarter for the locker. Many swimming places offer memberships that cost less over the long term so be sure to check that out.

The only problem with a public pool is that fences and other things can obscure your vision of the outdoors. To view more scenery, you’ll need to somewhere else such as a lake. Be sure you understand the environment before you go swimming. Know how deep the water is, what the current is like, and what type of weather to expect.

Things you will need to bring with you include a towel, swimsuit, and any flotation materials. You might want to have floats for your arms. An inner tube can also add to your sense of fun and provide you plenty of opportunity to view your surroundings. The only problem with an inner tube is that you could end up being carried away to the middle of the lake before you know it. For security, you might tie your inner tube to a dock or a sturdy tree.

Before you go swimming, it is very important that you apply on a reliable sun screen. The last thing you want to do is have a severe sunburn. In the event you miss a part of your body and still get a sunburn somewhere, be sure to use an aloe gel to soothe the burn. Also, it is important to drink a lot of pure water when you are swimming. Take water bottles with you to avoid getting dehydrated. In fact, if you’re planning on swimming for awhile, take a picnic lunch along as well.

A picnic gives you the same access to the outside world, lets you check out nature, enjoy the fresh air and still be able to relax. They can provide you the chance to get caught up on what everybody in the family has been doing. A picnic gives you a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the workplace and relax in an atmosphere free from responsibilities. To have a fun picnic, you need to plan ahead for food and fun.

Include everyone in your family who can possibly go to the picnic. Even grandma and grandpa can at least sit at the picnic table. Be sure everybody brings everything that they need. If babies are coming along, make sure you have stocked diaper bags and bring a playpen with you. People might be getting wet, so changes of clothes may be in order. Be sure to bring along plenty of sunscreen and some water.

While a potluck may be fun, it is a good idea to figure out what type of picnic you’re going to have and assign people to bring certain foods. For example, if you decide to grill hamburgers, make sure someone is assigned to bring condiments, someone is assigned to bring chips, etc. S’mores are always fun for the kids, so be sure to bring some large marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. You may also need a small grill, charcoal briquettes, and matches. Be sure to bring any cooking utensils you need. Use strong paper plates and plastic spoons and forks for easy clean up.

You might want to bring along blankets, Frisbees, and anything else you need to make your picnic fun. Planning your activities in advance lets you know what you have to look forward to and ensures you include everything you need. All this preparation may make it look like the family picnic can be a chore. But the better you prepare the less you need to worry about and the more you can enjoy your time outdoors.

Be sure everybody who is going knows where the picnic will be. A good picnic spot is within a three hour drive from your house unless you plan to make a night of it. Even a drive within a few miles of your house can make the picnic seem like a mini-vacation. Think about what you want to do during the picnic when deciding the place. You might want to choose a spot near a river or stream if your kids like the water. If you picnic in a clearing, then there will be plenty of space for the children to run and play. A family picnic should be relaxing fun for everybody.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, is among the most wonderful places to hike on earth. With an amazing height of more than 19000 feet, Kilimanjaro is challenging at best, but is do-able by nearly anyone if they are in reasonable physical shape and willing to take the time and money to attempt it.

When you hike Mt Kilimanjaro, you will, simply by virtue of the many different altitudes, enjoy hiking through five different climates.

Hiking Mt Kilimanjaro is only possible using the established trails and the established guide services. You aren’t permitted to attempt it on your own and with very good reason. There are multiple guide services there to assist you. Selecting one carefully is of course imperative, since some won’t have the experience that others do and somie will quite honestly not be equipped to handle emergencies that can crop up in any endeavor of this magnitude.

Don’t hire the cheapest guide service and make sure that you get a porter as part of your arrangement. Having a porter to carry part of your pack means that you can pack a bit more fully and make sure you have what you need. Your porter will generally carry 25 to 30 pounds of gear for you, which will free you up to carry other things that you want to bring along with you.

There are multiple ways to climb the mountain. Some of the more popular routes are still going to be hard to deal with if you’re not ready for the climb. The climb takes about six or seven days, The easier route is the Marangu, and you will be put up in huts along the way. The route is fairly busy, since the huts exist for use and many travelers would prefer that to a camping holiday, which is what needs done on the Rongai, which is also an easier climbing route.

Simply because the trek isn’t so steep or so terribly difficult, people tend to feel that it’s not a challege or not dangerous. In fact nothing could be further from the truth. Due the the amazing altitudes that you’re going to travel through, many people aren’t ready for the climb and sometimes have to abandon it due to altitude sickness or other considrations.

Nearly all climbers will get some type of discomfort from the altitude that they achieve so being prepared and ready for it only makes good sense. Make sure that if you are considering climbing Mt Kilimanjaro that you’re prepared for the trip.

If you aren’t fully fit, make sure that you spend some time hiking in higher altitudes and get fit enough to make the climb. Don’t assume that because its not steep you’re not going to have difficulties. Shortness of breath, vertigo and other types of altitude sickness. Make sure that you train well, and are ready for the rigors of the climb and don’t discount what it will cost you physicallly to accomplish it.
Get a good guide service and check them out thoroughly. If you are prepared for the trip and know what it will take to accomplish you can be one of those who ascends to the summit and stands gazing down at the impressive and awe inspiring view of the plains below.

Sun aside, the heat alone can be more than enough to wreak havoc on your system if you’re not accustomed to it, and even sometimes if you are.
Traveling, hiking or biking in the desert is one of the most exciting and adventurous things you can do. It can also be the biggest disaster if you’re not ready for it. Make sure that you know what you’re doing and how to accomplish it.

The scenery is amazing, the hiking is relatively easy, climbing is fun and the gorgeous landscape is a delight to the senses.The desert can be a harsh environment for travel for those who aren’t aware of what they are doing.

The heat or the weather can and sometimes does turn your outside adventures in the desert into a tragedy that can be avoided. Learn a little something about the desert and how to survive there prior to heading out. Don’t hike alone. Take a partner to make sure that you’re both safe in the desert back country.

Although hikers will sometimes discount this because its heavy, and neglect doing so, make sure that you carry at least a gallon of water per person.Yes it IS heavy.. but there are no really dependable ways to get water in the high desert. Water does weight about 7.5 pounds per gallon, but not having it can weight much more heavily. Unless you are seriously lost, don’t ration the water that you carry. Its going to do you absolutely no good at all unless its inside you.

Make sure that someone knows where you’re going to be and when you’re coming back. Stick to the plan, and let someone know what that plan was. Take along topo maps and know how to use them. Before you set off on any desert hiking expedition, know how to use that topo map and compass. Rocks and land formations can look amazingly alike. Don’t rely on them for landmarks unless you know the area very well.

Dress for success. In the summer, wearing clothing which is loose and layered will delay dehydration and keep your exposure to the sun minimal. Don’t go without sunglasses and some sunscreen. The desert temperatures will reach 100 degrees fahrenheit quite early in the day. Night time will see them drop to about 65 or 70 in the summer and below freezing in the winter time. Plan for these temperature changes.
Wear long pants or zip off pants for your hiking. Sturdy hiking boots or shoes and a pole may be of assistance. Its a good idea to carry matches, a flash light and a first aid kit in addition to your food and water.

The desert will offer you some of the most spectacular sights and sounds that you’ve ever seen. It is teeming with life and with a rough beauty that is certainly worth experiencing, but do take care and be prepared so that you experience it safely.