health & safety – Page 45

May 13, 2014May 12, 2014

fatal Black Bear attack

Northern Alberta.

A 36-year-old Suncor worker was coming out of a washroom Wednesday afternoon when a black bear attacked and killed her, as several co-workers tried to intervene and scare the animal away.

Family have identified the worker killed at the oilsands site near Fort McMurray as Lorna Weafer, an instrument technician. …

Seven people were working in a group area when the bear attacked the woman and dragged her off …

… co-workers blasted air horns to scare the male bear away. They were not carrying bear spray, Suncor said. …

“We don’t know why this happened and that’s why it’s so important we conduct a full investigation,” Seetal said.

A bear response team made up of Fish and Wildlife officers is investigating, and Occupational Health and Safety will also complete an investigation. …

Co-workers tried to save woman during fatal bear attack at Suncor site

Bears normally do not attack groups of people. Sounds like she was alone exiting the washroom.

This is the third work fatality in four months at the Suncor site.

Bears aren’t the only problem up there. 😦

May 1, 2014April 30, 2014

the man who walked the Amazon

Ed Stafford (born 26 December 1975) is an English explorer and former British Army captain. He holds the Guinness World Record for being the first human ever to walk the length of the Amazon River. …

Stafford was announced as one of National Geographic Adventurers of the Year 2010 and then in March 2011 he was awarded European Adventurer of the Year in a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. …

Amazon – Walking the Amazon: 860 Days. One Step at a Time.

Click PLAY or watch his TED Talk on YouTube.

April 29, 2014

Caminito del Rey … closing

Kraig Becker:

My friend Matthew Karsten recently had the opportunity to hike the Caminito del Rey, a notoriously dangerous trail located in Andalucia, Spain …

Matt gives us an extensive report on his experience there, as well as a fantastic video that he shot along the way. Read his thoughts on the experience here, and watch the video below. He describes the place as very beautiful, while also acknowledging the inherent dangers of walking this route at the same time.

If you’ve always wanted to walk the Caminito del Rey, you may want to hurry. Matt also reports that in May, the trail will be shut down, and a restoration plan will be put into place. …

Adventure Blog – Hiking The Caminito del Rey: Spain’s Most Dangerous Trail

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

April 17, 2014April 12, 2014

Big Swing – Graskop, South Africa

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

I stopped by the 68 metre freefall not one bit interested in trying it myself.

17 February 2012 | Nicolene Smalman:

Hefty fines have been imposed on the company that owns the Big Swing, and two employees who managed the tandem jump in which Ms Jo-Anne Samuels was killed on October 3, 2009. She undertook the jump with her husband, Capt Hendrik Samuels.

The couple plummeted to the bottom of the gorge of about 60 metres, where they struck a rock at great speed. …

Big Swing court case reaches a result

April 11, 2014April 9, 2014

perceptions of HIKING

Posted by Andrew McManama on Facebook.

Driving to the trailhead is far more dangerous than walking the trail, of course.

On the other hand, I fell down while walking without a pack the other day. Cut up and bruised my hands. 😦

April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

new eBook – trek Everest Base Camp

In collaboration with Frank and Sue Wall, Jay Reilly announces a new eBook. Jay lived in Nepal for 6 years, a professional trekking and mountain guide:

Remember To Breathe

It includes a comprehensive guide to frequently asked questions, the best time of the year to go, your health and required first aid supplies, training to get prepared for the trek, equipment you’ll need and where to find it, and comprehensive track notes.

This 70 plus page downloadable PDF eBook is written with the first time visitor to Nepal in mind. It is packed with inside knowledge and tips to help you plan and execute your trip.

Best still – as it is a downloadable eBook you can have it today (with no need for delivery fees) It’s just $A15.99.

Our Hiking Blog – How to trek to Everest Base Camp – a independent guide book

That’s the best link for details on the book.

Remember to Breathe

Click to see a sample.

I have a review copy. It looks great.

In 2014 I prefer eBooks to hard copies. On my laptop, eBooks are a dream — so easy to search.

On my phone, on the trail, it’s a little more challenging to find exactly what I want, when I want it.

Having trekked to Everest Base Camp a few years ago, carrying two heavy guidebooks, I wish I’d had this resource instead.

One point of confusion in the book:

“The TIMS Card can only be issued by a trekking agency that is registered with TAAN (Trekking Agents Association Nepal)

Along with the TIMS Card, you are required to take a Nepalese “guide” with you. The cost of this should be about 1200 NRP per day for the guide. This includes his food. Be sure to negotiate this before you pay any money.”

Only 6 months ago you could purchase a TIMS card for yourself at the Tourism Board office in Kathmandu. It was not necessary to have a guide to go to Everest.

Has something changed?

Jay’s reply:

Nothing has changed, you can still get a TIMS Card at the Ministry for Tourism if you wish. It’s a different card than the one issued by trek agents, that registers you as an ‘independant’ trekker, not requiring a guide. However-not all the check post guys know this and to them you are a trekker without a guide, and in their eyes, doing something wrong. I’ve heard of people being turned back even though they have the Ministry issued TIMS. Buyer beware…

The guide suggests Rabies shots. I’ve not encountered many trekkers who have had them. Cyclists generally do, as they are at far greater risk of being nipped at by guard dogs.

Jay:

Regarding rabies, I never personally got the vaccination, but some doctors recommend people do. Bottom line-consult a doctor and make your descisions based upon professional medical advice.

I’m planning on Nepal again Oct/Nov 2014.

March 24, 2014

Trek Everest Base Camp: The Ultimate Preparation & Survival Guide

Jason Weise author.

Jason was frustrated organizing his own trek, unable to find all the information he wanted in one place. The book took him over a year to write, research and has been professionally edited.

Cost is only $9.50 in PDF format. Carry it on any portable electronic device.

details – trekbasecampeverest.com

March 11, 2014March 9, 2014

walking Safari – Zambia

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to one half of the Mosi-oa-Tunya — ‘The Smoke Which Thunders‘ — known worldwide as Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.

The river forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, so the falls are shared by the two countries, and the park is ‘twin’ to the Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwean side. …

The wildlife section of the park is tiny but popular. Popular because half day walking safaris are offered.

This is rare in Africa due to the risk of tourists being injured. Or eaten.

It was very early. Very rainy when I was picked up — alone — at my hostel.

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We rendezvoused with a British couple alongside the Zambezi.

Everything was about to go wrong. You had to laugh.

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The husband had 2 new hips, 1 new knee. He could not walk.

Improvising, we decided to take a quick driving safari before setting out on the promised “walk”.

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African guides are normally super entertaining. Very knowledgeable.

We saw baboon, vervet monkey, giraffe, zebra, warthog, sable, impala and many other antelope.

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When the British couple departed, I was alone for the walking Safari with a support team of up to 4 men.

I walked with a guide and an armed guard.

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There’s no shortage of wildlife in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. But the main attraction is white Rhino. Though not indigenous, they are the most talked about wildlife in Africa.

You cannot see rhino from the road. They are understandably very shy.

Already an hour or more late, we roamed far and wide in the wet mud looking for rhino sign. The guard checked his phone constantly for an update on where we might find them.

Finally, the highlight of Mosi-oa-Tunya. A mother Rhino and her new baby, less than 2 weeks old.

The rhino in Mosi-oa-Tunya were poached to extinction in 2007. 😦

I was told they are no longer worried about poaching here. The Park is now fiercely defended. 5 adult rhino and 5 youngsters, including this newborn.

On the other hand, the enforcement officer spoke longingly of Botswana where guards can (reportedly) shoot poachers on sight.

more of my photos from the day

February 19, 2014

Earl—the Rugged, Revolutionary Tablet

Leave the iPad at home.

Outside:

This new backcountry survival Android tablet works where your smartphone or iPad would fail. The rugged tablet can forecast the weather, determine your location, elevation, and let you communicate with folks back home.

About the size of an iPad mini, Earl is one tough gadget. It’s waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and it will work in temperatures from 32 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. You can submerge it in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes with no ill effects.

Earl’s GPS uses an internal magnetometer, accelerometer, and gyroscope to track your position. It’ll guide you even if you’re navigating dense vegetation or an urban jungle without a line of site. It also gives you access to more than 300,000 trails through the site everytrail.com and high-resolution topographical maps of North America. With Earl in your hand, you have no excuse to get (unintentionally) lost. …

Outside

February 1, 2014July 1, 2014

West Coast Trail day 5

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | info page

Morning was, again, misty.

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We enjoyed one of the better toilets here, however.

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Sawdust does help reduce odour.

Seems the expensive solar composting toilets (used in the past) are no longer “must have” technology.

Hicham dressing for battle.

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We faced the most dangerous section of the West Coast Trail — dread Adrenaline Surge.

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Our arrival was perfectly timed for low tide.

Two choices. Down and back up? … Or scramble around?

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We opted to stay high rather than risk a freak wave flushing us out to sea. That had happened to a friend of ours in the past. (She was washed back into the Surge on the next wave. And pulled to safety.)

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All 11 made the traverse safely. But it was very, very slippery.

If not confident in your agility, take the inland route, instead.

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On the other hand, in good conditions, at low tide, the coast can be like a sidewalk. Sandy and myself ALWAYS voted to take the coastal route. Vistas are magnificent.

The first word that comes to mind when describing the WCT is … LADDERS.

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