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Informative Articles

History of the Adirondack Chair
Thomas Lee designed the first Adirondack Chair in 1903. He was on vacation in Westport, NY and he needed outdoor chairs for his summer home. He tested the first designs on his family. The original Adirondack Chair was made with eleven pieces of...

Is Backcountry Snowmobiling For You?
Backcountry snowmobiling is not for the average rider. Backcountry snowmobiling is an exciting adventure that can give the intermediate to advanced snowmobiler the thrill of a lifetime. Unlimited mountain terrain and snow covered playgrounds are...

Let There Be Light, Part 1 – The Camping Lantern
The only thing worse than setting up a tent in the rain is setting up a tent in the rain in the dark. That is a lesson I learned all too well while trying to set up camp in the middle of the night during a cold New England thunderstorm. Having the...

Things You Must Do If You Want To Make That Perfect Camera Shot
Saturate yourself with your subject and the camera will all but take you by the hand. Margaret Bourke-White These tips should help you relive those moments back where you've said "if only I had a camera." Now you will have it captured on film....

Top 10 Ultracompact Digital Cameras
If you’re looking for an ultracompact digital camera, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that many of these models offer great picture quality and excellent optics. A good ultracompact digital camera is not only lightweight and stylish to carry around,...

 
Why Range Finders are Perfect for the BackCountry


Outdoor enthusiasts love to guess about all sorts of things. We guess how many stars are in the Milky Way, we guess how fast a deer runs or we might even guess about how long it will be until that big, dark cloud dumps rain us. But there are times when guessing in the backcountry just doesn’t get the job done. Specialty gear is available to help us determine how far we’ve hiked - and in what direction - and other tools are available to help take the guesswork out of purifying water. But there is a another useful tool overlooked by many avid backcountry visitors - the rangefinder.

Rangefinders are used in a number of commercial applications - surveying, mapping, mining, etc. - however for our purposes we will be discussing the portable laser rangefinder used by outdoor sportsmen and sportswomen.

Laser rangefinders calculate the distance to an object by bouncing a laser beam off of the object and measuring the lapsed time until the beam returns. Since the calculation is based upon the return of the beam, it stands to reason that a more reflective object can be measured at a greater distance than a less reflective object. Readily available models are accurate to within one yard and have the ability to measure distances to reflective targets up to 1500 yards away – that’s nearly a mile - and they’re accurate under nearly any condition.

The past few years have seen a number of technology advances across all rangefinder price ranges. Many models are lightweight, are easily operated with one hand, can measure through rain or snow, can see through nearby clutter, function well in low light, contain integrated optical magnification and are 100% waterproof. Additionally there


have been vast improvements lately to lens coatings, battery life and information display.

If distances are important to your activity, you need a rangefinder. BackCountry features – rocks, trees, lakes, mountains, ravines, cliffs – have a tendency to distort one’s depth perception. It is easy to misjudge even short distances. The most widely used application of rangefinders is in measuring shot distances by hunters. Whether you are hunting waterfowl or elk, distance to your game is the most critical factor in placing an effective shot. Bow hunters would never hunt without their rangefinder, the difference between 45 yards and 50 yards for a bow hunter is the difference between success and failure. Rangefinders are also used by golfers for determining club selection, by hikers to determine the best route to travel and by campers, boaters and wildlife observers for a wide variety of distance measuring purposes.

The next time you plan to spend time in our wondrous backcountry consider taking a rangefinder along with you. If you’ve never looked through a rangefinder, you don’t know what you’re missing. With a quality rangefinder, guessing distances just became old news. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is Owner and President of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information for outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call (800) 316-9055.


chuck@backcountrytoys.com


 

Appalachian Mountain Club – Outdoor Recreation, Education ...
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dir.yahoo.com
 
Adventure Travel and Outdoor Recreation - GORP.com
Resource for outdoor sports, adventure, and travel. Includes destination, activity, and gear directories plus news, articles, and forums.
gorp.away.com
 
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Shops operated by the Scout Association. Site includes catalogue, locations of stores and online shopping.
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The latest in Outdoors news and information, all at ESPN.com.
espn.go.com
 
Outdoors Network - Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hunting, Lefty Kreh, BASS
Fishing , Fly Fishing, Hunting , Lefty Kreh, BASS and more, from Outdoors Network - Bringing the Outdoors Indoors.
www.outdoors.net
 
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Experience the outdoors online -- hiking, skiing, camping, and mountain biking with gear reviews and adventure profiles.
www.greatoutdoors.com
 
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www.latimes.com
 
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Science > Environment (7762) Shopping > Recreation > Outdoors (2778) Society > Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual > Recreation > Outdoors (50) ...
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  • 10 things to consider before getting a dog

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  • bean bag chairs guide

  • best tips for enjoying the backcountry in the rain

  • black bear chasing kid style

  • blind skiers see the light

  • boarding your dog

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  • camping equipment essentials

  • camping in lead king basin

  • camping makes the weekend perfect

  • camping tents what the tent ratings mean

  • camping tent making sure you get the right size tent

  • camping with mans best friend

  • caribbean national parks explore the outdoors

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  • caught in the camera eye

  • check out the teva mountain games

  • choose the perfect fishing trip destination

  • choosing a wrought iron sword

  • choosing project wood

  • climbing and fear

  • cloudy day photography taking advantage of natures diffused lighting

  • code of conduct for outdoor enthusiasts

  • container gardening indoors and outdoors

  • creative scrapbooking albums for your pet

  • cymbidiums orchid plants what you need to grow successfully

  • did you ever try selling your images

  • dirt hole set ticket to canine success

  • dog training tips

  • do it yourself landscape design where to begin

  • do you have a healthy brain the secret to mental agility

  • dreaming winter photography

  • dried flowers for decorating

  • dutch oven cooking basics

  • easy navigation in the woods or on the water with the garmin etrex gps handheld

  • enjoy the view use a binocular

  • experience the adventure of a lifetime with river rafting trips

  • explore a whole new world on the water

  • exploring new trails

  • favorite hobbies camping

  • favorite hobbies yard games

  • feeding cattle

  • finding and catching fish has never been easier with the garmin 250 fish finder

  • finding snowmobile rentals in idaho fun and adventure awaits

  • find and catch those pesky fish with a garmin 240 fish finder

  • find the sunglasses that are right for you

  • fishing as family activity

  • fishing by moon phase increase your catch

  • fishing through the cracks

  • fishing vacation 101

  • five key factors that affect your pot plants in winter

  • five life skills for backcountry enjoyment

  • flower pictures a mild obsession 2

  • foot gear for a winter enthusiast

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  • geocaching a great way to get outdoors

  • getting ready for your backcountry adventure

  • get another hobby

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  • hiking from your own home

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  • how to get your kids along on your next hike

  • how to pick your next camping tent

  • how to select the ideal home weather station

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  • index

  • indoor trampolines and mini trampolines

  • introducing new horses to your herd

  • introducing the fascinating hobby of birdwatching

  • is backcountry snowmobiling for you

  • is first aid different in the backcountry

  • it was a christmas miracle

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  • night vision devices the ultimate in backcountry toys

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  • oil painting supplies guide for beginners

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  • rainbow trout and trout flies

  • raising the bar for anglers who want quality equipment at a reasonable price the garmin 160 fish finder

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