How To Make a Hiking Stick

1. Find a straight piece of dead wood that is a few inches thick and four to five feet in length. Some of the best woods to use are Aspen or Maple which are both native to Colorado.
2. Trim the wood to size with a saw if it is not the right length already. Then, use a knife or machete to whittle the bark away. Take long strokes all the way around until you get to the hardwood under the bark (the cream colored wood for aspen). The bark is very hard on older wood and will take a sharper blade to get through.
3. Carve a tip into one end of the stick. This will dig down in the dirt and help propel you forward while hiking. Keep it thick on the other end so it fits well in the hand.
4. For the handle you can keep it natural and leave it plain, wrap cord around it or make a lanyard hole with and attach a cord. For wrapping the handle, you can use paracord or leather cord and wrap it around until the length of the width of your hand is thoroughly covered. Then, tie each end of the cord together tightly. For a lanyard, drill a hole at least half an inch down from the top of the handle. Make sure the drill bit you use makes a hole big enough for the cord of your choice. Then, thread about a foot of cord through the hole and tie the ends together.
5. If you want the stick to last a very long time and have a smooth and shiny look, you can coat it with mineral oil or varnish. If you want to personalize your stick even more, you can carve your initials or a special marking into the wood with a pocket knife or carving tool.
6. Go hiking!

Colorado Raptors

Colorado is one of the best places in the United States to watch Birds of Prey. There are several species of Hawks, Falcons, Owls, Eagles and Vultures. Chances are you've seen the most common raptor in the U.S. on light-posts, trees or soaring wide circles overhead. This is the Red-tailed Hawk or, for you scientists, Buteo Jamaicensis. The Red-Tailed Hawk was named for its rusty red tail feathers that grow in upon reaching adulthood. Another common raptor is the American Kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America standing only 10 inches tall and weighing just under 4 ounces. Unlike most birds of prey, the American Kestrel is very colorful. The males are blue and orange, and the females are a coppery brown color. This makes it very easy to identify their gender while bird-watching.

Male American Kestrel 

http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/american_kestrel_1.htm

While bird-watching here in Colorado, I have seen some birds of prey that are not as common. While driving around an area near some farms and a small canyon, I saw what I thought was another Red Tail. I then saw a white patch above a brown tail and a pure white belly. It flew in a V pattern very close to the ground. I had no idea what it was so I opened up my bird guide and found a perfect match. The Northern Harrier. I have never seen one since then. This past summer, I saw a couple groups of Golden Eagle soaring very high in the sky. Golden Eagles aren't very rare but aren't seen as much as other raptors. This is the same with Bald Eagles. It is always amazing to see Eagles because of their huge size and the way they soar effortlessly at very high altitudes. Another very cool bird to see are Peregrine Falcons. Like fighter jets, they are very small but very fast and powerful. 

Owls can be seen at night all throughout Colorado. You can often see a horned silhouette of a Great Horned Owl against a dim dusk sky or hear a soft "hoo hoo"  of an owl on your roof. Of course owls are hard to watch due to their nocturnal nature but if you find a nest, you can watch the parents tend to their eggs or chicks. Some owls we have are Barn Owls, Great Horned Owls, Long-eared Owls, Short-eared Owls, Northern Saw-Whet owls, and Boreal Owls.

As you can see, Colorado has a huge variety of raptor species that are very fun to watch. So get out your binoculars and go bird-watching in Colorado.

Best Knives for Outdoorsmen

If you're an outdoorsman, you know how useful a knife is when hiking, camping or fishing. There are a lot of knives to choose from and I am going to help you decide which ones you would like to buy. Some of the best brands are Spyderco (made here in Colorado), Kershaw, Sog, Buck and Ontario. My favorite folding knife is the Spyderco Tenacious. It has a 3 1/2 inch blade, G-10 handles and a strong liner lock. This knife is around $40 dollars and is very reliable and sharp out of the box. Another great folder is the Kershaw Skyline. The Skyline is very lightweight and slim and also very sharp out of the box.

Spyderco Tenacious

Sometimes a folding knife is to small for the job. In that case, you will need a fixed-blade knife. Ontario and Buck make two different fixed-blades that will stand up to anything you put them up against. Buck's is the Buck Hoodlum and Ontario's is the Rtak II. Both are very high quality and you won't regret buying either of them. They are perfect for processing wood while camping and are also good for defense. If you want something even bigger than these two, you may want to get a machete. Sog makes good machetes for a great price. They are also great for camping and some are great tactical weapons as well.

http://www.spyderco.com/

http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/

http://www.buckknives.com/

http://ontarioknife.com/

http://www.sogknives.com/

Colorado Herping Tips

         Spring is coming and that means reptiles are coming. One of my favorite outdoor activities during spring and summer is herping. In case you don't know, herping is like bird-watching, but with reptiles. Instead of just watching reptiles, herpers catch reptiles using proper equipment. Some of the basic equipment they use are snake hooks, snake bags, snake tongs and a reptile field guide. Snake hooks and snake tongs are used for catching a snake. Snake tongs are more common for catching venomous snakes because they grasp the snake more securely. Use a snake hook if you are looking for non-venomous snakes a secure grasp is not very necessary for them and hooks are significantly cheaper. Snake bags are used to to put a snake in for transportation. The bag is made of a breathable cloth material and keep the snake from seeing outside and getting more stressed out. And of course, the reptile field guide is for proper species identification. This is very important for distinguishing a venomous reptile from a non-venomous reptile.

Snake hook with Bumblebee Ball Python (not found in Colorado)

                                         

           Colorado is home to many species of reptiles. Some of the most common snakes are Garter Snakes, Bull snakes, Western Hognose Snakes, and Rattlesnakes (Prairie and Massasauga). Some common lizards are Horned Lizards, Skinks, Fence Lizards and Collared Lizards. Herpers also catch many different amphibians like (here in Colorado) Tiger Salamanders, Leopard Frogs, Spadefoot Toads, Woodhouses Toads and Western Chorus Frogs.

Prairie Rattlesnake in striking position

        If you would like to keep one of the reptiles you find, first make sure it is non-venomous and not aggressive. Garter snakes are perfect for keeping. They are small, docile and have beautiful patterns and colors. To set up a simple habitat for a Garter, get a 10 gallon tank or plastic tub that is similar in size. Fill the bottom of the tank or tub with mulch from a pet store or home improvement store. Make sure it doesn't have any dyes or other chemicals that could potentially harm the snake. Then, put in some sort of hiding place like a half hollow log or plastic tupper ware container with entrance hole cut in it. Without a hide, the snake will get very stressed out. The Garter will also need a water bowl large enough for it to fit in. A tupper ware container can also be used for this. Make sure the water you use is clean chlorine-free. Chlorine can be bad for a snake's health over time. The last thing you will need is a very secure top for the tank. Snakes are great escape artists and can squeeze a very tiny hole. Don't attempt to feed the snake unless you want to keep it for more than two weeks.

        Thanks for reading and I hope you decide to get out this spring and do some herping!

My First Compost Bin

This winter I have been very excited about the spring of 2014, when it's time to start gardening again. Today, I decided to try making my first compost bin after finding rotten celery in the refrigerator, potato peels from tonight's dinner preparation, old green onions and carrots, stale bread, and dead plants from last summer. I got out a big sterilite tub and dumped it all in. I'll keep on adding leftovers to it and turning it daily until it turns into dark soil for my flowers and vegetables. If you have any advice comment below.

Castlewood Canyon: A Scenic Wilderness Escape

For about six years, since 2007, my favorite hiking spot has been Castlewood Canyon State Park, located in Franktown, CO. When driving through Franktown, you will see farms and small restaurants and houses. You would never expect it to be home to a deep canyon, rich in wildlife and amazing views. The canyon was carved deep into the Earth by Cherry Creek that ends in Cherry Creek Resevoir around Aurora, CO. After entering Castlewood Canyon, you feel like you have stepped into another world that is very different from the rest of Franktown. There are steep cliffs, mighty rock formations, a crystal clear waterfall, and beautiful pines and aspens. There are also two historic landmarks, an old stone dam that was destroyed by the creek and the remains of an old stone home at the northern entrance of the park. You can't hike through Castlewood Canyon without seeing the huge variety of animals that reside in the park. Bull snakes, Rattlesnakes, Crawfish, Birds of prey (mostly Red Tails and Turkey Vultures) and the occasional Mountain Lion are all common throughout the canyon. During one of my recent Castlewood hikes, my dad and I were warned by a couple of hikers that there was a Rattlesnake ahead on the trail. We hiked forward about two hundred yards and heard the infamous rattle and spotted the Prairie Rattlesnake slowly slithering away up a hill beside the trail. We left the four foot viper alone and kept walking. During the summer, You will most likely encounter a snake or hear a distant "SNAKE!" from another hiker. As long as you leave them alone, you can get out of the canyon alive. Castlewood Canyon is also a great winter hike. The waterfall freezes into a beautiful ice sculpture and a blanket of white snow covers the ground and turns the park into a winter wonderland. Although I highly encourage a snow hike through the park, you have to take extra caution due to slippery ice and snow around cliffs and on top of boulders. Just be careful and dress warm and you will have a very fun and safe hike. Overall, Castlewood Canyon is   one of the best places to hike in Colorado and I recommend it for every hiker who wants a scenic, short, and unique hike.

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Photo from: http://colorado-lifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/12/castlewood-canyon-hike.html

Colorado Outdoors and Wildlife

Welcome to Colorado Outdoors and Wildlife! I will a post a variety of different things mostly about beekeeping, hiking, fishing, gardening, and information about animals of the Rocky Mountains. I hope to share a lot of useful info and photos as I do what I love, spending time in Colorado's amazing outdoors. Thanks and check back for new posts every week!