Free Wilderness Guide

“The best bargain is the one that is both actually useful and worth what you pay. Today I found something quite useful and its FREE.

As I entered the camping/skiing/paddling section of the local sporting goods store today, I noticed a box labeled, "Free -- Take One!" The box was full of 3X5 notebook-sized spiral-bound Wilderness Guides from Eureka. The 20 pages are sturdy waterproof paper and give concise, very usable guidance on the following: low-impact camping, selecting a campsite, compass and GPS navigation, map scales and calculating pace, safety and first aid kit contents, signal & distress codes, wind chill index, setting up bear bags, basic knots, loading backpacks (internal and external), tent care, animal tracks, day hiking and backpacking essentials checklists, a personal medical info form, and two "wet-proof" note pages.

It's a pretty cool little guide and the only advertising is the Eureka name and slogan on the cover, and the brand name Silva in the compass navigation page title -- "The Silva System." I have a Silva Ranger so that doesn't bother me any (of course I have two Eureka tents, too).

Anyway, if you are a newbie, know some, or any of the subject matter seems to slip your mind right when you need it, it's worth tracking down. I'm going back for a few to have on hand to share with others.”

“Thanks pekka, but I like to learn by trial and error..
especially the bear bag thing”

“Well I would like one!”

“And the stalking thing, LOL”

“Pekka, I would love to get my hands on that. I have been looking for a simple guide type book, I need to learn alot of the basics. It sounds like you found it. Can you take a few free ones and send one my way?”

“I'll grab a few today, then we'll figure out the mail thing.”

“Ooh, ooh, grab one for me would you? ¦ )
.”

“Cool. Thanks Very Much!”

“I have been reseaching on the internet for imformation like this. I cant take the internet to the field with me, so this is great. I would love one if you didn't mind.”

“You open the box now Pekka!”

“This could get dangerous. What would they do if you lifted the whole box?”

“Woops! I meant "you opened the (Pandora's) box. I've had a bit too much highly caffinated coffee this morning.”

“You know, that alternate definition never occurred to me either. Ummmm...I meant what if you took all of the guides....”

“Well the clerk on duty, who is a fellow member of our local paddle & trail club, said take as many as I wanted, that they had a lot. We'll see...

But don't forget to check your local sports store that carries Eureka/Silva (Johnson Worldwide brands) equipment. They might have them and you haven't noticed them.

Once I see what postage/envelope totals, I'll see how "free" they are, LOL.”

“Pekka, I'd be willing to send money for postage. Thanks again!”

“Pekka, I'd like one too!”

“Pekka, I would like to get one also. A newbie needs all he help he can get. I will also pay for the postage to send me one.”

“I hope they meant what they said.”

“LMAO! Dangerous!”

“I will pay,postage and envolope expense, for the free guide. Oxymoron?jerbear@backpacker.com
Snail mail 251 blackberry rd.
Dayton,OH 45431
Thanks”

“Let's all go visit Jerbear!”

“Hey that sounds like a good idea....:)”

“Come on down, over. I will be here for at least a week!Then headin So for a month or so. Pwease dont rob me! Mohaaaaaaaaa!”

“Thats not far from me at all...”

“I grabbed about a dozen today. The clerk, a former student of mine this time around, said they have boxes of them. So I can go back for more.

Therefore, if you e-mail me a request, I will reply with where to send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) that will hold a 3X5 notebook. I still have to stop by the P.O. to weigh an envelope and guide to calculate correct postage. I will post that info here as well as put it in your e-mail.

Send your e-mail to: iitonen@netscape.net”

“I see that jerbear is ahead of the game with the e-mail address. But it will help me if the rest of you send me an e-mail so I can be a lazy a$$ and just hit reply.”

“Consider it done. (I'm Sherri.)”

“Two requests via e-mail so far, plus jerbear. All that stands between me and postal info is my final grading calculations for three classes. You'll hear from me soon.”

“Hey pekka, don't you live in Michigan? Are you going on the hike at Ft Custer on Sunday?”

“I used to live in Michigan (as in from age 4 to 40+, including 15 years in the U.P.), but have been a Wisconsinite since 1994. But I'm in Rhinelander, only about 45 miles south of the U.P. border, and I get up to Marquette frequently.

I grew up around Kalamazoo, so I wish I could be there for the hike Sunday. In fact, if the weather had not gotten so snowy, I would have been in Portage visiting family this weekend and been able to swing by, but alas, that got postponed. OTOH, I hope to be out snowshoeing in all that lake effect snow that Marquette got.”

“Dang. It would have been cool. Maybe next time. (snow whimp)”

“Finally got to the digital scale at the P.O. The guide (3x5) easily fits in a standard #10 business envelope (4 1/8 x 9 1/2") and together it takes .$57 postage. For further instructions, e-mail me at:
iitonen@netscape.net

Replies have already gone out to dayhiker, skullcap and ewker.”

“Pekka, just sent you an email...I'm interested on one too...thanks.”

“Just returned from the U.P. - woke up to a howling lake-effect squall and several inches of new snow being blown into drifts -- and am about to go to the P.O. Box to get any SASEs that have come in for the Guide.

In reading it over again, I found a couple small typos, one of which has a certain Studio 54 ring to it -- on one of the gear lists, in the kitchen items, it tells you to bring "blow." No wonder they call the company Eureka! with an exclamation point, LOL.”

“Pekka, I hope you still have a guide or two left. I'm still very interested, I just completely spaced it out. I am e-mailing you now, for directions. Thanks again.”

“Pekka, thanks so much for the guide. The waterproof pages are nice. I'm going to start keeping it in my first aide kit. The knot types, and SAR signals are good to know.”

“Yes me too. I love mine, thank you. That's exactly what I've done with mine dayhiker.”

“You are both very welcome. I've already been contacted by newbie Greatwhodonny about getting one, too.

I still like the typo on the gear list that says your cooking gear might include "blow" instead of bowl. That's a very Miami Vice type of cooking.”

“Ya gotta love those transpositional errors.”