When you decide to go on a backpacking trip there are several things you need to make sure to take with you. Although you may think that you will not be out long enough to need them, accidents happen, and you need to be prepared for them.

Duck Tape
Duck tape is known as a universal fix it all tool, and can be very useful in many different situations. You can use duck tape to patch a hole in your backpack, keep your shoe closed if you break a shoelace, or even to help secure a splint on the occasion that you get sprain or break a bone in your body.

Cell Phone
If you are backpacking in an area where there is cell phone coverage, by all means take your cell phone. If an accident happens, or if you get lost, you can simply dial for help.

Water
Always bring several bottles of water along on your back packing trip. Water will keep you from getting dehydrated and is also useful in the event that you need to wash out a wound.

Flash Light
You should leave a flashlight in your backpack at all times, just in case you find yourself in the dark. You may only plan on going backpacking for a couple of hours, yet if you get lost, and the sun goes down, you are going to need it.

First Aid Kit
Bring along a basic first aid kit so that you are able to treat minor wounds you may get while out in the wilderness. You never know when an accident may happen.

Trash Bag
Bringing a trash bag is essential to properly dispose of any trash you may have. As a general rule for being kind to nature, you should always leave with what you came with.

Toilet Paper
You never know when nature is going to call, and you sure do not want to have to use a leaf to wipe off your bottom.

Food
Always be prepared for an accident. If you are backpacking deep into the wilderness, you need to carry some food with you. If something should happen and you became immobile, you may be stranded for some time, and will end up getting hungry. Granola bars and beef jerky are two things that are commonly taken on backpacking trips.

Knife
Carry knife for protection among other things. You never know when you will need a knife while out in the wilderness.

Sweatshirt or Other Clothing
In the event that you are stranded, you will want to stay warm when the sun goes down. It is always a good idea to at least bring along a sweatshirt.

Article written by: Laura Fleenor – owner and webmaster of articles4meandu.com Articles 4 Me And U.com and particlearticles.com Particle Articles.com. Laura is also webmaster of kagedband.com K.A.G.E.D. Band.com. Laura holds an AAS in Computer Programming, an AS in Information Technology, and a Certificate of Program Completion in Web Page Design/Publishing.

Hikers who want to try their luck at fishing in the back-country have a wide range of options open to them. Preparation for back-country fishing on a long distance hike is all about expectations and confidence. The hiker who has hoofed it far up a trail or bushwhacked into a wilderness should have different expectations from the fisherman camping near his motor-home in a busy campground. The hiker doesn’t have the luxury of fancy food preparation techniques or the reliability of his complete collection of tackle. Instead, the hiker should expect that his meals will be simpler and that his tackle selection will be limited. Still, with some forethought and a little knowledge of how to function within these limitations the hiker can go forth with great confidence in his ability to succeed at fishing and, if desired, cook his catch with enjoyable results.

Catching fish on a long distance hike should not involve carrying heavy and bulky fishing tackle. Quite the contrary, the hiker should set a limit of weight and fit this in with existing gear loads. For spin-fishing my favorite is the Dawia Minispin Combo. This rod is super light weight and comes with its own travel case that prevents damage in a backpack. It is a great choice for trout and pan-fish under most circumstances. Tackle choices should be geared to as wide an appeal as possible with as little weight as possible. Generally, I will carry 2 or 3 trout magnets, a selection of artificial nymphs and a fake minnow or two. Also, a few split shot, bare hooks and a floater or two complete a compact yet versatile tackle selection. Your tackle choices will, of course, change with the season or with your particular tastes. The key here is not to over-do it. Trout magnets appeal to fish across the spectrum and will nab rock bass, sunfish, crappie and smallmouth bass. Keep this tackle in a small fly-box and tuck it into an outer pocket on your back-pack and you’ll be good to go.

The next question that arises is whether to keep and cook your catch. As a hiker you may be on the move, more interested in fishing a variety of streams or ponds than in actually hanging on to your catch. A time may come, though, when that fresh trout or bluegill seems like just the right thing to replenish your hiking spent protein supplies. When this time comes don’t be afraid to use the limited gear at your disposal to prepare a great meal. If you’re hiking, chances are that all you have is an alcohol or white-gas stove and a titanium cooking pot. This is all you need if you’re prepared. A few basic ingredients in your food-bag will really make the difference in how well you can prepare a fish in the back-country. Salt and pepper is a must, but did you bring some olive oil? I always keep olive oil in a 3 ounce container, as well as some lemon pepper wrapped in a bit of cellophane. Whatever your preference, a little flavoring will go a long way to improving your wilderness cooking experience.

To cook a trout or panfish in a titanium pot is not all that difficult. Scale and filet the panfish and cut the filet into small chunks. Trout should be cleaned by gutting, removing the head and the tail and then cutting the fish into cross sections. A Snow Peak pot with the 7 inch frying pan top is perfect for quickly frying your catch in a little olive oil with some seasoning. Using the pot you can poach the fish very quickly by adding the chunks to a half inch or so of water and bringing it to a boil. Take it off the heat (a pot cozy is helpful at this point) and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes then drain off the water. If the fish is done (as it should be) you will be able to easily remove bones and skin with your handy spork. At this point you can season the poached fish further or eat it as is. Sometimes I cook some wild mustard garlic, nettle or plantain leaves as a potherb to accompany the meal. Another great addition is arrowroot boiled and mixed in with your fish.

Hiking, fishing, and eating well are all possible with a little preparation and a little knowledge. With some planning and modern equipment techniques a hiker doesn’t need to add more than a couple of pounds of weight to fully enjoy back-country fishing.

Jeffrey Gray, founder of TroutWorld.com, has been helping trout fishermen find their way to new and different fishing venues via the internet since 1999.
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Planning a vacation generally gets all involved very excited about what there is to do while they are on vacation. So, most likely if you are traveling to Kauai with your family you can rest assured that mom, dad, and each child traveling will search the Internet for different activities that are appropriate for the family as well as children or adults, respectively. However, you don’t need to spend a lot of time looking for these types of activities because they are all included here. Just check out the ones that are most enticing and place them on your “to see” list. Before you know it you will practically have your vacation days planned before you ever reach Kauai!

Kauai Activity #1 Spouting Horn
On the south shore of Kauai is a blowhole where the waves impact the shore with such power and force that the waves are sent shooting up to 10 feet in the air, sometimes even more. During the winter months the impact causes the water to shoot as high as 6 stories high! This is an amazing site that exists naturally and is something you should not pass up. There is an additional hole here that results in a loud moaning when the waves hit. It is truly an experience and you will get some great photos as well so make sure you include Spouting Horn on your list of Kauai activities.

Kauai Activity #2 Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens
It might be difficult to imagine a 240 acre magical garden, but that is exactly what you get from Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens. When you enter the gardens you will be overwhelmed with the beauty and the many bronze statues that dot the landscape. There are approximately 70 life size statues that adorn the gardens and some of them are even larger! Na Kai Botanical Gardens is off the North Shore of Kauai and regardless of whether you like gardens or not you will love Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens. The reason is these gardens are not what you probably have in mind. There are waterfalls, topiaries, pools, gazebos, arbors, a lagoon complete with fountains, not to mention a maze! There is also a special tropical children’s garden that has plenty of amazing things to do and see. These gardens are not open 7 days a week, so book a tour before you arrive to be sure you get to see the Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens, this is a no miss activity!

Kauai Activity #3 Jack Harter Helicopter Tour
Another great Kauai activity is the Jack Harter helicopter tour, which is allows tourists to get a great view of the entire island and many sites that you definitely should not miss. Jack Harter offers both 60 minute and 90 minute tours, so depending on your budget and the amount of time you want to spend on the helicopter tour will affect which tour is best for you. There are other helicopter tours other than Jack Harter, but Jack Harter really is the best.

Kauai Activity #4 Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventures
A great sailing adventure is offered by Captain Andy. There are two different 55 foot camarans that carry 49 passengers and depart from the south shore of Kauai. There is a snorkel and picnic cruise that lasts about 5 ½ hours and heads to the Na Pali coast. This tour is from May to October so if you are vacationing in Kauai during this time frame then you should consider this tour. Also, Captain Andy offers a sunset cruise for dinner that is also on the Na Pali coast as well as a shorter cocktail cruise. Each cruise has special drink and food offerings and the cocktail cruise is the shortest at 2 hours and the snorkel cruise is the longest at 5 ½ hours. Choose one or choose them all because this is a great experience when you visit Kauai!

Kauai Activity #5 Waialua Falls
When you think of Hawaii you most definitely think of large cascading waterfalls. And while you can certainly take some tours and encounter some amazing waterfalls many people don’t really want to spend their entire vacation hiking through the wilderness in search of waterfalls. Fortunately, Waialua Falls is a great way to get up close and personal with some waterfalls without having to hike a long distance. In fact, Waialua Falls are approximately 5 miles outside of town so taking a few minutes to enjoy the two waterfalls cascading 80 feet into a pool below is certainly worthwhile.

Kauai Activity #6 Princeville Golf Club
The Princeville Golf Club is simply a beautiful golf course despite the fact that it can be incredibly challenging for the regular golfer. However, Hawaiian tourists decide to play the course because there is a view of the ocean from every hole, cascading waterfalls, and it was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. If the women on the vacation don’t want to play golf there are also a health club, spa and restaurant where they can enjoy the time the men are playing golf.

There are so many Kauai activities that are simply out of this world that it is impossible to do them all in one single vacation. As a result, when you visit Kauai you should make sure you visit the above suggested locations and then if you still have time check some other great activities from whale watching to hula dancing. When your vacation is over there will still be so many things you want to do that you will certainly plan on visiting Kauai for your next vacation as soon as possible.

Bill McKenzie is the reservations manager for Hawaiian Vacation Rentals, LLC, representing Wailua Bay View. We also specialize in wailuabay.com Kauai Vacation Rentals for your vacation in Hawaii.

Have you always dreamed of taking a Hawaii vacation? If so, have you done so? If you are like many other individuals, you may have yet to take a Hawaii vacation due to the cost of doing so. While it is true that Hawaii vacations can get quite costly, they don’t have to be. With a little bit of time and a small amount of research, you should be able to find a number of Hawaii vacation deals; vacation deals that may put a Hawaii vacation within your reach.

When it comes to finding Hawaii vacation deals, the first thing that you will not want to do is limit yourself. If you do not have a preference as to which Hawaiian Island you would like to visit, you will not want to make one just yet. Searching for Hawaii vacation deals based on price, before location, is one of the best ways to go about finding great Hawaii vacation deals. It is also important to note that all Hawaiian Islands, including Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai, come highly rated and recommended.

To find the best Hawaii vacation deals, you will want to examine a number of different online websites. Of course, you can still visit your local travel agent if you want, but for the best chance of finding great deals, you are urged to use the internet to your advantage. You will want to examine websites that are known as online travel websites. Although you might already know what online travel websites are, did you know that there are online travel websites that deal only with certain types of vacations, such as Hawaii vacations? When searching for the best Hawaii vacation deals, you are urged to examine traditional online travel websites, as well as Hawaiian travel websites.

When searching for low-cost Hawaii vacation deals, you will want to try and search for vacation packages. These vacation packages are where your travel arrangements are all grouped together. This makes it easier to estimate the cost of a Hawaii vacation, as well as determine whether or not you are getting a good Hawaii vacation deal. Most online travel websites, including Hawaiian travel websites, allow you to search for and make your reservations individually or in the form of a vacation package.

As it was mentioned above, it may work out to your advantage if you focus on price first, rather than a specific Hawaii destination. A large number of online travel websites allow you to enter in a price range; a price range that you can afford. If you are not given the option of entering in a price range, you should be able to arrange your search results so that they go from highest to lowest or visa versa. That is one of the many reasons why you are urged to use the internet to find Hawaii vacation deals; they make doing so as easy as it could possibly be.

Of course, if you are looking to save the most money, you will want to choose the vacation reservations or the vacation packages that cost the least amount of money. If you were hoping to vacation in a specific area of Hawaii, now would be the time to take all of your price quotes and examine their locations. As long as you choose to make relatively low-cost vacation reservations, you will have successfully found and taken advantage of Hawaii vacation deals.

Sandra Carter is a writer for My Hawaii Vacation Package . com where you can great travel guides and information about