You Need Adventure in Your Life!

For the past year, we've read with a passion a new magazine by National Geographic called simply Adventure. This magazine is for those of you that are active and love to travel to those offbeat places - or those of you who want to travel someday. The articles, like the parent publication, offer insight into out-of-the way destinations, the newest in hiking/biking gear and tours with guides that can take you to any of the four corners of the world! Their motto is "Dream it. Plan it. Do it"

In the most recent edition, there was an article by a doctor who put together a portable ER - a makeshift first aid kit for those readers that hike, bike or generally find themselves many miles away from the nearest emergency room. With the upcoming September letterboxing gathering in Oregon and the influx of boxers from around the country that will be hiking in areas unknown to them, we thought it might serve the letterboxing community to itemize those items you might want to consider stuffing into your backpack before you head out to do the Columbia River Gorge series - a must for all boxers heading to OR - or any number of those great hikes that this state has to offer! The notes in parenthesis after the item are suggested uses as detailed in the article.

1) Ziploc bags (dry storage, wound irrigation)
2) Moleskin (chafe prevention, blister protection)
3) Gauze (padding, absorption)
4) Sunscreen
5) Non-antibacterial soap (dish, body and teeth cleanser)
6) Butterfly Bandaids
7) Water purification tablets
8) Imodium A-D (antidiarrheal)
9) Ibuprofen (pain relief, anti-inflammatory)
10) Duct tape (splinting, casting, fastening)
11) Iodine (antiseptic)
12) Multitool (ideally with pliers, wire cutters, a serrated Blade, flat & Phillips head screwdrivers and scissors)
13) Tweezers (splinter, tick and wood debris removal)
14) Safety pins (fasteners)
15) ACE bandage (limb stabelization, elevation, support)
16) Krazy glue (gear repair, wound closure)
17) Latex gloves (CPR barrier mask, sterilization)

So - just get out there and box - and be prepared!