The Range Reviews: Eureka Timberline 2 Tent

Eureka Timberline 2 Tent: A great, rugged tent for family camping!
© 2009-2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
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Top: Eureka Timberline 2 tent with fly attached.
Bottom: Eureka Timberline 2 tent.

The Eureka Timberline 2 Tent must be the most popular tent in the world. Used by Boy Scouts for more years than I can remember, it is rugged enough take the abuse of teenage boys. You can't ask for a better endorsement than that. The classic A-frame construction with the addition of the fly, makes it a roomy and weather proof tent for the short term camper. It is quick and easy to set-up, having shock cord laced 1/2 inch aluminum frame, ring and pin attachments, and clips.

The A-frame tent is covered by a polyester fly. Waterproof, the fly is your weather proofing and first line of defense. The floor consists of a coated nylon "tub" that keeps the seams well above ground level for protection from the elements.The walls of the tent are a breathable, fire retardant nylon which is resistant to anything weatherwise. It has a front door, and two windows, one in the front door and the other on the back wall. Both the windows are covered with a fine mesh that will keep the no-see-ums, mosquitoes, and other flying pests, out of the tent. The fly also extends front and back in hood like fashion, to allow the windows to be opened and permit good ventilation while protecting from the elements.

Here are the specifications:

• Area: 38 square feet
• Floor size: 7 feet by 5 feet, 3 inches
• Center height: 3 feet, 6 inches
• Wall fabrics: 1.9-ounce breathable nylon/1.9-ounce permeable taffeta nylon
• Floor fabrics: 1.9-ounce Taffeta nylon with 1200 mm coating
• Fly fabrics: 1.9-ounce Polyester with 1200 mm coating
• Pack size: 6 by 24 inches
• Weight: 5 pounds, 13 ounces

It's important to remember that a two person tent is actually a one person plus equipment tent with a little room to spare. Two people can fit into the two man tent, but it would be a tight squeeze with the equipment. If there are two of you that camp regularly, you would be much better off with a four man tent.

Assembly is easy. I find it best to connect the bottom of the tent to the poles, then attach the top of the tent. Now add the fly working from opposite corners. The EZ hooks are shock corded to allow easy, fast and secure connections. Finally stake out your guys and you are done. The shock corded side guy outs and fly attachments give stability & tear resistance in stormy or windy conditions.

There is also a version available, the Timberline 2XT, with a vestibule that allows you to keep muddy boots and things of that nature out of the tent, but also out of the weather. An optional vestibule and/or annex can also be added to the Timberline 2 for extra gear storage, shade or rain protection.

The only thing I would like to see is a better carry bag. Something with some belts around it to help compress the bag when everything is stored.

For those of you considering a new tent for the kids, or maybe one for yourself, the Timberline 2 would be a great choice. It is built to last, rugged, not too heavy, and suitable for extended trips.

Eureka
1-800-572-8822

Eureka Timberline 2 Tent
MSRP: $139.90
Street Price: $129.90

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
Albert Rasch In Afghanistan

Boating Safety: Online Boat License Courses

Getting a boat license online!
© 2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™

Get Your Boating License Online

and Boat Safely

Well my good friends,

Summer is almost here and boating season will soon be in full throttle throughout our great Nation! Millions of people take to the waters throughout the boating season to enjoying our oceans and waterways.

But are you truly prepared? Have you taken the proper precautions and educated yourself on the in and outs of safe vessel operation?

I got to thinking about this when I bumped into a couple of articles from this past summer relating some terrible boating accidents that resulted from a simple lack of familiarity with basic boating rules and regulations.

I took a few moments and looked around the internet for some education material to share with you. I found the good people at  BoaterExam.com who offer online boat license classes to help you educate yourself.

Offering many online courses, BoaterExam.com provides boat license course and official boating exams, and is the leading provider of online boater education and certification in the USA and Canada.


BoaterExam has also teamed up with Mariner's Learning System™ to offer an online Coast Guard Captain's License Course. That's right, you can earn your Captain's Boat License online, through BoaterExam.com.

That's not all, they offer many state approved licenses as well. BoaterExam has fully animated and interactive boating safety courses and boat license tests online and their official state courses are approved in nearly 40 states.

For my own home state of Florida, they have an FWC approved Florida Safety Card. Instead of the term Boat License, Florida refers to its mandatory proof of education as a Boater Safety Education ID Card. Unlike a "license", a boater education card does not expire and does not need to be renewed. Therefore, although the term is often used, it is technically incorrect to call the card a Florida Boat License.

I learned all that on BoaterExam.com!

I would strongly urge you to look into some of their offerings. Safety is something one should invest time and energy in; the rewards are far greater, not only for you, but for your loved ones as well.

Think about it.
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Qalat City Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.

Hurricane Season Opens

The 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins

The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a 65% chance for an “active” hurricane season outlook for the Atlantic Basin this year.

The NOAA is projecting a 70 percent probability of the following ranges:

12 to 18 Named Storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher)

6 to 10 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which,

3 to 7 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

This outlook underscores the importance of having a hurricane preparedness plan in place.

As the US is still reeling from the deadliest tornado season in history, long-range meteorologist and hurricane forecasters have called for a much more active 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1st, and runs through November 30th (eastern Pacific hurricane season began May 15th and also ends November 30th) with above-normal threats on the U.S. coastline.

Points to Consider:
According the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average North Atlantic hurricane season consists of nine to fourteen tropical storms. Of those, between four and seven could develop into hurricanes. The NOAA has cautioned that hurricane’s can occur whether the season is active or relatively quiet, but the conditions expected this year have historically produced an active Atlantic hurricane seasons. Be aware that first responders are a critical part of our country infrastructure when disaster strikes.

Each year natural disasters create major problems around the world, with storms and floods dominating the statistics, contributing more than two thirds to the major disasters. Consider that one of the most damaging, and deadly events that can occur is the hurricane. When hurricanes move ashore, they bring with them a storm surge of ocean water along the coastline, high winds, tornadoes, and both torrential rains and flooding. Buildings, trees, power lines, roads and bridges may be damaged or destroyed by hurricane-force winds (74 mph or more). Additionally, debris from the high winds can damage property, block roads, and bridges. Furthermore, widespread torrential rains often in excess of 6 inches can produce deadly and destructive floods, which are not just limited to the coastline, often extending hundreds of miles inland.

From:
Homeland Security Network

Making Biltong and Jerkey at Home

Making African style Biltong at home!
© 2009 -2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles

Making Biltong at Home

Picture Credit: Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors

Some time ago, my "compatriota" Mike from Native Hunt asked me about drying meat without smoke or heat. Coincidentally my good friend Ed, over at Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors, happens to have put together a fantastic tutorial on making Jerky American style. Excuse me, make that Texas style! (You might remember that he also did a great tutorial post on European style skull mounts.) Making jerky is a great way to stock up on some healthy snacks after the hunting season is over and it is a great skill to have regardless. Wild Ed's Texas Style Jerky takes you step by step on the artful and tasty way to make some homemade jerky.

Now, I'm a big fan of biltong, and making it via the southern Africa method of drying meats. There is nothing more delicious than the rich taste of meat that a well dried piece of biltong has.

I make my own using a couple of methods. Both are done indoors; one using the AC air handler, and the other a cardboard box and a fan. They both work about the same, though the AC method is about a day or two faster.

First thing you need is a hunk of meat. You can use beef, deer, elk, any of the deers (fallow, axis, etc). This does not work with pork, and for some reason, I seem to recall that it shouldn't be done with pronghorn antelope. I don't remember why, all I do remember is that for some reason, way in the back of my synapses a warning flashes repeatedly...

Cut hunk of meat that will soon be Biltong, with the grain in slices about an inch thick. Now cut them into half inch thick strips. It's easier to slice an inch thick piece off of a large cut, than it is to slice 1/2 inch. The thinner slices come off easily from the flat slab. Sprinkle them well with salt, and put them in a container over night in the fridge. The next day take them out of the fridge, rinse them off and dry them with a paper towel. Now you can use whatever spices you prefer. I like granulated garlic, Old Bay Seasoning, or Everglades Heat on mine. Now it's time to go and dry your biltong.

Using your AC to Dry Meat

With the AC method you need to have an air handler unit that allows you access and enough depth to allow meat to hang freely. It also helps if your wife won't notice the smell of meat, garlic, and pepper wafting throughout the house.

Just hang the meat in the air handler. I used some wire to make a rack inside the air handler.

I have found that paper clips are by far the easiest thing to use to hang the meat from. Just un-bend them into an "S" shape, and skewer the end of the strip on it.

Check the meat often, starting the third day or so. Just slice the end off and see how dry it has gotten.

Building a Box to Dry the Meat
The cardboard box is fairly simple also. Obtain a tall narrow box; the type used by movers is great. They are about eighteen inches square and four feet high. Get some 3/8th inch dowels and space them out two inches apart, about two inches below the top. Cut a slot six to eight inches high and as wide as the box an inch off the bottom. This is the air entry. Now cut slots, one inch in height and about twelve inches wide on each side near the top, these are the exit holes. Open the top, and hang the meat making sure it doesn't touch either the box or an adjoining piece.

Close the top, plug the fan in and aim it at the intake slot, and wait.

Tom of Boomers and BS knows a thing or two about Biltong. He added the following:

"A 40 watt bulb in a proper socket wired safely in a board at the bottom of the box a decent distance below the meat hangers works as well as a fan in a cardboard box if you build it of wood. Some sort of drip screening/drip tray(s) (Maybe a big #10 can with holes in the sides. Albert) over the bulb itself and for general purposes of keeping things tidy helps. Ventilation holes (with screen door mesh behind them to keep flies out) in the box towards the upper end and on the top and pay attention to electrical and fire safety in your design.


Bulb design works better/faster than the fan design in cooler climates. Combination of both works too. Friend of mine built his with a lightbulb and a PC cooling fan to ventilate it."

The way to test the meat is to take slices off the end. If it's not dry enough for you, let it dry another day. I like mine a little on the wet side.

Things to remember, you need to do this in a climate controlled area. In other words, indoors because the relative humidity is constant. My guess is that you could do this outdoors if you knew that you would have stable temperatures and low humidity for four or five days. You just need a constant breeze to carry off any moisture being released."

Tom also added, "In Africa it's usually done open air, outside, in what amount to mesh tents/cabinets to keep the flies off. Not sure about pronghorn but almost all the biltong I have eaten in Africa was from the Antelope family, most especially Impala. Not uncommon for locals to convert near an entire Impala to biltong."

Pepper is a great fly repellent, if you're going to try this outdoors.

Now biltong is delicious, and it is very easy to eat the equivalent of two pounds of meat in a twenty minute sitting. You have been warned!

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member:Qalat City Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.

Hunter and Angler Fact Sheet

© 2010-11 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles

Hunter and Angler Fact Sheet!

Well it's that time of year again where we are all thinking about the summer that is soon to be here, and all the fun and frolic!

Photo Credit: UW Collection

Ummm... Yeah...

But let's not forget our responsibilities to educate and elucidate the facts about or sporting pastimes for our non-sporting friends and neighbors.

The National Hunting and Fishing Day Organization has several assets available for the conservationist to use. Among them is this easily printed PDF with great facts on the leadership and conservation that Hunters and Anglers provide in the great outdoors.

Click below for PDF
Hunter and Angler Fact Sheet

Take a few moments, and print out a dozen copies, (it's only a single side). Share them with non-hunting or non-fishing friends and let them know the facts about hunters and anglers. It is up to you to make sure our friends and neighbors understand the science behind our sport along with the facts and our own personal beliefs

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
Albert Rasch In Afghanistan