The Olympian/file
Ferdinand Lacea of Port Orchard bikes down part of Crystal Mountain. Cyclists should get their bikes tuned up in preparation for spring.

Olympian file photo
Silverdale residents Clarissa Shoecraft and her daughter, B.J., set up camp at Millersylvania State Park. Campers should air out tents and make sure all pieces are accounted for in preparation for spring.

Olmypian file photo
Greg Lewis kayaks through Puget Sound. Kayakers should make sure they're in shape for outdoor activities before warmer weather arrives.

Think spring

Get equipment ready for outdoor adventures

N.S. NOKKENTVED, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Tuesday, March 19, 2002

OLYMPIA -- Get it out, open it up, air it out and clean it up. The waning days of winter are a great time to get the gear ready for those long summer outings. These lingering, cold and rainy weekends are a good time to get out the guide books and do a little dreaming, outdoor enthusiasts say.

Spring officially starts Wednesday. It's time to start planning those summer biking, hiking, boating or backpacking trips. And it's a good time to think about making campground reservations.

It's also a good time to look over outdoor gear. Drag it out of the closet, open things up and let them air out. Make sure you still have all the tent pegs -- replace any that are missing. Test fire the stove -- but do that outside.

Clean and waterproof the hiking boots -- you should have done it before you put them away in the fall, said Joe Hyer of The Alpine Experience. If you didn't waterproof your boots before putting them away in the fall, the dust layer should be cleaned off before waterproofing them again.

For those who haven't been active over the winter, it might be time to spend a few hours in a gym or on a local walking trail -- get those kinks worked out.

"Make sure you've got the 10 essentials," said Hugh Ewing, avid outdoor recreationist and manager of Olympic Outfitters. Restock items that may have been used up last year -- like the waterproof container of matches. Clean out the water bottles.

Bicyclists ought to get their bikes tuned up -- or if nothing else at least check and adjust the brakes, Ewing said.

And maybe sand the splinters out of that old canoe paddle and varnish it.

N.S. Nokkentved covers the outdoors for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5445 and at nnokkent@olympia.gannett.com.

Ten essentials

Things everyone should carry when venturing into the backcountry:

- Map

- Compass

- Water

- Extra food

- Rain gear and extra clothes

- Fire starter and matches

- First aid kit

- Pocket knife

- Flashlight and extra bulbs

- Sunscreen and sunglasses

Source: The Mountaineers

Camping reservations

- State parks: www.camis.com/wa, 888-CAMPOUT or 888-226-7688.

- U.S. Forest Service: www.reserveusa.com, 877-444-6777 or TDD 877-TDD-6777.

- Olympics: First come, first served.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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