Beating the Glare with Shooting Glasses


Posted by Jamie Elhert

For the last two months or so my girlfriend and I have been living through a frigid Mongolian winter, running between Ulaanbaatar and the Gobi Desert in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.

Not many people know much about Mongolia (it ain’t your fault – it’s been hidden from the world between China and Russia for many years, and it’s just now re-emerging to the wider world), but if there’s one thing people have heard about the country it’s that it is the land of the blue sky.  Here in the centre of Asia you could go a week without seeing a cloud, so despite the freezing temperatures the sun is always shining. 

This is great, but it can also be a bit of a problem.  Bright sunshine and white snow don’t make good bedfellows, and glare from the sun can be a real pain in the ass when you’re driving, shooting… pretty much doing anything that requires eyes.

As I’ve had issues withe Mongolian glare before, I picked up a pair of polarized hunting glasses last time we were in Beijing.  Shooting glasses may not appear on the radar of most folk, but when you’re out on the Mongolian steppe even the most basic pair of cheap shooting glasses will beat the pants off regular sunglasses.  

Shooting glasses are, cosmetically, very similar to a pair of regular sunglasses, but they’re designed to surpass the ANSI Z87.1 industrial eyewear impact standard.  Shooting glasses must be able to withstand an impact from a projectile much better than sunglasses, so they’re often used by hunters and marksmen to protect the eyes from ricochets and ejected shells.

Anyway, this year I’ve been rocking a pair of Allen Company shooting glasses on the Mongolian steppe.  My pair of Rugers (the best, in my humble opinion) came with four interchangeable lens sets in different colours, so I can switch them out according to the conditions.  The basic yellow lenses aren’t too great for Mongolia as they’re designed for overcast conditions (not too many days like that over here), but the black lenses are pretty ideal for the bright sunshine.

It’s weird how your view of a country changes with a pair of shooting glasses.  I’ve always spent my time in Mongolia with a permanent squint against the bright sun, so it’s nice to walk around with wide open eyes.  It reminds me what a stunningly beautiful country this is.

 


Stay In Good Shape To Hunt Better


Posted by Tanisha Galiano

Being in shape is not something that you do because you are supposed or people are pressuring you. Getting into shape, using a workout system like TRX, should be about building yourself into a stronger, faster and healthier person… not to mention that being in shape will make any physical activity you undertake that much funner and easier to do, especially things such as hunting and hiking in the mountains.

Woman Hiking

When speaking of hiking, it goes without saying that being in a better shape will make it more enjoyable as you will be less likely to run out of breath and start feeling like you are about to die. Staying in shape will allow you to take longer, more intensive hikes without the need to take a break.  Workout equipment like the TRX system is something you can use in your home and has many workouts that can target the same muscles you use when you hike.  Making your workout targeted for your activity. 

TRX

When it comes to hunting, you may ask why would one need to be in shape to aim a rifle? Well, as you know taking the shot is only a small part of hunting. The main part of it consists finding a location where your prey visits, finding a place where you can hide without being seen, and then waiting for your animal of choice to show up. In some cases you may have to wait very long hours in less than comfortable conditions, which is precisely where being in shape will help you out. Not only will you be able to move about faster, but you will also be much more tolerant of bad weather conditions.

If you want to stay healthy, along with working out it is best to go on a specialized diet, apart from exercising regularly of course. If you want to eat healthy yet tasty foods and save yourself some money, then perhaps you could take a look at the various rebates you can get using a Diet to Go coupon. Indeed, Diet to Go not only offers various promotions and specials through coupons, but they also deliver your food right to your door, and offer you a selection of various intricate recipes that are designed to taste delicious and be appropriate for a diet.


Essentials for Barbecue Camping


Posted by Jamie Elhert

There are numerous fun activities associated with camping but perhaps none is more popular than outdoor cooking. It gives you a chance to prepare food away from the modern convenience of your everyday kitchen. This results in wonderful flavor and a traditional feel that you concentrate on the basics. It’s always important to be as organized as possible, but you don’t have to get too elaborate either. Sometimes the most basic recipes and dishes go best with barbecue camping. Just keep in mind that you need to be as prepared as possible and have backup plans in place as well. Safety is also a concern when camping in the outdoors, and it’s one area you should never neglect.

There are more types of gas grills than ever and making your final barbecue choice can be a bit daunting. Larger pieces of equipment can be quite expensive but you can also get by with less expensive models on a camping trip. It just depends on how many people you’re feeding in addition to how durable of a product you need. In any case, you should come up with as big a budget as possible so that you can get a solid model that will last in any type of environment. This is going to be your main source of cooking so you want to find something that offers true value while performing under all conditions.

Food safety is absolutely essential when it comes to barbecue camping and there’s nothing worse than dealing with food poisoning away from an urban center. This is why you should make safe food handling practices a priority, and that includes proper refrigeration as well. Just as important as the gas grill you choose, you need a good cooler or two to store your perishables and beverages properly. In general, using block ice works better to keep your food cool, and you might even want to separate food from beverages to prevent unnecessary thawing.

You’ll undoubtedly want to cook up a storm when it comes to outdoor grilling, but you have to remember that patience is important as well. Always make sure that your food is cooked thoroughly while avoiding the opposite problem of burning. The barbecue process is actually quite simple and a good patient BBQ knows that you don’t have to spend a lot of time flipping your food or moving it around. After a while, your experience will tell you when a piece of food is done and when it needs just a bit more time.

The final factor to consider is overall safety when it comes to a campsite environment. You want to make sure that you have a good designated cooking area that won’t harm the surrounding environment. Endure that you find an open area and never cook your food inside a chance to matter how cold it gets outside. You should also have safety measures in place to prevent forest fires, and always keep an ion your grill after your meal is done. If you’re looking for a great new barbecue for your next camping trip, you can find more information at gasgrillsandbbq.com.


Reviewing Winter Clothes in Mongolia


Posted by Tanisha Galiano

We seem to have stumbled on something of a profitable business idea recently.  Here in Mongolia, where we’re wintering, there is absolutely no end of business opportunities.  Mongolia is a gold rush country, and everyone here is looking to grab a slice of the pie.  By the look of the Ferraris and Humvees cruising the streets of Ulaanbaatar it seems some people have helped themselves to a rather bigger slice than they maybe deserve.

Anyway… while I’m here my friends are always approaching me with business ideas.  Let’s sell pollution masks.  Let’s start a member only club.  Let’s start an all-toast restaurant (seriously, that one was two nights ago after a few beers).

Problem is, I make my living online.  I wouldn’t have the first clue how to start a real bricks and mortar business, especially in a foreign country.   I’m a single task kinda guy (I can’t cook if there are more than two or maybe three ingredients involved), and the prospect of running a business terrifies me.

Anyway… I’ve always felt a little left out by the fact that I can’t form a real business.  My online work is fun and interesting, but there’s no opportunity to make millions as is the case with real world Mongolia.

Recently, though, I got into talks with a local outdoor equipment supplier.  They wanted someone to test their winter wear: parkas, hats, gloves and so on, and then write winter coat reviews on their website.  The pay isn’t great, but the thing is I get to keep the samples I test.

That may not sound like much, but the thing is that a lot of these coats are in the $300+ price range, and I’ve tested 10 so far.  Last week I headed down to the Gobi for a week of field testing (I was going there in any case, so this wasn’t an inconvenience), and for the trouble of writing a 500 word review on the site I got to keep a $185 Mountain Hardwear men’s Zonal jacket.

So, yeah… I may not be making a fortune like so many other westerners here, but it looks like I’ve found my niche :)


Ourdoor Activities You Can Do With Your Dog


Posted by Liza Sein

If you are one of the millions of people all over the world that happens to own a dog as their household pet, then you can engage in a number of fun activities with your pet. Most dogs love the outdoors and will enjoy most of the outdoor activities that you love!

These activities are beneficial in that you and your pet get to exercise and you also have the opportunity to bond with him/her. The following are some ideas of outdoor activities you can enjoy with your dog.

  • Hiking – Your dog will welcome a new trail hike and it can be very enjoyable for your dog if you plan it well. You should consider the capabilities of your dog as you select a place to hike. Some hiking trails can be either too rough, too long or too rocky for your dog to enjoy. Some hikes will expose your pet to different types of terrain other than the usual grassy field and concrete in the park. However, the new view can also pose hazards or danger, if your dog isn’t familiar with the type of terrain. For this reason, you should carry some type of retractable leash that will prevent the rope from getting tangled with branches and a tick collar to repel away parasites. You can always save on these type of pet items with a 1800petmeds coupon from 1800Petmeds.
  •  Agility trails – These are parks that are designed specifically for dogs. They feature a number of obstacle courses that your dog will have fun going through. These obstacle courses include balancing ridges, ramps and hurdles that will give a full workout to your dog.
  • Water sports – Most breeds of dogs love playing in the water and this is a fun activity to engage in during the hot summer months. You can give your dog the chance to benefit from engaging in physical activity by playing the usual catch with a twist where you use waterproof and buoyant toys.
  • Drill team – This is a group of people and their dogs who perform synchronized dances. Even though this activity is not very physical, it can be a good way to teach your dog obedience and discipline and help him or her to improve his/her social skills with other dogs and people.
  • Biking – This is an excellent outdoor activity for dogs since they love running. Some dogs will look at the activity as an opportunity to run alongside their owners, which is a great form of exercise. Be careful to not over do the biking with your dog as some dogs are so loyal that they will run until their legs give out from under them.
  • Rollerblading – This is a unique activity that you can enjoy with your dog. It offers your dog the opportunity to run, just like with biking. If you choose this activity, make sure that you keep your dog on a leash and to also watch out from getting tangled up.

When engaging in these outdoor activities with your dog, make sure that they are not boring and repetitive. Also think about camping or taking your dog to a park specifically made for dogs.