The recent tragedy in Arkansas where campers were surprised by a flash flood was horrific and saddening. It also should be a reminder to all of us that the weather is nothing to be ignored. Regardless if you're planning a hunting trip, a camping trip or just a weekend hike, you need to consider the weather and all its consequences.
This week my wife and daughter are at a mountain camp for girls. Midweek a flash flood watch was issued for the area due to the threat of major thunderstorms and ongoing runoff from the mountain snow pack. I'd been at this camp before for Boy Scouts so I knew that a creek ran right through the campsite and I called my wife to alert her to the possible issues. Instead of tent camping that night they moved indoors to a lodge on higher ground.
Although it didn't flood, it did pour and they were grateful for the shingles instead of a nylon roof.
Here are two things you need to keep up-to-date on the weather. First, look into the new series of weather forecasters by Bushnell. The Hunter FXI is a wireless 7-day forecaster that is internet driven.
It gives you all the details for planning any outdoor excursion including temperature, precipitation forecast, wind details, solunar information, moon phases, barometer trends and wind chill. You can program it for up to five locations and check thousands more.
Next, get a weather radio with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts. They are detailed and have all the current warnings and watches. Some weather radios even turn on by themselves for major warnings such as tornadoes. This is great when you're deep in your REM cycle and midnight weather develops. My Garmin Rhino GPS has NOAA weather reception and I carry it with me everywhere, including the backcountry.
The weather is nothing to mess with. I've had several close encounters with Mother Nature over the years and I keep trying to avoid here when she's in nasty mode at all costs.
I wonder if my neighbor has curly hair now?