Last September, I attended , a wild game butchering course hosted by , an all-in-one training and outfitter referral service for people who want to get started hunting. After conservation, the purpose of hunting is to put the healthiest, most sustainable, and ethically harvested meat on your dinner table. So when I got the chance to elevate my butchering and cooking skills to the next level, I jumped at the opportunity.

Whether you鈥檙e hunting, or just want to stretch cheap cuts of meat as far as possible, making your own sausage is an easy way to stock up on healthy, tasty protein. I鈥檝e been making my own at home for the last 15 years or so. Let me show you how.

Why Sausage?

Sausage is a way to make use of excess trim that’s left over when you butcher your own animals. As you separate muscle groups into their component parts, you鈥檒l invariably end up with chunks of good meat that don鈥檛 look good enough to use on their own. Turning those鈥攐r affordable commercial cuts like pork shoulders or beef chuck roast鈥攊nto a form that鈥檚 not just useable, but delicious, ensures that you鈥檙e getting the most out of every last bit of animal you harvested. Plus, you’ll end up with large quantities of great food, no matter your budget.

I wrote about听the lessons I learned about butchering in an article last October. The pronghorn antelope I harvested then produced the off cuts I鈥檓 using today, and I鈥檒l incorporate tips from Outdoor Solutions鈥� throughout this piece.

What Is Sausage, Anyway?

Sausage is simply ground, seasoned meat that鈥檚 ready to cook. You can absolutely stuff that into sheep intestines if you want to create nice links, but even with Chef Albert鈥檚 instruction, I find that process time consuming. I don鈥檛 typically end up eating the casings anyway, so I prefer to make sausage in bulk. Packing it into vacuum bags one pound at a time makes it easy to store in your freezer, quick to defrost, and simple to cook with.

Wild game is much leaner than industrially farmed meat. So while there鈥檚 no need to use extra fat if you鈥檙e turning a pork shoulder into sausage, you鈥檒l want to buy a source of fat for anything you鈥檝e hunted.听I鈥檇 always visited a butcher for frozen piles of pork fat, but not every butcher has those, especially during hunting season. Chef Albert recommends simply using bacon instead鈥攊t鈥檚 cheap, readily available, and works just as well. That鈥檚 what I plan to do from now on.

How to Prepare Your Kitchen to Make Sausage

First, you鈥檒l need to defrost the trim you plan to turn into sausage. Chef Albert cautions against forcing a defrost in warm water, and instead recommends thawing what you plan to use overnight in your fridge. Doing that helps preserve the meat鈥檚 texture, and won鈥檛 turn it gray.

Thirty minutes before you plan to get started, it鈥檚 also a good idea to put all the pieces of your meat grinder (except the motor) into your freezer. Grinding produces heat, which you don鈥檛 want entering your meat until you鈥檙e ready to cook.

For that same reason, you鈥檙e also going to want an ample stash of ice cubes on hand.

Supplies you鈥檒l need:

• A meat grinder
• At least two large mixing bowls
• Ice
• A scale
• A sharp knife
• A large cutting board
• Nitrile gloves
• Defrosted meat, trimmed of silver skin and connective tissue
• 20 percent of the weight of that meat in bacon

You should also decide how you want to season your sausage. Today, I made a simple hot Italian, which I find brings out the natural flavor of venison or antelope, and is versatile in use, working as well in a pasta as it does with eggs.

For each pound of the hot Italian spice blend you鈥檒l need:

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground fennel seeds
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup red wine

If you鈥檙e making large quantities of sausage after, say, harvesting a bull elk or more than one deer, you may find it easier to use bulk quantities of a pre-made spice blend.

You’ve Seasoned Your Meat. What’s Next?

Fit your meat grinder with the plate with the large holes, and start dropping strips of meat through it, interspersing the occasional strip of bacon.

Once that鈥檚 done, you鈥檙e ready to add seasonings to your ground meat and thoroughly mix the sausage meat by hand.

Chef Albert strongly recommends wearing nitrile gloves while handling game meat, especially when grinding. Ground meat is sticky, and will pull in any dirt that may exist in your cuticles and under your nails. You don鈥檛 want that stuff polluting the taste of your meat. But also, you should be washing your hands, regardless!

After that first grind and the hand mix, fit your grinder with the plate with the small holes, and pass the mixture through it again.

If you feel your grinder start to heat up while processing large volumes of meat, Chef Albert recommends dropping a few ice cubes into it.听This cold water will also add moisture to your sausage.

At this point, you can pack the sausage mix into a press and extrude it into casings, or simply vacuum seal the bulk meat one pound at a time.

You’ve Just Made a Mess. Here’s the Easiest Way to Clean Your Kitchen.

You鈥檝e just thrown raw meat all over your kitchen, and into a high-powered mixer. Make sure you leave plenty of time for the mopup. Even after careful trimming, game meat is still going to contain some tendon and fascia, and that tough connective tissue loves to wind itself around the auger inside your grinder. I鈥檝e always carefully picked it apart by hand, but Chef Albert showed me an easier way: simply run ice cubes through the grinder until they come out clean.

Then disassemble all the grinder鈥檚 parts, rinse them off, and run them through the dishwasher or wash them by hand. Take care to thoroughly clean cutting boards, countertops, knives, and of course, your hands.

How Should I Cook My Sausage?

What do you do with your new sausage? I like to taste my game meat, so I听try to incorporate it into as simple a dish as possible.

Here鈥檚 a recipe for a very basic hot Italian sausage pasta. I invited my now-wife to come over and enjoy this for our second date, and the rest is history.

Ingredients:

• One box of good quality pasta. My wife has celiac disease, and we鈥檝e found to make gluten-free noodles with the best texture and flavor. Cook that for one minute shy of what’s recommended on the box.
• Kosher salt
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• One 28-ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes鈥擨 like
• Yellow onion, diced
• Fresh garlic to taste, crushed
• One pound hot Italian game sausage
• Fresh basil
• Parmesan
• A good quality olive oil. I only use , which is produced in Umbria by our friends the Tega family and imported by our buddy David Dellanave.

Directions:

1. In a large dutch oven, heat a good amount of olive oil over medium high heat
2. When oil is shimmering, add sausage and saut茅 until brown and crisp
3. Bring a salted pot of water to boil and cook pasta
4. Add the onion and saut茅 until clear
5. Add the garlic and saut茅 until fragrant
6. Season with salt and pepper
7. Add tomatoes, breaking up with your hands or wooden spoon
8. Bring tomatoes to simmer then reduce heat
9. After 15 minutes, stir and add a pinch of salt
10. After another 15 minutes, add pasta, sausage, parmesan to sauce and serve
11. Top plates with ample amounts of torn basil leaves

Delicious food really is that easy, especially when you鈥檙e working with the best meat possible.

Wes Siler grew up on a horse farm in England. That’s where he learned how the sausage gets made. Wes now writes about important topics like politics and vehicles on , where you can also talk to him about those topics and more.

The post The Beginner鈥檚 Guide to Making Sausage at Home appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

New cars and trucks are more expensive than ever鈥攖he average price of a used car was just shy of $50,000 in January, according to Kelly Blue Book. Interest rates to finance a vehicle are as well. To this car enthusiast, out of control costs sounds like a good argument for hanging on to your current vehicle, and taking care of it so you can keep driving safely and comfortably. And while maintenance often sounds intimidating, it really doesn鈥檛 need to be.

With 35,000 miles of off-road driving, plus big trips like last year鈥檚 three-month epic through Baja under its belt, is starting to feel a little beat. Like anyone whose truck is squeaking, driving poorly, and becoming a pain to use, I started to plan on buying a replacement. I pondered my options鈥攎aybe a little bigger truck, probably with a more comfortable camper, definitely brand new. But with interest rates still exceeding seven percent, vehicle prices at an all-time high, and creeping in, the thought of adding an expensive payment to my monthly budget just no longer seems prudent. So I鈥檓 doing something else: I鈥檓 keeping my truck.

But choosing to keep my truck does nothing to eliminate its squeaky bearings. So I decided to give the Ranger a makeover. And even if you鈥檙e not a truck enthusiast, here鈥檚 how you can do the same.

1. Make a List

You don鈥檛 need to be an expert to do this. Just write down everything you don鈥檛 like about how your vehicle is performing right now. Every creak or problem or task you can come up with.

Mine looks like this:

• Sticky ginger-ale explosion residue all over windshield, headliner, seats, dashboard, buttons
• Goose Gear Seat Delete plate system squeaking. Smoothie residue in nooks and crannies
• Dog hair everywhere
• Headlamps bulbs older than one year
• Intermittent check engine light
• Worn/squeaky suspension bushings on all four corners
• Oil/filter change overdue
• Differential fluid front/rear probably needs changing
• Fog lights have rattled out of alignment
• Camper interior lights broken
• Solar panel(s) broken
• Broken bumper swingout retention pin
• Bent bumper swingout latch
• Apply yellow film to rear work lights so people can see me during blizzards
• Intermittent clunking over bumps
• Decked drawer system loose and clunking, filled to brim with mess

2. Diagnose Problems

Even if you鈥檙e not an amateur mechanic, you can likely tackle more of these jobs than you think. But, you have to figure out what鈥檚 wrong in order to fix it. Don鈥檛 be intimidated;听diagnosing your car’s issues is easier than you think.

Any car or truck听made since 1996 includes a standardized electronic Onboard Diagnostic port called an OBD-II. Diagnostic ports were mandated as part of a drive for more stringent vehicle emissions standards鈥攃heck engine lights are typically related to a vehicle鈥檚 intake or exhaust systems鈥攚ith the intention of keeping these complicated parts owner-serviceable. OBD-II readers can be purchased for as little as $20. But odds are good one of your friends or neighbors already has one.

To use an OBD-II scanner, just plug it into the port below the steering wheel while the vehicle is fully off, then turn the key or push the ignition button to turn the car on in accessory mode, without starting the motor. Then follow the instructions on the screen.

Some modern vehicles may also push fault codes out to a smartphone app, along with a brief explanation.

Once you have that code or smartphone alert, all you need to do is perform a simple search. Put your car or truck鈥檚 year, make, model and trim (i.e. 2021 Ford Ranger XLT) into Google, along with the fault code or name, and you鈥檒l find help immediately.

My OBD-II scanner pointed me toward an exhaust gas pressure sensor, and a search sent me to a thread on the vehicle鈥檚 owner forum detailing the problem: the sensor can fill up with moisture created during fuel combustion. A new sensor costs $19, and following instructions on the forum meant replacing it was as simple as removing and re-tightening two bolts. The entire job took about half an hour, and the only speciality tool needed was a step stool, so I could comfortably reach all the way into my lifted truck鈥檚 engine bay.

Mechanical problems are even easier, but they typically require help from another person.

For noises, start by parking the car safely, with the engine off and parking brake engaged. Then crawl underneath your vehicle while a helper bounces whichever front, rear, or corner you think might be home to the problem. Once you can track down the noise to a specific area, like the suspension controlling a single wheel, then you鈥檙e ready to diagnose the specific component. Grab a can of penetrating oil鈥擶D40 will do in a pinch鈥攁nd carefully squirt it into and onto any part that moves, until the noise stops. When it does, you know the last component you hit with that oil is the culprit. Anything made from rubber or plastic鈥攍ike bushings, rubber isolators that reduce noise and vibrations鈥攚ill need to be replaced. Anything metal can likely be loosened, lubricated, and adjusted.

That鈥檚 what my mechanic (who鈥檚 also a friend) and I did to diagnose issues with my bushings. I鈥檓 running a complete Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension system, and it turns out the lower bushing up front, and all four bushings for the rear leafs,听were totally shot. We also found the source of that occasional clunk off-road: relocating my spare tire to the bumper swingout left the under-bed pulley with too much length in its chain, and that was whacking the underside of the body. Lefty loosey on four bolts and that鈥檚 now riding in my giant box of spare parts.

3. Decide What to Handle Yourself

Working on your own vehicle is often much easier than you think it might be. Consult owners forums and YouTube for help, invest in new tools as you need them, and the only significant cost should be to your own time.

Of course, some matters are better left to professionals. Even if you technically know how to fix something, doing so is not always convenient. Since it鈥檚 cold and snowy here in Montana, and my truck won鈥檛 fit in my garage, I let my mechanic handle those suspension bushings himself. And, try as I might, I couldn鈥檛 free the seized collar holding in the broken swingout retention pin (I have an aftermarket rear bumper that carries tools and the spare tire on a pivot), so I handed him that task, too.

I have a great relationship with an independent mechanic, and you can too. Read reviews, ask around for referrals, and chat with a few in your town until you find one that makes you feel confident.

4. Create a Maintenance Schedule

It doesn鈥檛 matter what you drive, components on your car or truck will wear out over time. Manufacturers provide maintenance schedules for their vehicles that must be followed to retain warranty coverage. Keeping yours up-to-date is probably a lot more affordable than you think it鈥檚 going to be.

Car owners tend to neglect two important maintenance principles. The first is failing understand and manage your vehicle鈥檚 maintenance schedule yourself. By relying on your dealer to tell you what work is needed, you end up paying for a ton of stuff that鈥檚 either completely frivolous or which you could do yourself for free. A real maintenance schedule includes year and mileage intervals suggesting when it鈥檚 time to change out fluids and filters, or replace items like belts. But if you just trust a dealer, they鈥檙e going to bill you for the time it takes to check your tire pressure, top up your washer fluid, or change your wiper blades鈥攁ll easy tasks you can do yourself.

For my truck, I try to change the oil and filter every 6,000 miles. I clean my aftermarket air filter with compressed air after any off-road trip, check my fluid levels whenever I think to do so, and swap my summer and winter tires once every fall and spring. Once my truck reaches 60,000 miles it鈥檒l be time to change the spark plugs, and at 100,000 miles I鈥檒l do a coolant flush. Aside from stuff like my bushings that I beat to hell off-road, that鈥檚 it.

The second principle鈥攁nd this is doubly important for us outdoor enthusiasts鈥攊s understanding that maintenance schedules are based on normal driving cycles, and not heavy use activities like towing, hauling a heavy camper around, or driving off-road. So we need to use our judgement, and bring forward certain maintenance to suit the additional wear added to some parts.

Those of us who drive off road tend to abuse our axle differentials. Any time you ask your truck to move a lot of weight, climb steep inclines, or manage traction off-road you鈥檙e asking your differentials to work hard. Drive through deep water, and your diffs may also suck in a little bit of moisture, slowly polluting the oil that lubricates them. Replacing that lubricating oil more often than the normal maintenance schedule suggests may help your differentials last longer and work more efficiently. I鈥檒l spend an hour swapping mine out once I have a dry driveway to work in.

Hard driving will have similar effects on brake pads, tires, transmission fluid, your battery, and more. Start with the manufacturer鈥檚 suggested service intervals, then modify the timing to suit how hard you use your vehicle.

My Ranger had been feeling pretty worn out. It was squeaking loudly everywhere I went, and had become a real challenge to use daily between all that ginger ale, the broken bumper, and the combination of all the other small issues. But now, after completing my to-do list? I took it out during a blizzard the other night just to play around in the snow, and my truck is back to being the smooth, controllable, extremely capable vehicle I built it to be. Heck, I can even see out of the windows. I think I鈥檓 in love with my truck again.

Wes Siler has been writing about topics like cars, trucks, and the outdoors since the early 2000s. You can find more of his work and get his help on .听

The post Can鈥檛 Afford a New 国产吃瓜黑料mobile? This Is the Ultimate Guide to Rig Maintenance. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

On October 24, Scout Motors unveiled near-production versions of its electric Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. The Volkswagen subsidiary plans to begin producing the vehicles in South Carolina in 2027. With prices for the body-on-frame trucks starting as low as $50,000 (with tax incentives), and featuring an optional range-extending gasoline generator, the revived brand is addressing major barriers that have stood in the way of American buyers’ desires for EV trucks.

The deeper you dive into the spec sheets, the more appealing these trucks get. Features like body-on-frame construction, a solid rear axle, mechanical locking differentials in both the front and rear, and optional 35-inch tires will boost off-road capability and durability. An optional front bench seat and a full-length retracting roof will recreate a sense of classic truck nostalgia without sacrificing practicality for daily driving.

Everything drivers have come to love about other electric trucks will be present in Scout’s new vehicles, too. With 1,000 pound-feet of torque, zero to 60 miles per hour times will happen in as few as 3.5 seconds. They’ll sport futuristic lighting elements reminiscent of old neon signs, and a minimalist interior is dominated by a large touch-screen infotainment system.

What Is Scout Motors?

International Harvester, an American brand better known for its tractors, began making the original Scout in 1961. Intended to rival post-war Jeeps by pairing equivalent capability with extra refinement, the International Scout became an icon due to its smooth, compound body surfaces. International Harvester sunsetted passenger vehicle production in 1980 after the American auto industry suffered numerous setbacks and increasing competition from foreign automakers across the seventies.

Volkswagen purchased rights to the Scout brand in 2020 and established Scout Motors in 2022 with the goal of developing electric trucks specifically designed for American drivers. While still owned by VW, Scout operates as an independent company and has its own U.S.-based executive staff.

The Traveler and Terra were designed in Novi, Michigan, by Scout鈥檚 own R&D team, and will be produced at the brand鈥檚 new $2 billion factory in Blythewood, South Carolina. Scout says that factory will employ up to 4,000 American workers.

Scout plans to sell its vehicles directly to consumers and has plans to open a nationwide network of dedicated showroom and service locations to support that endeavor. The company says the sales process should be should be streamlined, promising 鈥渇ull price transparency,鈥� and that, 鈥渢ransactions will be completed in minutes.鈥�

While Scout Motors operates independently from VW, the backing of the world鈥檚 second-largest automaker remains a significant asset. Production targets are said to be as high as 200,000 vehicles per year.

Scout Nails the Truck Stuff

Building the Traveler and Terra using a body-on-frame design should result in higher payload and towing capacities, increase durability, and foster repairability in comparison to the unibody construction more typical in the EV space. It may also open up easier paths to modification, something Scout is teasing by stating that 鈥渞obust suspension options鈥� will be available.

The ability to easily increase suspension height, fit larger tires, adjust spring rates, and improve damping capabilities will let buyers modify their Scout to their heart’s content. This will enable the vehicles to be adapted to different use cases and allow owners plenty of opportunity to personalize their vehicles.

The Scout Terra features a squared-off cab and horizontal bed rails that will make it easy to develop compatible bed caps and campers. Accessory makers will rejoice.

The choice to employ a solid rear axle will help there, too. Using one听means the rear wheels will remain parallel, no matter what height the rear suspension sits at. Since loads change mostly in the vehicle鈥檚 cargo area, this also facilitates strong payload and towing capacities, will make lifting the vehicle easy, and enhances articulation over off-road obstacles.

And, of course, there鈥檚 the motor configuration and locking axle differentials. The Scout SUV and pickup will feature two instead of three or four motors. Moving the motors out of the wheels and reducing their number will reduce complication and parts counts (the more parts on a vehicle, the more stuff that can fail), and simplify how the Scouts handle off-road traction. The Scouts will be able to lock their mechanical diffs just like a gas-powered 4×4.

Given that these vehicles are still at least three years away, Scout is quoting specs as ranges or targets rather than definitive numbers. Payload figures are said to be 鈥渘early 2,000 pounds鈥� on both vehicles, while towing capacities are 鈥渙ver 7,000 pounds鈥� for the Traveler and 鈥渕ore than 10,000 pounds鈥� for the Terra. Those numbers are excellent when compared to similar-sized popular SUVs and pickups on the market.

It appears as if 33-inch tires may be standard, with 35-inch items available as an option. The Traveler SUV can carry a full-size 35-inch spare on its external carrier. The Terra pickup will normally carry a 33-inch spare under its bed, but needs to move a fifth 35-inch inside the bed. Expect hitch-mounted spare tire carriers like those made by to be a popular accessory.

Scout Combines Retro and Futuristic Styling

While the Terra and Traveler will carry all the amenities one might expect in a luxury EV, many customers will be relieved to find Scout is still taking an analog approach to its interiors. Scout says the vehicle will 鈥渓argely be controlled through a tactile experience.鈥�

“From mechanical door handles, to grab bars, to switches and dials, Scout vehicles will provide a real hands-on user experience,鈥� the company states.

And while individual bucket seats will remain standard, a front bench will be optional on both the Traveler and Terra. This will increase total seating capacity from five to six, and allow a couple (or throuple) to nuzzle up to each other in the cab.

Roof options strike a similar balance between practicality and enjoyment. A normal fixed roof is standard, but both a full-length sunroof and retracting fabric 鈥淐abana Top鈥� will be available as options. Because both operate within the same solid structure of the normal roof gutters, neither will impair the fitment of roof racks, rooftop tents, or other popular accessories. Cabana Top should be able to function without squeaks, rattles, leaks, or wind noise, again because it鈥檚 mounted within the permanent roof鈥檚 structure.

Electric Power, with Optional Gas Range

Scout says that basic versions of the Traveler and Terra will be normal battery-only electric vehicles. Range on those is said to be 鈥渦p to 350 miles,鈥� which may indicate the presence of different battery pack sizes available at different price points.

The Scouts will use the North American Charging Standard, an 800-volt architecture, and are capable of charging up to 350 kilowatts. They鈥檒l be able to use the Tesla Supercharger network in addition to others.

And while the pure-battery versions of the Scouts will work well for most normal driving duties, those of us who live and travel in and through remote areas鈥攐r spend a lot of time driving off-road鈥攚ill听be thrilled by the presence of a gasoline-powered range-extending generator. Scout is mum on details of that engine鈥檚 capacity, power output, location, and configuration, but does say that the generator will only operate to charge the battery, not drive the wheels.

Stellantis provided many more details of its own unique Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) system when it announced its new Ramcharger electric pickup truck last year. And while some mechanical details may differ, the system鈥檚 benefits should remain largely identical.

Modern electric vehicles are fast, smooth, responsive, and quiet to drive. The downside of electric vehicles is our charging infrastructure. Even large cities struggle to offer enough charging capacity for growing fleets of EVs. Venture into a rural area and chargers may not be available at all. This can limit an EV鈥檚 ability to serve all vehicle roles within a household and make long-distance travel away from major interstates impractical.

Adding a gasoline-powered generator to an electric vehicle delivers the best of both worlds. You still get all the superlatives of electric motivation, but gain the ability to charge your batteries as you drive. And you can add more range at both gas stations and EV chargers. Until those chargers become as widespread and commonplace as gas stations, EREVs represent a practical solution that should ease EV adoption. Their only downsides are that they do cost more money, add some weight, take up space, and increase parts counts.

On the subject of pricing, Scout says the Traveler SUV should start at 鈥渦nder $60,000,鈥� but that they anticipate available tax incentives can bring the cost as low as $50,000. The Terra pickup will start $1,500 higher. There鈥檚 no word on how high options (like that range extender) could take prices. The company began to take $100 deposits on Thursday night.

With a familiar-but-futuristic design, welcome doses of functional nostalgia, what should be class-leading off-road capability, potential for modification, and the ability to extend range to anywhere you can find a gas station, as well as the financial backing of Volkswagen, Scout is launching with a winning formula. Heck, these things are compelling enough that I鈥檓 about to click over to their website听and hand over a hundred bucks for the privilege of being able to purchase one three years from now. The idea of cruising dirt roads here in Montana in near silence, with my arm around my wife or one of our dogs, is the exact experience this outdoors enthusiast can get excited about.

The post The 2027 Scout Traveler and Terra Is a Retro-Futuristic Marvel appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Last Friday I hiked back into a camp just south of the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana after a long morning chasing elk around the mountains. I fired up my Starlink satellite internet system, sat down, and texted my wife to let her know I was safe. That鈥檚 when my phone rang. On the other end was one of Tim Walz’s press people, who invited me to join the Minnesota Governor and vice-presidential candidate for the annual pheasant season opener in his home state. I’d planned to interview President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the 2024 race, have previously published articles on Pete Buttigieg and John Kerry, and Walz’s press team knew I was a hunter, too.

I had just enough time to make it if I jumped in my truck and drove over 1,000 miles to southeastern Minnesota right away.听I鈥檝e heard worse ideas, so I pulled on a pair of jeans, threw on a flannel shirt, and hit the road.

Eighteen hours later, I was standing in a field outside a town called Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, drinking a bad cup of gas station coffee, and getting frisked by the Secret Service when a convoy of armored Chevy Suburbans pulled up. Walz hopped out, pulled on a bird vest and a pair of brush chaps. A member of his personal protection detail handed him a shotgun. That’s when a trio of very excited labs jumped on the governor.

The dogs belonged to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources official who鈥檇 showed up that morning to serve as his boss鈥檚 dog handler. Also present was the owner of the farm where everyone was parking, a dozen or so campaign staffers, at least 20 Secret Service agents supported by even more state police officers, and a gaggle of local and national news cameramen.

When the campaign representative called me at camp, I’d offered to swing by my home in Bozeman, Montana, to grab my shotgun. While the Secret Service didn鈥檛 mind people joining Walz in the field with their own bird guns, the campaign staffers didn鈥檛 want to risk a gaffe (or worse). So I just threw on my orange vest, and tagged along while Walz and the DNR official hunted.

An Unusual Hunt

Walking off the farm onto a public Wildlife Management Area, the hunt began in earnest. We鈥檇 heard some roosters calling from a听thicket of willows, so Walz, the DNR official, and his dogs waded right into them.

The field was covered in a patchwork of tall grasses, dense willows, and milo (a corn-like stalky plant that produces bird seed). There were ample signs that whitetail, birds of prey, and other wildlife had been present in the area. But this morning, we saw no trace of fauna. The Secret Service had begun showing up days earlier, patrolling the area on ATVs, setting up sniper overwatch locations, and flying surveillance drones. All these preparations seem to have scared off any deer, hawks, or other animals that usually call the area home.

Stomping along right behind Walz, straight into the willows, was an army of news media personnel, each of them competing for the perfect photo. None of the press I chatted with had ever been on any sort of hunt before.

Everyone followed along at an arm鈥檚 length, occasionally rushing ahead to capture a portrait when the sun was just right, or shouting a request to look in the camera鈥檚 direction. Frustrated members of the protective detail鈥攕ome of whom were seasoned hunters鈥攖ried to hold everyone in an even line with their protectee, giving him some clear shooting angles in case a bird might fly up.

Ten minutes in, I started to wonder where the birds had been placed. Every other pheasant hunt photo-op I鈥檝e seen a politician host was done with pen-raised birds released just moments before the politician shouldered their gun and shot them. My first assumption on the hunt with Walz was that somebody had screwed up, failing to place the birds in the pre-planned locations. But as the morning went on I realized something else was going on: Walz was really hunting wild birds.

Safety First

As we walked across the field, a rooster lifted off a few feet in front of me, on a trajectory to fly right over my head. I dove into a ditch, a reflex precaution I’ve developed for safety over years of hunting鈥攂ird hunters have reputation of playing fast and loose with gun safety. It would have been a home run shot for Walz, who was standing just ten yards away at the time, but he didn鈥檛 even shoulder his Beretta. If we鈥檇 switched places, I鈥檇 have taken that shot.

The rest of the morning, I never once saw the Governor point his gun in anything but a safe direction, even as all of those members of the press ran around him. Walz treated the entire direction of the staging area鈥攖he crowd of staffers and parked cars鈥攁s off-limits throughout the whole hunt. He unloaded his gun when we got within a quarter-mile of the pen.

A Little R&R

A couple hours later, after walking听two subsequent teams of dogs to exhaustion, Walz cracked a Mountain Dew and chomped into a venison stick made by one of his friends.

鈥淲asn鈥檛 that great?!鈥� The governor remarked with enthusiasm. Most other hunters I know would have spent the time talking about the heat or lack of wind, or wondering where all the birds were hiding. But Walz didn鈥檛 seem at all frustrated by the circus that had limited his opportunities to shoot birds.

鈥淚鈥檓 here for the camaraderie and I鈥檓 here for the dogs,鈥� Walz told me during a sit-down interview a few minutes later. 鈥淭he shooting is tertiary at best. Even watching them flush when you don鈥檛 get a shot because you鈥檙e too far away or whatever? That鈥檚 great.鈥�

Walz gestured at the field we鈥檇 just spent a couple of hours walking. 鈥淭his,” he said, “is why I come.鈥�

A Gun Enthusiast on Gun Reform

Walz, a听former command sergeant major in the Army National Guard,听brought his along on the hunt. The $2,159 semi-automatic shotgun is an interesting choice for bird hunting.听It鈥檚 designed for shooting sporting clays, and is about 30 percent heavier than a pure hunting gun as a result.

鈥淎s I鈥檓 getting older, I appreciate the lower recoil,鈥� Walz said. Not only does the weight reduce the Xcel鈥檚 kick, but the gun also employs a hydraulic damper in the stock to minimize the force that reaches the shooter鈥檚 shoulder.

Walz is running three-inch shells through the 12 gauge, filled with听number five bird shot. That鈥檚 about as powerful of听a load as you鈥檇 want to shoot at a pheasant, so it鈥檚 understandable why he鈥檚 gone through the effort to minimize recoil. He also employs non-toxic bismuth loads, which don鈥檛 cause lead poisoning in the birds of prey that occasionally scavenge the carcasses of hunted pheasant.

The loads retail for about three times the price of the cheaper, but less hard-hitting steel alternative. I asked the Governor how he justifies the cost. 鈥淲ell I only need two rounds a day,鈥� he responded. 鈥淚n the context of the dogs and the time, that鈥檚 really not bad.鈥�

For those not super familiar with bird hunting, Walz was bragging. The daily bag limit for wild pheasant in Minnesota is two birds.

I also asked Walz how he navigates his enthusiasm for guns and hunting while reckoning with the mass shootings that regularly shake the nation. On the campaign trail, Walz has spoken at length about how the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre reshaped his thinking on gun violence and gun control. Walz went from boasting about an “A” rating from the NRA before that mass shooting to holding an “F” rating.

鈥淭he solution is in the middle,鈥� he told me. 鈥淔irearms are a right. So long as you can use them safely as you see here you can use them as you see fit. But here in Minnesota we鈥檝e done things like more expanded background checks and domestic violence protection orders.” None of those things have impacted Americans’ Second Amendment rights or the guns they hunt with and own, he said.

“What it does is keep more people safe. And I think there鈥檚 a responsibility for gun owners to speak up on this, and set a good example,鈥� said Walz.

Unexpected Access

Early in the hunt, a rooster took wing right in front of Walz. The DNR official beat his boss to the shot and brought the bird down. That was a faux pas鈥攊t should have been Walz鈥檚 shot based on proximity to the bird. But Walz immediately shouted, 鈥淕ood shot!鈥� Then he听went about helping to find the bird in the dense brush.

The striking thing about the hunt wasn鈥檛 that it actually involved fair chase and wild birds, or that Walz had a good time pursuing a hobby he鈥檚 enjoyed since childhood; it was the attitude of everyone around him.

With high-profile politicians, standard procedure for journalists is to get campaign approval for the questions you plan to ask during an interview. Hanging out after hunting wrapped up, I was chatting with the candidate鈥檚 traveling press secretary, and I asked her if there were any topics she preferred that I avoid. She just shrugged and told me to ask whatever I wanted.

The campaign is running a last-minute, incredibly close race. But everyone around Walz was relaxed and seemed to be having a good time.

The only time I saw Walz remotely bummed out was when he learned that I鈥檓 also an enthusiastic bird hunter, but didn’t get an opportunity to do any shooting. 鈥淲e鈥檒l have you back out after the election,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen we should be able to do this without all the cameras.鈥�

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An editor at听国产吃瓜黑料 once told me about a winter camping trip he took on his birthday. He and a few friends skinned up into a high basin in the Sierra Nevada on skis to camp and tick off lines for the weekend. The only problem was, he took a 20-degree sleeping bag, and the temperatures at night dropped into the single digits. After burning all his energy shivering overnight, he was too exhausted the next day to climb to his ski line and had to head home early. Some birthday weekend.

Getting the right sleeping bag can make or break an adventure. But there are so many factors to nail. How should you think about stated temperature ratings? What the hell is fill power anyway? What arcane witchcraft is a denier number?

Below, we break through the jargon and marketing claims, give you the tools you need to understand how sleeping bags work, and help you find the right one for your unique needs. Consider this the ultimate guide to picking the right sleeping bag.

What Temperatures Will You Use It In?

A sleeping bag鈥檚 job is to keep you warm. It does that by preventing convective heat loss. In other words, it keeps your body heat from escaping into the cold air. While you sleep, your body is also subject to conductive heat loss, which comes from contact with the cold ground. That’s why we recommend you think of a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad as a single, cohesive system.

If you want to get into the nitty gritty of how sleeping bag temperature ratings are determined, you can read all about that process here. But the bottom line is that lots of testing goes into determining the three temperature ratings you’ll see on almost every sleeping bag.

• Comfort: This is the range at which your sleeping bag will feel absolutely cozy.
• Limit: This is the range at which you’ll sleep a few hours, but probably not comfortably.
• Extreme: This is the range at which you’ll survive, but it will not feel good.

The bad news is that understanding what performance is being advertised is a little tricky. Most bags highlight the “limit temperature” in their naming conventions. Limit is the absolute lowest temperature you鈥檒l want to use the bag in, and it will not feel comfortable.

So, if you see a bag called the 鈥淪uperDuperSleep 10,鈥� you can typically understand that to mean it has a limit temperature of 10 degrees. And that can be confusing because you can鈥檛 just climb in that SuperDuperSleep 10 and expect to sleep super duper in 10-degree temperatures. If the limit temperature is 10, the comfort temperature will probably cap out around 20 or 25 degrees. (This is less true in women’s bags, where the model names often reflect the comfort rating.)

One thing we will note about the temperature-rating process is that the pad used to test bags is much warmer than most of the popular pads consumers tend to buy. If you want your bag to perform like the temperature rating that’s written on the side, you’ll need an extremely warm pad, like a .

If you want to ensure warm sleep when it鈥檚 cold outside, then buy a bag with a comfort rating at least 10 degrees colder than the lowest temperature you plan to use it in. That way you鈥檒l have a little cushion should the unexpected happen.

How Will You Carry It?

Do you plan to use your new sleeping bag only for car camping, or will you want to take it backpacking? If you want to carry your bag, you’ll need to prioritize packed size and weight. Bags that are both compressible and warm tend to be expensive. Ones that just need to fit in the back of a truck are free to be a little heavier and more spacious. Heavier materials also tend to be more comfortable and less expensive.

If you can only buy one bag鈥攁nd you live in a mostly dry climate鈥攎ake it a simple down mummy bag designed for backpacking. Skip any crazy-expensive ultralight materials or designs, and you鈥檒l end up with a versatile solution that can work anywhere from a truck bed to a weekend trek through the mountains.

Can You Keep It Dry?

Down insulation is light, compressible, and durable. But despite recent innovations in chemicals used to coat the down fluffs, it still loses its loft if it gets wet. That means it will wilt and compress, and stop insulating until you dry it out. Despite performance claims, water-repellent coatings only work to shorten the time in which it takes the down to dry. Even with a coating, that typically won鈥檛 happen overnight.

Synthetic insulations, on the other hand, perform better when exposed to moisture. But, they also tend to be heavier and less compressible, and they aren鈥檛 going to last through decades of use like quality down will.

If you plan to use your bag in a very wet environment like the Pacific Northwest, or are buying a bag to use on float trips, then synthetic insulation may be the better choice. But down will probably work best for most campers due to its superior loft and longevity. If you鈥檙e worried about exposure to rain or submersion, consider housing your down bag in a lightweight, silicone-coated nylon dry bag.听 The only issue there is that any moisture trapped in the bag in the morning (the human body produces about a quart of water each night), will remain trapped inside a dry bag. So make sure you give your sleeping bag time to dry out between uses. Store any sleeping bag uncompressed, hanging inside a warm closet.

While synthetic insulation is typically thought of as being cheaper than down, there鈥檚 actually a wide variety in quality and performance across both material categories. We鈥檒l dive into that below.

How Do You Want It To Fit?

Basic mummy bags are narrow at the feet and wide at the shoulders, and they wrap insulation over your head to prevent heat loss from exposed skin. Rectangular bags are as wide at the feet as they are at the shoulders to give you more space inside. Most also skip the hood. There are seemingly endless twists and combinations on those basic formulas designed to reduce weight, increase warmth, or just catch the eye on crowded shelves.

There are positives and negatives to every change. While a roomier design may allow you to toss, turn and spread out in your sleep, it鈥檒l also be less efficient at trapping body heat. Ultralight quilts that look like mummy bags without backs may seem like a way to cut weight while gaining roominess, but they can be hard to really cinch down on cold nights. That means some heat loss is pretty much inevitable.

There鈥檚 also all of our unique body shapes to consider. And while matching a bag鈥檚 length to your height is pretty easy, pairing one to your shape is often trickier. Men’s and women’s bags map insulation differently based on differences in physiology. Women’s bags have narrower shoulders and wider hips, for example. It can be a good idea to visit a physical retail location and try different types of bags from multiple brands to find the one that fits you best.

What Features Do You Want?

Let鈥檚 start with the functional stuff. Since it鈥檚 the job of a sleeping bag to prevent convective heat loss, features like zippers covered by insulated plackets, baffles that close tightly around your neck, and drawcords that allows you to tighten up the head opening are important considerations that can all work together to prevent cold air from being sucked inside the bag every time you toss and turn.

From there, bags may have all sorts of frills like phone pockets (batteries need to be kept in a warm place on cold nights to prevent them from draining quickly), or very Instagram-friendly arm and foot holes so you can take selfies while standing up inside your bag. These things tend to add cost and potential points of failure, while distracting from more important performance metrics like temperature ratings and quality materials.

One area where sleeping bags can functionally differ is in their relationship with sleeping pads. Bags that include pad sleeves help create a unified sleep system in which the bag鈥檚 back insulation can be reduced or eliminated since it鈥檒l never be exposed to cold air. Such setups can help eliminate unnecessary weight and bulk while adding space inside the bag, but they typically restrict you to using pads of specific widths and sizes.

Kifaru Slick Bag Os

How Much Money Do You Want To Spend?

After temperature ratings, there鈥檚 one other important number that will determine how much money you’ll spend: fill power.

Fill power is not a measure of warmth; it is a measure of compressibility. The number, typically expressed as something between 500 and 1,000, is the amount of cubic inches one ounce of the material in question is capable of lofting to fill. So, one ounce of 650-fill-power down clusters will fill up less space than an ounce of 850-fill-power down. That means a bag filled with 650-fill will generally have to have more clusters鈥攚hich means it’ll be heavier and less compressible than an 850-fill bag of the same size.

If a bag (or any other item made using lofted insulation) lists its fill weight, you can then surmise how much insulation it鈥檚 packing, and use that number as a point of comparison with other products. So an 850-fill bag equipped with 16 ounces of down will come with 13,600 cubic inches of insulation (cubic inches x ounces = total material). Since that鈥檚 most of what you鈥檙e paying for, this can be a good way to cross-shop on pricing.

For synthetic insulations, you’ll see the insulation power measured in terms of density. Insulation density is listed as grams per square-meter, or GSM. This number lets you compare one insulation to the other.

Of course, all this comparison assumes that you鈥檙e talking about insulations of identical quality, and there鈥檚 just a ton of variation there. When it comes to down, the ways in which it is sourced, harvested, processed, and treated are all variables that end up being really important to both its performance and longevity.

Cheaper downs will be mechanically harvested in ways that can not only hurt animals, but also damage the product. There will be a higher percentage of feathers to down clusters in the resulting product. That limits warmth and compressibility, since actual feathers are less compressible and less insulating than down fluffs are. More feathers can also damage face fabrics since their sharp quills are prone to poking through. Low-quality down can also be treated harshly with high-temperature processing. This processing removes the natural oils that help down resist moisture and hold up to long term use. To ensure quality, look for down sourced from , or from a source compliant with the voluntary .

With synthetic insulations, quality varies just as widely. The spun polyester inside a bag you buy at a discount store is not going to compress, perform, or last like something made from a high-quality insulation like Climashield Apex or Primaloft Gold. Look for name-brand fabric technology over generic insulation types.

Lastly, let’s go over face fabrics, which contain a bag鈥檚 insulation. These are typically listed in terms of denier. Denier is the mass (in grams) of 9,000 meters of the material in questin. In practical terms, it measures how thick and durable the threads are. Low-denier fabrics are gossamer and lightweight. High-denier fabrics are burly and robust.

Very light, very thin face fabrics may help cut weight and packed size, but they also tend to be fragile and expensive. Very heavy canvas materials can be nice to have for car camping as they utterly resist abrasion and penetration, but they can lead to a bag so bulky it can be hard to even fit inside your trunk. A good middle ground tends to come around 20 to 40 Denier, which, when paired with a reasonable fill power down or quality synthetic insulation, will give you that light, durable, affordable, versatile mummy bag that鈥檚 probably the answer to most of your needs.

The post Everything You Need to Know to Pick the Perfect Sleeping Bag appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Before the summer heat broke, my wife and I made a decision that would have been unthinkable just a short while ago: we went for a hike without Wiley. He was the reason that I started hiking nearly every day in 2012, a big reason why Virginia and I met in the first place. Wiley is part of every decision I make鈥攖o the the degree where he鈥檚 become an inseparable part of my identity. But now, at almost 12, he鈥檚 an aging dog.

We didn鈥檛 take him hiking that day because it was over 90 degrees out, uncommonly hot here in the mountains of southwest Montana. And Wiley鈥檚 endurance has started to fade, even on cooler days. He鈥檒l lay down in the shade and refuse to go farther, start lagging behind on uphills, and has even stopped beating up his little brother and sister when they stray off-trail.

The reason we’re hesitant to take Wiley on our hikes isn’t because he can鈥檛 or won鈥檛 keep up鈥攁nd definitely not because he doesn鈥檛 want to come along. It鈥檚 more because we鈥檙e worried about him. He鈥檒l slip and fall occasionally while climbing our hardwood stairs鈥攕omething he now accomplishes at a walk rather than a run. And jumping into bed is a feat that he can now manage听only with a running start. More than half of my 鈥渓oad ups鈥� at the trucks are now met with听Wiley’s sad eyes, which听I know to mean he wants me to lift him into the bed.

At home, Wiley spends most of the day sleeping on the couch, laying in the yard, or relaxing on the dog beds we stacked together for maximum comfort.听I find myself scratching his head to say goodbye as often as I鈥檓 leashing him up to take him with me.

Protection duties鈥攐nce Wiley’s greatest source of joy鈥攈ave largely been ceded to Teddy, our six-year-old Kangal. I can鈥檛 remember the last time he听bit someone or something.

When Wiley swims鈥攕omething he loves, but has never been any good at鈥擨 now keep a watchful听eye on him, and drag him out of the water once he starts to show any signs of fatigue.

Wiley wasn鈥檛 my first dog by a long shot, but my first after leaving home for college. He was given to me by friends who figured a puppy might be just the thing to drag me out of depression after I lost听a business I鈥檇 spent years building then, temporarily, the ability to walk following a motorcycle crash. I was so broke the first year that I had Wiley that I chose food for him over food for myself on more occasions than I鈥檇 like to count.

Writing that is enough to bring back some uncomfortable memories, but I don鈥檛 really think about those that much anymore. The house, the cars, and the security that seemed so unobtainable back then have come through work and time. That’s in large part thanks to the sense of purpose and confidence being forced to provide for Wiley gave me.

But our good times together far outweigh any struggles we faced. Wiley鈥檚 been to three countries, most states east of the Mississippi, summited 14,000-foot peaks, rafted rivers, and sailed in the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. He鈥檚 bitten bears, helped me fight off a home invasion back in Hollywood, and served as the best man at our wedding. He was better at those first two tasks than he was the last one, but did at least manage to lead a group howl session during the reception dinner.

And while he鈥檚 still healthier looking than many dogs half his age鈥�thanks to cutting out ultra-processed food early in his life鈥�we can still see Wiley aging. From his peak of fitness, where you could visibly see his muscles even through his dense brindle fur, he鈥檚 lost about ten pounds, and is now what one of my friends described as 鈥渙ld man skinny.鈥� What used to be meat is now bone. He has a lipoma on his rib cage, and a growth on one eyelid that our听vet describes as non-cancerous.

Most dogs with hybrid-vigor鈥攁 post-purebred description for a dog that won鈥檛 die from cancer at a young age鈥攍ive 10 to 14 years or so. And while Wiley shows no signs of crossing the rainbow bridge anytime soon, even I have to admit that the end of our time together is now much closer than the beginning. Watching people on television, or friends in real life make end-of-life decisions about their dogs is starting to feel more and more uncomfortable. Selfishly, I鈥檓 hoping it鈥檒l still be a feat of heroism involving a mountain lion or grizzly bear that takes him, but realistically I know it鈥檒l probably have to be an injection in the comfort of our own home.

But that鈥檚 still hopefully at least a couple years away. My job in the meantime, I figure, is to create as many memories together as possible. Even as it鈥檚 harder and harder to bring him along, it becomes more important to put in the effort, or scale activities to Wiley鈥檚 ability. Airplane rides鈥攖rips where my dogs cannot tag along鈥攆eel less appealing. Visits to our cabin, trips to see friends within driving distance, and vacations to Mexico, where we bring the pack, have become easy to prioritize.

Or just hanging out at home, where Wiley likes nothing better than lying听under our chairs while we eat dinner, sleeping on his bed next to ours while we sleep, or cuddling up to us on the couch watching a movie. None of that may sound quite as exciting as our old hikes, but we adapt. It turns out any time spent with Wiley, in a place he’s most comfortable, is time well spent.

The post As My Dog Slows Down, I鈥檓 Learning to Appreciate the Little Things appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Ask any dog owner how they feel about Fourth of July fireworks and they’ll likely share a story of finding their pup whimpering in the bathtub. All three of my large, rambunctious dogs hate the loud explosions caused by fireworks. Over the years I’ve developed a system that helps my dogs stay calm during America’s loudest tradition. Here鈥檚 how I get them ready.

Why Dogs Hate Fireworks

Dogs have an acute sense of hearing. Lacking the superior eyesight of humans, dogs rely on their ears and noses to perceive the world. A dog can hear much higher frequencies than we can听(think: dog whistles), and can detect sounds from four times farther away. So, fireworks that sound distant to you sound a lot closer to a dog.

Compounding that, few dogs take classes on American history, and may be unable to place the sudden presence of sky explosions in appropriate cultural context. What sounds like freedom to you and me may simply be an unexpected, unpredictable, unknown source of an unnatural sound. One that comes with a foul odor, too. Fireworks can just create total sensory overload to a pooch.

How Do You Know If Your Dog Is Scared of Fireworks?

Not all dogs are frightened by the sound of fireworks鈥攂ut your dog will exhibit a few telltale signs if he or she is. Wiley, my oldest, digs holes (really big ones) and attempts to hide in them while shaking in fear. Bowie, our husky middle dog, clings to us like glue. Teddy, our 125 pound grizzly fighter, cries and seeks reassurance by manically licking our faces.

Signs of anxiety in dogs include:

• Hiding, cowering, or freezing in place
• Restlessness
• Shaking
• Panting
• Licking

Fireworks terror听can manifest in other behaviors. A frightened dog may become destructive, chewing, scratching, or digging in an effort to alleviate or escape from their fears. And it can cause harm to itself or property in the process.

Signs that a dog is attempting to escape听is something all dog owners should take seriously. Just because a crate, leash, or fence works for a dog during normal times does not mean it will be adequate at keeping a panicking dog safe.

How to Prevent Fireworks Reactivity

Socialization is key. During a puppy鈥檚 normal socialization period, make sure you鈥檙e encountering loud, unfamiliar sounds, and provide positive reinforcement throughout the process. Start with small sounds that are far away, and work towards louder sources that move closer. Match progress with the dog鈥檚 reactions.

You can socialize for sound just like for anything else they may encounter. A starter pistol is a classic tool employed to help hunting dogs adjust to gunfire, and can help with fireworks, too.

Just Skip Town

The easiest way to deal with loud explosions is to avoid them altogether, and there鈥檚 nothing dogs enjoy more than a camping trip. Plan on heading somewhere far away from other people, either by driving off-road to get there or by throwing on a backpack. Heck, why not combine the two?

This is the plan my wife and I opt for most years. But, having already spent four months this year traveling, we just don鈥檛 have any more in us. In the past, destinations that have worked well for us are places most other people can鈥檛 (or won鈥檛) go. Here鈥檚 some tips on finding those.

• Cross the border. While you still may find some Americans celebrating the holiday in Canada or Mexico, there won鈥檛 be large fireworks displays. You can find my advice on visiting Baja for the first time here, and I also talked to a pro about visiting Mexico safely. Whether you head south or north, you鈥檒l need a letter from your vet signed and dated within ten听days of travel verifying the animal鈥檚 vaccination status and health.
• Find areas that are under fire restrictions. Much of the country has been blanketed by record hot temperatures lately. And that means many areas are subject to fire bans, which also restrict fireworks.
• Practice dispersed camping. Established campgrounds in state parks and on other types of land will be crowded due to the extended holiday weekend. And, whether or not they鈥檙e permitted, people will be setting off fireworks on July 4. Instead of staying in campgrounds, around other people, why not practice dispersed camping instead? This is when you drive or backpack onto public land, and camp away from other people, following a basic set of shared rules.
• Keep your dog cool. It鈥檚 going to be hot this week across most of the continent. Here鈥檚 my tips for traveling with dogs during extreme heat.

Helpful Supplies

Over-the-counter medicines

Benadryl is an antihistamine that can treat allergic reactions and adjacent symptoms. It鈥檚 also a sedative. It can help dogs feel relaxed and sleepy. Consult your vet before administering any drugs. Maximum safe dosage for dogs is typically one milligram per-pound of body weight every four hours, but I find that one 25 milligram pill is plenty for my dogs, which range from 75 to 125 pounds in weight.

Prescription sedatives

If you have an extremely reactive or sensitive dog, then your vet may already prescribe a sedative. Ask them if July 4th is an appropriate time to use the drug, and for proper dosage instructions.

Pressure

Tight-fitting clothing or bedding can provide dogs with a sense of comfort. This is the theory behind the , which supposedly wraps dogs in a calming embrace. Of course, you can do the same yourself, or by giving them a heavy blanket or towel to hide under.

Containment

July 4 is not the time to expose your dogs to novel or potentially frightening experiences for the first time. But if they are already crate trained, then this is the time to use that crate. Dogs who find crates to be reassuring places will feels safer in one.

A dog who is frightened of fireworks may chew, dig, or jump around in an attempt to reduce their anxiety. Removing rugs, furniture, keepsakes and other stuff you don鈥檛 want destroyed from areas they have access to is a good idea.

If you do plan to shut your dog in a room, garage, or basement, make sure that area is one they鈥檙e familiar with, and that it鈥檚 safe for them. Remove anything that could poison or harm them if spilled, broken, or consumed. Make sure that space remains cool. And try to predict any damage they may cause. Depending on how much destruction your dog may be capable of (spoiler alert: it鈥檚 a lot) taping carpet, cardboard, or even polyethylene folding tables to any wooden doors may help minimize the permanent effects of scratching.

Leaving a dog in a fenced enclosure like a yard should be avoided if at all possible. If you must, make sure it鈥檚 a fence that your dog can鈥檛 tear open, jump over, dig under, or otherwise defeat. Make sure the yard鈥檚 surface isn鈥檛 something you don鈥檛 want dug up. Ensure they have adequate water and shelter from heat.

Leash and Harness

If you plan to have your dog with you somewhere outside of your home (such as that camping trip), keep them on a leash. Even if you don鈥檛 plan to encounter fireworks, there鈥檚 always a chance. This is also good advice for the week or so surrounding the holiday, when fireworks may be set off at any point.

I鈥檝e never encountered a dog capable of chewing through one of my braided climbing rope leashes, or who can break a climbing rated carabiner. I attach those to my dogs using a . Those transfer forces off a dog鈥檚 neck, and into its torso.

If you鈥檙e taking a dog outside of your home during fireworks season, never let it out of your site, even if they鈥檙e tied up. Even a brief period of escape may expose them to chaotic holiday traffic and other risks.

Noise-Reduction Gear

If you鈥檙e crating your dog, throw heavy blankets over the crate to minimize noise. A white noise machine, calming music, or just watching a movie can help drown out the sound of explosions, too. But nothing is more effective at eliminating sound than going underground. If you have a basement, that will be the quietest place in your home.

Start with Exercise

A tired dog is a good dog. Wake up early, when temperatures are still cool, and take them for a long walk or hike. You鈥檝e got the day off work anyway, so why not make the most of it?

It鈥檚 also a good idea to give your dog an early meal in advance of a night full of explosions. Giving their food plenty of time to digest will minimize odds of any of it escaping from either end while they鈥檙e freaking out.

And don鈥檛 forget hydration. Your dog needs access to fresh, cool water, and plenty of it.

Don鈥檛 Leave Your Dog Alone

Even equipped with all the above, your dog may still panic and find itself in distress. Your dog may still destroy stuff, or worse, put itself in danger.

Just remember: the thing your dog finds most reassuring is you. They鈥檙e your best friend, don鈥檛 abandon them on the scariest night of the year.

What are my plans this July 4th? I鈥檓 going to take my dogs up a nearby mountain in the morning, watch them play in a stream afterwards, and then come home to grill myself a steak, feed the dogs the scraps along with a Benadryl, then retire into the air conditioning to watch “Godzilla vs. Kong鈥� on my couch. Sounds like a pretty good day off to me.

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Laying out all of the gear I needed to road trip 6,000 miles from Montana to Baja Sur with my wife and three dogs, a thought struck me. Am I chronically over-prepared? Probably. But I figure the the least I can do for the friends (non-human and otherwise) I ask to tag along through remote, often dangerous adventures is to ensure they鈥檒l be comfortable and safe.

While this may be a longer trip than most people tend to take, necessitating some additional depth of inventory, this stuff is representative of what I bring along on camping trips, cabin visits, and even the odd last minute cross-country road trip or two. Heck, the first aid kit lives in my truck at all times, and helps ensure I鈥檓 prepared to render emergency medical care anywhere I might be.

Let鈥檚 break stuff down into categories and explain what it鈥檚 for, and where relevant, why I鈥檝e chosen it.

First Aid

This is a minor evolution of the kit I developed with my friend, sporting dog veterinarian Joe Spoo. You can find a complete list of all the items in it here. To that, I鈥檝e added a cone, and some of the medications and supplies I find myself using most frequently.

The cone may seem like overkill, but on a trip like this one, where I鈥檝e been camping a day鈥檚 drive or more from the nearest pavement through the most remote sections of this sparsely-populated, thousand-mile long peninsula, the nearest vet may be two or more days of driving away. Should one of my dogs injure themselves, develop an allergic reaction, or otherwise have something occur where biting or chewing might exacerbate the problem, the cone allows us to take our eyes off the dog long enough to focus on packing or driving. I also brought along an ample supply of a prescription canine sedative for the same reasons.

Teddy, our Kangal, occasionally develops an irritated throat, which causes coughing. Our vet back home suggested administering Robutusin DM when that happens, so I brought along two full bottles. More than enough to get us through several incidents. I similarly packed a 250-count bottle of Benadryl, which can be used to deal with anything from a bee sting, to allergies, to anxiety. I haven鈥檛 needed any meds so far, and obviously hope I won鈥檛, but this volume of drugs means I won鈥檛 have to worry about finding a pharmacy in an emergency鈥攅specially in an unfamiliar place. Consult your vet before giving your dog any medications.

I store the kit inside my Decked drawer system, in one of the brand鈥檚 new Sixer boxes.

Diet

While it鈥檚 generally understood that feeding humans ultra-processed foods sourced from low-quality supply chains rife with chemical additives leads to poor health outcomes, it鈥檚 still inexplicably common for dog enthusiasts to feed their best friends actual poison. To avoid doing that, . Of course, traveling with vast quantities of raw meat takes a little forethought.

Versus coolers, 12-volt fridge-freezers allow you to keep contents at whatever temperature you program. I like to set one compartment on my 95-liter Dometic CFX3 to 20 degrees, and the other to 34. I then keep people food in the above-freezing section, and move one night鈥檚 worth of frozen chicken drumsticks over there at a time, to defrost. My dogs eat a total of four pounds of those drumsticks every day, and using such a large fridge-freezer allowed me to bring along 14 nights of food for them.

Powering the fridge involves building a solar generator system, which I detailed here.

But as I write this, we鈥檙e 22 nights into this trip. There鈥檚 no way I can bring that much raw chicken along, and in the past the dogs haven鈥檛 done well on raw meat sourced here in Mexico. So, I鈥檓 feeding them boiled chicken breasts or thighs (never feed cooked bones) and white rice prepared in chicken broth. Those ingredients are easy and affordable to source pretty much anywhere, and boiling them removes most risk of pathogens.

But neither chicken drumsticks, nor rice and chicken represent a complete diet. Fortunately the same vitamins and additives I use to complete my dogs鈥� raw diet at home work just as well on the road. Raw eggs add vitamins and other nutrients. Turmeric, fed every day, is a powerful anti-inflammatory supplement for critters who spend most of every day running, jumping, and rolling around. Sardines add even more vitamins. And organ meats provide minerals.

Eggs and sardines are common in most food markets, no matter which country you鈥檙e in. Organs are actually easier to find outside of America. The daily multivitamins and turmeric supplements are compact and light enough to bring along, even on this three-month trip.

I also supplement Wiley, who at 11 is our oldest dog, with Dasuquin, a joint health aid, in order to keep his mobility going strong as long as possible. And while I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 necessary to give the dogs a flea, tick and heartworm preventative in Montana, those drugs are definitely necessary down here in a warm climate. I visited my vet for a supply of all that, plus updated paperwork attesting that they鈥檙e all current on vaccinations, just before we left.

I carry drinking water for both dogs and humans using Dometic鈥檚 new ecosystem of water accessories. Three of that brand鈥檚 water jugs hold about nine gallons of water, which is enough to get us through two nights of camping and travel without any thought of rationing use. When I need to refill them, they鈥檙e designed to be compatible with the MSR Home Emergency Water Filter, which connects securely to a universal hose tap and a CPC fitting on the lid of the jug.

Like most Yeti products, that brand鈥檚 dog bowls are overkill, but that does mean I can accidentally run them over with my truck without damage. And that’s just means I鈥檝e got one less thing to worry about.

Comfort and Cleanliness

I carry a big jug of Dr. Bronners鈥攖he best dog shampoo I鈥檝e found. But on this trip, I also brought along a bottle of dry shampoo, which you simply spray on and comb out, to deal with any smells or nastiness in camp. I also always travel with a dog-specific stain and odor remover. Even with well trained, healthy dogs, accidents can and do happen.

At hotels, that spray goes into the room via a carry bag, along with a brush, three rubber treat dispensers, and a squeeze tube full of a . Any time we ever just need the dogs to calm down and be quiet, that stuff does the trick for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.

Teddy鈥檚 a barker, so in hotels we also fit her with a Garmin Sport Plus shock collar, set to automatic bark deterrence. It鈥檚 proven so effective a training aid that when we lost its charger last year, she made it all the way through a week-long road trip without barking once, simply by wearing it while it was switched off. I鈥檝e explored how I鈥檝e integrated shock into an otherwise positive reinforcement-focussed training regimen a few years ago.

While Bowie (a husky-German shepherd mix) and Teddy stay warm no matter how cold it gets, Wiley (a turbo mutt found in a San Diego storm drain) has much thinner hair, particularly on his belly. A lightweight Ruffwear fleece jacket helps him sleep comfortably on chillier nights, and is easy to clean.

Safety

I haven’t used a single item out of my first aid kit on this trip, but I use my safety gear every second of every day. Just walking the dogs during a gas stop, around traffic, probably involves more danger than any thing else we鈥檒l experience (especially with three large, aggressive dogs). So, the dogs wear their Ruffwear Frontrange harnesses 24/7. Those shift forces from their leashes away from their necks, and onto their shoulders and torso, which prevents injury. Speaking of leashes, I use my homemade braided climbing rope items, along with locking carabiners to ensure there鈥檚 no risk of them breaking free while being walked or tied up. I rarely use it, but I also pack a steel tie out cable, should we want to create a sky run to restrain the dogs in camp.

Since we put in the effort to camp way out in the middle of nowhere, away from other people, my dogs go unleashed both on walks, and throughout the duration of a campout. I鈥檝e found that Garmin tracking collars are the only viable option for reliably locating a dog outdoors. And while none of them are prone to wandering more than a few hundred yards, these provide peace of mind if we do lose sight of them. I bring along handheld tracking devices paired to each collar for both my wife and I, in case we want to split up, or participate in separate activities.

I also like the dogs to wear bandanas. Those help mark them out as owned and cared for, can make them more visible in low light, and can foster friendlier interactions with strangers.

I carry most of the above packed into a basic snap-lid tote (in this case a Decked item), strapped down on top of the drawer system in the bed of my pickup.

Is that a lot of stuff? Sure. But it means I鈥檓 equipped to be a responsible owner across a variety of situations ranging from fancy hotels, to campouts, to a beach house here in Mexico, and do that with little to no outside support or supplies, for months at a time. And sitting here watching three awesome dogs chase pelicans, without any concerns about their health, comfort, or risk feels priceless.

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It used to be that working while traveling tethered you to internet cafes, coffee shops, or hotel rooms. No longer. Thanks to the latest advances in satellite internet and portable power systems, you can now take seamless connectivity anywhere you can bring along a truck, boat, or other vehicle. Here鈥檚 how you can work from a stunning campsite more productively than you can in a soul-sucking corporate office. (Take it from the guy writing this on a beach in Baja.)

It Starts with Starlink…

We don鈥檛 like Musk any more than you do, but man, Starlink is a total game changer for remote internet access, pretty much anywhere in the world.

We鈥檝e previously reported that Starlink works seamlessly while traveling (provided you can find an unobstructed view of the sky), and dove into the ethics of establishing a near-universal connection to the outside world.

What鈥檚 new here is that this third-generation hardware is now available to ship immediately to any address in the United States, and is even available in physical Best Buy and Home Depot locations. Older setups shipped only to geographic areas with lower demands, on uncertain lead times. This latest generation also packs into a much more portable format, but more on that soon.

As I write this, just south of the 28th parallel, under overcast skies, I鈥檓 seeing about 56 megabytes per-second download speed, and 11 MBPS upload, with single digit seconds of latency.听That鈥檚 about half the speed I鈥檓 used to seeing at my family鈥檚 cabin in northern Montana, where I permanently installed my old second generation dish, but still enough for buffer-free video calls, and high-resolution image uploads.

The Starlink hardware costs $600, and the 鈥淩oam鈥� plan I鈥檓 on (which covers all of North America) is $145 per month. Global plans start at $200 per month. You can turn either plan on and off on demand, if you don鈥檛 need to use it regularly.

…Which You Have to Store in Something

I upgraded to Starlink’s new generation for a single reason鈥攑acked size. Where the previous setup fit conveniently into a 17-gallon snap-lid plastic tote (and took up as much space in my truck as a medium-size cooler), this third generation ditches the pole stand and movement servo for a flat dish that鈥檚 only 1.5-inches thick. You simply deploy the little kick stand, lay it on the ground, then manually move it around to orient it towards visible satellites, using live instructions in the Starlink app as your guide.

Noting that thickness and the 23.4-inch height and 15-inch width are similar to those of the portable monitors sound technicians use on the road, I thought that a travel bag designed for one of those might work for this new Starlink. And I was pleasantly surprised when showed up in an Amazon box with both ample padding, and just the right amount of room for the dish in the main pocket, and the power supply and WiFi router, along with all the necessary cables (there are three) in the little zip pouch on the front. The end result is something I can easily store in or out of the truck, carry conveniently, and which provides all the protection from abrasion or impacts you could ever want.

But Know This: Powering Starlink Can Be a Challenge

Plug an AC inverter into any vehicle鈥檚 cigarette lighter, and you鈥檒l get enough power to run Starlink. But you can鈥檛 just idle a vehicle for days or weeks at a time while camping. So the off-grid power solution you鈥檒l need for those engine-off scenarios is a solar generator.

Composed of solar panels, relevant cables and connections, and a battery-in-a-box, solar generators are revolutionizing vehicle-based camping with all sorts of uses including heated mattress pads and blankets, induction stovetops, 12-volt fridge-freezers, LED lighting, gadget charging, and of course, powering Starlink.

The batteries-in-boxes are really convenient not only because they store power generated by the sun or your vehicle鈥檚 alternator, for use when neither is available, but also because they include all the necessary equipment to process and transmit that power without the need for other accessories. Even budget units typically include solar controllers, battery management, inverters, thermal controls, and an abundance of different types of outlets. The variables are then quality, capacity, and size/weight.

Seeking to maximize the capacity I could bring along in the smallest possible package, while minimizing risks for both failure and fire, I turned to , a new Japanese brand which is bringing solid-state technology to the battery-in-a-box space for the first time. Instead of the liquid electrolyte solutions in existing products, solid-state battery technology provides higher energy density which decreases both external size and total weight while reducing the risk of an explosion or fire. It also adds heaps of longevity. Where most lithium ion battery packs promise 500 or so complete charge-discharge cycles before capacity falls to 80 percent, Yoshino claims its solid-state technology can delivery 2,500. At 21.4 inches long, 9.4 inches wide, 10.4 inches deep, and 55 pounds in weight, the $3,200 I鈥檓 using is also around half the size and weight of lithium ion batteries with a similar 2,611 Watt-hour capacity.

The reason I needed such a capacious battery is simple: Starlink is thirsty, especially this new third generation setup. Where the previous model drew about 75 watts during most usage, this third generation draws 100 watts.

Calculating power draw is simple math. 2,611 divided by 100 equals a little more than 26 hours of power. Figure that into the two week camping trip I鈥檓 currently on, and that giant capacity doesn鈥檛 sound like so much. Especially not when I add in my other power needs, including the 10 to 75 watts drawn by the massive 95-liter freezer I haul to bring along dog chicken, the five watts the lights in my camper need, and the 30 watts the 50 watt-hour battery in my MacBook Air takes to charge.

Solar Panels, the Sun, and You

I need the ability to replace the power Starlink and all my other gizmos suck up in a given day. 100 plus 75, plus 5, plus 30 equals 210 watts of power usage every hour. That doesn鈥檛 include charging my phone, Garmin dog tracking collars, Bluetooth speaker, wireless headphones, or other needs, but it also doesn鈥檛 factor in that I鈥檓 usually not doing all the above at once.

The rule of thumb for solar panels is to assume 75 percent efficiency, and five hours a day of direct sunlight, if you鈥檙e using them in sunny climates. Starting with that 210 watts of total power usage, I figured I wouldn鈥檛 keep Starlink powered on for more than a few hours a day, so I could probably get away with two 100 watt solar panels. Using that rule of thumb, those panels should be good for 750 Watt-hours of power a day.

Of course, that鈥檚 when the sun is shining. And the sun did not shine for the first few days of this trip, as we battled our way through not one, but two atmospheric river storms that caused flash flooding, hurricane-force winds (that was a fun night, but my held up without damage), and days upon days of dreary rain.

Solar input, as reported by the battery鈥檚 control screen, was registering as low as six to eight watts at midday, even while peak output totaled 150 or more. I thought I鈥檇 gotten ahead of that by installing a 12-volt outlet connected to my truck鈥檚 alternator into the bed, but that was only producing 40 watts of power. I started falling behind, and fast. With nowhere to charge the battery back to full on an AC outlet, I ended up draining the battery completely a few days into the trip, then struggled to build back a useful level of charge. When I get home, I鈥檓 going to explore ways to take my solar capacity to 300 or 400 watts (still not enough to power Starlink continuously), rewire Starlink’s power supply to 12 volts so I don’t need to power the battery’s inverter, and also figure what the bottle neck is between my truck鈥檚 alternator and this bed outlet.

Can You Really Work in Camp?

Provided you size the components in your solar generator correctly, powering Starlink shouldn鈥檛 be a problem. And the company鈥檚 coverage is almost entirely global now, with more areas available, higher speeds, and smaller hardware on the way. So the question isn鈥檛 can you. It鈥檚 will you?

Between trails to explore, dogs who need attention, a beautiful wife, meals to prepare, and fires to start, I still find a few hours a day to sit and stare at my laptop. Down here on warm beaches, that鈥檚 usually in the middle of the day, while it鈥檚 too hot to do much else. I try and communicate available hours and schedules with my colleagues (who have been especially patient on this trip), and set reasonable expectations, both for myself, and with deadlines. Honestly, away from the distractions of package deliveries, grocery runs, in-person meetings, drinks and dinners with friends, and just general life at home, I think working from camp actually involves fewer distractions.

Speaking of camp, if you’re the type of person who camps in campgrounds, around other people, please try and remember that not everyone else traveled all the way there to be a part of your Zoom meeting. Or, just , and free yourself from the shackles of smelly toilets and noisy human children forever.

But one last piece of advice: be prepared to trouble shoot, and come armed with the tools necessary to work on your stuff. On this trip alone, I鈥檝e repaired a power cable frayed in wind, dismantled a cable connector to remove a single grain of sand, and used my compressed air tank to blow dust out of an iPhone鈥檚 USB-C port. And I鈥檓 ordering some new cables and connectors to have them shipped to friends, who are about to fly down and visit. There鈥檚 really no reason you couldn鈥檛 be working from the beach right next to me, except that you鈥檒l also have to put in the same years of work it took me to find such a great spot.

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The 鈥攔eleased by the White House this week鈥攑rovides a formal, scientific conclusion to back up the events we鈥檝e all lived through in 2023: The climate disaster is here;听it鈥檚 already 听it鈥檚 already and it鈥檚 going to get worse. But not all hope is lost鈥攖here鈥檚 one more finding: It鈥檚 not too late to do something about it.

But, preparing our infrastructure for more extreme weather, spinning up new sectors of the economy to move us away from fossil fuels, and protecting the natural systems that can insulate us from the climate disaster鈥檚 worst requires two things: legislation and funding. And laws and budgets are written by Congress. There, a Republican majority in the House of Representatives has made that chamber deeply dysfunctional, while a narrow Democratic majority in the Senate has put an inordinate amount of power in the hands of politicians heavily invested in continuing to destroy our planet鈥檚 ability to support human life.

Meanwhile, a Supreme Court packed with religious zealots during the Trump administration has busied itself with the work of rolling back environmental protections our country has enjoyed since as far back as the Nixon presidency. Last year, the court restricted the Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 ability to regulate carbon emissions. This May, they stripped Clean Water Act protections from 50 percent of all streams in the lower 48, and 110 million acres of wetlands. Next year, the court will rule on , potentially moving all regulatory decision-making to Congress, which can鈥檛 even agree on an annual budget, let alone anything else.

That leaves only the Executive branch, which has the power only to implement legislation and budgets Congress passes, and which the Supreme Court hasn鈥檛 deemed illegal. As the last bastion of competence and forward-thinking left at the federal level, is the Biden administration able to look at the conclusions in the Assessment, and take any meaningful action in addressing them?

That鈥檚 the goal of $6 billion of new spending the White House is announcing alongside the assessment鈥檚 release. It鈥檚 drawn from both the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and works within the boundaries of that legislation to find new solutions to specific problems identified in the assessment.

鈥淎nyone who willfully denies the impact of climate change is condemning the American people to a very dangerous future,鈥� states President Biden. Here鈥檚 how his administration is spending that money to build a safer one.

America鈥檚 Aging Energy Grid

The problem: Our ability to distribute electrical power is being put at risk by more extreme weather events. This not only leads to power failures during high winds and heat waves, but those failures can start wildfires, creating their own disasters. Existing infrastructure is also not up to the task of handling new power demands created by the shift towards electrical vehicles, or working with renewable energy sources.

鈥淎ging energy grids are expected to be strained by disruptions and transmission efficiency losses from climate change,鈥� reads the assessment鈥檚 summary.

The solution: The Department of Energy is applying $3.9 billion in new spending to help strengthen and modernize the grid. This comes on top of an existing $3.46 billion investment, both drawn from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. This money will be distributed in grant form through the program and is available to entities ranging from higher education to electrical grid operators. The goal is to both shore up existing grid infrastructure to make it more reliable through extreme weather and less likely to cause wildfires while developing and implementing new technologies that will expand the grid鈥檚 capacity to handle EV charging and distribute power from renewable sources.

鈥淕rid managers are gaining experience planning and operating electricity systems with growing shares of renewable generation and working toward understanding the best approaches for dealing with the natural variability of wind and solar sources alongside increases in electrification,鈥� the assessment reads. 鈥淕rid expansion and energy efficiency efforts are already creating new jobs in places like Nevada, Vermont, and Alaska.鈥�

The Climate Disaster鈥檚 Worst Impacts Are Being Felt by Disadvantaged Communities and People of Color

The problem: Decades of under-investment in poorer communities has left them facing disproportionate impacts from emissions caused predominantly by wealthier Americans. This has left communities ill-prepared for extreme weather, and people experiencing a multitude of negative health outcomes.

鈥淎n听equitable听and sustainable US response to climate change has the potential to reduce climate impacts while improving well-being, strengthening resilience, benefiting the economy, and, in part, redressing legacies of racism and injustice,鈥� reads the assessment.

The solution: The transformational size of the investment required to mitigate the climate disaster also provides the opportunity to address historic injustices and enable more people to more fully participate in the American economy, growing markets and benefiting everyone. There鈥檚 also an opportunity to tap into underutilized systems and solutions such as Indigenous Knowledge.

The Environmental Protection Agency will make $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act money available as part of the Environmental Justice and Community Change Grants program to support community-driven clean energy projects, and support improvements in resilience to extreme weather.

鈥淚ndigenous Peoples are leading numerous actions in response to climate change, including planning and policy initiatives, youth movements, cross-community collaborative efforts, and the expansion of renewable energy,鈥� the assessment finds. 鈥淢any of these efforts involve planning processes that start with place-based Indigenous Knowledge of local climate and ecosystems.鈥�

Infrastructure and Communities Are being Devastated by Flooding

The problem: Rainfall is becoming more extreme and unpredictable, increasing flooding risks and bringing floods to places that haven’t historically experienced them.

鈥淢ore rain falls during the most extreme precipitation events,鈥� finds the assessment.

The solution: More investment is needed in hardening or relocating homes, businesses, and infrastructure to adapt to increased flood risk, even as more money is required to rebuild from ongoing flooding events.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is adding $300 million to its , drawn from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This will help communities recover from flooding experienced in recent years, while also shifting reconstruction efforts away from areas at risk from floods or rebuilding in a more robust manner.

These investments will help make the economy, and food supply more resilient. For example, the assessment finds, 鈥淏etween 1981 and 2016, US corn yield losses from flooding were comparable to those from extreme drought.鈥�

Huge Capital Investments Are at Risk

The problem: Drought in western states is threatening drinking water supplies and hydropower generation even as the populations there boom. Sea level rise, ocean acidification, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme weather are damaging native Hawaiian communities. And the climate disaster is impacting national security assets and infrastructure.

鈥淪trategic planning and investment in听resilience听can reduce the economic impacts of听climate change, including costs to households and businesses, risks to markets and supply chains, and potential negative impacts on employment and income, while also providing opportunities for economic gain,鈥� the assessment concludes.

The solution: As larger investments in infrastructure and communities take place, it makes sense to look at the likely impacts from climate change, and prepare for them. But doing so requires research and planning tools that may not currently exist, or which require expansion or accessibility in order to be useful to stakeholders.

The Department of the Interior is applying the $100 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in a grant program soliciting water infrastructure resilience, water conservation, and hydropower upgrade projects. In Hawaii, $20 million in Inflation Reduction Act money for the newly-announced will help native communities adapt. The Department of Defense is launching a new web portal that will help service members identify risk factors as they plan security investments. The White House is also taking it upon itself to serve as a hub for resilience knowledge, hosting summits and publishing insights that will help planners nationwide create more resilient investments.

鈥淔orward-looking designs of infrastructure and services can help build resilience to climate change, offset costs from future damage to transportation and electrical systems, and provide other benefits, including meeting evolving standards to protect public health, safety, and welfare,鈥� finds the assessment.

Critical Ecosystems Are Threatened

The problem: Natural ecosystems like wetlands and forests are essential to our nation鈥檚 climate resilience, but are also threatened not only by climate change, but other human activity as well.

鈥淥ngoing drought amplified the record-breaking Pacific Northwest heatwave of June 2021, which was made 2掳 to 4掳F hotter by climate change. The heatwave led to more than 1,400 heat-related deaths, another severe wildfire season, mass die-offs of fishery species important to the region鈥檚 economy and Indigenous communities, and total damages exceeding $38.5 billion (in 2022 dollars),鈥� the assessment cites as one example.

The solution: Investing in conserving natural resources is essential to adapting to the climate disaster, and holds many other benefits from mental health to shoring up local economies.

The Department of Interior plans to spend $166 million from the Infrastructure Reduction Act on ecosystem resilience in National Parks over the next nine years, adding to $44 million in funding already put in place by the Biden administration. A public-private partnership is also providing $140 million in grant money for Biden鈥檚 America the Beautiful Challenge, which aims to conserve 30 percent of American lands and waters by 2030. That money will fund 74 different programs spread across 46 states, three U.S. territories, and 21 tribal nations.

鈥淣ature-based solutions听that restore degraded ecosystems and preserve or enhance carbon storage in natural systems like forests, oceans, and wetlands, as well as agricultural lands, are cost-effective mitigation strategies, finds the report. 鈥淔or example, with conservation and restoration, marine and coastal ecosystems could capture and store enough atmospheric carbon each year to offset about 3% of global emissions (based on 2019 and 2020 emissions). Many nature-based solutions can provide additional benefits, like improved ecosystem resilience, food production, improved water quality, and recreational opportunities.鈥�

The Scale of the Climate Disaster Is Matched by Its Opportunity

Ultimately, even $6 billion isn鈥檛 going to be nearly enough money to address the problems identified in the Fifth National Climate Assessment. In addition to closing critical gaps in our national preparedness, what the Biden administration is trying to achieve here is a demonstration that investing in adaptation, resilience, and emissions reduction is also smart business.

Just over a year in, the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act鈥攖he largest investment in clean energy ever鈥攈as already in the clean energy sector, while lowering electricity bills across American households. Two years later, the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has , many on projects designed to improve climate resilience.听Competent governance works, even in a time of crisis.

鈥淚t shows us that climate action offers an opportunity for the nation to come together and do some really big things,鈥� states President Biden.

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