Recycling Old Outdoor Gear: Finding New Life For Your Vintage Outdoor Stuff

 Too many times I've wandered the aisles of the local Sporting Goods store with the same kind of enthusiasm a child has walking down the toy aisle at the local department store. All the outdoor related clothing, boots, fishing gear, canoes and kayaks, not to mention the other things like knives, fish locators, and other camping related gear tend to lure me into wishing I could afford to purchase some of that stuff.

The words stuff and lure are actually appropriate for most of it...as most of it is purposely designed to catch the unwary shopper and does little to improve your outdoor experience. Even so, the majority of the outdoor gear I now use was at one time...new, and even though now old, still functional and useful.

Let's start with my Old Town canoe. As of this post it is almost 20 years old and has developed numerous scars, dents, dings, and gouges, yet it is still a highly functional vessel. It weighs in at around 59 pounds, perhaps a bit heavy to portage over a long distance, but still light enough to be lifted and carried across my shoulders without too much effort. Near the front and toward the stern there are signs of wear and tear, but with a little Marine JB Weld application, the deep scars have been sealed and re-enforced. 

Once a year for the past several years I have removed and refinished the wooden thwarts applying a bit extra varnish to the ends to create a waterproof seal at the most vulnerable places. All the fittings are then securely tightened upon reassembly. There are newer, lighter weight canoes available today, however I doubt they are any more functional than my 20 year old canoe, and I do believe my old one retains the classic lines of a traditional canoe the newer ones seemed to lack. The newer ones are also quite a bit more expensive.I also use wooden paddles. I love the look and feel of a wooden paddle. The newer fiberglass or light weight aluminum or carbon fibre paddles with plastic blades just don't do it for me. I'm a traditionalist at heart and even though the newer ones are functional, they just don't stand the test of time when compared to a wooden paddle.

 Last year I took two old inexpensive Feather Brand wooden paddles and combined them into a single, double bladed paddle. It was an experiment actually, just to see if it might work and to recycle two old paddles I no longer used. Turns out this new recycled double paddle works great and has become my favorite paddle to use on long haul canoe trips. As a bonus it retains the classic look and feel of wood. Someday I will do a Youtube video on how I made that paddle.

Backpacking is an activity I have jump started back to life after some sporadic attempts spaced apart through the years.  Although I had done enough to feel like I was at least somewhat seasoned as a backpacker, the gear I use is and was old school stuff. As a result it was/is also heavy. I needed to reduce the weight I carried. I started with eliminating things I really did not need and did purchase a new lightweight cook stove that saved me several pounds of weight. I also used a packer tent that was just too small and with the supplied poles, too heavy. I did two things that reduced my carry weight with the tent. I eliminated the poles, and then also started using a small tarp in place of a tent. There are times a tent is preferable, but it needs poles to stand up correctly so I simply cut some when I use it. The tarp option is certainly lighter in weight, but the tarp I used was simply too small and provided only a superficial covering. 

That was okay in dry, warm weather, but in cooler and/or damp weather it would not work. That is when I remember having an old Coleman 8 person tent I did not use anymore in my attic. It came with a rainfly, so I extracted it from the case and discovered the rainfly was almost three times the size of the tarp I had been using and only weighed slightly more. It is a perfect example of recycling old gear toward a newer use. The larger tarp can be rigged several ways to provide a safe and secure covering for any kind of outing.

Hiking boots are a vital piece of gear when it comes to backpacking. Mine are probably 15 years or more old, however, the soles are still in good shape as are the uppers with one exception. On one of the boots part of the seam/rim has separated from the upper just slightly, enough though to warrant some kind of repair action. After a good cleaning, I judicially applied ample amounts of ShoeGoo, a kind of shoe glue. After allowing it to season for a day or two, the boot was almost good as new and ready for several more seasons of hiking. A tube of ShoeGoo was a lot cheaper than a new pair of hiking boots or even paying a shoe repairman for a fix.

As a photographer, I will from time to time think of ways I can recycle old gear to enhance my attempts at capturing nature. Sometimes you get caught out in wet weather. Even though most camera gear is weather-proof to some degree, most camera gear do not do well in wet weather. I needed something to cover my camera and large 50-500 lens to protect it from wet conditions. Stuffed underneath some of my old outdoor gear was an old set of rain gear I did not use anymore. It had a camo pattern to it so I got the idea to cut off a leg from the pants to fit as a sleeve over the lens that also extended around the camera body. Worked like a charm. Cost me nothing, and weighs virtually nothing and provides a good waterproof solution.

We have an old sewing machine, very basic without a lot of whistles and bells but functional. I needed some bags to store gear in and checked out the purchase of some various sizes. Cost was way too much so I visited the local Hobby Lobby and for a fraction of the cost I purchased a couple yards of vinyl coated nylon material and a few yards of heavy canvas material. With a few measurements and some careful stitching with the machine, I made several functional and semi-waterproof bags that work great and they only cost me a few dollars and a little time. In fact, I actually enjoyed making them and the satisfaction I received from doing so was worth far more than any store bought bag would have provided. 

Sewing has become a standard and necessary skill for me. Many of my outdoor clothes through wear and tear develop threadbare abrasions, rips, and other assorted holes if not addressed will continue to grow into something more destructive.  I've gotten pretty good at patching up such things. As I already stated I've made simple bags and other containers, but I am far from being able to sew any kind of clothing. I have also added extra tie down loops to my tarps to make securing and hanging them easier and more efficient. My old sleeping bag was becoming threadbare along the inside top portion and had developed a significant rip in the ripstop nylon causing some of the stuffing to come out. I took an old flannel sheet and cut a portion of it to shape, then using the sewing machine stitched in the flannel material across the ripped out section...Good as new adding extended life to my old sleeping bag. With the remainder of that old flannel sheet, I folded it lengthwise and stitched it across the bottom and about 3/4 the way up one side to make a soft, warm, sleeping bag liner. My cost...$0.00...New store bought liner...$30.00 to $60.00.

If I thought about it long enough, I could come up with other recycling solutions for old outdoor gear, but you are by now probably getting the idea of where I am going with this post. Extending the life of the outdoor gear you already have is certainly cheaper than buying new stuff. With a little creative thinking, new useful solutions for gear that has been sitting in the garage for a while can provide you with many more months or even years of service.

The Older Outdoor Photographer Part 2: Five Helpful Tips to Sustain Your Motivation

 The previous BTC post reviewed the importance of staying motivated and provided a few tips and pointers on how to start a physical conditioning routine as an older outdoor photographer. As part two of this series I'd like to offer a few more tips that helps to sustain your motivation to get out and explore the outdoors.

Tip One: Start simple..and discover outdoor opportunities close to home. I'd love to spend time in Yellowstone NP, or Yosemite NP, and maybe take my canoe to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota for a week of backcountry canoeing. I'd even love getting back to the Tallgrass Prairie region in Oklahoma or the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. However, right now those desires are simply not possible for me to fulfill. Once I determined that being able to make those trips anytime soon were not likely to occur, my outdoor options became a lot simpler. I started looking more earnestly for opportunities closer to home and discovered just how abundant those opportunities were. I asked myself, If not those exotic adventures, what then can I do close to home? Since that time I have discovered the joys of canoe camping on Barren River Lake which is about a thirty to forty-five minute drive from my house. 

I can experience pretty much the same kind of outings I'd find in the Boundary Waters area, it's just a matter of perspective. I also discovered numerous backpacking opportunities in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave NP, about a 45 minute drive north of my home. It's a near wilderness adventure with ample miles of trails and primitive camping locations. I also spend time in the woodlands and cornfields behind my house watching and photographing the local deer population. These and other opportunities await me almost everyday virtually right outside my backdoor. It just requires a mindset shift to accept the idea of making the most of what I do have available close to home.

Tip Two: Slow down and Be In The Moment. Photographing nature requires a degree of patience well beyond other types of photography. Sometimes, maybe even most times, wildlife and nature in general simply do not cooperate. That is when you need to slow your mind down, and start looking for the other intrinsic values of being outdoors. When I do, I begin to hear more clearly the birds singing and see with renewed interest the graceful soaring of a hawk across a blue sky. I hear the wind searching through the trees, and feel the relaxed sense nature provides for taking time to simply be there. There is more to outdoor photography than taking pictures. 

Enjoy the process. Empower the moment. Allow what you do to find its own path. There will be times nature will present herself to you in all of her glory, and there will be times when she tells you to wait until next time. Even when that happens, there is always something to gain from the experience, so slow down and allow yourself to simply be in the moment.

Tip Three: Keep a Journal of your activities. I recently discovered an old journal I had kept well over twenty years ago. In that journal was written many of the hunting and fishing and camping stories I experienced with my good friends Rocky, Curtis, and the now late Mr. Ralph. Rereading those simple entries brought many vivid memories back to life. It was as though I could feel the cold wind in my face again as we faced freezing temperatures and spitting sleet during a duck hunting episode. I recalled with delight the sites and sound of several  thousand snow geese as they winged their way overhead at first light on a bitterly cold January day. When that huge largemouth bass broke free of the surface right next to Ralphs old Grumman canoe and snapped the line, well it was all captured in that journal. Those and other entries were special moments captured in simple prose when the memory was fresh. None of them were particularly well versed, just simple entries of what happened when and where. In more recent times, I've once again began to journal about my outdoor activities and have thoroughly enjoyed the process.  

Back in 2010, I started this blog to chronicle the outdoor photography stories I experience  and share some of the events and photography concepts I've used and learned about over the years. Sometimes, I go back and reread some of those early entries and almost always finish with a smile on my face. I've also started to create video productions about my outings. Doing so has taught me a great deal about just how much there is to learn about attempting such things, but I still enjoy the process. Those productions are visual journals...extensions really from those simple first entries I made so many years ago and are not intended to replace my outdoor journal entries, but to expand on leaving a legacies of stories for family and friends to share.

Tip Four: Try New Things, Avoid Falling Into A Rut. I floated along in my canoe last summer hugging a long, curving, ridge lined with rocky bluffs, and discovered an amazingly beautiful location on Barren River Lake. It was the kind of place easily overlooked, but by simply slowing down and allowing myself to explore a new location (for me) I was rewarded for my efforts. I tried something new that day just to see what was there. Not everyone can take off in a canoe. I've been doing it for close to fifty years now so I've gained through experience a sense of confidence in my ability to handle the situation. 

The idea here is to not allow yourself get locked into doing the same ole thing the same ole way all the time. It is a easy habit to get trapped into, and yes...that was me for a very long time. But a few years ago I began to realize because of career related obligations, just how many years, and months, and days, and how many thousands of hours had gotten away from me. Somewhere along that timeline, I all but lost my identity. That is when I made a conscious effort to backup and rediscover who I was...and it became a revealing and rewarding path that lead into a new and refreshing timeline of discovery.

Tip Five: Seek Out Small Pleasures. 'It's when the cool air of morning hovers over the quiet hours is when I feel most at home, most in tune with where I am. Before the rays of daylight evaporate the darkness, while the last remnants of pre-dawn cling to life and fatigue continues to invade my eyes is when I realize just how important are moments such as these...' Those few words are the beginning of a Beyond the Campfire post I made way back in 2010 (The Gift of Small Pleasures). They rang true then...maybe even more so today...and remind me of how important it is to simply commune with nature at its simplest level. Sustaining your motivation as an older outdoor photographer can often become diffused and subdued as life's challenges take their toll. But, when you begin to seek out the small pleasures of life, well sometimes and maybe even most times, those challenges begin to take a backseat to how you face adversity. 

Slowing down, reducing the busyness of your life, making time to step away from the routine and explore new adventures close to home or a ways off...well, a great many of life's rough edges can be smoothed over. It is not always the big things that matter the most or produce the most lasting impact. What really matters most are the small personal moments of our lives. 

Watching a sunset reflect across the mirrored surface of a lake, listening to the voice of a stream as it chases its path over, through, and around the stones along its course, sitting in front of a campfire and feeling its warmth on a chilly fall evening...well, these are the kinds of small pleasures where infinite value is placed mostly upon the experience. Seek them out in your own life, and you will discover where they lie.

I hope these simple tips encourages you as an older outdoor photographer, or maybe even if you are still relatively young, to make time and experience a quality of life that enhances your desire to get out. Hope to see you out there...!

The Older Outdoor Photographer- Staying Motivated

 I've remained relatively active for most of my life. Oh, there were times I slacked off more than I should have, but I still kept on moving at least to some degree. Now that I'm climbing toward turning 72, in many ways, I am stronger and fitter than I've ever been...well...sort of. The biggest difference at my age is my recuperative powers are slower and I have a few more aches and pains I did not have when I was younger. It just takes longer for my body to recover and I get stiffer in the process. But, as the old cliche says, 'Pain is weakness leaving the body...' Not sure I totally agree with that, but there is at least some truth in those words. I suppose the most difficult part of being an outdoor photographer and staying in shape is to stay motivated to get out, and that largely depends on physical conditioning.

Dewitt Jones, a former National Geographic photographer, emphasized the importance of being willing to place yourself at the point of greatest potential. That often means you must recognize the potential of a location based on time of year, time of day, and most importantly, the potential quality of the light. Getting into position to capture the best light often requires some physical exertion. 

When I started 'Beyond The Campfire', it's intent was to combine outdoor activities with photography. Over the years as the site has matured, I realize more clearly now just how important  Dewitt's words are. The problem is, as you grow older, physical demands grow larger and more difficult to maintain. Because of that, it is important to sustain a level of physical activity over a long period of time. That alone requires an elevated degree of motivation. So, allow me to review what I do to remain as fit as my body will allow, and to share a few motivational tips with you.

First of all, Know your limitations: At 60, 70, or even 80, you are not going to keep up with younger people. It's a simple fact of life. The trick is to proceed at your own pace. Slow down and enjoy the moment, and do not push yourself to exhaustion. Most importantly, what goes without really saying it, consult your doctor before heading out into the wilds and make sure there are no underlying issues that might cause problems.

Gym or home based workouts? The gym provides a good number of benefits and equipment to help you improve your overall fitness level. Having a gym membership often provides a degree of motivation as well, as you will often make new friends of like mind and age, and can also learn from them various techniques and skills to build strength and endurance. A membership can be costly though, so to avoid such costs you might consider to do your own workout in your garage or in your home. I used a gym for a good number of years and gained a lot of benefits from doing so, however in more recent times I've switch to a home based workout routine. I call it my 'Car Battery' workout. I keep it simple by doing pushups and using an old car battery as a type of dumbbell. It weighs about 35 to 40 lbs and I do arm curls, bent over rows, and squats with it. It works my biceps, triceps, back and shoulders, and legs including the glutes. Pushups are a good all around strength builder hitting your back and shoulders, chest, arms, and even your legs to some degree. My routine consists of cranking out 100 pushups done in 5 sets of 20 reps, plus 3 to 4 sets of 10 to 12 reps with the car battery working arm curls, bent over rows and squats three days a week. Simple and effective. In the near future I will be making a YouTube video on my 'Car Battery' workout routine.

I also spend time punching on a Heavy Bag that is hanging up in my garage. It is a great upper body and aerobic workout and as an added bonus, provides a level of 'getting the aggravations out.' It does require some techniques that takes time to master, but I've found it to be a fun activity that breaks up the workout routine. 

Not everyone will be able to start the same way, so begin with what you are able to do and over time you will build strength and endurance. Start light at first with fewer reps and slowly build up. Simple push ups or modified push ups (bracing your knees on the ground) are a good starting place. If you can only do one or two sets of two or three reps, start there, then gradually increase the number of reps and sets as you get stronger.

Walk or Run? I used to run (and swim and bike) a lot, but can no longer do so. I do have a bothersome hip that slows me down, but I do walk quite a bit and the more I walk, the stronger the hip becomes. My intent over the next year is to average around 80 to 100 miles of walking per month or 1000 miles over the next year. I may not attain those numbers, but even if I only make half that much, that will be an accomplishment. I walk carrying a few extra pounds of weight in a small pack I sling over my shoulder so to stress myself a little more and I do include several long and in some cases shorter steeper hills. Walking builds leg strength and cardiovascular endurance and helps to keep the joints limber. Just starting out, walk a half mile or so and over time you will be able to build up endurance and strength to  easily walk several miles. The idea is not so much distance, but time and to keep moving.

Diet and Eating Habits: Losing weight: So much has been written about diets and there are so many diet videos and commercials floating around I get tire of seeing them. Frankly, I do not diet. Diets almost never work long term. What is more effective is a lifestyle change that includes a fitness routine and a moderation of the number of calories you intake. Losing weight is a matter of burning more calories than you consume. I eat pretty much what I want to eat. I just do it in moderation. I include green leafy veggies, some fruits, fish and chicken, some red meat and potatoes, along with a few deserts from time to time. The key is to limit refined sugar intake, and to lower the volume of food intake stopping when you feel full and not over stuffing yourself. Fasting also provides a lot of health benefits. Too complex of a concept to cover here, but investigate the benefits of fasting to determine how it might apply to your situation.

Supplements:  I also take a few supplements which includes Omega-3 fish oil, Turmeric, a Garlic capsule, Vitamin D and C, along with a daily vitamin. I'm sold on the Garlic capsule. Garlic I've learned, has natural antibacterial and antiviral properties. It strengthens your immune system and when combined with the other antioxidant properties of vitamin D and C, well lets just say I sailed through the Covid thing without any shots and never got sick. Have not been sick in over three years and the last time I suffered with anything it was a very mild sinus infection from which I recovered in a few days.

Summary: In the past few years I've been doing a lot more canoe camping and backpacking along with day trips employing both canoe and hiking. I almost always take along my camera gear which adds a few pounds of extra weight to the effort. Staying in shape both aerobically and in physical strength is important so I can more easily explore these rewarding avenues of outdoor photography. 

As important as being in shape is, the most important element as an older outdoor photographer is to remain motivated. A positive state of mind is vital to sustaining motivation beyond the occasional excursion into the outdoors. It is true; You are only as old as your mind says you are. My doctor recently told me after looking at my physical exam numbers, "These are excellent. I have patients in their 30's that do not have numbers as good as yours...I'm a doctor, and my numbers are not as good as yours." Those words alone are a strong motivation to stay with it.

Staying motivated is the key here. Success builds on itself and enhances your motivation to keep at it. Stay active. Develop a fitness routine but change it up ever so often. Make a fitness schedule and stay with it. Do what you can and are able to do at your own pace. The idea is to enjoy getting out and not struggle with the physical aspects of being an outdoor photographer. Stay with it...see ya out there...!