Phillip Elden Shares His Favorite Adventure Vacation Sites

Vacations don’t always have to be relaxing. According to conservationist, mountain climber, and world traveler Phillip Elden, they can be adventurous as well. Today, Elden shares his favorite adventures. 

 

Skiing In The Alps 

 

The Swiss Alps offer world-class skiing, and that’s open to just about everyone. However, Phillip Elden being the adventurer he is, prefers to drop in via helicopter. Heli-skiing takes you up to more than 10,000 feet so that you can put your skis onto untouched powder. It’s dangerous and expensive, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that Elden believes all experienced climbers/skiers should have. 

Phillip Elden: Beavers Are Actually Rodents

Beavers are cute, water-dwelling mammals, but most people don’t realize they are actually part of the rodent family. According to nature expert Phillip Elden, despite their affiliation with mice and rats, beavers are highly interesting, and they are one of the most adaptable animals in the U.S. 

 

Phillip Elden explains that the American beaver weighs around 60 pounds and can grow close to 40 inches long. Add in a tail, and a large beaver may be closer to 52 inches in total length. Eurasian beavers are similar in size but can grow to an astounding 77 pounds. Each type of beaver has long teeth, up to around 1 inch in length. Interestingly, beavers’ teeth grow throughout their lifetime. 

 

Beavers can make their habitats anywhere there’s water. The vast majority of American beavers, which can live throughout the United States as far north as Canada, make their home around ponds, swamps, marshes, rivers, and lakes. Their Eurasian beaver cousins are significantly dwindling in population and, today, can only be found in certain parts of Germany, Poland, France, Russia, and Scandinavia. 

More Gifts For The Nature Lover In Your Life | Phillip Elden

Phillip Elden recently made a list of his favorite gifts for nature lovers. Today, he continues this list for those looking for a last-minute present to present to the outdoorsy folks on their list. 

 

Carhartt Beanie 

 

The Watch hat by Carthartt is one of the most easily recognizable gifts, and it’s also the most practical. For around $20 online or your local sporting goods store, you can keep your friends stylish, warm, and happy as they adventure outdoors. 

 

Portable Hammock 

 

There are few things more relaxing to Phillip Elden than sleeping under the stars suspended in your very own cocoon. A portable camping hammock is the ideal gift for those who like to stay out overnight. Starting at around $20 online, camping hammocks are extremely lightweight and can be strung between two sturdy trees anywhere in the world. 

Phillip Elden: What’s For Dinner In The Wild?

If you live anywhere in Oregon, you have access to a bounty of free food for the taking. According to conservation specialist Phillip Elden, the public lands of his home state are rich with everything from pineapple weed to bitter crest to dandelions. 

 

Miner’s Lettuce 

 

Along the Oregon coast you’ll find miner's lettuce. This small leafy green, which is rich with vitamin C, was eaten more than 100 years ago by coastal miners. The vitamin C content helped these hard-working men and women avoid scurvy. 

 

Stinging Nettle 

 

Stinging nettle is not the first thing you might think of to put on your plate, says Phillip Elden. However, once you get past the poking spines, the leaves of this beautiful and lush plant are full of vitamins and minerals. Further, since nettle tastes a bit like spinach, it’s the ideal addition to your foraged salad. 

Phillip Elden On How To Handle A Snake Bite

Do you know what to do if you’re bitten by a snake? According to Phillip Elden, there is a way to handle it, and there are several things that you should not do. 

 

Phillip Elden explains that snakes can be either venomous or nonvenomous. Bites from either can cause swelling, bleeding, and an open wound that many people believe should be taken care of with a tourniquet. This is a mistake that may cause someone to lose a body part. Phillip Elden says that another mistake is trying to open the wound with a knife to remove the venom. This can cause or further an infection. Under no circumstances should someone try to suck the venom from an open wound; this only works in the movies. 

 

If possible, try and identify the snake. However, you should not try to pick it up or trap it as this can put you or other members of your party at immediate risk of an additional snakebite. Other things that you should avoid if you’ve been bitten by a snake are: 

• Immersing the wound in water. According to Phillip Elden, you should not put ice or water on snakebites. 
• Drinking alcohol to numb the pain. Alcohol can thin your blood, which can result in heavier bleeding. Further, drinking alcohol can numb the senses and slow your response time, meaning that you may be more injured than you realize. 
• Drinking caffeine. There is a good chance that your heart rate will already speed up if you’ve been bitten by a snake. This can be caused by venom or adrenaline. It’s best to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages, which also increase your heart rate. 

Quit Feeding Ducks From Your Pantry

Oregon native and Native Oregon founder Phillip Elden says that ducks should never be fed bread. 

 

Kids across the country get excited every spring to throw breadcrumbs to their quacking little buddies. However, according to conservationist Phillip Elden, this can have negative consequences on ducks and their environment. 

 

While no one will dispute the deliciousness of warm toast, bread contains a high level of carbohydrates with very few nutritional elements. As such, when ducks are hand-fed bread more often than nutrient-dense options, their health can suffer. High levels of carbohydrates wreak havoc on avian digestive systems and can cause them to defecate more often. Unfortunately, added levels of stool on the ground can increase localized levels of avian botulism, which can cause death. 

How To Camp With Respect | Phillip Elden

Camping is one of the most popular pastimes in the United States (and throughout the world). However, not everyone fully understands camping etiquette. Today, Phillip Elden shares a few rules you should follow to be a good steward to the earth. 

 

Obey All Local Laws 

 

Just because you are off the grid does not mean that you are out of reach of local law enforcement agencies. You can’t do whatever you want, and theft, assault, vandalism, trespassing, and other crimes are still enforceable by the local municipality.