Camping In The Great Outdoors ...continued

Copyright © March 1998 K. Myers

How is the weather looking? Ok, there are some signs to keep a lookout for that may be helpful indicators while you're out in the wilderness. Brian has put together a list for us. You'll find these and more in our tip sheets. They may save that next picnic outing or berry picking excursion.

General Wilderness Weather Signs

The head on a wooden-handled axe or hatchet will tighten before a rain.

If distant objects appear clearer and closer than usual, rain is probably near.

Your campfire will be harder to light before a rain, but once lit will burn warmer and brighter.

If the smoke from your campfire rises straight up, good weather will continue or arrive soon. If the smoke rises and then falls , or hangs low over the fire, Rain is in the very near future.

If you suddenly begin feeling sluggish, suspect the falling barometric pressure that precedes bad weather.

Morning fog usually preceeds a bright sunny day.

Watch the sun as it sets on a clear horizon. If it blinks emerald green just before it dissapears, you're in for fair weather for at least the next day.

A white halo around the moon means bad weather within three days. A halo around the sun forecasts rain or snow within 24 hours.

Pine and Spruce cones open in dry weather, close as wet weather nears.

A clear bright moon means good weather tomorrow.

West winds usually mean sunshine.

East winds usually mean rain.

North winds usually mean colder weather approaching.

South winds usually mean warm weather, or sometimes a warm rain.

Most wind quiets down in the evenings.. When it doesn't it usually means rain the following day.

Winds that start high and then slow down usually bring storms.

The whiter the cloud, the less chance of rain.

The darker the cloud, the greater chance of precipitation.

Clouds at different levels and moving in different directions usually mean a storm.

The higher the cloud the better the weather.

When birds don't fly, or they stay in the bushes, and sing or squawk more than usual, stay near camp--bad weather is on the way.

When the leaves turn with their backs facing upward on the trees it's a sign of rain coming soon!

These tips and more are available in the Tip Sheets section of our Resource Center.

Now, are you ready to meet some bears? Let's go through some basic information regarding North American bears - black bears in particular.