Gear Box
Pack these supplies for your treasure hunt.
Backpacker’s Pantry Freeze-Dried Meals
backpackerspantry.com
$7.99-$12.99
Add water for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. These freeze-dried meals are full of flavor that revives vividly with boiling water. Resealable bag. Pad Thai and coconut rice are both delightful. Gluten-free, peanut-free free and vegetarian options available.
Simms Glades Hoody
simmsfishing.com
$89.95
Flip this hood to protect your ears from sunburn. Quick-dry, breathable hoody made of recycled polyester. Elastic thumb loops secure long sleeves over hands for additional sun shield. UPF 30+.
That towering mound of twisted and tangled limbs you just passed on the trail, isn’t a nest. It’s a treasure hunt time capsule built by rats rather than raptors. Packrats construct homes with dozens of cubbies for all the treasures they collect. Their lodging withstands weather for decades, sometimes centuries, so when you find one, realize you’re looking at something that contains eons of wild history.
Packrat Trivia:
Also known as bushy-tailed wood rats
Weigh up to 1.5 pounds with hairless ears and white feet
Large eyes and long whiskers for navigating at night
Shiny objects are a collection favorite
Crystalized urine acts as cement to coat treasures
Houses can be 6 feet tall and contain many caches of treasures
Scientists study treasures (middens) for historical reference on climate, plants and bones
40,000-year-old middens exist
source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game