Holiday gift shopping ideas

The holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving is next week, and Christmas is about a month away. If you observe the tradition of holiday gift giving, and most Alaskans do, it’s time to start shopping for that perfect gift for your special person.

I suggest that you shop locally, if possible. Having said that, I am always looking for a gift that I can’t find locally. I end up ordering through an online catalog or off a merchant’s website for some of the stuff I buy.

Since I normally write about outdoor activities in this column, I’ll confine my gift suggestions to outdoor stuff. That’s still a broad topic, so don’t be surprised if I mention something you don’t associate with the outdoors. Getting an early start on ordering that special something will allow time to receive the package before the actual holiday.

I’m also not going to worry about price either. Some suggestions will be inexpensive while others might be a bit rich. Let’s start simply. A good pair of warm gloves along with decent quality socks are something every outdoors person will appreciate or will learn to! Throw in a warm and visible hat (think hunter orange) and you’ll stay warm in nearly every situation.

At this time of year, a small pocket flashlight or quality headlamp will also be welcome. Both items given as a set will work too. The lights will help with simple, everyday chores. Walking out to your vehicle in the dark isn’t necessarily fun, especially through the snow depths we’ve recently received. A small flashlight will help you see where you’re walking and perhaps save a nasty fall.

Another item usable for a variety of jobs is a pocketknife or small sheath knife. If you opt for a pocket or folding knife, I prefer one with a locking blade. My brother will carry the scars across two of his fingers for the rest of his life where a large, nonlocking blade on a folding knife snapped shut while he was using it and cut his fingers to the bone. A sheath or fixed-blade knife is sturdier and can manage tough cutting jobs better than a folder, but most people want to use a knife bigger than necessary.

I’m guilty of owning some large sheath knives, but the most useful ones I own have blades that are around four inches or less in length. I do use both boning and filleting knives that are longer than that, but they are special-use knives and not what I carry for general service.

Now that we’ve gotten some of the multi-use stuff out of the way, let’s mention some “fun” stuff.

It’s winter! Once the ice has thickened up enough, icefishing will become a regular outdoor activity for many Valley residents. A new or custom-built ice rod along with a good reel would be appreciated. A shelter to use for staying warm on those windy days on the ice is almost a necessity along with an ice spud and a gadget for clearing the ice out of your fishing hole once it’s drilled. A hand or power auger is required to get to the fish. A good assortment of fishing lures and jigs makes a nice stocking stuffer and a reusable or chemical handwarmer will definitely be welcomed. Add a propane heater to your shelter equipment and you could easily spend all day out on the ice, regardless of the temperatures.

A sled is required to get all the gear out on the ice and pulled to your chosen fishing spot. The sled can be something you tow by hand, behind your snowmobile, or pulled with your ATV, depending on the snow depth. The same sled could function with all three towing methods with the proper hitch setup. Don’t forget a pair of snowshoes with poles, if you’re walking, and a set of ice gripers for your boots once you’re on the ice.

Speaking of snowmobiles, a helmet with goggles or a face shield is necessary for safe travel. A warm jacket, gauntlet gloves, waterproof and insulated pants and a sturdy set of warm boots is necessary for comfortable travel. A GPS unit will get you back home, but also carry a good compass and map in case your GPS batteries fail in the winter cold.

A small set of tools, a spare drive belt, a come-along and some line, an ax or hatchet and a short machete will get you unstuck from most land-based situations with the snowmobile.