field notes | The Filson Journal

The Amazonian expedition that nearly killed Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt’s epic journey was sparked by an invitation to speak in several cities on the South American continent in the fall of 1913. Before setting out from New York, the trip turned into an expedition of the Amazon River basin, at the behest of the American Museum of Natural History, of which Roosevelt was considered a good friend and beneficiary. The museum was sending two naturalists – George Cherrie and Leo Miller – who specialized in mammals and birds, respectively. Roosevelt was to accompany them as the expedition’s leader, given what many people (and especially Roosevelt himself) considered to be his extensive experience in the wilds of the world, including on the African continent.

Winter Upland Hunting Guide + 5 Game Birds

Many game-bird seasons in the Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast extend well into winter— those cold, even icy days can be great times to hunt. Upland birds often fall into fairly predictable cold-weather patterns, and vegetation and other cover have dwindled. Further, cooler temperatures mean ideal conditions for vigorous walking and dog work. That doesn’t mean winter bird hunting is easy, though. Weather conditions can be challenging, and some species of birds have been hunted for weeks or months, leaving the survivors adept at avoiding human predators.

History & Evolution of Glacier Goggles

Thousands of years ago, the Inuit and Yupik people of Alaska and northern Canada carved narrow slits into ivory, antler, and wood to create the world’s first snow goggles. This diminished exposure to direct and reflected ultraviolet rays—thereby reducing eye strain and preventing snow blindness. These first goggles were curved to match facial contours and fit the nose. They were affixed with a caribou sinew head strap.