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Rain
Dust
Volcanic ash
Mud
Gravel
Pollen
Heat
Acid mine drainage
Cold
Humidity
Snow
Sand
Corrosive mineral salts |
Proper treatment of your field gear is a facet of
good outdoorsmanship
and routine professionalism. Notebooks, maps, cameras, binoculars, and sometimes, computers, cell phones,
satellite phones, and radios are standard equipment when it comes
to field work.
Disposable cameras and cheap binoculars are
fine for field trips, but for the more serious student or
professional geologist, it's not at all uncommon to take $5000.00
worth of personal gear into the rain, dust, mud, etc. Further,
specialized equipment costing tens of thousands of dollars is becoming
increasingly common and often demands special care. |
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Put
high-visibility tape on high-asset-value items.
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Keep a gallon-size zip-lock bag
on stand-by for your maps and field notebook in case it
rains and/or snows.
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Permanently
keep
cameras & binoculars in zip-lock bags. This will
save them from the ever-present dust. Change the
bags after each trip.
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Biodegradable
toilet paper is another valuable item you WANT to keep dry.
Keep it in a zip-lock bag too!
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Keep a desiccant
pack in the plastic bags holding your delicate gear.
Such packets can be purchased at many camera stores,
particularly ones that sell underwater cameras.
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Be SURE to put
waterproof address tags on your expensive gear!
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Keep a lens
brush handy in your camera case. This can also be used
for cleaning your
hand lens, binoculars, prescription glasses, or any
other delicate piece of equipment.
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For a few bucks, you
can save your gear from the harshest of field conditions. |
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Desiccant packs (for absorbing moisture), zip-lock
bags, and name tags are all cheap, readily available, and can save
you thousands of dollars. © 2002 Reuben Johnson.
A simple lens brush is cheap and will spare your
camera, binoculars, hand lens, etc. from being needlessly
scratched. © 2003 Reuben Johnson. |
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