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Mountain View News Saturday, February 15, 2025


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “Self-Sufficient Home” 
and “How to Survive Anywhere.” He also leads wilderness classes every 
weekend. He can be reached at School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle 
Rock, CA 90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

Meet Kimba 
– Your Biscuit-
Making 
Bestie! 

It’s not too late for a 
special Valentine’s 
Day treat, and much 
better than candy! 
Kimba is a 6-year-old sweetheart with a heart as 
pure as his gorgeous all-white fur. With his big, 
sunny eyes and chill purr-sonality, he’s the perfect 
companion for anyone looking for a loving, easygoing cat.

 Kimba adores being with his human, kneading biscuits like a 
little baker, and soaking up all the cozy moments life has to offer. 
He’s a playful guy who loves his toys and enjoys making new 
feline friends. 

Fully vetted, neutered, and in perfect health, Kimba is ready to 
find his forever home. Could it be with you? 

See more of him and please fill out the application at https://
www.lifelineforpets.org/kimba.html. 


OLD HUSBANDS TALES

Some are false, some have truth buried inside

Every aspect of life is filled with axioms and truisms. Some are worth living your life 
by, and others are less reliable. And the thing is, the less-reliable axioms usually have 
a kernel of truth buried inside. Here are some of the outdoor-related sayings that we 
hear all the time. We hear some of these so often that we tend to think they must be true. But, most of 
these are not true, despite the kernel of truth often buried inside. Let’s separate myth from fact.

All rivers lead to civilizations.

If you’re lost, follow the river downstream. We’ve heard it so often and we’ve seen it in movies. However, 
it’s simply not so! The reason you hear it repeated so often is that sometimes the river will get you 
to a village or a town. 

The north star is the brightest star in the sky.

If you’re lost, you can find the north if you can find the north star, which is the brightest star in the sky, 
right? If you find the brightest star in the sky, you’ve found Sirius, not the North Star. The north star 
is actually the 48th brightest star in the sky, and if you don’t know how to find it, you should consult a 
star chart.

Moss always grows on the north sides of trees.

When I was first studying survival in high school, one of my teachers was Abbie Keith, who was head 
of the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team at the time. He would ask us if moss grows on the north 
side of trees, and most of us said yes. He’d laugh and say, yes it does, but it also grows on the east side, 
the west side, and the south sides of trees. Moss needs shade and moisture and it will grow there the 
shade and moisture is greatest. Often, this is the north side of a tree, or a rock, or a barn, but not often 
and precise enough for this to be a good tool for navigation.

A compass points to the north pole.

When people say this, they are referring to the magnetic compass needle, and they assume it points to 
the north pole, or true north. In fact, the compass needle points to magnetic north, which is not the 
same as true north. Every topographical map tells you the difference between true north and magnetic 
north so you can compensate – this compensation is known as the declination. However, if you happen 
to be in the line where true north and magnetic north coincide, your compass needle will indeed 
coincidentally point to the true north.

All water can be purified by boiling.

When you boil water, the temperature of boiling (212 f.) kills everything alive in the water that can 
make you sick. It’s true that all biological contaminants in the water that can get you sick are killed off 
by the time the water reaches about 170 f. However, boiling will generally have no effect on salt water, 
nor unwanted chemicals or solvents that have gotten into the water.

Water that is clear, cold, and flowing is safe to drink without treatment.

Though we’d like this to be so, it just isn’t always true. Water that is moving, and moving over sands, 
has an ability to self-purify, but this depends on what all might be present in the water. In fact, stagnant 
waters can be very safe in some cases, so the flow of water is only one of many factors that makes the 
water safe or not.

You can always dig for water.

This is true! You can always dig…. But you won’t always reach water. I’ve dug small wells many times 
and many times had all the water we needed for several days. However, water is either underground, or 
it isn’t. And when it isn’t, you’ll just need to find your water elsewhere.

You can make a fire by hitting two rocks together.

I have heard this many times from people who remember something like this from childhood but they 
can’t remember any details. You cannot get a fire by hitting two pieces of flint, or chert, or quartzite 
together. However, if one of the rocks is marcasite, and the other is flint, you actually might get enough 
of a spark to ignite some charcloth.

All blue and black berries are edible.

In general, this is accurate, but it’s not worth memorizing because there are exceptions. You still need 
to learn to recognize the identity of berries (and other plants) before you eat them.

All white berries are poisonous.

This is a correct general statement, but again, there are many exceptions, such as mulberries, white 
strawberries, and others. Only eat those edible wild plants that you have positively identified.

Any mushroom growing in your lawn is poisonous.

False! Both edible and toxic mushrooms could grow on your lawn if the conditions are right. Just because 
it’s on your lawn doesn’t make it toxic. (This one should be classified as an old wive’s tale, because 
my mother believed this was true.)

People go crazy and commit more crimes during a full moon.

Well, is that an old wives tale, or an old husband’s tale? We’ve heard it a lot. Some studies debunk this 
idea, saying that there is no clear correlation between the full moon and crimes, except that there is 
more light to commit crimes during that time. 

These are just a few Old Husbands’ tales. Can you think of more?


Pet of the Week


Adorable and friendly Travis is ready to fill your home with 
laughter and fun! 

Travis is a fun-loving, affectionate two-year-old Lab/Pit mix 
who is ready to find his forever home. Weighing around 65 
pounds, Travis is the perfect blend of playful energy and 
cuddly sweetness. He loves nothing more than spending 
time with his people, whether it’s going on long walks, 
playing with his favorite squeaky toys, or curling up on the 
couch for some well-deserved belly rubs.

Travis is a smart and eager-to-please guy who enjoys learning new tricks and exploring 
the world around him. He will thrive in a home with an active individual or family who 
can match his playful spirit. Older children would be a great fit for his enthusiastic and 
loving nature.

Travis is patiently waiting for someone to give him the love he deserves. If you’re looking 
for a loyal companion to bring joy and excitement into your life, come meet Travis—you 
just might find your new best friend.

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, 
and age-appropriate vaccines. 

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption 
appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30 and can be scheduled online. View 
photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for 
your pet. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by 
phone calls or email.