INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Ranunculus plants prefer a sunny location but if you are in an especially hot climate they will tolerate some shade. Ranunculus tend not to tolerate heavy frost so if you are planting them in cooler climates it is recommended to store the tubers, which are also know as bulbs, inside for the winter. Storing ranunculus tubers will be covered in Step 6 of Method 2 further down in the article. Aside from planting your ranunculus in the sun, you should also keep the soil in mind when choosing a spot for your plant. Ranunculus grow well in well-drained soil and prefer rich, sandy ground. Avoid planting your ranunculus in areas where puddles remain long after rainfall, or if you know your soil is heavy clay. You can determine if your soil is predominantly clay by squeezing a handful of moist soil in your palm. If it clumps together, you likely have a clay-heavy soil. You can improve soil drainage by mixing your soil with a generous amount of substances such as plant fibers (bark or grass clippings) or well-rotted manure. These 'soil extras' will help your ranunculus to grow. Tubers, or bulbs, are generally the preferred way to grow ranunculus. A tuber is similar to a root; ranunculus tubers look like spiders, claws, or bunches of bananas. Their odd appearance is helpful when it comes to planting. Plant the tuber with the pointed 'claw' end or 'spider's legs' facing downwards. To plant your tubers: You should plant smaller varieties so that they are about 2 inches (5.1cm) deep and 5 inches (12.7cm) apart from other tubers. Plant larger varieties, such as Ranunculus Tecolote, up to 12 inches (30.5cm) apart. You don't need to soak them before planting. It's best to plant in batches of up to a dozen for maximum effect. Plant as soon as the last frosts have ended, usually in the spring. Water the tubers and the ground around them after you have planted them. Watering them will help to settle the soil. Do not water until sprouts emerge. The size of the bulb will help indicate the number of flowers it will produce. 'Jumbos' are the largest at around 3 inches (7.6cm) diameter and will produce 30-40 flowers. Smaller tubers of around 2 inches (5.1cm) diameter can produce a dozen or so. Ranunculus can also be grown from seed. It's best to sow the seeds indoors in September as ranunculus seeds prefer a cool temperature. To plant ranunculus seeds: Sow, or place, the seeds into pre-moistened compost that's lightweight and suitable for seed sowing. Do not cover the seeds with soil. Keep the soil moist and out of direct sunlight. Maintain the seeds at a temperature of around 70F (21C) and a little cooler at night. The seeds should germinate, or grow into small plants, in around two to three weeks. Wait until the young plants have around half a dozen leaves before transplanting them into larger pots. Protect these young plants from frost and transfer them into outdoor soil in the following spring if so desired. To plant ranunculus tubers in pots, fill the container about three quarters full of soil. Place the tubers so that they are around 10 inches (25.4cm) apart from each other and fill the container with soil so that the tubers are covered in about two inches of soil. Water the tubers to settle the soil. Remember container plants tend to dry out more easily than plants in the ground, so be mindful of watering over the growing season. Watering will be covered in Step 2 of Method 2. Keep in mind that ranunculus plants tend to make a large root system, so don't crowd them too much in containers. All ranunculus plants are poisonous to livestock, and can also be harmful to pets and people. The plants have an unpleasant taste and cause blisters to form in the mouth. This generally means animals avoid eating them unless no other plants are available, which is good if you have deer in your area, but bad if you have pets. Consider planting the ranunculus in an area where your pets and livestock can't reach them, such as a fenced off garden or in a pot (which is covered in Step 6, the previous step, of this section).

SUMMARY: Pick out a spot for your ranunculus based on your climate. Find a spot to plant your ranunculus where the soil drains well. Plant your ranunculus from tubers (aka bulbs) if possible. Be aware that you can generally tell how many flowers you will get by looking at the bulb or tuber. Try growing ranunculus from seed if you cannot purchase tubers. Consider planting your ranunculus in a container. Keep animals away from the ranunculus, as the flowers are poisonous.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before your hike begins, you should be well-hydrated. During your acclimation stay, you should be drinking 2 to 3 liters of water each day to prepare your body for the hike. During the hike, keep a 1-liter bottle of water in your pack, and drink often to keep yourself hydrated. If there are stops along the way, refill your bottle, even if you think you won't need it. At higher altitudes, your body will burn energy more quickly, so have some snacks such as dried fruit and nuts, fresh fruit, or a bag of chips to eat as a snack. You will want the snack to be high in carbohydrates, so you can quickly replenish your lost energy. Beef jerky, chocolate, and hard candies offer good, light weight snack solutions. This is especially important if your hike begins at a lower altitude and increases steadily. You will notice as you hike that you begin to tire more easily, and you may feel short of breath. Take frequent breaks to recover, and go more slowly. Once you have reached an altitude above 6,000 feet (1,828 m) consider resting for a day or two to give your body some time to acclimate. On a long hike, it can be easy to slip into a state where you aren't really paying much attention to how you're feeling physically. However, when you are hiking at high altitudes, you should remain aware of what is going on with your body, especially as you ascend higher and higher. If you begin to experience nausea, a lack of hunger, a lack of thirst, or if you notice a headache, are feeling dizzy, having trouble breathing, or losing control of your coordination, stop. Tell another member of your hiking group. Don't ignore these symptoms, as they may be early signs of altitude sickness. Don't try to tough it out. These symptoms may subside quickly with a bit of rest, but they could also turn into something more deadly if you aren't careful. If and when you start to notice some shortness of breath, stay alert. Focus on taking deep breaths in and out, and make sure that the breaths are even. This will help you avoid over-exerting yourself. If you feel that you are over-exerting yourself, stop and take a break for a few minutes to regain control of your breathing. Each time you ascend another 1,000 feet above the altitude that you live in normally, you should stop and rest for 2 hours. This will give your body a chance to acclimatize, and will help you avoid dangerous consequences of ascending too quickly. This may mean taking more time than you hoped, and may mean camping over night, so be prepared for this reality. If you are on an overnight or multi-day hike, you should not sleep at an elevation that is more than 1,500 feet higher than the elevation at which you slept the night before. For example, if you slept at 6,000 feet the night before, you should not sleep above 7,500 feet the next night. With high altitude hiking, it is important that you be ready to turn around and call it quits if any of your hiking group begin to experience symptoms of altitude sickness. It may feel disappointing, but it is better to be safe than stuck on the top of a mountain with a person who is suffering from severe symptoms of altitude sickness.

SUMMARY:
Stay hydrated. Have snacks to keep your energy levels consistent. Climb slowly to prevent burn out. Remain aware of your physical condition. Focus on deep, even breathing. Stop and rest every 1,000 feet above your normal altitude. Avoid sleeping at altitudes that are too high. Be prepared to turn around.