Will your camping plans change now that it costs over $400 to fill up your camper? I stumbled on this gas receipt this morning and was amazed at what gas cost not so long ago. As I am writing this, gas is now at $3.969 a gallon.
Technorati tags: yurt camping, camping tents, beginner camping One of the biggest fears for prospective campers is shelter. If you forget your matches, or burn the beans, or left the lantern behind, you’ll still survive, especially if there’s a camp store. But where you rest your head at night - will it be too cold, too hot, or will the ground be too rocky? Will the tent protect them from rains, will it keep the wildlife out? Fears like that – real or imagined – can easily keep prospective campers from leaving their homes.
Well, it’s the 21st century, folks. Leave the camping tent at home. Many campgrounds come with move-in-ready tents. They are called yurts. You may feel like you are cheating a little but Continue reading…
I've been trained to bear-proof my campsite, but I've never read anything about bear-proofing the hammock. Then again, this bear just wants a little frolick. Play the video below, have you ever seen anything like that?
What would you do if you were confronted with this scene? How calm and collected this New Jersey camper must have been to quietly aim her video camcorder on this amazing sight.
Technorati tags: Winter camping, winter campgrounds My husband grew up hating fish – until he learned that that when it’s fresh and it’s not overcooked, fish actually tastes good. If you are afraid to enjoy the outdoors in winter, let alone go camping in January, could it be because no one showed you the art and science of dressing up for winter?
The essence of staying warm in the winter is minimization of heat loss. In terms of clothing, this is achieved by adding insulation to the body through 1) having proper clothing material, and 2) effective use of them.
Do you know your winter clothing material options?
1. Wool – the 3-dimensional wavy crimp nature of its fibers enables it to trap air very effectively. As much as 60-80% of a thick wool cloth can be air. Wool can also absorb a fair amount of moisture without imparting a feeling of ‘dampness’ because the water "disappears" into the fiber spaces. Even with moisture in the fabric wool still traps dead air space and still insulates you. Wool is relatively inexpensive. Once camping in the Berkshires, I did not anticipate the big drop in temperature at night. I dashed to a nearby Walmart and picked up a couple of wool blankets for $12 each.
2. Pile or Fleece - is a synthetic material that has a similar insulative capacity as wool but it will not hold water like wool, so it dries more quickly. The fabric comes in variety of weight/thickness, thereby offering different amounts of insulation. The disadvantage of pile is that it has very poor wind resistance and hence a wind shell, like Arcteryx's Windshell Jacket, on top is almost always needed.
3. Hydrophobic fabrics (e.g. Polypropylene) – What’s special about hydro-phobic fabrics is that it Continue reading…
What's the perfect camping footwear? Look in your shoe cabinet, you'll see shoes for walking, another pair for hiking, shoes for boating, and shoes just for relaxing and being comfortable in. Combine all those shoes and you'll get your perfect camping footwear because at camp, you'll be doing all of the above.
The Keen Newport H2 is such a camping shoe-sandal. Is it a shoe? Is it a sandal? You can argue all you like, but no one will argue how comfortable the Newport H2 is.
For me, the feature that makes me choose the H2 as my official camping footwear is the thick sole in front. How many times have I stubbed my toes against a rock, or a picnic table, or hit the boat side when I slip (yes, as much as I love the outdoors, I am a certified klutz).
Technorati tags: florida state parks, winter camping florida, winter campgrounds
In Florida, camping doesn't stop in winter. "What winter?" you may ask. Being a New Englander myself, I totally agree with you. Winter camping in Florida is actually preferred by some campers to avoid the annoying ever-present flies in the hot, humid summer months.
Bahia Honda is one of the best beaches in South Florida. It is located along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Popular activities include swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. Camping, cabins, 2 exceptional boat ramps, a certified "Clean Marina," and a concession and gift store make Bahia Honda an outstanding recreational destination. Click here for the park photos.
Originally called Hog Island, it became Honeymoon Isle in 1939 when a New York developer built 50 palm - thatched bungalows for honeymooners. Today, visitors can drive across Dunedin Causeway to enjoy the sun - Continue reading…
Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and other winter sports combined with a temperate winter keep California’s state parks system busy through winter. The three parks that were iselected here offer unique opportunities in addition to the common winter sports found in other parks.
Winter Attraction: Desert wildflowers – they start blooming in late February or early March. For a special wildflower recorded message, call (760) 767-4684. Or mail a self-addressed stamped postcard in an envelope to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. The kind Anza-Borrego folks will mail the card back at just the right time.
Winter Attraction: This is the site of the world’s largest mainland breeding colony for the northern elephant seal. Every winter, visitors come to observe the males battle for mates Continue reading…
Technorati tags: winter camping, frost bite, camping safety Winter Camping anyone? Not me, but I will go hiking or walking in the cold. Places and views I know take on a totally different character in the winter. Today’s post is about keeping frostbite at bay while you enjoy the outdoors.
What causes Frostbite?
When the body begins to feel the impact of the cold, the brain tells it to shut down the blood flow to the extremities to preserve core temperature (a survival strategy to avoid hypothermia). But cutting off the blood flow leaves the extremities without the very thing needed for protection against frostbite. Unable to stay warm, these parts of the body gradually chill and lose sensation.
This causes the fluid in the cells to freeze, and that causes the damage.
How to treat frostbite:
Move the victim out of the cold and into a warm, protected place.
Avoid exposing the affected area to sharp objects or dry heat (fire, hot pads, etc.) because the flesh is numb and might get burned or otherwise injured unknowingly.
Do not thaw frostbite unless you can guarantee that the flesh will not be refrozen.
To thaw the affected flesh, either immerse the part of the body in warm (not hot) water or soak a cloth in warm (not hot) water and gently lay it on the affected area. If there are any blisters, leave them alone. Do not rub or massage the frozen flesh.
The thawing process may be painful for serious frostbite. Continue with treatment in spite of anguished protest. After thawing, carefully wrap the affected area with clean bandaging material. Keep fingers and toes separated.
Get medical attention if necessary.
The biggest cause of frostbite is exposed skin and cold wind is the culprit more often than just frigid temperature. When camping in winter, dress in layers that trap air inside. Wear clothing that is waterproof and breathable (to allow perspiration to escape). Keep your head, neck and wrists covered to preserve you core temperature. Mittens are often better than gloves, because fingers can keep each other warm. Make sure mittens, socks and boots are not so tight they restrict blood flow to fingers and toes. Wear gators to keep snow out of boots. In extreme cold, wear a Neoprene Face Mask, Black.
The holidays is the best time to buy gifts for campers. The colder the temperatures are out there, the steeper the discounts on camping items you've been wanting for yourself or for the campers you know.
The Coleman Kids Explorer Belt (play video below), for example, normally retails at $26 but can be had for $12 and change at christmas. Coleman at 50% off? Makes me want to turn the folks on my gift list to campers (even if they've never camped before). Camping tents, headlamp for kids, all those fun kids camping gear you usually won't splurge on can be had for less than list price when you shop when it is snowing outside.
Grown-up camping gear is on-sale too. Check out a few of these camping items on sale at Amazon.com. My husband likes to remind me, "When you choose gifts for other people, don't buy things you want for yourself, buy what the recipeient would want". Great advice, thanks. But surely, a cool head lamp to explore caves and pretend you are Indiana Jones is something everyone wants… he doesn't think so.
The best camping recipe is one that involves no cooking. How to do that? Make it at home, freeze it, toss it in the cooler to serve as ice pack on your way to the campground. At the camp site, wrap it in heavy-duty tin foil throw it on the fire, and unwrap for gourmet camping dining.
A perfect camping menu item for that strategy is meatloaf. The video below is from my friend Kathy Maister, who makes cooking videos for total kitchen klutz like me.
Make a couple of meatloaves. Don't know if it's the hiking, or the camping excitement or the late nights playing monopoly in the camping tent, but my kids appetites double when we go camping.
Well, it’s the 21st century, folks. Leave the 
Keen Newport H2
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(play video below), for example, normally retails at $26 but can be had for $12 and change at christmas. Coleman at 50% off? Makes me want to turn the folks on my gift list to campers (even if they've never camped before).
. My husband likes to remind me, "When you choose gifts for other people, don't buy things you want for yourself, buy what the recipeient would want". Great advice, thanks. But surely, a 
