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Tag: camping
Your Summer Camping Trip
Planning a Backpacking Trip
Planning the Trip
Many of us dream about going backpacking into a mountain area that is not on the beaten path. There is so much to think about as you plan a backpacking trip, you need to be sure that you have everything that you need when you go. A backpacking trip requires advanced planning for items that you will be packing, camp menu, and activity needs. You need to create a special backpacking list.
Have a Map to Your Trailhead??
Don’t forget that when you set up a backpacking campsite, you will be spending a lot of time getting there, the locations you are going to hike from, take longer to drive to than most campgrounds. It goes without saying, therefore that you need to spend time researching the best location for your adventure. Have a map of where you are going before you set out on your adventure, you do not want to be stressing out or getting lost as dusk sets in.
Safety is a Priority
Safety is the first priority when choosing a location for your backpacking trip. You will have a number of things to consider when you’re making your decision and will need time to do so. Plan to start hiking to your chosen campsite, early in the morning to give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your campsite. While we are on the subject of safety, make sure to share your plans with someone who is not going along on the trip, so they know when to expect you to arrive back home. And the most important tip of all, stay on the trail.
Make Sure Backpack is Packed Properly
When you are getting ready to set out on your hiking expedition make sure that your backpack is loaded correctly and has the right amount of gear to sustain you for your trip. The gear that you carry in your backpack you will need to help you to be comfortable in your wilderness campsite. Make sure to have the right food and equipment for where you going.
Setting Up Your Camp
Don’t just choose the first area of flat ground that you find to set up your wilderness camp. You must make sure that this location is safe, from any falling rocks or branches. Look up at the trees around you to see if there are any loose branches which may become dislodged when you are sleeping. It is always nice to camp close to running water for a couple of reasons. First, you will be able to get water to boil and to wash your hands. Second, the sound of running water is often soothing when it is time to sleep. However, make sure that the campsite that you choose is above the floodplain, you never know when the level of the water could rise. Sudden torrential storms far upstream have been known to cause safety situations for hikers even though it may not be raining where you are.
Know What Animals are in Your Location
Before you set out you should have a good overall awareness about the type of animals that live in the area. Are there wild animals that could be a threat to you? In particular mountain lions or bears? Look for evidence of large animals, paw prints and so on, that way you are aware of your surroundings before you get surprised by what is around you.
A Fire Can Be Your Friend
A fire is a great friend when you are camping, so when you are setting up your backpacking campsite, look around for firewood to burn in your campfire. Make sure to have all the necessary permits if needed. A fire permit from the U.S. Forest Service, is free from their website. Be fire aware, clear the brush or grass at least 15 feet around your campfire, and erase the evidence that you were there when you are finished with your adventure.
Getting Off the Beaten Path
Backpacking is great way to get off the beaten path and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Make sure that you plan everything out, have map of the area you are backpacking to, and that you share your plans with someone who will know when you get home. Make sure that you set up your camp with safety in mind, know what animals are in the area, and whether you are allowed to have a campfire and have obtained the proper permits. Go out and enjoy!
Kelty Trekker Hiking Backpack
Keep tradition alive with excellent load carry, ventilation, and plenty of places to tie down your gear. Super efficient at carrying heavy loads, the external frame Trekker 65 is a backcountry workhorse.
11 Types of Work Camper Jobs
What jobs do campgrounds hire for?
Campgrounds hire a variety of work camper jobs to service the needs of campers and maintain the campground facilities. If you have a background in a useful field for the campground, even the pay scale maybe higher than the usual minimum wage most campground workers earn. Let me show a partial list of what is available in the campground industry.
The Types of Jobs
Manager- If the RV Park is not owner-operated, or for US Forest campgrounds with more than one campground, there may be a need for a manager. These employees should be able to lead a staff of one to twenty, have knowledge of the campground industry, know the Campground Masters program, and be able to accept a fulltime position. The pay rate is higher for the manager. There is often an onsite accommodation offered. And a long-term contract may be available.
Campground host- There are several names for this position. Park host, work camper, to name a few. These employees tend to work on a seasonal basis, typically April to October, directly service the needs of the campers. Collect fees, lead campers to their sites, sell firewood, enforce the rules, and help to keep the campground clean.
Relief camphost- These employees cover for the hosts on their days off, may cover lunches for store employees, and assist management as needed. These are seasonal positions.
Kiosk or Gate house worker- These employees collect fees from visitors or campers as they enter the park. Or they may take phone reservations at a busy campground. This could be seasonal or part time in the slower winter months.
Volunteer workers- These employees are often called Docents. A docent is a person who instructs visitors on the local flora and fauna (plants and animals) of an area, they may act as trail guides, and typically live off-site.
RV Camp Employee- These employees may live off-site or on-site. They help the campground owner to operate the park in areas of store clerk, grounds maintenance, pool safety, game amenities, etc. They may be onsite or offsite employees.
Activities Director- These employees organize activities for campers. They usually live off-site and may have come from a recreation, teaching or human resources background. Table tennis, shuffleboard tournaments, whiffle ball games, board games, barbeques, dances, concerts, are just a few of the events that this employee may organize and oversee.
Grounds Maintenance- These employees can live onsite or offsite according to the needs and size of the campground. Although the camphost will assist with grounds when the campground is not busy, a full-time grounds employee maybe needed to keep focused attention on the grounds of the campground or RV Park. These positions could be seasonal or year around.
Marina dockhand- These employees are needed for lake campgrounds with rental boats. They may live onsite if necessary or be hired locally. They could be seasonal if in snow country, or year around in temperate climates.
Store clerk- There are several ways that a campground can cover a store, a camphost couple could have the husband hosting and the wife in the store or they can hire an offsite local.
Pool lifeguard- Most RV Parks hang a no lifeguard on duty sign up, but if the park is large enough, a full-time lifeguard may be necessary. These employees would likely be hired locally and live offsite. Unless the pool is indoor, this will be a seasonal job.
Naturally the number of camphost jobs that are offered to run and maintain a campground, is factored on the size, use needs, and finances of the campground or RV Park. More employees are needed in the summer months and of course just a skeleton staff remain in the winter when most amenities are closed or not available. The wage scale for campground workers is based on experience, the needs of the campground, and the position applied for. I have been a camphost for five years, I have done nearly all the positions listed above, and I highly recommend working in a campground.
3 Day Business Challenge
I recently found a business program, that I feel, can be an easy way to start your own home business. This is a business that you can run from your cellphone while camping, or from your laptop while on the road in your RV.
Jonathan Montoya is an online marketer that I really respect, his program is worth trying out. Get the 3 Day Challenge from this link. The online marketing niche is always a hot prospect for getting sales and building a business. Jonathan Montoya gives his story of how he was broke and had a baby coming, he needed to do something to improve his life. He started his business on a shoe string budget, he shares how he did it and the funnel he uses, so you can do it too.
Click this link to get started today. Get it Now!
Common Sense: Campers Have Forgotten These Words
The two words defined
Today’s campers seem to have forgotten two words that would make campgrounds a lot better for all campers: Common Sense. These two words are the starting place for all those who venture into the woods to enjoy nature and camping. Webster’s Dictionary defines these two words as: sound and wise or prudent judgement based on a simple knowledge of the situation or facts.
In seven years of camphosting, I have observed that people seem to think that camping is just pitching a tent and doing whatever they please in the campground. Okay, I mean, camping is not rocket science, in fact, it is in my opinion, one of the most enjoyable experience a person can enjoy. However, a camper must use sound and prudent judgement when camping so that everyone at the campground can have a good time. Perhaps we can look at the campground rules, to understand how common sense applies to camping.
Common Sense in Action
- Pets- My wife likes to say that it is illegal to go camping without your dog, in fact, she gives treats to all the dogs in the campground when the pet owner gives permission. Yet, there are several ways that a dog can be a nuisance in the campground.
- Barking dogs, it is the pet owner’s responsibility to keep a dog quiet, so it does not disturb other campers.
- Attended dogs, if you brought your dog with you, you should not leave the campground without your dog.
- Unleashed dogs, other campers should not have to worry about their safety due to your unleashed dog. In fact, you can be cited for unleashed dogs, you can be liable for lawsuit if a dog bites a camper.
- Pick Up After the Dog, no one should ever step in your dogs’ leavings. Carry bags and clean up after your dog.
- Excessive Noises- Every camper in the campground or RV Park, are attempting to have a good time. Your good time should not impede your neighbor from having a good time.
- Radios, TVs, Children, all noises should be kept in your campsite. You can listen to music at a respectful volume that your neighbor will not hear.
- Conversation, Game Playing, you name the outdoor activity, it does not need to loud enough to disturb other people in the campground. Remember that noises, especially talking, carries, keep it at a respectful level.
- Vehicles- People seem to always need their vehicle with them, I do not get it, if you are not sleeping in it, park it in a safe place.
- Overflow is often the safest option for all concerned. I often see cars with the tail end sticking out into the roadway, it is usually dark at night in a campground, if another vehicle hits a poorly parked vehicle, both vehicles will be damaged.
- Parking off the pavement, especially over pine needles or dry grass with a hot engine can start a fire, be careful when parking.
- Disposal of waste- water- Waste water can damage the environment and create a nuisance for other campers.
- Dishwashing water should be scattered over a wide area, away from other campers, streams, or other waterways. If you are camping in a forest area, do not dig holes for water disposal, make sure to strain food debris from the water and put in trash bag, before disposing of the water.
- RV campers should never dispose of their grey water in a ecologically challenged area like the forest. Remember there are plants and animals that live there.
- Fire- You will notice that I post a lot about fire and fire safety. I often use the bad pun, “fire makes me hot”, and as a host, I get easily upset when I see the stupid things that campers do.
Campfire Common Sense in Action
- Never leave a campfire unattended. Do not even go to the bathroom, if you are alone, and leave the fire attended.
- Do not go on a hike with a fire going.
- Do not go to bed in your RV or tent, without putting out your campfire, you may not have the opportunity to wake up in the morning.
- Do not leave the campsite for the weekend without putting out your fire.
- Never have a campfire on the ground when a fire pit is available. A so-called rock ring fire is difficult to control when the wind starts blowing.
- Never have anything hanging out of the fire pit. All wood that you plan on using in the fire pit, should fit fully in the fire pit. You must have an axe, bowsaw, hatchet, or chainsaw, to make firewood safe.
- Build small fires that are easily controlled. Large fires tend to have embers blowing, in the forest, if an ember blows into the pine needles or into dry grass, a forest fire may occur.
- Do not mutilate trees in the campground. Really, does this common sense item even need be said.
- Nails in a tree will rust and kill the tree
- Hammocks hung on a tree that is too small to hold your weight or ropes that damage the bark on the tree, does either of these fit into using common sense. I see it every weekend.
Wrapping Up Why Campers Should Use Common Sense
You may find other rules at the campground that you are staying at, and they are very likely rooted in common sense principles. You can find these rules and many others on the website: universalcampgroundrules.com. The rules will vary according to the campground, RV Park, or state that you are camping at, but all these rules are implemented to enhance your camping experience. Please use common sense when you are camping, so all campers can have a safe and enjoyable stay.
Please read the United States Forest Service rules here now!
Campground Cooking: Not beans again!
When you imagine campground cooking, the chuckwagon food that was prepared for cowboys in the old west comes to mind. I can imagine hearing cowboys saying, “Not beans again”. I can remember many campouts where we prepared baked beans with freshly made biscuits, yum. Also, doesn’t chuckwagon stew sound good?
Although baked beans are great with barbeque, it is not necessary for every camping trip. The food that you plan for your camping trip does not have to be the same old fare that you prepare at home or take to a picnic. It is your choice, but I personally try to stay with an outdoors style menu. There are dozens of campground cooking books available at your local bookstore or on Amazon. The following are six different outdoor cooking style ideas:
- Dutch oven- Campground stew, take hamburger, potatoes, carrots, onions, and a package of stew mix, and simmer on the camp stove or firepit until done.
Dig a hole, prepare coals with firewood or charcoal, when you have a good bed of coals, put the Dutch oven in the center of the coal, mix a cobbler or cake mix, pour contents into the Dutch oven, put the lid on and cover with coals. Bury the Dutch oven with dirt. Cook for two hours.
- Campfire– Our family likes to do the in-foil dinners. Get some good coals going, take tin foil and double wrap hamburger, chicken, or pork, with green peppers, onions, potatoes, and carrots. Coat with Worchester sauce. Put into a bed of coals or even on top of the grill. Turn frequently with tongs. Serve in the foil or put on a paper plate.
- Camp stove– Skillet dinners cooked in a cast iron skillet, love it. Bacon frying in a pan on a camping trip is about the most delightful aroma I can imagine. I love campground breakfast.
- Charcoal Barbeque- I personally do not use charcoal, it takes time to get the coals ready to cook over, and you cannot control the heat. Barbeque fare is mostly what you will cook over charcoal and you get the charcoal flavor.
- Propane Barbeque- Although I believe this is more of a picnic fare; steaks, ribs, chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers, are always a welcome cookout fare for camping.
- Solar oven- Most of us do not use a solar oven, but they are sold at sporting goods stores. Making a solar oven yourself does not take a lot of time. The only issue you will run across is controlling the heat and cooking time. Most outdoor cooking fare can be cooked in a solar oven.
Various Issues with Each Cooking Method
Your campground cookout does not have to be the same old fare that you prepare at home or take to a picnic. Get a good outdoor cookbook and try something new. The Dutch oven does not have to be buried, it can be used on campfire, stove top, or on the barbeque, most campgrounds will not allow the hole in the ground style of cooking.
When you cook over a campfire, you cannot control the flame, you get soot on the bottom of the pan or skillet, and cooking times will vary greatly. Charcoal takes time to get hot, you can’t control the heat, and you get the taste of charcoal. A camp stove is the most popular camp cooking method, and my favorite camp stove is the Camp Chef brand. The Camp Chef camp stove has large burners, this helps when you are at a high altitude where the air is thinner.
The History and Use of a Hatchet
Brief history of the campground axe or hatchet
The campground axe or hatchet that we use today, came along way through humankind’s history. It appears that stone age man had an implement that they used that consisted of a sharp rock that was lashed by vines to a branch. Not sure how effective this implement was in cutting wood into firewood, possibly worked for small branches, but it likely worked for hunting. In the iron age with the invention of the forge or furnace, steel could be manipulated into a sharp metal shape with a hole for the haft or handle to be attached so the axe would be more balanced. In the iron age the axe was used by woodsmen, carpenters, and as an implement of war.
Types of Axes
When you go to your local hardware store to purchase an axe, it is important to know that there are many different
types of axes that are made for specific purposes. Let’s examine a short list of these axes.
Felling axe- This axe is made for cutting down medium to large trees, it has a long handle and often has two edges or cutting surfaces. It’s stainless steel cutting head helps to prevent corrosion.
Splitting axe- This axe is often called a maul, it is heavy and looks like a sledgehammer, it is used to split medium to large trees into useable firewood.
Hewing axe- This axe is used with a carving axe by woodworkers who carve statues like a bear. They are made so the woodworker has control and a good grip for safety.
Throwing axe- this axe is often referred to as a tomahawk, known for use by the American Indians. This axe has a light balanced handle or haft. There are many sports leagues throughout the world that have axe throwing competitions.
The campground axes
The campground axe or hatchet was left out of the above list because it is the subject of this discussion. This axe or hatchet is used to cut branches up to 4” in diameter, you can cut slightly larger material, but it will take a lot of effort. A bowsaw or a long-handled axe would work better on larger material in a campground. A hatchet has a small contoured handle or haft for ease of use. Keep the axe in its sheath when not in use. Never strike a live tree in a campground with an axe. As with any tool, safety is a must.
The safe way to use an axe
When you walk with a hatchet, keep the blade next to your leg but pointed away from your body. If you pass the tool to another person, make sure they have possession of the tool before you release your grip. It is best to have the person you passing the hatchet to, say’ thank you’, before you release your grip. Keep the axe in its sheath when not in use. Never strike a live tree in a campground with an axe.
The safe way to use an axe. 1) Make sure there is no one within five feet of where you are cutting with the axe, 2) Grip the haft or handle firmly, 3) Make accurate controlled swings with the axe, 4) Stand over the wood while chopping 5) Use a 45% cutting swing from left to right until the wood is cut.
The campground axe or hatchet is an invaluable tool when you are camping. As was pointed out, the axe has a long history behind it, there are many different types of axes, and there are valid reasons for owning each type of axe. Make sure that you have the correct axe with you in camp, the campground axe.
Tents-What are the Best Camping Tents?
What are the best camping tents?
If you are like me, you do not have the storage capacity to own more than one tent. The best camping tents are the ones that fit your style of camping. Tents are not one tent fits all. You will need to examine what you will be using the tent for. Where do you camp? Where will you be storing the tent when not in use? Do you hike, summer camp, winter camp, do you have a small car? How many people will be sleeping in the tent? These are only a few of the questions to consider, you will need to add your own. In order to help you to decide on a tent, here are a few of the tents that are available online or at your local sporting goods store:
- Pup tent- These tents have lost their popularity due to the dome tent. A Pup tent is perfect though for hiking because they are small and light weight. The drawback is the fact that you don’t get much room for your gear or to dress in.
- Dome tents- Dome tents are the most popular tent style today. The latest dome tents set up in less than 5 minutes. You can find dome tents that sleep two to 10 people. The drawback would be according to which tent you get, smaller dome tents are not made to stand up in, the family style dome tents are tall enough to stand up in but set up takes longer.
- Teepee- Teepees are designed for airflow, comfort, and warmth. Due to their design, they are cool in the summer, and in the winter, you can have a fire on the ground in the middle of the tent. The drawback is the ability to store and transport 22’ poles.
- Suspended tents- This style of tent is suspended between three to four trees; you must have a ladder to climb up into the tent. The drawback is that if you are sharing the tent, your tent mate will cause the tent to sway if they change positions at night and you may not find trees to suspend the tent with.
- A frame tents- these tents were popular in the civil war for soldiers, they were easy to transport on horses and you could stand up in them. Today they are made with materials that allow easy set up and tear down. The drawback is that they take room in a campsite to set up
- Inflatable tents- Inflatable tents need an air pump to set up, they are interesting, in that, the floor of the tent is your air mattress. The drawback is the same as an air mattress, a pin hole can cause the tent to deflate while you are in the tent.
- Truck bed or car top tents- truck bed and car top tents are very popular these days. The truck bed tent is easy to get into, the car top tent requires the camper to enter the tent by ladder. These tents allow the camper to not be on the ground. The drawback would be that once set up, they must be disassembled if you need to use the vehicle and you need to find a level site to park the vehicle before setting them up.
The tent that you purchase will be determined on how you will be using the tent, your budget, and how you will be storing the tent. Dome tents are the most versatile and most popular of tents today. They are easy to set up, store, and use. A search on the internet for types of tents will help you to make your decision. Remember, your summer tent may not be as useful if you winter camp. Backpack tents are lighter but may not hold up if you do a lot of summer campground camping.
10 Camping Principles Every Camper Needs To Know
The Lure of Camping
The lure of camping has been a part of our DNA since the days of the mountain man, hunting, trapping, enjoying the great outdoors, the aroma of the forest, escaping the city, having a campfire, and just roughing it. Yet, unless campers were in scouting programs as a child, many of the campers that come to the forest, have no idea how to safely camp in the forest. I have often said that we as campground hosts, need to stop campers at the entrance to the campground and do a Camp 101 class before they can camp. Anyone can buy a tent online or at the local sporting goods store or on the internet, for a reasonable price, but do they understand that there is more to camping than setting up a tent? The following are just 10 common sense principles every camper needs to know before they go camping.
10 Camping Principles Every Camper Needs to Know
- What amenities are available at the chosen campground? Checking the website for the campground you are going to, the website will tell you if there is water, power, sewer hook-ups or even showers. Then you can make your Checklist for what to bring.
- Are fires allowed? A check of the website for the campground should inform the camper if fires are allowed or if there is a current fire ban. Can I bring my own firewood? Burn It Were You Buy It is a real thing, invasive species are ruining our local forests, check out the website BurnItWereYouBuyIt.com and learn about this today. Read Firewood and Invasive Species now!
- If you are going to a campground that has no water available and plan to have a fire, bring extra water to put your fire out. It is also advisable to bring a shovel with you, if you have a small car, you can buy a foldable shovel at your local sporting goods store. Be responsible with fire. Read Different Firewood Types
- If you are using water to wash your dishes, strain the food debris from the water over a large area. Do not dig holes for your water disposal, this can damage the campground ecosystem. A good suggestion for this water is to use it to put out your fire.
- Do not go to bed at night with a fire burning in your site, do not go on a hike and leave you site with a fire burning, and please do not leave the campground at the end of your stay with a fire burning. It only takes a spark to get a forest fire started. Be responsible! Read Camphosts and Campfires Now!
- Trees are a natural resource, you came to the forest to enjoy it’s beauty, respect the trees. Do not carve on them, do not tie ropes to them ( if you have a hammock, use wide web straps and select appropriate size trees to hang the hammock on), do not cut branches off them for your fire, do not mutilate the sapling trees, and do not put ash from the fire pits around the base of the trees.
- Tents are great portable shelters; they range in price $25 to $1000, they can have multiple uses, purchase one that suits your camping style. Set up the tent at home before you go camping so you know how to set it up, make sure you have all the poles, tent fly, ground cloth, and stakes to secure the tent. When setting up the tent at the campground, select a place that is on high ground so if the weather changes you will not have a river running through your tent. Do not dig trenches around your tent, if you chose to go to a mountain campground, it is not okay to dig a flat area for your tent, these actions cause erosion. Think about the Principles of Leave it as You Found it. Read Tents-Which one is Right For Me
- Parking, I could write a book about campers and their cars. Park your car in a safe manner. Do not allow your car to impede traffic, do not park a hot engine over pine needles or other combustible material, and do not park off the road in campgrounds.
- Music is great pastime to enjoy in your den, your car, or on headphones. Music should not be played in a campground at volume that will disturb guests in the site next to yours. Be respectful to others!
- Respect other campers sites, do not cut through their site for any reason and teach this to your children, do not play music that will disturb your neighbors, do not play games in your site or on the roads that will disturb others (throwing frisbees ,footballs, or softballs), do not talk loud, do not smoke any substance that will disturb them, and do not set up your site in a way that will encroach on their site.
What is Camp 101 Anyway
Camp 101 would be a course that would include all of the above listed principles, these principles that every camper needs to know, are rooted in common sense. Principles like: thinking of others, being responsible with fire, trip planning, and respect the forest or campground. Following these principles will ensure that you and your fellow campers will have an enjoyable camping experience.
