Crazy For Camping?

By Glenn H. Kipps

Whether you are going on a Camping Trip or the power goes out in your house, a [tag-tec]camping lantern[/tag-tec] is a pretty nifty tool to have. The reason is that a camping lantern can light up a huge area such as a room in your house or an [tag-ice]outdoor kitchen[/tag-ice]. A flashlight burns out much quicker and illuminates a much smaller area. In this article, I will go over the different types of lanterns and their uses. This information should help you in choosing the right camping lantern for your needs.

There are a few different types of lanterns. It is best to identify your camping needs before you decide on which lantern you want to purchase. There are remote control lanterns that operate on infrared technology. These are great in that you do not have to physically touch your lantern to turn it on. There are also rechargeable camping lanterns. These are highly recommended, because you can buy several rechargeable batteries that can be used in other camping gear requiring battery power. Both are the best types to use in the house during a power outage because they are the safest. They do not require fuel or flame to light up a room. Then, there are the traditional lanterns that require fuel to operate. It is best to find out what kind of fuels are going to be at your disposal when choosing one of these. Make sure the lantern you choose can take those kinds of fuels.

Your camping lantern should be built to last a long time. It should be able to withstand the forces of nature easily. As in an earlier post, I recommend Coleman. They have been around a long time and their products are built to last. I have two Coleman Lanterns that my brother and sister had during the 60’s. They still work great. Read the manual for your lantern to find out how long it will burn before you have to change the battery or refuel. Do not be caught half a mile from your campsite with no power. Do not leave your lantern on all night or you may not have power for the rest of your trip, unless you have a good supply of batteries and/or fuel.

In short, choosing the right camping lantern depends on your camping needs. Only you can make the right choice for you. Identify your needs, read the specs of the lanterns you are eyeing to see if they are right for the trip you are going on and choose wisely. Coleman has every type of lantern I have mentioned as well as several different models of each type.

By Glenn H. Kipps

The subject of this article is quite a bit different from the other posts where I talk mainly about camping in the woods. Today, we are going to talk about camping on the beach. I am going to give one of my famous scenerios where everything goes wrong. Then, I am going to give you a few tips on how to avoid these problems.

You are on your long awaited beach vacation. You don’t want a hotel or condominium. You want to [tag-tec]camp on the beach[/tag-tec]. You feel that this will give you a feeling of being in the [tag-ice]great outdoors[/tag-ice] without having to deal with the wildlife you find in the woods. You choose your spot and throw all the blankets and sleeping bags down on the sand. Then, you start to build you and your group a cooking fire that is later going to be a huge bon fire after dinner. All of the food and beer coolers are set up. Everything seems great. Uh Oh!!! The next thing you know, a policeman comes over to your area. He informs you that camping is not allowed on this particular beach and that fires are prohibited on all beaches. The closest camping beach is 5 miles South. You have been drinking all day. The only one sober enough to drive is your 16 year old younger brother who just got his license. You don’t have a stove, so you are resigned to eating at the closest McDonald’s or some other fast food. So you pack up everything and take off with little brother behind the wheel. The restaurant is just a block away. After you get your food at the drive up window, you continue to the beaches that allow camping per directions of the officer. Oh, I forgot about those tickets and hefty fines he gave you earlier as well. You are too drunk to respect the new driver. You and your friends are too rowdy. About halfway to your destination, little brother has an accident. While waiting for the police, you apologize to your little brother. The good news is that the cop has decided not to give your kid brother a ticket because of the noble effort to get you and your drunk friends to a safe place to camp. Besides, there was no real damage done to that telephone pole and the car is still drivable. Therefore, not all is lost. So, you guys settle down at your new campsite, stay up a little while longer listening to the ocean. However, the badness has not ended yet. The next morning, all of you wake up in excrutiating pain because of extreme sunburn. Wow!! Some beach vacation this turned out to be.

Well, let me tell you what you should have done to make this trip a pleasurable one. First of all you must think ahead. Not all beaches are camper friendly. It would have been a good idea to call ahead to see which beaches allow camping. Fires are no longer permitted on most beaches. This is sad, because I remember when I used to spend my whole weekends at Mission Beach in San Diego during the day and spend the night at Mission Bay, where there were always at least 8 bonfires. This was when I was completing my A school training to be a corpsman at Balboa Hospital (The Naval School of Health Sciences) in 1988. During the weekends, no one would see me at the barracks. At any rate, back to the subject. There are some beaches that still allow bon fires, but you need a permit. Again, you must think ahead. Next time, bring a stove. If you would have followed these simple suggestions, you would not have gotten into this fix with everyone getting fines.

You should not drink until you know you are in your location to stay. Do not rely on your kid brother who just got his license to get you out of a fix. It’s not fair to him. If you follow this little, but very important suggestion, your car may come back home in one piece. As for the sunburns, you are not 6 years old. Common sense says you should have bought some kind of pop up beach tent or beach shade. They go for $19 and up. If you would have gotten some kind of shelter, you would have had a 95% or better chance of not getting burned. Better luck next time camping on the beach.

By Glenn H. Kipps

camping can be a rewarding experience, no matter where you are. However, camping in national parks is one of the best ways to experience the great outdoors, because [tag-tec]national parks[/tag-tec] offer the most options. These options range from full service campgrounds with all the facilities you need to [tag-ice]wilderness camping[/tag-ice] with no facilities whatsoever. When planning your camping trip, you must know that there are two types of campgrounds. There are those that accept reservations and those that are operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Those that accept reservations are a little more expensive than the first-come, first served campgrounds. However, on a big weekend such as Memorial Day, you may want to make a reservation, because you may not find a campsite in a first-come, first-served campground. In this article, I will explain everything I mentioned in this paragraph in detail.

Option #1 - Full Service Campgrounds With All the Facilities

These campgrounds are perfect for the family outing. They have full bath facilities complete with sinks, toilets and showers. They also have electric power hookups as well as a camp store. Some of them even have an amphitheater where you can watch a show or a clubhouse where they hire DJ’s or live bands for you partying and dancing pleasure. There are usually quiet hours starting at 10:00 and pets are required to be on a leash. They also offer three options for camping (some, not all). There are cabins for those who do not want to set up anything. There is almost always an RV area for those that do not mind some set up (such as hooking up the RV to get electric power) but don’t like to camp in tents. Then there is tent camping for those that really like the outdoors, but want all the amenities that these campgrounds offer. I am going to stick to tent camping for the purposes of this article.

Option 2 - Back Country Camping With Limited Facilities

These campsites are great for those that want to be a little rowdy without having to deal with quiet hours. However, the facilities are very limited. You may just have an outhouse. However, some of these have a small building with a single shower, a toilet and a sink. Every year, I camp in a place where you have to drive 1/2 mile to the closest bath house. That doesn’t bother me, because I am not one for observing any kind of quiet hours when I am camping. If the site has more than just an outhouse, these sites are also perfect for a romantic experience alone with your girlfriend or wife without your neighbor being a few feet away from you. You do need a permit for this type of camping. Each park has its own rules for getting this permit. Sometimes it is as simple as filling out a form on the day of arrival. Other times, you have to apply for it months in advance. In the latter, it is all about timing. Always plan ahead, or you could be left out in the cold.

Option 3 - Wilderness camping with no facilities

This type of camping is perfect for the all out adventurer from the kayaker to the backpacker. However, you must never travel alone. It is always a good idea to have at least one other person with you to go for help. Both of you should be CPR certified in case of an accident that renders one of you unconscious. If there is more than two of you, only a couple of you need this certification. This ensures that everybody has a high expectancy of coming back alive. Nothing is ever 100%, but the chances are better than average. You also need a permit for this type of camping.

The best way to make a reservation is through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS). Through the NRRS, you can make reservations for the USDA Forest Service, Army Corpes of Engineers, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation outdoor recreation facilities and activities. You can reserve individual campsites up to 240 days in advance, cabins (booking window varies from 180, 240 and 360 days in advance), Alaska cabins up to 180 days in advance and group facilities up to 360 days in advance. You can make reservations online at http://www.recreation.gov or by calling NRRS at 877-444-6777. If you do not want to make a reservation, you can take your chances at one of the many first-come, first-served campgrounds. Remember, this can be a tough way to go if you are planning your trip on a big weekend. You may end up staying in a hotel, if you can even get a room there. What a bummer. At any rate, camping in national parks is really the best way to enjoy the camping experience. However, sometimes you have got to plan in advance, or you could be left out in the cold.

By Glenn H. Kipps

There are many products out there that will aid in cooking when on a camp out. There are outdoor fireplaces that can be converted to grills, ovens and a variety of stoves and grills. My brand of choice is Coleman. This is not because I sell their products online, but because I believe in them. These products are built to last. For instance, I have a Coleman 2-burner stove I purchased in 1988. It still works the same way it did when I first bought it. I have not even had to rebuild it yet. I also have 2 Coleman lanterns that my brother and sister had when they were teenagers in the 1960’s that still work very well. A lantern is not a cooking item, but I thought I would throw that in just to make a point. If it is made by Coleman, it is built to last. Coleman makes all of the above mentioned product types including a variety of 1, 2 and 3-burner stoves. My favorite is an innovative little thing known as the Coleman 2-burner propane grill stove. With this little gem, you can do conventional cooking on one side and grill on the other at the same time. However, Coleman is a little more pricey than a lot of other brands, but the price is well worth it. Cheaper brands may work just as well in the short run, but they don’t last as long. This is just to let readers know that there are cheaper alternatives. However, some people can not even afford the cheaper brands. Relax… all is not lost. In this article, I am going to provide you with tips on how to build a cooking fire.

You can apply the same principles and safety practices of building a Camp Fire to building a [tag-tec]cooking fire[/tag-tec]. The main difference is the end result. When building a camp fire, you want to build a nice flame that you can look at, gather around and enjoy. When building a cooking fire, you want to turn your wood into hot coals. There should be no flame whatsoever. After all, you do not want to burn your food or blacken your pots or other cooking vessels you may decide to use.

First, you must pick a [tag-ice]cooking site[/tag-ice] that is at least 8 feet away from any bushes, combustibles, tents or anything else that can catch fire. You must also clear away any dry leaves and twigs and make sure there are no overhanging branches. Build a U-shaped fire pit using large rocks. The back of the pit should be facing any wind currents when it is windy. Put a larger rock with a flat surface at the back of the pit to act as a chimney to channel the smoke away from the site.

Once your pit is built, you can start building your fire. Start by laying down wads of paper and small twigs on the floor of the pit. Then, you can stack the kindling (dried branches of 1″ in diameter at the most) in even criss-crossed layers. Keep a bucket of water nearby and light the wads of paper to start your fire. Add some bigger pieces of fire wood (preferably hardwood, if available). Make sure these pieces of wood are as close to the same size as possible and lay them evenly over the burning kindling. As soon as all the wood is burned into white coals, use a stick to distribute the coals. The coals should be stacked higher at the back of the pit graded downwards to the front of the pit. This creates the ability to cook at high, medium and low temperatures.

Now, you can set the grill over the rocks and begin cooking. The further back you put your cooking vessel, the higher the temperature, because the coals in the back of the pit are closer to the grill. If you are cooking directly on the grill, have a spray bottle handy in case the dripping from the food cause a little flame. Remember, the perfect cooking fire should have no flame. As your fire dies, bank the coals to get the most heat from them.

After cooking, use the same pit to build your evening camp fire. Make sure the fire is completely out when you retire for the night. I hope these nifty tips on how to build a cooking fire have helped you for your next camping trip.

by Glenn H. Kipps

What is a Camping Trip without a [tag-tec]campfire[/tag-tec]? It would be a rather boring [tag-ice]camping experience[/tag-ice], don’t you think? Building a campfire can be a very rewarding experience, but there are some safety precautions and other factors one should know about before leaving. Here are a few tips on campfire safety that should be adhered to in order to ensure you have a great camping experience.

1. Before going on your camping trip, make sure you choose the right campground. Before you make a reservation (neccessary on a busy weekend like Memorial Day), find out the campground’s rules on campfires. Believe it or not, some campgrounds do not allow campfires at all. They have their reasons. However, I can not imagine what they could be. I usually avoid these places like the plague. If you do not do your research and show up at one of these places, you are just plain out of luck… “Oops!! Look at the signs around the campground. No campfires!! Sorry, honey. I should have done my research.”

There are also areas where you can have campfires, but you can not pick your wood from the woods. There are many places in these areas where you can buy bundles of wood for $3.00 a bundle on up. You have to spend a little bit of money if you want your fire to go all night (or until bed time anyway). However, if you get to one of these areas and you want to build a campfire, that is what you are going to have to do. In California, this type of camping is unavoidable. I did a lot of camping there and did not find a place anywhere where you could pick your own wood.

Then, you have the places that, pretty much, have no real restriction. The only thing they ask is you adhere to general fire safety. These are my favorite places to go.

2. Most of the latter type campgrounds have designated fire pits. USE THEM!!! They are there for your safety. They are usually in the area of the campsite where there are the least low-hanging branches and furthest away from your tent site. If there is not a fire pit, you can easily build one by gathering enough big rocks to put in a circle. This wall of rocks must be big enough to keep the wood inside the ring. Also, clear away any twigs, dried leaves, paper, etc within several feet from the fire pit.

3. When building your fire, start out with small twigs, a little paper and anything else that can be used as a fire starter.

Side note: Some folks put dried leaves on the pile to help start the fire. I do not use them, because they make a fire smokey.

Then, you start putting your kindling down. These sticks are a little bigger that the twigs (about 1/2″ to 1″ in diameter). After that, throw on you bigger logs. There are several way to do this. I like to build a tepee style fire the best. I feel this is the strongest fire structure. There you go… A little architectural lesson from the Indians.

4. Make sure your fire is a comfortable size. Building your fire too big could be catastrophic to the people in your group as well as your camping neighbors. It will not be a great thing for the wildlife and the forest either. “Oh, no! The tree overhead just caught fire. What should I do?” Make sure that you have the correct equipment (ie. bucket full of water, shovel or a fire extinguisher) in case the fire does leave the boundaries of the fire pit.

5. Have fun. Bring out the weenies and the marshmallows. Play cards. Tell stories. However, you must also be safe. Respect your fire. There should be no horseplay around the fire.

I hope these tips on campfire safety have helped you plan a safe camping trip.

[tag-tec]Camping can be fun[/tag-tec] if you take the right precautions. Here is an example of how a Camping Trip can go totally wrong (extreme worst case scenerio) and a few tips on how you can prevent these things from happening to you.

Your food tent is torn to shreds. A family of racoons is snarling at you. Your kids are trembling in the car with your wife. You are standing behind the car banging a stick. However, it is too late. They got to your meat and everything else that is not secured in a can or jar.

So, you figure, for tonight, you still have your canned goods. What was that? You forgot the can opener. After walking a quarter a mile to various campsites, you realize no one has a can opener. They opted for steaks and shish-ka-bobs - nothing in cans. The camp store is all the way at the entrance to the campground (about 1.5 miles away in some instances). You have already walked a good ways. By the time you get back to the campsite, you have lost all motivation to drive to the camp store to get a new can opener. So, you end up borrowing some bread from a neighbor (the racoons already got into your bread) and have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner. Your stomach is growling with hunger.

After you and your family eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, you have a couple of beers. A little while later, you go into the woods to relieve yourself (at this point, the bathroom is just too far to walk). On the way back to the campsite, you step on an in-ground bees’ nest, and your legs are twice their size and hurt like you know what. There is no stream or even a puddle to jump into to relieve the pain.

Your back is burnt to a crisp. Your feet are bruised from the rough terrain. Your arms are covered with mosquito bites and bee stings from when you stepped on the bees’ nest. Your ripped up t-shirt is binding a gash in your leg caused by your tripping over a sharp stick.

Your dog has disappeared over the horizon chasing a squirrel. You took off his collar to make him comfortable and don’t know how you’ll find him. You stepped in his droppings and ruined your moccasins.

The campfire spread to dry leaves around it and melted one end of your cooler, exploding the cans of beer inside. You have hot beer all over you as a result. At least the canned fruit and the grape soda are fine. They are in the other cooler away from the fire.

The kids are crying and your wife is sulking, because they are hungry. Remember, the only thing you all had to eat was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You drop down in dispair on a tree stump.

What went wrong?!

First of all, you should have stored your food in the trunk of your car. If you don’t have a trunk (hatchback for example), you should have stored your food a little ways away from any of your tents. That way, if an animal takes an interest in your food, it won’t destroy your campsite. Also, do not take any food into your tent. If you want a midnight snack, eat it outside. As for the can opener, you seem to be a good candidate for those folding ones that fit on your key chain, providing you don’t lose your keys.

As for the bees and mosquitos, you should invest in insect repellant. It really works. Also, a first-aid kit should be a given for campers. Do you know if any member of your family is allergic to bee stings? People die from bee stings. An antidote exists for that, too, and can be made part of the kit. Also, a good kit has an ace bandage for such things as the gash in your leg (Weren’t you watching where you were going? Hope it wasn’t a favorite t-shirt.).

Oh, no! You didn’t bring something most people wouldn’t leave home without? Sun block! You had better hope your good old buddy next door doesn’t slap you on the back and say “Welcome home!”

Did you really think the collar was uncomfortable for your dog? Under no circumstances should you take the ID off of your dog. He can’t say his name and phone number. Ever hear of a leash? Also, wild animals often see them as prey.

Your moccasins are probably history. Don’t you know that good campers bring waste bags and scoopers? You’re lucky your neighbors did not meet the same fate. You might have been history! Wearing moccasins, to a camp out is not bright anyway. You will probably be soaking your feet for a week. Hiking boots exist, you know.

As for the fire, what did you think would happen with dry leaves all around the flames? The word “dry” is a clue. Did you think there were tiny little firemen hiding in the leaves waiting to put out the inevitable fire? Get rid of any dry leaves before you start your fire. Also, have the [tag-ice]beer cooler[/tag-ice] in reach but not so close that the fire can get so much heat to it that all the ice melts and the beer explodes.

Camping can be fun and extremely rewarding as long as you use common sense.

By Glenn H. Kipps

Camping with the kids! You knew the time would come! Jimmy has outgrown the backyard campsite.

“This isn’t real camping.” he says.

Janey always echos her brother. Yeah! This isn’t like real camping!” she says, as she glances at her brother for approval.

Camping with the kids. You’ve heard all of the stories… the nightmare… and especially that thousand-decibel cry, “I wanna go home!” at two in the morning right after a coyote somewhere out there howls at the moon.

It’s a right of passage, they used to say for the father to take his son [tag-tec]camping[/tag-tec]. Now… guess what?! Mom and the girls stick out their chins and say, “We’re going, too!”

You hope for the best, but all of those stories from your friends with children… they’ve “been there”. Fifty Million people can’t be wrong. Best friends Randy and Jane insist they’ve been emotionally “scarred for life”.

So here you are… with a loaded SUV ready to make your own nightmare. This is where the prayers come in.

The [tag-ice]campsite[/tag-ice] is beautiful, but kids don’t notice such things, or do they?

Hey, Dad,” Jimmy says, “This place is really beautiful!”

“Yeah, it’s really bee-yoo-ti-ful!” echoes Janey with a giggle.

Guess you were wrong.

But kids don’t pitch in. They just run around. As you prepare to drive to the camp store to get some important supplies you forgot at home in your haste to get on the road, you glance at the pile of tents, coolers, equipment, etc.,and sigh thinking of the work ahead.

Coming back from the camp store with the necessary items that were forgotten at home, you are sure you have come to the wrong campsite. The tents are up. The food is stored properly. The folding table and chairs are in place, and a cold drink awaits.

“The kids did it,” his wife says jubilantly, “with a little help from me.”

Wrong again!

It’s getting late. To get an early start in the morning everyone agrees to retire early. You are expecting that two a.m. cry, “I wanna go home.” You can’t sleep. Your watch says two. The next thing you know, your watch says seven. No one woke up.

Wrong again!

Everyone’s ready to hike the trail. This will be it, you think. They’ll be complaining about aching feet, hunger, you name it. We’re halfway. You’re tired. They’ll be whining in a minute.

“Whatamatter, Dad? Here, let me take your backpack.” Jimmy is sympathetic.

“Yeah, you’re tired,” says Janey as she tilts her head at you and pats your head.

Can’t believe it! Wrong again!

The day was wonderful… and the next day… and the next. We sang all the way home.

Camping with the kids! …One of the great experiences in life. It’s a lot of fun, too! You always knew it. (Also, it’s great to have someone along to carry your backpack, lol.)