Camping Critique

U.S. National Park Service Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks

Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
Visitors sitting around a campfire in a national park.

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with three fee-free weekends at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.

Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer:

* June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
* July 18-19, 2009
* August 15-16, 2009

And to make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own special offers.

This is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the parks while saving some money! The first weekend is next weekend, and you might find some spaces in great parks. Depending on your tastes, you could choose a popular park like Grand Canyon National Park, or try someplace a little different like Agate Fossil Beds in Nebraska National Monument. The National Park Service has a page listing all the parks that are participating in the “fee-free” weekends. Get out their and enjoy these great parks!

The Las Vegas area is usually known more for its glitter and neon than it is for outdoor recreation, but the reality is that there is plenty to do without setting foot on the Strip. The Railroad Tunnels Trail is a great example of just such an activity.

This is an easy, fairly level hike through a series of tunnels bored through volcanic rock. The tunnels were originally cut to allow rail cars to carry supplies to and from the Hoover Dam construction site. The rails are long gone, but we get to benefit from their existence.

The trail begins near the south end of Lake Mead. Pay a visit to the Alan Bible Visitor Center, just off the road to the dam. If you have young kids, make sure they take advantage of the Junior Ranger program. They’ll get a booklet with activities which they can complete to earn a Junior Ranger badge and certificate. You’ll also get some of the history of the tunnels and the surrounding area.

Just a little further down the road is the trailhead and parking area. It’s not a huge parking area, so be prepared to look around. If you get to the toll booth for the Lake Mead NRA, you’ve gone too far.

The trail starts on a concrete path at the parking lot, and heads up a short hill to the railroad trail. Head east on the trail, and you’ll reach the entry gate for the trail. From here to the last tunnel, there’s verly little elevation gain. But the area can be deceptive. If you are planning on heading out during the summer months, plan on starting early, definitely before 9am. After that, the heat will be well over 100 degrees, and may make it very difficult to complete the hike. As with any desert hike, take plenty of water and pace yourself.

The path is approximately 12′ wide, so it can be used by hikers, runners and cyclists simultaneously with very little interference. The trail is hard packed dirt and a little gravel, very easy on the feet, and well-maintained.

The views of Lake Mead from the trail are excellent, and the geology of this area is rugged. There is a fairly consistent breeze in this area, helping you cool off.

The tunnels themselves are immense. They were made 25 feet in diameter to accommodate oversized railcars carrying gravel to concrete plants near the dam. In the picture above, you can see two adults at the far end of the tunnel to get an idea of the scale of these tunnels.

You can hike all or a portion of the trail, either as an out-and-back, or a point to point, ending at the dam itself. After passing the 5th tunnel, you arrive at a gate for a maintenance yard. This gate is closed at 6pm, but while open you can continue on the trail right to the upper level of the visitor parking structure at Hoover Dam. The distance on this hike depends on whether you go all the way to the dam, or just to Tunnel 5. The dam is approximately 7 miles round trip, and Tunnel 5 is about 5 miles.

If you’re looking to get a good stroll in with a great view and without overtaxing yourself, the Railroad Tunnel Trail is a great place to get away from the casinos.

Folks who start out backpacking and camping are always grabbing every thing they think they’ll need. They’ve got extras of everything, and they want to make sure they’re prepared for anything. It often starts with family camping trips, pacing the family station wagon or van to the roof with coolers, inner tubes, tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses camp stoves and just about anything else.

What you learn after a few trips is that most of that stuff can stay home. I recently had just such an experience when I decided to go on a three day camping trip. I packed a frying pan, snacks, all kinds of stuff. And at least half went untouched.

As folks get more used to camping, they reduce the gear they carry, dropping gear until they get down to just the essentials, only the things they really need. This becomes even more important as you go from camping to backpacking, where you must carry everything on your back. The less you have, the lighter your load. You start looking where you can cut an ounce here and an ounce there to make your pack lighter. It doesn’t take long until you’ve pared down to the stuff you really need.

Life is a lot like that. Most of us are carrying way more than we need. Perhaps we’re carrying old “baggage” - scars from bad relationships, bad jobs, bad decisions. Or maybe it’s our attachment to material goods that is weighing us down, or quite literally - our weight. Perhaps it’s the stress from taking on too much. Whatever it is we’re carrying, we do ourselves good to shed those things we don’t need.

On his Zen Habits blog, Leo Babauta recently noted:

A lot of the complexity in our lives come when we try to keep up certain appearances.

A simpler, happier life can be achieved when we drop those appearances and just live naturally, without pretense or artfulness.

This is a great source of extra “weight”. We try to match up materially, leaving behind those things that really matter to us.

Interestingly, the solution is the same for your life as it is in camping. Start eliminating those things that don’t help you, don;t ass to your life. So many things are time sinks and energy wasters that you’ll feel better just eliminating them. If it doesn’t enhance your life, make you happier, and let you reach your goals - jettison it. Like that frying pan I never used and have left at home, leave your extra baggage behind.

Other Lessons:

8 Life Lessons You Can Learn From Camping - Lesson 1: Switchbacks
8 Life Lessons You Can Learn From Camping - Lesson 2: It’s Not About Money

Cactus Flower

One of the great things about camping is that you don’t need boatloads of cash. In fact, many campsites can be had for around $15 a night, and in some areas, absolutely free. As to gear, you can shop around and get serviceable gear for very little money. It’s one of the reasons that camping is a great activity for families, especially in a budget crunch.

But there’s a lesson there as well.

Camping isn’t just about pitching a tent, or starting a campfire. It’s about all that and more. It’s about getting away from the everyday cares. It’s about enjoying the fresh air, the clear nights. It’s about getting out into a world most of us have forgotten about. It’s about sharing laughs and stories with family and friends. And none of those require money. None.

Nowadays, we spend so much time and effort chasing after the bucks that we tend to forget what’s important. We forget that it is the connections with others that really matter. That the magic of  ’smores’ around a campfire cannot be bought. That looking up at the stars on a crystal clear night isn’t something that you can bid for on Ebay or earn by working extra overtime. We work out tails off to make that next buck and we leave behind those simple things that can make us happy.

What are the ’simple’ things you’re missing? Take a break, go camping, and rediscover the world that doesn’t revolve around a paycheck.

Check out:
Lesson 1 - Switchbacks
Lesson 3 - You’re Probably Carrying More Than You Need To

Two Campgrounds Great for Bird Watching, Hiking and Beautiful Views | Travel the World by Sea, Land and Air!

Dedicated to finding campgrounds that have beautiful views of natural settings, I recommend Bog Springs and Lakeview campgrounds located near Tucson, Arizona in Coronado National Forest for their beautiful views of the unique terrain of southeastern Arizona. They’re also great for bird watching and hiking.

These sound like a couple of great getaways if you’re in the southwest. The linked article gives you good directions to the sites, as well as thorough descriptions.

If you’ve been to either of these sites, be sure to monnet and let us know what you think!

For those interested, a new group has been created on Facebook to plan a trip to Mt. Whitney in the 2010 season. You can find it at Whitney2010.

The goal of this group is provide a discussion space and planning site for folks who are interested in doing a trip to the summit of Mt. Whitney during the 2010 season. Discussions will include gear, planning, trip dates, training and more.

This is the first in a series of posts that came to me on a recent camping trip. I found it interesting how many of the things you experience while camping are simple life lessons.

Lesson 1 - The Straightest Path Isn’t Always The Best Path, Or The Most Rewarding

Switchbacks help you make the climb

The hiking trail to the summit of California’s Mt. Whitney is 11 miles long and gains around 6,000 ft. in altitude from the trailhead. Some folks do it in a day, others take multiple days, but they’ll all have to pass through the area featuring 97 (or up to 100, depending who’s counting) switchbacks.

A switchback is a feature on a trail where the the trail virtually folds upon itself. It allows you to travel across the face of a steep hill, trading walking distance for an easier climb. It’s used in road design as well. Instead of trying to go straight up a hill, you go back and forth across the face, gaining altitude the whole time.

Of course, you’re dramatically increasing the amount of distance you have to cover but you do so more easily. On a recent hike, I traveled 2.8 miles each way, and climbed 1,600 ft. in altitude. And along the way, there were dozens of switchbacks. On some portions of the trail, I could look uphill and see no less than four switchbacks to come.

I started to think about how these switchbacks actually related to life. Many times, it seems like the path to what we want is straight up, grinding out a climb, and putting ourselves in a precarious position should we fall. We overreach, extending ourselves financially, emotionally or physically, just to get to our goals faster. Sometimes, the best way to your goals isn’t through a full-force blast up the hill, but by negotiating those switchbacks in our lives. Think about it - which is easier in the long run: Waiting for that one big bonus or tax refund to buy that new gear, or saving a little each paycheck until you’ve got it? The first way is the brute force attack of the hill. You wait until the resources are there, and then pounce. But while you’re waiting, life intervenes. Other things get in the way, and soon enough, that extra money is spent before you receive it, and not on the things you had hoped. And you slip back down the hill.

Now take the second method. Each time you get a little extra scratch, you sock it away. A little at a time, the money gets stored, whether in a bank, a cookie jar, or an old shirt in the closet. Soon enough, you’ll have the money you need, and you’ll never feel the difference. And if the big bonus comes through - you’ve got extra! That extra money you’re putting away is your set of switchbacks, the little turns you take to make the climb easier.

Another example of switchbacks is when life throws you a curve. Sometimes, when you’re following that path to your goals, you run into a dead end, or so it seems. You just can’t seem to make out where you’re supposed to go next. This is the time to stop, and just turn around. You could go back down where you came from, but chances are, the trail continues up for a little bit in the opposite direction. You go up by going back a little. Soon enough, there will be another switchback that sends you back towards your original goal. You go around the obstacle by simply realizing that there are other paths, and perhaps one that you may have overlooked. Use the switchbacks in life to refocus and find those alternate paths to your dreams.

One other way to use a switchback is as a point of regrouping. You can see that you have more distance to go, so stop for a moment and look at the trail. I find it inspiring to look back at the trail I just covered, and how far I’ve come. Then it’s time to start for the next switchback. Each switchback puts me closer to the goal. One foot in front of the other, one turn at a time, you’ll make it.

Look for life’s switchbacks, and appreciate them for what they are - an easier way to get up that hill.

Check out other lessons:

Lesson 2 - It’s Not About Money
Lesson 3 - You’re Probably Carrying More Than You Need To

Image Courtesy bzo

Spring is upon us, and if you’re like us, you’re itching to get in the first camping trip of the year. But before you load up the gear and head out into the wilderness, you might want to try a trip into the wilds of your backyard first.

Getting The Gear Together

It’s probably been a few months since your last camping trip, so the first thing you need to do is get all your gear together. For your backyard adventure, assemble all your gear as if you were heading out for a trip. Put together sleeping bags, tent, camp cook gear, that inflator for your air mattress - the whole kit and kaboodle. Get it all together in one place as if you were preparing to load it into your family vehicle.

Now take an inventory. List everything you have assembled. When you are done, you’ll have a checklist for the real trip. Now take everything outside and set-up camp. Remember the cardinal rules for setting up camp - Shelter first, then sustenance. Get the tent up then set up your outdoor kitchen. Finish setting up camp. Soon enough, you’ll start realizing that you’ve forgotten something.

Resist the urge to immediately run in the house to go get it. Instead, grab that list you were working on first, and add the forgotten items. Now go and find the stuff you forgot. Expect to make this trip a number of times. The useful part of this exercise is that you are building a complete list of the things you need for your trip so you can get the right gear together when you head out.

In the evening, if your backyard has the space and you have a good spot, you might want to try a campfire. Again, note if you have everything you need. That spatula for turning burgers? Put it on the list, then go get it out of the kitchen. If you aren’t working with a campfire, you still need to set-up your camp stove. Got everything? If not, add to your list. If at all possible, don’t go into the house for anything, except possibly for bathroom breaks.

While you’re out there, pay attention to a few things. First, what condition is your tent in? Does it have a funky stench, or does it smell clean? How about those sleeping bags - what condition are they in? Here’s one test you might try: Grab a garden watering can, fill it with water, and pour it over the roof of your tent. Then check inside for leaks. Did you remember to lay down a ground cloth? Did you tuck it under the tent properly? It’s better to find the problems with your tent now, when you can grab towels and fix things than out in the middle of a storm in the forest.

Wrapping It Up

When you’re ready to call it a weekend, start packing things up exactly as you would at the end of a real trip. Pretend you’re loading the van or can back up. This has two purposes. First, it ensures that you know how things have to fit back in the vehicle. Second, you can start identifying the items that can be kept together, and therefore ready for your next trip. As you put things away, try to keep like items together. Were there things you had trouble funding when you were making camp? Put your gear together in groups that are needed together. This will make things easier when you head out.

Backyard camping is a nice, easy way to get ready for those bigger trips later, and lets you shake out all the bugs before you head out for the real thing.

The Treepee

Looking for a new experience in camping? The Treepee may be just for you!

This ingenious new tent is designed to hang from overhead tree branches, and holds about 150kg (330 lbs.). You hang it from a sturdy tree, and four tiedowns let you tether the corners to keep it from swinging too wildly.

It comes with a bag and pulley system to keep gear suspended, and the windows are all bug-netted to give plenty of airflow.

It looks to be a lot like sleeping in a hammock, albeit a more roomy one. The gentle motion you would get in a slight breeze might be like napping in a boat. The one drawback we can see to it is the lack of space. That, and remembering you’re a couple feet off the ground when you step out.

If you’re interested, you can get one here for about $600. Oh, and it’s available in green, brown, and the ever popular pink.

Image Courtesy bgautrea

Our last camping trip was with friends, some of whom had not gone camping in a while, some who had never been camping. What they had in mind for camp food was items like underdone pancakes, runny eggs and burnt hot dogs. What they got was a bit different.

Planning Meals For Camping

The key to eating well while camping is planning. First, decide the kind of camping you’ll be doing. Family camping where you can load up the car or truck will provide you with many more options than if you are backpacking it in with a friend. Those who backpack in tend to have a different mindset about food in camp, so we’ll be focusing more on family camping. But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat well even if you do choose to throw it on your back.

For example, head down to your local camp gear store or find them online) and check out the variety. We did a quick search and found Grilled Chicken Breasts and Mashed Potatoes, Beef Stroganoff and Raspberry Crumble among the many foods designed for the backpacker. These items come in special foil pouches and require no more than some hot water. Pour the water into the pouch, wait a few minutes and you have a tasty treat. They require no pots or pans, just a vessel to heat the water. You can even find flameless cooking kits that let you warm the water without striking a match. These foods are based on the same freeze-dried concepts that have been used in the space program for years, but have come a long way in taste. And the small size of the packages allow you to pack a week’s worth of meals into a small space.

Back in the world of family camping, you can afford to plan more space-consuming meals. Before you pack your gear, sit down and take stock of who will be with you. Try to keep in mind what different campers likes and dislikes are, and start to plan your meals. As a rule, plan for two sit down meals a day (breakfast and dinner) and one on the go.

Keep your breakfast plans fairly simple. The last thing you want to do is spend an hour of your glorious mornings doing the camp dishes. But that doesn’t mean you have to skimp.

Breakfast

First ingredient to stick on your list: Bacon. There is nothing that smells - or tastes - better than sizzling bacon in the woods. Bacon is easy to store, easy to cook, and a surefire hit. Bacon does need to be kept cool, so make room for it in your food cooler. Also, save yourself hassle before you leave - repackage the bacon into a zippered plastic bag, making it easy to remove and cook. It’s also easier to reseal.

Next, some pancake mix, the kind that requires water only. And here’s another tip - repackage the mix as well into premeasured amounts. Look at the package and decide which batch size (number of pancakes) you’ll most likely cook. Then put that amount into a plastic bag. Take a 1-2 quart plastic container with you. When you’re ready to cook your pancakes, just drop the bag and the water into the container, close it up and start shaking. Quick and easy batter is made, and all you need is a griddle!

Eggs - There’s no need to resort to the powdered stuff! All you need for success is a way to keep your eggs fresh. There are two ways to achieve this - a cooler, or more frequent trips to the camp store. Either way, eggs scrambled, whole or in an omelette provide a variety of yummy ways to enjoy breakfast.

Wait - did I say omelette? Yup! Why stick to basic stuff? By taking along some additional ingredients, you can create some delicious breakfasts in no time. For example, avocados travel extremely well, as do many cheeses. Try bringing along some Swiss, then toss a slice of it  in as well as some bacon and a couple of slices of avocado, and you’ve got a tasty omelette. Or some American cheese for a classic omelette. Cookware? All you need is a non-stick pan and a silicone spatula.

Another favorite? French toast. Use the same bread you’d use for sandwiches, beat up some eggs, dip and toss on the griddle. Simple, tasty, and filling. For a special treat, toss on some jam (you can use it for sandwiches later), and they’ll be clamoring for more.

All of these are easily fixed on a camp stove in minutes and will get you on your way with a minimum of fuss. Looking for even less hassle? Package cold cereal into plastic bags, and you can easily have a quick breakfast. If you’re really feeling adventurous, put the cereal into smaller bags, and just add milk for a quick on-the-go breakfast.

Keep Warm

If the mornings will be cold, be sure to bring along hot chocolate mix. And don’t forget to bring along coffee for those who prefer it. Instant coffee works, but a little investment of $15-$20 will let you brew your favorite Starbucks grind a cup at a time. One-cup filters allow you to place a cup’s worth of coffee into the filter, drop it into a mug, and add hot water. Wait a few minutes and you’ll have a fresh steeped cup of Joe.

There’s no reason to skimp on breakfast just because you’re out in the woods. And with a little planning, you can do it with a minimum of ingredients and gear!

What’s your favorite camp breakfast?