Yeah, right.

I could probably write an entire book about all the things that have gone wrong on the car camping trips I have been on.  Seriously.  It’s ranged from running out of food to being run out of camp by skunks and coons.  Things CAN go wrong.  Things WILL go wrong.  Accepting that is half of the battle, being prepared for almost anything that can go wrong can be another story.

First and foremost rule is Do Not Overpack.  What fun is it in the trip if it takes two days to cram it all into the car, then another half day to set things up, followed by losing your entire last day taking it down?  That’s turning the entire camping experience into drudgery, and why go through all of that?  I’ve spent some camping trips where I started preparing the week before, slaving away every minute after work for the entire week…trying to be loaded and ready to go the minute I got done with work on Friday.  We arrived at our campsite late on Friday, hungry and tired, and now we have to set up camp.

As a single parent, I’ll give you one guess who the pack mule was who was now going to have to unload and set up camp.

It didn’t take long for me to learn a few ways to make it all easier.

When delegating chores to someone, especially kids, accept the fact that you are going to have to check that they actually did what you told them to.  Sometimes, this seems like more work than just doing it yourself, but don’t be tempted to give in.  Eventually, they will learn to pack their clothing properly, but hopefully it won’t be by not having any clean underwear on that week long camping trip…at least not when you are in charge!  Make lists, have them pack it, but then go through it.  It doesn’t matter if its neat–who really cares if they look like orphans on the camping trip?  That is their option…you just need to make sure that they have appropriate clothing for the season, activities, length of stay, and weather.  Every trip should include underwear, socks, short sleeve shirt, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, jeans, spare shoes, and a jacket.  Add a hat, shorts, swim suit, etc. as appropriate.

Don’t forget the hygiene kits.  This is where your soap, shampoo, wash cloth, towel, toothpaste, tooth brush, razor, and shaving cream are put.  Always pack all liquids sealed inside of a zip close bag–you will save yourself some aggravation over leaking containers.

Plan your meals, pack the food, and then…pack one extra day’s food in the box.  That is your “just-in-case” food because things can go wrong.  NEVER plan on eating fish you’ve caught, etc. because Mother Nature can be moody.  If you have packed shelf stable food, you are in business.  It won’t spoil before you use it, and you have options.  Make sure you have appropriate snacks too–outdoor activities and appetites go together.  If you are the chief cook and bottle washer, you might want to plan on quick and easy meals too.  After all, part of the fun of camping is that everyone enjoys it.

Pots and pans…for many of the car campers, we simply raid the kitchen for our camping kit.  That’s fine, but be a minimalist.  You don’t need your entire array of pots and pans along for a few simple meals.  One sauce pan, one fry pan, and one “soup pot” of the right size to cook pasta for your family are about it.  Add a spatula, a big spoon, a small mixing bowl and you should be ready to go even if you are planning on grilled pizza or pancakes at camp.

Stove versus cooking on the open fire…the open fire sounds great, but weather can be moody too.  It’s hard to cook over an open fire in the rain or snow, and I’ve been stuck with both and no stove.  Fire restrictions can go into effect too, eliminating the open fire entirely.  Simplest solution is an inexpensive single burner stove.  It works no matter what the weather delivers, and it’s a LOT easier to put out when the meal is cooked.  It also doesn’t leave burn scars on the ground for a decade or more, need firewood (just fuel you bought in preparation for the trip) or get smoke in your eyes when you are trying to scramble eggs.  Stoves also don’t put massive amounts of soot on your pots and pans, making clean up easier post-camping.

Don’t forget the dishes, but you also don’t want fine china.  Disposable is fine, but if  you are using the more durable kinds of dishes, make sure they are non-breakable.  Enamelware, plastic, melamine…whatever you like…and one cup, one bowl, and one plate per person, along with a fork and spoon.  Knives are optional, and if you carry a pocket knife (good idea to do so) then you are all set.

Then there is the clean up tasks.  Put in a pot scrubber, dish cloth, and dish soap.  Typically, I use the saucepan to heat the water and either the mixing bowl or skillet as the “dish pan.”  If this isn’t to your liking, bring along a plastic dishpan.  Include paper towels, wet wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and soap with your kit.  Even in a camp ground, having toilet paper along is a good idea.  For the clean up chores, it goes a LOT easier if everyone pitches in, but..that doesn’t always happen.  Making everyone wash their own dishes is a great idea and cuts the clean up time down dramatically, especially if you have color coded or otherwise distinguishable dishes so that everyone HAS to clean up their own dishes for the next meal, without any excuses.

With your tent, include spare tent pegs, spare tie down rope, a hammer, a stake puller, and a ground cloth.  I also add a tarp big enough to top the tent, mostly because I live in an area that rains a LOT and I’ve had rain flies suddenly fail.  That tarp has saved many a camping trip!  In fair weather, that tarp has been pressed into service as a shade as well.  Also make sure you have practiced setting up and taking down your tent at home, so are aware of any issues regarding doing it either alone or with family help.  It also gives you a place to figure out ways around problems, should they occur.  I once owned a tent that was impossible to keep the poles together without another adult’s help…so my solution, since my helper was a seven year old who was best used to keep her little brother out of trouble, was a roll of masking tape.  It held the poles together long enough for me to get the thing up, then peeled away without a problem.  Sometimes ingenuity gets you past these seemingly impossible problems.

Tables and chairs…are nice, but not essential.  Even so, I’d recommend that a chair or stool for each member of the family, even the smallest, is packed up for the trip.  It just makes hanging out together much nice and more democratic.  The tables can also be nice in undeveloped sites, but most developed campgrounds have a picnic table…complete with bird poop, bugs, spiders, fire ants, etc.  If you bring a table, make sure you have room for it, can set it up easily, and then fold it up again easily.  Nobody wants to struggle with their table.

So now you have the basics that you will need, except sleeping gear.  For years, we used bedding from home, avoiding the expense of sleeping bags, but I have discovered…it’s a LOT bulkier and harder to manage, both packing and in use in the tent.  One sleeping bag, one pillow, one sleeping pad per person  and  you should be ready to go.  It’s simpler, and summer sleeping bags don’t need to be heavy unless you are going to be camping in the mountains.  (It really does get cold there at night, even in midsummer.  I have seen snow the first week of August at high enough altitudes.)

So now you have your gear, it is all packed, including the clothing in duffle bags.  What else do you need?

Every camping mom’s friend…the garbage bag.  Get a box of big ones, and pack the entire box.  I know you are wondering why, but it is simple.  Every morning, before heading out into the world, especially if you are going to be away from the campsite for the day, put your bedding and clothing into garbage bags and use a twist tie to seal them.  This is just in case–more than once, I’ve come back to camp and discovered something had gone wrong when a surprise storm had blown in, and the tent was soaked inside.  If all of your bedding and clothing is wet, plus you got wet on the trail…you are miserable and there is no choice but to pack it up and head home before someone gets seriously chilled.  It also reduces problems from curious squirrels, etc., as well as someone being nosy and looking into your tent while you are gone.  Never leave valuables in your tent–always lock them up before leaving the area.  I have never had anything stolen, but I never leave anything in easy view to tempt anyone either.  These garbage bags can also hold all sorts of things, as well as become impromptu rain ponchos.

Don’t forget the car itself.  Make sure it is mechanically sound and you have the essentials such as a spare tire and jack along with you.  Carry water and oil, just in case you need it.  Check all the fluids, belts, and hoses.  It’s best to prepare for a camping trip just as if you were planning a cross country trip, and be aware and prepared for any potential problems.  Check the wiper blades too–it is hard to drive when it is pouring rain and your wipers are worn out!

So there you have it…the basics to make your car camping trip easier.  The biggest secret is to have enough without having too much.  The more you pack, the more you will have to UNPACK when you get home too!  With efficient planning, you can actually get it down to the point where as a single camper, it will fit in your trunk or back seat and not even require unpacking!  I used to keep my kit, except for my clothing bag and my food bag, permanently packed in my Jeep…only taking it out on the rare occasions that I was going to have more than one passenger ride along with me anywhere.  My compact kit was efficient, I could be ready to leave in about fifteen minutes, and I had everything I needed for my retreats into the wilds.  Since I typically dry camped, I also needed to carry a lot of water for myself, the dog, and all washing/cooking needs.  For this, a five gallon jug was more than enough for a weekend trip.  In summer, I would add a small cooler with ice as well.

With that said…have you planned where you are going camping this year yet?  I know I’ve started planning…I’ve got some trips coming up next month, as here in the South…things start really heating up in May, and from June through September, camping in our steamy woods is not very appealing to me.

That means we need to do our research so that we know which makes and models are going to fit our bill, before we even begin to “window shop” the long list of websites that promise us the lowest prices.  Certain items are always high on the average camper/hiker’s shopping list.

These must-have items are going to include things such as:

• backpack, either internal or external frame
• day pack
• waist pack or lumbar pack
• hiking staff/pole
• boots/shoes
• tent
• hammock
• stove
• water bottles/canteens
• mess kit/cook kit
• water purifier/filter
• freeze dried foods

Once you’ve assessed your current gear and determined what is in need of replacement or first time purchase, it’s a good start to ask your outdoorsy friends their favorite items in those categories.  That’s how I discovered Keen shoes and sandals, which I absolutely adore.  Your choices are also going to be influenced by your plans for the upcoming season.  In my case, I don’t have a backpacking trip on my agenda, so the purchase of a new backpack takes a much lower priority.  I’m also not going to be shopping for a backpacker’s tent, instead more interested in choosing an easy-to-set-up tent for car camping/base camp.  Our hiking and biking will be based on returning to that same campsite, with easy car access, and therefore convenience and comfort outweighs compact and weight.  We also have more group trips planned, and that makes me more likely to be interested in two burner stoves rather than replacing my MSR Whisperlight International.  I’m also not going to be shopping for compact mess kits for 2 or 4 people, because I already have a very usable kit of that size…and I’m more interested in things that work for 8-12 people.

Situations such as that makes the shopping very individualized.  I’m just in a different phase of camping than my days of trekking up and down canyons now, and tend to prefer the base camp with comfort over the trails.  Even with the differences in our objectives with our spring shopping, the techniques remain the same.

1. Decide what item(s) you want.
2. Decide which brand(s) you want.
3. Decide which model(s) you want.
4. Determine how much you can afford, readjusting your wanted item, brand and model accordingly, if necessary.
5. Make a list, and update it with prices and the URL for purchasing the item.  Do NOT forget to add shipping costs!  These can vary wildly.

Once all that is done, you can now start the window shopping and review reading.  With that said, here are the places that I have shopped and been happy with my shopping experiences.

• Ebay-this is the riskiest, and “bargains” are actually rare.  Often, the beginning bid price is higher than the same item is sold by other companies, such as Amazon and Overstock, in addition, some items are coming from foreign countries, take forever, etc.  Shipping costs can be insanely high as well–always add those in when comparing prices.
• Amazon.com–this is a stand by.  Their shipping is usually reasonable, and shipping time is also usually reasonable.  The company is reliable, and that is also important.  What I really love is their reviews–these can really help make a decision.
• Overstock.com–this is another stand by.  The problem here is that it may be in stock today, and gone tomorrow, and not restocked for weeks or months, if ever.  Restocked items may also see a price increase.  For outdoors equipment, there is usually a very limited selection.  The plus side is that shipping is always $2.95 or less, no matter what the item is or how many items you ship together.  The downside is that sometimes shipping hasn’t always been exactly quick, their descriptions are sometimes rather sparse, and there are fewer reviews of an item available on their site.
• Sportsman’s Guide–I’ve bought a number of things through the years through this company, and I’ve always been happy with their service and prices.  I know other people who have bought from them and had equally as positive experiences.  Shipping is fairly reasonable, and you can check the price of shipping before confirming your order.
• Zappos.com–this company specializes in shoes, and this is where I buy my Keens, when I can afford a new pair!  They have great prices, reasonable and super fast shipping, and a reputation for customer service that most companies only dream of.  They carry a number of brands and styles of hiking shoes and boots, for both women and men.  I love this company, and so does everyone else that I know that has shopped with them.
• Online Shoes.com–I haven’t shopped with them as much as I have with Zappos, but they have good service too.  I know several other people that have also purchased from Online Shoes.com, and they were pleased as well.  They usually have a slightly different mix of styles, so if what you are in search of isn’t at Zappos…they might have it here.  Price wise, they are usually very close to Zappos.
• Sierra Trading Post–This company specializes in close outs.  That means if you get it and like it, you probably won’t be able to get any more.  I’ve only made a couple of purchases through this company, and it’s been a decade or so since I last purchased from them.  Over the past few years, prices have been lower with companies such as Amazon and Overstock.  I also prefer to know that I can buy a second one if the first was excellent.
• Coleman Outlet–We all know Coleman.  I’ve gotten a few bargains from their outlet store on their website, including a weather resistant camera case for us to carry on the bicycle.  (Nobody wants their camera to be soaked if caught in downpour!)  Reasonable shipping rates make the cut prices in the outlet stay attractive.

Obviously, I’m not a huge consumer.  My budget just isn’t big enough to allow me to sample the wares at each and every store available online.  That means I have “window shopped” at a number of other stores, wishing and drooling on many occasions, and these stores may have what you are searching for.  I have not had the experience of shopping with them, so remember…buyer beware!  I personally hate any establishment that delivers poor customer service, but I have had no experience to base my opinion on with these companies.

Campmor–They carry a wide variety of items, and their prices & shipping seem competetive.

Cabela’s--This company carries a wide variety of items as well, mostly concentrating on car campers and hunters.  They do have a deluxe kitchen that I have been drooling over for the past year, as more and more often, I spend a lot of time in a base camp with a bunch of others.  Most people think their prices are a bit on the high side for most things.

Backcountry.com–Obviously, this company has a lot of backpacker’s gear, along with other items.

REI.com–Another standard, but I’ve never bought from them.  Many people swear by them.

Eastern Mountain Sports–This company carries a lot of winter sports gear along with some camping/hiking gear.

Bass Pro Shop–Once again, a wide range of gear & clothing, but this company has a reputation also for being a bit on the premium side for prices.  I’ve bought a few items in their brick & mortar store, but never bought online from them.

Altrec.com–This company is another general outdoors sporting goods supply, with everything from winter sports to water sports, including camping and hiking.

Cheaper Than Dirt.net–I know some people that swear by this company, but it’s not had much I was interested in.  Carries a lot of military surplus and shooting gear.

Gander Mountain–Another general outdoors store.

Alpine Camping Supply–All kinds of gear for camping.

Backcountry Gear–They’ve got a lot of gear specialized for the serious camper/backpacker.

GearX.com–lots of camping & winter sports gear.

Hudson Trail Outfitters–Another general outdoor shop with everything from winter sports to camping/hiking gear.

Nitro-Pak.com--this company specializes in preparedness and freeze dried foods–perfect for camping and backpacking.

Pack Lite Foods–Food for backpacking.  Never tried any of it, and don’t know anyone who has either.

Wilderness Dining--I guess it’s obvious from their name, they specialize in the food we eat when we’re out and about.  Never tried this company either.

LDP Camping Foods–They carry a variety of meals, from pouches to cans.

This isn’t a comprehensive list of each and every company in the United States selling via the internet.  It’s just a sampling of the kinds of websites you’ll see, and the products they carry.  When you know what you want specifically, put that item into the search engine–you’ll get much more specific web addresses than what I have listed here.

Don’t forget to read reviews, but don’t take each and every review as the absolute total truth either.  Not all reviewers are equal–some bought the wrong equipment or used it inappropriately to do the job, others are just never happy, while some people wouldn’t say a bad thing about anything if their life depended on it.  Use a grain of salt with your perusal of the reviews.  One bad review for ten good ones tells me it’s probably a pretty good product.  If nine mention a problem with the door or the floor or whatever…then there is an issue.

If you need help finding reviews, try both Amazon and Viewpoints, along with other retail sites that allow reviews.  If you are looking for reviews of a particular company, type in their name followed by the word “review” and see if you can find some then.  Be creative with your searches–sometimes a slight change of word order or using a synonym will allow you to find what you are looking for.

Then, after your purchase, don’t forget…do your part to help others with a review, both the company that you made the purchase with and the item that you purchased.  Share good and bad experiences–it helps others just like us make informed choices, rewarding companies that deliver the best, and avoiding those that fail.

And, if you are a company that I neglected to include, please don’t feel slighted.  The same for those who have a favorite that isn’t included.  This list really is not complete!  You could help me out by emailing me and telling me about the unlisted company at giascott  at exogenynetwork.com

Happy shopping, but most of all, happy camping!

This is the realm where the do-it-yourselfer has the crown.  It’s the realm of the do-it-yourself camp trailer.  This is something that really appeals to me, as we have some rather unique requirements for any trailer we’d consider building for part time travels.  I’d often said I would like a small trailer for a “kitchen trailer” with space for us to sleep when the weather was truly foul.  These days, it has an additional caveat–I want it to have air conditioning so that I can sleep when the weather is hot, as well as cool off when I become overheated during the day.  That’s a bit more than I wanted a couple of years ago before some health problems struck.  Ideally, we’d have a screen room with a waterproof roof that we could also put up, freeing us from the plague of mosquitoes and gnats that haunt the Gulf Coast most of the year, as well as giving us a rain proof place to sit and relax, as well as sheltering the entry door to the trailer.  That’s a tall order to put in, while expecting it to be easy to get in and out of, efficient, and easy to tow behind a mini-van.

The first type that comes to mind is the tear drop trailer, a proven design that provides a mobile kitchen that would adapt easily to feeding a crowd while remaining feasible for a couple as well as providing us with sleeping and cargo space, even if it is small.  What doesn’t it offer?  Bathroom facilities and a place to sit and work on our computers in foul weather, nor a place to enter/exit in foul weather without being forced to leave our shoes outside or bring the drippy things literally into our bed.  Even so, the design does bear further exploration.

Here’s one website that provides some ideas.  A pop up option would be a nice feature, especially on warm summer days, allowing the hot air to move upward (and hopefully, escape!)  In cold or foul weather, the pop up could be left down, leaving us somewhat stooped, but able to function…and the trailer easier to tow behind a mini-van.  With zipper or hook & loop closure windows in the canvas portion, it would be lightweight, flexible, weather resistant, and provide ventilation.

Inside, we need a very flexible but compact floor space.  We may be a devoted couple, but we are also realistic.  We both suffer from insomnia, just rarely at the same time.  That means that one of us may be awake and functional while the other one is sleeping, so our sole work space cannot be our sole sleeping space or there would be discord in our small abode.  In fair weather and daylight hours, it’s easy enough to just move outdoors, but when it’s nighttime or the weather isn’t so fine…it is impossible.  Granted, the one who is awake could get up, get dressed and trudge out to the van, sitting in solitude and reading or using the computer…but that’s not ideal either.  We already know that we find the traditional storage bench seat/table combination in most travel trailers to be uncomfortable, inflexible and a space hog.

A futon style fold or slide out bed would be a great space option, with folding chairs and compact tables such as used with laptops as our “tables” or a flip down table in convenient locations.  For our clothing, drawers under the “seat” portion of the bed would allow us to pull out and choose what we needed or put away things as needed.  A narrow shelf to hold an alarm clock and a cup holder (he’s notorious for spilling beverages perched precariously near the bed) would provide necessary space and secure that cup before it was knocked over.  A small counter would hold a coffee maker or the occasional slow cooker for winter time stews, beneath it would lurk a slide out shelf with the all-purpose scanner/printer that we’d need for any extended trip.  Below that would be another storage drawer, designed to hold coffee, filters, cups, creamer, sugar, and teas. The laptops would store in their cases, or on shelves overhead when we’re back and forth on them.  Extra bedding would be stowed behind the “back” of the futon when not in use.  With luck and good design, we’d have just enough room for a single captain’s chair in the cabin portion of the trailer, along with room for the “lovable loo” if necessary, storing it outside during our stay.  Obviously, cooking and cleaning are not high on the agenda for cabin activities.  Heat would be provided via a small electric heater and air conditioning from a small window unit mounted on the front of the trailer and venting over the sleeping area.

Outside, the kitchen would have storage for five gallons of water, with a rack to hold it on site to provide gravity feed water pressure to a simple sink designed to drain into a five gallon bucket for disposal.  For extended “dry” camps, extra water would have to be carried in the van or cabin.  Because our intention is to utilize campgrounds primarily, the refrigerator would be a typical “dorm size” 110 volt refrigerator, with a back up system of a cooler stored in the van if needed.  A standard fluorescent fixture would be mounted in the hatch of the rear kitchen to allow for night food preparation.  Other lights, also 110 volt, would be mounted to allow for visibility around the trailer while in campsites.

Oh the ideas that began floating through my head…

But the reality is, we have to start somewhere.  The base trailer is the foundation on which everything must stand, and I already know…this trailer I’m envisioning is 10 or 12 feet long and about 6 feet high before it’s even popped up.  It’s going to be tough to keep it under the target weight too, and that can’t be left to chance.

So the next step is obviously more research.  For all I know at this point, it may cost us more to build what we want than it would to go buy what we can and have it modified to suit us.

Our next stop was another website with more information and…plans.  Something concrete to look at that we don’t have to figure out for ourselves from scratch.  It also made me think more about scaling back the luxury qualities and maxing the economy and portability of our plans with their “Weekender” trailer that can be built in a weekend…and is suited as a “bug out” trailer in case of an emergency.  Living in hurricane country, bug out trailers sound like a mighty fine idea, although having air conditioning is nearly essential for anyone in that scenario.  Having evacuated for Katrina, the uncertainty of a serious hurricane is bad enough without compounding it with serious physical discomfort.  I really LIKE his concept and article which are found here.

We’re a long ways from going to the lumberyard, we don’t even have a cargo trailer to base it on yet, but I’m sure its feasible.  It’s time to seriously look into the project.  What could be better than getting out and enjoying yourself and still having a comfortable, warm (or cool) bed to sleep in at the end of the day?  I wonder too, if we can figure out how to put a couple of small dog crates in the trailer for our smaller family members to have their own beds, safe and comfy, with us.

Great ideas!  Do you have any?

Even so, that’s what we’re going to be doing with our MeetUp group this coming weekend.  We’ve planned a “hobo camp” in one of our members spacious and heavily wooded back yards.  So what IS this hobo camp affair?

It’s a chance to try out your ultra light gear.  Granted, you aren’t going to be packing it for miles first, but long before it’s packed anywhere, you need to know it’s going to work for you.  Just because that famous survivalist guy can get by for a week in the wilderness with just his trusty knife, bare feet, and some string doesn’t mean that you are going to be able to…or that you’d enjoy doing it that way.  (Besides, he has a camera crew, right?)   This hobo camp means you have a chance to set it up and actually use it, getting a better idea of how well it will work in practice.

If you are into survival, here’s a chance to try out your survival camping gear.  It’s one thing to have your backpack with your tarp and garbage bag, but…will it work in practice?  Do you know how to actually set it up in a random location in the woods?  How comfortable will you really be?

How about stealth camping?  Many people do this each and every day, setting up camp out of sight and out of mind, with the goal of leaving no trace of their overnight stay.  It’s kind of scary to think about doing this, but for many people, especially cyclists, this is a very real practice.  When it’s time to sleep, you may be far short of your goal of a campground.  In addition, more self-supported distance cyclists are being forced to cut corners, staying in fewer campgrounds and motels, and doing more stealth camping to allow them to continue enjoying their hobby.  If you’ve never done it, but have thought about it, this is a good chance to try it out in a safe environment.

Then, if you aren’t into any of these things, but just enjoy the outdoors and socializing with others, this is a fun activity.  You can pitch your tent…or simply drive home at the end of the evening.  Part of the whole experience is “pretending” and role playing, as though none of us had a home to return to.  We will even be cooking a pot of “hobo stew” with whatever we have to contribute to the pot, not unlike our “stone soup social” a few weeks ago.  (These communal pots of soup/stew are actually really tasty too!)

While play acting to be “hobos” may sound rather silly at first, it isn’t as silly as it could be.  Part of being prepared for anything is being able to adapt to nearly any situation.  During an emergency, it’s entirely possible that a group of people who didn’t know each other well would find themselves coming together for mutual support and safety.  By this play acting, we are actually practicing the same skills that would be required in that kind of situation: knowing how to take care of ourselves, get along with others, cooperate with others, and being able to stay comfortable doing it.

It’s a great activity for any loosely organized (or well organized) group as well.  Many emergency preparedness groups don’t have many overnight events, and yet, in an emergency such as a hurricane, earthquake, etc., our homes may be uninhabitable and our supplies minimal.  Emergency response teams are notorious for not arriving soon enough, often requiring survivors to make the best of the situation for days or weeks.  During this time period, everyone has to make the best of the situation.

Knowing how to set up an emergency shelter is one thing, but knowing what its like to actually sleep in one is another.  This is an important skill as well, especially for families with children, as the uncertainty and unknown is often terrifying to children.  By practicing when it’s just a game, it takes away the terror and turns it all into a grand adventure instead, preparing them to face situations like this in their own futures.

It’s just as important for adults.  In order to project a calm and prepared facade, we need to know what we are doing and what can be logically expected.  It doesn’t do any good to know how to make a shelter from palmetto fronds, saplings, a garbage bag, and some leaves if you need a full day to do it in, and both an oncoming storm and the setting sun aren’t going to give you enough time.

Backyard adventures such as this make the drill of practice into something fun and actually adventurous.  In addition, if mistakes are made, it isn’t a life or death situation.  There is always the safety net of knowing that you can get in your car and be home in a few minutes.  In terms of emergency preparedness, it may seem a baby step towards becoming the one who knows how to handle themselves in an emergency, but baby steps can be fitted together to cover many miles.  It doesn’t hurt when these small steps are turned into a fun and social event either!

There is also the option of practicing other skills such as fire starting, wild food foraging, geocache, snares, etc. while having your hobo adventure too, adding more skill sets to your list of accomplishments.  Unlike a Boy Scout, we don’t get badges for achieving our goals along the way, but we do have the satisfaction of knowing how to do something new and useful for survival.  For those of us with spouses who aren’t as thrilled with practicing survival skills as we like, we can often coax their participation with the more social aspects too.  After all, who can resist a cup of hot coffee and a chance to roast marshmallows with the others around a communal camp fire?

So what IS being prepared?

It’s about being ready for a “rainy day.”  Whether its an epidemic and quarantine, a lay off from your job, sudden economic problems, riots in the urban centers, martial law, military invasion, severe storms, earthquakes, the arrival of your no-good brother-in-law with your sister and their six kids after being evicted from their home, or an invasion of Martians…being prepared can help you cope.

More than guns, that means being prepared to cope with extra mouths to feed, house and clothe unexpectedly, it means being capable of feeding yourself and your family, even if the grocery store is closed for weeks or months on end.  It means being able to get around in your own local area to collect, trade, barter, or sell items to your neighbors for other necessities.

That starts with food and water.  Clean water and food are a necessity.  For those who believe in being prepared, that often means not only a well stocked pantry, but also long term storage foods.  These are dried or freeze dried foods that have been specially packaged to keep them fresh and edible for years, usually over 5 years as a shelf life.  It also includes gardening, and even growing your own seed stock from heirloom varieties.   Of course, that means not only fresh vegetables, but vegetables to dry, can or freeze for later use.

“Preppies”, as they are often called, are not nutcases waiting for the next alien invasion or nuclear holocaust.  They aren’t plotting anarchy either.  Most of what they do was once considered standard practice for any country family–being self reliant.  It also means establishing a community of sorts with other “preppies” for exchange of information, bartering, sharing of skills, etc.

Also contrary to the popular myth of a “survivalist”, they are not uneducated country bumpkins who took one too many knocks to the head and are barricading themselves in their house/property.  These people come from all walks of life, all kinds of backgrounds, have a wide variety of political stances, and may even have once-upon-a-time been one of those “dirty liberal communist hippy” sorts.

Today, the preppie is apt to be fairly well educated, concerned about the environment, interested in self reliance, etc.  They may own a business, be the one pressing that stethoscope to your chest, be notarizing your legal documents, or processing your bank deposit.  It might be that beautifully landscaped yard next door too.  You might know them from PTA or church or the local civic organization.

I’m one of them.  Are you?

I strongly advocate people being self reliant and not waiting for some knight in shining armor to come sailing their way to save the day.  I live on the coast, in hurricane country.  I can’t swim, and I don’t like hanging out with snakes and alligators.  Each time a storm moves into the Gulf of Mexico, it’s my responsibility to assess the situation and ascertain whether I need to move inland for a while.  I need to be prepared to do this, each and every day of the year, regardless of the storm season being designated as June 1-November 30.  I don’t expect emergency services personnel to come save me when the water is twenty feet deep and I’m sitting on the roof.  I knew three days ago that a storm was on its way.  If I choose to stay, I need to be prepared to cope with whatever that storm delivers.  I have never stayed when there was a direct hit within 100 miles of me–I don’t know what it is like to endure the storm.  I don’t want to either.   I’m not prepared to deal with storm surges the likes of which have hit the coast in the past, and I’m within a mile of open water.

When I lived in the West, in high country down a dirt road that no snow plow was ever going to travel, I didn’t often have to deal with snow.  Occasionally, it would come though, and there were a few occasions where the neighbors all took their turns driving the dirt road to pack the snow down and keep it passable.  We also had the risk of a power outage in weather like that, along with the telephones.  Each time snow was predicted, extra supplies were brought home…just in case.  We also had a well stocked pantry and freezer.  There was even a horse in the back yard that could have floundered her way through belly deep snow, if it had been necessary.  We had candles, a wood stove, gas stove, extra food, firewood, gasoline, and we were prepared in case the storm turned out to be worse than they had expected.  It never was, but we got prepared each and every year, just in case.

One year, it was the measles that kept me locked up inside at home.  I was exposed, along with my kids, and despite getting a booster vaccination and having a lifetime of vaccinations for the measles, I was the one who got sick.  Even though it was considered a “mild” case, I was very sick for the full two weeks I was confined at home.  In addition, I was not to go anywhere, to avoid spreading the already rampant virus any further.  Being prepared for the unexpected meant that there were no frantic calls for groceries.  We could get by, quite comfortably, although cooking wasn’t something I was often up to doing, there was still plenty of easy-to-prepare food in the house for my pre-teen daughter to help me prepare.

That pantry has saved me when unemployed, when a major repair had to be done to our transportation vehicle, or when other economic disasters have struck.  It’s fed family and friends when I had unexpected guests, sometimes for longer than I expected too.  It’s filled food boxes for friends that have hit on hard times as well, all without requiring a trip to the store to help them over the hump of being broke.  It’s part of being prepared.

So the next time you are looking at your pantry and thinking about the future…remember these rules.

1. All families should have a minimum of 7 days food in the house.
2. All families should have a minimum goal of 90 days food in the house.
3. Families who have the financial ability to do so should have a full twelve month supply of long term storage food in the house.
4. A water filtration/purification system should be in the house, capable of supplying a minimum of 1 gallon per day per person for at least one full week.
5. Water storage containers should be in the house, capable of storing at least one gallon per person per day for at least seven days.  This allows you to fill them before disasters such as storms occur.
6. Flashlights (1 per person), lanterns (1 for the family) and an alternative cook stove should also be part of your emergency kit, along with fresh batteries for the flashlights, and fuel for the lantern and stove for at least a full week.
7. Your car should be kept well maintained, oil changed, and with at least half a tank of fuel at all times to allow for a quick exit in case of an emergency.  Gas stations are often shut down or swarmed with customers in those situations.
8. Have an emergency backpack with clothing, easy-to-eat food, a canteen/water bottle, blanket, shelter (tarp), rope, medicines, toys (for the kids) etc. ready to go.  Keep them in a regular location and make sure everyone knows where theirs is at.
9. Start practicing self reliance.  Garden, camp, hike, bike, hunt…whatever suits your lifestyle and skills best.
10. Create a community of other preppies in  your local area.  Share knowledge and skills.
11. Encourage everyone to be pro-active about their own preparations.
12. Most of all, think, plan, and have fun doing it!

http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=606&t=17742

They are also hosting some giveaways.  From their website, here’s what they have:

We have Several Prizes to Give Away!!
1) Flash Lantern. Valued at $49.95 This lantern will turn a flashlight into a bright lantern
http://www.bogdenoutdoorequipment.com/d/

2) Quick Stove from Quick Stovehttp://store.tomorrowsharvest.com/quick-stove.html super awesome, portable stove, they are the same size in diameter as a coffee can, but they are not as tall, only about a 1/3 the height.

3) Preparedness Principles from Barbara Salsbury http://store.preppersnetwork.com/preparedness-principles.html This is THE MOST NEEDED BOOK IN FAMILY PREPAREDNESS, rather than an entertaining novel or a book about how to eat rattlesnakes, this is a book about everything to live PRACTICAL PREPAREDNESS, it is a huge volume of how-to’s from building patio gardens with lumber from home depot, to canning, cooking with freeze dried ingredients

4) Freeze Dried Cinnamon Apples from Tomorrow’s Harvest http://store.preppersnetwork.com/sliced-apple-cinnamon.html These are THE MOST POPULAR freeze dried fruit in the industry. Taking real apples from the orchard, sprinkling real cinnamon with a touch of sugar enables families to cook home-made apple cinnamon pies or just eat them right out of the can as a delicious, healthy snack.

4) (2 copies available to giveaway) Handbook To Practical Disaster Preparedness – By Authur Bradly Ph.D. Autograhped by the Author, this 2nd edition book covers all 14 Basic Needs. Food, Water, Shelter, Light, Electrical Power, Heating/Cooling, Air, Sleep, Hygiene/Sanitation, Medical/First Aid, Communication, Financial Preparedness, Transportation, Protection

5) (5 Copies to giveaway) Bill and Janet’s book: It’s a Disaster and What are you gonna do about it.
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=3555547
This is the official Disaster Preparedness Manual for the APN and a must have for every prepper. It covers all of the major types of disasters and many more and provides, tips and information on how to mitigate the disasters.

To find out how to get in on this little contest, head over to their website.

Good luck!

Now, keep in mind, I’m NOT a hammock camping expert, but rather a car camping “expert” after years of doing it, with and without kids, in groups, and solitary as well.  I was curious about the whole concept though, and began doing more research.  It didn’t hurt that we had some new fans of the method within our own little camping club that were doing more than just reading and researching the idea–they were experimenting with it too.

First of all, not all hammocks are created equally.  For comfort, weight and volume, you’ll want a “parachute silk” hammock, which is actually made out of a type of non-waterproof (breathable) nylon.  You can make your own or buy one pre-manufactured.  ENO is probably the best known brand, although I was told they have a reputation for using rope and webbing that tends to stretch.  ENO has a lot of accessories too.  Hennessy, Grand Trunk, and Speer are other companies that are well known, and there are numerous others.

That’s the hammock, next comes the method of hanging it from the trees.  It’s a lot more complicated than just grabbing some rope from the dollar store too.  Some methods use webbing, some use a specific type of cord, some hammocks come with a method, and some don’t.  Some use carabiners, some use figure 9 carabiners, and some don’t.  There are commercially produced methods, and do it yourself methods, and they often overlap considerably.

Then, there’s the tarp or hammock tent.  Some hammocks have like an attached tent, creating a cocoon for the sleeping occupant.  Others are separate accessories, some are sold as “kits” with the hammock.  You can also make your own from waterproof sil-nylon or treated ripstop nylon.  The commercially available tarps are not created equally either.  One purchase by a friend was a complete surprise to him when he got it home and opened it up.  Instead of measuring the tarp in the normal manner (length x width) it was measured diagonally, with the normal measurements in the fine print.  (It was a Cabela’s purchase.)  So…the tarp he THOUGHT was a ten foot tarp turned out to measure ten feet diagonally, effectively making the tarp so small that it was not good for anything other than a ground cloth beneath a tent or a lightweight shade.  (It’s like 4×5 or something equally ridiculous.)  For the do-it-yourself crowd, there is a lot of options available in terms of directions and options when you sew your fabric into your new magical shelter for your tarp.

Then, above your hammock, there is a line that is used to hang things from, ranging from your mosquito netting to protect you from their attacks to a pouch to hold your glasses and cell phone.  This too has an amazing number of variations in what it is made from and its exact purpose.

Another surprise to me was how low a hammock is traditionally hung.  For some reason, I had always mentally pictured them about waist high.  In reality, the low sag point shouldn’t be more than about 18″ above the ground, effectively cradling you about as high as a cot would have you.  This is for safety (the higher you are, the harder you fall) and ease of getting in and out.  Too high and getting in and out requires a lot of agility and dexterity that older campers are not likely to be thrilled with.  Too low and your butt is dragging the ground.

The same is also true of your tarp over the hammock.  It shouldn’t be too high above the hammock or you won’t be protected from rain or wind.  Too low and you can’t get in or out, and it’s touching your arms or feet.  Don’t forget the drip line either, or you’ll soon be channeling water right down to your hammock.  (The drip line is a piece of cord allowed to dangle between the hammock/tarp and the tree, channeling the water down it, rather than allowing it to continue towards the hammock or tarp.)

For cold weather hammock camping, there is also specialized gear, such as the “under quilt” used beneath the hammock to insulate you from the cold air surrounding you.  Inside the hammock, a traditional sleeping pad is used for additional insulation.  Hammock campers are capable of sleeping comfortably, when well prepared, in sub-zero temperatures.

My impression is that hammock camping is a great idea, especially for kayakers, cyclists, and backpackers.  It’s ultra light, gets you off the ground, and takes little room in your pack.  If you are intending on doing any stealth camping, it’s also a great idea, as it has a small footprint and once packed up, there is no sign of anyone having slept there.  For campers who find sleeping on the ground unappealing, it’s got great appeal too.  But…no matter how large the hammock is, two adults can rarely actually sleep together in one, making it unappealing to honeymooners and for romantic getaways.

Cost wise, it compares well with the traditional ultra light gear.  Even as expensive as the hammocks and tarps seem initially, when compared to a traditional backpacker’s tent, it’s not that expensive.  It also allows the camper to stay in areas that are too rough, too rocky, and too steep for easy tent use.

The downside?  Some parks don’t allow attaching anything, even temporarily, to trees.  Some parks and regions are largely treeless as well, making hammock camping in those areas difficult if not impossible.  For families, it might be a bit more complex, as everyone is in their own hammock, attached to their own trees.

I think it’s something worth trying out, even though I’m primarily a die hard car camper.  My other half?  He’s a bit more suspicious of hammock sleeping.  We’ll see!

That meant one thing.

When you are dissatisfied with commercial offerings, you have to do it yourself.

Now I’m far from a bad cook, and I’m a pretty good camp cook too, especially from the car camping/base camp outlook.  Most of our camping is done in that manner, we pitch a camp near where we can park the van/truck/car, and work our way out from that, taking short day hikes, sightseeing, and sometimes just hanging out right near camp.  At the same time, there are times when you want a lightweight, compact, palatable meal that requires nothing more complex than adding hot water.  For those with an interest in survival training, this becomes even more important.

I’m actually surprised at the narrow field of offerings from commercial producers of backpacker’s food, such as Mountain House.  So many things are nearly a natural in the field, and yet they aren’t even on the list of potential meals.  I’m not sure why, unless they are unpalatable after dehydrating and rehydrating, too fussy for dehydrating and packaging, or maybe…just plain never thought of.

Certain things are regional favorites.  Others are comfort foods that may have limited appeal.  Some things may have a narrower field of appeal because of their nature as catering to a specialized diet.  In addition, someone who is on a serious backpacking trip may need a large amount of calories, while someone who is in a more sedentary mode may prefer a much more modest calorie count in their meal.  In either case, the meals should not leave the diner feeling hungry or nauseous from the meal.

I obviously needed some inspiration on what would…and would not…work for creating do-it-yourself backpack meals.  I had the best equipment in the world for doing it–a vacuum sealer and a good quality dehydrator.  I know where to order those little silica packs to ensure that the moisture level stayed low, as well as the oxygen gobbling ones.  I can cook, and I can easily prepare some sample meals to know whether the new recipe is a keeper or a lets-feed-the-dog meal.

And…while I was at it, I could do some research on preparing some dehydrated meals for the dogs that were packed with calories and more compact than the traditional bulky kibble.

I was on a roll…and now it was time to go shopping for that known source of inspiration….cookbooks!

I needed recipes for human and canine dehydrated meals, as well as basic dehydration information for the ingredients.  I started off with a search on Ebay.  That’s when the first surprise struck me.

Most cookbooks and reference books on this topic are MORE expensive on Ebay than with Amazon, and yet I’m going to be buying often used copies on Ebay.  Obviously, double checking prices was a no brainer after repeated examples were found of this pricing issue.  I have consistently found, that if it is in stock, both Amazon.com and Overstock are going to beat the Ebay prices, while delivering a new copy of the book as well.

Each of the online stores has their advantages though.  On Ebay, I may often find out-of-print books at a fairly reasonable rate.  On Amazon, I often will get free shipping on books, if I meet the minimum order requirement of $25.   They also will offer a Kindle version, which I can have delivered free to my Android phone or pc, since I don’t own a Kindle.   On Overstock, they typically will match Amazon’s prices, and their shipping is always $2.95.

Did I find some likely candidates to start drooling over?  Of course!

Do you want to know which ones they were?  I’ll lay odds if you have read this article, you are just like me, searching for good reference material on the topic.  It isn’t cheap, and if you check with your local library, you can often read the book free, before you actually buy it.  Amazon often lets you read a portion of the book free too.

To make it easy for you, I have set up the books I regard as likely on our website.  It’s at the top of the page on the right hand side.

Enjoy!

For most of the country, “economic recovery” is a statement we hear on the television…but don’t see in our bank accounts.  New gear may not be on a lot of people’s shopping list right now, especially on the heels of the holidays.  That’s our case, we have tents prone to leaking, primarily from age, and repeated applications of waterproofing spray hasn’t seemed to solve their problems.  In addition, there is more wear and tear from age and use, despite our usual care with our gear.

The most expensive items in most people’s camping gear list will be their tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks (if they use one.)  Those are the places that cutting corners isn’t always wise, but we all balance our dollars against quality.  Unfortunately for us, the quality hasn’t lasted long enough for the dollars to build up in the “gear fund” though!

We have a number of tents, but we have a couple of “favorites”.  One favorite is a Coleman “Red Canyon” tent that is absolutely massive by our standards.  We don’t always use it–it’s a pain to have a site big enough to accomodate it and we just don’t need that kind of space on all trips.  It also takes 30-45 minutes to just get it set up.  Add in several holes in the floor which I have meant to patch…and forgotten, the fact that we’re having consistent problem with moisture migrating up through the floor even when it was undamaged, and a leaking rain fly…and it hasn’t been a favorite.  In summer, there is not enough ventilation, in winter there is too much.  There aren’t enough close-able windows, and not enough of an overhang over the door to allow easy exit/entry without bringing the rain with us either.  Even with those complaints, we basically like the tent.  It is also a massive thing before it is set up, and for family peace, we long ago gave up on the tent bag and bought a huge duffel bag to hold the tent and fly, keeping the tent poles and stakes in the original bag.  There is something about rolling up a tent that not everyone is into…and the duffel bag may be bulky, but not nearly as much of a problem as an argument resulting from trying to fit it back into the bag!

Measuring something like 17′x8′ with enough headroom for a 6′ tall man to comfortably stand in the center, we use this tent when we’re anticipating foul weather, despite its issues.  The leaks are planned for with some extra towels and a spare tarp, we’re extra careful with the ground cloth (we use two small tarps overlapped in the center) to ensure that the floor stays fairly dry.  We roll up our bedding during the day to prevent it from drawing moisture and to keep the tent floor as dry as possible.  It’s big enough that when we’re doing a semi-working weekend in a campground, we can set up a table inside and work on our computers easily, or we can actually cook right inside the tent in foul weather if we so choose.  (We ONLY do this in very “civilized” campgrounds where we are unlikely to attract a large predator.  The small ones are usually deterred by the fact that we have three dogs in the tent with us.)  It’s also great with a group–we can gather together inside of the tent in foul weather.  Sometimes we’ll actually use this tent as a gathering place and sleep in our other favorite tent.

The other favorite is a “First Up” tent that measures roughly 10×10, with a more octagon footprint.  It’s another car-camping type tent and I love it because it is incredibly fast to set up–it literally can be set up by one person without hurrying in about 10-15 minutes from ground cloth to rain fly, stakes and all.  I bought it on clearance somewhere for about $30, as a discontinued model, and I have regretted not purchasing two that day ever since.  It has been a fantastic tent, and it is now 4-5 yrs old.  I bought it while I was still single, and it was massive then, with only one person and two dogs!  We recently used it on our “honeymoon” camping trip, discovered that the rainfly waterproofing had not been successful (nothing like waking up with it raining inside the tent in very cold weather, is there?) and resorted to using a tarp over the top of the tent to quickly solve the leaking problem without much ado.  It was big enough for a queen sized bed, two dog crates, a table, and two chairs…just not at the same time.  The bed had to be folded back to spare it from wet feet and wet dogs, and the dog crates only fit under the table.  Thank goodness the big dog didn’t need a crate (although we wondered about that when she opened the tent zipper to go exploring one night–she’s 10 yrs old and that was a first time event with all of the camping trips she’s been on.)

Making do is what we all have to do sometimes.  Our gear and our budgets aren’t always on speaking terms with each other, and we’re forced to postpone replacing expensive gear.  So what do we do about tents that are past their prime?

Rain flies begin to leak, despite water proofing properly.  Ultra violet ray deterioration, wear and tear, age, and micro-holes caused by everything from pine needles to sparks from a campfire can cause the leaks.  Nothing short of replacing it is going to restore it, and while it is theoretically possible to replace just the rain fly, sometimes it’s harder than you thought to buy a replacement, or it costs more than the tent did originally.  A quick fix that’s budget wise?  A simple, inexpensive tarp.  Usually a 6×8′ tarp is all that is needed, or possibly a 9×10 or 9×12 tarp.  The infamous blue tarps from the dollar stores can work–just be aware, they are noisy in wind!  Tarps are also a pain to fasten down, but they are very versatile too.  In clear weather, that tarp can become a shade too.  Summers, we often camp beneath a tarp to catch the breezes and yet keep the dew off, if the mosquitoes aren’t on the prowl.

Patching tent walls and floors can help a lot too.  Minor rips and tears can simply have the adhesive rip-stop nylon patches applied.  I prefer to patch floors with a piece of tarp and silicone glue.  It’s waterproof, flexible, and durable.  The glue can also restore seams taht are thinking about giving up the ghost on floors too, allowing me an additional season or two out of a worn tent.  Torn no see um mesh can be re-woven with a careful hand and needle and thread.  Raveling seams can be stitched back.  The one place that nothing seems to fix is a seriously damaged zipper.  I have never tackled the job, and after getting a quote to have one replaced, I replaced the tent–it was cheaper.

Sleeping bags are another area that we all make do.  I had started off with a sleeping bag rated to 10 degrees F.  Over the years, the sleeping bag lost its warmth, until finally, about three years ago, I received a replacement as a much appreciated gift.  I happen to prefer spacious rectangular bags, as I am claustrophobic and can’t stand to feel confined while sleeping.  Mummy bags and me aren’t going to work together, and I often can’t even stand to zip the bag up, at least beyond the knee.  I like to feel as though I can be out in any direction quickly, and the closer confining bags definitely don’t give me that feeling.  So when our sleeping bags aren’t as warm as they used to be, what can we do?

First and foremost, add a pad underneath, and a second pad if you are already using one.  I happen to prefer closed cell foam pads because of their no-fail nature and durability.  High tech pads are great, until something goes wrong…like a mouse or chipmunk decides to taste it. For car camping, the increased bulk is negligible, and for the far lower cost, closed cell is pretty good.  Using it under a self inflating pad doubles your insulation and comfort, as well as gives you a definite no-fail layer to count on too.

Second, add a micro fleece lining to your sleeping  bag.  You don’t need to go buy anything fancy, just go to any fabric store and buy 4-5 yards of whichever color micro-fleece suits your fancy.  Buy the heavier fleece and one that feels good–it’s your next-to-the-skin layer.  (Buy 2-3 yards for a kid, and they have plenty of patterns to make one short camper very happy too, without spending extra money.)  Next stop in the baby section of any discount store, and buy yourself about six diaper pins.  This is your no-sew solution.  Fold the fleece by putting the cut ends together.  Along one selvage edge, use about 4 pins to secure the two sides together.  Use one more pin to secure the selvage edge together about 8-12 inches from the bottom.  That creates the “foot” area.  Your remaining pin can be placed anywhere it suits you to keep the fleece around your body inside of the bag.  To wash your improvised liner, just remove the diaper pins, toss it in the washer, and wash it with regular laundry soap–no mega industrial sized washer needed.  It helps keep your sleeping bag cleaner as well, reducing the wear and tear from laundering.  Your low budget liner adds little bulk or weight to your average camping kit too, and will certainly cost far less than buying an expensive liner.  If you sew, you may want to sew on velcro tabs to secure the sides together, or even stitch the off side seam entirely.

Another important thing to remember is to NOT store sleeping bags in a compressed state.  The best storage would actually be hanging them but that’s not practical for most people.  Storing them loosely rolled in a breathable container (not plastic) is a good alternative.  I have some mega-duffel bags to store ours in, saving them from dust and grime, and making them easy to load up on our next adventure.  (Coleman’s 42 inch duffel bag will hold 3 average sleeping bags.)

With backpacks, little seems to actually go wrong except serious rips involving stress points.  These require patching and that means someone who can sew–there are no no-sew solutions that I’m aware of.  Keeping the packs clean and dry helps, but it’s inevitable that sooner or later, you’ll get caught in a rainstorm with one or fall down a slippery and muddy slope.  Drying  and surface cleaning of your backpack as soon as practical is important, as is storing it in a clean, dry area rather than in the back of a leaky shed is very important to prolong its life.  It is also important to buy sturdy, well made equipment, regardless of the brand name attached to it.  Not overloading your backpack and stressing seams is also important.  Never seal gear inside of plastic containers for storage–the containers can’t breathe and the result is often mildew or rot.  Store them out of the sunlight as well, ultra violet rays wreak havoc on fabrics of all kinds.

Taking good care of our gear, learning out to eke out a few more trips when gear is showing its age, and shopping wisely can be excellent ways to start off the new year.  So where do you shop when you can’t spend a lot and gear needs replaced.

Ebay isn’t the bargain basement it once was, but that doesn’t mean that bargains can’t be found there.  I just haven’t been so lucky as to find them in the past year.  In past years, I’ve bought considerable amounts of camping gear for myself and others via that auction portal.  These days, I often find better prices elsewhere.  Don’t forget brick and mortar stores either–even when we’re pinching our pennies until they are blue, we can still find bargains there.  Sales and clearance racks are often a source, as are display models.  Know any store’s return policies though–if the item is defective, you need to recoup your money as quickly as possible..

My favorites?  There is the obvious with Amazon and Overstock, but surprisingly–www.beprepared.com has servicable backpacks at reasonable prices (They are primarily a long term storage food supply company out of Utah.)  These aren’t backpacks I’d recommend for someone on an expedition to South America or Mt. Everist, but for the average weekend warrior, scout, and car camper, they have an excellent balance of quality versus price.  We have two that we keep loaded (and bouncing around in) our van for emergencies, and wear on occasion for shorter hikes.  They are reasonably well made and the price is still reasonable despite inflation.  After three years, they are still just fine.  Their current prices have three models, ranging from $25.95 to $40.95 and are all internal frame packs.    Sportsman’s Guide is another reputable company that often has backpacks on sale.

With that, get ready, get your gear out, and start dreaming of fair weather adventures (if you live in snow country) or just get ready and GO if you don’t.  Winter can be a fantastic time to camp in the South, free of the insects and snakes that plague us often, as well as the summer’s heat.

One of my most fond memories is that of fishing for rainbow trout on a cold fall/spring/winter morning at some river or stream.  Since rainbow trout like cold water, you can bet the air is none too warm in the morning, no matter what the season.  Cold air and remote locations nearly beg for a campfire, and if you have camped nearby, it’s almost a given that one will be burning, if nothing else to make the coffee to kickstart your early morning fishing.

With hook and bait or a lure, the line is cast into the water, and the game begins.  If the conditions are right, it was a given that I’d get lucky pretty soon with a pan sized trout on the end of the line, fighting for its life.  The end result would usually be a nice fish in my hands.

On the skillet, a piece of bacon would usually be used to grease the pan…and it would be sizzling and scenting the air while the trout was gutted.  With a quick rinse in the same water it had lived in, the fish would soon join that slice of bacon, cooking for a couple of minutes on each side, just until it was done.  There was no fancy breading, no meuniere sauce, no sprinkling of seasonings.  It was pure rainbow trout, seasoned by appetite and fresh air, and nothing would ever taste as delicious as the trout cooked beside the stream it came from.

There is something about the scent of burning wood (usually juniper where I’d be) and then the sizzling bacon in the skillet.  The aroma of coffee would be dancing around too, as it would have already been percolated on the fire.  The air would be cold and crisp, perfect for carrying those scents, with the natural aromas of the trees and plants growing nearby giving strong woodsy overtones to the morning.

Air freshener companies can only wish that they could recreate that wonderful set of scents and bottle it.  I can only hope that its a memory that never gets lost in a cobweb filled brain, as it, like so many other memories, combines scents with activities.  I’m just glad that I don’t have some of the scent related memories some acquaintances do…such as over-doing it with cow-in-heat-urine during hunting season, and then having trouble convincing a bull elk in full rut that you aren’t that elk cow…

Talk about love potion #9?  No thanks!

I’ll stick to my burning wood and coffee and bacon and sizzling trout on a cold, crisp morning alongside a mountain stream set of scents.