Trail Jogging!

Sure, I know trail jogging is nothing like running on the treadmill at the gym. For one thing, you’ve got no little blinking red numbers that tell you how far you’ve gone, how many calories you’ve burned, what your heart rate is and what speed you’re at. But even the best digital display pales in comparison to actually being out in the woods, breathing the pine-scented air, feeling the whisp of the leaves as they tug on your sleeve. Now you’re actually out there in nature, going somewhere instead of watching the Cooking Channel surrounded by other 9 to 5ers. With a little preparation, trail jogging can be just as good of a workout, and even more enjoyable, than your daily DVD or gym cardio session. Here are some of the items I bring with me trail jogging.

What you Need When Trial Jogging:

Music. Bring it or not?

This one is up to you, but put some thought into it. Without music, you may focus more on your surroundings, possibly heightening the spiritual aspect of jogging through the woods. With it, it may help the workout move quicker, may help you ease your way into that cardio workout high, may be a totally awesome soundtrack to your nature experience. It depends on whether you are a purist or not, whether you want any of the modern distractions or would rather focus on the meditative aspects of jogging and communing with nature.

Good Shoes

Sure you need good shoes for working out in general, but trail jogging is going to involve leaping over rocks, stepping on sticks and possibly the occasional snake on the path. Yikes! You need good shoes to protect your feet and give you the maximum flexibility to navigate those road blocks.

Water

At home you can have a glass of water resting on the TV beside you; at the gym there’s a special cup attached to your treadmill or stair stepper that holds your bottle. On the trail, you will have to carry your own water. Depending on how long your run is, you may want to hydrate before, and set yourself up for easy hydration after. Leave the water bottle on the picnic table at your camp site, take a mighty swig before beginning your run, and hit it first thing after you come back. There are also options that you can buy at outdoor stores if you’re really serious. There are hiking canteens that strap onto your back, with a hose that reaches around to allow you easy access to your water. I’ve never heard of it used for jogging, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try. I would not suggest carrying a water bottle with you, as that would be distracting and heavy. Another option is structuring your run so you go past the camp store, grab a sip at the water fountain, and keep on jogging.

Map it out

When you get to the campsite, grab a camp map. Or download an app that has it for you. That way you can plan out which path to take, if you want to stick to roads or want to trail blaze it. This will also help you plan how far you want to run, and whether you are going to run past the swimming hole or the camp store.

Bring a Friend

Just a bit of practical advice, related to jogging outdoors in general. Working out in a gym or at home in front of the TV doesn’t leave you alone the way trail jogging will. Think ahead to make sure you are safe, and bring a friend. Just in case you twist your ankle, you need someone to lean on and help you back to camp.

Author: Gretchen Elhassani
Edited By: CampTrip.com

How to Pack For Young Kids When Camping:

1. All Packed and Ready to Go!

Let each child have his own bag—–with kid size camping equipment. In fact, having each child individualize their own bag makes it easier to locate items when in a hurry. Besides, letting each child have his own bag has been proven to make him feel proud of being looked upon as “old enough to be responsible for his belongings.” This does wonders in making the experience enjoyable for him. Moreover, it is a step towards having them participate in choosing and preparing meals together, performing camping chores together, and cleaning up together.

2. Organization is Key

Assemble one major toiletry kit for all the kids, and two minor toiletry kits as extras.  Having one bag with all the toiletry items for the kids makes it easier when unpacking, and having the two extra minor ones for the kids also helps in having additional supplies when needed.

3. Check it off the Checklist!

Create packing lists for each child. List each item as it is packed into the child’s bag, and then keep the itemization list in the suitcase. That way, when repacking at the close of the camping trip the itemization can be used as a checklist. Find helpful camping checklists here.

4. Emergency Essentials

In addition to each person on the camping trip having his own bag, make sure to likewise have a family bag of essentials [for emergencies]  that includes one outfit per everyone, as well as all necessary must-haves. This communal bag allows for quick access, quick unpacking and packing, and quick travel during emergencies.

5. Comfy and Cozy

Make sure each child is not too hot nor too cold. Thus, pack accordingly for any contingency regarding each child’s comfort—–extra clothes, boots, diapers, blankets, first aid kit, books, toys for entertainment, etc.  Make sure each child is not excessively exposed to extremes of weather or the elements.

6. That’s Entertainment!

Make sure each child is entertained and enjoys the camping experience. While traveling on the road to and from the campsite, play games regarding license plates, road signs, objects seen from car windows, name state capitals or name cities beginning with particular letters of the alphabet. Once at the campsite, make shadow puppets on the tent walls, go on scavenger hunts, sing camping songs together, even tell stories to one another around the campfire.  Far better would be to have each child have a disposable camera to take pictures that will chronicle their camping trip.

7. Keep it Clean

Have eco-friendly bags to protect delicate items inside your suitcase/camping-bag. Such eco-friendly bags will prove valuable for preventing dirty laundry or damp clothes from mixing with the good clothes.

So, there you have it! I hope my 7 tips on how to pack for young kids when camping helps you for your next camping trip adventure! The most important tips I can give you though are: Remember kids will be kids and sometimes the imperfections end up making things perfect.

Author: Marie Agravante
Edited By: CampTrip.com

Camping Recipe: Fried potatoes with Biscuits and Gravy

Fried Potatoes:

If your cooking at a higher elevation, be sure to allow a little more time for your potatoes to cook.(Rule of thumb when cooking potatoes- one to one and half potato per person).

Directions for Potatoes:

I will start cooking my potatoes at least 20-30  minutes before I plan on eating. If you like, you can also buy canned potatoes, dice them up, and cook. Of course, if you choose that option, they don’t take as long to cook up.

Once your potatoes and onion( don’t forget to dice up part of an onion in your spuds) are ready, fry on a medium heat, covered, and stirring occasionally.

In the meantime you can start putting your biscuits together.

Making Biscuits

I’m kinda “Old School” when it comes to biscuits. I like making mine from scratch. I’ve done it for over 30 years, and it’s just automatic for me.

However, if you want it quick and easy, just buy the biscuits in the cooler. Pillsbury makes a decent ready to bake biscuit.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 5 tablespoons shortening
• 3/4 cup milk (or buttermilk)

Directions for Biscuits:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. In a bowl mix the flour, baking powder. Add the shortening and mix until in little pieces. Add milk a little at a time and mix until it forms a ball.
3. Roll out on floured board to 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick. Cut out in desired size. Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet.
4. Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 12 to 15minutes.

You’ve made your biscuits and they are cooking, you’re potatoes are almost done, so, now you can start your gravy.

Making Gravy

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. of ground beef or  sausage
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup of flour

Directions for Gravy:

1. Brown meat in large skillet on medium heat. If you are using lean ground beef, you will need to add some oil to your pan once the meat is browned.
2. If you are using sausage, you won’t need to add to much extra oil. Basically, you need enough oil in pan to absorb about 1/2 cup flour.
3. Add your flour to the meat and oil mixture. Cook on medium heat until flour starts browning.
4. Turn heat down to low, and start adding milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Continue adding milk until your gravy reaches the desired consistency.
5. Your gravy will continue to thicken while it sits in the pan. Before serving, you can add a little more milk and stir well.

Making good gravy also takes practice. My first attempts at gravy making ended up as wall paper paste! If your not keen on making gravy from scratch you can always bring along the instant gravy packets which usually only require you to add water.

Also, if making gravy you get the added bonus of having either beef or sausages to go with your meal or keep for later.

With a little patience and practice, biscuits and gravy with potatoes will become an easy camp recipe.

Author: Alice Tunnell
Edited By: CampTrip.com

Winter Wonder-Plan

Keep the following in mind when planning your next winter camping trip:

• Goals for the trip
• Group size
• Strength and experience of group
• Snow level (shallow or deep)
• Snow quality (powder, packed, breakable crust, etc.)
• Route (on a trail or off trail, etc.)
• Trail (breaking trail or on a broken trail)
• Mode of travel (will you be hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, etc.)
• Elevation changes (ascent and descent may take different amounts of time)

Before you go:

• Look at your proposed route for potential campsites for each day.
• Talk to area rangers about permits and camping restrictions.
• Find out about snow levels, avalanche danger, safety of ice crossings, etc.
• Know what your emergency and alternate plans are if conditions deteriorate or you have problems.

Keep in mind that everything takes longer to do in the winter:

• Setting up camp (you’ve got to tamp down a campsite and dig out a kitchen)
• Lighting a stove (you’ve got to deal with three layers of gloves and cold metal parts)
• Reaching the next stop (you’ve got snow underfoot and a pack on your back)
• Make sure you have a lighter and/or waterproof matches on hand.

Read more about Camping Matches and Alternatives and How to Waterproof your Matches.

Avalanche of Problems without Proper Precautions

Extreme winter conditions aren’t so hazardous if you have the equipment to keep you warm and the sense to stay out of trouble.

• Pay attention to the weather and don’t be afraid to change your plans.
• Try – especially in extreme conditions – to go out in a group of at least four people so that even in an emergency and someone must go for help, no one is ever alone.
• Don’t hesitate to hunker down and wait out a storm. The best way to solve problems is to avoid them.
• Pay attention to details like keeping snow out of your boots and making sure you’re adequately hydrated.

Climate conditions such as extreme cold and wetness can lead to:

• Hypothermia
• Frostnip
• Wind-chill
• Frostbite
• Frozen Eyelashes/cornea

Read theses articles for tips on How to Keep Warm While Camping.

Be aware of your terrain:

• Steep elevations
• Avalanche (rare except for steep gullies – often east coast)
• Gully garbage (falling objects with sun, heat, etc.)
• Breaking through ice (undercutting, margins of ice to shore)

Be careful at your campsite to avoid:

• Tent collapse (from snow loading)
• “Widow makers”
• Stove explosions
• Carbon monoxide poisoning (from stove use in tent)
• Stove burns

Other Hazards:

• Dehydration
• Ice Axe/Crampon Injuries
• Watermelon Snow (can cause diarrhea)
• Yellow snow (yucky)
• Poor hand-washing (food poisoning)

More than anything, a winter hike is a series of tasks and adjustments, a process of adapting to an ever-changing environment. If you make detailed plans, take proper precautions, not even harsh winter conditions can stop you from enjoying your wilderness camping destination.

Author: Kirsten
(The CampTrip Team)

Edited By: CampTrip.com

Make sure you also read part one of this topic Camping Essentials: Should you Skimp or Splurge? for some insight on finding out if skimping or splurging on camping essentials is right for you.

Should you Skimp or Splurge?

Your comfort — not to mention your safety — should be a major consideration when selecting camping gear. Here are some more tips on how you can save on camping equipment:

• Expensive does not necessarily mean the best. Pick equipment that is of good quality and those that you know will last several uses. If you shell out a little more than expected but are able to use the equipment more than twice, you know it is a good deal.
• Ask for recommendations from experienced campers. It is easy enough to visit a camping site or forum and meet camping enthusiasts who would be more than willing to give you tips on what gear is best.
• Read reviews on shopping or equipment sites. Insights from people who have actually used the products you are considering are very valuable.
• If you can borrow things — particularly tents or sleeping bags — go ahead. This is advisable for those who are new to camping and do not want to spend much. Just remember to make sure what you are borrowing is still functional, and return it in the same condition as you got it.
• So should you skimp or splurge for your camping equipment? I would safely say that is it advisable to do neither. Rather, spend wisely. Examine your needs and weigh your options before you make a decision. It will not do you well to realize that what you got was not the right equipment. Your comfort and safety is what is important, and you should shell out money — or hold back — on your equipment, accordingly.

Below are some of the key camping equipment essentials you will need. It is up to you to decide how much you want to spend on them and how important it is that they all preform as they should.

Tent

A tent will act as a cover for you when you rest at night. It keeps away the elements and other creepy crawlies that may be roaming about at night. It protects your gear should the skies decide to open up while you sleep. Some tents work great with cold climates, while some are fit for warmer weather. There are tents that are easy to set up, while some may require a bit more of know-how. Tents also come in various sizes and thus vary in the number of people they can comfortably hold.

Sleeping Bag

Much like a tent, a sleeping bag offers you protection while you rest. It is your bed for the duration of your camping trip. Sleeping bags help regulate your body temperature while you sleep, which is important regardless of the weather. You can pick from synthetic materials (lightweight and easily washable) or natural materials like down (can be heavier but is softer and is a better insulator of heat).

Clothes

Like the tent and sleeping bag, your choice of clothes will be dependent on where you are going camping and when. It does not seem right to bring shorts and tank tops when you are going camping in the mountains, right? Properly picking the appropriate clothing will not only make your trip easier, you are eliminating the possibility of buying clothes that you will not use at all.

Backpacks

Of course, will all these gear, we need something to carry it all in. Backpacks are the camper’s choice, as it allows you to pack as much as you need while keeping your hands free for other things. However, it is important to have a backpack that can support everything that you will be carrying. At the same time, it should not cause strain on your body. It should also allow the air between your back and the bag to circulate to prevent you from having a sweaty back.

Read more in the article Camping Essentials: Should you Skimp or Splurge?

This is a guest post by Ally Tobias she is part of the team that manages several personal finance sites in Sydney, Australia, which feature tips on how to save money.

Before joining the team, she was a Media Planner in McCann Worldgroup Philippines, Inc., with award-winning executions, including the Levi’s 501 “Live Unbuttoned” global campaign.

Author: Ally Tobias
Edited by: CampTrip.com

Should You Skimp or Splurge?

Everyone needs a break every once in a while. Particularly for those who live and work in the busy city, a vacation to a relaxing place is very welcome. A different approach to a vacation is going camping. These days, outdoor enthusiasts venture out to the woods for some R&R. Others prefer going to resorts and dealing with nature from parks and structured adventure zones.

The question is, should you skimp or splurge when it comes to camping essentials? Each camping essential/equipment has a special function and has its own threshold for wear and tear. Its lifespan depends on how the intensity of the activity is, and it can vary depending on the frequency of the equipment’s use.

Camping Equipment Skimp

You may be tempted to buy your camping gear on the cheap. There is nothing wrong with trying to save a couple of bucks, particularly if you are new to camping and if you are not sure it is something you want to take up on a regular basis. You can luck out and buy camping equipment on the cheap and have it work perfectly for you and your needs. Unfortunately, more often than not you’ll find that your cheap camping purchase that made you chuckle with confidence at the checkout has actually dampened or ruined your camping trip.

Camping Equipment Splurge

Camping, like many other activities, requires equipment. Some camping equipment is highly specialized and can cost more than your average tools, particularly if they come from a certain brand. In most cases the camping brands you pay more for do usually pay for themselves. If you buy decent equipment you may find that it will last you several years, saving you from buying new equipment every few years. The more expensive also tend to be extremely reliable and offer exactly what is promised. However, there are cheaper alternatives, such as the option to buy secondhand equipment.

However, consider certain facts about camping that will affect your equipment buying decision. You will be out in the open and at the mercy of the elements that can change without warning. The weather can be fickle, and often the terrain of where you will be going is just as unpredictable. Consider as well the number of people you will be camping with and the physical capabilities of the people who will carry the equipment.

Read the article Camping Equipment: Should you Skimp or Splurge? for the lowdown on a few of the essential equipment you need to have when you go camping.

This is a guest post by Ally Tobias who is part of the team that manages several personal finance sites in Sydney, Australia, which feature tips on how to save money.

Before joining the team, she was a Media Planner in McCann Worldgroup Philippines, Inc., with award-winning executions, including the Levi’s 501 “Live Unbuttoned” global campaign.

Author: Ally Tobias
Edited By: CampTrip.com

Louisiana’s Natural Outdoor Beauty

When it comes to camping and traveling in the great state of Louisiana there is more to tempt visitors that the exciting city of New Orleans. While any visit to Louisiana should include at least a short jaunt in that party city, there are lakes, swamps, plantations and bike paths  aplenty that offer a more natural and beautiful view of the state. Full of beauty and wildlife, Louisiana parks and recreation areas are the perfect place to spend a camping vacation. Here are some of the best areas to visit during your next camping trip or day outing.

Take a Canoe Trip to the Swamps

One fifth of the state area is comprised of water features that offer endless exploration opportunities. The water recreation opportunities are not like those of other states. Many states boast of fast moving rivers and white water rafting trips, but in Louisiana you have the chance to enjoy the majestic setting of placid waters that are home to hundreds of different kinds of plants and birds. A canoe ride in the rich waters of Louisiana means paddling underneath a canopy of wetland trees, spotting egrets, and perhaps brushing by an alligator or two. There are many places to enjoy Louisiana’s waterways, but one of the best areas for canoeing and birdwatching is Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. Making Lake Fausse your home base for water exploration is a great way to spend a family vacation. Open year round, the Lake Fausse Pointe State Park offers canoe rentals for reasonable day or hour rates. Canoeing is a great way to explore the natural beauty of Louisiana. The quiet meandering waters are home to so much lush green beauty that several days can easily be dedicated to paddling through this wet green maze of hidden delights.

Pack a Fishing Rod

Fishing is one of America’s favorite pastimes and in Louisiana there is an abundant supply of fish for fishers of all skill levels. One of the greatest ways to enjoy all the fish Louisiana has to offer is by taking a chartered fishing trip. Hackberry Charters provides all you could want in a chartered fishing trip. Operated out of Calcasieu Lake, your trip includes fishing poles, bait, fishing licenses, fish cleaning, and much more. Charter fishing is a great vacation for the whole family, fathers and sons, old college buddies or coworkers looking for a break from the office.

Tour a Plantation

Plantation and fort tours are necessary when visiting Louisiana. Established in 1812 as a state, Louisiana is home to many old-time plantations and Civil War forts. The majority of the sites are located in plantation country and the crossroads country. Places like Rosedown Plantation will give you a perfect picture of what life was like over 100 years ago in plantation society. Walking tours of the gardens and forested areas provide an enjoyable outdoor excursion, while a tour of the plantation home enlightens you to all the wonderful historical facts preserved in this area. The nearby Port Hudson offers a look into Civil War life. Known as the site of the longest siege in American Military History, Port Hudson is a great area to explore. You can visit battle sites, tour the museum, watch battle re-enactments or climb to the top of an observation tower. Aside from the rich historical activities, you can also enjoy a six mile hiking trail that will take you through the beauties of the port.

New Orleans may still remain Louisiana’s biggest draw for tourists and vacationers, but this wonderfully diverse state offers many alluring activities and areas worth exploring on your next stay.

Author: Aaron Garcia
Edited By: CampTrip.com

Funny Camping Lessons:

• In a mummy bag the urgency of one’s need to urinate is inversely proportional to the amount of clothing worn. It is also inversely proportional to the temperature and the degree to which the mummy bag is completely zipped up.
• The distance to a given camp site remains constant as twilight approaches.
• Waterproof clothing isn’t. (However, it is 100% effective at containing sweat).
• The area of level ground in the neighborhood tends to vanish as the need to make camp becomes finite.
• The width of backpack straps decreases with the distance hiked. To compensate, the weight of the backpack increases.
• Average temperature increases with the amount of clothing brought.
• Tent stakes come only in the quantity “N-1” where N is the number of stakes necessary to stake down a tent.
• Propane/butane tanks that are full when they are packed, will unexplainably empty themselves before you can reach the campsite.
• Given a chance, matches will find a way to get wet.
• All foods assume a uniform taste, texture, and colour when freeze-dried.
• The weight in a backpack can never remain uniformly distributed.
• The probability of diarrhea increases with the square of the thistle content of the local vegetation.
• All tree branches in a forest grow outward from their respective trunks at exactly the height of your nose. If you are male, tree branches will also grow at groin height.
• You will lose the little toothpick in your Swiss Army knife as soon as you open the box.
• Enough dirt will get tracked into the tent on the first day out, that you can grow the food you need for the rest of the trip in rows between sleeping bags.
• When camping in late fall or winter, your underwear will stay at approximately 35.702 degrees Kelvin no matter how long you keep it in your sleeping bag with you.
• Bears.
• Tents never come apart as easily when you’re leaving a site as when you’re trying to get them set up in the first place.
• When planning to take time off of work/school for your camping trip, always add an extra week, because when you get home from your “vacation” you’ll be too tired to go back for a week after.
• Any stone in a hiking boot migrates to the location of maximum pressure.
• Number of mosquitoes at any given location is inversely proportional to the volume of remaining repellent.
• The probability of finding a latrine is one over the number of poison ivy plants per acre.
• The square feet of level ground available for tents equals the degrees from horizon of the setting sun.

So, there you have it. Those are some of the Murphy’s Laws of Camping. If you want to find more of these funny camping lessons read Murphy’s Laws of Camping: Funny Camping Lessons. Or, read more of our Funny Camping Jokes! You know it’ll be more fun reading these than doing something actually important.

If you enjoyed reading this then you might enjoy reading our other articles on the site. Sign up to our newsletter on the right hand side of the screen to receive all the latest and greatest on camping and the outdoors. We promise we will not share your details or bombard your e-mail inbox.

Kaitlyn
(The CampTrip Team)

For the “any” bush walker, one of the key aspects of trip planning is to travel light. With this in mind, I’d like to share a little camp fire cooking method that can save some weight.

How to Cook your Eggs in an Orange’s Skin:

1. Build a small fire and let it burn down.
2. Move some of the remaining coals to one side.
3. Cut an orange in half and scoop out the flesh inside to create two orange skin cups.
4. Crack an egg into each half of orange skin.
5. Place the orange skin cups on the coals and cook your eggs to satisfaction.
6. Enjoy your tasty meal outdoors!

So, for a hearty and healthy breakfast while camping/hiking start by eating a fresh orange and then use the peel to enjoy your eggs!

Don’t throw away that orange, it’s my frying pan!

Author: Peter Armstrong
Edited By: CampTrip.com

The Camping Box:

I’m a veteran of many camping trips both in the United Kingdom and in Europe (the longest one being 4.5 months under canvas in a Bivouac tent in Italy – another story, believe me!). This being the case, I am firmly of the mind that although it is great to attempt camping with as many home comforts as possible it isn’t so great to return home and find that one’s favourite kitchen knife was left by the sink at the last camp site in your frantic mad dash to get packed and leave on time so as not to get frowned upon by the camp’s workers or other snooty travelers.
Planning your camping pack list is quite a demanding job that involves copious list writing and gnawing thoughtfully on a pencil’s end. It can get pretty arduous, making repeated trips to the same drawer or cupboard for items entered in random placings on the aforementioned list. And still with all that work, there always seems to be the inevitable exclusion of some important item, like a corkscrew – and you were so looking forward to the first glass of the holiday in the great outdoors!

Solve all this by creating ‘The Camping Box’

‘The Camping Box’, a major figure in our family, lives mainly in the loft or the garage in the winter months and doesn’t even get thought about at Christmas, hidden away and shunned until the first soft light of Spring appears heralding the beginning of another camping season. All of a sudden, one Friday evening in April it is unexpectedly sunny and unseasonably warm!! A chance to jump in the old jalopy, grab one’s canvas living quarters and head for the hills is suddenly possible; but the thought of having to start list writing and searching for those little things that you know you will need to make a camping trip a success makes the whole thing appear as if it may be too much of a chore. But no longer…

Be Box Clever!

‘The Camping Box’ comes to the rescue. For in this, probably plastic, possibly green, rectangular container you have a complete camping trip in a box. Yes that’s right, the last job you did the previous year at the end of summer was to enter into this temporary time capsule all the items on the list, the corkscrew, the matches, the candles, the napkins, the plastic cups and the tin mugs, the spare gas canister, the torch with spare batteries, the list is endless yet complete and ready to roll without the need for a seconds thought! Think out of the box or in the box and away you go with nary a backward glance. “Box clever”, that’s what I say!

Author: Dominic Allen
Edited By: CampTrip.com

How to Get out of Quicksand

What is Quicksand?

Quicksand can be found anywhere that the right conditions are present. Quicksand is basically: very wet sand/silt. If you step in quicksand you  might find it a quite difficult to get yourself out because as you squirm the suction of the wet sand pulls you down. Like when you stand in the water at the beach, you’ll find that your feet are slowly sinking and when you go to pull them out it’s a bit of a struggle. That is something like quicksand. Quicksand is not something to panic over, as most quicksand is no more than a couple feet deep and is not commonly fatal. Here is a a guide that will help you prevent getting stuck in quicksand as well as what to do if you get stuck in quicksand.

Prevent Getting Stuck in Quicksand

If you know that you are camping or hiking in an area where quicksand is known to be in the area. The best way to prevent getting stuck in quicksand is to walk with a walking stick. Test ground in front of you before walking further with wooden walking stick.  If ground shifts/ripples, step back quickly.

If you Get Stuck in Quicksand

If stuck, lighten your weight immediately—drop all items, empty pockets.  Use anything buoyant for flotation (e.g. wood’s buoyant). A human body is less dense (more buoyant) than quicksand, so you won’t sink as much—unless you struggle excessively (movement increases liquefaction and creates a vacuum suction underneath you). Remove shoes—footwear leads to more suction.

Most importantly, do NOT panic. That only rigidifies your body and makes you sink faster. Instead, relax muscles to stay afloat. Secondly, always breathe deeply—lungs full of air keep you afloat.

If you Start Sinking in Quicksand

If sinking, avoid frantic movements; instead, bend back. Spread bodyweight to increase buoyancy and slow sink-rate. Float on your back while slowly & carefully extricating your legs from quicksand.  (In fact, place buoyant wooden walking-stick underneath your back so that you’re laying atop it; form a “plus sign +” with the walking-stick underneath your back for flotation. Then slowly inch your body across the walking-stick while taking deep breaths until solid ground’s reached.)

The Key is to Keep Calm

GO SLOWLY; do NOT agitate quicksand—rapid movements turns firm ground into more quicksand. Besides, quicksand reacts unpredictably; moving slowly helps you more easily stop adverse reactions to avoid getting even further stuck.  REMAIN PATIENT: extrication’s slow, methodical, and could take several hours. Exhaustion’s your worst enemy, so take breaks and just float on your back when muscles tire.

However, if in dangerous tidal zones (quicksand occurs in wet, sandy areas—even beaches and tidal areas), you’re racing time. So get out quickly as possible without panicking, yet be ever mindful your movements do not hinder your efforts. Keep head high above quicksand (and incoming tide’s water).  Once legs are free, breathe deeply, and calmly inch to safety by using arms (even floating legs & toes) to slowly & smoothly propel yourself to quicksand’s banks.  Roll onto hard ground.

Hopefully this guide will be of help to you when and if you ever get stuck in quicksand. It’s better to know these things than not to know because after all, you can never predict what you what you might get stuck in.

Author: Mariecor Agravante
Edited By: CampTrip.com

Camping…Under the Table!

Enter: The Fantasy Realm

Baby brother would clamber in and the two of you set off to new adventures, a king in the realm of the hidden and magic spaces where you knew that adults existed but as a child you thought they couldn’t see you so it meant you were…. invisible.
Here you bossed your baby sibling, the boundaries were only within your imagination and you ruled with kindness and fairness, sharing the biscuit you had carried with you after lunch now nibbled by you both overseen by you in the role of kind dictator.
Baby brother would have to lie down at your command to peep through the curtain of blankets to check no wild dogs would come sniffing by or crocodiles would eat you as they always did in stories your Dad read to you at night whilst you worked on your navigation skills deciding on which adventure trail to embark upon.

Setting out to Sea

As commander of the exploits, it was you that created the game of sailing in a tent -covered boat through shark infested waters, nibbling on the red and yellow building blocks pretending they were bacon and eggs and sipping toy tea from plastic beakers as of course that is precisely what you would do on a boat at sea.

All Aboard!

Giggles would fill the small space as teddy bears were dragged in from a nearby corner and they were instructed to help the vehicle that had once been a boat transform itself into a train. Squeals, shrill whistles and chuff chuffing noises would emit noisily and little voices for the teddies were made up as they sat in the cheap seats losing their tickets and watching the view from the window as the train sped quickly through the desert, or was it Chichester or the North Pole?

End of the Day, but the Beginning of a New Adventure

As the air warmed in the makeshift tent, the day progressed and the sun slowly set. Baby brother would gently snooze lying as a little nuisance in the middle of the floor so nothing could be done other than to lie beside him and cuddle him so that marauding tigers would not find him, and if they did you knew that you’d have to fight them off to protect your baby. The gentle aroma of supper being cooked would permeate through the jungles and vast seas into your little tent and bring your parents together smiling as they peeped in to see you both safely asleep in your own little camp before they had to wake you gently for bath time. Where surely the next adventure lay?

This indeed was where your love of camping was born.

Author: Julie Harries
Edited By: CampTrip.com