The Basics of Tent Camping

Author: My Camping Tents

Tent camping is an activity my family has been involved in for many years. Our camping trips combine fishing, hiking, and swimming to the regular camp site life of cutting wood, starting a fire, food preparation, cooking, eating, games, and just relaxing. We’ve made a lot of good memories from our camping trips. We’ve always gone up in the mountains and found great camping hiking spots either at designated campgrounds that offer water for washing, and some type of restroom (out house or rest-stop type), and garbage cans, or places where there were no creature comforts at all. We always camped by streams, lakes, or rivers during the summer months.

If you intend to have a successful camping experience, planning is important. As a retired Army Airborne Ranger, who has had to live out of a ruck (back pack) for many days, having the right camping gear when you’re camping will make the experience that much more enjoyable.
The best camping tents for families are tents that have separate rooms. Since we have two children our tent has three rooms — my wife and I sleep in a room, the kids sleep in a room, and the entrance room is for dressing and storage. We use a combination of foam and inflatable mattresses. We use rectangular sleeping bags that you can zip together for the wife and I, and the kids have their own individual bags. Bring extra blankets for chilly nights. We also use poncho liners for the kids to use inside their sleeping bags. We’ve had our tent for over 15 years and average 2-3 camping trips each summer.

We also take a couple of tarps. We use one tarp on the ground under the tent and make it long enough to have about 8 feet in front of the tent door. We take our shoes/boots off outside to keep the inside of the tent as clean as possible. We bring a small folding stool to place outside the tent door to help with putting shoes on. The second tarp is used to cover our kitchen/cooking gear if it rains.

We use two camping stoves – one uses propane (which we mainly use for heating water for hot drinks and washing) and the other is a 2 burner stove and uses fuel, which does not burn as hot. We use this one for cooking bacon, pancakes, eggs, etc. Bring a couple of frying pans, and camping pots/pans – remember to bring a spatula if you’re going to cook pancakes or eggs.

We always start a fire in the morning(for warmth) and in the evening, for cooking. Bring a collapsible grate to put over the fire if you plan on laying anything on it to cook or heat up. We make pointed sticks by cutting small branches from nearby trees for the polish dogs or bratwurst – so bring a couple of knives. We cut our own wood from the dead branches and logs you find near the campground. We bring an axe and small saw with a folding blade to get the wood the right size to fit in the fire pit.

Here are the basics of camping gear to bring:

Tent with rain fly, tarp, tent stakes, and hammer

Sleeping gear to include mattresses – inflatable or foam, blankets (poncho liners), and pillows

Cooking/kitchen equipment – camping stoves, folding camping table, frying pans, pots to heat water and cook in, paper plates, bowls, and utensils, napkins, paper towels, wash rags, towels, cutlery, large spoons, tongs, can opener, lighters, tin foil, plastic wash basin, scouring pads, disposable wipes, detergent, plastic storage bags, and trash bags. We pack this in see-though plastic tubs with folding lids. We pack most of our non-cooler food in these types of containers, too.

Fire pit necessities – if you plan on scrounging your own wood from the forest floor – axe, folding saw, gloves, newspaper for fire starting, lighter, a folding grate (campfire tripod), and a folding shovel.

Personal hygiene – soap, wash cloths, towels (dark in color), shampoo and shower shoes (if your campground has a shower), toothpaste, and toilet paper.

Safety equipment – flashlights, lantern, spare batteries, cell phone with car charger, map of the area, first aid kit, compass or GPS, and plenty of drinking water.

These are some of the items you’ll need to have an enjoyable camping trip. After your first trip, you’ll be able to fine-tune your list. Tent camping takes a lot of prep work, but it is so worth it for the memories you’ll always have.

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About the Author

I’ve been tent camping for over 35 years and as a retired Airborne Ranger, I have experience in wilderness survival.  For more information on camping tents and camping hiking gear, please visit us at http://mycampingtentsandmore.com.  We carry a nice selection camping gear from tents to flashlights at reasonable prices.  Check us out!

What To Look For In A Camping Knife

As you pack up the tent, gather snacks, food and drink, certain survival resources and tools will come in handy depending on the types of activities you wish to enjoy while roughing it in the wild. Sometimes overlooked during the packing of supplies, a camping knife allows individuals to perform a variety of tasks that range from survival to food preparation. Many considering the purchase of a camping knife should consider the following factors:

Type of Knife

There are two basic types of knife blades that a camper may choose to bring along: fixed or folding. Knives with a fixed blade are made from one solid piece of steel that is anchored to a handle. They come ready to use with a high level of durability and dependability. This type of knife works well to clean, skin or bone fish and also becomes of use when a campsite needs clearing of brush. A fixed knife also accompanies minor medical emergencies.

A folding blade is often referred to as a pocket knife and does not possess the same durability, but is convenient nonetheless. Some pocket knifes provide a camper with multiple blades, as well as additional contraptions, such as a variety of tools. A folding knife allows campers to complete woodworking projects, hunt, hike, perform first aid, and assist numerous camping tasks. The versatility and usefulness of a folding blade is also extended by its small, flexible, lightweight nature.

Purpose

During a camping trip, there are several different tasks that may arise. Whether it is preparing the fish you caught for dinner or opening a lukewarm beer, a camping knife can make life easier. For those seeking a multi-purpose knife for camping, they may want to side with a Swiss Army knife, which offers many different attached tools, such as scissors, locking Phillips screwdriver, universal hex wrench, tweezers, a corkscrew, and a bottle opener. For those looking for a study tool possessing a wealth of strength, a fixed camping knife should be selected.

Blade Length

To complete some of the most common camping tasks, a blade that measures 10 to 20 centimeters (or 4-8 inches) is often used. Sometimes a smaller blade will accommodate a camper in most of their situations.

Blade Thickness

Depending on the length of the knife, most camping selections offer a blade thickness of 3 to 6 millimeters (1/8 to 1/4 inch).

Blade Style (Material)

There are many different materials from which a blade is constructed from that can offer a wide-range of capabilities. Non-stainless blades are fashioned from carbon and alloy steels and offer a high level of toughness, but shows weakness towards rust. When two or more metals are used for the creation of a blade, it is called a Damascus. Although brittle, non-steels ceramic blades are non-corrosive. Titanium blades are also non-corrosive, as well as lighter than steel.

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4 Essential Safety Tips for Those New To Hiking

Hiking provides hundreds of thousands of people with a great deal of pleasure and a sense of adventure every year and 99% of the time it is far from hazardous. But, people do get lost and have accidents every now and a again and it can become a very hazardous activity very fast if you are not prepared.

Here we look at are just 4 simple safety tips to make sure that your hiking doesn’t get you into difficulty.

Safety Tip No1 – Think about taking a partner of friend along with you.

There’s really no need to worry about heading out by yourself if you are taking a short hike in a local area on easy terrain, however, if you are hiking through heavily forested wilderness areas with winding trails and steep canyons then the possibility of getting lost or suffering an injury becomes very real and you should consider carefully whether it is sensible to head out alone.

Having a friend or partner along has a lot of advantages, particularly if that individual is an experienced hiker. After all, ‘two heads are better than one’ and if you do get lost or get into trouble you’re much less likely to panic if you have somebody with you to help sort out the problem.

Safety Tip No 2 – Ensure that somebody knows where you are going.

If you are new to hiking then you should stick to clearly marked and well traveled routes and ought not to stray from these routes to explore until you have some experience and have mastered the basics of map and compass work. However, it will not be too long before you are ready to tackle some more adventurous hiking and the possibility of getting lost or injured will arise.

As a consequence, you must always tell somebody where you are going and when you plan to return so that a search party can be sent out if you don’t  return when expected.

Safety Tip No 3 – Take along some basic equipment.

It is essential to carry a basic survival kit with you and the local hiking club will be able to give you advice on the sort of items which this should include. What we are looking at here are such things as a lighter and matches, a first aid kit, a good knife and a flashlight with fresh batteries.

It is also a good idea to have a map and compass along together with a fully charged cell phone.

Safety Tip No 4 – Take some basic provisions along.

Water or other fluids such as sports drinks are essential as you can lose water very fast even over a short period of time on a hot day. You should remember however that water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon, so take sufficient but not too much. Do not forget though that you ought not to drink from local streams as natural water sources may look inviting but they are often loaded with bacteria and can make you very sick very quickly.

Also take sufficient food to last you. It is no fun to be hungry while you’re out but don’t forget that you can last a good deal longer without food than you can without water.

Article Tags: Safety Tips

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Night Fishing Tips

If one wishes to have a good bite it is best to begin fishing two hours before sunrise or after sunset. This is particularly difficult, but an alarm clock can always act as your wake-up call. In addition, it is best if you set up and have ready a wet-bait half an hour before the sun rises. Keep in mind that anchoring or cooking bait need to be completed prior to sunset. That is because cooking during your evening fishing can be very hazardous and because bait has to cool off before it is ready for use. One of the reasons to be ready at least thirty minutes before dark or sunrise is that fish typically feed shallower during this mirror bite time and you can catch them easier as they are only about thirty feet down the sea’s surface. Experts point out that the twilight minutes can be very productive for fishermen.

To enjoy good and fast action, regardless if you are fishing in saltwater or freshwater, try to fish around piers that have lights on their end. Since fish are attracted by the beams of light that come through the surface in various sea depths, most fishing excursions have a happy ending when they occur around lights on buoys or piers.

Remember to use very large dry flies, oversized streamers, wet flies, and nymphs, if you are interested in catching the active feeding fish out there. Night-feeding is easier when the bait is large enough for fish to locate and you should remember to draw the flies and other bait slowly along the water’s surface in a jerking motion to help attract trout. Of course, you should bring extra live bait along and keep your lure inside the boat or water, safely contained.

While fishing, try to keep yourself on alert for signs of feeding fish. Be always prepared that during night time you will be able normally to hear the fish feeding themselves before you witness their swirls or splashes. Remember to chuck your lure to the spot you think holds the fish as soon as possible after hearing or seeing fish break the surface. Since they do have trouble locating a lure during night time, make repeated casts wherever you believe that there is a chance fish circulate.

If you are about to fish in deep-water conditions, then remember to use a bait-caster in combination with a long graphite rod that has a lot of backbone. Check frequently your bow to detect subtle strikes as the bait drops. This way you will be able to catch as many fish as possible and will save you the anguish if you have made the right choice to go night fishing.

The downsides of night fishing have to do with the fact that you have to limit your group from socializing and partying while fishing. In case you cannot limit the noise, fish will not approach your area and you will not be able to catch any. Moreover, try avoid bringing more than two people inside the boat-especially if it is small-and avoid taking children during night fishing as it is more dangerous for them to get scared and fall in the water.

Finally, experts attest that apart from the sea main lake points may offer excellent possibilities for successful night fishing trip adventures, especially during the summer months, as the fish are inactive during the day due to the hot temperatures and will suspend in deep water which will leave to move closer to the surface during the night that the water becomes colder. In addition fishermen point out that your bow’s color and weight can also advance or limit your efforts so pay special attention when selecting the right equipment as these make all the difference in the world while you are fishing in a lake or in the sea.

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Barbequing is an American tradition

Each year, statistics show that at least 90% of families attend at least one barbeque party or celebration. About 40% of families delight in throwing parties that center around the idea of barbequing. With statistics like that, one must wonder why barbequing is such a popular event and tradition.

First, barbequing or grilling allows you to create a meal that is unmatched by any other type of cooking. The grilled smell and taste will perk up even the pickiest meat eater.

A variety of meats and side dishes are used when barbequing. Traditionally, families cook pork, beef, and fish on their grills. When visiting your local grocery store, look for meats that are specifically cut and packaged for barbequing. If you do not find pre packaged meats, then chances are spices, marinates, and kits for grilling are somewhere near by.

Traditional side dishes include potato salad, beans, and coleslaw. These sides work well with the variety of meats available and are easy to prepare and store until it is time to eat.

Your traditional condiment bar should include pickles, relish, and onions.

Different types of grills will present different types of flavors. Charcoal and smoker grills present a natural smoked flavor which is one of the most known tastes of barbequing. Smokers even allow you to control slight changes in the favor of the meat by using different types of woods. Alternatively, propane grills allow grillers to cook their meals faster, but still have a grilled flavor.

Some grills have the ability to come with many different types of cooking surfaces. These different cooking surfaces include a BBQ surface, a flat grill, and a ribbed grill. Some grills even offer these types of surfaces as none stick, which allow you to cook a whole array of foods that you would not be able to cook on a grill otherwise. You will be able to cook your whole meal, including side dishes if you plan correctly. Some gas grills even contain a Wok type surface for cooking pasta and rise dishes, or a full rotisserie set that allows you to cook rotisserie chicken.

Another reason barbequing is so popular is the fact that it gives you a reason to hold a party or celebration.

Outdoor parties not only allow your guests to be present during the cooking of the meal, but also give them the opportunity to be with friends.

Themed parties are always fun for your family and guests. Festive decorations can be found at any local party or general store. You may also consider purchasing decorations that can be stored and reused at a different time, such as reusable tablecloths and Tiki torches. Give your clambake a beach theme by adding tropical music and you may even consider adding some sand.

Finally, barbequing is popular because it can be considered a hobby as well. Barbequing, like anything else in life, takes time and practice. It can be fun to play and experiment with different techniques and recipes. Once you have developed a like for barbequing, then you can focus on creating your own variations on traditional recipes and ideas.

Barbequing is typically thought of as a summer event, but some diehard fans of barbeque will not think twice about breaking out their barbeque grills right in the middle of winter.

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3 Essential First Aid Techniques For Any Hiker

Every hiker should have at least a basic knowledge of first aid and three of the most valuable skills that you can learn are carrying out CPR, performing the Heimlich maneuver and dealing with fractures.

This doesn’t mean of course that you’re likely to have to use these skills frequently and most hikers will never need to use them at all. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to be prepared because if you find yourself with a companion who is choking to death while you sit eating your evening meal by the campfire in the middle of nowhere, the Heimlich maneuver might just be a life saver.

CPR

Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation is a technique used to re-start normal breathing and, while this is a fairly easy technique to learn, it is something that you need to learn at the hands of a skilled professional. There will almost certainly be classes available in your local area and your local hiking club will almost certainly either provide training for its members on a regular basis or have details of classes that you can attend. Such classes are normally quite short and are almost always free of charge.

If you find yourself with someone who is not breathing and you are able to do so you should call 911 or a local rescue team immediately and also shout loudly for help. You never know who is hiking on the trail near you and there might just be expert help close at hand.

Try to determine the cause of the problem. If the person concerned was swimming and needed to be dragged out of the water then you may need to clear water from their airway before you can start CPR. In this case, put them on their stomach and try to remove water by modest, short compression on the diaphragm, located above the stomach and below the chest.

Next, roll them onto their back and pinch the nose. Breath into the mouth, covering their mouth with yours and watching out of the corner of your eye for chest expansion. Then let go and tilt the body to allow for the expulsion of water. Repeat, giving two breaths of two seconds each.

If that has no effect, you should try chest compressions. Push down firmly along the sternum above the diaphragm. Repeat this five times, about once per second, and alternate between chest compressions and inflating their lungs.

The Heimlich maneuver

Food or other obstructions can interfere with breathing and the Heimlich maneuver is designed to remove foreign objects from the air passages.

Start by looking for obstructions in the throat which can be quickly and easily removed. If nothing is immediately visible then stand the person up and position yourself behind them. Put your arms around their body and grasp one wrist with the opposite hand so that the bone at the base of your thumb is against their body and just under the ribcage. Make sure that the person’s head is tilted forward and down enabling gravity to work with you rather than against you.

Give a sharp, short, firm jerk inward against the diaphragm and repeat this several times if necessary watching for the object to dislodge. Be careful to insure that your hands are below the ribcage and pressing on the diaphragm and not the ribcage.

Bone fractures

Fractures can vary from a relatively minor and invisible toe break, which simply makes walking painful, to quite serious compound fractures and you should seriously consider taking a professional first aid course to enable you to deal with fractures. In advance of this, here are some general guidelines.

The most serious form of fracture is a compound fracture in which the bone is protruding from the skin. In this case, not only is the bone badly broken, but the rupture of the skin leaves an opening which is prone to infection.

Do not try to straighten the fracture but simply cover the wound with sterile gauze and get professional help as quickly as possible. If it is necessary to immobilize the limb, apply a splint to keep it at the same angle.

Get hold of a straight stick or use a piece of walking pole or other straight, rigid object and pad the splint well before wrapping it with an elastic roll bandage or medical tape. In the absence of supplies, look for a thin, strong vine to tie the splint to the limb and tie it firmly enough to hold it, but not so firmly that you cut off the blood supply to the limb.

In all cases, abandon your hike and seek professional medical help as quickly as possible.

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Thank You & Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas & A Happy Boating New Year To all our friends and customers, past, present and future we wish you the best of seasons greetings. Thank you for your custom during 2010 and we look forward to seeing you all at the lake and marina during 2011. Great things happening in 2011 There will be lots of exciting things going on at Bartlett Lake Marina and the Boat Club in the New Year such as the opening of our new upland store and restaurant and we will keep you up to date as the building work takes shape. Watch out for news of the opening come springtime as there will be a party and some great specials. Thanks again, have a great Holiday and an awesome New Year. Bryan Church and all at Bartlett Lake Marina

 

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Give Your Body A Break By Bringing A Camping Chair

One of the greatest things to do on a camping trip is build a fire and lounge about it – but it’s much easier to do this if you have a camping chair. Sitting on the ground just isn’t for the people who are starting to feel their aches and pains. This is part of the problem why some people quit going out and enjoying their time out in nature. Don’t let the wrong chair burden your trip when you could instead be enjoying your camping trip to its fullest.

The chair itself should be long, comfortable, and have a cup holder or two for those wonderful refreshments during your trip. Camping chairs are made to be sturdy and are made out of a material that is tough and often water-resistant. For the most part, your camping chair looks very similar to a directors chair, only camping chairs are often made out of metal and directors chairs can also be made out of wood.

Most of us can remember hearing a ghost story around the campfire. Yet, as our bodies grow older, and our muscles grow weaker, we cant seem to find the interest in listening to these tales as long as we used to. We have to get up, stretch, walk around in pain and then decide it is time to hit the sack.

With a camping chair, you will be able to join in the fun for longer periods of time. This can mean the world to your children. The campfire is the main ingredient to spending time out in the wilderness. Consider getting a foldable camping chair, they are great for packing them in the car, or if you need to carry them anywhere (such as to your favorite fishing spot)

Of course, you might just want a comfortable place to rest – camping, after all, can take quite a lot out of you. You get more back support with your camping chair and allows for more enjoyment of your evenings. Be sure to look for ergonomic models if comfort is truly important to you, while you many pay more for an ergonomic model if you are not that active then you will be sitting for a long time, so it’s important to be comfortable. There is nothing like being uncomfortable to spoil a great camping trip.

A great tip that may save you some money is to buy your camping chairs) used, you can look in your local Bargain Finder or similar classified ad paper and sometimes you can find people who want to get rid of their camping equipment. Another option is to place a wanted ad… you might be supervised how many people have bought stuff they never use and would be glad to give it up for a couple bucks.

You can find camping chairs and other supplied at the Bartlett Lake Online Store.

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October Caption Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in this month’s Facebook Caption Contest over at the Bartlett Lake Marina Fan Page. The winner of this month is just below followed by some of our favorite runners up. If your caption didn’t get selected or you didn’t have a chance to play, fear not! A brand new caption contest starts today with the next winner announced on December 6th. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to Bartlett Lake Marina!

OCTOBER WINNER! Pablo Parrothead “Birth control in Wisconsin.”

Paul Tracy “Mary Poppin’s 3rd cousin Steve never could get the wind currents right.”

Holly Kriel “NOT exactly what I thought when they said “Global Warming”. . . brr”

Rosemarie Breton “I just knew ATLANTIS was down there somewhere!”

Stuart Schwartz “Flawless? Not anymore…”

Marc Leach “FLAWLESS: Fat Lazy Ass With Little Excuse for Sheer Stupidity”

Pablo Parrothead “The gene pool could use a little chlorine…”

Mila Gabrielson “Being “over the hill” is much better than being under it.”

Ed C Scott ‎”’ding”’ next bus stop please”

Jimmy Durden “They see me rollin’, they baitin’, trollin’, tryin’ to catch me ridin’ Muskie”

Marc Leach “…and that’s pretty much how you french kiss. Next I’ll show you how to make a turdunken.”

Villasenor Vince “mom can i play outside”

Pablo Parrothead “Somebody turn on the blowers, these gasoline fumes must be getting to me…my boat just grew eyes!”

Mila Gabrielson “WOW! My boat looks really different after the second margarita…”

Holly Kriel “You’d look this happy too if you’d just been tugged!”

Kate Diggelmann DeLisa ‎”Maybe if I hold really still they’ll think I’m a boat…..”