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.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/camping-articles/the-basics-of-tent-camping-3533023.html

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!

Endangered Ocelot was sited in Southern Arizona

An Endangered Ocelot was sited in the Southern Arizona mountains earlier this month. Check out the video below.

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.

Source: Free Articles

 

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.

Source: Free Articles

How To Filet A Fish

We have seen a lot of people who cannot properly clean their fish after catching it so we thought we might offer a little guidance.

First, it is absolutely crucial that you have a very sharp knife. You can use an electric filet knife a lot, but you really have to have some experience to be able to use one properly. Using a standard filet knife, we prefer to use one with about an eight inch blade unless  filleting a large gamefish in which case you could break out a “Crocodile Dundee” Alaskan Filet knife.

To begin filleting the fish, place it on a sturdy surface preferably about waist high for comfort. Take the tip of the knife and insert it along the dorsal fin of the fish and make small cuts towards the head keeping the blade against the bones of the fin. Now make a deep cut right behind the gill plate from the belly vertically up to the back of the fish meeting the cut you made along the spine.

Now, go back to the spine area where you made your fist cuts and now take deeper cuts following along the spine and ribcage and then work your way towards the tail. Stop short of the tail leaving that intact so that the filet you have is still attached to the rest of the fish at that point. Turn the fish so that the belly is towards you now and make any cuts to separate your filet in that area, then flip the filet over so that the scales are down and the meat side is up. This is where you really need to be sure your knife is sharp, starting near the tail hold the blade of your knife close as possible to the skin of the fish and begin to slide the blade back and forth towards the shoulder of the fish until you have completely removed the meat from the skin.

The final step for this side of the fish is to check the lateral line for small bones and cartilage and the bloodline. Some fish such as amberjack will have a large bloodline which you will want to remove for optimum taste. After you are sure all the bones and bloodline have been removed place this filet to the side and start on the next side. Doing it in this order is a personal preference, you can also complete the filleting of the other side first and then do the fine tuning of removing the bloodline and small bones.

Source: Free Articles

 

Tips on Lake Fishing for a Great Outdoor Experience

For many years, lake fish have been classified under three general heads: game fish, food fish, and forage or bait fish.

The bass, trout, pike, pickerel, muskellunge, pike perch, etc., have been generally known as game fish because of their sporting value.

On the other hand, carp, suckers, some of the catfish, yellow perch, etc., have been considered as food fish. While this latter group has not been considered as furnishing the sport that the so-called game fish do, nevertheless, it has a real economic and recreational value.

Generally speaking, in lake fishing, words are really inadequate when it comes to describing the correct procedure in casting. The best way to learn how to cast is to go down to the beach, watch an expert at work, and try to do likewise.

Nevertheless, lake fishing can really be fun and the novice will quickly master the correct form in lake fishing. Therefore, to further harness their craft, here are some tips that could help the anglers on their lake fishing activity.

1. In lake fishing, as with other forms of fishing, a smooth, snappy stroke is required but not as snappy as when snapping a whip. This type of stroke will cause the loss of many flies.

2. Anglers should remember that it is the line that is cast, not the fly. The fly is but a passenger, which is attached to the leader.

3. Proper timing is an important factor on both the backcast and forward cast.

4. Know the fish habitat and the kinds of fish that inhabit the lakes. Some of them are the sunfish, and the small mouth black bass.

These kinds of fish can usually be found hiding near some submerged log or stump, or among the plants.

5. When catching big fish in the lake, it is best to use big, sturdy rods. Big fish like the bass usually attain a weight of 12 pounds, which usually inhabits the lake or pond. The reason why they grow really big is that in lakes or ponds, the food is both abundant and very rich.

Hence, to handles these sizes, the ideal length and weight of the rod is 8 ? feet in length and from 4 to four and three quarters of an ounce in weight.

Indeed, the fundamental principles in lake fishing are not difficult to master and with little patience and practice, the novice can become a successful angler in the lake.

Source: Free Articles

 

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.

Source: Free Articles

 

Arizona Wildlife Views

Here’s an episode of the AZ Wildlife series from the Arizona Game & Fish Department. An informative look into our lively desert climate.

Motorcycle Ride Out to Bartlett Lake

Here is a great HD video of a motorcycle ride out to Bartlett Lake. It was shot with a ContourHD Helmet cam clamped to the handlebars on Oct. 30, 2010. Thanks Soul4real.

Trick or Treat – Its Halloween

This Sunday is October 31st and Halloween. The weather has tempered from our long hot summer but its still beautiful down at Bartlett Lake Marina so come and spend the day and relax in preparation for a wild and scary Halloween.

Have you planned what to do with visitors who flood into Arizona over the holidays to escape the cold! With beautiful sunny days throughout the year we can enjoy the outdoors 365 days each year. Bartlett lake is open all year long and think how cool it would be to spend time on the lake with your visiting friends and relatives. Check out our great fleet of rental boats there is something for everyone. We have a variety of pontoon boats that can accommodate from 8 to 12 people and ski boats if you are feeling more active. Don’t forget that we also have some great Honda AquaTrax F12 jet skis that are available by the hour.

To book your day on the lake you can use our

Online Reservation System

or call:

602 316 3378

Bartlett Boat Club Holiday Offer
Give yourself and your family a gift this Holiday that will generate fun times all year long

The Bartlett Boat Club has just announced a holiday special offer. Sign up before the end of year and save $$s on the deal by securing 2010 rates. No regular dues to pay until you wish to start your membership in the spring of 2011.

Call now for more details and give your family a huge surprise come December – Can you wrap more than 10 boats and find room under the tree?

Join us on Facebook

Stay up to date with everything thats happening at Bartlett lake – Join us on Facebook. Look for our regular photo caption competitions were you could win a $25 gift card.

 

Become
a friend

Follow us
on Twitter

Link In
with Bryan