The Big Book of Camp Cooking

All too often, camp cooking turns out to be beanie weenies or grilled hot dogs and burgers.  When it is something more complicated, it’s often mom that is stuck preparing the meal and often stuck with clean up as well.  Who wants to spend every minute on a camping trip doing the same kind of work that has to be done at home, only in less convenient circumstances?

Sometimes, it’s no surprise that it’s often the moms who are resisting the camping trips.

It’s not impossible to simplify all of that, while still preparing delicious meals on that single burner stove, while leaving time for Mom to enjoy the beaches, fishing, hiking, swimming, and all of the other things that we all do when we camp out.  That’s what this cookbook is all about, and the recipes are written to ensure that meals are easy to prepare.

It’s available in both Kindle and paperback, and in plenty of time for summer camping fun too!

Get it right here.

Do It Yourself –dehydrated backpacker’s meals

Face it, whether you are a cyclist, backpacker, or just a compact camper, the commercially prepared freeze dried meals have been along on a trip or two.  Equally as often, you have not been too happy with the meal that resulted, as it failed in quantity, flavor, color, or texture.  I will never forget an experience with some chicken dish, I think it was sweet & sour with rice?  It looked like a puppy had barfed in the container, and the puppy barf might have tasted better.  (No, I have never tasted puppy barf, don’t intend to, and I also gagged at the taste of that stuff.)

Seriously though, on the trail, when you are depending on the meals you have brought along, having something be a total “FAIL” is more than disappointing, it can be a trip ruining disaster or worse.  We have to depend on what we have brought along, and it has been a huge investment in terms of labor and weight to get to the point of adding the boiling water.  Even with the amount of importance that trail food can have, that does not mean we need to have invested our life savings in the food for a two week hike.

Learning to make your own meals has a very steep learning curve.  I’ve tried doing a few things myself, with mixed results.  Then, today I read the most amazing book.  All of that trial and error experimenting has gone out the window, now I have a guide book to get me where I want to go without suspiciously sampling Meal X ever again.  It’s well written, has clear recipes, and solid information.  I’ll admit I have not tried any of the recipes yet (my dehydrator is still packed in a box…somewhere) but I have  no doubts that they are very accurate.

In addition, it allows us to take control of the contents.  My husband and I both need low-sodium meals, and that’s not something that has been addressed by companies such as Mountain House, even though I was told over a  year ago that low sodium meals were in the works.  Unlike many hikers, we no longer need high calorie meals either–due to health problems, we are not physically able to burn off 8,000 calories in a day.  Whether its on a bike or on foot, we now have a much more leisurely approach to the whole process, and our bodies demand we take the time to smell the flowers, experience the moment, and watch the birds flying by a lot more often than we did at twenty-something.  Even with that, we also can’t pack 60 pound packs over mountain tops, and weight is probably more important for us than ever before, as our strength is decreasing as well as our endurance.  Armed with these recipes, we can make the adjustments to the recipes to stick to our medical diets without worries.

So what is this mysteriously wonderful book?  It’s called Backpack Gourmet by Linda Frederick Yaffe.  It’s not new–it’s been out for over a decade, but I just read it via Kindle.  Thankfully, it’s not focused on faddish foods that will make us grimace at the ingredients, but remains just as relevant today as it was when it was initially published.  It’s also the very first book that I can honestly say, hey, here is a really good recipe book to use as a starting point to preparing good, inexpensive packable meals for backpacking, bicycle camping, or any other time we’d want to pack along fast and easy meals.

On that note though, I’m going to leave you taking a look at the book and trying to get your hands on a copy while I go hunt for the location of my dehydrator and vacuum sealer.  I have a feeling that vacuum sealing some of these meals before storing them will make them a lot easier to pack AND store.

Teardrops…an answer to a problem?

Teardrop campers.  They’ve been around for about 70 years now, and while the originals were probably far more tank-like than we’d want to have to tow behind the average family car today, they were…and are…the smallest campers on the market.  They also have a do-it-yourself option, as well as professionally designed and constructed models.

So why consider a teardrop camper?

For me, there were the issues of health problems leading to a serious issue with summertime camping.  I cannot tolerate the heat, especially when trying to sleep.  Living in the South, that means camping was out from about May until October.  For my partner, arthritis meant that cold wasn’t making it fun anymore either, especially sleeping on the cold ground, no matter how much insulation we had under us.

We’re also frugal, as well as “fiscally challenged.”  That means that we do not like to spend more than we need to, as well as cannot afford to spend much on anything.  Buying a fancy camper or RV is fine and dandy, until you realize that you can’t afford to take it on the road.  With gas prices predicted to hit new all time highs again this summer, no one wants a gas guzzling anything on the highway.

In addition, our mini-van can’t pull a “normal” sized camper efficiently.  We don’t want to get a vehicle with a bigger motor–it would also use more gasoline, and like most people, our camping is a small portion of our actual driving.  It just doesn’t make financial sense to invest more money to spend more money!

For years, as the duly elected camp cook, I had been saying that I needed a “kitchen trailer” that could be packed with the things I needed, and just stay packed, instead of loading totes and equipment into the van for each trip, then toting it into camp, only to pack it up and tote it home again.  As all camp cooks know, there are lots of volunteers when its meal time, but they all seem to disappear when it is time to do the dishes OR pack up the kitchen!

Having spent many nights in tents that had a pinhole right over MY side of the bed…or a leak in the floor…or water tracked in from the downpour outside…I knew that having a place to sleep that was out of the weather was also nice.  It is also fantastic when you pull into your campsite, whether in a primitive area or a campground, and don’t have an hour of set up to accomplish before you can relax.  It is also nice that when it’s time to go home, you don’t have to start breaking down and packing up three hours before departure, essentially sucking away that last half-day of your trip.

That’s why the teardrop camper sounds like a great idea to me.  Here’s why:

• Rear access kitchen is great for a couple or when cooking for a group with integrated storage and cooking surface.
• Interior has a sleeping surface that is indoors and can be climate controlled with air conditioner and furnace.
• Interior can also hold additional camping gear such as tent, hammocks, chairs, screen room, canopy, etc. for travel.
• Light weight, it can be towed by almost any vehicle, adding little to the cost of traveling by increased gas consumption.
• On extended trips, it’s actually possible to get a comfortable night’s sleep in your teardrop in a rest area, etc. rather than actually stopping at a campground to just sleep.

So the next question is…do you want to do it yourself or buy a professionally manufactured model?

That’s not as easy to answer for many people.  Building one yourself does require some skills that many of us may not have, as well as tools and work space to do it in.  It requires time too.  There are lots of plans out there to do it yourself, and there are some beautiful home made ones out there.  With that said, for domestic peace, many people may want to purchase one already built.

That’s where I decided I’d look first.  I really had no idea what was on the market or how much they cost.  For us, a big part of the whether-or-not-to-do-it-ourselves depends on prices.  We really don’t have the time, tools, or workspace to devote to building one, and I can see it disrupting our domestic tranquility immensely on the road to completion.  (Yeah, remember those honey-do lists?  Even inquiring on their status an earn a wife the label of “nag”.)

• Little Guy Trailers has a number of models.  Unfortunately, their website doesn’t include the MSRP, so I tried to find a dealer within reasonable driving distance.  There is one in Alabama, but the website kept erroring, leaving me frustrated on that front.  From what I could tell from my brief look at the dealer’s sparse website, it seems that their trailers are in the $8-10K range.
• Signa Tour Campers is another manufacturer.  Their models seem pretty sparse, and while they had MSRP for their standard models, they didn’t offer prices on options like air conditioning, which is very important in our case.  Their base models range from $3-6K.  Their models are rather “bare bones” and don’t offer anything in terms of a galley.  They are also the least expensive of the models I’ve found.
• Cozy Cruiser was next, and their model was pretty sharp looking by anyone’s standards.  It also runs about $13K and is built in Oregon, requiring buyers to arrange for pick up or delivery.  That’s a long ways from Mississippi to transport even a teardrop camper.  Even so, it did have a nice looking galley and appeared to have some very classic styling.
• Camp Inn had some trailers that really did appeal to me, and being manufactured in Florida was also nice.  I liked their website too, which was well designed and easy to navigate. Their trailers, available in several configurations, run about $8-19K, depending on which model with which accessories.  I can really see me in one of their 560 Ultra models.
• Big Woody Campers is a much smaller operation.  From the website, I wasn’t absolutely sure they are still building campers at all, as they still had references to placing orders to be ready for the 2011 camping season.  They also didn’t offer a model with air conditioning built in, which was high on my list of “must have” features.  They do, however, offer plans as well as a “U Finish” model.  The “U Finish” model has the exterior complete, and the buyer then finishes the interior and galley themselves.  That’s kind of a neat option if you are skilled but want to get a jump start, as the frame and skinning of the trailer seems to be the hardest and most time consuming part of construction.
• Texas Teardrops is another small company with an attractive model at five feet wide.  With a base price just under $6K, they do offer an air conditioning option, as well as numerous other options, such as the “marriage saving device” known as the second door.  I can see where the second door would be a very important feature as well.
• I’m not sure Utilitoy is still making trailers.  Their website is pretty bare bones, just like the trailer, although the photographs show a simple convertible utility/camping trailer that has two beds (1 queen, 1 full) television, and an air conditioner.  No galley though, and you have to email them for a quote on prices.
• Tiny Trailers also has no prices on their website.  These look like the traditional teardrops, and little is said about options or customizing one with an air conditioner.  This company is also based in Washington.
• TC Teardrops is based in Wisconsin and is another small builder.  Their trailers run from $3450-5000, plus options, but they don’t list air conditioning on their website.  The trailers seem to be pretty traditional in design, although the galleys don’t appear to be as “pretty” as  some.  Their largest model comes at about 950 lbs empty, so they aren’t featherweights in this category.
• JD Trailers offers a very bare bones model.  It’s got the right shape and exterior, but the curved rear does not form the hatch, and there is no galley.  At $3995, it’s not the cheapest on the market, but it is one of the lowest priced models.  Their website also offers a neat pop up motorcycle camper.
• Treehouse Trailers make a trailer that puts a whole new meaning on “woody.”  They have gorgeous exteriors, although the interiors and galleys are a mystery.  Based in Oregon, their trailers run $3-9K and look like very custom creations.
• Compact Construction seems to make two products: Murphy beds and tear drop trailers.  Other than both using wood, I’m not sure what they have in common though!  In either case, the trailers look sharp in the photos, and are pretty traditional.  Once again, no mention of air conditioning in them.
• Teardrop Trailer Parts has some trailers for sale, both finished and as kits.  These finished trailers seem to run from $5-9K each.  They also have various components to price if you are considering building your own.
• Tears O’ Joy seems to be one guy doing custom work, not that there is anything wrong with that.  It just means that there will be a much more individualized process and pricing schedule to go with it.  As of this point, I’m not sure he’s still building trailers or how long it takes to get a trailer from him.  He’s got a great site though, so it is worth taking a look at.
• Eggcamper Teardrop is a composite molded teardrop camper made in Michigan.  I like it because the bed is raised from the floor, allowing the campers to get in out of the weather and remove shoes/raincoat without anybody or the bed getting wet and muddy.  It looks like the rear galley may be open to the interior sleeping space…which sounds fine until you realize that here in the South, we not only have the heat and humidity, but an ample supply of biting insects to go with it.  No mention is made of my heart’s desire (air conditioning) either.  It’s supposed to be just under $10K.
• Teardrop72 is based in Utah and does entirely custom work with their base model starts at $3795, plus options.  While they don’t list air conditioning on their list, they do state that about anything can be added, so I’m sure it’s possible–just the price would be a mystery.  They are classic style, with few frills in the galley area, but the price tag is among the lowest in the list too.  It also doesn’t come with some of the things some models do, such as mattress, stove, etc.
• Quicksilvers has trailers designed to carry dogs…or their larger teardrops for humans.  Their high end model lists for $8500.  The photos on the website are mostly of exteriors, leaving the interiors somewhat mysterious.
• Silver Tears does mostly custom work from what their website indicates, and the prices are apparently just as customized.  Based in Virginia, the photos indicate that they produce very custom trailers with some very nice touches.
• Mega Minis is based in Indiana, and does custom teardrops just over $7K for the base models.  Of course, adding a couple of packages of their options, such as their convenience package and their comfort package, and it will run about $10K.  Their shape is a bit boxier, and the appearance inside seems more RV-like than custom hobbyist appearing.
• R-Pod by Forest River is really pushing the whole “teardrop” to the absolute limit.  It’s got a lot, but it is also about twice as heavy as the average traditional teardrop.  Even so, it does stay under the 3000# limit, I’m just afraid of the damage it would wreak on gas mileage.  Still, for a family with kids, this might be a better compromise.

I’m sure that’s not everybody.  I know I did not include any that were pop up or used fabric side/roofs.  There are a lot of ideas there too.  It also tells me that they don’t have to be expensive, although how much of their cost is passed on if you are buying a used teardrop camper.  Next, I suppose I’ll have to check out those who offer plans and designs.

 

 

The camp dork

We belong to an organization by the same name as this blog.  We do a lot of camping stuff, along with other outdoorsy stuff as well as emergency preparation.  But before we created the organization, we had a loosely organized group (not that we’re super organized now though) and we would go camping.

We have also always encouraged others to join in, and we’ve learned over time.  You can always pick out the camp dork when it comes time to cook.

Experienced campers have a pretty good idea of what works…and what doesn’t for camp food.  I know that I’m not going to cook a pot of beans if we’re primarily camping for hiking or fishing or some other activity.  If we are camping just to get out and away, we may well cook beans, because we are apt to hang out in camp a good portion of the day or evening.  I also know that when we’re out and about, people will just plain eat a lot more than they normally would.  I could flatter myself and say it was my cooking that inspired their appetites, but it’s not.  They just plain get hungrier.

Now the camp dork shows up to camp, and probably has the right gear, even if they aren’t so sure how to use it.  Their camping gear might be brand new even.  Their gear won’t scream “camp dork” right away, but it definitely will show up.  The food is apt to be the real clincher on “camp dork” status.

Just for the record, once you get pronounced the camp dork…it’s apt to be a very tough designation to ever live down!

Dinner time arrives, everyone starts getting food together…and they proudly contribute a whole box of frozen…corn dogs.

Camp dork status has been achieved.  What kind of person other than a dork would bring a box of frozen corn dogs to a late fall primitive camp out?

Seriously, I asked what he was going to do with those, wondering what kind of ingenious method he had for heating these things up.  His announcement was they were perfect for the fire, and already had a stick.

Yeah, sure, buddy….if you want cooked fingers before the corn dog is even scorched on the outside.

For the record, that’s probably the worst food on earth to take camping unless you are doing the RV thing.  We have no electricity, therefore no microwave.  We’ve got camp stoves, but no camp oven.  He doesn’t have so much as a skillet with him, but there are plenty of other options.  We let him try to “cook” his corn dogs, and the rest of us set about making food that is both hot and tasty, leaving him with the mission impossible of trying to heat that corn dog.

After thirty minutes, scorched knuckles, cold corn dog with burned breading…we suggested he put the corn dogs back and save them for home and come eat.  It was just too pathetic to keep on watching.

Sometimes, it’s not the dork in your own camp providing the entertainment, but a dork in the neighboring site in a campground that will provide your evening entertainment.  It will make you go buy a video camera, just so you can record the next dork incident, because of its extreme entertainment.

It was just such a dork that entertained us one evening at a camp ground in Louisiana.  We had set up the day before, and I’d cooked our meal on the picnic table with our handy camp stove.  The new neighbors arrived when I was first starting to prepare our meal, and backed their motor home in with a great deal of high drama and hand signals.  Finally in position, their awning was put out, along with camp chairs, a ground cover, and a few other items.

While I was waiting for the water to boil, I walked around and collected the few fallen sticks and pine cones from the storm the previous night, putting them in the fire pit.  We’d have a small fire for ambiance with our dinner, I decided.  Our neighbor, Mr. Dork, sent his wife out to duplicate the mission, and got out his bundle of pre-cut firewood and a can of charcoal starter fluid.  Dusk was falling, dinner was done, and we lit our fire as we sat down to eat.  I had a clear view of Mr. Dork, but GM was out of luck with his back to the Dorks campsite.

He squired the entire fire pit with what appeared to be about half a can of starting fluid.  Then, with a long barbecue lighter, he lit it.  It burned brightly for about five minutes and went out.  More fluid, and this time, he got out a leaf blower from the basement of his motor home.

Yes, an electric LEAF BLOWER!

He lights it, and with the leaf blower, proceeds to BLOW on the fire.  It goes out, and he demands that his wife find more sticks and pine cones.  He waits for her, administers more starting fluid, aims his leaf blower, and lights it again, before turning the leaf blower on the poor fire.  He did this over and over while we ate.  Finally, as we’re sipping our after dinner coffee, he gets disgusted, throws the leaf blower into a chair, and retreats inside the motor home and didn’t emerge again all evening.  His wife brought their dogs out periodically.

Only a real devout dork would use a leaf blower to try and start a camp fire.

Moral of these stories?

1. Don’t take corn dogs or leaf blowers on camping trips.
2. Know how to set up your tent and practice  setting it up at home.
3. Ask for help rather than pretending you know how to do everything.
4. Do some research before embarking on a camping trip.
5. Bring appropriate food and think about how you will cook it.
6. Don’t wear argyle socks with boots and shorts.
7. Leave your pocket protectors at home.
8. Wrinkled and tattered clothes are fine for camping, neatly pressed and coordinated outfits make you suspiciously dorkish.
9. All really “cool” campers are familiar with starting a fire easily–practice the skill!

With these hints, you too can avoid being the camp dork on your next trip.

Workshop to build a reflector oven

When I first started searching for a reflector oven, I wanted to purchase one.  Every company I found…it turned out they weren’t making them anymore, until I found a company that made non-folding beautiful ones that were way out of my price range.  Refusing to be defeated, I began searching for folding reflector oven plans.  That search didn’t go much better, and left me frustrated too.

Finally, I had a set of plans that appeared to be for an actual working folding reflector oven.  The next step was materials.  That was a bit disappointing.  It seems that metal sheeting isn’t exactly a hot item in home improvement supplies.  The best I can do locally is with a roll of wide aluminium flashing…with a hefty price tag to go with it.  Granted, it will make many ovens, but I don’t want many ovens.  I want one functioning reflector oven that I can cook a small turkey in.  That’s all.

In addition to this blog, we also maintain a website for Get Ready GO, at www.get-ready-go.com and we also have a physical Meet Up group (www.meetup.com) called Get Ready Go that is our “non-profit social organization” branch.   We have an amazing amount of interest in terms of “folding reflector oven” which indicates that I’m not the only one who wants one.  So, the logical thing to do is to have a workshop!

Get Ready GO will be hosting a workshop on Saturday, August 27th, at 10 a.m.  It’s a super inexpensive way to learn how to make your own reflector oven with some help (and tools!) to do the job.  It’s only $20 material fee per person, open to members and their guests only, and everyone must be an adult.  There will even be lunch!  MeetUp.com is free for membership, and anyone can join Get Ready Go too.

The meet up is being held in the Pascagoula, Mississippi area, convenient for anyone living anywhere between New Orleans, LA and Pensacola, FL or as far north as Hattiesburg, MS.  Reservations must be made (and paid for) before August 13th, and there will be no refunds for cancellations after August 13th, although a “make up” date will be offered to anyone who is unable to attend the day of the workshop.  A minimum of four attendees (besides the 3 hosts) is required, and if the minimum is not met, we’ll refund any fees paid.

Just to make it even more fun, if the fire ban in the area is lifted, we’ll bake lunch in a reflector oven just to show how well they work!  Besides, it would give me a great excuse to see if a turkey really will fit in one, wouldn’t it?

Previous entry about folding reflector oven is found here.

Smelling the coffee

Wake up and smell the coffee was my Granddad’s favorite expression when what he meant was that it was long past the time that someone should have been paying attention to events and circumstances around them.  It was an expression I often heard when he was lecturing me.

In terms of the Great Outdoors, smelling the coffee can be a wondrous event.  It can turn a cold and dreary day into something wonderful.  It can attract a potential new friend faster than anything in the world, as the aroma drifts outwards through the woods and campground.  It can fuel conversations, mend frazzled nerves, and restore confidence.

Fresh brewed coffee doesn’t have to be something you ONLY enjoy at home.  It also doesn’t have to be the foul tasting and murky stuff that I’ve tasted at many a campfire.  It can go glamping, car camping, or even backpacking with you.

There’s a number of low-tech ways to make coffee in camp.  The simplest is what we always called “boiled coffee.”  Ground coffee, preferably a coarse grind, was simply dumped into a pan of water, brought to a boil, simmered a minute or two, and then a cup of cold water was added to the mixture to “settle the grounds.”  If you don’t like chunks, some kind of straining arrangement is best.  It’s simple, but it’s not necessarily the best camp coffee you’ll ever drink.  The cost of this method is actually zero–you can use any pot out of your mess kit.

The percolator travels well for car camping or glamping, and perks cheerfully on a camp stove or camp fire.  It isn’t quick, but it is best for a group of several avid coffee drinkers, as it makes more cups at a time.  These pots range from small 4 cup versions to massive 16 cup ones, and come in a variety of materials such as enameled steel, aluminum, and stainless steel.  While they aren’t the cheapest, the best percolators for camping are the stainless steel, and with reasonable care, they will last for a lifetime of campfire coffee.  The costs of pots vary according to the quality of the pot, but the cheapest run about $14 on up to over $50 for large stainless steel pots.

For a single or couple, especially if they are fond of drip coffee, the simplest method is a portable filter holder (Melitta makes a plastic one for under $5)  This handy gizmo looks somewhat like a misshapen cup on a saucer, but it is designed to perch on top of your mug, hold a paper filter and ground coffee, and then be filled with boiling water.  The boiling water soaks the grounds and then drips out into your mug.  While it’s not the fastest–it takes a minute or two for a mug full of coffee to drip through, it does mean each and every cup is totally fresh.  There are also some versions with metal mesh “permanent” filters, eliminating the  need for disposable paper filters.  Coffee quality is good and they are compact & lightweight enough to fit anywhere, including a backpack.

For the coffee connoisseurs, there are stovetop expresso pots and coffee presses, capable of delivering coffee capable of making any barista proud.  These also range in price from about $15 for the least expensive models, on up to over $100 for more expensive versions.  A bit heavier than the filter holder for drip coffee, they can satisfy the gourmet coffee drinkers in the Great Outdoors.

For truly gourmet coffee, grinding it fresh for each batch is essential.  This too is possible, with hand held grinders.  GSI makes one version designed specifically for the backwoods gourmet.  I’ve not used them myself, so I can’t say whether they truly can achieve expresso-fine grind or the coarse grind a press requires, but something in between is certainly possible.  There again, the gram conscious backpacker isn’t going to be thrilled with the additional weight of these coffee accessories, but they do exist and they are small enough that divided among a small group, are certainly possible to take on the most strenuous of hikes.

So, wake up and smell the coffee…every day while camping!

Your library and camping?

Anytime we embark on a new hobby or activity, we become novices.  We might be experts in our field or other hobbies/activities…but in the new one, we are all as green as can be.  We are dumb, we don’t know what to do, we don’t know how to achieve our goals, and we don’t even know for sure what kind of gear or tools would work best to enjoy ourselves while we learn.

It’s tough being the “dumb” one in the crowd, but its even tougher when your alone and the dumb one.  In some activities, being alone and being dumb is a guaranteed recipe for disaster.  Some disasters can be fatal.

Fortunately, most of us come equipped with something known as “common sense” when it comes to being dumb and involved in a new activity.  This common sense factor can save our butts often, and it also pushes us to fill in some of our ignorant gaps before they do get us in a jam.  With many activities, little will substitute for actual hands on, but a good grasp of the basics can go a long ways towards achieving hands on with minimal pain, agony, fear, uncertainty, and wasted effort.  To get this grasp of the basics, especially when we lack the benefits of a mentor, we can resort to that age old method called “research.”

For most of us, one of our first stops for research will be the internet, and there IS an amazing amount of information available on the internet.  Much of it is in the same form as this blog or our website.  This is great, but sometimes we need things in a clear and concise format, with everything lined out in front of us, easy to take along and use while we’re indulging in our new camping hobby.

Books are ideal for this.  They are portable and easy to reference, most of us have been using books since early childhood.  They don’t require charging, batteries, or electric plugs to work either.  Books are also not cheap, and not all of them work for everyone.  Therefore, the first stop on the book front is going to be the library, where not only the stacks in our local branch have camping information, but there is also something called an “inter-library loan” where we can access books at many libraries, right from our local branch.

Why bother with the library for camping books?

It’s simple–you can take a look at the book, read it, digest what it has to offer as best you can, and then make an informed decision about whether or not you want to purchase a copy for yourself to take along for those times when you wonder what you should do.

So what are my qualifications to evaluate camping books?

Okay, so I’ve not done it all in terms of camping.  I have camped in California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri, Wyoming, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida.  I’ve camped on the beaches of the Gulf Coast, a number of mountain ranges in the West, the hot Mohave desert, the Sonoran desert, sand dunes, forests, lake shores, swamps, and more than one dump (literally, but that’s a long story.)  I’ve heard opera singing echoing through a canyon, elk bugling in the fall, the howls of a wolf pack echoing through the mountains, been rained on, flooded out, had my tent collapse, nearly froze to death, been snowed on, ran out of food, ran out of water, forgot the coffee, been scared to death, encountered “desert rats” and full time forest residents of dubious legality, stealth camped, slept in a bedroll in the open, used a variety of tents, camped in RVs, trailers & converted vans, lived in camps for nearly a month, “travel-camped”, camped with kids, camped in a crowd, solitary camped, camped with dogs…I’ve tried a lot of things, sometimes on purpose.  I would put myself in the “somewhat skilled” category of American campers.

So I hit our local library’s online catalog and selected the books I wanted to take a look at before I recommended them to anyone.  Soon, I had a call–they were holding the books for me.  (Libraries are wonderful places, by the way!)

The slimmest was my first selection to skim through, and it was titled “Practical Camping Handbook” by Peter G. Drake.  It sounds wonderful, but…it didn’t quite live up to its title for American campers.  It turns out that the author, Peter G. Drake, is from the United Kingdom, and some of the wording was peculiar (to Americans anyhow) and some of the gear he discussed isn’t commonly available here.  The same went for a number of other issues that he wrote about–it just does not apply to most Americans when they are camping.

Woodall’s Campground Directories are geared more for RVers and vacationers, listing all kinds of information about commercial RV parks, campgrounds, etc. but they do also include a LOT of information about things in various regions to see and do.  For those planning a vacation camping trip, taking a look at the current edition at the library as part of your pre-vacation research & planning might be an excellent idea.  I wouldn’t recommend purchasing the book for camping purposes, although it is an excellent reference for full time RVers and frequent travelers.

Out of the initial trio of camping titles that came home to be read, the best option was Camping for Dummies.  The “Dummies” books are consistent in format and quality of information, and while it may not cover EVERYTHING there is to know, it’s a very complete camping reference book.  It may be a bit large to put in  your backpack, but it is still one I’d recommend for most people to purchase.  It’s just a solid reference book with a variety of topics.  (I may buy myself a copy, just because it is good reference material!)  I genuinely liked the book and its overall tone–it doesn’t talk down to the reader, nor does it assume they have acquired some secret language with technical overtones in regards to camping.  Skimming through it, I didn’t find a single thing that made me go “whoa, that’s not true” or “that’s not really accurate or correct.”

These three will be heading back to the library, as I await the next batch to arrive for me to check out.  Hopefully, it will include other gems like the Camping for Dummies book, and omit the not-very-good ones like the Practical Camping Handbook.  Check out your local library–it offers you a variety of resources, some of which may come as a huge surprise if you have not visited it recently, like e-books, dvds, computers, and the wide variety of books.  Best of all, unlike renting dvds or buying books yourself, it’s all free!

In this economy, finding free entertainment and information is like getting free money (maybe better!)

The camp kitchen

The camp kitchen is what produces the meals when we’re out in the Great Outdoors.  It’s going to provide you with the fuel to enjoy your time in the Great Outdoors, so it does deserve some thought and effort.

For the backpacking crowd, it’s going to be very simple and compact–a ultra-light stove and lightweight mess kit, with freeze dried food packages for meals, and maybe, just maybe, some spices to jazz up things.  The entire kit is apt to weigh in barely over a pound, plus fuel.

For the car camping crowd and base camps, kitchens can be more elaborate, but at the same time, nobody wants it to be excessively complicated, heavy, or bulky.  We do want it to be convenient, compact, and sturdy though.  There are a few “camp kitchens” on the market, my favorite design is from Cabela’s and costs just over $100–which is a fair amount of money for something that no one is sure will actually WORK and be durable enough to last a decade or more.

Right now, my “camp kitchen” consists of the various pieces of gear, a table, a plastic tote (or two or three, depending on how many people are actually going on the trip and how complicated the meals are going to be) and two tool boxes, one of which is outfitted with spices and seasonings, the other is outfitted for drinks.  It isn’t particularly compact or convenient, although it has worked for several years.  If I am cooking a meal for more than just GM & I, I typically run out of space, can’t find my essential tools and other items, and spend excessive amounts of time being aggravated by the jumbled mess of our “food box.”

There has to be a better way!

Once upon a time, back when I was a solo camper, my kitchen all fit in one of the tool boxes still in service today.  It held a propane stove, my mess kit, a few basic utensils & flatware, and a couple of seasonings to add to my food.  There was even a can of non-stick spray in the kit.  It was efficient and it worked…for one.  A small cardboard box held my food, along with a couple of bottles of propane and a cheap dollar store non-stick skillet.  A compact AA powered “lantern” was in the cook kit too, and a spare rode in the glove box of the Jeep.  I actually always carried my camping gear in the Jeep, only taking it out if I was going somewhere with passengers in the vehicle.  All I had to do when I was heading out to camp was make a quick stop at the grocery store for food (or raid the pantry at home) and I was on my way.

Since then, I’ve become less of a loner in the wilderness and go camping with GM and often with an entire group of friends.  I’m still the camp cook, partly out of desperation (I’m a good cook, and not all campers are) and partly because I genuinely enjoy the process of camp cooking.  That means I have a more extensive set up than most people, however, as I may be cooking from 2-20 people on any particular trip, and many novice campers come camping without plates, etc.  I actually have enough plates to serve about 20 people in my “big” kit.

It’s not such a big deal to haul the big kit to a big camp out, because there are more people to help with unloading, etc. but when its just GM & I, we don’t want the big kit, and its a pain to set up an alternate smaller kit.  It usually ends up as a jumbled mess.  I want a compact kit that provides me with space for everything and still be portable, without any component that is over 50 lbs, even fully loaded.

So what would this fantastic bit of carpentry actually have to hold?

1. a sink composed of 2 dishpans with divots to allow them to be lifted out and emptied
2. dishwashing essentials storage (soap, sponge, cloth, scrubber)
3. a rack for 5 gallon water jug for washing and cooking
4. a surface to hold stove(s)
5. a spice rack
6. utensil rack
7. storage for plates, cups, & bowls
8. storage for nesting mixing bowls & colander
9. Storage for pots & pans
10. Storage for coffee pot & fixings
11. Pantry to hold cans, vegetable oil bottle, non stick spray, & canisters with pancake mix, flour, sugar, etc.
12. storage for knives & flatware
13. work surface with cutting board
14. cooking area for using stove
15. stove storage
16. fuel for stove storage
17. table for dining
18. rack for cooler
19. location for power strip
20. storage for clamp on electric lamp
21. Hook to hang propane lantern
22. Storage for propane lantern

That’s a lot to ask from anyone, let alone my drafted cabinet maker, the mysterious Mr. GM!

Would it all be wood?  

Wood can be heavy and bulky, but it is easy to work with.   It is also flammable, another important consideration when designing our portable kitchen.  Wood also does not like rain, and face it…every camper gets rained on, and in the South, it’s more likely than not that you will be rained on during part of your excursion.  Planning on rain is a good idea!  That means that the entire kitchen needs to be as water proof as possible, with an easy-to-close pantry area to keep food items and utensils dry.  Some features, such as legs, might be better made out of PVC pipe, which is another easy-to-work with component.  Other features, such as the hanging area for a propane lantern, should be metal if possible, because of the heat from the lantern.  Metal would be a good option around the cooking area too, in case of fuel or food being spilled somehow.

Not all surfaces need to be solid either–many surfaces can use straps or slats to support other things rather than a solid piece of wood.  This helps to reduce weight and bulk.  Waterproof canvas can also keep weather out of a particular space, possibly even better than a wood surface, and can be used anywhere that structural strength is needed.

So how will we figure out how to build this mysterious kitchen?

First we’ll need to figure out exactly what it needs to actually hold.  Then, we’ll start imagining and sketching on paper, noting some basic dimensions of items such as dishes, pots & pans, etc.  We will estimate costs, and see whether our idea is within our means.  We will talk about it, then we’ll do any last minute revisions, and only then will we go pick up the supplies we’ll need to actually BUILD our dream camping kitchen.

Right now, my mental picture has it created in four “boxes” or sections.  One box is the stove with storage for pots, pans, utensils, coffee pot, and fuel.  The pantry area would also hold the dishes, flatware, and mixing bowls.  A third box would hold the sink, washing essentials, water jug rack, and cooler rack.  The fourth box would contain the table and work surface with cutting board.  That’s still a HUGE jump to actually having the boxes built, with convenient carry handles on the ends, and ready to load for their inauguration trip.

What would YOUR dream camp kitchen hold?

 

 

So you want to go glamping, huh?

So you want to go glamping?

Have you priced a stay at a glamping resort?

Do you know how much those fancy tents COST?

It doesn’t have to be an out-of-reach experience.  Glamping is the perfect answer when the camping fanatic is hooked up with someone who just doesn’t find any romance in the idea of roughing it and sleeping between a rock and a hard place.  Glamping is also the ideal answer when the fact is…you are past the days of finding the idea of sleeping between that rock and hard place fun and more towards worrying about how you are going to feel the next day.

It is the perfect compromise between tent camping and resort stays.

With some effort and some creativity, and maybe a little know-how, it is possible to put together a real glamping kit without breaking the bank, one that will allow you to make MANY trips into the great wild world without subjecting your pampered princess (or prince) to the discomforts of sleeping on a thin pad in a sleeping bag and dining on freeze dried food served in the envelope.

Don’t believe me?

I’ve done half of the shopping for you.  All you have to do is select which items you prefer…and voila!  You will have your glamping kit all ready to pack up and take along.

Go to Exogeny Network’s Glamping page…and there it is.  One item after another, all selected for easy shopping for putting together your glamping kit.

Here are your basics for an easy check list:

Tent

Floor coverings

Bed frame & mattress or self contained raised air mattress

Bedding

Fans

Gazebo

Outdoor mat/rug

Bed side table

Chairs

Tables (2)

Camp Kitchen

Camp Stove

Cooking set

Dining set

Table cloth

Dorm size refrigerator or cooler

Small electric lamp

Small battery or propane lantern

Electric set up (2 extension cords, 2 power strips)

Assemble the basics.  (Don’t forget to treat the seams & fly in gazebo & tent!) After that is done, you still have to pack your clothes, food, and other essentials.

After everything is packed, don’t leave too late to arrive at your chosen campground!  Setting up a glamping experience isn’t something to do in the dark, especially the first time.  It also takes longer.  You should have an idea how long it takes to set up the tent and gazebo after waterproofing their flies and seams.  Add another hour to set up the flooring and furnishings inside of the tent, and about the same to arrange everything in the gazebo.  (It is likely to be 3-4  hours–it takes longer to have luxury!)

Plan a simple meal for that first night, whether its Chinese take out or a prepared meal brought from home (or the deli!)  Relax, have a glass of wine, eat some cheese…and enjoy the experience.

Glamping versus camping

A new term came to my attention this morning when I got up hours before the sun, courtesy of my insistent insomnia.  The internet is an amazing thing sometimes, and so are forums.  This amazing concept is typically called “glamping” and may appeal to those who have a significant other who just isn’t into roots and rocks for sleep texture, and wonder where to plug in their hair dryer in the morning.

Okay, I’ll admit…I don’t always want to “rough it” when I head out on a camping trip.  I don’t LIKE sleeping snuggled between a rock and a sharp place, and I’ve done my time doing it.  Sometimes, we’re out and on the road, traveling for whatever reason…and we want to have a bit more convenience and comfort than that backpacker’s ultra light minimalist tent with a mummy sleeping bag and freeze dried dinner in a bag.

So…I suppose I could be accused of “glamping” on occasion.  I have done things like take electric heaters, electric lamps, tables, chairs, laptops,  etc. along.  We have a giant sized (for two people anyhow) Coleman Red Canyon tent that while it’s incredibly drafty in winter, it also offers an amazing amount of space to stretch out and set up for comfort.  So what IS the difference between glamping and car camping really?

Glamping is more about luxury and glamour than car camping traditionally is.  It’s more likely to include luxuries such as air conditioning, attractive and spacious tents, floor coverings, and furniture than regular car campers will include.  Glamping doesn’t include RVs per se…but we all know that many RVs are really all about glamour!  True glamping is apparently done in a luxurious and spacious tent, however, and can easily include plenty of “Arabian Nights” kind of romantic accessories.

And here I was…trying to down size my camping gear when I had the perfect excuse to go glamping and bring even more!

So what is really the entire point of glamping rather than merely going camping?  Glamping is camping when you really aren’t going to be roughing it and don’t want to.  Glamping would work for a base camp on a dream vacation, especially in situations when “roughing it” might not be the best choice, like perhaps for a honeymoon whether its your first or second.  It’s how a couple can reach a compromise and enjoy a vacation together too–not everyone is willing to go rough it in the wilderness.

In addition, glamping may be the least expensive way to ease that spouse into the camping world because often, many of your home furnishings (or second hand ones purchased to take along) can make the trip, assuming you have the cargo space to manage them.

Start with the largest tent you can manage, both in terms of price and ability to set it up.  This is your mansion, so make sure you have done things like seal seams and waterproof the fly.  If its a new tent purchased for the trip, read reviews.  You want it to be sturdy, easy to get in and out of, and definitely waterproof.  Straight sided tent walls mean more usable floor space too.  Use one or more tarps underneath the tent to protect the floor and prevent migration of moisture through the tent floor (as well as to keep it clean.)  I find that using multiple smaller tarps is usually less expensive and easier to manage than a giant sized tarp.  Cheap tarps work just fine here, and no one sees them after you are finished setting up the tent.  Fold any excess under the edge of the tent–you do not want any of it protruding out, channeling rain or dew under  your tent.  Don’t forget to use ALL of the guy out points on the tent and rain fly to increase the tent’s stability.

The ultimate glamping tent is supposedly a canvas tent, of much the same type as is used in renaissance fairs and other re-enactments.  These heavier tents are more difficult to set up, weigh more, are more bulky in storage, and require more maintenance than the less expensive and more common camping type of synthetic fabric tents.  However, many of these tents will allow the addition of features such as wood burning stoves, ready made boots for air conditioners, etc. as well as having heavier fabric less likely to readily exchange heat.  Teepees, yurts, etc. are also options that can be considered for glamping housing options.

Your second accessory will be a screened in canopy to eliminate insects from the equation while allowing everyone to be “outdoors.”  Make sure the roof is also waterproof, just in case of rain during your glamping excursion.  Make sure that the entrance/exit is easy to use, as this is frequently the failure point of screened in gazebos.  Also stake the gazebo down as much as the design allows–this makes it more stable in the event of a gust of wind.

Floor coverings are next.  You want to create an air of luxury, but you don’t want to have too much bulk, weight, or something that turns into a giant sponge in the event of rain.  Some suggested coverings are things like the outdoor mats that allow easy passage of moisture through them (check for outdoor mats like are used on RV patio areas) or cotton drop cloths (like painters use.)  Inside your screened in gazebo, if no floor is included, a tarp as a moisture barrier might be an excellent starting point, followed with “astro turf” cut to fit the interior space.  This material can be purchased at most Home Depots and Lowe’s fairly inexpensively.  Make sure to fold the tarp under layer up along the edges of the gazebo walls to prevent moisture from entering in the event of rain.

Now comes the furniture.  The truly creative ones with bigger budgets can explore the world of “campaign furniture” from the 18th and 19th century and the pinnacle of the British Empire.  You’ll see some ingenious portability there!  Duplicating the designs may be a much more affordable route than purchasing the original antiques, and some reproductions may be commercially available.  This stuff is truly “fine furniture” that you wouldn’t be adverse to using in your own home, and will feature decorative trims, techniques, etc. as well as multiple purpose natures combined with extreme portability.

You are not stuck exploring just “camping furniture” in this effort either.  Any furniture that folds up or breaks down into parts that can be assembled with few or no tools is a potential glamping piece of furniture.  Its a good idea to choose pieces that would dry quickly or be impervious to water exposure.  You will want at least a table with seating, a raised bed, and chairs.  Extras such as a night stand, foot stools, clothing storage, portable toilet, and desk may also be necessary or desired.

For the bed, the most practical solution would be an air mattress on a frame, raising it above the floor.  Typically these are only available in twin or queen size, but the choices of those two sizes should work for most people and still allow them to use bedding from home.  That can save a bit of change–no sleeping bags or pads required.  (Cabella’s sells the frame for air mattresses, and Amazon has one as well.)  Don’t forget things like the mattress pad, sheets, comforters, pillows, etc.

Tables come in a variety of sizes, heights, portability, weight, and types.  I happen to love the folding frame topped with a wooden top that rolls, but it has been unavailable for a number of years.  A new version uses aluminum slats.  There are also plastic and other metal tables that fold, as well as the “tv tray” made of wood or metal that can become small tables.  Use table clothes, vinyl or fabric, to cover whatever tables you choose to use–it’s part of the whole look, and should coordinate with your other fabrics.

Portable chairs come in a variety of colors, sizes, types, and prices.  Choose chairs that not only coordinate, but are comfortable.   Chaise lounges can be the typical lawn chair type and topped with a throw too.  There are also inflatable sofas, although I have no idea how comfortable or practical they would be, even in a glamping scenario.  You will want seating in the gazebo and inside the tent.  Another item that may be worth your time and attention will be the portable closet.  There are a lot of them on the market–look for one that assembles & disassembles easily, as well as offers adequate storage space for your use during your glamping excursions.  Since most of these are not designed for glamping, you may need to invest in a storage container or bag to keep it all together without losing pieces between excursions.

Finally, don’t forget your power supplies.  You will need at least two heavy duty outdoor type extension cords, and two “power strips” to attach to them.  One goes to the gazebo, and the other goes to the tent, which means that your power supply is somewhat limited.  In addition, most campgrounds are only going to be rated for about 30 amps per campsite, but this should not be a problem even while glamping.

For your tent, minimum appliances will include a lamp, and then a either a fan (summer) or an electric heater (winter.)  Other items such as a second lamp, alarm clock, electric blanket, etc. can be added as needed.  Portable air conditioners, which vent through a hose, can also be used in hot climates for summer outings.  Standard window units, usually far less expensive than the “portable” units, require extensive modifications to use in a tent, such as creating the opening and a way of securing it around the unit, as well as a rack system for supporting the unit in the tent wall.

Most glampers are going to locate the kitchen in the gazebo or in another tent rather than the primary one, allowing the dedication of the space to cooking and dining rather than making it a dual purpose space.  Even so, the luxury doesn’t stop before you hit the kitchen.  So what are some requirements?

Lighting–you’ll need lighting besides the romantic lighting for dinner.

Stove–forget backpacking stoves here.  You want two burners, preferably propane fueled, and possibly an oven.  There is an actual stove that includes these in a single unit, but it isn’t cheap.  Amazon lists the Camp Chef stove at $203.95 but offers free shipping.  Beware…the oven IS small!  Camp Chef also makes a two burner stove on legs that uses a regular bbq size propane tank, also sold via Amazon for $129.95 at the time of this writing.  Traditional Coleman type stoves can use either the small 1 lb. canisters or the larger bbq sized tanks (converters may be required).  Racks to hold these smaller stoves are also available from most camping retailers.  Important features to look for?  Matchless ignition is a great feature!

To simplify outfitting your kitchen, you can start with a camp kitchen unit that even includes a kitchen sink such as this one from Cabela’s.  ($119.99 at this time)  Don’t forget to include a bucket to allow disposal of your used wash water, as many campgrounds forbid allowing gray water to spill onto the ground.  For pots and pans, your camp cook’s favorite utensils and pans from home can be used in camp, keeping things very simple.

cabelas deluxe camp kitchen

Don’t forget a cooler, or if you are truly going all-out, a dorm sized refrigerator, which actually can be purchased for about the same price as a good quality cooler.  Dorm size refrigerators are also available in two-door designs, with a small size freezer to store ice cream or a bag of ice for iced drinks in summer.  One of the advantages of the dorm size refrigerator is avoiding the melting ice issues.  Not only does more ice need to be purchased regularly during your stay, but the resulting water from the melting ice can ruin food and create a mess.  Other useful or desirable appliances may be things like a toaster oven, toaster, slow cooker, coffee maker (try to get one without a glass carafe to save issues with breakage), and compact microwave.   Another useful item is a sturdy water jug with a spigot, allowing water use in the camp kitchen to become more convenient.  These jugs can be refilled at the campsite’s water spigot, so the capacity doesn’t need to be immense.

Most campgrounds have showers and flush toilets.  If you are camping where these amenities are missing, (very unusual if there is power, but sometimes the showers/toilets are seasonal), you will want alternatives.  Hot water on-demand units designed for portable use exist, and typically use propane to power their water heating abilities.  Solar showers can also be used, although you may want to heat the water with some other method rather than wait for the sun to do it for you.  There are numerous portable toilets as well, and these may be a great idea for night use even if there are restrooms available, saving midnight rushes to the restroom a block away.  Small pop up shelters designed specifically for use with showers and portable potties are available, and usually are easy to set up.  You do NOT want to set up a shower inside of your tent or gazebo, although you may want it nearby.

Don’t forget your pets in your glamping excursions either!  Their usual beds and toys can make the trip, but consider adding additional items such as a playpen (for very small dogs) or crates, as your tent is not as “secure” as your home is in achieving the required safe confinement of your pet.  Also be aware, it is nearly a universal requirement that all pets be on leashes not over 6′ in length at all times and that they are never left in the campsite unattended.  If you are doing the tourist thing, this may require extra planning.  It is too hot most of the year to leave a pet for even short periods of time inside of a car, which means that someone needs to always be with the pet.  For some families, leaving the pet behind in a kennel or with friends might be the wisest choice.  Scheduling your glamping trips in the colder weather of winter, when leaving your pet in the car for short periods of time is possible, may be another choice.  A third choice is bringing along a pet sitter who is specifically along to stay with the pet while you are busy.  Some families may also opt to board their pet for a few days or use pet day care while vacationing, allowing them the best of both worlds.  If this is your plan, make sure you have copies of your pets’ vaccination records and that they are all current & up to date, and make reservations.  Double check the kennel’s requirements about shots and update anything necessary prior to your planned departure.  Using day care in the locations you are visiting may allow you to enjoy your pets company in camp, keep the expense of boarding minimal, and yet get maximum enjoyment out of your vacation.

All that is left is to add the accessories you will use during your glamping vacation, such as sun screen, clothing, towels, washcloths, personal hygiene items, food, spices, dinnerware, flatware, etc. much like you would be using if you stayed in a cabin somewhere.  But then comes the problem of getting all of this gear to your selected location without spending more than you have to.  This is going to be a lot of gear, more than the typical passenger car can comfortably hold.

The solution for hauling all of this can range from getting a larger vehicle for the trip to using a cargo trailer to haul it all.  For many people, the least expensive and most practical solution will be to have a hitch installed and purchase or rent a small cargo trailer to carry their glamping gear.  U-Haul has a “sport” trailer that is towable by any passenger car and carries 45 cubic feet of gear, probably the smallest rent-able cargo trailer on the market.  Their next size up is 4×8, a substantially sized trailer that smaller cars may not be able to tow.  Small open cargo trailers, sold as kits from companies such as Harbor Freight, are often even “foldable” and will go on sale for roughly $350.  Some of these will require their new owners to install a “deck” of plywood to render them usable for hauling your camping gear, and plywood can be used to create side walls to help secure your gear as well.  Once your trailer is loaded, you want to ensure it is securely tied down, whether or not you are using a tarp to weather proof it for the journey.  Cargo nets or ropes are used for this task.  These trailers are also used to build modified tear drops for use for glamping too–the tear drop camper is constructed with the full service kitchen and electrical connectors to power it from the power outlet in the campsite, and the “sleeping compartment” becomes the cargo space for hauling the other gear.  Some glampers use the sleeping area for their bed space and permanently install their air conditioning unit, etc. in it, and the tent becomes the “living space” for the remainder of their time.  This is another option, and for some glampers, it’s a better option.

To ensure your glamping experience isn’t an exercise in misery, don’t forget the following:

1. Set up all equipment at least once  at home prior to leaving.
2. Have a check list of what order things need to be set up and who will set each item up.
3. Estimate the amount of time needed to set up camp.  Glamping excursions are more intensive in terms of set up and tear down.  New equipment also takes longer to set up, due to a lack of familiarity, than equipment that has been used numerous times before.  With more practice, both set up and take down get faster and more efficient, and the more people there are to help, the faster both are.
4. Have a check list of what order things need to be loaded into the vehicle (or trailer) for easy set up in camp.
5. Plan your travel so that you arrive at your campsite with enough time to set up before dark.  Try to have some “wiggle room” in case of travel incidents like flat tires, wrong turns, detours, heavy traffic, etc.
6. Plan a quick & easy meal for that first night in camp, or bring along take-out food.
7. Use lists for each person’s personal items, from clothing to bedding and personal hygiene.
8. For tear down, make a list of what needs packed first, and which items need disassembled first. Calculate the amount of time required.  This is important, as most campgrounds have a “check out” time, and you will need to at least be close to this time frame, as well as have enough time to return home and unpack.
9. Most of all, don’t panic when you realize something has been forgotten.  It’s a fact of life these days in America…we’re never far from a Walmart!  (or other store)  Forgotten items can be replaced, whether its shampoo, dog food, or bed sheets.
10. Always police your campsite before departure, picking up stray bits of trash that may have escaped attention before, and ensuring that nothing has been left behind.  Most “lost” equipment happens at the departure point, whether it is left on top of the vehicle to blow off or left behind at the campsite during loading.

Camping does not have to be an endurance test.  It doesn’t have to be an exercise in deprivation.  The primary purpose of camping is to exchange your normal environment for one with new and improved scenery, usually of the natural sort.  Camping is about creating a portable home-away-from-home that suits the individual and his or her companions.  While purists may object to trailers, RVs, spacious tents, air conditioning, heaters, comfortable beds, elaborate kitchens, and electronic devices, these too have a place at the campground, and offer camping to a variety of people that cannot or will not sleep on the ground in a sleeping bag in a tent for whatever reason.  Don’t look down on these campers as being “sissies” or “tenderfeet”–many of them have paid decades of dues on the trail humping a backpack up one slope after another.  Many others have spent a lifetime wishing they were capable of it.  Glamping can offer camping to more people that otherwise would miss out on the experience, whether it is due to health issues or fear.  It lets those who have a spouse who is unwilling or incapable of “roughing it” still get out and enjoy nature.  It allows families to explore nature safely and in a non-threatening manner.

Most of all, remember that those who learn about nature, national parks, state parks, national forests, camping, campgrounds, and the long list of activities they provide are the same people that help protect these wonderful assets to our great country.  Those who never use these places and don’t know what a valuable asset they are, are the same people who are going to be unwilling to help support their preservation and protection.  You may groan as you see that overloaded motor home groaning up the gravel road towards your favorite haunts, complete with television antennae, generator, and satellite internet…but its occupants are going to be much more  likely to be concerned about the fate of your favorite haunt than someone lurking in the urban jungle and shopping at the mall.