6 Years in a Rain Cape

Camping Commandments

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:56:30 +0000

Camping commandments, as with everything you do there are do’s and don’ts. Sometimes you have to figure out the do’s and don’t the hard way, or you can follow these rules. Be prepared to learn things the hard way if you don’t follow these instructions.

Camping is something that can be an acquired taste, for most people you either love it or hate it. For those that love it you have probably already figured out the rules to the camping world, hopefully by some friendly advice not by lessons learned. Although learning things the hard way often is what you remember the most. Even for the experts there is always something new that you can learn, or pass down to a fellow camper.

For those of you that aren’t big campers, but have found yourself getting talked into going on a camping trip here are the basics rules to survival that you will need to know before you get out there. Gaining as much knowledge about camping before you get out there and give it a shot yourself. If you really don’t know what you are doing it’s a good idea to bring along an experienced camper just to help you learn the ropes. Who knows, you might come up with a few commandments of your own!

Luxury Camping

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:48:38 +0000

My closest friend is all about having a good time. No matter where she goes the fun seems to follow. Of course I love to have fun as well, and I especially love to have fun when I am camping. I invited her along for a camping trip, and she was a bit hesitant at first. She said that she might not see camping in the same light as I do. Of course I did not quite pick up on what she was telling me at the time, but finally I realized that she was not your average camper. My friend liked to camp in style or go luxury camping.

You might be thinking to yourself at this moment, “what is luxury camping?” Well, that is when you really do not like to actually go out to a campsite and rough it, so to speak. Cots, mattresses, heaters, and large, I’m talking very large, tents are all apart of the luxurious camping world. Think about it this way, take most of the amenities of a hotel room, and put them in a tent. It’s basically like my house minus the adt home security in alabama that I have for a house alarm system. That is what luxury camping is all about.

Eventually my friend decided to bring along all of her stuff and go camping with me. We used a lot of her equipment so she would be comfortable, and while luxury camping is not bad, it definitely is not for me.

Check out this video to see what luxury camping involves, and if you have never been a fan of traditional camping, maybe this is for you!

Get To Sleep

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:05:27 +0000

Camping is always a good time. I have loved it ever since I was a small kid and my parents would take us all to the campground where we would set up camp and have the best time. After I got a bit older and started needing more sleep, I noticed that I was not enjoying my camping trips as much as I had in the past. Sleep did not come quickly or easily, and I think my gear and set up were definitely to blame. So now I make sure that I have all I need and more to be ready and prepared for a good night’s sleep.

Before packing up I check the see the temperatures for the trip, and I especially keep an eye on the nighttime lows. That way I will know what to expect.
Instead of sleeping right on the ground which can make falling asleep and staying asleep difficult I use a pad. Other people I know use a mattress, hammock, or cot.
Being relaxed is another way that I can fall asleep more easily. Mental exercises and more can help to prepare you for getting in sleep while camping.
For more tips on what you should bring to help you sleep on a camping trip, watch the video below from REI. The gear you see will be a great aid in getting you to sleep in any campground.

How To Put Up A Tent

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:16:59 +0000

Camping is one of the best things that you can do, to get up close and personal with nature is something that everyone loves. One of the most important things to camping is setting up your tent! This is a crucial step to camping because it’s where you sleep and get away from the outdoors while camping. With it being so important you would think that setting up a tent would be a breeze, but that’s not always the case. Setting up a tent can be challenging, especially if you are in windy weather, it’s dark, or you just don’t know what you are doing. I have been in all of these situations before even being an experienced camper. You can never have too much practice when it comes to setting up tents.

This video shows you how to set up a dome tent. This is the most common type of tent and the easiest for you to set up. When you are setting up this kind of tent, or any other one for that matter it’s important that you pay attention to which poles go where. It can be frustrating to get things mixed up and have to start over.

Check out this video to learn how to put up a tent!

Extra Entertainment Around the Campfire

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:06:33 +0000

If you and your friends or family are thinking about going camping for the first time or for the first time in years, you may be struggling to put together a list of everything you could possibly need while venturing out in the wild. Of course, you want to make sure that you have all of the necessities to keep your stomach full and keep everyone safe from the rain or other elements, but entertainment is also something you need to be prepared for. If you aren’t accustomed to having to entertain yourself and your family without modern technology, it can be a pretty big challenge.

Going camping near a lake or river is very common so you may plan on packing up your fishing gear to take along on your journey or to teach the kids how to fish. Take this opportunity to learn something new as well. Teach yourself how to fly fish with a new pole while you are on a river to take advantage ot the moving water and open space. Learning to fly fish can be difficult if there are a bunch of people around who make prime targets for your dangerous hook. There may also be a campground site or rental facility nearby where you can rent a kayak or canoe for you and your friends to spend an afternoon on the lake. This is a great way to stay active on your vacation and to try something that you can’t do on a regular basis in the city. You may also discover some beautiful scenery or new creature from an angle that you can’t get to from the shore.

During those cold nights around the campfire it may be tempting to just curl up and go to sleep early, but there is still plenty of camping fun left in the evening! Bring a guitar or other favorite instrument along to teach your kids how to play or to play some new tunes in the firelight. The best part about playing out in the woods is that you can sing along as loudly as you please and there is no one around to hear your embarrassing vocals! You can also center your favorite games around the camping experience to make some fun memories around the fire. Play a game of charades with your own clues such as canoe or s’mores. You can find more great game ideas and camping inspiration on programming through DISH Network packages.

Time For An Upgrade?

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:55:39 +0000

We have been campers for a really long time. If we were to really think about it and go over all of the upgrades in camping equipment that we have had to get, it would probably include more tents, sleeping bags, and accessories than we realize. But camping equipment is a lot like technology gadgets. You see, once a new technology comes out for camping gear my and the husband love to jump on board and get it. The good thing is that unlike the newest versions of things like the iPhone and techie stuff, we don’t have to wait in line forever to get our new camping technology.

If you are a fan of camping but have not taken the opportunity to upgrade your goods, then now just might be the perfect time. There is nothing worse than heading to a campground and having a tent full of holes and sleeping bags that can’t keep you warm. I found an infographic that you can use as a way to determine if your equipment is in desperate need of an upgrade or not. One example is if you are still using a paper map, it is probably time to take the plunge and get a digital GPS tool.

Let’s Go Glamping!

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:47:24 +0000

One thing that I love the most about camping is the fact that it can really bring a family together. There are not many families that would not benefit from some time at a campsite spending time around a fire, cooking, and looking out at the stars. As you know already, I a m an avid camper. When I camp I am really roughing it in some people’s opinions and I do not mind. I love knowing that I am surrounded by nature as it was intended, and that is just how I like it. Other people though have a different view on camping, and many are hesitant to consider camping as an option of a family trip because of all that it entails. You know when you camp you are going to have to set up camp and gather the brush and what not for the fire, and that does not appeal to all people. I get that, but not all camping is created equal. Consider, glamping, for instance. Glamping is camping glamorously and with upscale amenities. When you glamp, you are still camping, but it is camping like you would not believe. What does glamping include? Well, all sites for glamping do differ, but you can count on a few certain qualities at all glamp sites.

Shelter larger than a standard tent is something that you can look forward to. If you easily get cricks in the neck from not being able to stand up properly in a typical tent, then you really will not have to worry about that while glamping. You see there are typically large canvas tents or bungalows, and even treehouses and geodesic domes that will take place as your shelter.
The bed–that’s right bed–is comparable to a lavish hotel bed with wonderful bedding too. No, you definitely do not sleep on the ground when you are glamping. You get a bed with lush bedding just like you would in a hotel. Are you changing your mind about the idea of camping now?
Sweet aromas come with glamping too. A lot of the glamping sites around the world feature amazing scents and incenses that they burn to inspire glampers. Now, if you are an avid regular camping and still want this amenity, you don’t have to glamp to get it, just find it at legalherbsdirect.com. There are numerous scents that are sure to get you inspired and in touch with the outdoors.

Camping Memories

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:34:31 +0000

Some of the best memories are times spent camping. There is something special about going out into nature and completely immersing yourself in it. Some of my most favorite memories are camping memories.

I love every type of camping. I will be content with a tent in the woods or staying in a class A motor home. Some of my most fond camping memories involve sitting on a pier with my dad, fishing for catfish. It has always been something that we do just the two of us. I can still remember how anxious I would get when I knew that we were going to go camping. There was a building excitement that sometimes I couldn’t even contain. We would pack up the truck together with all of the things that we needed: tent, air mattress, air pump, fishing poles, bait, food, smores supplies, chairs, lanterns, flashlights, and anything else that we might need for the trip. I was always the one that was responsible for getting the packing list together. Once we got everything loaded up we would hurry and get to the lake site before dark. The site was in the middle of developed lakefront property, but we have one of the few sites that all you can see is the lake and woods when you get to it. The road so steep that always made me nervous when we turned in, but there was never any problems.

As soon as we got there we would set up the tent and go looking for firewood. There was a large tree that overlooked both the pier and where we set up the tent. One day my dad got the idea to climb the tree and hang the lantern on a limb so we it could light the whole place. After that day it became step 2 to our camping routine. Once the lantern and tent were up we lit the campfire and started fishing. It was so peaceful looking out over the calm lake, just taking in the smell and feel of nature. No air purifying office or city will ever have the same air that you breathe when you go camping. After fishing and making smores we would retreat to our tents for the night, and wake in the morning to pack everything up and head home.

The trips were always short but they left a lasting impression. Camping can create some of the best memories in your life. You can ask anyone who has been camping if they have any memories from it and every one of them will. Nature bring you down to earth, it humbles you to the point where all the cares and worries of life fade away. When you are planning your next vacation think about going camping. While you are on vacation there is no need for you to worry when you have a camera for home security, you can check out things on your mobile phone even in the great outdoors.

Get out and enjoy making your own camping memories. Some fresh air can do everyone some good every now and then even if you aren’t an outdoors person. Happy Camping!

Camping With Your Horse

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:44:23 +0000

Have you ever dreamed of going on a long ride with your horsey companion but always end up turning back when it starts to get dark. You no longer have to turn back just because it’s getting dark. You can find a nice, safe location and spend the night under the stars with your horse.

When you are planning a camping trip with your horse you should never camp or ride alone, so bring a buddy along. You also want to make sure that you will have an accessible and safe location to set up camp for the night as well as having somewhere for the horses to stay comfortably over night. Locations like horse friendly parks, national forests, and well known trails are great places to camp with your horse. It’s important to remember that you need a camp site located near fresh water. You can carry the amount of water you will need but carrying a horses supply of water is very troublesome.

When you are preparing for a ride you need to remember to bring…

For You…

extra riding clothes
sleeping clothes
socks
boots
rain gear
small tent
sleeping bag or blow up mattress
food and extra food
water and extra water
knife/machete
lighter/ waterproof matches
blanket
first aid supplies
cell phone
duct tape
towel

For The Horse…

saddle
pads
girth
bridle
halter
lead rope
extra ropes
water bucket
feed bucket
grain/ beat pulp
grooming supplies (brush, curry comb, hoof pick)
leg wraps
first aid supplies
rope or way to contain them through the night
saddle bags

Before you have your mind set on camping on a trail with your horse make sure that your horse will be okay with long trail rides and carrying more weight that they are used to carrying. You shouldn’t take a young on inexperienced horse on a camping trip because they are more likely to cause a problem. You should be on a stable mount that will be able to work through situations with your help. You also want to be sure that your horse gets along with the others that you bring, you don’t want to be woken up to the sound of a horse fight in the middle of the night.

Camping with your horse can be a fun and exciting thing to try, if you think that you are up for the challenge find locations near you that offer camping and horse trails. Happy camping!

Camping Comfortably

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:15:18 +0000

Camping is a pastime enjoyed by many. Being outdoors and becoming one with nature is refreshing and invigorating. But for those who are less enthused about the idea of sleeping outdoors, don’t like bug bites and fear bad hair and oily skin, camping can be stressful and cause anxiety if you’re not prepared for what to expect. Taking some time to think through your trip and get prepared can make a person more apt to have a good time and make the best of your trip even if it’s your first time camping.

One of the most concerning parts of camping for many is sleeping in a tent. Not getting good sleep will wear on your body and attitude during your camping trip. For the first time camper if you’ll be sleeping in a tent make sure your tent is weather proof. It’s no fun having water dripping on you in the middle of the night! Sleeping on the ground can be uncomfortable so bringing an air mattress will help provide quality sleep. And if you wake up that first morning happy, you may decide you can survive another day!

Bring some comforts from home. Make sure you have a few things to entertain yourself with if you’re concerned you will have trouble sleeping at night such as headphones and music or a headlight for reading. Other things to make yourself more comfortable would include baby wipes to keep your hands clean, deodorant to keep yourself smelling good and toilet paper just in case! And yes ladies, it’s okay to bring make-up and wear it on a camping trip if it will make you feel happier!

Cooking at a campsite can be a highlight of a camping trip. Nothing tastes better than food cooked over an open fire. If nothing else can make you happy on a camping trip, eating a s’more should do the trick! If you’re concerned about going hungry bring some snacks and it is recommended at most campsites to bring your own bottled water for drinking, making coffee, brushing teeth and washing your face.

There are plenty of things to do on a camping trip, so if it’s your first trip and you’re nervous about getting bored, try and step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Go boating, fishing, hiking or swimming. Keep yourself active and remember this is a new experience and try and just have fun with it. Nature walks are especially fun at a campground as there are many places to explore and often times wildlife is within a stone’s throw. Although it is not recommended (or legal in many parks) to throw stones at wildlife! Be sure to follow all camping rules and regulations according to the campground you’re staying at.

You may not become a Scout leader for your kids troop after your first camping trip. But with some planning you can make your first camping trip comfortable and memorable. And that will make everyone a happy camper!

Share your thoughts below or contact us using our web forms.