Ultimate Camping Guide

Posts Tagged ‘outdoors’

Comfort in The Great Outdoors Begins with A Targeted Shopping Strategy

September 7th, 2010 | Author: admin

If you are an avid hunter, then you have formed some very definite camping gear shopping strategies to prepare you for long nights in the wild, sitting in a blind waiting for a deer to approach close enough to give you good target range. You know you will be sitting pretty because you bought the best compact folding chair on the market. The camping gear shopping strategies you have planned, are centered on keeping you snug, and dry enough to emerge every morning, ready for a full day of stalking game in the bush. The camping tents will surely keep the rain off your head, and the sleeping bags are filled with goose down, that have been tested to keep you warm even if the temperatures drop to 20 degrees outside. Your camping gear shopping strategies continue to pan out with the Ghillie suit you bought. You will feel very confident that the bucks will not see you. These bucks will not stand a chance when you are camouflaged, with your carefully blended terrain swirls that blend out onto your hood, face veil, jacket and pants. Even the rifle in your hands will blend in with the rile wrap you bought as part of your camping gear shopping strategies. Keeping cool will not present any type of problem to you when you are out in the wild, because your camping gear shopping strategies included a soft-sided cooler that could keep you stocked with that amber liquid delicacy you like so much. Your camping gear shopping strategies allowed you to entertain smartly too, because the chair and the cooler perfectly matched each other. You know you will be able to camp out in style, even the remote little area you chose, deep in the wild. Based on past experiences of camping and sleeping in the woods, you knew that your camping gear shopping strategies had to include a good insect repellant. Now, all of your outdoor adventures will be bug free, because you stocked up on a ton of refills for that nicely scented bug machine, and got them at a very good price. You feel so good each morning that you could carve out a new path to the Yukon territories and you could probably do it with the wide assortment of buck knives that you brought with you on your camping trip. This was one of the camping gear shopping strategies that you could not leave home without that, otherwise you would have to use a can opener to open your beans for dinner each night. Yeah, it will sure be fun to get out in the great outdoors and rough it for a while. You think you have it all under control, because your camping gear shopping strategies provided you all the comforts of home. You GPS system will help keep you within a respectable distance of your hunter friends that are right around the bend. You know they are there, because in their camping gear shopping strategies, they included a two-way radio that keeps them in touch with you all night. You do not mind the occasional squawk out of them, but your camping gear shopping strategies get messed up some time. You would prefer to hear the latest MP3 files that you downloaded at home. Yeah, you had to include it in your camping gear shopping strategies because you could not imagine going out in the wild without your new digital technology cellular phone device that lets you groove all night long.

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Fixing Your Bike in the Great Outdoors

September 5th, 2010 | Author: admin

One of the biggest problems for cyclists is when they break down and the situation seems a bit hopeless. If you’ve got a phone handy, maybe catch a ride with a car going in your direction, or use your wits and be prepared for such an occasion. This way you have the opportunity to make a quick fix that will at least get you and your bike safely home.

Basically, knowing what to do and how to do it is important. Also, that you carry a small survival kit that will include things needed to possibly fix the mountain bike. With this idea in mind, then you have the overall ability to “quick fix” it. Surprisingly there are some cyclists that are quite literally prepared for any eventuality. They use specialist containers for different items that can also prove useful. For example, thin copper wire, tyre patches, and even unexpected items like zip ties as well.

No individual has to get hysterical and panic if when cycling something happens to it. Well, that is if he or she is ready. There are lots of stuff an individual can actually do in order to be better prepared even before a bike actually strands you. Purchase a few spokes of the right size – the kind with nipples – and tie them under the chain stay. This also keeps them out of sight. Therefore the spokes act as a reserve. Just in case you break a spoke. Another thing bikers do is fill his or her tire with some type of sealant. This can work superbly, and in many events as it is also takes a lot more to puncture a wheel that has sealant of some kind.

Obviously, there are those pesky common hiccups that are going to attempt to mess up the mountain biking enjoyment. In the case of having loose jockey wheels, these come loose usually because they weren’t tightened enough in the first place. Either way, have no fear. Get a piece of your copper wire and a bolt and you can fix it on the spot. All by looping it so that the jockey wheel stays in place until you are able to get some place where you can fix it correctly.

A tire with a bad cut in it isn’t going to hold any air, and you are faced of course with a flat tire. Just by using duct tape – that you should have in your little survival kit – should do the trick. However, you should use another layer of tape for added security. A piece of cloth can even work at times if the cut isn’t massive and the tire hasn’t run flat.

Nothing hurts more than when biking and the seat falls off. Astoundingly, the seat can be reattached with zip ties or a bit of wire. Remember when sitting back on the seat once again it is a pretty good idea to sit down carefully – unless you want a sore bottom!

In addition, if you have no spare at hand and the tube on your cycle gets punctured, there is another way of repairing it temporarily. Gently pull the tube apart where it is cut or punctured, and knot it at both ends very tightly. This way the tube will expand. Yet you should take care over inflate too much or use a lot of pressure either.

Not all bikes are the same but many of them can be fixed temporarily in the similar. Some of course are different: a road bike will be different to a high-end MTB. Ten speeds have gears and cogs when repaired aren’t going to be as easy to have as a temporary fix. However, it is normally possible to get some of the lower gears on a ten speed to work and at least get you somewhere to repair the bike properly.

There is a trick to taking a tire off should it need to be fixed. Be sure that when repairing tires without any tire levers that all of the air is out of the tire. Then, you can hold the tire upright against the floor. Use both your hands around the top and pinch. The tire beads at the center of your rim channel, so work downwards with your hands. When your hands actually meet at the bottom you will see for yourself that you have just enough space to pull the bead over the rim. Believe it or not, the theory works.

Mountain Bike repairs carried out on the fly aren’t typicallyany good as a permanent repair and can only last for a short while. That’s why it’s crucial to get somewhere or to a point that it can be fixed properly. The main thing is by having a little knowledge and know-how, you won’t be stranded or finding another means of transportation

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Cooking: -do You Want to Fun With Your Family Outdoors?

September 4th, 2010 | Author: admin

Good food and camping should go together. If you want to have fun with your family outdoors, it would be a good idea for you to take a long a cast iron camp stove where you can cook your family’s favorite food. Yes, a cast iron camp stove is a bit heavier compared to other types of camp stoves but the thing is that cooking on a cast iron camp stove is more convenient than using one of those portable camp stoves that do not really give you enough room to cook your food on. Will it not be so inconvenient to bring along a cast iron camp stove when you go camping in the woods? Inconvenience is a relative thing. If you really want to serve good food to your family, you can always find a way to bring along with you your favorite cast iron camp stove. To help you get everything organized, for more details visit to www. cajuns-recipes. com here are some tips for you. Instead of hiking to the woods and carrying a lot of heavy loads on your back, you better rent a recreational vehicle (RV) camper. The good thing about using an RV camper is that your kids will have comfortable beds to sleep in while you will have a functional kitchen where you can prepare delicious food for the whole family. In fact, some RVs are already equipped with cast iron camp stoves so you need not bring your own stove. When it comes to safety, for more details visit to www. cooking-groundbeef. com the RV is a better choice. Sleeping inside the RV is a lot safer especially if you have small kids with you. You can always lock the door of the camper at night to keep out unwanted visitors like small animals and insects. If you prefer to live in a tent instead of the RV, you should buy a small cast iron camp stove for your camping trip. No, you do not need that big Dutch cast iron stove when you go camping in the wilds with your whole family. A small camp stove with two burners will do nicely. You don’t really have to produce some culinary wonders while you are in the wild so a two burner stove should be alright. When packing your gears, put the camp stove in a separate pack. This way, it will be easier for you to ask someone else to carry the stove in case your back starts giving you the signal to lighten your load a little. Outdoor appliances or camping stoves range form a variety of products such as propane grills to camp fire bread toasters. Outdoor and camping grills have many uses and sizes that have a correlation to the activity of the users. The double burner propane stove/range can be used by the everyday camper or outdoors person. Whereas, the single burner camp stove is much smaller and more versatile, suitable for the more rigorous outdoors person on the go. Outdoor appliances help create an easier and more enjoyable experience for those taking an adventure into the outdoors.

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Outdoors Calendar

September 1st, 2010 | Author: admin

Outdoors Calendar
Submit items one week in advance for the Outdoors Calendar, a weekly listing of hiking, mountain biking, paddling, running and other activities in Western North Carolina.

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Essential Camping Gear Makes Living in the Great Outdoors Easy and Fun

August 23rd, 2010 | Author: admin

There’s nothing like a camping trip with the family to create some unforgettable memories and bonding time. Getting away from the daily grind to explore the great outdoors can be both relaxing and energizing. But before you go, make sure you have made the necessary preparations with this essential camping gear list:
Food
Part of the fun of camping is having the opportunity to prepare and eat your meals outdoors – the fresh smell of coffee and eggs – wafting through the air. One easy breakfast recipe, Hillbilly Trash Breakfast, uses aluminum foil to cook hash browns, eggs, sausage or ham, and cheese together for a delicious start to the day with easy clean-up. And of course, no camping trip is complete without a hot dog roast and s’mores under the stars.
Sleeping bags
Sleeping bags come in various shapes and sizes and use different materials for insulation. Before choosing a sleeping bag, consider what kind of camping you are going to do. Are you a summer weekend camper who likes to head to a state park? Or maybe you’d like to try something more serious. For casual campers who like to just get outdoors during the warmer months, a basic sleeping bag should suffice. For those who want to try their hand at camping in cooler or more inclement weather, consider a “mummy” sleeping bag with insulation for up to zero degrees.
Tent
Tents come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Make sure to really shop around before making your purchase. Consider, are you a family of four or more? A two-room tent might be ideal for you. If you’re just starting out with a spouse or friend, you could get by with a two-person tent. Tents also come with or without screened-in porches, ideal for storing shoes and other miscellaneous items.
Water
You’ll need lots of water when camping – for drinking and cooking. It’s a good idea to stock up on individualized water bottles. For those using water from a campground source, you might need to sterilize it first. A portable water filter is your best bet to ensuring the water is safe to drink. These filters remove bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and chemicals.
First Aid Kit
Definitely do not go camping without a first aid kit. Well-stocked first aid kits include: bandages and gauze of various sizes, antiseptic cream, sterile wipes and rinse solutions, pain medicine, tweezers and scissors, sunburn relief spray, and anti-diarrhea medicine.
Flashlight
For those late-night calls to the bathroom, a flashlight is essential. No matter how close you may be camped out near the facilities, you’ll need a flashlight to see your way. Choose a sturdy flashlight that has been designed for outdoor use.
Utility Knife
For all the tools that you use at the campground, a quality utility knife will be one of the most versatile. Always keep your utility knife clean and sharp. A dull knife is a dangerous instrument. Always hold the utility knife firmly by the handle and cut away from the body. Knives should not be used to pry something open or as a screwdriver.
Rain Gear
Don’t forget clothing for any inclement weather you may encounter. That means a complete change of clothes, in case the ones you’re wearing get wet. A rain jacket always comes in handy for when the weather turns wet.
Lantern
Once the sun goes down, it can get pretty dark around the campsite, save the light from the campfire. Always bring along a lantern to provide additional lighting. You can purchase a lantern fairly inexpensively.
Camp Stove
Unless you’re skillful at cooking over an open fire, a camp stove will be necessary for cooking most of your meals. Like lanterns, camp stoves are inexpensive items that use the same fuels as lanterns.

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Jetboil ? Finest Cooking System For Outdoors

August 23rd, 2010 | Author: admin

The least liked aspect of life in the outdoors was the cooking. Imagine having to lug cumbersome cooking stoves and vacuum flasks to a snowy mountain top and then trying to rustle up a meal in that kind of temperature and pressure. Chances are you came close to chucking the stove down the mountain side. This was until Jetboil came along.

The founders of jetboil realized that the key to convenient cooking in the outdoors is efficient heat transfer which was very difficult with conventional equipment. The very ‘raison d ‘etre’’ of Jetboil equipment is to simplify mobile cooking.

The new Helios system from Jetboil for instance comes with 2L FluxRing pot with neoprene cozy, pot support burning base push button igniter assembly, fuel can stabilizer, snap on windscreen, lid and bottom covers that can be used as plates. There is also an optional 3 liter pot. The fuel is sold separately. Talk about utility stuff.

Then there is the very useful Personal Cooking System or PCS, which comes with a 1 liter Flux King cooking cup and insulating cargo cozy, a push button igniter and adjustable burner, an insulating drink through lid, and an insulating measuring cup bottom. This is perfect for coffee or tea while on the move or even a dehydrated meal. It is lightweight weighing, about a pound and can be easily held in your hand.

The piece de’ resistance is the Group Cooking System, the GCS. This consists of a 1. 5 liter FluxRing pot with insulating cozy and fold out handles, a push button igniter and adjustable burner, insulating lid and bottom cover, quick lock universal pot support and canister stabilizer. Fuel is sold separately.

The introduction of the Jetboil Personal Cooking System in 2004 had created quite a stir at that time. An integrated pot-stove unit with a super efficient heat exchanger, it represented a revolution of sorts in the outdoor stoves universe. In fact it won several awards too, including from Outside and Backpacker. Most reviewers agreed that it was extremely convenient, very fast and easily performed way better as compared to other stoves in windy conditions. What more would a backpacker want?

All in this entire product is a huge step forward in backpack cooking. The combination of simplicity and functionality is superb. You can have a hot drink and a decent meal in not more than eleven minutes. Why you do not even have to get out of the tent to fix a meal.

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What To Take For Your Hike Outdoors In Oregon

August 22nd, 2010 | Author: admin

Hiking is one of Pacific Northwest outdoor enthusiast’s favorite activities. Oregon and SW Washington offer an incredible variety of forests, parks and national monuments ready for exploration and appreciation. Hikers should not be taken by surprise in this incredible area of the country however. Forest, coastal lands and cave hiking all present unique challenges to any hiker. The Pacific Northwest can prove to be dangerous if hikers are unprepared. Forest Trail HikingThe Northwest’s forest trails are ideal hiking destinations because the scenery and beauty are unmatched by any other location. These trails wind through lush pine and fir tree wooded areas, tranquil open meadows, and creek and river crossed landscapes. The native wildlife – beavers, foxes, deer, elk, songbirds, squirrels – make it an ideal place for nature watchers. Oregon and Washington have very well maintained trailways and they take pride in their stewardship of the forests here. However, hikers should still be prepared for the unexpected in these areas. The most important item to pack on any hiking trip, especially in the summer months, is water. Food is a close second. Emergency lights and signals are also essential for any recreational hiker. Traditional roadside flares or signal lights are not an option in the Northwest wilderness as likelihood of starting an unintentional fire is very high. A LED emergency light is small, lightweight, affordable, and offers powerful, high-quality light that can be used as a distress signal as well as a flashlight. A multi-purpose pocket knife is also essential to safe hiking in the Northwest. These tools often include miniature scissors and pliers, tweezers and a compass which can all be useful to a hiker. The basic knife blade in these tools can be helpful to scratch trees and branches in order to mark an unfamiliar trail should you get lost. Consider packing mosquito repellent and sun block when hiking these forest trails as well. Coastal HikingThe Pacific Northwest is known for its unpredictable and sometimes treacherous coastal weather. Hikers are advised to dress for the elements when hiking along coast range trails. A rain jacket and sturdy, waterproof boots are essential. The Oregon or SW Washington coast is are often overtaken by dense, heavy fog coverage. These fogs can come in without warning, stranding and disorientating hikers who are unprepared. It is important to bring a powerful LED flashlight or lantern when hiking this area to illuminate the trail or campsite as well as alert help should you need it. Cave HikingCave hiking is one of the more dangerous forms of recreational hiking. This activity requires specific safety equipment and long-term planning. Along with multiple light sources, appropriate clothing and plenty of food and water, one must also make sure to bring protective head gear, rope, and climbing gloves. Experts recommend headlamps when cave hiking to allow for hands-free hiking. If considering cave hiking in the Northwest, contact a professional in the area who can provide specific equipment needs and precautions. Hiking the Pacific Northwest trails is an incredible outdoor experience. A summer can be spent enjoying several trails, all with their own unique landscapes and beauties. Whether hiking through the Umpqua or Deschutes National Forests or exploring the Coast’s Oregon Sand Dunes, hikers will not be disappointed so long as they come prepared.

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About Us – Water Stone Outdoors – Fayetteville, West Virginia

August 19th, 2010 | Author: admin

Maura welcomes you to our rock climbing and outdoor gear shop in Fayetteville, West Virginia.

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Enjoy Outdoors with the Best Camping Accessories

August 18th, 2010 | Author: admin

Many of us love spending our vacations camping. Not only is it fun, it is also inexpensive. When you take your family for camping, you don’t have to spend a fortune on hotels and restaurants. With just a little investment on the right kind of camping tent, camping accessories and hiking gear, you and your family can have a great time together. To shop for affordable, yet high-quality camping accessories, BIGshop. com. au is the right place. It is a great source for almost everything you need for camping and other outdoor activities. From camping tents to camping cookware, BIGshop. com. au offers a wide selection. Whether you’re going alone or taking your family or friends along with you, a camping tent is a must. At BIGshop. com. au, you can buy the large tent with two rooms and one hall from Cara. This camping tent is not only durable and comfortable, it is also extremely portable. Another product that is worth mentioning is the Kids Play Tent – Fantasy Palace/Castle. This lovely kids play tent is easy to set up and is also waterproof and durable. You can not only take this along on your camping trips but set it up in the backyard of your home, for your kids. You can unwind on the Pink Camp Chair with a bottle holder and a carry bag after a day full of activities. You can even personalize it with your name. In addition to camping tents, BIGshop. com. au also offers a lot of camping cookware such as the Reversible Cast Iron BBQ Plate, the 12QT Cast Iron Camp Oven with Lipped Lid, Oval Roaster with Lid, Cast Iron Square Skillet with Folding Wooden Handle and the 9. 5QT Cast Iron Oval Camp Oven with Lipped Lid. Pick those that best suit your needs. To make your camping trip satisfying and enjoyable shop for the best camping accessories at BIGshop. com. au.

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Creating a Outdoors Cold Weather Retreat

August 15th, 2010 | Author: admin

As the weather cools, many families are forced indoors during chilly evenings, which is a shame because fall is a beautiful season that should be enjoyed. There are a few fairly fast and easy ways to make your outdoor area more hospitable in the cooler months. All you need to do is organize the yard so that wind and moisture are minimized, and extra warmth is provided. Here are a few tips to make the most of your yard during the cooler seasons and well into spring.

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