Camping Life articles from January 2005

Camping Life archives from January 2005

Change is a process.(Campsite)
January 1, 2005... Magazines, like people, tend to get settled in their ways. But like the world around us, change is constant and inevitable. In fact, periodic change is healthy. Think about it... without change, you would still be wearing wide lapels,...

New Yosemite Falls area to open.(Tidbits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A National Park Service trail crew and more than 100 volunteers are just months away from completing the Yosemite Falls Restoration Project, a $12.5 million undertaking that began nine years ago and will debut on April 18. A public ceremony...

New ROADTREK 210-Versatile camper van.(Tidbits)(Home and Park Motorhomes)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... For 2005, Home and Park Motorhomes (888/ROADTREK; roadtrek.com) of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada is offering its latest edition to the Roadtrek family of luxurious camper vans. The new 210-Versatile is based on the Chevrolet Express 3500 series...

California tow law update.(Tidbits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Here's an update to the 2005 tow ratings that were published in the November/December 2004 issue. It was originally published that, according to California's vehicle code, the state's maximum weight required for trailer brakes is 1500...

Family fun campground northeastern Ohio.(Tidbits)(Geauga Lake Campgrounds)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... For more than 20 years, Geauga Lake Campgrounds, located a quarter-mile from Geauga Lake near Aurora, Ohio, has been a prime destination for camping families looking for the perfect balance of relaxation and excitement. The campground boasts...

National RV towable brands sold.(Tidbits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... In September of 2004, National RV Holdings announced it sold its sport-utility travel-trailer business to Montclair, California-based Weekend Warrior, a privately owned sport-utility trailer builder that has been in the business for decades....

More walking means more camping.(Tidbits)(Outdoor Recreation Participation Study)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... More and more Americans are devoting an increasing amount of their leisure time to walking, which is leading them to the great outdoors. According to the Outdoor Recreation Participation Study by the Outdoor Industry Association, 28 percent of...

U.S. supports wildlife conservation at home and abroad.(Tidbits)(North American Waterfowl Management Plan by United States Fish and Wildlife Service )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. government is onboard to help conserve more than 8 million acres of habitat at home as well as in Canada and Mexico. In October 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reaffirmed its support of the North American Waterfowl Management...

College sophomore camps in style with new Coachmen.(Tidbits)
January 1, 2005... He's a sophomore in college in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and already is the proud owner of a brand-new RV. In August 2004, longtime tent camper Steve Kramer won a 2005, 25-foot Coachmen Spirit of America travel trailer at the WE Fest, an annual...

Venture Crew reaches African summit and helps children.(Tidbits)(Venture Crew 53 of Pacific Harbors Council of Boy Scouts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Last summer, a special group of the Lakewood, Washington, Boy Scouts of America took the trip of a lifetime and journeyed to help other children. Venture Crew 53 from the Pacific Harbors Council of Boy Scouts embarked on a seven-day expedition...

Wings of winter.(Wildlife)(chickadees, nuthatches, birds seen in winter times)
January 1, 2005... Certain birds are often associated with the changing of seasons. Geese flying overhead in a "V" formation evoke feelings of fall. In northern climates, the first sighting of a robin is a sure sign of spring. All over the country, the trill of a...

Camp kitchen.
January 1, 2005... Fixes with Mixes Here are three one-pot hot dishes that can be made on a typical two-burner camp stove, or in a Dutch oven nestled in campfire coals. Start the meal with creamy cold spinach dip and a raft of raw veggies. For dessert, bring...

Kozy Times Fireplace.(Gear Head)(portable fireplace)
January 1, 2005... The crowd around the booth at the RV, sports, boat and travel show kept me from learning what all the hubbub was about until a fellow emerged from the throng carrying a box emblazoned with an image of what looked like a portable fire pit....

Lowa Klondike GTX Mid boots.(Gear Head)(Lowa Boots)
January 1, 2005... When you go camping, the last thing you want to worry about is sore feet. Whether you go for a hike or just stroll from the car to your tent, you're going to want to be in comfortable shoes that help you enjoy all your outdoor activities. The...

Coleman ProCat catalytic heater.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... There's almost nothing worse than waking up to a cold camp. As a boy waiting in my sleeping bag, I would pretend to be asleep until somebody else woke up and got the fire started. All you have to do today is reach out of the bag, turn a knob,...

Silva Cobalt electronic compass.(Gear Head)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Digital compasses are not a new idea, but the new Silva (607/779-2222; silvacompass.com) Cobalt digital compass does something that the others can't: It can record a bearing from a map. Only one bearing can be recorded at a time, but once that...

Uniquely Louisiana: an abundance of outdoor activities and Cajun culture blend to make the Atchafalaya Trace Heritage Area one "hot" place to visit.(DESTINATION)
January 1, 2005... Pronounce it like a sneeze, so today's residents say. "Atchafalaya." It means "long river" in the language of its first inhabitants, the Choctaw. The broad area of southern-central Louisiana that extends beyond the Corps of Engineers' east...

How to buy an RV: make the right choices and save money when purchasing your first (or next) RV.(Recreation Vehicle)
January 1, 2005... 'We could save up money for a camping trailer," said my wife as we mulled over summer vacation plans. I countered with a more urgent, "How about we borrow the money to buy one?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A few weeks later, we were the...

2005 truck camper roundup: more room and more comforts for the hardy outdoorsman.(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2005... Outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the simple pleasures of a pickup and camper. It's always been a more compact and versatile package, allowing for travel into more remote locations than is advisable with the average travel trailer. The truck...

2005 tent trailer buyer's guide: how to get back to nature, without sleeping on the ground.(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2005... Some folks in the RV industry will tell you that RV owners climb a ladder of purchases from small, inexpensive tent trailers when they're young to huge, high-priced, bus-like motorhomes in their golden years. On the other hand, it's been our...

Gallery.
January 1, 2005... This month's Gallery features art from the husband-wife photography team of Kent and Donna Dannen of Allenspark, Colorado. Camping Life will pay $100 per photograph for original color transparencies (slides) selected for Gallery. All...

Winter camping in Florida.
January 1, 2005... Visitors to the great State of Florida can enjoy one of the largest and most diverse state park systems in the country. As a National Gold Medal Winner, each of the 158 state parks offers a different experience for all to enjoy. From springs to...

Winter camping in Texas.
January 1, 2005... DAINGERFIELD STATE PARK Located southwest of Texarkana in the far Northeast Texas Pineywoods, Daingerfield State Park features 550 acres, and includes an 80-acre lake for fishing, boating and swimming. The park also has a history with the...

2005 travel trailer buyer's guide: the new year brings a fresh crop of diverse travel trailers designed for younger buyers.(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2005... Thousands of new travel trailers in all sizes and configurations are being delivered to dealer lots as you read this, and the deals are hot. In particular, smaller, lightweight travel trailers have been among the RV industry's hottest segments...

2005 sport-utility trailer buyer's guide: you really can bring all the toys, even for the "big kids," in these increasingly popular sport-utility trailers.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2005... There's no doubt that the sport-utility trailer (SUT), or "toy box" as it's been popularly known for decades, is the hottest thing on the towable RV market. Anyone looking for evidence of the toy box's popularity need only look as far as the...

Perfectly covered: having the right RV insurance can keep headaches and heartaches away.
January 1, 2005... Insurance for an RV is a lot like a fire extinguisher or first-aid kit--it's something you should always have on hand, but you hope you never need it. Like many types of specialized insurance, RV insurance comes in lots of different sizes and...

Cold as ice: frostbite and other chilly injuries.(Outdoorsman)
January 1, 2005... Winter is a wonderful time to explore the great outdoors, but being unprepared for freezing temperatures can leave you vulnerable to frostbite. Frostbite occurs when ice crystals form in the skin and deeper tissues. It most often affects...

Protect your investment.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Extreme weather conditions call for extreme protection for your RV. Covercraft Industries (800/426-8377; rvcovers4u.com) offers a variety of custom-fitted RV covers called WeatherShield that are made for long-term storage and weather...

All-purpose cleaner.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Protect All All-Surface Care by Protect All, Inc. (800/322-4491; protectall.com) is a multipurpose solution that's great for a thorough cleaning or a quick polishing of your RV. The product contains silicones that seal and protect paint, vinyl,...

Mr. Heater goes BIG.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... It's always a good idea to have an extra heater along during your winter travels. From the makers of the Portable Buddy Indoor Safe Propane Heater, the BIG Buddy ($129.99) by Mr. Heater (800/251-0001; mrheater.com) can provide heat in cabins,...

Light up your campsite.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Are fuel-type lanterns too messy for you? Have you ever brought a handheld spotlight to camp only to realize you've forgotten the batteries? Then check out the EverLite LED Spotlight ($99.95; pictured) from New Option Lighting (805/541-3966;...

Take-anywhere pillow.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The Air Line Pillow ($14) by Crazy Creek (800/331-0304; crazycreek.com) is perfect for taking catnaps while away from home. Designed to comfortably fit against your head and neck, the Air Line Pillow is the ideal headrest to have during all...

How to tell a good story.(Campfire Stories)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Stories are easy enough to come by. You can find good subjects for campfire tales in mythology, stories of heroes, Native American legends, history, real-life accounts, animal stories, mysteries, folktales and adventurous yarns. The telling,...