Camping Life articles from July 2004

Camping Life archives from July 2004

Planning is everything.(Campsite)
July 1, 2004... As you are reading this, the warm and comfortable days of summer have arrived in most corners of the country. The hustle and bustle of summer travel has begun, and the roads are busy and the campgrounds are filling up. The urge to get out and...

New 2005 lance camper on the horizon.(Tidbits)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... As we promised, here's the latest news on the all-new Lance camper design. Featuring a proprietary construction process called LanceLock that includes welded aluminum framing and solid block-foam insulation throughout, the Max 981--the first of...

Samsung RV microwave oven recall.(Tidbits)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... In cooperation with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Samsung Electronics has announced an expansion of its recall of microwave ovens that were installed in recreation vehicles (RVs) sold in the United States...

Reserve America names Top 100 Family Campgrounds.(Tidbits)(reserveamerica.com, Web site)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... With the assistance of park rangers, regional-park management and campers who write testimonials, rate campgrounds and provide feedback throughout the year, ReserveAmerica, the nation's premier campground reservation system and service, has...

Lewis & Clark Bicentennial events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... This summer, there are a number of exciting bicentennial ceremonies celebrating the remarkable exploratory trek completed by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark (and a company of about 40) from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean at the mouth of the...

Hot can can.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Author Janet Groene suggests in the Quick Tips section of the March/April Camp Kitchen that instead of dirtying and washing a pan if you are just warming up canned-food products, you can go ahead and heat the food in the can by standing it up...

Is jack a rabbit?(Wildlife)(jackrabbits)
July 1, 2004... Whizzing down the highway in the Utah desert on a scorching summer afternoon, I shudder to remember the "old days" when air conditioning was a luxury and not standard equipment. My kids, though they're all under 10, love to hear stories of...

Cool quaffs.(Camp Kitchen)
July 1, 2004... Sometimes it's not only too hot to cook, it's also too hot to eat. Quench your appetite during warm-weather campouts with liquids that are nutritionally balanced, easy to prepare and tasty beyond belief. Beefy Tomato Soup 1 can (or...

Lightning: one strike and you're out.(First Aid)
July 1, 2004... On average, lightning strikes 273 people and kills 90 each year in the United States. Those who survive can face multiple injuries, including burns, broken bones, damaged hearing, long-term headaches and psychological disorders. The vast...

All-night party with the stars.(Astronomy)
July 1, 2004... For better or worse, we're an event-oriented people. We're football fans who only watch bowl games, baseball fans who only watch the World Series, and basketball fans who only watch the finals. At one level, it's understandable because it seems...

How to make better pictures.(Worth 1000 Words)
July 1, 2004... There are a number of simple ways you can improve your pictures. And buying a new camera or a bunch of new equipment doesn't have to be one of them. Depending upon your budget for camera equipment, your level of interest in photography, and the...

Coleman Deluxe Large Tube Lantern.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... When camping, simple is good. The easier a task, the better, because then you have more time to enjoy your trip. Safety is high on the list, too, especially if you're camping with kids. These two priorities led us to the Coleman (800/835-3275;...

Montrail Traverse GTX hiking boots.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... Dozens of miles have now been placed on the pair of Montrail (800/826-1598; montrail.com) Traverse GTX ($135) hiking boots that found a place in my footwear collection a few months ago. Made in the image of the company's popular Torre...

Cabela's Super Deluxe Chuck Box.(Gear Head)
July 1, 2004... A weekend camping trip is an inexpensive way for families to spend time together in the great outdoors. My family was no exception. It wasn't unusual for the '51 Buick to be loaded and ready to roll after the last out of the Friday-night little...

Mountain magic: plan the perfect autumn vacation in New Hampshire's White Mountains.
July 1, 2004... The woods were ablaze with color--crimson, orange, gold and emerald. With every step we took, leaves swished, rustled and crunched underfoot. Autumn had arrived in New Hampshire's White Mountains, and we were enjoying its beauty by hiking along...

Mountain bikes for beginners: if you're interested in getting in on the fun and excitement of two-wheeled backcountry travel but don't know where to start, here's a primer on pedal-powered dirt bikes for the entire family.
July 1, 2004... Mountain biking can be a peaceful ramble or a white-knuckle adventure--you decide. Cruise a gentle dirt ribbon at your own speed, taking in the view and listening to the sound of pebbles crunching under your tires. Point the knobby wheels...

Caravan Micro-Lite 25FQ: it's a family-friendly "vacation vehicle".(RV Test)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... With a well-established heritage of quality behind its successful line of tent trailers, Fleetwood Folding Trailers decided to try its hand in the popular travel-trailer category, resulting in the introduction of the Caravan brand of expandable...

Boot buyer's guide: it's time to put your foot down ... into something comfortable.(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... Considering that when we're outside we spend a lot of time on our feet, it just makes sense to get some expert help when it comes time to choose our shoes and boots. Don't be shy about visiting your local outdoor specialty shop or footwear...

Should you refinance your RV? Part 3 in a series: make the right decision--and your RV loan will be made easy!(recreational vehicle)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... Is now a good time to refinance your current RV loan? Absolutely, rates are currently at their lowest point in the last 20 years. Most of you out there have had your RV for 3-5 years and probably have your current loan financed at an interest...

Insect avoidance: take the bite out of the outdoors.(mosquitos)
July 1, 2004... "They seek out our carbon dioxide when we exhale, and it's the female mosquitoes that bite," she said. Her response reflected the ever increasing level of insect knowledge I have noticed during my three years of hosting "Dr. Swat" seminars. As...

Peak-to-Peak Highway, Colorado.(Weekender)
July 1, 2004... The crest of America, the Continental Divide, parts the nation's waters to the east and west as it crosses the land. In Colorado, it soars to over 14,000 feet above sea level. Its Indian peaks (Paiute, Pawnee, Shoshoni, Arikaree and North and...

Camping cocoons: know the ropes before you buy a new bag.(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... Second only to shelter, choosing a sleeping bag is one of the most important decisions for a devoted tent camper. Spread out a dozen or so of the top brands of bags on the floor and they'll all look pretty much the same. It's not looks that...

Sleeping pads: waking up on the right side of the tent.(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2004... Campers can't be as picky as the little girl in the fable The Princess and the Pea, but spending a few nights under the stars doesn't have to be roughing it, either. These days, campers have a wide selection of sleeping pads to choose from that...

Coastal hot spots, Oregon.(Weekender)
July 1, 2004... Oregon's coast is rugged and beautiful, and is a magnet for those who enjoy outdoor activities. But the beaches there are different than those found in warmer climates. Apart from some kids playing in the waves, few people go swimming. The...

Paddle with comfort.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... A full day of kayaking can give you beat-up hands. To help protect your hands, as well as for all-around comfort, check out Cascade Creek Company's (631/271-2100; cascadecreek.com) Yakgrips ($14.95 per pair). Its patent-pending waterproof...

Small swab provides big relief.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... Packaged in a convenient no-mess kit (36 count; $4.99), these ready-to-use Swabplus (909/987-7898; swabplus.com) liquid-filled, cotton-tipped swabs can be used to clean and disinfect minor burns, scrapes and cuts. They can also provide...

Trunk for your junk.(New Products)
July 1, 2004... Tired of not being able to fit all your camping gear in your trunk? Well, then take a look at the StowAway2 Cargo Carrier (models start at $349) from Ironwood Pacific (800/943-5377; stowaway2.com). The StowAway2 is 12.5 cubic feet in size, has...

Performance sandal.(New Products)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... It's great to find a versatile shoe you can wear year-round. A sandal of all trades is the unisex Lynx ($99) by Lizard Footwear (805/965-7463; lizardfootwear.com). The sandal's Claw sole is one of the Italian manufacturer's most functional...

Keep food cold and fingers warm.(New Products)(Freezer Tote )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... When you need to get something out of the ice chest or portable freezer but can't find it right away, your fingers can become chilled to the bone while hunting for the seemingly lost food item. In addition to better organizing your cooler, the...

Lost no more.(New Products)(Personal Locator Beacons)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) have been legal for use in the United States (see "Rescue Me!" March/April issue) since July 2003, and are an invaluable aid during search-and-rescue operations for lost or injured campers, hikers and other...

Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico.(Fishin' Hole)
July 1, 2004... Created in 1916 by damming the Rio Grande River, Elephant Butte Lake is located just off Interstate 25, about 5 miles north of the town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Built primarily to provide irrigation and flood control, the...

Campfire lessons.(Outdoorsman)
July 1, 2004... We were hunkered down for the night beneath a stone overhang, and the sun was going down fast. Still more than a dozen miles from civilization, our car had broken down. But worrying about that could wait. All we cared about at that moment was...

The Great Father mosquito: a Tuscarora legend.(Campfire Stories)
July 1, 2004... These small flying insects have been a nuisance for as long as people have been venturing outdoors. Here's how one group of native Americans, the Tuscarora, wove the millions of mosquitoes in their world into their campfire stories. A long...