Camping Life articles from March 2007

Camping Life archives from March 2007

A new partner completes the circle.(Campsite)
March 1, 2007... As we announced in the February issue of Camping Life, we have entered our 10th year of publication and have big plans in store for the year and beyond. The first of these is the announcement of yet another exciting partnership that will allow...

Drink coffee and fix a trail.(Trail Signs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Ditch the coffee house that's on every corner and purchase a special blend that's for a good cause: preserving the outdoors. Proceeds from the sale of the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition coffee, offered by Alabama-based Higher Ground coffee...

What national parks give back.(Trail Signs)
March 1, 2007... A recent study on national parks showed how they help support local economies. Commissioned by the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association, the study reported that U.S. national parks on average return at least $4 to surrounding...

Campmor exclusive: Eureka tents.(Trail Signs)
March 1, 2007... This season Campmor offers a line of Eureka! tents that is exclusive to the outdoor retailer. Combining form, function and a reasonable price point, the line of FourWay Domes is available in various sizes to accommodate from four to six people....

Work the outdoors.(Trail Signs)
March 1, 2007... Wilderness Volunteers is a nonprofit group that offers trips to do much-needed trail work in national parks, national forests and other federal/state lands. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The week-long trips are rated as "active,"...

Cost correction.(Trail Sign Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... Like last year, I purchased a copy of your December 2006 issue. Last year's issue provided some very nice camping gift ideas for children. This year's issue offered a couple of possible gift ideas as well. Thank you. I wanted to call your...

Tent choices.(Trail Sign Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2007... I would like to find a tent with two rooms that sleeps between six and eight people (so we can spread out). It needs to be waterproof, without having an extra rainfly, and compact enough to pack up and take on a plane easily. What brands do you...

Trout: more than a game.(Wildlife)
March 1, 2007... Bass, crappie, and bluegill rank at or near the top of the country's most plentiful "game fish," but perhaps no other species inspires the American outdoor enthusiast like trout. Wedded to cold, pure water by necessity, trout are considered a...

Savory soups.(Camp Kitchen)
March 1, 2007... Keep your soup pot at a slow simmer with chowders, gumbos and broths to warm the camper's soul on cold, spring days when campgrounds are hushed and uncrowded. With recipes like these, you can rush the season. CampingLife Logging Camp...

Freestyle Audio MP3 player.(PRODUCT TEST)
March 1, 2007... The recent advent of portable MP3 players allows us to take our music with us when we go out to play. Campgrounds and hiking trails are now filled with people wearing headphones or earbuds, and rocking along to tunes only they can hear. ...

Stormtracker VEC136.(PRODUCT TEST)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2007... The day after we got our Stormtracker, our area was hit by a nasty storm. Maybe it was providence--giving me a perfect opportunity to test this unit's capabilities. It gave me access to regional TV news coverage of the disaster, and NOAA...

Land of opportunity: if you can't find something fun to do outdoors in the LBL, you should probably find another hobby.
March 1, 2007... Exciting outdoor activities and spectacular camping locations on 170,000 acres designated as a National Forest Recreation Area and surrounded by two huge lakes are what you'll find in the Land Between the Lakes. Shared by Tennessee and...

Beginner's guide to camping: how to make your first trip a big success! If your kids are like mine, they probably spend way too much time in front of the TV, on the computer or playing video games. Any opportunity to get them outdoors for an extended period of time is a good thing!
March 1, 2007... Camping is a perfect way to get time alone with your kids, and they can experience the wonders of nature with you. No matter what they occasionally say now, they will remember these trips with appreciation later. So, you would like to have...

Gallery.
March 1, 2007... This month's Gallery features the photography of Brad Shoger of Gainesville, Florida. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Camping Life...

Chapter 1: choosing your tow vehicle; How to pick the right truck for towing: whether you're an old pro or a novice, towing can be tricky. But, if done right, it can be easy.(GUIDE TO TOWING)
March 1, 2007... The first step to towing is to have the right equipment, and that begins with having the right tow vehicle. To make that decision, you need to know how much your towed load (fully loaded travel trailer) really weighs. Trailers with the...

Chapter 2: the right stuff; How your tow vehicle should be equipped: most vehicles require additional equipment for towing heavy loads.(GUIDE TO TOWING)
March 1, 2007... This equipment is typically found in the "trailer towing packages," which often include auxiliary cooling systems, heavy-duty suspension components, the appropriate axle (ring and pinion) gear ratio, a frame-mounted hitch, and wiring harness...

Chapter 3: trailer hitches; What you should know about hitches: hitches come in many sizes for a variety of uses.(GUIDE TO TOWING)
March 1, 2007... Some very large travel trailers (35-plus feet) use fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitches that mount in the bed of a pickup. Here, however, we will focus on those used for the majority of travel trailers--frame-mounted receiver-style hitches ranging...

Chapter 4: wiring; How the wiring on your trailer should work: to be highway legal, a trailer must have running lights (taillights and/or marker lights), turn signals and brake lights.(GUIDE TO TOWING)
March 1, 2007... Some trailers even have back-up lights. This means you must tap into the tow vehicle's electrical system. CONNECTORS. Electrical power is transferred to most RV trailers through a wiring harness that has a round seven-way connector. This...

Chapter 5: leveling. Loading and driving; How to set up and drive with a trailer: trailers tow best when level, so do your level best to get yours that way by adjusting the hitch ball height on your tow vehicle.(GUIDE TO TOWING)
March 1, 2007... Leveling can be done using dropped or raised drawbars, or with an adjustable hitch. Weight distribution can affect trailer handling, too. Make sure the trailer is properly loaded--front-to-rear, and side-to-side. Follow the manufacturer's...

Chapter 6: trailering safety checklist; Before you tow your trailer: you can never be too safe when towing a trailer, and just as any good pilot goes over his safety checklist before taking off, it's a good idea to approach towing in the same manner.(GUIDE TO TOWING)
March 1, 2007... The following is a checklist of important items you need to address every time you tow your trailer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Check cold tire pressures on the tow vehicle and trailer. Improperly inflated tires can cause catastrophic...

Fleetwood Folding Element Cobalt.(RV TEST)
March 1, 2007... Any way you slice it, the Fleetwood Folding Element is a towable RV that makes good sense for many families. All three models, the Graphite, Cobalt and Neon, offer more interior room than you would expect, small travel dimensions, easy set up...

Camping spotlight.
March 1, 2007... Colorado State Parks Stagecoach State Park Stagecoach State Park sets the stage for great recreation in the lush Yampa Valley by Steamboat Springs. Vistas and views are backdrops to the 780-acre reservoir providing renown lake or river...

Pick the perfect campsite.(Outdoorsman)
March 1, 2007... As we pull into the campground, the grass looks as if it has just been mowed by a crew of professional landscapers. Wildflowers are sprinkled around the meadow, where a trio of deer stands watching us without fear. The deer go back to grazing...

Fresh gear for spring.(New Products)
March 1, 2007... 1 Padded Performance Finding a hiking sock that doesn't slide around and bunch up, causing blisters, can be tough. EuroSock makes padded hiking socks that are designed to keep your feet ventilated and comfortable. The sock's elasticized arch...

The Windigo: the Windigo is a mythological beast of the forests that finds its way into many stories of struggle and heroism. The legend of the Windigo is well known among the Algonquian-speaking tribes of North America.(Campfire Story)(Short story)
March 1, 2007... The storm raged for so long that the family thought it would starve for sure. When the storm broke for a moment, the father, a brave warrior, stepped out of the lodge to see what the world was like. He saw that the next big storm was already on...

Gear geeks.(Campsite)
March 22, 2007... If you're a gear geek like me, then this issue of Camping Life is just what you've been looking for. We reviewed hundreds of new and exciting outdoor products, and gathered a selection of the latest, most useful, improved, and appropriate gear...

Outdoor inventors: how imaginative people and their innovative products changed the camping world forever.
March 22, 2007... Gathering around a roaring fire is a nostalgic image for campers of any generation. It's where S'mores are toasted, stories are told and tunes are sung. Chances are, though, that few of us have the same memories of the camp lantern, portable...

Shelter: life in camp is much sweeter with a good shelter.(HOME AWAY FROM HOME)(Cover story)
March 22, 2007... A camping trip revolves around two things: a good campfire and a good tent. Without the former, camp life can be boring and a wee bit cold; without the latter, camp life is nearly impossible. We've collected a group of tents for your review...

Sleeping bags: sleeping comfort at night is essential to outdoor fun all day.(IN THE BAG)
March 22, 2007... When it comes to value, synthetic insulation is unparalleled in sleeping bags; but this year manufacturers have found new ways of making its performance competitive with goose (or duck) down, too. No matter which insulating material you decide...

Lighting: family-safe led lights offer unparalleled illumination in all shapes and sizes.(LET THE LIGHT SHINE IN)
March 22, 2007... Whether you're looking to light up a campsite or the inside of your tent, or to see farther down the trail you're taking to the bathroom at night, you'll need lighting. And since Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting technology is taking over the...

Camp stoves: good food can make a camping trip even more special, and a good two-burner stove is the most important link in the camp-cooking chain.(ALL FIRED UP)(Cover story)
March 22, 2007... Look around any campsite and the odds are that you will quickly spot a two-burner camp stove. Gas-fired camp kitchen appliances have been around almost forever, and for family camping, dual-burner models are by far the most popular--probably...

Apparel: along with gear essentials, clothing also makes the camper. These pieces will inspire you to do more than make s'mores.(DECK YOURSELF)(Buyers guide)(Cover story)
March 22, 2007... Ready to rough it: Woolrich gets technical with its Afton Pack-It Jacket ($65; 800/995-1299; woolrich.com), which helps block rain and wind, packs away in the left mesh pocket and has UPF 50 protection. Royal Robbins embraces Traptek...

Blades: what's in your pocket?(CUTTING EDGE)
March 22, 2007... Everyone who ventures into the outdoors for any amount of time should carry a good knife. It's considered one of the "10 Essentials" and can be used for whittling fire starters from twigs, cutting rope and cord, slicing open packages of potato...

Footwear: our guide to footwear for (almost) any type of outdoor adventure.(HIT THE TRAIL)
March 22, 2007... Here's a game you can play with the kids when you go on the annual family summer tour of the National Parks. It's called "Find the Naive Tourist," and it's really easy to play. If you see someone hiking in sneakers or loafers, well, then you...

How to tell a campfire story.(Campfire Story)(Brief article)
March 22, 2007... Lots of practice and expressiveness are two primary keys to becoming a great storyteller. Use different types of stories, too, such as myths, stories of heroes, current events, humorous tales, real-life stories, animal stories, adventures and...