Camping Life articles from May 2005

Camping Life archives from May 2005

High adventure.(Campsite)
May 1, 2005... Are you looking to spice up your family summer vacation this year? If you think outdoor adventure is something only singles and young couples can enjoy, look again. Thousands of companies, outfitters and guides are available throughout this...

Sierra water quality good news for campers.(Trail Signs)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Data collected by University of California, Davis School of Medicine has revealed that except for some heavily used areas, the streams and lakes in the Sierra Nevada, California, high country are generally clean and fresh. [ILLUSTRATION...

New RV ownership study results.(Trail Signs)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A recent study performed by Harris Interactive has yielded some interesting new information about the RV industry and its customers. The latest study identifies RV buyers today as younger (the average age of an "RV prospect" is now 42 years)...

Hi-Tec launches an innovative kids' shoe campaign.(Trail Signs)(Phibian Collection)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The new collection of outdoor-oriented footwear for children from Hi-Tec is being marketed using a cartoon character frog named "Phibian." The Phibian Collection retail plan is a partnership between Hi-Tec (maker of a full line of outdoor...

Coachmen[R] goes West.(Trail Signs)(RV Group of Coachmen Industries)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The RV Group of Coachmen Industries has opened a new regional service center in Chino, California. The West Coast is an important RV market, and the 12-acre complex in San Bernardino County, just an hour's drive east of Los Angeles, will serve...

Cherokee for towing.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I was interested to see the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland in your trailer test of the Coachmen Spirit of America 241. My 2002 Grand Cherokee Overland is in great shape, and I am currently looking at a 26-foot Gulf Stream trailer. It's...

The wonder of warblers.(Wildlife)
May 1, 2005... A tiny yellow missile flashes across the trail and into the forest. As I watch, it lands on a limb, and then weaves and bobs among the leaves, chasing a tiny moth. Insect captured, it launches again, taking its spoils to destinations unknown....

Fire up the barbie! The calendar calls for family barbecues and campfire camaraderie. Here are some fuss-free recipes to get you all fired up.(Camp Kitchen)
May 1, 2005... Chuckwagon Chicken Grill chicken and smother it with a soupy, flavorful sauce. This is a knife-and-fork meal to serve in pie tins chuckwagon-style. * 4 servings boneless, skinless chicken breast * Pan spray, preferably olive oil...

Slumberjack Kepler.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2005... We waited. Winter came and the nights became frosty--perfect for our test of the new Slumberjack Kepler ($170) sleeping bag, rated for 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It was January in Washington state when we finally crawled into the bag, and the...

Garmin e-Trex Legend C.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2005... The eTrex Legend C GPS ($375) from Garmin is a palm-sized unit with a nice, large color screen that is easy to read, even in bright sunlight. The size of the display is the result of Garmin's choice to locate all but one of the controls along...

Kelty Carport.(Gear Head)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2005... Lightweight and durable, the Kelty Carport's skin is tough, nylon taffeta. A set of DAC, shock-corded aluminum poles create its skeleton. The nylon canopy is connected to the poles through a system of sleeves, hooks and spring clips. A top pole...

Hi-Tec Multiterra Low.(Gear Head)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2005... A quick scan of its features include an upper made of a mixture of Nubuck and suede leather; molded, speed-lace-type eyelet system, Strobel lasting that offers flexibility and strength; lightweight, compression-molded EVA midsole; and a durable...

Paha Que Tent Cot.(Gear Head)(Kamp-Rite Tent Cot)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2005... The folks at Paha Que offer a quick, easy-to-erect shelter that has you set up and inside before you know it. In fact, we timed the whole process during this test of the Kamp-Rite Tent Cot. It took me 61 seconds (after a couple of practice...

Prepping for summer.(New Products)
May 1, 2005... 1 Pocketsize Survival Kit This lightweight Pocket Survival Pak by Adventure Medical Kits contains the survival basics in a very small package: a signal mirror; fire starter; waterproof tinder; survival whistle; survival compass; No. 22 scalpel...

The perfect campfire.(Outdoorsman)
May 1, 2005... A campfire can keep you warm, illuminate the area, dry clothes, cook meals, purify water, and signal for help. However, some of these duties require different types of campfire. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FIRE PIT. Surrounding the fire...

Doing the Dells: there's a lot more than cheese in Wisconsin.
May 1, 2005... While many travelers equate Wisconsin with farming and dairies, few are aware of the Dells. Nestled among the rolling farms and forests in the southern part of the state are the famous Dells on the Wisconsin River, a series of cliffs named for...

Top gear 2005: new gear that can make your camping trips better than ever.(EDITORS' CHOICE)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... NAVIGATION AID * GARMIN GPSMAP 60 $321 We especially like handheld GPS units with topographic-mapping capability. Garmin (800/800-1020; garmin.com) just released the handheld GPSMAP 60 ($321), which offers a large, high-resolution...

Gallery.
May 1, 2005... This month's Gallery features the photography of John Mielcarek of Polk City, Florida. Camping Life will pay $100 per photograph for original color transparencies (slides) selected for Gallery. All submissions must have an S.A.S.E. for return,...

Family summer adventure: do something totally different on your vacation this year.
May 1, 2005... When they ask your kids, "What did you do this summer?" everyone will sit up and take notice. You can be responsible for creating that long-remembered and much talked about high adventure. Adventure travel, long the exclusive domain of...

Tow upgrades: old dog, new tricks; How to improve towing performance ... without buying a new rig.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Did you find yourself wishing you had a new truck last summer? Was your family's good-old, trusty, trailer-towing machine the butt of many jokes, none of which were all too funny? Did it feel like your lightweight trailer developed a "pot...

Get your goat: wilderness trekking can be made easier for your family with some horned help.
May 1, 2005... We hiked a narrow trail with six pack goats precariously close to a roaring river. Suddenly, they came to a complete halt. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Their eyes were fixed on the spruce trees across the river and their ears perked straight...

Summer solstice: these apparel picks can help prepare you for the dog days of summer.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... For most, summertime is the kick-off to memorable vacations, great weekend getaways and other interesting travel adventures. The summer sun seems to perk up everything, especially the beautiful natural landscapes many destinations have to...

Camping spotlight: New York State Parks--come camp with us!
May 1, 2005... Why not consider camping in one of New York's beautiful state parks? Imagine pitching a tent near the St. Lawrence River or one of the beautiful lakes or waking up in your recreational vehicle surrounded by the majesty of the woods or cooking...

Holiday Rambler Savoy 29 BHS: this lightweight trailer offers fifth-wheel luxury and volume.(RV Test)(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2005... Fifth-wheel trailers offer many advantages. Cavernous interior height, increased storage room, and towing stability are just a few. But their size and weight are such that most require a one-ton (at least) pickup truck to haul them. Holiday...

Monsters of the lakes.(Campfire Stories)
May 1, 2005... Where there's a dark lake, you'll likely find a story of a monster. Of course, the most heralded of all is "Nessie," or the Loch Ness Monster The Loch Ness Monster is the name of the lake monster that inhabits Loch Ness in Scotland. Loch...