Camping Life articles from September 2004

Camping Life archives from September 2004

Scared to go camping.(Campsite)(ghosts)
September 1, 2004... This is not the first time you have heard me say that fall is my favorite camping season. A combination of things--cooling weather, brightly hued trees shedding leaves in the breeze, and fewer people after the rush of the summer season--make...

Camping Life camp cook contest.(Tidbits)
September 1, 2004... Have you ever wanted to be a famous chef? Here's your chance! Camping Life is looking for your favorite camp recipes. We're searching for unique recipes ranging from breakfast wake-ups and on-the-trail lunches to dinner entrees and...

Renowned travel writers begin backcountry tours.(Tidbits)(Gary and Monika Wescott)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Gary and Monika Wescott (The Turtle Expedition) have been traveling the world and telling their story in gorgeously photographed and stirringly written travel/adventure articles for more than 20 years. Their work has appeared in magazines such...

Coleman brand licensing dispute heats up.(Tidbits)(Coleman Company, Inc.)
September 1, 2004... According to contacts at Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., the company recently filed a civil complaint in the 18th Judicial District, District Court, Sedgwick County, Kansas, against The Coleman Company, Inc., in connection with a dispute over the...

Camping Life contributor honored.(Tidbits)
September 1, 2004... We just can't pass up the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and congratulate Jack Ballard of Billings, Montana, for the awards he received in the Northwest Outdoor Writer's Association (NOWA) Excellence in Craft Contest. Among the awards...

Not Brandon.(CORRECTIONS)(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2004... A typographical error occurred in "Coastal Hot Spots, Oregon" (July/August 2004). The name of the lovely ocean-side town of Bandon by the Sea was incorrectly spelled as Brandon by the Sea. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have...

Wicksfield Campfire Grille.(CORRECTIONS)(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2004... In the Gear Head column (June 2004), we reported favorably on the Wicksfield Campfire Grille, but an inadvertent typographical error called out the support post as being 3/8-inch thick, when in fact it is 3/4-inch thick. In addition, we tested...

Tent colors.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Could you tell me why the tent manufacturers don't consider using light or reflective colors for their tents, especially on the rain-fly or canopy parts? I am looking for a new tent and all the tents I have seen so far have dark roofs....

Car toppers.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I am a recent subscriber and will soon be looking for a replacement for our old tent trailer. We are looking to downsize. Have you ever tested "car-top tents" or "motorcycle trailers?" We know of a couple that owns a "motorcycle trailer" that...

American white pelican: bigger than you think.(Wildlife)
September 1, 2004... Many people's knowledge of pelicans can be adequately summarized by the beginning of a poem written by Dixon Lanier Merritt in 1910: "What a wonderful bird is the pelican, his beak can hold more than his belican." Despite the popularity of...

Layers of food fun.(Camp Kitchen)
September 1, 2004... Presentation can be an exciting part of any meal, and layered dishes add elegance to all occasions, including a camping trip. These recipes offer good nutritional value and make for next-to-zero cleanup. Make and serve these goodies in large,...

Keeping your feet and legs healthy for hiking.(First Aid)
September 1, 2004... Walking and hiking are two of the easiest and most popular ways to enjoy the outdoors. You don't need expensive gear, you can travel at your own pace and you can easily stop and savor an intimate experience with natural beauty and solitude. ...

Teetering eggs, vanishing moons and shooting stars.(Astronomy)
September 1, 2004... Autumn is probably the most evocative of all the seasons. Summer is fun in the sun; spring is all about April showers and May flowers; and winter is, well, cold. But think of fall and everything from the kickoff of college football, baseball's...

New photographic printing processes.(Worth 1000 Words)
September 1, 2004... Most of us who are serious--or maybe obsessed--about outdoor photography have at least a few images that are "perfect." By that, I mean they are technically and compositionally ideal for display. And even if the gallery in which these...

Coleman PowerPack stove.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Campers looking for a stove somewhere in between the small briefcase-sized camp stoves and the huge outfitter-type units can find happiness with the new Coleman (800/835-3278; coleman.com) PowerPack 30,000-BTU Propane Stove. This double-burner...

Alpineaire foods Inferno Self-Heating Meal.(Gear Head)
September 1, 2004... Ever tried a Meal Ready to Eat (MRE)? The U.S. military's MREs have a shelf life longer than some of those who eat them, and are inexpensive, lightweight and can be found in many outdoor retailers as well as your local Army surplus store. Some...

Garmin Foretrex 101 GPS.(Gear Head)(Global Positioning System)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Economical handheld GPS units are a big hit around the campsite because they provide a sense of security--and are cool electronic tools to take along on new adventures. But as most of us have learned, handhelds are not very convenient to use...

The Grand Tour: explore the red-rock country of southern Utah and northern Arizona, areas that were first championed by an unlikely advocate.
September 1, 2004... CAMPING WAS HARDER IN 1916 WHEN CONGRESS CREATED THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY, A WEEK IN THE POCONOS WAS A MAJOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. TREKKING TO--AND THROUGH--A REMOTE REGION OF THE COUNTRY LIKE YELLOWSTONE OR...

Camper vans: multipurpose, easy-to-drive mini-RVs are worth considering.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... IN AN OVERSCHEDULED WORLD WHERE FAMILY BONDING TIME IS ELUSIVE and multitasking the norm, camper vans (or Class B motorhomes as they're referred to in the RV industry) have never made more sense. Just think, a vehicle big enough to shuttle the...

The 10 essentials: don't leave home without them; Gear that can save your life.
September 1, 2004... Every camper has his or her favorite things to take on a camping trip. Some items are for convenience, some are for the success of the camping trip and some are downright essential for survival. Some gear can save your life. [ILLUSTRATION...

Fall clothing harvest: kick off the season with technical apparel suited for many purposes.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... This fall, you'll find a wide variety of versatile and multipurpose camping clothes to choose from. And don't fret; all the cool technical features and necessities found in your spring and summer gear is also available in this fall's lineup of...

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California.(Weekender)
September 1, 2004... Cruising along Highway 101 on our way to the redwoods, my husband began to sing Peter Wolf's song "Nothing but the Wheel." After listening to him belt it out as we drove up this scenic route, the chorus continued to play in our heads throughout...

Lance Max 981: Lance's new Max truck campers expand comfort to new levels.(RV Test)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Truck campers have been a favorite of outdoorsmen for nearly half a century. They provide the amenities and comforts of being fully self-contained without diminishing maneuverability in tight quarters or over back roads like travel trailers and...

Radio alerts for weather and civil dangers.(New Products)
September 1, 2004... Weather radios have traditionally alerted listeners to natural emergencies like floods and storms. Now at least one of these units offers extended coverage to transmit news of man-made emergencies like civil dangers. Oregon Scientific's...

Rec-Rac keeps gear in place while maximizing space.(New Products)
September 1, 2004... Pickup owners looking for a space-saving solution might find it in the Rec-Rac (800/867-7764; recrac.com). This gear-and-bicycle carrying system ($64.95) attaches to the siderails--rather than the floor--of your truck's bed, saving space for...

Led-lit watch.(New Products)
September 1, 2004... So you realize at the campsite that you forgot to bring a flashlight. Not to worry, if you're wearing Swiss Army's (800/442-2706; swissarmy.com) Night Vision watch ($295). Available in three styles, the watch contains a unique blue LED...

3-in-1 eyewear care.(New Products)
September 1, 2004... An active lifestyle can easily put your eyewear at risk. Now you can protect your glasses and/or shades with Hides' (866/287-0667; hides.com) [H.sub.2]O three-in-one eyewear accessory ($11.95). Made of DuPont microfiber and micropoly/Lycra, the...

Iowa's Great Lakes.(Fishin' Hole)
September 1, 2004... When you think of Iowa, you think of picture-postcard, all-American farm country. Now you can add the Great Lakes to the list of Iowa's charms. If you're asking, "The Great Lakes of where?" don't feel alone. Few know of the Great Lakes of Iowa....

Keeping a weather eye.(Outdoorsman)
September 1, 2004... Forecasting the weather is a combination of art, science and luck--which is why weather reporters always deal in percentages rather than absolutes. Even though the process isn't perfect, it's still wise to listen to the broadcasts and pay...

The ghosts of Borrego.(Campfire Stories)
September 1, 2004... Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Borrego Springs area of Southern California are notorious for the many legends, ghost stories and tales of unexplained phenomena that have circulated around campfires over the years. The area is home to...