Camping Life articles from September 2005

Camping Life archives from September 2005

How to fully enjoy my favorite camping season.(Campsite)
September 1, 2005... Fall is my favorite season. The days are cooling off again, the leaves on many of the deciduous trees begin turning toward golden hues, the second wave [southbound] of the semi-annual North American bird migration is underway, and for the most...

Online store offers travel-sized-only items.(minimus.biz)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Looking for your favorite shampoo, coffee or cereal in a small travel size? You'll probably find it at Minimus.biz. This online store, launched in July last year, is attracting a large following of campers, backpackers and RVers to purchase all...

SmartWool leaves a smart print in New Zealand's Merino industry.(Trail Signs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Purchasing its Merino wool from New Zealand wool producers for a number of years, SmartWool recently struck an unprecedented seven-year deal that will provide the company with quality wool while helping improve animal welfare, environmental...

Woolrich marks 175 years.(Trail Signs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Woolrich brand has been in existence for 175 years, and in June the company celebrated its anniversary with an event held at its Woolrich, Pennsylvania, headquarters. The event consisted of several activities, including certain traditions...

The sultans of sheep.(ramming rams)
September 1, 2005... It's late fall. High on a ridge in the Colorado Rockies, a pair of hikers are startled, and then stopped in their tracks, as they hear a loud report on the mountain ahead. To one, the sound resembles the crack of a bat striking a baseball, but...

Chill chasers.(Camp Kitchen)
September 1, 2005... When the frost is on the pumpkin, stir up big pots of chowder, chili and stout-hearted soups to warm your camping crew. These recipes are quick to cook, easy on cleanup, tasty and rib-sticking. All you need is one burner and a soup pot,...

Italiano corn chowder.(Camp Kitchen)
September 1, 2005... Fresh herbs provide zestier flavor, but dried herbs will do. One teaspoon dried herbs equals one tablespoon fresh. * 12 ounces Italian sausage, sweet or hot * Medium onion, diced * Small green pepper, diced * Small, sweet red...

Vasque Breeze GTX XCR.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... The Vasque Breeze GTX XCR boot is from the company's Fastpacking line of footwear products, and is the type of hiking boot that fits well into my lifestyle. I want lightweight, breathable, sturdy, waterproof boots with ankle support. That...

Katadyn Exstream XR Water Bottle Purifier.(Gear Head)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... This is a product that we found especially useful for the kind of day-hiking activities the typical base camper enjoys. The Katadyn Exstream XR Water Bottle Purifier ($49.95) is a personal water purification system that allows you to explore...

Covercraft Seat Savers.(Gear Head)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Anybody who leads an active outdoor life gets dirty--that's a given. And if you're dirty or wet, some of it's winding up on your car seats. The outdoor lifestyle is tough on fabric and leather seating surfaces, and a set of seat covers would...

Coleman Tent Light.(Gear Head)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... Reading bedtime stories in our tent was a big hassle. We spent most of the time juggling books, kids and flashlights. The Coleman Tent Light, with its warm glow and versatile placement options, creates a much more restful atmosphere. The...

25 quick & easy weekends: great camping locations are closer to home than you think.
September 1, 2005... Summer is gone and the kids are back in school. Your vacation time has all been used up. You are getting that head-down, slumped-shoulders sort of posture that clearly indicates you're in serious outdoor-recreation withdrawal. But what can you...

Short legs on big trails: how to start kids backpacking.
September 1, 2005... "Keep their minds busy," says backpacking mom Chris Duncan, "and their little feet will motor right along." Kids can backpack, if their brains bustle on the trail. And once at a campsite, fallen trees become forts, rocks grow into castles, and...

10 ways to save: how to get the gear you want for less money.
September 1, 2005... You can save substantial amounts of money when buying new camping gear if you shop smart. Here are 10 strategies that can help you get all the gear you want for much less green! 1. RIGHT TIME Timing is everything. Now is the perfect...

Kids stuff: camping gear and accessories especially designed for the little ones.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... COLEMAN KIDS FLASHLIGHT NIGHTLIGHT A kid's favorite piece of camping gear is often something that lights up. The Flashlight Nightlight ($9) will soon become one of those favorites. This planetarium show in a flashlight has a hand-molded...

RV spotlight: Winnebago Itasca Spirit 31T.(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... We recently spent some time in the Itasca-Spirit 31T, a Class Cmotorhome manufactured by Winnebago Industries, A rear master bedroom model, with a 60 X 75-inch queen bed in the back room, a super slide containing both a 40 X 67-inch sofa/bed...

Gallery.
September 1, 2005... This month's Gallery features the photography of Connie Thompson of Pollok, Texas. 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, and...

Fall clothing foliage: outdoor, technical pieces get warmer and more versatile.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... New styles and enhanced performance fabrics make up this lineup of fall clothing picks. Fleece is the word when it comes to a number of fall clothing items, especially soft shells, a versatile, must-have jacket. The material has taken on...

Weekend Warrior Super Lite FK1900: the cargo bay area measures 18 feet, 6 inches long.(RV TEST)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2005... The Super Lite FK1900 is a jewel of a toy hauler; It's built by Weekend Warrior, a company that's been focused on toy haulers for almost two decades. It comes with a GVWR of 7650 pounds, can carry ATVs, and is easily towed by many SUVs and...

The other Grand Canyon: want to explore the colossus of all chasms, but don't like crowds? Try one of these three off-the-beaten-path spots along the rim of the world's most famous canyon.
September 1, 2005... Not all of the Grand Canyon is contained within Grand Canyon National Park. A whole lot of it, including hundreds of wonderful side canyons, pinnacles, rock temples, buttes and campsites, are located outside, or on the fringes of, the national...

The "real" 10 essentials.(Outdoorsman)
September 1, 2005... To survive an outdoor emergency, there are some fundamental things you need, and they are not necessarily pieces of equipment. I call these the "real" 10 essentials. With the exception of No. 1, which in my book is always No. 1, the rest of...

More than a campsite ... there's a lot to see, do, and learn in New York's Catskills and Adirondacks, especially when you stay at a campsite operated by the State Department of Environmental Conservation.(Camping Spotlight)
September 1, 2005... It's your first morning in the campground. Last night, you pulled in just as it was getting dark. By the time you settled in, you were tired, but excited about what tomorrow would bring. Soon the kids will be up and looking for something to do....

Some bare necessities.(New Products)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2005... 1 Match This The MatchGuard matchbox is designed with a tray release button so the box only opens halfway to reveal the wooden matches. The button is a layer of defense against children or animals when stored away or close to your...

How fire came to the Iroquois.(Campfire Stories)
September 1, 2005... Although the boy Three Arrows had not yet seen fourteen winters, he was already known for his skill and daring. His name was given him when he brought down three flying wild geese in the same flock with three arrows. He was well versed in...