Posts Tagged ‘campsite’

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Tips for a Successful Group Camping Trip

February 26th, 2010

I do most of my camping these days with North Texas Adventures which is not a hard core camping group. These days even those who appreciate their comforts in life can enjoy camping.If you bring a pump up air mattress with sheets, a comforter, and pillows you’ll forget you’re not in your own bed at home!  Given how large tents are these days even a queen size mattress does not need to take up the whole tent. 

If you are at a campsite with electricity, consider bringing a fan to plug in which helps beat the heat in your tent.  This comes in handy in the brutal Texas heat.  For colder weather camping, bring some sleeping bags for added warmth. 

With today’s amenities there is no need to “rough it” on a camping trip.Keep this in mind when you write your guest list.  Even people that insist they don’t like to camp may enjoy modern day camping that can have much of the comforts of home.

Some of my happiest camping memories are sitting around the fire at night.This is a great time to relax and tell stories of your adventures from that day, like the time I ran over a rattlesnake on my mountain bike, and my mate, to avoid the rattlesnake ran his bike straight into a cactus!  Ouch!  Meanwhile you can roast some marshmallows or enjoy a few beers. 

Make sure to bring lots of firewood to burn, as there is nothing worse than having the fire burn out just as the party is getting started.Fires are a lot of fun that most campers will even enjoy them in warm weather.I remember waiting for the sun to go down after a 93 degree day so we could light a fire!
One of our favorite night time activities is a good game of Texas Hold’em poker, this is very popular in our DFW Outdoors Club

This can be great for beginners who sometimes are lucky enough to bring the pot home.  This happened with my girlfriend and I was so embarrassed when she won and waved the money around in the air singing “I am the winner!” at the top of her big lungs.  Fortunately for all of us, her beginner’s luck soon ran out and it was much quieter at the next game. 

So make sure to bring some games or items for entertainment that appeal to your group. Some of the other items I bring for fun are a football, bean bag toss game, Frisbee, fishing poles, a bicycle and of course a deck of cards.

Don’t forget a lanten.  You may need it to find your way to the tent after a beginner takes your money at poker!  Finally it is important to remember – Don’t mess with Texas!  We take looking after the camp area seriously, what ever state you are in, as we do with our Dallas Fort Worth Hiking Club. Do a good deed and leave the campsite cleaner than you found it.  Do a good walk through to make sure we minimize our footprint on our great state parks and camping area’s.  We all will appreciate you doing your part.

Thank you for reading this article and I hope these tips help you have a more successful and fun camping trip!   

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The Pleasures Of Camping In Pennsylvania

January 21st, 2010

The next time you go camping in Pennsylvania (PA) there are some things you should consider. When you think of camping and the outdoors most think of Yosemite Yellowstone and large famous parks. Pennsylvania, though not on the top of the list has other attractions that you should be aware of.

Most campers go out for the campsites in the spring and summer. This is due to the seasonal campgrounds. Pennsylvania has three state parks that are year round ventures. These parks are Little Pine, Ole bull, and Promised Land. The cold might be a factor for some campers. The state is located in the upper northeast and winters see snowfall and cold temperatures. This can be remedy by the cabins available at the campsites.

At one particular park Promised Land has a 422 acre lake, which fishing is a common pastime. During the winter season ice fishing is also a big hit among visitors. That is not the only attraction during the long winter months. There are hundreds of trails open for cross county skiing. Twenty three miles of trail is also open for snowmobiles. Along with the trailers and RV you can take to the campsite log cabins are available.

Seasonal parks in Pennsylvania have other attractions. Among these seasonal state parks are Parker Dam, Shawnee, Prince Gallitzin, Champan, Gifford Pinchot, Pine Grove Furnace and the large Pymatuning. Tourist and avid campers alike flock to Pymatining State Park. It is one of the most visited parks in Pennsylvania. This maybe due to is vast size of 21, 122 acres and its reservoir that is over 17, 000 acres. Both being some of the biggest Pennsylvania state parks have to offer.

Before any camper voyages to their campsite, they must know the rules and regulations. Pennsylvania parks have textbook rules. You  can bring your pets a long as its dog, cat or a caged animal, that being a bird or something  of the sort. Of course, no fires outside of the fire rings and grills. There is one rule that  might make some campers go to a local private campsite. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at the campsites or the state parks. This may be a bad thing for a few campers, though there are plenty of campsites outside of the state parks where having alcohol is legal.

Pennsylvania has populations of black bears and coyotes. This is state land that the elk are free to roam and graze about. An elk is much bigger then a deer. A typical male elk can reach a thousand pounds.

If hunting isn’t on the menu, but observing wildlife is you can visit an elk range. Elk are larger then deer and males can weigh up to a thousand pounds. You can drop by one of the ranges near your campsite.

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Camping Toilet And Accessories: Make Your Camping Vacation Extra Comfortable

January 21st, 2010

No matter what how great the charm of an outdoor holiday, modern-day living has made us so accustomed to convenient washrooms that a camping toilet becomes mandatory for most of us.Here are some tips you must consider before buying a camping toilet.

You must ensure that it is maximum odor free, waterless, lightweight and compact. There are many portable camping toilets that can be folded up and carried easily with your other gear.It should be compact enough to not be a burden, not require use of water which is not freely available at campsites and of course be odor free.

The best kind of camping toilets are the ones that require the use of disposable bags. Some units also come with pop-up smaller privacy tents that you can set up nearby. Always buy bags from a good manufacturer because while camping out, it is your duty to contribute to maintaining the environment at the campsite.

Usually waste disposable bags are patented. Always buy bags that are environment-friendly and biodegradable. A special powder is used with the bags to check the odor. Some bags are big enough to be used at least three times but they are cheap enough to be disposed off after one use only. The toilet paper can also be disposed off inside the bag too.

In case you do not wish to carry a camping toilet you can request a spot in the camping ground nearer to the washroom. However, this is not always possible so before you buy a camping toilet unit, particularly on the Internet, do check the manufacturer’s reputation. Many sites offer great combo deals too. A camping toilet is of great use during an emergency need in the night when trudging off alone to the main campground toilet is not very safe.

In case you are going for a home-made camping toilet, don’t forget to get cat litter and sawdust that is usually good to check the odor and purchase good quality human waste disposable bags.

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