Camping For Dummies E-Book

Michael Hodgson

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 584

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Your straightforward guide for succesfully enjoying the great outdoors You love the great outdoors, but you're not always sure the great outdoors loves you. You can pitch a tent, start a campfire, build furniture by lashing tree branches together - in theory anyway! But while you may not have gotten your Girl Scout Gold Award, or your Eagle Scout with cluster, you can still enjoy a night out under the stars with those near and dear to you, or even work towards becoming a more serious outdoorsman, right? Sure as a bear lives in the woods, Camping for Dummies shows you how to get out there and enjoy the best Mother Nature has to offer. With the helpful advice this common sense guide provides, you'll be prepared when it comes to: * Destination * Gear * Shelter * Clothing * Food * Weather * Safety Written by journalist Michael Hodgson, veteran of Utah's Eco-Challenge and numerous other outdoor adventures, Camping for Dummies cuts out gear-head jargon and antiquated methods to give you, plain and simple, what you need to know to make the smart choices that lead to great adventures. You'll find out: * How to tie a bear bag * The delicious caveman style for cooking fresh fish * The limitations of GPS * How to predict the weather by observing birds, frogs, and insects * Ten survival essentials * How to go canoe, kayak, or bicycle camping * What features make a good backpack, boot, and other equipment * When and how to bring along children Whether the dictionary definition of "tenderfoot" has your picture next to it or you already consider wilderness your home away from home, you'll appreciate this handy, concise reference. Full of illustrations, diagrams, and directions for finding additional camping resources, Camping for Dummies is your complete ticket to America's great outdoors.

Leseprobe

Camping For Dummies®

by Michael Hodgson

Camping For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2000 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 99-69710

ISBN: 978-0-7645-5221-2

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5

1B/RV/QV/QY/IN

About the Author

Recognized nationally for his poignant writing style, humor, and knowledge of the outdoors, award-winning journalist and author Michael Hodgson constantly seeks the wilder side in search of a good story or rip-roaring adventure, like when he captained Team Media in the inaugural Eco-Challenge 360-mile adventure race in Utah.

Michael currently works as a content editor for Planet Outdoors and is a founding partner in GearTrends LLC — www.GearTrends.com — the premier information Web site for new products and trends in the outdoor sport, snow sport, fitness, paddling, and bike markets. His other Web site — www.adventurenetwork.com — was recognized in 1999 as a USA Today Hot Site, a Featured Expert award winner, and a Golden Globe award winner.

Michael served as the gear editor for Men’s Health magazine from 1997 to 1999 and during that time was also the on-air talent covering gear and trends for the nationally syndicated weekly program Outside Radio Network.

Michael’s articles have appeared in Backpacker, Outside, Men’s Journal, Adventure Journal, Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, and The Christian Science Monitor, among other periodicals. He has published 18 books on the outdoors. Prior to becoming a fulltime writer in 1988, Michael worked as mountain guide, outdoor education instructor, and Nordic ski instructor; as general manager of Western Mountaineering, an outdoor specialty store and sleeping bag manufacturer; and as a store manager for Adventure 16, a highly successful chain of outdoor specialty stores in Southern California.

When not behind a computer working on his Web sites, books, or magazine articles, Michael can be found paddling oceans, running trails, climbing mountains, or wandering the backcountry by himself or with his daughter Nikki and wife Therese. In other words, he gets paid to play — it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

Dedication

For my mother, who encouraged my first steps outdoors; my father, who guided my feet on wild trails as I was growing up; my daughter, Nikki, who inspires me by seeing everything through fresh eyes; and my wife, Therese, whose loving smile and sparkle are my favorite hiking companions.

Author’s Acknowledgments

With any camping trip, there must be a beginning, and so it was with this book. I must thank Mark Reiter, my agent with the International Management Group, who saw in me the perfect dummy for this book. I’m grateful to Stacy Collins at Wiley who agreed with Mark that I was the right one for a project she had wanted to see completed for over a year before my assignment.

My friend Kristin Hostetter, equipment editor of Backpacker magazine, deserves more thanks than I can possibly offer here for taking on the challenge of technical editing. Because of her, this book is more accurate, more useful, more practical, and simply much better than I could ever have hoped for had I done it alone.

This book never would have been possible had it not been for many folks who over the years had enough faith in me to be my friends and my advisors. I can only name a few and apologize now to the hundreds who I count as friends and hope that a collective thank you — and you know who you are — will suffice. There are a number of individuals whom I need to single out for special thanks, though. Tim Rowell, who helped me guide many trips in the mountains with paying clients — imagine that — and stood at my side as best man — twice. Mark Jenkins, with whom I still hope to complete a trip worthy of our friendship and mutual sense of adventure, for being a fellow traveler in the field of words. Marcus Woolf, for being there through thick and thin and for helping me learn, by trial and error, the better ways to camp — no, I will never forget a stove repair kit again. Jim Ward, my first editor at a small, free paper — Footprints — distributed all over Southern California to Adventure 16 patrons. Tom Shealy, editor of Backpacker magazine, who, upon reading my first submission to a “big name” publication, returned it with thoughtful editing and suggestions on improving the piece. Thanks for having enough belief in me that you published that article the second time around and, in effect, gave me the confidence to continue. Mic and John Mead for giving me a chance to find my wings in the outdoors at Adventure 16. Joan Alvarez for taking a chance with me and helping me become a better outdoor writer while I was at Outdoor Retailer. Wendy Geister, who showed me that editing is an art form worth appreciating. Tom Stienstra, who embodies the ideal outdoor writer — from the beard and hat right down to his boots. And Bob Woodward, who has become my friend and partner in the business of fun.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editor: Norman Crampton

Acquisitions Editor: Stacy Collins

Copy Editor: Donna Frederick

Technical Editor: Kristin Hostetter

Acquisitions Coordinator: Lisa Roule

Editorial Manager: Pam Mourouzis

Cover Photo: © John Terence Turner/ Taxi/Getty Images

Composition

Project Coordinator: Maridee Ennis

Layout and Graphics: Amy Adrian, Tracy K. Oliver, Shelley Norris, Brent Savage, Jacque Schneider, Brian Torwelle, Erin Zeltner

Proofreaders: Corey Bowen, John Greenough, Susan Moritz, Joel Showalter

Indexer: Steve Rath

Illustrators: Shelley Norris, Brent Savage

Special Help Amanda M. Foxworth

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Brice Gosnell, Associate Publisher, Travel

Suzanne Jannetta, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

Why You Need This Book

How to Use This Book

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Part I : Planning Your Escape

Chapter 1: What to Do and Where to Go

Determining Your Interests and Needs

Choosing Your Destination

Beginning the Firm Planning

Planning to Camp with Your Family

Taking Fido Along

Chapter 2: Outdoor Gear and Gadgets

Tenting Tonight!

The Ins and Outs of Sleeping Bags

Backpacks

Child Carriers

Stoves

Kitchen Kit

Lighting the Way

Beware the Invisible Murk

Axe and Saw

Comforts of Home

Chapter 3: Dress for Success

Managing Moisture and Comfort: The Base Layer

Keeping Your Feet Happy

Chapter 4: Wintering, Paddling, Biking

Winter Camping

Paddling Your Way through Wilderness

Touring by Mountain or Road Bike

Part II : Getting There Is Half the Fun

Chapter 5: Hitting the Road

Preparing Your Vehicle for the Trip

Packing According to Plan

Getting Ready to Head Out

Car Camping Survival Kit

Car Rack 101

Safeguarding Your Home While You’re Away

Surviving the Drive

Entertaining the Troops for Sanity’s Sake

Chapter 6: Setting Up Camp

Finding Camp

Pitching the Tent

Establishing the Kitchen Area

Locating the “Bathroom”

Keeping Your Site Clean

Shutting Down for the Night

Answering Nature’s Call at Night

Taking Down Camp

Part III : Camping Skills, Food, and Fun

Chapter 7: Skilling Up at Camp

Tying Knots

Dealing with Wildlife

Knife Sharpening 101

Building a Fire Safely and Responsibly

Repairing Your Gear

Chapter 8: Cooking and Eating in the Wild

Planning Menus, Making Lists

Outfitting Your Camp Kitchen

Stove Repair and Maintenance

Fuel Traveling Tips

Chow Down!

Catching, Cleaning, and Cooking Fish

Chapter 9: Taking a Hike

Preparing for Your Hike

Treading Carefully

Chapter 10: Fun, Games, and Photo-Ops

Anyone Bored? Slim Chance!

Watching Wildlife

Capturing Moments in Freeze-Frame

Buying and Using Binoculars

Part IV : Staying Safe, Staying Found

Chapter 11: Staying Found Simply

Use Your Eyes, Ears, and Nose

Understanding Your Map

Buying a Compass

Navigation Basics: Using Your Tools

Using the Global Positioning System

Honing Your Survival Skills

Chapter 12: Weathering the Outdoors

Predicting Weather Changes by Reading Clouds

Geographic Weather Variations

Turning to Mother Nature for the Forecast

Surviving Weather Emergencies in the Great Outdoors

Chapter 13: Health and Safety Are No Accident

Avoiding Nature’s Nemeses

Coming to the Rescue with First Aid

Part V : The Part of Tens

Chapter 14: Ten + One Survival Essentials

Metal Cup

Firestarter

Parachute Cord

Flashlight

Compass and Map

Knife

Emergency Blanket

Basic First-Aid Kit

Water Purification System and Two Water Bottles

Emergency Food

Someone Responsible — the Eleventh Essential

Chapter 15: Ten Low-Impact Camping Tips

Discover Your Place in the Woods — Don’t Create It

Lose the Trappings of Civilization

Practice Proper Campsite Sanitation

Don’t Use the Wilderness as Your Personal Toilet

Save a Tree: Use a Stove

Choose a Time and Place Least Crowded

Follow the Path Most Traveled

Pick Up after Yourself — Mother Nature Is Not Your Maid

Respect Other Cultures

Seek to Blend

Learn about Leave No Trace

Chapter 16: Ten Camping Recipes

Hot Breakfast Cereal

Grilled Muffins with Cheese and Egg

Eggs Benedict

Mexican Spoon Bread

French Onion Soup

Tabouli Salad

Baked Steak Surprise

Fried Rice Whatever

Roasted Apple Dessert

Popcorn

A Winter Picnic

Broccoli Forest Soup

Ginger Tea

Chapter 17: Ten or So Camping Resources

Adventure Network

Mailing Lists and Newsgroups

Finding the Gear You Need

Outside Magazine

Backpacker Magazine

Riverworld.com

Princeton Outdoors

Find-A-Guide

Adventure Sports Online

Tubbs Snowshoes

Recreation.gov

Chapter 18: Ten Best Outdoor Destinations

Lightning Lakes: British Columbia

Picture Rocks National Lakeshore: Michigan

Glacier National Park: Montana

The Temagami: Ontario, Canada

All ’Round Ranch: Utah

Cumberland Island National Seashore: Georgia

Gates of Lodor, Green River: Utah

King Range National Conservation Area: California

Monongahela National Forest: West Virginia

Strathcona Park Lodge: Vancouver Island

Chapter 19: Ten Times Two: Hodgson’s Twenty Laws of Camping

Part VI : Appendixes

Appendix A: Understanding the Outdoor Lingo

Appendix B: Before You Leave Home: Countdown Checklist

Camping Gear Preparation

Home Care, Pet Care, Itinerary

Planning Ahead: Did I . . . ?

In-Vehicle Essentials

Vehicle Preparation

Appendix C: Connections

Map Resources

Planning and Research Resources

Introduction

W e all need to go camping more. Life becomes simplified and pure in the wild places of our earth. Among the mountains, rivers, woods, and open spaces, city-bound inhibitions, dot-commonisms, and lifestyle complications slip away like excess baggage. The outdoors plucks at the fiber of instinct and rekindles a familial longing to breathe deeply the fresh pine-scented air and smile at the simple sound of wind whispering through trees.

But too often we head outdoors practically insulated from the natural world by a barrier of technology that was intended only to make our time outdoors safer and more pleasurable. Taken at face value, there is nothing wrong with breathable fabrics, portable ovens and pizza makers, full meals that reconstitute from nothing, backpackable espresso makers, and two-pound tents the size of a small house. Still, amid all the technology available, we must be careful not to lose sight of why we head outside in the first place.

By constantly fighting to protect ourselves from the elements and soften the edges of wilderness, are we in fact losing touch with the wildness we leave the city to find? This book helps you stay in touch with a wilder side and slow down your need-for-speed mentality so that you can find a personal listening point.

I hope that as you thumb through these pages, you find the time to seek the lessons and gifts the wild places of our earth have to offer. I pray that you get to enjoy, as I frequently do, the feel of a spring shower on your face, the sensation of a snowflake on your tongue, and the playful tug of a mountain wind through your hair. After you discover your personal sense of wildness, you will be able to draw inspiration and meaning from it time and again, whether you’re standing on a city corner waiting for the traffic light to change or hunching over a campfire watching a sunset’s warm rays trace wistful lines up a canyon wall.

Why You Need This Book

Going camping has never been so easy — or more confusing — than it is now. The product choices available to you are mind-boggling, to say the least. There are literally hundreds of stoves, tents, jackets, shoes, lights, packs, sleeping bags, and more, all made from space-age materials that claim to do marvelous things — short of actually setting up camp for you and serving dinner on a platter.

If you’re a novice who’s just starting to put together a camping kit, then you can depend on Camping For Dummies to cut through all the techno-garble you’re likely to hear in stores and online and to point you to the right purchases for your needs and budget. And even if you’re the kind of person who has trouble telling north from south (and perhaps left from right on occasion), I can help you to navigate the wilderness — and live to tell about it.

If you’re a more experienced outdoor adventurer and already have all the gear you need, more power to you. In that case, you can depend on Camping For Dummies for tips and technique advice to help you become the star of any camping trip. No, I can’t promise to turn you into a modern-day John Muir or Daniel Boone. I can, however, teach you how to prepare a delicious dinner over coals, anticipate weather changes before a storm hits, repair a broken tent pole, or start a fire with one match (just don’t use this book as a fire starter). Throughout the book, I suggest resources that can help you find all the maps, new gear, repair information, guidebooks, and camping reservation assistance you can stomach.

How to Use This Book

Do not read this book in one sitting! If you do, I’ll be forced to smack you with a copy of the book, should I run into you at a campground or trailhead. Camping For Dummies is designed as a pick-and-choose resource for you. It is not the next great American novel. I trust that you will skim, poke, and probe the pages, seeking out the information that interests you and leaving the rest to remain as ink stains on bound paper — at least for now. Thumb through the pages, letting the catchy icons — explained in a bit — garner your interest or the section titles grab your attention. The Table of Contents is very detailed to help you decide what is of the greatest importance to your experience, plans, and needs. A very comprehensive index at the back of the book helps you search for topics by keyword.

How This Book Is Organized

Here’s a part-by-part synopsis of what you can find in each section of the book:

Part I: Planning Your Escape

Every trip has to start somewhere, and this section is all about beginnings. Here I share resources for finding maps, making camping reservations, and deciding where to go and what to do anywhere in the United States or Canada. I also include information about what you need to pack for almost any kind of camping adventure and how to dress for your outing to make sure that you maximize comfort and minimize suffering. The bonus in Part I, “Wintering, Paddling, Biking,” is designed to stretch the imagination of more experienced campers.

Part II: Getting There Is Half the Fun

Too many trips end as soon as they begin simply because one essential factor is not anticipated and planned for: the trip to the destination. I smooth the path with advice on how to prepare your vehicle so that it gets you where you want to go, how to properly pack all your gear so that Grandma doesn’t have to hold the camp stove and straddle the kayak all the way there, and even how to keep the kids (or people who just act like kids) amused while journeying to the campsite. I also include tips for picking a campsite and selecting the best spots for tents, kitchens, and more.

Part III: Camping Skills, Food, and Fun

Camping is not about eating burnt food. In this part, I show you how to plan a menu, prepare a meal, and even clean and serve fresh fish, whether you are cooking over a camp stove or open flames. Not sure of your camping skills? No worries, mate. From coping with wildlife to repairing gear and tying knots, I teach you enough campcraft skills to have you dreaming of living off the land — almost. I also explain how to enjoy a walk through nature without wrecking the wilderness and how to entertain the troops with fun and games that can make every outing a memorable one.

Part IV: Staying Safe, Staying Found

Going camping isn’t much fun if you don’t stay safe. In this part, you learn enough navigation skills to see you into the wild and back again — safely. I also show you how to predict weather patterns, which is eminently useful if you’re planning a hike or a climb from base camp. And no part on safety would be complete without a first-aid chapter that helps you deal with minor scrapes, bumps, blisters, and bites — as well as more serious injuries.

Part V: The Part of Tens

Lists are great because they’re so easy to scan and glean information from. In this part, you can find lists for my ten favorite camping recipes, ten camping essentials, ten great camping destinations in North America, ten top camping resources, ten low-impact camping rules to live by, and a ten-times-two bonus: Hodgson’s 20 Laws of Camping.

Part VI: Appendixes

Understanding outdoor-speak can be a challenge sometimes, so I compiled a list of camping and outdoor terminology often heard and sometimes used in this book. In this part, you also enter checklist nirvana. Checklists for planning a trip, taking a trip, planning a menu, preparing your vehicle — the only thing I might have forgotten is a checklist of checklists.

Icons Used in This Book

This icon highlights special suggestions that can help you protect the land and its resources for all to enjoy.

This icon marks words to the wise from my years of experience in the outdoors — sometimes philosophical, sometimes practical, but always useful.

This icon points to routine camping matters to file away for everyday reference.

This icon points out handy tips and tricks that can make your life outdoors more fun — and certainly more comfortable.

This icon draws your attention to health and safety advice — such as “Don’t run with sharp sticks, or you’ll put someone’s eye out.”

This icon zeroes in on advice that caters to kids’ special interests and needs to help families get the most out of their camping experiences.

Part I

Planning Your Escape

In this part. . .

Every trip has to start somewhere, and this section is all about beginnings. In Chapter 1, I show you how to obtain maps, make camping reservations, and decide where to go and what to do anywhere in the United States or Canada. For a broad discussion on camping gear, including everything you need for a backpacking outing, peruse Chapter 2. There, I offer buying guides and discuss each item of equipment with an eye to making your camping experience more efficient and enjoyable. Of course, unless you’re thinking of camping naked, you probably want some advice on dressing for outdoor comfort, no matter what the weather, and you find that and more in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 is all about gearing up for specialized trips such as winter camping, bike touring, and paddling. In that chapter, you find tips for choosing gear and clothing and planning your specialized activity.

Chapter 1

What to Do and Where to Go

In This Chapter

Deciding what to do on your camping trip

Figuring out where to go

Camping with your family and Fido

E very camping trip has a beginning and an end. How you remember the end depends a lot on how much planning and preparation go into the beginning.

“How do you know where to . . . ?” and “How do you know how to . . . ?” are questions I get asked all the time. The answers are what this chapter is all about.

First off, let me assure you that camping is a simple pursuit — well, at least it should be. Granted, bureaucracy has added a layer of modern paperwork to the endeavor, but believe me when I tell you that anyone can go camping.

The first thing to pack is common sense. The second is patience. The third is flexibility. And the fourth? Well, the fourth is the wild card — a sense of humor. If you load up on all four, and add a few necessary permits and other trappings of the civilized world, you’ll have a grand old time every time no matter the weather or the surprises Mother Nature may choose to unveil.

As you gain more camping experience, the planning becomes easier and easier, this I promise. In fact, sometimes I don’t plan at all anymore, letting spontaneity rule the day. Granted, some of my “spontaneous” adventures lead me down roads that are best remembered for their trials and tribulations, but that is to be expected when planning entails simply snatching a pack from the garage and heading outdoors.