1. How To Build A Campfire!
October 18, 2006


Ahhhh!!! There's really nothing like standing around a blazing campfire on a cold morning, with a brisk north wind blowing in your face. First you warm the front part of your body, and then you turn and scorch your backside. That's roughing it! This is the kind of outdoor living that men enjoyed a hundred years ago, before conditioned air and filtered water. This is my kind of morning! Whether you are hiking, fishing, hunting or just camping, if you're going to spend the night, you have to have fire wood. While having a camp fire is not the necessity it used to be, it is one of thos... (read more)

Author: Bob Alexander | Article Views: 415

2. Washing Clothes When Backpacking
October 14, 2006


You don't want to carry ten pounds of clothes when backpacking. In fact, for us lightweight backpackers, anything more than a few pounds is too much. This means washing clothes on the trail at some point. Here are some tips on how to do it right. Here's the easy solution for short backpacking trips, those that are three days or less: just don't wash your clothes. That is, unless they really need it. In that case proceed to the next paragraph. Try to make your backpacking clothes less stinky. In other words, don't sweat too much. Actually this is a good idea for another reason. If you... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 593

3. Walking Backwards Down The Mountain
October 03, 2006


The first time I had knee pain when hiking was on the last few miles of a 26-mile hike to the top of Mount Haggin in Montana. I had to actually stop walking at some point. There was just too much pain to take another step. I laid down with my legs uphill for a while. That seemed to help. That was the first trick I learned to reduce my knee pain. My particular problem is only when I am hiking downhill after putting in some miles. After some internet research, I have discovered that it may be due to "pronation" or flattening of the arch. The following are some pain-relief techniques that ha... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 537

4. Greatest Animal Migration In a Wildlife Safari Park
September 21, 2006


The Clown of the Plains: Meet gnu, the Wildebeest. The wildebeest is feted as the clown of the Savannah. Also known as a gnu, the animal has a structure resembling a young horse with a heavily built frontal shoulders and chest and a slender posterior. Its legs are so slender it's intriguing how it supports the proportionately larger body frame. The ‘clown’ title results from its unusual behavior considered to other bovids, for example a gnu herd will usually scatter in different directions when attacked by a lion. The Migration What gives the gnu its worldwide repute is not its body struct... (read more)

Author: Robert Muhoho | Article Views: 674

5. Camping With Coyotes
September 06, 2006


Van camping became one of our favorite activities when my wife Ana and I bought our conversion van. We had no tent to set up, and no problem with rain or wind. We could explore all day without worries, then find any beautiful spot to park for the night. Our bed was ready in the back. It is sometime surprising what you find when you explore without any itinerary. There are many forgotten places that few people go to, but are still accessible by van. This is especially true in the north country, like in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Unlike the hiking required to get away from the crowds in po... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 488

6. Winter Backpacking - Six Lifesaving Tips
September 04, 2006


Did you check the weather report when you last went winter backpacking? You probably did, but I am sure there are some who are thinking "Weather report? How about cold and snowy - it's winter!" However, cold and snow are not the only aspects of the weather. You may actually be in more danger if there will be a warming trend while you are out in the wilderness. Getting wet when the temperature is just over freezing is far more likely than when it is far below freezing. Getting wet, and then cold because of it, is one of the primary reasons people die in the wilderness in winter. A down coa... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 554

7. Ghost Towns - Two Examples
September 01, 2006


When you think of ghost towns, you may have the image of a town that is completely empty of people. On the other hand, definitions vary. When I read a book on Michigan ghost towns I remember thinking "Hey, didn't I stop in a convenience store there once?" This author's definition was any town that had lost 30% of its population. I think Detroit might qualify. Then one day, I discovered that there was actually one "true" ghost town in Michigan. Fiborn Quarry, sometimes just called Fiborn, was a limestone quarry and small town at one time, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When I first we... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 573

8. Camping and Coconut Trees
August 31, 2006


Fall is a great time for camping. It's much more enjoyable and tolerable this time of year especially if you're doing it the old fashioned way with tent as opposed to R.V., cabin or some other method. Sleeping in a tent becomes a pleasure again as the nights become cooler, the bugs less irritating, and the evening campfire one of those primordial pleasures that entices you to sit and watch for hours on end. Living in Maryland, I've camped at numerous parks. One of the most popular places for recreational activities is the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It offers lots of fishing and water spor... (read more)

Author: Bill Thomas | Article Views: 707

9. Renting A Motor Home To Travel New Zealand
August 24, 2006


Whether you crave a holiday full of outdoor adventure or a relaxing vacation sampling gourmet cuisine and award winning wines, New Zealand has something for everyone. And, there is no better way to explore this highly diverse country than to rent a New Zealand motor home. With many tourist destinations within a few hours of each other and a well-maintained network of roads and highways, renting a motor home or camper van in New Zealand provides travelers the freedom and flexibility to experience all of the sites and attractions while enjoying all of the comforts of a home on wheels. With ... (read more)

Author: Mike O'Brien | Article Views: 407

10. TV Shows For Backpackers
August 20, 2006


Not many television shows are produced with backpackers in mind. Still, there are some tv shows that can be appreciated especially by backpackers. They may even contain some useful lessons. Here are some examples of the best. The Classic National Geographic Specials Specials produced by the National Geographic Society are great viewing when you want to get motivated for new backpacking trips. The older ones are some of the best for this, like the thirty-year-old episode where four guys built a raft and floated down the Yukon River. You can find many of these on DVD now in public libr... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 564

11. 39 Miles In The Smoky Mountains
August 14, 2006


The Smoky Mountains can be hard on the ankles, and it rains a lot. I learned this on the first day of my hike, both through experience and from the stories of the other hikers. This was good, though, because hiking this stretch of the Appalachian Trail would be a good test for my new lightweight backpacking gear. I was hiking in light running shoes, with a frameless fourteen-ounce backpack. My down sleeping bag weighed just seventeen ounces, and I would be sleeping under a lightweight tarp. My pack weight was eleven pounds total at the start, including all food and water. A friend fr... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 494

12. How To Find Cheap Outdoor Clothing
August 13, 2006


Outdoor clothing needs to function to a higher standard than everyday clothes. This makes it more costly to manufacture, and so more expensive for you. What can you do to find those quality hiking and backpacking clothes for less? You can watch for sales. You will save money, but that "extremely expensive" waterproof/breathable coat may still only be marked down to "very expensive." What else can you do? More Radical Ways To Find Cheap Outdoor Clothing Start by reconsidering what you really need for the trips you have planned. Will you be scaling peaks in Patagonia for a month? You p... (read more)

Author: Steve Gillman | Article Views: 594