Camping Tips

the delaware water gap is really nice for close to nyc-ness

Do you have any particular Delaware Water Gap spots you like? My one camping experience there was kind of miserable, even though the hike was nice.

Also I want further away spots - Mass, NH, Vermont, Maine even.

Does anyone have any suggestions for backcountry hiking in the NC/TN area? We'll probably end up just picking a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, unless someone has a better idea?

Seriously on the baby wipes!

We're going camping this weekend, too!

For the benefit of UKers, what are you actually supposed to do if you meet a bear when camping? Is it true that it depends on the type of bear as to what you should do?

You go, "Shoo, bear, shoo!"

Adirondacks--High Peaks region (Keene Valley). Great hiking and camping and killer pie at the Noon Mark Diner.

My friends decided to do a collaborative packing checklist on Google Docs. This is what they've put together for an upcoming two night backpacking trip:

Sleeping Bag
Pillow
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping socks
Sleeping shirt
Tent, Ground cloth, Fly & Poles

Bear bag
Bear bag rope

Camelback
Spare Bladder
Water Filter
Water Filter Body
Empty Nalgene bottle

Compass
Map
GPS
Whistle
Headlamp
Flashlight
Batteries
Camera
Leki poles
Matches
Lighter
Knife
Bowl
Spoon
Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
First aid kit

Toilet Paper <-- THE MOST IMPORTANT FUCKING THING ON THE LIST
Plastic Bags -- Large black and small grocery
Stove
Cooking pot
Fuel bottle
Soap

Warm hat
Shade hat
Bandana
Rain shell
Fleece jacket
Zip-off pants
Spare socks & liners
Spare shirt
Long underwear
Gloves

Day-of bag:
Boots, boot socks, shirt, pants, etc.

Day-after bag:
Clean shirt, shorts, socks, shoes

Wonder who's carrying the cooler and who's pulling the wagon...

Guys, if you are into doughy, cheesy goodness, here is the best camping recipe I have ever come across. Buy some shaved meat such as corned beef, turkey, ham, whatever, and some melty cheese that agrees with it (mozarella is, of course, a classic but you can go as classy or low-brow as you like) and wrap said items in the little Pilsbury/generic crescent rolls. Wrap said roll in foil, leaving extra space inside so that the roll can expand. Cook for a few minutes over the fire, flipping occasionally. They lose their crescent shape but they gain a taste explosion that cannot be beat. I think these are the reason I am going camping twice this year (first time is May 18 in Algonquin Park, hurrah! During 2006's "May 24" we got snowed on.)

Subject: Bears met while camping - what to do
To: ilx UKers
cc: all ilx

What you should do depends a lot on the bear and what it does.

In the contiguous 48 states of the USA almost all bears are black bears. Black bears are generally interested in one thing only: eating. If the situation does not include food, the bear will almost always choose to run or walk away rather than risk an encounter, whether or not you yell at it. However, bears are somewhat curious and have rotten eyesight, so yelling will help the bear to identify you as a human and not some novelty item it should investigate further.

If, however, food is involved theings change. Bears can think of no thing on earth more alluring than human's foodstuffs. If the bear is approaching your food supply, you may wish to yell and throw rocks from a safe distance. This sometimes works. Not often.

Once the bear has already nabbed your food, the bear now considers it to be his food and will act to protect it. In that case, it is best to retire from the affray.

Grizzly bears are another critter altogether. They are alpha hunters and don't frighten easily, unless you have a gun and are loaded for bear. Grizzlies do exactly as they please, when they please and as they please. They rarely attack humans, but that is just a matter of having no particular reason. But that is no protection. They don' really need a reason. Just a whim.

Avoid them, if possible.

wot no brewing equipment in that list? Not even a mug or cup ? Madness

I think I can carry a french press, a bottle of whiskey, a beer stein and a couple growlers and still be lighter than these jacklegs.

They've added: mug, brillo pad, deck of cards, and pot holder.

But apparently this is a general checklist for future reference, like the bazillion others online. We're not necessarily taking all of this stuff this trip. Still...

pot holder is probably more important than 1/2 the stuff on the list

where's the trowel?

I have to wonder, if you come across a grizzly in the forest, with your gun - how does the bear know what you've got loaded?

It knows when it becomes either enraged or dead.

This might be a dumb question, but if you camp at a campground and go off for a hike, what's to stop someone from making off with your tent?

I'm sorry but this has me roffling: I can just picture some dude dragging your tent. "Hurry, he's seen us! RUN"

Apart from that: Blairwitch Project nuff said.

wet wipes!

Might I suggest this awesome tent:

http://www.campist.com/archives/treetents-camping-tent-by-dre-wapenaar.jpg

Q: This might be a dumb question, but if you camp at a campground and go off for a hike, what's to stop someone from making off with your tent?

A: wet wipes!

real answer: the camper's code

The $16 Byer of Maine Amazonas Traveler Hammock I got at REI provides the best camping sleep I've ever had.

also, I see no Colemans lamp on that list.

Dude this must be car camping because no way anyone could carry all that shit? Also: pot holder totally asinine: get one sock douchebag!

this is a pot holder

http://www.webbmilitary.com/camping/potholder.jpg

sorry, but pot holder is U & K, socks can get wet.

proper name for it - A bulldog

How is it that socks can get wet and potholders can't? OK I guess if you're talking a gabbneb potholder but for realz how many single-purpose items do you really want to climb mountains with?

A potholder is made of metal so being wet will not increase it's conductivity. Any kinds of fabric heat protection is potentially useless. (TBH I tend to just use my leatherman most of the time but it is not as convenient, but does have a million other uses)

OK but to reiterate for realz how many single-purpose items do you really want to climb mountains with?

I'm taking a firm stand against these contraptions, folks.

are you him?

no backpacker brings an oven mitt along, but a lightweight pot holder is a standard part of a camping cookset. some people would forgo it, but food and basic cooking tools are pretty important when you're walking all day in the middle of nowhere, and wetness is the enemy. i guess we should give up the single purpose of eating - food accounts for a lot of the weight in your backpack.

My list from tramping round wales last summer (admittedly with a bunch of kids would have been lighter if it were just me)

Tent (Macpac microlight)
Sleeping bag (Rab I forget which)
Thermarest
Shorts 1 pair
trousers one pair
baselayer trousers
Short sleeve base layer 2 off.
Long sleeve base layer 2 off.
midlayer top
waterproofs top and bottom
Underpants 4 pair
socks 3x 2 pair
sandals
hat (rain and sun)
sunglasses
Sunscreen (buckets of)
first aid kit (comprehensive)
MSR stove
Fuel bottle
Pan set with insulator
Leatherman
Sheath knife
head torch
watch
maps
compass
Camelbak
Bowl
song book

between us we had an axe, a saw some bigger cooking pots, matches, more fuel etc.

all hail the leatherman supertool!

amen

It is not surprising that most ilxors are unacquainted with the arcane lore of backcountry camping,as practised far from campgrounds and vehicles. It is an specialized hobby quite remote from the knowledge of the vast majority of Americans and Europeans.

Even the majority of people who have done it at some time are just tyros and novices compared to the true adepts. It takes a real nut like me to devote a large chunk of one's life and energy to this pastime.

(he wanders off muttering incoherently about gram scales and trekking poles)

So are you for or against POTHOLDERS? Help me out here!

I am ecumenical. Potholders are are respectable choice, for those who desire them, but I favor bales over potholders. Bales are light, compact and integral. They also facilitate hanging one's pot over a small woodfire in a situation where one's stove has failed.

Such are the arcana of backpacking.

bales heat up

Being remote from the heat source (base of the pot) and connected to the top of the pot only at two small points, they are somewhat analogous to the handle of a spoon, when the bowl of the spoon has something hot on it. Some heat is conducted to the handle or the bail, but not much.

However, if you are happy with a potholder, far be it from me to attempt a conversion.

Look guys, I'm just saying, make the croissants like I said. You all ignore me now, but you will hail me at 9AM on day two of camping!

I'm taking a firm stand against these (single-purpose) contraptions, folks.

-- quincie, Wednesday, April 23, 2008 7:10 AM (2 days ago)

OTM. wtf potholder? That's what calluses are for.

Also: scattered thunderstorms all weekend. Should be rad. though apparently we're down to like 10 planned miles...

I'm taking:
Hammock, tarp, associated rigging
sleeping bag
knife
matches
dice
whiskey

Got rained on something fierce, heard the coyotes at night, legs aren't speaking to me at the moment. Good times.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2451070216_91209c3161.jpg

"Ask before you hunt and fish on private land"

I have a bumper sticker that says this.

Sausages!

http://i31.tinypic.com/4fzifm.jpg
Sausages, Central Oregon Desert, May 5, 2007

bell pepper, onion, kielbasa, beer to cover; simmer til hungry; bun, mustard; de(mo)lish

Technique perfected in Southwestern Virginia, 1999-2002

I approve of these sausages.

Made a killer stroganoff last time camping. Also a great pork and chicory beer stew too.