It was cold and wet, in North Carolina, on December 18, 1989. Our first indication that this would be more than just another training exercise was when the word came down to wear jungle boots and lightweight fatigues. Jungle boots were forbidden during the winter, because the metal plate in the sole of the boots, for protection against punji sticks, had lead to a number of frostbite cases, in the past. Continue reading →

It’s no secret to anyone who flogs their gear in the great outdoors that Coleman® has a less-than-stellar record, when it comes to air mattresses. This month, they announced their acquisition of Aero Products International, makers of the popular Aerobed® line of inflatable mattresses. Continue reading →

In California, we have managed to save our state parks from the budget-axe, but the LA Times reported this week that our budget crisis is about to hit campers in a different way – the restroom. Your parents probably always told you that it is important to pay your bills, but evidently that lesson did not sink-in with the California legislators, who have failed to pay the bill on the state’s credit card resulting in its cancellation by the bank. I don’t know what all the state uses the credit cards to buy, but evidently one thing they use them for is to buy toilet paper and cleaning supplies for the state’s campgrounds. Continue reading →

Weekend Outdoor Reads is a compendium of interesting outdoor content that I came across, this week. There aren’t any rules for Weekend Outdoor Reads, other than the fact that I have to find it interesting and, hopefully, you will too! This week we have another admission-free weekend coming up, at 100 national parks. And, if that’s not enough, there is a great story on the recent bear attacks in Yellowstone, and ten (ten!) videos of sharks jumping.

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