We can rebuild it (photo by Tim Eschaton)
It happens to the best of us. No matter how well you prepare, or how many checklists you use, it is inevitable that someday you will show up in the backcountry only to discover that you forgot to pack something important. It might be as simple as a can opener or maybe the fuel for your camp stove, but it’s important to stay calm and not let the situation ruin your weekend.
A little preparation is all it takes
One of the great camping traditions that we enjoy is a hearty breakfast on Saturday morning. We usually arrive at the campground on Friday night, so Saturday morning’s breakfast sets the tone for the weekend and is the de facto “kick off†for the trip.
The State Park Service in South Carolina has a great deal going on, in April, for families interested in finding out more about camping. The Sesqui Great American Backyard Campout occurs on April 25th and 26th, at Sesquicentennial State Park, just outside Columbia.
When I started looking at dutch ovens this year, I had no idea there were so many different kinds. Flat bottoms, bottoms with legs, bail handles, and lids that double as frying pans – there was certainly more to these aluminum or cast iron pots than I expected.
Dutch ovens are the original crockpots. Like a crockpot, you can throw just about anything in a dutch oven and it will come out tasting great. For camping, a dutch oven can be used for all three meals. In fact, we’re looking forward to breaking ours in with one of our kid’s favorite breakfast treats: German Pancakes. I’m expecting them to taste even better in the backcountry than they do at home!
I’d like to welcome new sponsor Camping Gear Stop, located in the heart of prime Missouri camping country, in Potosi. They carry a wide variety of brand name camping gear and are a one-stop-shop for families looking to get into camping this summer.