The ginormous bubba® 52-ounce insulated mug was a Father’s Day gag-gift from the family, but with our Independence Day weekend temperatures well into the triple-digits, I decided to breakout the “bubba” and see what this thing could do. Surprisingly, pretty darn good! Continue reading
7 Photography Tips for the Great Outdoors
This is a guest post by Karen Ho Fatt, who publishes an outdoor fire pit review site. If you would like to guest post on CampingBlogger, please see the guest posting page for more information.
Most of us are planning to head out to the National Parks this spring season. You will probably be making the most of your trip there; hunting, cooking and fishing are probably on the trailblazing menu. But most of us usually incorporate some kind of photography to document their trips into the great outdoors. But how do you create a more meaningful representation of these spectacular creations of nature? Continue reading
Spring Waterproofing with Kiwi Camp Dry
Our current family camping tent is entering its third season of service, so this seemed like a great time to give the rain fly a fresh coat of waterproofing to handle those impromptu spring showers. To that end, Kiwi® was kind enough to send me a can of their Camp Dry® heavy duty water repellent and, since our tent could easily double as a small house, I picked-up another can myself, just to make sure I had enough to cover the entire rain fly. Camp Dry is a silicon based water repellent that is designed for outdoor gear like boots, patio furniture and the polyester taffeta rain fly on our tent. Continue reading
I’m a Sucker for a Cool Infographic
It’s true! And when Eastern Mountain Sports sent me this one, they had me at “Killer Bees” – I have few “claims to fame” in my life, but one of them is that I am pretty sure that I one of the few people in the world to encounter killer bees on three (three!) separate occasions, and not get stung. Continue reading
Ashland, Oregon Rafting
Ashland is located on the border of Oregon and California along the I-5 corridor and is most famous for its world-class Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which runs through November. While the festival is certainly a destination in its own right, Ashland also borders on the Klamath National Forest, with its countless outdoor opportunities. Crater Lake is also nearby – just a couple hours to the north. One of the most popular activities is enjoying a half-day rafting trip. This year in particular, with more visitors expected and temperatures heating up, the Rogue River will be the place to escape and get off the beaten path. Continue reading
Quick Takes
Veterans Discover Allure of Jobs in Western Wilderness
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I remember back in the late 1980’s, a friend of mine became a smoke jumper after getting out of the service.
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — On the hillside above Evelyn Lake, deep in the southern Sierra Nevada, it was surprisingly easy to tell time: precisely at noon, a loud whoop echoed amid the black-flecked granite and dust, signaling lunch hour for the 17-person crew repairing the trail to the lake.
— The New York Times
Tomales Bay State Park: Many family-friendly adventures
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Tomales Bay State Park features everything a family needs for a day of adventure in the outdoors. It offers shallow beaches, hiking trails and the possibility of wildlife sightings.
— Marin Independent Journal
Many National Parks Get Indian Stories Wrong
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Too much of the NPS’s interpretation of our history is incomplete, and it usually leaves out the Native stories. And when it does tell a Native story, all too often, it is through the eyes of other people, the way it has been done it in too many movies.
— Indian Country Today
State park’s tipis offer a unique camping experience
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Rhonda Gronseth, of St. Cloud, and her three young sons rolled out their sleeping bags last Sunday evening in one of three tipis that are offered for campers at the Upper Sioux Agency State Park. “It’s actually really pretty neat,” said Gronseth of the experience.
— West Central Tribune
For tourist and grizzly bear, a team of referees
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Bear ‘399,’ the Angelina Jolie of grizzlies, attracts much attention at Grand Teton National Park. A volunteer brigade helps to maintain peace – and separation – between man and beast.
— The Christian Science Monitor