Because I have a great interest in camping, hiking, and recently snowshoeing, I thought I would put up some special pages to highlight these interests.
Click on the links contained within my blog to get valuable information if you have similar interests.
A good place to start is :
You can join their site to recieve e-mails with articles and information. You can enter contests, and interact online. Or, you can just visit to get all the info you want for free. They also have a hard copy magazine you can order. ( or go to Borders )
Another site I just recently found to be informative and useful :
http://www.townsandtrails.com/ " Towns and Trails is about everyday adventure – a quick hike after work, a weekend backpacking trip, a summer road trip. Adventures that enhance our lives, not become our lives. Adventures that still allow us to have a house, a job and a dog (or cat). "
I think my goal as a camper has always been to modify the amount of gear and supplies to make for a more enjoyable and thought out experience. This has been an ongoing challenge to find better clothing, lighter gear, and easier foods to bring along. Below find some of the major websites to find all your backpacking needs:
www.rei.com www.mountaingear.com www.campmor.com www.altrec.com www.backcountry.com
One of my new favorite websites I go to to research backpacking is http://www.geartalkwithjasonklass.com/
Jason is a cool guy who knows WAY more than I about the finer details of backpacking and camping. He has links to a multitude of websites which have their own links to even more websites all about camping and backpacking. Just about anything you can think of on the subject can be found there or from there.
Food protection is always a concern with bears and other wildlife. Keep your food safe with the ursack. It's a soft bag which is easily packable for backpacking. Check out their site and decide for yourself ! http://www.ursack.com/index.html
You should always carry a compass and maps while backpacking. heres a link to choose the right compass for you and learn your basic and advanced compass skills:
http://www.thecompassstore.com/
Here are some links to maps: Gazetteer topographical maps USGS Geological maps
One of our favorite places to go for a quick getaway from the city is Door County, Wisconsin. A 4 hour drive takes us to an almost ocean-like area of northeast Wisconsin, the Door County Pennisula ( or, island, as those of us who look at maps know ). Lake Michigan to the east, and Green Bay to the west, with no more than 10 miles of land seperating them, creates unique scenic shorelines. On our way there recently, we were discussing the best campsite footwear. A lot of people wear the classic flip-flops because they are lightweight and easy to pack. A new favorite among campers have been the Crocs, for the same reasons. I've worn canvas deck shoes for years and they have worked well. We were trying to find a great shoe to wear after backpacking. We actually bought some of those nylon insulated booties which are great for cold weather, but probably too warm for the warmer months, and didnt seem like they would wear very well in a campsite either. Suddenly it came to me...moccasins ! We had both had them as kids and remembered wearing them out with love. After arriving at our motel room (this was a cushee trip) we looked up shoes in the telephone directory hoping to find some that might sell moccasins. Funny, the only ad in the phonebook was for Fish Creek Moccasins. Upon arriving we could see the owner and leatherworker, Jim Yonker, busily preparing his store for the upcoming tourist season. His softspoken, friendly manner made it easy for us to ask questions and make decisions. Jim and his wife Candy have been at it for over twenty years after learning the craft from a master moccasin leathermaker. We were instantly taken by their own brand and stye of moccasins and we both bought a pair of soft soleless moccasins. Priced right and locally made was just the right ticket. These moccasins are the perfect after-backpaking shoe. They are lightweight ( mine weigh in at 8.9 ounces ), provide full foot protection, are soft and pliable so they can squish in your pack almost anywhere, leather is much more durable and fire-proof than synthetics, they actually look better (in my opinion) as they weather and take on a patina of their own, and most importantly...they are super-cool to wear...makes us feel like kids again. So, if you're ever up to Door County be sure to check them out !
click here to read about someof my EARLY CAMPING MEMORIES