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Category : Camping

Just like any good Frankenstein tale: mad scientist tinkers in his lab and raises the dead who, of course, decides to terrify the neighbors. It is befitting then that Hurricane Sandy which is currently heading for New York, is frightening everyone in her path. National Public Radio reports that “Sandy” has already left 40 dead in her wake.

A Perfect Storm
As reported on a number of news websites (see CNN, CBS News, FOX News and the National Weather Service, the so called, “Frankenstorm” is a possible weather model where Northeastern bound Hurricane Sandy collides with an Arctic storm moving South from Canada and the remains of a cold front that has swept across the nation from the West. Meteorologists say this is a perfect storm combination of weather patterns that only occurs approximately every 100 years.

Emergency Resources
Last year, a major storm in Los Angeles prompted us to write an article with tips to prepare your home and family in case of major storms, flooding, or emergency. FEMA is also tracking Hurricane Sandy and has posted additional preparedness instructions. Currently, the hurricane is scheduled to hit land on Monday, so readers still have 48 hours to prepare and check their flashlights, stock of batteries, gather extra food and water, stock up on your fire wood for heat, and discuss your evacuation and emergency plan with your family. Even if Sandy isn’t heading your way, she serves as a good reminder that the best time to plan for an emergency is before it happens.

Are we headed towards a “doomsday”?
I caught a doomsday preacher on YouTube recently discussing various grills that require fire wood, charcoal, or propane. He was encouraging his followers to be prepared for emergency situations where you may need to cook for your family for three days or more. Actually, he believes our country is heading for a massive economic decline that could potentially paralyze our retail food chains. In the case of a biblical doomsday, he wants to be ready. That’s another story, but it does beg us all to question our own sustainability in the event of a major power outage.

Cooking without Power
How would you handle a power outage if you were affected by the “Frankenstorm”?
Do you have an outdoor grill or fire pit?
Do you have pots and pans that can sustain the heat levels of grills and fire pits such as cast-iron? The Teflon covered pans used most readily in our households today with plastic handles and coating are not conducive to the unpredictable campfire heat levels and grill surfaces.

Summitoutdoors is a distributor of Volcano Grills and cast-iron cookware. I own one of the vintage Volcano Grills, but I am enjoying the flexibility of the new collapsible design. I have been preparing several meals a week during the past month or so testing out everyday recipes and preparing them outdoors using the cast-iron dutchovens and pans. Taking this time to learn how to adjust the cooking vents on the Volcano Grill for varying recipes makes me feel better prepared to feed my family should we lose power. The Volcano is compatible with wood fuel, charcoal, or propane.

Summitoutdoors Video Review of the Collapsible Volcano Grill

How have you prepared yourself or your family for disaster? Do have your emergency supplies stored in an easily accessible area of your car or home? Time to check!

Be safe everyone.

Let’s Go Camping!
Last weekend, I and over 1300 other members of the Southern Region – Order of the Arrow Section B trekked to upstate North Carolina for the SR-7B Conclave 2012 located at the Cherokee Scout Reservation in Yanceyville.

As the weatherman predicted; the weather took center stage! Many scouts ran for cover as the the rain pelted camp on Saturday evening.

SR-7B Conclave at Camp Cherokee

SR-7B Conclave at Camp Cherokee


Even though the rain caused the cancelation of some of the Conclave activities, the scouts were troupers and made the best of the wet circumstances and found shelter from the rain.

The Wise Grasshopper Stays Dry!
Since I was expecting rain, I had packed my lightweight Explorer Deluxe A-Sym Zip camping hammock and Hex Rainfly from Hennessy Hammocks. I love the roomy features of this particular hammock. What you may not know about me is that I am 6′ 7″ tall. The Explorer Deluxe model is perfect for me as it is designed to accommodate campers who are tall and are in need of more room to stretch out. The support of the hammock cradles my back perfectly, and I find that I have fewer back issues when sleeping in the Hammock verses sleeping on a pad in a tent.

Quick Hammock Setup
As I set up my hammock on Friday night before the rain, it wasn’t long before several curious scouts gathered around to watch me set up the my Explorer Deluxe with it’s tree hugger support straps. As you can see from my photo below, I also set up my Hennessy Hex Rainfly to shield my hammock from the rainfall. Had the weather forecast expected sunny skies, I would have spread the Hex Fly open and used it as a shade canopy.

Hennessy Hammock - Explorer Deluxe Asym Zip and Hex Fly

My Hennessy Hammock - Explorer Deluxe Asym Zip and Hex Fly


Sleep Like A Baby
For some, the thought of sleeping outdoors means sleeping on thin sleeping pads and waking up with the aches and pains caused from sleeping on the ground. Others who have mobility issues or arthritis may decide to forgo camping entirely as getting up and down from the ground is cumbersome for them. I can recommend Hennessy Hammocks as a solution. I slept very comfortably. I had no need to worry about waking up in a soggy tent or a damp sleeping bag. There was no mud or mess as the proper placement of my Hex Fly kept my shelter grounds dry.

Simple Pack Up
As we broke camp on Sunday morning, the surrounding woods were still wet from the storm. The scouts shook water off their tents and packed them up while they were still wet. When they reached their homes, they would be saddled with the chore of setting their tents back up to air dry to avoid mildew damage. My shelter pack up was simple. I packed my dry hammock in my backpack and put the damp Hex Rainfly into the hammock’s stuff sack. When I arrived home, it took me just a minute to hang up the Hex Fly to dry.

Ready for your own Hennessy Hammock?
Subscribe to my email list (see side bar) and receive a special discount code for FREE shipping within the USA for your Hennessy Hammock order. Hurry, as this offer expires on April 30th, 2012.

Yogi Bear & Boo Boo Too!

When I lived in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the warm days of summer would creep in, black berry bushes sprouted their fruit, and I would know to start keeping an eye open for fruit loving bears.

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The bears on the mountain were not particularly paparazzi seeking critters. In the five years I lived in the forest, I saw a total of three black bears. Both sitings were at the black berry bushes. They would hear the sound of my car’s engine and dart across the road. They weren’t sticking around! I took to calling them jelly jigglers as their coats and muscles would jiggle as they ran for cover. I always felt honored to see the bears since the opportunities were so few.

Fun Bear Fact 1: Bears can run up to 40mph.

If you are heading out into the forest and are not a seasoned outdoors person, this article posted on the Pocket Ranger blog gives specific guidance on how to navigate encounters with different types of bears.

If you bring food into the woods, know that the bears most likely would enjoy your pic-a-nic basket just as much as Yogi Bear and Boo Boo. Please lock up your camp food in bear proof canisters and do not leave food or water in your car or tent. Here’s some helpful food storage tips.

Fun Bear Fact 2: Did you know that the rangers at Yellowstone National Park must re-engineer the latches on garbage bins every two years because the bears adapt and figure out how to open the latches?

Guest author: Lynny Young

Camping Without the Chaos!

It’s out there. . . I can feel it.
The next big summer dream!
I can’t quite make it out, but it is popping into the corners of my conscious mind.
It’s a sign.
It’s the wilderness saying, “Pick me!”

Last year, I took a spur of the moment camping trip with a co-worker and her two kids. She and I were so consumed by work that we put off planning and reserving a camp site. You can guess how that turned out: we got the last camp space open. You know the one: small, sloped, rocky, cement sleeping pad, and huge boulder smack dab in the middle of the camp. We raced the sunset to set up base camp and get on with meals and campfire fun.

The overnight camping trip was great fun; however, advance planning would have relieved a mountain of last minute stress. Here’s a list of helpful tips for planning your next camping vacation:

  • Plan your trips ahead, especially if you will be traveling with other people. Pick an agreeable date. Will you be bringing along the fur friends? If not, find a potential pet or house sitter and accommodate their calendar in your early planning process.
  • Utilize the Internet to research State and National Parks. Many sites provide maps of the campsites, and some include photographs so you can avoid the beastly slopes!
  • Recreation.gov Explore America
    Find and reserve a KOA site
    Review National Parks

  • Pick a desirable camp site and register online. If traveling with older campers or campers with mobility issues, consider a site that allows you to drive to your camping space. Do not choose one that requires grandma to hike two miles to get to your idea of the pristine cliffside spot. Consider your campsite’s distance from running water and bathroom facilities (or the lack thereof). Does the park allow pets? Lastly, try to choose a camping site that will be near activities your group will enjoy (e.g., fishing, biking, hiking trails, etc.).

  • Research permits. Will you be allowed to make a fire at your site? Will you need a fire permit? Find out where to purchase those and take care of it in advance.
  • Will you be fishing? Purchase or renew your fishing license(s).
  • Take RFID ing.org – Renew fishing licenses

  • Plan your food menu. Divide up the food shopping and cooking responsibilities before the trip. The advance preparation will make food more affordable for each camper and reduce campsite stress.
  • Make a checklist of camping equipment, entertainment items (e.g., frisbee, deck of cards, guitar, etc.), and pet supplies to pack. Plan to have non-perishable items packed up in advance.
  • Prepare your vehicle for the trip. Clean out your vehicle, examine the tread on your spare tire, make sure you have tools to change a flat tire, and consider having the oil changed if you will be traveling any distance.
  • Will you be gone for more than a few days? Call the post office and your local newspaper and have vacation holds placed on your account(s).
  • USPS – Process mail hold online

    You know the next step: have fun!

    Guest author: Lynny Young
    Visit the Summit Outdoors Gear store

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    Romancing the Camper

    Guest author: Lynny Young

    There’s not much more I enjoy where romance is concerned than snuggling up to my favorite camper and falling asleep in his arms. This past week as we journeyed through the inner banks region of North Carolina, we came across a beautiful area of Kure Beach that spawned all sorts of future romantic camping ideas.

    As we walked along the beach, we recognized how amazing it would have been to have arrived prepared to share a fire as the sun settled over the sparkling waters. I imagined a future moment with my valentine, snuggled close warming hot cocoa and browning sweet marshmallows as we prepared s’mores to share. These simple moments are the kindling needed for planning romantic camping getaways.

    Here are some simple tips for spicing up a camping trip:

    – Research camp sites that allow you ample privacy to be alone and out I’d the watchful gaze I’d other campers and families

    – Bring along a bundle of firewood and kindling to make starting a fire a snap

    – Setup your tent and if you do not already have one, purchase a two-person sleeping bag that will allow you to slip inside and find interesting ways to stay warm. Remember, women are all about “touch” and sparks will ignite more easily if you aren’t rustling around in layers of clothing trying to keep warm!

    I can recommend the “Bonnie and Clyde” double sleeping bag. It has ample room for two though it can be separated for singular sleeping. The sleeping bag comes with two pillows, is lined with soft flannel and is suitable down to 30 degree temperatures.

    – Speaking of keeping warm: if you are Winter camping, you may need to consider bringing along your propane heater to keep your tent a comfortable temperature.

    – Bring along ample lighting to cast a warm glow inside your tent

    – Bring along food items that you have prepared at home to remove some of the camping set up stress. No camper feels particularly romantic when rushed or exhausted by setting up camp. Think pic-nic food or simple groaning board foods that you can set out on a platter and share: previously prepared and chilled pasta salad, olives, sliced cheeses, deli meats, French rolls for easy sandwiches, seedless grapes (always romantic for offering food to your mate). If you aren’t a cook, a quick trip to the deli counter at your local market will offer you many pre-made and fresh options to choose from.

    Don’t forget dessert! Sweeten up the ambiance by roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. Another simple but sweet option is to share strawberries and chocolates while sipping a nice white wine.

    – Wake up with the sunrise and enjoy some hot coffee and a nice breakfast before enjoying a hike together in the woods. Who knows you may be inspired to test out your double sleeping bag once again before breaking camp and going home with a new sweet memory in tow.

    Don’t be shy. Share your romantic camping ideas in the comment section below.

    How Santa Came to Love Cyber Monday

    ‘Twas weeks before Christmas and all through the house, little campers were sleeping with plans for woodland adventures filling their dreams. As Christmas morning arrived, the light of dawn trumpeted a new day and the question begging in all small campers’ minds:  had Santa arrived?  

    The children scurried down stairs and toppled one by one to a stop!  

    A large velvet red belly rose and fell as Santa slumbered in a Hennessy Hammock strung from banister to Christmas tree trunk. 

    When the smallest child giggled with glee, Santa awoke and with a twinkle in his eye up the chimney he did flee!  He knew these children’s parents shopped at Summit Outdoors Gear and saved $10-$15 Off select Hennessy Hammocks on Cyber Monday. 

    If you have a ‘Santa’ in your life who is extra tall or plump, the Explorer Deluxe A-Sym Zip will be the perfect gift.