Good news for those who want to camp but have no idea where to start. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a new program geared towards parents and kids who have little or no experience camping in the outdoors.

The “I Can Camp!” workshop teaches everything from setting up a tent to using a camp stove so that first time campers have the basic skills to spend the night at camp with some guidance.

The program had some success in 2009 and is offering 38 workshops in 35 locations this summer at a fairly reasonable price.

Learn more about the I Can Camp! program.

Camping gear is expensive, especially tents and it’s probably the main reason why many are reluctant to go camping. It’s a big investment, more so in these tough economic times and a tough one to make until you’re sure you’re going to camp regularly. One way to know if you’re going to like camping is by cabin camping.

It’s cheaper in the short term but much more luxurious than normal camping. It’s not like sleeping in a cabin tent on a camping mattress. It’s more than that. The walls are solid and you’re going to be sleeping on a bed. Sometimes there’s a dining table or a small table. There’s even a couch in some cabins. It’s a great way to camp during winter.

These cabins are available in many state parks in the U.S.. They don’t completely eliminate the necessity of camping gear. You still need a camp stove and cookware for cooking, towel, flip-flops and toiletries. If electricity is available, you can bring some appliances.

http://www.koa.com/facilities/kabin/

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - 95 percent of our province is in high or extreme forest fire danger and could ignite at any moment. That’s from Jeanne Rucker with the Kamloops Fire Centre.

It’s very volatile out there that even a small spark from a camp stove could ignite a huge blaze.

Read more..

Smoking is bad and when I was a smoker I wouldn’t admit it openly because I didn’t want to be seen as a hypocrite. It’s only been a month or so since I’ve quit but I think I’m free. I’ve lost all craving for cigarettes and sometimes even hang out with smokers without even feeling the need to smoke the again. If only I had quit sooner.

Giving up smoking is not that hard. I did it by simply being aware of the craving and letting it runs its course. It was a tip used for dealing with panic attacks but as it turns out it worked to quitting smoking as well.

One retired senior banker, Geoff Spice, is taking to extremes in an attempt to quit smoking. He’s going to camp in a deserted island for one month.

The former managing director for NM Rothschild, the top London investment bank will become a castaway on Sgarabhaigh, a 40-acre uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides.

Sgarabhaigh, which means Cormorant Island in Gaelic, also has no electricity or water supply, so he will rely for fires from driftwood and a camp stove and bottled water.

Mr Spice began smoking 43 years ago as a paperboy, when he stole some cigarettes from the shop where he was working. He has been smoking around 30 cigarettes per day.

If you need help quitting, here are some good resources:

The Quit Smoking Expert

Lung Detox

[media:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DbFBu_I_lA]

[media:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEFWKDp29tY]

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is setting up demonstration “green” campsites at state parks this summer. Each will have a tent and sleeping bag made of recycled stuff, a fuel efficient camp stove, an LED flashlight, solar charger and reusable batteries, reusable cook set, solar camp shower, non-toxic bug repellent, bear-proof food container, a clothes line and reusable marshmallow sticks.

Some more tips from the department:

- Look for a campsite that is already established, more than 200 feet from a water source, and stay off plants as much as possible.

- Use re-usable plates instead of paper.

- Take along re-usable water bottles. If you use commercial bottled water, make sure to recycle the bottles.

- Use biodegradable camp suds for dishes and your body.

- Avoid dumping soapy water on plants because the soap could kill them.

- Recycle aluminum cans because burning them in a campfire will release chemicals that pollute the air.

- Leave in place any plants, fossils, flowers or other things that you find.

- Keep campfires in rings or use a cook stove instead.

- Use local firewood instead of carrying it with you as some unwanted invasive pests might hitch a ride.

- Tie a clothes line from tree to tree; bring along hot dog sticks instead of breaking off tree branches; set your lantern on the table instead of putting a nail in a tree to hang it.

- Do not feed wildlife.

- Dispose of trash properly or take it with you when you leave and recycle it when you get home.

It’s called the Iron Chef Outdoors. Participants will cook their best dish using a camp stove in under 2 hours. The cost of entry is 25 bucks (today’s the last day!) and will be held at Carter Park, Breckenridge, Colorado 80424.

Gerald Myers, 41, a Colorado doctor who vanished near the top of Mount Mckinley,  is now listed missing and presumed dead according to Denali National Park and Preserve spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin.

Search efforts were called off Tuesday afternoon after search crews determined that further efforts were unlikely to find him. Normally, this is when a breakthrough occurs, just after someone decides to give something up but continues anyway. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Rangers searching on the ground weren’t able to even find signs of Myers.

However, the park rangers will continue examining the thousands of high resolution images taken of the mountain during the search for any signs of the doctor.

Myers was described as someone who was the most likely to live through survival situation among his friends. A chiropractor with extensive climbing experience, Myers had been planning the ascent for a few years, said Dr. David Friedman, whose Centennial practice, Arapahoe Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center, Myers worked for. He’d held out hope Myers would be rescued until the search was called off, he said.

While Myers had 3 climbing partners for the climb, he left them at a 14,200-foot camp last Tuesday to attempt a solo summit. He packed a pair of skis and talked about skiing down after his ascent but he did not mention which route he planned to take.

Other than a pair of skis, Myers only carried a small daypack with insufficient survival gear. It appeared that he was not carrying recommend gear like a sleeping bag, bivvy sack, camp stove or thermal pad.

In the amount of time that he was missing and without the appropriate gear, it was very unlikely that he would survive. Myers is the 104th person whose life is claimed by Mount McKinley since tracking began in 1932.

Rest in Peace.

Sounds yummy!

This week Senior Editor of Backpacker magazine, Tracy Ross, shares with us her favorite trail meal – the Thai Fish Bake.

Tracy’s Thai Fish Bake

On the grill at home, the only respectable way to bake this dish is in banana leaves. But unless you’re going hiking in a jungle, use foil instead. Serves 2 to 3.

*2-3 fillets frozen salmon
* 2-4 sheets of aluminum foil

CURRY MARINADE/SAUCE:
* 1 shallot
* 2 cloves garlic
* 1 thumb-size piece ginger, sliced
* 2 tsp. ground coriander
* handful of basil leaves
* 2 Tbsp. fish sauce (found in Asian and large-scale American markets)
* 1/2 can coconut milk
* 2 tsp lime zest
* 1 fresh red chilli, sliced (remove seeds if you prefer a milder sauce)
* 1 tsp. chili powder
* 1 lime

At home:
1. Combine all marinade ingredients except the coconut milk powder in a food processor and process well.
2. Place fish and half of marinade in a large bowl (reserve second half for later), slathering fish in sauce.
3. Let fish marinate for 15-30 minutes.
4. Place marinated fish in two large zip-top bags and put back in freezer.
5. Fill small plastic container with remaining curry sauce.

In camp:
1. Build an open fire that you can cook on.
2. Remove fish from zip-top bag and place one fish in the center of a piece of foil. Fold both sides of the foil over the fish, creating a square “packet.”
3. Place fish packets directly on coals (or a flat stone) and cook at least 15 minutes, or until fish is flaky.
4. Heat remaining curry sauce on camp stove set to simmer.
5. Serve with rice, couscous, bulghur, or in tortillas with cabbage and carrots.

I’ve never tried it before but Tracy is known for whipping up a good meal on the trail and I’m sure you’ll like it (if you don’t hate fish).

When a panel of veteran campers and backpackers were asked about the essential equipment for camping and backpacking they made quite a good list. But they don’t cover all of the ten essentials below:

1. Navigation
2. Sun protection
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter

Here’s what the veterans came up with:

Camping

Food and water:

• Ice chest.
• Camp stove with two burners.
• Containers, including cooking pots, utensils and a container to carry water to the campsite.
• Water filter.

Tents:

• A large tent is ideal if you have to wait for weather to clear, but purchase a design that fits the size of your family.

Sleep gear:

• High-quality sleeping bag rated 10 degrees colder than the weather in which you plan to camp.
• An air mattress or a cot for softness and to protect from ground chill.
• Folding cot, under which items can be stored.

Camp comfort:

• Lantern or flashlights strong enough for reading.
• One Frisbee per person and brightly colored trail-marking tape to place around tree trunks for Frisbee golf games.
• Hammocks made of lightweight nylon string.
• Folding card table.

Safety:

• First-aid kit that contains antiseptic, adhesive bandages, tape, ibuprofen, scissors, tweezers, a sling and gauze pads.
• Map and compass.

Backpacking

• Internal frame backpack
• Collapsible canteen. Nalgene makes a 32-ounce wide-mouth collapsible plastic canteen.
• Collapsible cup, spork and knife.
• Compass and maps of all areas you will be visiting.
• Cotton bandanas. They’re all-purpose and dry quickly.
• Firestarters, including waterproof matches and a lighter. Coughlin firestarters can be broken into 1/2-inch sections with a pair of pliers.
• Headlamp. The Petzel Tikka Plus headlamp has three levels of light intensity and is reported to work even when the batteries are down to a 10 percent charge.
• Knife sharpener. The GATCO sharpener weighs1 ounce and sharpens both straight and serrated edges.
• Leatherman crunch tool, with vise-grip pliers.
• Stove. Esbit makes stoves that use fuel tablets instead of gasoline.
• Safety kit with antiseptic, adhesive bandages, tape, ibuprofen, scissors, tweezers, a sling and gauze pads.
• Survival kit with a signal mirror, knife, space blanket, parachute cord, toilet paper, zip-lock bags, cell phone and a loud whistle on a lanyard.
• Shower curtain hangers. Outfit one with 15 medium-sized safety pins, and one with 12 wire clips for hanging wet clothes on a braided nylon cord in camp.
• Tarp. Go with a lightweight tarp such as the 8-ounce Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Duo Cuban fiber 8-by-10-foot tarp.
• Trail food high in carbs and protein, such as dried fruit, nuts and seeds. Meals are available to which you just add water.
• Trekking poles.
• Water filter.

So what’s missing?

Sun protection and extra clothing are left out in the combined list. Sun protection includes sunscreen and sunglasses. The extra clothing will help you keep warm at night or as a spare in case your clothes got wet.

How to you cook pizza on a backpacking trip when you don’t have an oven?

Easy, you use a camp stove. Now how do you do that?

Watch this!

[media:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZTwMiBKW-s]

From the video, here’s what you need:

• Camp Stove
• Baking mix
• Tomato sauce
• Asiago cheese
• Pepperoni
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning

Tips:

1. Make sure the pizza doesn’t burn by spreading the dough thin and removing it from the heat as soon as the cheese is melted
2. Hard cheese like asiago last longer
3. Leave the cheese in its block form so that it’ll stay fresh longer

Variation:

• Greek: Feta cheese + chopped olives + chopped pepperoncinis
• Spicy Southwest: pepper jack cheese + black beans + chili powder
• Vegan: Soy mozzarella + chopped portobello mushrooms + broccoli
• Purely Potent: Gorgonzola cheese + chopped garlic + anchovies
• Dessert Pizza: Nutella + dried strawberries + walnuts

There you go. Something you should if you haven’t already. All props go to Backpacker Magazine and Brendan Spiegel for the variations.

Millions of people go to the mountains for backpacking, skiing, mountain climbing and other activities every year. If you’re planning a trip to altitudes over 8,000 feet, talk with your doctor about high-altitude illness (also called mountain sickness or altitude sickness).

The higher you climb above sea level, the less oxygen there is in the air. The oxygen level becomes very low at altitudes above 8,000 feet. This causes problems for people who normally live at lower altitudes because their bodies aren’t used to working on so little oxygen. If you stay at a high altitude for a long time, your body gets used to the low oxygen level, and you don’t get sick from it.

Just yesterday, May 19, an amateur Chinese mountaineer died on the return trip after reaching the peak of Mount Everest. Wu Wenhong, from east China’s Jiangsu Province was pronounced dead at around 4 a.m. at 8,750 meters. The total height of the highest mountain on earth is about 8,848 meters above sea level.

Professional mountaineers armed with oxygen tanks, tents and camp stove made an attempt to rescue Wu but all proved to be useless.

However, some sources suggests that the best treatment for altitude sickness is by going down to a lower altitude right away unless the symptoms are mild in which case you can stay at that altitude and let your body adjust. Rest is very important as you let your body adjust to the altitude.

If you have severe symptoms, go down 1,500 to 2,000 feet right away to see if your symptoms get better. Keep going down until your symptoms go away completely.

Waiting for the rescuers to come may not be the best thing the Chinese climbers did to save Wu’s life but the weather was extremely harsh and the path to descend was difficult.

How can I prevent high-altitude illness?
You can do 2 important things to prevent high-altitude illness:

1. Take your time traveling to higher altitudes. When you travel to a high altitude, your body will begin adjusting right away to the lower amount of oxygen in the air, but it takes several days for your body to adjust completely. If you’re healthy, you can probably safely go from sea level to an altitude of 8,000 feet in a few days. But when you reach an altitude above 8,000 feet, don’t go up faster than 1,000 feet per day. The closer you live to sea level, the more time your body will need to get used to a high altitude. Plan your trip so your body has time to get used to the high altitude before you start your physical activity.
2. Sleep at an altitude that is lower than the altitude you are at during the day. For example, if you ski at an elevation of 10,000 feet during the day, sleep the night before and the night after at an elevation of 8,500 feet.

Is it safe to go to a high altitude if I have a chronic illness like heart disease or lung disease?
It depends on the type and severity of chronic illness you have. Most people who have a chronic illness, such as heart or lung disease, can safely spend time at a high altitude if their disease is under control. People who have coronary artery disease, mild emphysema or high blood pressure aren’t at greater risk of high-altitude illness than people who don’t have these diseases. They also don’t risk making their disease worse by traveling to a high altitude. In addition, being overweight does not increase the risk of getting high-altitude illness.

Some diseases make going to a high altitude very dangerous. People who have sickle cell anemia shouldn’t go to a high altitude. A high altitude is also dangerous for people who have severe lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe emphysema, and for people who have severe heart disease. If you have a chronic disease, ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to travel to a high altitude.

Check out the view from the summit of Mt. Everest:

[media:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9dHML7oadU]

If you plan on camping in Michigan, you’re in luck.

The state of Michigan has launched a “first-time camper” program offering a bargain for camping beginners not already in the state park central reservation system. Newbies can book a two-night stay in any of 15 participating state parks or recreational areas including Muskegon State Park and P.J. Hoffmaster State Park for $20.

The 20 bucks covers campsite fees and camping gear on rental. The camping gear includes camping tents, sleeping bags, camp stove, fishing pole, lantern, flashlight, chairs and instructions on how to use them.

Anyone who is interested better hurry because the first 110 campers to sign up get to keep the fishing pole. Who gives away fishing poles these days? The rental gear is provided by Gander Mountain. Participants get a discount if they later want to purchase their own.

You can book by calling one of the participating parks directly. You qualify for this offer if you’re new to camping and not in the park system’s reservation system. The number of takers is limited by the available space.

Once booked, participants will be mailed an introduction packet. Upon arrival, camp rangers or interpreters will help the family set up the tent and teach them how to use the provided equipment, start a campfire, even make a S’more. An orientation packet will include additional information on the area and other free, family-oriented events occurring at the given park during the time of the stay.

Seasoned campers are absolutely forbidden to even try to book and take advantage of the freebie. It’s camping 101 and more experienced campers are better off with the hundreds of low-cost options available in the state. However, anyone with a library card can get a free day pass (normally $6) to a state park where they can grab a hammock and read.

Firefighters from Ridgeway, Lyndonville, Medina, Shelby and Carlton fire departments rushed to the scene when fire was reported at about 12:50 a.m. at 10755 Schoolhouse Road. The cabin had been the Boy Scouts’ meeting place for about six years and it was where they had kept their camping equipment including lanterns, 10 tents, a $200 camp stove and two bunk beds.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. The boys’ last meeting at the cabin was a week ago on Monday and nobody has been there since. The propane stove was not hooked up yet and nothing was ignited during the meeting.

While the building was covered by the land owner’s insurance, there was no insurance on the equipment. The $10,000 structure was a two-story modified Duroshed and the boys had built a  8-foot-by-24-foot porch on it. The bunk beds were upstairs and the open meeting room used by Troop 35 (the boy scouts group) was on the first floor.

The troop met there regularly throughout the warmer months of September through November and again starting in March. During winter it meets at Holy Trinity Church’s old school hall, which is likely to be the group’s meeting place more often.

Everything was purchased through a few years of heavy fundraising. The boys sold popcorn and baked goods and washed cars among other fundraising activities.

Now they have to do it all over again. There will be a parent committee meeting this Thurday where they will brainstorm for ideas to start rebuilding and raise funds.

According to the oil company Shell, safety is the number one priority and with good reason. The lack of a safety system could eventually result in major financial losses or even worst the lost of lives.

You can never be too careful but safety doesn’t always make sense. This is the case for Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Sir Robin Know-Johnston when they were stopped from lighting up a camp stove because they were unsupervised.

Now wait a minute.

I’m sure these guys survived more dangerous situations than lighting a camping stove unsupervised. Sir Robin was the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the globe and he uses camp stoves to cook in his boat.

So why all this fuss?

To cover their asses as much as possible. Disasters cost companies billions of dollars and to protect themselves they have to take precautions so that when things does go wrong, they can’t be blamed for it.

A BBC spokesman said: “Health and safety is unequivocally a legal requirement and the BBC takes its responsibilities very seriously. Making programmes in hostile environments such as Afghanistan, Cape Horn and the Arctic inherently involves risks.”

The explorers complied with the safety regulations even when they thought it was absurd. They really have no choice.

This list is made by Erin George at Examiner.com:

#10: Space Blanket (Mylar) – This is for emergency use only so why not keep it in your backpack all the time. Space blankets are used to battle hypothermia. People don’t use it to prevent hypothermia. Hypothermia can be prevented by wearing adequate clothing for cool conditions. A warning sign of hypothermia is prolonged and uncontrolled shivering. When this happens, action must be taken immediately to prevent fatalities.

#9: Compass and Whistle – These are definitely emergency essentials. A map would make the compass even more useful so can have an idea of where you are and where you’d want to go. Whether in a group or not, everyone should carry a whistle to get attention when needed, especially children.

#8: Intant Heat Warmers – It may be difficult to find a source of heat when you hike the mountains. There are no fuel around and you are in trouble if you don’t have a camping stove. Your sleeping bag may also be inadequate in keeping you warm and some people with cold feet may find it hard to sleep. Throwing in a couple of hand warmers at the bottom of your sleeping can probably help you sleep well at night.

#7: Waterproof matches and flint – You need these to build a campfire or a signal fire for emergencies. It is also used to light up the camp stove. Carry one or two extra just in case.

#6: Pitch Chunk – This is a good one to have. Pitch is very effective in starting fires. A small chunk of pitch makes a surprisingly big fire. Pick some up as you go through the woods.

#5: Rope – For hanging your food in bear sacks up high and out of reach from wild animals. You might also need it to rig up your camping tent or poncho. The rope is probably the most used tool in rescue efforts. Erin recommends that you carry 20 metres of a 5 mm nylon rope.

#4: Sweetwater filter pump – Even the clearest, coldest stream can yeild little parasites that will run havoc on your internals. Diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, headache, fatigue are just some of the symptoms of waterborne diseases.

#3: Camelback: While I agree that something like the camelbak mule is very useful for keeping hydrated, I don’t think it is essential. You can use bottles to store water.

#2: Film canisters and Altoid – This one is interesting. It’s not essential you carry this but it is useful. You can put your small personal items here and keep them dry.

#1: Duct tape – This one works for undeveloped blisters and for general repairs for your sleeping bag, tent, boots or just about anything.