Good weather means road-trips, camping and eating around the campfire. Unfortunately, campers know that sandwiches get old. So do hot dogs, chips and pretty much everything that comes out of a bag; not to mention all sense of nutrition going down the drain. With a little bit of planning beforehand, however, it is easy to eat well, deliciously and nutritionally. Here are 5 tips for eating well while camping. 1. Prepare – While the thought of preparing food for a camping trip might sound a little daunting it is really easy. For about a week before the camping trip you can make extra’s to freeze and...

If you’re a U.S. consumer with too much stuff, you have a few options. You’ve probably already tried to downsize – Goodwill, thrift store, and antique shop your way out of clutter. This is a great practice for any homeowner, but rarely yields the type of results a household really needs. You can try to organize your way into a home in which every nook and cranny has a place for stuff, but this really equates to buying more things that happen to serve as a place for other things. It’s a temporary solution to a very persistent problem. Probably the best and quickest approach is to find some cheap...

There are many plastic tarps available, which can be turned to a myriad of uses. Whether for use as additional tent coverings, to cover supplies being transported in open top trucks, or protecting crops from inclement weather, there are a host of opportunities. Made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), they comprise a number of woven thermoplastic polymer sheets, which are laminated together. These multi layers not only afford great protection and provide wonderful insulation. Derived from petroleum, they also have a very high tensile strength. Further, they can withstand internal and external...

When backpacking, it is crucial to bring a proper tent as this is your protection from weather and bugs. There are several different characteristics of tents that you should keep in mind while choosing a tent. Depending on the length of your trek, the weather conditions and the terrain, different tents will be ideal. You will want to choose the lightest tent possible for the conditions and comfort that you require. For warmer weather, this is much easier as lighter-weight fabrics and poles are sufficient. In cold weather, especially when there is heavy snow or wind, you may need to sacrifice some...

HIKING IN FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA Located at nearly 7,000 feet, near the base of the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, Arizona is a hiker’s paradise. After reading this general overview on hiking in Flagstaff, Arizona, please take the time to browse the websites which I researched as preparation for this overview for more detailed information. The area in and around Flagstaff offers the hiker everything from high alpine aspen and ponderosa pine forests all the way to rugged deserts. Coconino National Forest trailheads begin only a few miles from the city. Wildflowers, oaks, ponderosa and pinion pines,...

While there are as many reasons to camp as there are campers, there are some common themes that show up often in discussion. One is to gafiate, or Get Away From It All. Camping provides an opportunity to leave behind the stresses of the day-to-day life and recover for another bout in the ongoing fight for survival. Everyone needs a way to escape to recharge the batteries, and for many camping is it. Another reason to camp is to promote togetherness on family vacations, forcing everyone to work together. I have vivid memories of a camping trip twenty odd years ago with a new tent for which we...

The sun is shining and the flowers are in full bloom. It’s time to break out the flip flops and tanks pull up your hair grab your sunglasses and swimsuit on your way to… …well during those dreary cold winter days you were sure you had big plans for summer, but what were they and where has all the time gone. That is me every year, whining and complaining about the winter and begging for summer then it arrives and I don’t fully embrace it. Well I decided to kick off this summer the right way. Let me take this opportunity to share some fun filled weekend activities for everyone...