In modern day, you can find it used in recipes and dishes that hail from areas such as Italy, Spain, and the Caribbean to name a few.  Typically it is used in soups, stews and the flavoring of meat.  It is used in particular with lamb, eggs and tomatoes.

It has also been found useful for medicinal purposes such as respiratory infections.  It works well as an antiseptic and is the main active ingredient in Listerine.

Lastly, it can be found growing naturally in mountains as it tolerates long dry spells.  It can be grown from seeds or creating new sections of of the root.

If you have enough adults it can also be fun to take two canoes. You can tie them together or have mini-races on different stretches along the way. Kids love the excitement of racing against their sibling.

Be sure to have everyone wear a safety vest because you never know when an accident could happen.

If you are travelling a lot around the world and never certain whether the local water will be safe to drink or not then getting a portable filter can be a great solution. Not only will you be able to drink the water safely but it’ll also taste a lot better too!

If you are going to be camping around the world then even seemingly simple this like cleaning your teeth in the morning can become difficult without clean and safe water. Sometimes you won’t be sure whether the water is safe, and sometimes you’ll know it is definitely not. In either case it pays to be on the safe side by using some sort of water purification system.

What To Look For In A Portable Water Filter

Water filters are not all as good as each other. Some will simply make the water taste better, while others will purify it. You need to make sure exactly what the filter does and what it doesn’t do. While a filter that makes the water tastes better might be handy, one that makes the water clean and safe to drink is much more useful if you are going to travel the world camping.

You’ll also need to make sure that the filter is compact and easy to carry around. It needs to be convenient as you’ll probably b taking it everywhere, you don’t want it to become a hassle.

Another important point is how much water the filter will work with before it needs to be replaced. If you are going to be going away for a long time you may need to take a supply of them to last you the whole trip.

There is a lot more to water filters that is mentioned in this article, although this is a good start. To find out more about water filters, please visit WaterFilterLand.com.

When I was just starting out hiking and camping I used to pack my sleeping bag loose into the backpack or even tie it on the outside. It took me 3 trips before I started using stuff sacks to store my sleeping bag. These cylindrical shaped nylon, usually waterproof, enclosures protect your bag from unnecessary wear and tear and also from the rain.

Material

Most stuff sacks are made of newer fabrics like coated polyester and ultralight silicone-impregnated nylon.

While the material itself is waterproof, the drawstring closure in most stuff sacks is not so be careful about getting it into water and if you tie your sleeping bag to the outside of your backpack make sure you at least cover the drawstring closure with a waterproof material to protect against rain. A plastic bag will do in most cases.

Newer stuff sacks like the eVac Dry Sack from Sea To Summit don’t use drawstring closures but instead you roll the sack down and then close the buckle. This accomplishes two things. First, when you roll the sack down air is pushed out of the base so water can’t get in. Second, it allows you to save both space and weight. The weight saving though is not such a big deal. You only save a little bit of weight but the space saving is much appreciated.

The lightest stuff sacks are made of silicone-impregnated nylon parachute cloth. It can be as light as 0.5 oz or even less. GoLite employs this type of material and they made an improvement to the drawstring closure by adding a collar instead of just a drawstring and flap configuration. Outdoor Research on the other hand uses a good waterproof fabric called Hydroseal. This fabric is tough and can handle rough use but still limp enough to mold itself to the contents of the sack. This stuff sack is available in the drawstring-flap configuration as well as roll closure secured with Velcro bindings.

Compression and Size

Most stuff sack suppliers have some sort of compression model with straps, laces or double drawstrings that reduces the volume by up to half. You can also stuff in your down jacket or parka together with the sleeping bag into the sack. Make sure that yours is big enough for you to easily put in whatever you intend to put in.

Don’t get a small stuff sack just because you think it would save you space because in most cases you’ll just have unused, wasted space in your backpack as a result. Another problem is that even if you can cram your sleeping bag and other stuff into the sack when you’re at home, doing so in less than ideal conditions on an empty stomach with the cold wind biting at you can turn it into a monstrous task. Get one that’s big enough to take its load with extra room to spare, leaving it soft, malleable and easy to stuff. I use Outdoor Research Hydroseal DryComp Sacks but I’m thinking of getting the eVac Dry Sack from Sea to Summit for myself.

Jonsky is also writes at hubpages with articles on down sleeping bags, stoves, tents and other camping gear. He is also a writer for http://www.hiking-camping-world.com. Check out the range of down sleeping bags on that site.

Can a camping tent survive Hurricane Cheddarwurst? Here’s a funny story for you… Last year, my friends and I found ourselves at Sunset State Beach in California. The campground is called Sunset because it arguably has the best sunsets over the pacific ocean, in all of California.

We arrive at around noon and immediately set up shop. This involved unpacking the car, assembling our tents, and immediately having a beer. All of our tents were pretty standard with the dome shape, poles, and water proof covers. Well, almost all of them. One of our friends lacked the basic tent, and decided to design a makeshift tent with a giant blue tarp and some bungee cords. It actually looked pretty decent.

When we checked in, the Park Ranger gave us a weather report with a slight chance of rain and his added opinion that there wouldn’t be any. We enjoyed most of the day with a few beers, a walk down to the beach, a few beers, roasting hot dogs, a few beers, eating Cheddarwurst (which our new tent architect decided to bring), chatting by the fireside, and a few more beers. As the sun went down so did our eyes and we retired to our tents shortly thereafter.

It must have been about five hours later that I awoke in a puddle of water from a hurricane that had decided to blow in. Okay, so it wasn’t really a hurricane, but it sure seemed like on at the time. As I unzipped my tent and peered out in the pitch black, all I could make out a giant blue tarp flapping in the wind like a sail that lost its wind. Not wanting to bear the cold and more wet, I attempted to get some more sleep but simply ended up laying there until dawn.

When everyone rose in the morning, we noticed that our tent designer fled the scene of the storm, leaving only a drenched blue tarp. Their car was gone and we all laughed and gave them an A for effort.

The moral to the story is to be prepared with a decent tent. Even though our friend didn’t have a tent to begin with, my tent failed the test too. It’s best to do your research on what tent will work for you.

P.S. My personal opinion is to invest in a good water proof tent.

In conclusion, you can learn more about travel gear and Columbia tents at Travel-Smarts.

Adam Costa began his travel adventures at the age of 19 with a round the world trip across thirteen countries. He has worked as a North American tour guide, running tours in Canada, Mexico and all over the United States, from San Francisco to Boston to Key West, Florida. Currently, he works as a travel agent, and continues to dream of hitting the road.

I loaded up my campfire poker two days ahead of time for our semi-annual fishing trip, because I did not want to forget it. This is our first trip of the year, so I’m very excited about it. When packing for a trip in haste, something is usually forgotten and I will not forget to pack my wrought iron campfire poker.

It is believed there are two categories of campers…those who travel light by packing minimal supplies and few necessities…just enough stuff to get by. The other category packs up everything they might need or want or feel they should have including the kitchen sink. Oh, wait…they make portable sinks now, just for camping. (So I heard)

The category I fall into is in between the two. Haven’t got a name for it, but I like to travel light, with a couple of exceptions…my wrought iron campfire poker and a lighter. Why?

Last year, as an example, my fishing buddy Herb, decided it would be too warm that weekend to have a campfire. He packed up his camp stove and said we could cook our meals on it…he even had all the pots and pans. What Herb did not pack was the fuel for the stove. He forgot, and there we were in the middle of the woods…very hungry with a great stove that we could not use.

Herb tried to make up for the blunder as I watched him scurry about, gathering sticks and leaves…fuel for the fire. Talk about frantic haste. He was a little upset when asking me for my lighter as I stood there with a crooked grin on my face.

Some of the gatherings Herb collected were slightly damp and as he attempted to light this little pile of what would be our campfire for the weekend, Herb got down on all fours, getting his face in close and blew on the sparks to help with ignition.

Well, wouldn’t you know, the breeze shifted just then and Herb ended up with soot and sparks in his hair, eyes and in all probability up his nose. I told him this is enough and to simmer down. I had also pack some kindling.

Yes, I had taken my campfire poker along on that trip. It came in very handy in maintaining the campfire that we ended up cooking on.

Actually, we used the campfire poker all weekend, keeping the campfire stoked, to keep warm, because the weatherman changed his forecast. A four-day cold snap had encroached from the North. But the fishing was great.

I would not go on any camping trip without my wrought iron campfire poker. I could tell more stories about why, but the end result comes up the same. Plainly spoken, it is just a great tool to have.

The campfire is the heart of the campsite…used for light, warmth, cooking and conversation. It should at all times be maintained properly…and safely. How can you safely move burning wood and embers by using an old wooden stick or kicking the fire with your shoes?

Get yourself a good campfire poker that will do the job you intended and always take it with you on every camping trip. Oh, and remember the lighter too.

Every camper needs tools for their campsite and a campfire poker is no exception to the rule. There are some at Tom’s website, so see if there is something there for you. If you are interested in a hand forged campfire poker for your camping expeditions, or a smaller poker for your fireplace, please visit http://www.blackironjunction.com/site/1623467/page/805963

Breakfast
Start your day off right with a breakfast that will get you ready for a day of hiking or exploring. Slice up some mushrooms, onions, bacon and potatoes and grill in a skillet over the fire until done. Mix eggs with a little milk and pour over the mixture to heat until the eggs are fully cooked. This is a great skillet meal that is easy to prepare and clean up. Another easy meal to prepare is a breakfast taco. Cook some eggs and place inside a tortilla with cheese and picante sauce. If you feel a bit more adventurous, try a breakfast pizza using pre made crusts and eggs. You can cook the eggs any way you like them and add bacon, potatoes or sausage. Heat the pizza crusts over the fire and top with your egg mixture and cheese.

Lunch
Keep lunch simple and easy to prepare and clean up so you get back to your adventures. Sandwiches are a great lunchtime treat using easy to store and prepare foods. Sliced lunch meats with vegetables on bread make the perfect pick me up. For a hot side dish to accompany the sandwiches take some frozen French fries, chili and cheese sauce; combine them in foil, wrapping it tightly. Throw the package on the fire and cook until the fries are cooked through and then enjoy your gooey chili cheese fries.

Dinner
Dinner consisting of a hearty stew is a great option. Using canned vegetables, mix equal parts of your favorites in a heavy pot. These can include corn, peas and beans. Also add a can of chunk chicken and pre made barbecue pork. Add two cans of tomato sauce and two cans of chopped tomatoes and simmer slowly over an open fire for a filling stew. If you went fishing and were lucky enough to make a catch, fry it for dinner. After cleaning the fish, cut it into fillets. Combine one can of beer with two eggs until thoroughly mixed. To that add twelve ounces of flour, two teaspoons of baking powder and salt and pepper to taste. Dip the fish in cornstarch then the batter. Place it in hot oil and fry until the batter puffs. This is a great way to enjoy the efforts put forth after a day of fishing.

Trail Snacks
No camping trip is complete without snacks to prepare and bring while you are out on a nature hike. Walking and hiking is hard work so you should bring some foods that will help boost your energy. Popcorn popped over an open flame is a fun way to prepare the next day’s snack. Trail mix is a traditional option and is limited to only your imagination. Use a combination of hearty ingredients with sweets. Combine granola, raisins, chocolate chips, M & M’s, cereal, dried fruits and nuts. Use whatever combinations you like.

My favorite camping meals though, are made with pudgie pie makers (also called pie irons). They are made of cast iron or metal and have long handles. Our family uses pudgie pie makers to meal delicious treats for lunch and dinner. Bread is the staple ingredient in making a pudgie pie. My favorite is grilled cheese. To make one, butter two slices of bread. Place the buttered side down in the pudgie pie maker. This will prevent the bread from sticking. Place a cheese slice on top of each slice of bread. Close the pudgie pie maker. Place in the coals of your campfire. It will only take a few minutes for the pie to cook. Turn the pie maker after about a minute. Watch your sandwich closely. Depending on how hot your fire is, the sandwich will cook very quickly. Ham and tomato are also very good additions to your cheese sandwich.

Pizza pudgie pies are popular with our family too. Again, butter two slices of bread and place the buttered side down in the pudgie pie maker. Add your favorite pizza toppings (ours are canned pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese). Close the pudgie pie maker and place in the coals of your campfire to cook. Be careful when removing pudgie pies from your pudgie pie maker. Both the pudgie pie maker and your sandwich will be very hot.

Another favorite type of pudgie pie that our family enjoys are dessert ones. Butter your two slices of bread and place the buttered sides down in the pudgie pie maker. Spoon in some of your favorite prepared pie filling (cherry or apple are our favorites). Cook in the fire and enjoy.

And of course, no camping trip is complete without making smores. They’re also very easy to make. Start by roasting a marshmallow over your fire. Once your marshmallow is warm and gooey, stick it on top of a graham cracker and a piece of a chocolate bar, and then top with another graham cracker.

Cooking while camping can really be a lot of fun. Preparing foods should be easy and require little clean up and use few pots and pans. At the end of the night, though, no camping trip would be complete without toasting marshmallows. Cut some branches and skewer large marshmallows. Hold each stick over the flame until brown and toasty. It makes a great, gooey dessert and an ideal end to your day.

About the Author
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for DreamCamping.com. To learn more camping recipes and about camping food, please visit our site.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=37981&ca=Recreation

The Campsite
Make sure you have the proper equipment for camping. Know what sleeping arrangements are and where you will be cooking. If you are using a camper or RV, much of this will be supplied in your facilities but you will need to know any rules for the particular campsite. If you are sleeping outdoors, make sure you have tents and sleeping bags as well as warm clothing. Bring waterproof matches for campfires and cooking. Set up tents according to instruction. Always leave your campsite the way you found it. The best rule of thumb is to make sure it looks like you were never there.

Food
Bring only the cooking utensils you will need to prepare meals and eat. You will not have a dishwasher and may not have trash bins available. So, make sure you can easily clean and dispose of food items and waste. Bring lightweight, non perishable and easy to cook and clean food items. Canned foods, trail mix, soups and stews are great nutritional meals that are easy to store and carry.

My favorite way to cook while camping is over the fire, using a tripod and aluminum foil. There are lots of delicious meals you can cook by putting a few ingredients in a piece of foil, sealing it, and cooking it. Cleanup is a breeze. There are no dishes to wash. You just need to properly dispose of the used aluminum foil. Do an Internet search for “campfire recipes” and you’ll get lots of delicious foil/pouch campfire meal ideas. While getting ready for camping, do not forget the water. Make sure you have plenty available to keep hydrated and to cook with.

Weather
Plan for the expected weather conditions in the area but do not be surprised if there is a sudden climate change. For summer bring hats for protection, sunscreen and insect repellant. For winter, make sure to dress in layers, wear sunscreen, and have waterproof footwear. Always bring extra clothing in case of a climate change. Even in hot weather it can get very chilly at night. Prepare for rain by ensuring you have shelter, tarps and waterproof attire.

Safety
A first aid kit is a required piece of camping equipment. These can be found pre made in pharmacies and outdoor sporting goods stores. Rope, a flashlight and waterproof matches are also important. Having a compass available will help in case you get lost and a whistle can help you call for help even if you are fatigued. If leaving the campsite, make sure you bring food and water supplies.

Fun
Bring games and toys, especially if you are traveling with children. A game of Frisbee or football is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Bring your fishing rods and canoes for fun on the water. Do not forget to bring binoculars and a camera for hikes and nature walks. You may want to bring art supplies and books in case of inclement weather. For nature walks, insect and plant guide books are usually lightweight and can help you identify wildlife and items in nature.

Camping can be great fun but you should always prepare for things that may come up. Sudden changes in weather can occur and accidents can happen. Make a list of the supplies you will need and carefully pack for your trip. Being prepared will help ensure you have a great time and stay as safe as possible in all conditions.

About the Author
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for DreamCamping.com. To learn more camping tips and camping recipes, visit our site.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=37825&ca=Recreation

I’ve often seen signs that say, “Stay on designated trails.” I’ve also come across people who say, “Hike on durable surfaces”. I’ve often thought to myself, “What’s the big deal”. Does it really matter if a few blades of grass get bent a little? I want to check out that cool thing over there. I’ve seen on T.V. where they torch whole sections of forest. What I’m doing can’t possibly compare to that. In some cases this may be true, but most people aren’t land preservation experts and don’t know when it will make a difference or not. Let’s take the case of the cryptobiotic crust.

For those of you not familiar with it is one of the building blocks of life in desert regions. These collections of organisms provide vital functions to the desert such as retaining water and stabilizing sand and dirt. Many studies have shown that there are increases in survival for crust covered environments as opposed to bare soil.

What is interesting about these organisms is that they are capable of living and thriving in extreme desert conditions. Unfortunately, they do not do well when faced with pressure such as a footprint. In fact, it can take up to 50 years for crust thickness to go back to its previous level once disturbed.

Most of us would probably be hard pressed to know all the different types of plants and crust formations. That is why it is simper for us to stick with basic advice. If you tell yourself to stay on designated trails or hard rock formations it is hard to go wrong. You wouldn’t want to accidentally disturb a cryptobiotic crust that has been working hard for the last century.