Need some good CAMPING web sites (drag kings & queens need not reply)

[bertha katzenengel]

;)

Stuff like

-- how to camp (no shit)

-- how to find out what the weather will be like at a given nat'l park during a given week/month (almanac-type site?)

-- where to find the best equipment for the best price

-- your favorite camping sites

Thanks!

[jpgray]

1. Just rent my dad

He's like Jon Muir and Bob Marshall collided together and given the neat silver coif of a soap opera tycoon.

[bertha katzenengel]

2. LOL

:7

[jpgray]

7. Seriously, it depends on what type of trip you want to have

Car camping you can bring a cooler and don't have to bother overmuch about packs, a stove, food, water, weight and emergency supplies, whereas if you're doing a five day backpacking trip out of Choteau you'll have to be prepared to save any injured comrades by dragging them covertly across Indian Reservation jeep roads. (Don't ask)

And you probably don't want to rent my dad. When we were climbing the north face of Sneffels, I slipped and fell, bashed my lip on a rock and tumbled down about sixty yards of sharp talus. As I lay there I could hear my dear pap yelling "Quick take a picture! He looks great!" :D

[havocmom]

10. Damn, is your dad my husband? LOL

Sounds like part of the clan to me!

Choteau? Maybe she should stick to car accessable parks for the first time or two ;)

[Jara sang]

12. I've always wanted to climb Sneffels

I've climbed Longs, that was a great climb. Me and a friend climbed Missouri mountain once and we decided to go up the hardest route, which the guide book said to avoid. We bailed out about half way up this razor sharp ridge. On the way down we decided to take a short cut into Missouri gulch and back to the trail. We were going to glissade down this snowfield. Note to self: When you are going to glissade make sure you can see where the snowfield leads out. preferable not into a pile of jaggedy talus. Which this one did. The pitch on the snowfield right in the middle was approaching about 75 degrees and really sped up our descent. Also note to self. always bring an Ice axe when attempting this sort of thing. We were headed for the pile of boulders at break neck speed and we had no way of stopping ourselves. I just turned and faced the snowfield and dug my fingers into the bank. This slowed me down enough to where I could stop myself with my feet. Probably the closest I have ever come to death in my life.

[jpgray]

20. The easy approach is a very pleasant climb

And the summit is great! Plus hanging around Ouray is usually a blast. I've always had an ice axe with me when I attempted a glissade, but the ones I've got are from the early sixties so getting tetanus is probably a greater danger than sliding to a bloody death. :D

[rawtribe]

3. ..

http://www.camping.com/

[bertha katzenengel]

4. I looked at that one

Thanks, rawtribe :bounce:

[WeRQ4U]

5. Here is some information that you could use.

Campmor magazine - is a good place to find fairly good quality itmes for a little cheaper price. http://www.campmor.com/

REI - awesome camping, backpacking and overall outdoors catalog. I have used it many times. http://www.REI.com

The Backpacking Site - This is a good all-around backpacking site. It'll give you fairly decent info on tons of stuff. http://www.the-backpacking-site.com/countries/usa-overview.html

As for information about WHERE to camp or HOW to camp, I really don't know where to send you. If your camping area is a state or national park, then they will be on the internet. You can check the "amenities", whether there is primitive "connected" sites etc. Hope that helps a bit.

If you have specific questions, just let me know.

[bertha katzenengel]

14. thanks so much!

I'll look everything over from home tonight. Muchas gracias!

[WeRQ4U]

28. De nada.

[LynneSin]

6. American Hiking

http://www.americanhiking.org/

I'm a member and they have great information. I also joined the trail finder group.

There are some wonderful hikes in Maryland including Gunpowder & Susquehanna State Park.

BTW, they are also a pro-environment group that pushes it's members to write to their representatives in DC to help protect our state & national parks

[bertha katzenengel]

16. thanks, lynnesin...

I like the site! Not sure how much hiking we'll do on this first trip but I'm sure I can learn a lot from it.

[Viking12]

8. best equipment for the best price

If you're patient and know what you're looking for, there can be some EXCELLENT deals here.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/StaticText/pressroom.asp?wc=true&year=2002

[bertha katzenengel]

17. thanks very much, Viking12

Shopping is best done at home... I tend to avoid work when my Visa's out. ;)

[havocmom]

9. Bertha, ever consider calling a local Girl Scout leader?

I bet they have books, sites and other resources you could use.

And here is a site to get you thinking about where/when. There will be a state by state index for local info about areas, contact #s for stations, so on.

Some towns/cities have hiking clubs and groups like that which may steer you to the info you need.

My favorite camping sites... just about any national forest I have ever been too!

There is a state park between the town of Morro Bay, Calif and a bird refuge which was grand. Big Sur is a wonderful place. Sequoia National Park is cool and not as crowded as Yosimite. Seely or Salmon Lake in Montana are lovely and not crowded. Targee National forest, outside of Yellowstone just a bit is as lovely as the more famous destination with less hassle and crowds. Datil Wells in Mew Mexico was incrediable and the water was very tastey!

Check the travel section of book stores. Look into groups in your area that might have info and insight.

Grab a 'Ducth Oven' cookbook and a Real Dutch oven. Practice in the back yard, get some confidence then have fun with cooking outside. I have a Coleman stove that I've had forever. Gets new O rings now and then, folds up small in the car. Makes camp coffee in a jiffy. Nothing fancy, just reliable as hell. An old skillet, saucepan, can opener, big spoon... always packed in a box with enameled tin plates and cups and ready to go anytime! Noting high tech. Nothing expensive. Oh, an old Altoids box to keep my matches in ;)

Splurged and got a rechargable camp lantern as I do not like the ones that burn, they are too bright. Mine recharges at home or via the cigarette lighter while we drive. Lighter to carry than the ones with big batteries and no mantles to replace like the gas burners.

Tents have never been cheaper and sleeping bags are easy when you learn to read the ratings. You don't need a bag rated for -40 unless that is how you wanna camp! An ice chest, camp stove, tent, bag and some info makes for good adventures. If you HAVE to be adorable, there are propane curling irons, but that is going too far in my book. Get good water carriers if you have to take your own water, though I recommend camping where there is potable water for novices. There are also black plastic water containers with little hoses and shower heads! Staying clean helps ya stay warm and comfy. The black containers suck up sunshing and heat water for your pleasure!

I like my backpacker's hammock to sleep in. Tent is for rain & keeping dog and cat corralled at night. Yep, you read right, dog & cat. Some of them love to camp.

A pair of those small binoculars are very handy for sight seeing and bird watching. Don't really need those huge ones unless you are planning a tank battle on some large open plain somewhere!

Good shoes, lots of socks. And keep hydrated! No highly aromatic foods if you are in bear country. Canned soup is good if you just drive to a site, set camp and wander around it. Dehydrated chow if you plan to backpack and/or head into grizz country. Carry your trash out. Do not keep food near where you sleep.

Get some knowledge about wildlife. Best not to become a bear snack. Most ranger stations have good, knowledgable people who would love somebody to talk to. If there is one near you, start dropping by with questions. Is there a state park near you? Check to see if there is a docent program. Docent volunteers are there to teach. Pick their brains.

Gads, I do go on! Tells you I find the activity rewarding and great fun. My goal is to get my urban princess sister out in the woods with no phone for at least 3 days. It would do her a world of good!

Here is old Louie at Datil Wells, at 16-18 years old at the time, his last camping vacation

[bertha katzenengel]

13. What a load of great info.

Thank you so much, havocmom.

I actually know where I want to go first: Shenandoah Nat'l Park, probably in October. That way we can see the colors without getting stuck on Blue Ridge Parkway with a million others.

I'll digest all you've written tonight at home.

I love the photo of Louie. I'd be scared to death to take any of our cats camping - afraid they'd never come back!

[havocmom]

21. Had a reliable cat/house sitter lined up, but he was gettung so frail and

loved the 90 Pound Hound that we were afraid to leave him home, lest he greive. He was a pound rescue, so he stayed with his people. So thankful for a happy family, he wanted to be with us 24/7. He really loved that last trip, probably more than the ones when he was younger.

You do need to be careful where you take animals. Some places would be a danger to them.

Sounds like a cool trip you plan on. You've time to do the research and practice a few weekends. You will have a grand time!

[bertha katzenengel]

24. *gasp* we need to PRACTICE?

:scared:

I've been camping once before, but it was in a group, and everyone told me what to do.

[havocmom]

26. Oh, don't panic. Just recommend a night 'out' or two

helps get over the panic! And it is fun. Look for State parks with campsites close to your home area. They will have info on amenities and soon you will feel like an old hand!

You do know, no cosmetics or skin creams in bear country, don't you? And no bacon hatbands on those cute pork pie hats either ;)

Just think you will enjoy your big trip more if you do a coupld weekend campouts to see what you will and won't want to have along.

We made a concession to the fact that we no longer have young bodies and got a big air matress with a rechargeable blower to fill it. Not up to doing the back pack trekking and I told Havocdad his glacier climbing days are OVER!

We just go for places where our old spines don't have to pay a hard price. Still enjoy it and looking to build a home off the grid here in a few years. Gonna go on permanent 'camp out' complete with library and wine cellar! ;)

[Lars39]

11. Backpacker magazine rates camping/hiking gear,

and also gives good advice on camping.
Boy Scout sites has some good advice, too.
We've gotten rather fond of the Ray-way. :)
We order stuff from www.campmor.com and www.rei.com

[bertha katzenengel]

18. Thanks, Lars

:bounce: :hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Are you doing serious survival camping or are you doing what my family

does, which is pitch a tent because motel rooms are expensive, then proceed to hit up all the local theme parks, mini golf courses, and go-kart tracks?

[bertha katzenengel]

19. kinda in-between

for 3-5 days we'll live in a tent, cook on a camp stove, walk around and see what there is to see.

Not survival camping; we'll bring all our food with us. ;)

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. That's like what we do, then. Where are you headed? Any region

in mind? (unfortunately I only have experience in New Hampshire, Vermont, & Maine at the moment. I can report back to you on Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick in a couple of wekks, though. :) And although I stayed in motels there, Nova Scotia is wonderful too and I imagine has great campgrounds which I hope to discover in the future.)

[bertha katzenengel]

23. Shenandoah National Park, maybe in October?

Mrs. V. doesn't know yet. We've talked about going camping but she doesn't know I'm making plans. I want to see the colors of fall, but don't want to get caught in 200 miles of backups because most everyone just drives up to see the leaves.

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. The only time I have done October camping was here in Maine in

October and it was COLD. I hope it is warmer there! :) (But cool idea to surprise Mrs. V. like this. *thumbs up*)

[pitohui]

27. i use gorp.com EOM

.

[DrGonzoLives]

29. For state parks

Just check the individual state's DNR (or equivalent) homepage. Usually www.state.gov, that will bring you to the main state government page, then look for something like "Recreation" (that's how you would find it for Illinois).

There are some beautiful spots in Wisconsin, like Devil's Lake, though I would go in fall to avoid the damn tourists. Great fishing too. Chain O' Lakes in northern Illinois is nice as well.

As for national parks, I would go with the Department of Interior website (ignore the frightening image of Gale Norton) as they administer national parks.

[UncleSepp]

30. Well, there's this one... dangit!

Was gonna post to you infos about a campout I got invited to, but it's for FtMs... :P

:pals: Loves ya Bertha!!

[bertha katzenengel]

32. Thanks, AuntJen...

Something tells me I'd be somewhat out of place. :rofl: But I appreciate the thought!

:pals: :)

[Old_Fart]

31. ROFL

What state are you planning on going to?

[bertha katzenengel]

33. VA - not too far a trip; we live in MD

Going to Shenandoah Nat'l Park. Haven't picked the site yet. Something no more than a mile from some really nice sights.

[Old_Fart]

34. When are you leaving?

Shenandoah Park has spectacular views.

Have fun!

[Sequoia]

35. Favorite Camping Place is:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/camping.htm

Live web cam: http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/sentinelcam.htm