It is quite unfortunate that with age, most adults do not go out for camping trips anymore. The practice is followed today mostly by people who have children who request to take them out on a camping trip. Hence, the materialization of a wonderful opportunity to get in touch with the Nature and at the same time spend some excellent quality time with your children and bond with them.
The Basics You Need for a Successful Camping Trip
There are a few basics without which no camping trip can be organized or enjoyed. The first and foremost basic is of course, the tent. Without the tent, however beautiful and comfortable the weather is, the camping trip would not feel like one (not to mention that it is not safe to sleep in the open anywhere, least of all in a forest where animals can decide to investigate the newcomers in their area).
The sleeping bags are another must-have during your trip. Please, keep in mind that if you are to continue sleeping in your bag during your trips across Asia or Africa, you should always (without any exception) check your bag thoroughly before sleeping. There have been instances when snakes, scorpions and other such dangerous animals took shelter in the cool and comfortable sleeping bag. They would not want you intrude upon them, and I am sure neither would you.
You will need to have sufficient supplies and then some extra, lest something happens and you lose some of your food. If it gets spoiled, or any such unforeseen problems occur, you should still have plenty of food left. A word of advice here: do not keep open food close to your tent. Keep the waste (vegetable peels, waste food, etc.) away from the tent, lest it will attract dangerous wild animals.
Be very careful with your choice of cooking gear. Be it utensils or the stove, it should complement the rest of the camping trip in terms of usability and washability. It is advised to utilize disposable plates, so these can be thrown out directly instead of making a mess by having to wash it with safe water.
Water is one of the most useful and can't-live-without-it items. Be sure that you have a supply of clean water, or you have a way or purifying the water. Hence, you should at all times during the day or night keep a close check on the quality of the water before you decide to drink it, since water can be the carrier of many dreadful diseases.
Make your own checklist and see how many of your items match with the list here. Ensure that each of the things that you will pack and carry is there, because the camping trip needs it. Avoid anything redundant, however pretty it is. After a while of trekking in the forest, every extra gram can weigh a ton on your back - and there is no respite from it, because each person has to carry his or her own burden.
About the Author
What could be more fun than a camping trip? Get great tips for camping trips, camping supplies, camping recipes, and more at http://camping.every1loves2travel.com . Happy Camping!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Grand Canyon Hiking
To truly experience the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, hiking from the rim to the river can be a rewarding and life-changing adventure.
The hike from the canyon rim to the floor of the valley and back up again can be tackled by most relatively fit people - even the novice hiker. Make no mistake, it is a tough hike but you don't need to be an athlete to complete it successfully.
It is possible for an experienced hiker to trek to the bottom and back up the other side in one day, however, if you have the time available try to plan your hike over three or more days to make the most of this experience.
During the planning process for your trek you might want to read some of the many books available on Grand Canyon hiking. There are also videos/DVDs available and any of these resources will start to give you an idea of the trail you might prefer to take from the rim to the canyon floor and back up again.
It is a popular idea with hikers to begin their descent from one rim, hike to the floor of the canyon and then hike out on the opposite side.
This particular hike poses the problem of where to leave your car; or more importantly, how to get back to your car it you exit the canyon on, say, the south rim, and your car is parked on the north rim. The distance from the south rim to the north rim is only about ten miles as the crow flies but it is a 220 mile car trip! Some hikers arrange to swap car keys with a group hiking in the opposite direction. If this option isn't available to you, there is a shuttle that runs between the two rims.
You can choose a guided Grand Canyon hike or a self-guided hike. If you choose a self-guided hike you must start out with a good map. There are many different maps available and you'll want to ensure that your map covers the trails you wish to hike plus the campgrounds.
When To Hike
Let's start with when not to go Grand Canyon hiking! June, July and August are scorchingly hot and should be avoided. The north rim and all its facilities are closed from mid November to mid May. The most pleasant time of year to attempt a Grand Canyon hike is mid May to early June and late September to mid November. An advantage of trekking in the spring is the presence of many beautiful wildflowers on the canyon floor.
Which Track?
From the north rim the only track to the canyon floor is the North Kaibab Trail. It is approximately 13 miles from the north rim to Bright Angel Campground and the trail descends 5400 feet. There is reliable water available. From the south rim there is a choice of the South Kaibab Trail which is 5.6 miles and descends 4500 feet, or Bright Angel Trail which is 9.7 miles in length and descends 4260 feet. There is reliable water on Bright Angel Trail but there is no water available on South Kaibab.
Because of the lack of water and the steepness of the gradient, South Kaibab is recommended as a descent track rather than a climbing track.
For hikers who choose to hike from the south rim to the canyon floor before returning to the south rim, descending via the South Kaibab Trail and climbing out via the Bright Angel Trail is a good option.
Serious backpackers who are prepared to carry a tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment and food along with their drinking water, extra clothing and toiletries can stay in any of the campsites. For those hikers who'd like a little more comfort at the end of the day, Phantom Ranch, a historic National Park lodge built in the 1920s stands alongside Bright Angel Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River. They serve simple but hearty meals and this is a great place to relax before the climb back to the rim and the conclusion of your Grand Canyon hike.
About the Author
Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains The Hiking And Camping Website to assist hikers, campers and backpackers to choose the right equipment.
The hike from the canyon rim to the floor of the valley and back up again can be tackled by most relatively fit people - even the novice hiker. Make no mistake, it is a tough hike but you don't need to be an athlete to complete it successfully.
It is possible for an experienced hiker to trek to the bottom and back up the other side in one day, however, if you have the time available try to plan your hike over three or more days to make the most of this experience.
During the planning process for your trek you might want to read some of the many books available on Grand Canyon hiking. There are also videos/DVDs available and any of these resources will start to give you an idea of the trail you might prefer to take from the rim to the canyon floor and back up again.
It is a popular idea with hikers to begin their descent from one rim, hike to the floor of the canyon and then hike out on the opposite side.
This particular hike poses the problem of where to leave your car; or more importantly, how to get back to your car it you exit the canyon on, say, the south rim, and your car is parked on the north rim. The distance from the south rim to the north rim is only about ten miles as the crow flies but it is a 220 mile car trip! Some hikers arrange to swap car keys with a group hiking in the opposite direction. If this option isn't available to you, there is a shuttle that runs between the two rims.
You can choose a guided Grand Canyon hike or a self-guided hike. If you choose a self-guided hike you must start out with a good map. There are many different maps available and you'll want to ensure that your map covers the trails you wish to hike plus the campgrounds.
When To Hike
Let's start with when not to go Grand Canyon hiking! June, July and August are scorchingly hot and should be avoided. The north rim and all its facilities are closed from mid November to mid May. The most pleasant time of year to attempt a Grand Canyon hike is mid May to early June and late September to mid November. An advantage of trekking in the spring is the presence of many beautiful wildflowers on the canyon floor.
Which Track?
From the north rim the only track to the canyon floor is the North Kaibab Trail. It is approximately 13 miles from the north rim to Bright Angel Campground and the trail descends 5400 feet. There is reliable water available. From the south rim there is a choice of the South Kaibab Trail which is 5.6 miles and descends 4500 feet, or Bright Angel Trail which is 9.7 miles in length and descends 4260 feet. There is reliable water on Bright Angel Trail but there is no water available on South Kaibab.
Because of the lack of water and the steepness of the gradient, South Kaibab is recommended as a descent track rather than a climbing track.
For hikers who choose to hike from the south rim to the canyon floor before returning to the south rim, descending via the South Kaibab Trail and climbing out via the Bright Angel Trail is a good option.
Serious backpackers who are prepared to carry a tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment and food along with their drinking water, extra clothing and toiletries can stay in any of the campsites. For those hikers who'd like a little more comfort at the end of the day, Phantom Ranch, a historic National Park lodge built in the 1920s stands alongside Bright Angel Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River. They serve simple but hearty meals and this is a great place to relax before the climb back to the rim and the conclusion of your Grand Canyon hike.
About the Author
Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains The Hiking And Camping Website to assist hikers, campers and backpackers to choose the right equipment.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Intro to Ice Climbing
For those of you who just can't get enough of the rush of outdoor extreme sports, ice climbing is something that you may want to look into. It is among the most adventurous and physically taxing of the many extreme sports. If you have any experience with rock climbing, you will be at ease a little bit ahead of the game when it comes to getting started with ice climbing. The same basic principles apply, though the equipment is a little different.
Most ice climbing sessions are planned out long in advance, and taken as a day-long tour. There are many different possibilities for climbing surfaces - basically, anything frozen and non-horizontal is fair game. Some of the most popular include frozen waterfalls, rock surfaces with frozen water flow, or even icebergs. Some of these are very dangerous, and should only be attempted by the most experienced of ice climbers or professionals.
Ice climbing is a little less accessible due to the fact that most of you won't be able to simply walk outside and find a giant wall of ice to climb. If you are going somewhere up North on vacation, you will definitely find a local ice climbing spot. Usually there are several well-known spots. If you have never climbed ice before, you should be with a guide or an expert as well as your friends.
Most rock climbing takes place in the mountains, since they provide the two necessary components: coldness and steepness. The Rocky Mountains are home to some of the most popular ice climbing areas, with difficulties ranging from beginner to expert. That area is your best bet in the USA, but ice climbing can be done in the Himalayas, the Alps and other mountain ranges all over the world, from Scotland to Nepal.
Safety equipment may seem like a drag, but it is necessary and can be the much needed life savior. Modern ice climbing equipment has been tweaked to the point where it is almost completely unnoticeable while you are climbing. This helps add to the illusion of danger, which is what makes the sport such a rush.
Depending on the surface, you may or may not use tools such as axes and picks. If you are new to the sport, you can start by simply climbing the ice as though it was a rock. Using gloves and stiff boots, you can search around for strategic hand or foot-holds. You will have to strategically plan your ascent so that you don't get stuck hanging from a handhold or you get stuck in a place from where you can't go up or come down.
Once you graduate to vertical climbs, your climb will take much longer. You will have to use your ice pick and axe to pull yourself up. You can bury your pick just a half of an inch into the ice, and that will provide enough strength for you to pull yourself up. You will also have to wear a special kind of footwear known as "crampons", which adds spikes to your boots. A swift kick into the ice wall, and you have a custom-made foothold.
Ice climbing can be a long and grueling experience. It requires plenty of physical exertion as you pull your body weight all the way up the side of the ice or glacial cliff. But when you reach the top, nothing can compare to the sense of joy at your accomplishment. So if you have the opportunity to go ice climbing in the future, don't be apprehensive. It may be difficult to get used to, and it may be cold, but it sure is amazing once you reach the top.
About the Author
For more information please visit www.outdooradventuregear.net.
Most ice climbing sessions are planned out long in advance, and taken as a day-long tour. There are many different possibilities for climbing surfaces - basically, anything frozen and non-horizontal is fair game. Some of the most popular include frozen waterfalls, rock surfaces with frozen water flow, or even icebergs. Some of these are very dangerous, and should only be attempted by the most experienced of ice climbers or professionals.
Ice climbing is a little less accessible due to the fact that most of you won't be able to simply walk outside and find a giant wall of ice to climb. If you are going somewhere up North on vacation, you will definitely find a local ice climbing spot. Usually there are several well-known spots. If you have never climbed ice before, you should be with a guide or an expert as well as your friends.
Most rock climbing takes place in the mountains, since they provide the two necessary components: coldness and steepness. The Rocky Mountains are home to some of the most popular ice climbing areas, with difficulties ranging from beginner to expert. That area is your best bet in the USA, but ice climbing can be done in the Himalayas, the Alps and other mountain ranges all over the world, from Scotland to Nepal.
Safety equipment may seem like a drag, but it is necessary and can be the much needed life savior. Modern ice climbing equipment has been tweaked to the point where it is almost completely unnoticeable while you are climbing. This helps add to the illusion of danger, which is what makes the sport such a rush.
Depending on the surface, you may or may not use tools such as axes and picks. If you are new to the sport, you can start by simply climbing the ice as though it was a rock. Using gloves and stiff boots, you can search around for strategic hand or foot-holds. You will have to strategically plan your ascent so that you don't get stuck hanging from a handhold or you get stuck in a place from where you can't go up or come down.
Once you graduate to vertical climbs, your climb will take much longer. You will have to use your ice pick and axe to pull yourself up. You can bury your pick just a half of an inch into the ice, and that will provide enough strength for you to pull yourself up. You will also have to wear a special kind of footwear known as "crampons", which adds spikes to your boots. A swift kick into the ice wall, and you have a custom-made foothold.
Ice climbing can be a long and grueling experience. It requires plenty of physical exertion as you pull your body weight all the way up the side of the ice or glacial cliff. But when you reach the top, nothing can compare to the sense of joy at your accomplishment. So if you have the opportunity to go ice climbing in the future, don't be apprehensive. It may be difficult to get used to, and it may be cold, but it sure is amazing once you reach the top.
About the Author
For more information please visit www.outdooradventuregear.net.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
