"Where Reality is Natural"

Camping Tips for those frost covered mornings!

A frosty peak out the tent.  Steam is rising off the river.  Got that fire started yet?  Where's my coffee?

Camping Tip, a paper bag breakfast...

Ever try a paper bag breakfast, literally?  Take a lunch sack. (brown paper, like the one you took to school when you were a kid)  Add bacon in the bottom as a layer, then crack open two eggs and pour them over the bacon.  Top off with two fluffy type raw biscuits. Add your spices!  Roll the top of the bag leaving some air space.  With your camp fire, pull hot coals only from the base of the fire, and make a bed of them.  With rocks and green sticks (river bamboo works excellent), make your grill, then set the paper bags on the grill.  Cook slow and when ready, peel the paper back and enjoy a real camp fire breakfast!  "Breakfast in a bag, campfire style!"  Impress your friends!  Write and tell us how yours turned out!  Credit for this camping tip goes out to Justin Frazier!  Thank You Justin!  Dog companion credit, Yukon Red, Golden retriever. 

Camping Tip, what to wear, paddling in cool weather...

Recreational Paddling and Camping in cool weather?  No problem!  There are three things to keep in mind.  Wool, Fleece, and Polypropylene.  Polypro is excellent in long underwear.  Fleece is excellent in heavy shirts, ultra durable, (carry dirty fire wood and brush it off!)  Old fleece looks new, no matter how it is treated!  Wool is excellent for socks, among many of these variations.  Why are these so desirable in cold weather?  They do not absorb moisture from sweat, snow, rain, and also dry quickly.  They have wicking qualities, that bring the moisture away from the skin surface.  The materials that are sheltering are; Gortex, nylon, and acrylic, for items like shoes, outer pants, and outer jackets.  The material to avoid is cotton!

Camping Tip, bugs like yellow?

"Leave your yellow home!"  We have seen yellow shirts just covered with bugs!  In an ideal situation with certain bugs, we have seen the color yellow attracts insects!  Large solid colors are also noted for spooking wildlife easier anyway, so camouflage works best to blend in that environment if you want to "fit in".  Camouflage also doesn't show dirt as bad either, and makes that "dirty butt" not look so obvious...

Camping Tip, fire starting with cotton balls and vaseline...

Use cotton balls and Vaseline for fire starter!  Swab three or four cotton balls in the Vaseline, then put them in the base of the firewood to be burned.  Light with a match and watch that fire start quick!  Exercise Caution, it is flammable. Clean your hands before lighting, don't be messy and be careful!

Hiking Tip, layer up your clothes!

Be comfortable in any weather changes throughout your hiking day.  "Layer up" the clothes for adjusting temperature, no "one thing" too heavy!  Hood with a string tie works best, keeping ears, head and neck warm.  Wool socks, with gortex or waterproof boots for hiking.  Add good hiking gloves, and "bring that cold on"!  Peel the layers as the sun comes out, slip that hood off like a convertible top, sunglasses to protect the eyes, sure, we hike in the winter!

Recreational Paddling Tip, layer up for paddling too!

Be comfortable in any weather changes throughout your recreational paddling day.  Also "Layer up" the clothes for adjusting temperature, no "one thing" too heavy!  Fleece helmet liner works best, with your helmet, brim hat, or cap, keeping ears and head warm.  Hooded fleece works for recreational boating too.  Wool socks, with neoprene boots for for the feet. Paddling jacket for keeping arms and body dry, also with fleece jacket and silk or polyporo underwear.  Paddling pants keep legs dry and fleece pants act like a good insulation liner.  Nylon shell pants work good and are not as expensive as paddling pants.  Add good neoprene or goretex paddling gloves, and "bring that cold on"!  Peel the layers as the sun comes out, sunglasses to protect the eyes, we paddle in the winter!