I have wandered the wilderness for as long as memory serves. It is a place of great mystery and wonderment. This Blog will help me to share some of the many lessons I have learned while wandering and paddling the forests and lakes I call home.
Setting up camp is full of expectations and excitement, the days ahead show promise of adventure and freedom.
When it's time to strike camp - thoughts of unpacking your gear once you arrive home fills your head with thoughts which are not conducive to making you smile.
A wet tent is a problem because you can't leave it packed. Mold and mildew will ruin the shelter and stink up your camp closet. You must set the tent up upon arriving home and wait until it dries out.
A simple way to preclude this extra step is to dry the tent out at camp before packing it away. If the campsite has bushes, simply place the tent on top of the them and let the air dry the shelter out.
It's fast, efficient and beautifully simple. The entire tent will be ready to bag and put away until your next adventure.
P.S.
Make sure the bushes are the gentle type and not full of thorns. Of course, this method doesn't work if it is raining. 😉
Long ago, I remember camping with the Scouts in massive canvas tents that housed at least eight people. How the scouters managed to get those tents to site is beyond my memory, but I do know that setting them up was a task which took the concerted effort of the entire troop. Once erected, we stuffed all of our gear into them and claimed dirt space. I always picked the back of the tent for my bedroll. The reason for me choosing that area was simply because raids by other troops were the norm. When the interlopers came through the door, I simply rolled out from under the sidewall and was free of the mayhem ensuing inside the canvas walls. This enabled my buddies and I to take on the would be raiders face to face. Animals would venture under the sidewalls and make incursions into our shelter, making off with all kinds of gear which they stowed away in the surrounding forest. I truly do wish those days never ended. But time moves past our canoes and slips away in the boats wake. Modern tents are perfect for camping, provided that you choose the tent which suits your needs. Mesh doors and walls preclude the tiniest of insects from entering the shelter. Advanced ventilation keeps the occupants dry and comfortable. A tripping tent is lightweight and compacts into a very small space saving precious room for other camping necessities within your pack.
Choosing a tent can be a confusing task. It is my hope that this video helps you navigate the confusion and pick a tent that will suit your needs for many years to come.
Living outdoors is a perfect way to reconnect to the world around you. Every sense in your body is awakened as you immerse yourself in the subtle lessons the forest and trail offer your questing mind. Weather becomes a reality which can't be ignored by closing a door and reclining in a climate controlled environment. You are forced to deal with rain and temperature variations which in turn teach you lessons about your own resilience. Biting insects are a fact of the trail. They are an essential part of the ecosystem through which you paddle your canoe and portage your gear. As you set camp, they can swarm you in numbers too vast to count and can cause major physical discomfort, which in turn, can taint your love of the outdoors. There are ways to mitigate the havoc these pesky little creatures create. Setting your camp up in an area where wind can infiltrate is one such method. Some people are not too adversely affected by insects, others are a meal ticket and draw the little devils in like magnets. One thing is for certain, you must have a game plan in place in order to withstand the clouds of winged vampires; if you want to keep your sanity while traversing the trails. The only time when you will be bug free is when the temperature drops to single digits. This video shows some methods which have served me very well over my many years in the forest.
Every time I wander into the bush, I always remind myself that I too am part of the system. A few donations to the flying blood bank is well worth it.
The tipi is one of the best portable lodges ever conceived. The design allows for a fire to be set within the shelter without the fear of asphyxiation from smoke inhalation. The smoke flaps are totally adjustable allowing for wind to flow across the extended wings, this in turn creates a suction effect which draws air in from the base of the lodge. Smoke from the fire is literally pulled out of the interior keeping the occupants comfortable and safe.
An experienced person can have the lodge set up and a fire going within twenty minutes. The conical design sheds snow and rain exceedingly well - all the while keeping the interior dry even with the smoke flaps open. I have had this cover for well over twenty years and it is still serviceable. It has withstood high winds, deep snow and torrential rains and it still keeps me dry and warm. My sled dogs and I spent many hours within the warm comfort of this lodge and their spirits still mingle with the smoke from the fire.
Much of my book, "A Long Paddle Home" was written within the lodge while the wilderness played it's symphony and firelight danced on the canvas walls.
When your mind struggles for clarity and your body is filled with anxiety, settle into the comfort of a tent and you will find much needed solace. If that tent happens to be a tipi, you will discover that no amount of effort is required for you to relax, the lodge does the work for you.
The poles connect the earth to the sky, and the fire completes the circle. Energy is channeled straight into the lodge and your ancient soul will respond.
To some, the owl is a harbinger of bad news. If a person should encounter one of these winged predators during the course of their day or night, bad luck will surely follow. The only time that portent could be possibly relevant is if a person should suddenly find themselves transformed into a rodent, bird or rabbit. With acute senses, these birds of prey hunt with unrivaled accuracy. Their eyes are capable of capturing enough light that even though you literally can't see the hand in front of your face, they can see the buttons on your shirt. Their ears are situated on their head in such a way that the roundness of their face acts as a sonic dish allowing them to hear the slightest of rustlings on the forest floor. The wing tips of an owl are softened allowing them to fly soundlessly. As their wings push the air downwards while in flight, their wing tips lift and dump the captured air in such a way that no sound of their flight can be intercepted by their prey. I have had many encounters with owls. On one occasion, a barred owl swooped down and took the hat off of a fellow paddler while we were traversing a small pond. I may have incited the owl to do this by mimicking the owls territorial call. The winged predator decided to show us who was in charge. The reaction of my friend dumped us into the shallow water and after the shock wore off we laughed until our sides hurt. I am sure the owl watched the entire show.
Laying within your tent, your head cushioned by a pack or pillow and your eyes scanning the nylon walls which seem illuminated by the darkness of the forest night. Your ears will reach out instinctively and scan the forest for sound. If you are lucky, you will hear an owl call out into the night. A soft sound which echoes through the forest and resonates off cliffs and trees. It will enter your consciousness and instantly propel you into the primitive world to which we once belonged. Call back as best you can, you may be answered. This time the owl will answer from very close by indeed, for this bird is territorial and will investigate even the worst of imitations of it's call.
