Featured Guest Article:

Campers are Being Reminded of Hidden Dangers…in their Firewood

Article written by: Sarah Stovall

Now that winter is over, and summer is approaching, outdoor enthusiasts are gearing up for a new camping season. Reservations are being made, RVs are coming out of storage and people are looking for a REI coupon to clip for that must have piece of gear they need.

But there is another activity that actually poses a hazard to the forests and camping areas so many Americans love.

Firewood has been cut and is being seasoned. Some campers will haul it to their favorite destination where it will transform hot dogs to dinner and marshmallows into a gooey campground necessity.

The problem is that firewood can carry microscopic invasive species that threaten native trees. Invasive species councils in the Pacific Northwest were at the forefront of the warnings, suggesting campers only buy firewood that is cut in the same county or region where it will be burned. The general rule of thumb is to not transport untreated wood more than 50 miles.

The Maine Forest Service began offering warnings in 2009. The spread of the Asian longhorned beetle is particularly troublesome, as an infestation could wipe out their maple sugar and tourism industries.

The bugs will spread on their own, but typically just a few miles a year if left alone. Transporting firewood can expedite the spread of the harmful bugs, potentially damaging forests for hundreds of miles. Wood-boring pests, such as the emerald ash borer, European gypsy moth and the aforementioned Asian longhorned beetle, have destroyed millions of trees in the Midwest and Eastern states. Entire forests of hemlock, chestnut, elm and ash trees have been devastated by invasive pests.

The Nature Conservancy states one in 20 Americans aren’t following the guidelines. They also point out that the guidelines are actually laws in certain jurisdictions. They are promoting the following tips to ensure safe, clean firewood is being burnt:

·       When driving to a campsite more than 50 miles away, call the State or Federal Park or forests nearest the site and ask if they know of local distributors.

·       Search the yellow pages for a local dealer.

·       Ask the firewood dealer where the wood was cut — if it isn’t within 50 miles, or if it is from outside the county, find another source.

·       Leave locally purchased wood at the campsite for the next campers when you leave.

·       Be aware of state and county firewood regulations before you go. Some states don’t allow you to bring firewood across their borders, and many counties restrict firewood movement out of the area.

It is important to remember that wood isn’t safe just because it is seasoned. Only kiln-dried wood can eradicate insect eggs and microscopic fungal spores.

Those who are in possession of firewood that has traveled more than 50 miles are being encouraged to burn it as soon as possible. The storage area needs to be thoroughly cleaned and the debris should be burned as well.

It’s a simple step, but an important one. When it comes to firewood: Buy locally and think globally.

Author Bio:  Sarah Stovall loves taking her dog, Ralph, on long hikes through the local state park.

The SteriPEN Journey Safe Water System – This product is SteriPEN’s complete package with everything you need to get started to stay hydrated on a multi-day hike or take camping for a personal water purifier, take when traveling or even use in an emergency when clean drinking water isn’t available.

The technology behind the SteriPEN Journey is quite interesting. SteriPEN products use ultraviolet (UV) light technology to purify water, destroying more than 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses and protozoan cysts such as giardia and cryptosporidia. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an effective disinfectant. The SteriPen Journey emits a light that is absorbed by the cells of the microbe, preventing cell enzymes from reading its DNA. Without DNA, microbes can’t reproduce to make you sick. This process will destroy 99.9% of harmful microorganisms.

The nice thing about using the SteriPEN is the ultraviolet (UV) light will not alter the taste, PH, or other properties of the water. It is safe and effective to use and it works without adding chemicals to the water.

The SteriPEN Journey Safe Water System comes with the SteriPEN FitsAll Filter, BPA-Free 1L Nalgene bottle, customized neoprene carrying case and 2 disposable CR123 batteries.

Why do we Need Tent Camping Tips?

What is most important to me is keeping my family safe while tent camping and through tent camping tips we can share knowledge and experience with each other to help keep our family, friends and ourselves safe while camping. Here are some safety tips and some camping tips too, that will help your camping trip to be a safe and an enjoyable outdoor experience.

• Always check the weather forecast for the area your camping in.
• Tell someone where you will be and when you plan to return.
• Give yourself enough daylight time to set up camp and check out your immediate area.
• With family camping you always want to give yourself enough room for family and gear, for a family of 4 – bring a tent that sleeps 6 to 8, you won’t regret it.
• Don’t set up your tent in lower terrains and if  you don’t have a choice, dig a 3 to 4 inch trench around your tent for rain run off if there is rain in the forecast (It is always a good idea to keep an eye on the sky for weather changes).
• Don’t set your tent up in the middle of a worn path, this could a deer, elk, etc. path that is traveled at night by them and your tent could be trampled as well as the people inside.
• Set up your tent well away from a campfire, floating sparks can quickly catch a tent on fire.
• Never leave a campfire unattended, this also applies to your camp stove.
• Bring your camping first aid kit, always check and replace missing items, also check expiration dates of any medications.
• Bring proper clothing, in some areas the temperature can drop drastically at night. Plan for the terrain your camping in…do you need hiking boots or is tennis shoes more appropriate.
• Bring cots or air mattresses, the ground even inside a tent is hard and cold and lack of sleep will put a real damper on a camping trip.
• Store matches in waterproof container or bring a storm proof lighter.
• Bring flashlights and extra batteries.
• Bring camping tools such as shovel, rake, leatherman multi tool, foldable saw, axe, etc.
• Make your first nights meal simple, whether it is pre-cooked from home or maybe sandwiches.
• Block ice lasts longer than in a cooler than ice cubes, frozen milk jugs work great too.
• Don’t leave food out, latch coolers when not using so not to attract wild animals.
• Do not feed wild animals.
• Don’t store food inside your tent.
• For heaven sakes don’t forget the can opener, I am not going to tell you how many times I forgot that one : – )

We have other tent camping tips that might be helpful to you, check them out too! You are welcome to share with us you camping or safety tips that you have learned through knowledge and experience.

Happy and Safe Camping!

A lot of us have heard about using guy-lines but, aren’t really sure how to use them or the best way to place them to be effective. Protect your tent from high winds and storms by following some simple guidelines. I personally like the guidelines and illustrations presented by Eureka Tents, these are the guidelines I follow and I would like to share them with you.

When high winds or storms are predicted, do not count on staking alone to keep your tent secure. Depending on the model, your tent rainfly has built-in loops or rings at optimal guyout locations. It’s important to put in the extra time guying out your tent. Correctly done, it can save your tent during harsh weather.

1. Attach parachute cord to the loop/rings and stake them in the ground three or four feet from the edge of the tent. If staked too close to the tent, wind can cause an upward pull that could dislodge the tent stakes.
2. Make sure that the top rainfly is securely attached to the framework underneath. Ties, hook and loop closures, or dog-bones and elastic loops are typical fasteners sewn to the underside of the fly for this purpose.

If your tent does not have loops or rings for guy outs, attach guy lines 1/3 or 1/2 of the way up the framework on the main sidewalls. This enables the guy line to support the lower section of the pole, while the upper pole can flex the side of the guyout. This will prevent all movement except toward the anchor. The idea is to get the guy lines to work together through opposition. See illustrations below: