Camping News

It’s going to be an exciting weekend in Calgary because two domes near McMahon Stadium will turn into an “extravaganza of fun for people who like to play outside”.

The event will feature 60 self-propelled outdoor activity retailers, outfitters and product brand exhibitors; family-friendly outdoor activity skills workshop, demonstrations and presentations; two climbing walls; cross country ski track complete with demonstration skis, boots and biathlon-mimicking laser shooting; the Outdoor Gear Swap where deal-seekers can check out more than a thousand new and used gear and clothing; and the annual Reel Rock Film Festival’s six climbing short films.

For more information about the Calgary Outdoor Expo and Festival and other events, go to CalgaryHerald.com

Apparently camping is quite popular in Qatar particularly in the Sealine Reserves and Khor al-Udaid with 2000 camps expected on these two areas this season. The camping season in Qatar starts from November 4 and ends on March 30.

A camping permit is required to camp in Qatar which can be obtained by coughing up QR 10,000, returnable when you’re done with camping. There are very strict regulations all aimed at preserving the environment.

Online registration will begin October 17. For more info go to Gulf Times.

City officials closed camping in the Tennessee River park several months ago in anticipation of a tourist attraction built in conjunction with the nearby Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and the adjoining convention center. The tourist attraction was to be part of the Retirement Systems of Alabama-bank rolled development project that included the construction of two Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses across the river in Colbert County. To date, there are no plans on the drawing board for a tourist attraction, though several ideas have been mentioned.

More at Times Daily

Campers at Sipsey Wilderness Area at Bankhead National Forest and wilderness areas in the Talladega National Forest will have to rely on their camp stoves for cooking until October 31 because of dry conditions. Camping grills are also not allowed.

Since cutbacks as a result of the slumping economy, the response to wildfires will be delayed because there are few employees from the state Forestry Commission to fight the fire.

For more info go to Times Daily

Lake D’Arbonne State Park is offering special events for a month to encourage families to come and enjoy the park.

Here’s the schedule of events:

Oct. 9 — Take-A-Kid Mountain Biking. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Kids should bring their own bike to ride. Special trails and games will be set-up and four new bikes will be given away. Also, the first 20 kids will receive a free helmet.

Oct. 15 — Square Dancing Party. The local square dance club will teach visitors how to dance. Starts at 7 p.m. at the pavilion located in the campground area.

Oct. 16 — Regional Dutch Oven Gathering. Come early and stay late. Learn to cook “dutch oven style.” Local bluegrass musicians will be entertaining. All bluegrass bands are welcome to come for a day of outdoor relaxation.

Oct. 16 — XMA Adventure Trail Run. Extreme Missionary Adventures support missions all over the world. A donation to this cause is the entry fee. A 5K and 10K Trail Run starts at 7 a.m. For more information, go to www.xmaonline.com.

Oct. 16th — Union Parish Humane Society Poker Run. This fundraiser poker run being held for the benefit of our four-legged friends, will conclude in the park at Pavilion IV. Refreshments will be available. For more information, or to make a donation to the humane society, contact Terri Pratt, 292-2705.

Oct. 23 — Costumes, Camping, Canoe-Kayaking. Set up tents on Saturday for overnight camp-out. Begins at 6 p.m. for a campfire meal. Afterwards put on costumes for a spooky moonlight kayak ride. For more information, go to www.darbonnekayak@gmail.com.

Oct. 30 — Archaeology Day in the Park. Special guest Dennis Jones from the Division of Archaeology and local “archaeological gurus”‘ Fred Stewart and James Harty, will help identify any archaeological objects belonging to visitors. Bring items to have identified. A special excavation site will be set up for the kids so that they may benefit from some ‘hands on’ archaeological experience.

Oct. 30 — Halloween Hayride. The park will holds its annual Trick or Treat Hayride in the Park starting at 6 p.m. Departs from the visitor center and circles through the campground and cabin area for trick or treating and returns to Pavilion III for spooky story telling. Dress in Halloween costume.

More information at The New Star

SUN is the international show dedicated to professionals in the outdoor sector which will be held this year in Italy at the Rimini Expo Centre on October 14-16.

SUN.LAB is designed as an open space for research and innovation which promotes new concepts and innovative designs in the field of outdoor furnishings.

Taking part in the event will be designers from around the world as well as students from European universities. Expect to see some of the most innovative designs at the event.

More info at Independent.co.uk and SUNGioSUN.it

Tourism experts in Australia predict that the traditional camping holiday will be replaced with one where the tents are pre-erected and supplied with more facilities than a normal hotel room.

I’ve never been to something like this but I think it’s a good idea. Not everyone likes setting up a tent, eating freeze-dried food and sleeping on a camping mat. Something like this will likely lure more people to camping and to experiencing nature.

Tourism Forecasting Committee chairman Bernard Salt said camping was no longer just a cheap holiday for people who couldn’t afford hotels, but had evolved to become a more luxury experience for people who had a deep appreciation of nature.

But if you look at it from another angle, I think too many people can mean trouble for nature. More people means more waste and more pollution and soon or later, the lush green backcountry can turn into a city, with people taking advantage of the booming industry, unless of course if it’s controlled by strict regulations.

Read more at The Australian

Dave Hess, outreach specialist of REI, Reno will give a program about cold weather camping from 6 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21. Cooler weather and shorter days should not prevent you from enjoying the Tahoe Basin during the winter months. Go with confidence knowing that you are prepared for all conditions. Join REI camping expert Dave Hess to discuss gear, clothing, personal comfort and safety considerations for your late season and winter adventures. Presentation is free at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center at 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, Nev. Please RSVP to programs@tahoerimtrail.org or 775-298-0012.

via North Lake Tahoe Bonanza

What Oprah does, people usually follow. At least most of her fans does, but what if Oprah goes camping? If Oprah is doing it, it must be a good thing right? Do I believe that a lot of people will start camping after Oprah? Not really, but I’m willing to bet that whatever camping gear she uses will be selling like hot cakes. She probably doesn’t even need to buy them. Outdoor companies would probably rush out to sponsor her. Rich people usually get stuff for free. It’s the poor ones that have to pay.

via Andpop.com

They’ve tried venturing the outdoor industry a couple of times before but now it looks like Adidas is serious about doing it right. I’m going to guess that they’re going to start with outdoor apparel because they’re essentially an apparel company but it’d be cool if they get into making tents next since the three stripes logo already looks like a tent.

Slingfin specializes in making high-end dome tents (at least so far) specifically for professional guides and serious users. Founded by designer/gearhead, Martin Zemitis and co-founder of Mountain Hardwear, Timothy Baka, the company is passionate about making the best-designed, highest quality outdoor gear the world has ever seen, unwilling to compromise in the name of monetary gain. These guys don’t even have a marketing department.

If that’s the case, I’m willing to do their marketing for them for free and I’m sure their fans will do the same simply because the world needs more of them.

Although the company is new, the people behind it has a lot of experience in the outdoor industry:

Martin Zemitis – Founder/VP/Designer/Gearhead. Widely known as one of the best tent designers in the business. 33-year industry veteran and gear guru developed award-winning products for other well-known industry leaders. Co-founder of Mountain Hardwear. Now, he’s got his very own sandbox. Two SlingFin patents and more to come.
Timothy Baka – Founder/President. Co-founder and “numbers guy” behind Mountain Hardwear. Past lives include investment banker and number cruncher. Lost the suit to start China-based sourcing and production business specializing in organic cotton. Likes to stick his fingers in the marketing pie.
Jonathan Buck – Creative Director/Designer. Makes us look good. A great eye for design and photography. And check this out – he actually uses AND designs gear. Co-author of our ExoPak ™ patent. In charge of SlingFin’s look out of the blocks.
Devin Swisher – Graphic Artist/Design Consultant. Made Mountain Hardwear look good for a decade. Artist extraordinaire. Idea man. Master of design and things Internet.
Phil Scott – Legendary Designer/Production Guru. Outdoor industry man since the 1960’s. Never met a computer CAD system he couldn’t beat. Never met a marketing person he liked – reason why SlingFin has no “marketing department.”
Robert Link – Professional Mountaineer/Design Advisor – Robert hast been kicking ass and taking names on many of the world’s highest peaks. Putting our ideas to work is his nugget. The design feedback loop from him is one reason we make the best gear ever.
Lhawang Dhondup – Professional Mountaineer/Design Advisor – 30+ Himalayan expeditions under his belt. Climbing partner of Robert Link. Also kicks the shit out of our gear to make sure it works.

The bear that killed one and injured two other in a story published yesterday was captured by wildlife officials after it was lured into a trap “fashioned from culvert pipe and pieces of the dead man’s tent.”

The trap first attracted the female bear’s cubs instead. 2 of the 3 cubs were left in the cage while the other kept making loud calls through much of the day. The mother bear was eventually captured when it returned back to the sow.

The bear’s behavior was said to be unusual because it specifically targeted the three victims and went after them. Experts believe it was not the actions of a bear trying to protect its young especially since the victims were in three separate tents in different locations. Tent or sleeping bag fibers were found in the bear’s droppings.

Many in Cooke City who heard the news of the bear attack started carrying bear sprays. A couple had a bear spray within reach in their BMW convertible as they were driving through the park.

If the bear is confirmed to be the killer, it will have to be be put to the death. Officials have yet to decide the fate of the cubs.

A bear (or multiple bears – officials are still not sure) attacked two separate campgrounds near Yellowstone National Park leaving one dead and two injured. One of the victims, a woman, was smart enough to play dead and was left alone. Unfortunately, the woman didn’t do it soon enough and suffered severe lacerations and crushed bones from bites on her arms. The other survivor, a man, was bitten on his calf.

The CSI of bears have taken some samples of bear hair to their lab to determine the sex and species of the aggressive bear. If Henry Ostrander was there no one would be hurt.

Read the full story.

Meanwhile, celebrity wildlife educator Jack Hanna shared a story on CBS about his encounter with a female bear and her cubs on a narrow trail returning from Grinnel Glacier.

Hanna advocates the use of bear sprays over firearms in a public service announcement for the National Park Service.

The Boy Scouts of America celebrated their 100th anniversary on 26th July 2010. Here’s an interesting timeline from DallasNews.com

1910: Boy Scouts of America is incorporated in Washington, D.C.

1911: BSA publishes first edition of Boys’ Life magazine.

1918: Scout troops help public-health officials fight Spanish influenza epidemic.

1920: First World Scout Jamboree is held.

1930: BSA launches Cub Scout program for younger children.

1941-45: BSA aids the U.S. effort in World War II by distributing war bonds, salvaging and recycling critical materials such as rubber and assisting firefighting brigades.

1950: U.S. Post Office issues first stamp honoring Boy Scouts of America.

1960: BSA membership soars as more baby-boom children become Scout age.

1967: BSA changes Cub Scout “den mother” position to “den leader” to make room for men.

1979: BSA National Council, the organization’s corporate office, moves to Irving, Texas.

1980: Fashion designer Oscar de la Renta creates a new Boy Scout uniform.

1982: Number of Eagle Scouts hits 1 million.

2000: U.S. Supreme Court rules that BSA can bar gays from Scouting.

2010: BSA celebrates 100th anniversary.

http://scouting.org/100years/100years/Default.aspx

The things you do for your goat.

Henry Ostrander is not a professional boxer but when a bear attacked his goat in the middle of the night he did what most boxers would probably never dare do. The goat was screaming on the when the 66-year old historian at the Kit Carson Museum unleashed a left hook right on the nose.

Luckily, the goat survived the ordeal but the bear was not as fortunate. The bear died not because of Ostrander’s punch but because it was shot dead by the ranch manager of Philmont Scout Ranch.

He should’ve let the bear live so that it can warn other bears.

Full story here.

Good news for those who want to camp but have no idea where to start. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a new program geared towards parents and kids who have little or no experience camping in the outdoors.

The “I Can Camp!” workshop teaches everything from setting up a tent to using a camp stove so that first time campers have the basic skills to spend the night at camp with some guidance.

The program had some success in 2009 and is offering 38 workshops in 35 locations this summer at a fairly reasonable price.

Learn more about the I Can Camp! program.

Nicholas Justin Nowers, 20, no address, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass of a non-dwelling and camping in the park.

Brenda Sue Martin, 48, no address, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass of a non-dwelling, camping in the park, failing to stop for an officer, two counts of interfering with an arrest and assaulting a police officer.

Both were booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility. According to Public Information Officer James Schafer their main concern was that these guys are a nuisance for families trying to enjoy the park. But the couple was found sleeping in separate restrooms shortly after midnight. The only family that might enjoy the park is the Adams family.

There must be a better solution than putting them in jail.

Debts to the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) have forced the Alachua County Fair Association to close down their campsite in the past as the county government wouldn’t approve the application to use the fairgrounds for camping until a repayment plan is set up and agreed for the GRU debt.

Fortunately, the GRU have agreed on a debt payment in which the fair association will pay a percentage of its gross income to the GRU from campsite rentals. Fourty-five percent of the first $15,000 in gate receipts, fifty percent of any income above $15,000 and up to $30,000 and thirty-five percent of the gate receipts above $35,000 will go to the GRU.

Eventually, the non-profit organization will be able to pay more $44,000 in utility bills owed and also debts owed to individuals and businesses who showed cattle at the fair held the previous year.

http://www.alachuacountyfair.org/

The Backwoods Dash is a three-day non-profit indie music and camping festival set on Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30 on Keystone Lake at Walnut Creek State Park in Prue. This is the event that will kick-start the outdoor music festival season.

Below is the lineup for the three-day event:

Friday (May 28) 12:30 a.m.: Digital Graffiti (Tulsa) late-night set with light show 11:10 p.m.: Paul Benjaman Band (Tulsa) 10 p.m.: Rock Bottom Ramblers (OKC) 9 p.m.: Dante and the Hawks (Broken Arrow) 8 p.m.: HipHopotamus (Tulsa) 7 p.m.: Roger Jaeger (Tulsa)

6 p.m.: Duende (Tulsa)

Saturday (May 29) 12:30 a.m.: The Moai Broadcast (Tulsa) late-night set with light show 10 p.m.: Red Dirt Rangers (Glencoe) 8:20 p.m.: Eleven Fingered Charlie (Austin, Texas) 7 p.m.: Sam and the Stylees (Tulsa) 6 p.m.: The Jeremy Miller Band (Austin, Texas) 5 p.m.: Steve Liddell (Tulsa) 4 p.m.: Whirligig (Tulsa) 3 p.m.: Parallel Play (Dallas) 2 p.m.: Joel Wade (Tulsa) 1 p.m.: Pillo Talk (Broken Arrow) 12 p.m.: Kayla Fitzgerald Jacobs (Wichita, Kansas)

Sunday (May 30)

12:30 a.m.: Ghosts (Tulsa) late-night set with light show 11 p.m.: Flatland Travelers (Stillwater) 9:30 p.m.: Cody Clinton & The Bishops (Tulsa) 8 p.m.: Project Huckleberry (Tulsa) 7 p.m.: Go Action Team (Austin, Texas) 6 p.m.: Ray Bridgemay (Cabot, Ark.) 5 p.m.: The Move Trio (Tulsa) 4 p.m.: The Televised (Tulsa) 3 p.m.: Joe Mack (Tahlequah) 2 p.m.: Michael Gibson (Austin, Texas) 1 p.m.: Will Porter (Marietta)

11 a.m.: Veterans Memorial Service

Read more about this story at Tulsa World. Some tips on getting the best spot for camping for this type of event. For more information about Backwoods Dash, go here.

Getting a permit to backpack overnight at the Grand Canyon is not easy. Half of the applications are denied. Lining up in person on the day when the permits become available does guarantee acceptance even if you’ve come a long way. In fact, if you’re not a local, your chances of getting a permit are quite low.

At least, that’s how it will stay until February 2010 when locals will no longer have priority. This is not good news for some of the locals.

Dunno Munson has been feeding bears from her porch for 10 years and this is what she gets.

As it is written, the state law allows persons with valid handgun carry permits to possess handguns in all parks, natural areas, campgrounds and similar public places. Local governments wishing to keep guns out of their parks have until Sept. 1 to opt out.

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