T is for Tents vs Tarps

In my previous post about my first backpacking trip, I shared that I took a 3-person tent for shelter.  Basically, it was a Target-brand version of the standard Coleman 3-person tent.

My 3-person tent, packed and loaded at the top of my backpack

The same tent, (almost) set up

Can you imagine carrying that thing for several miles over several days?  Since that time, I've experimented with several shelter options in my quest to decrease weight and bulk for backpacking trips.  I was also fortunate that Doc, my backpacking partner in Arizona, was on the same quest.  It comes down to two basic types of shelters:  tents and tarps.

Tents vary considerably in shape, weight, and amenities.  In fact, that same 3-person tent I took on my first trip could be a decent option if split amongst multiple people, for instance with one person carrying the tent, a second carrying the poles, and the third carrying the fly and stakes.  3-person tents are really only meant for 3 people doing nothing but sleeping, however, so packs would have to stay outside.  If divided among 2 people, packs could fit inside, but each person would (obviously) just have to carry more.

Three-season backpacking tents have also become very popular.  Most are mummy-shaped to match your sleeping bag and pad and include a fly that reaches all the way to the ground to provide a covered area for your pack outside the tent-proper.  Because they're engineered to maximize durability while minimizing weight, though, they tend to be quite expensive.  Most run on the order of $200.  That said, I found a great deal on the No Limits Kings Peak II 2-person backpacking tent at Academy Sports a few years ago for $70 (pictured below; click here to view online).  I've been extremely happy with this one, but I use it as a one-person tent.

Academy's No Limits Kings Peak II, shown with the fly on and closed

Shown with the fly and side door unzipped

Shown packed alongside hammer to depict size (don't take the hammer backpacking! :)

Backpacking tents still tend to be heavy.  My Kings Peak II weighs in at 5+ pounds.  Even if you're willing to pay more, the payoff in weight loss is usually no more than a little over a pound.  To take off more weight and get a tent that weighs only 2-3 pounds, be prepared to shell out $300-$400.

Another option that is very popular among backpackers today is a tarp.  They come in all shapes and configurations, but the flat tarp (in my opinion) is the best because it's the most versatile.  The number of configurations you can set it up in is almost limitless (SGT Rock's website gives several common configurations).  Tarps are also light -- much lighter than tents in most cases!  This is primarily because you only have the weight of the tarp material and guylines since any support needed can be provided by trekking poles, a stick you find around the campsite, or by tying the tarp off to trees.  I have a Bear Paw Wilderness Designs 8x10 Sil-Nylon Flat Tarp, and it weighs less than a pound (not including stakes).

One potential drawback to tarps is that most tarp pitches leave at least one opening to the outside world (i.e., you're not completely enclosed).  I haven't had a lot of exposure to camping in wet weather, but I'm told that if you pitch and orient your tarp correctly, you can stay just as warm and dry as you can in a tent.  While I believe this to be largely correct, realize that you don't always have the luxury of those choices at your campsite, especially if you're camping with several people.  Additionally, because in the desert I was afraid of a snake or scorpion snuggling up next to me in the middle of the night, I bought a bug net to go with my tarp.  It's a fully enclosed "mini-tent" made out of bug net material, so it's very light.  The tarp and the bug net together weigh about two pounds.

My tarp, shown with the bug net

My tarp in the foreground.  Doc's TarpTent is in the back left behind the REI 3-person tent

While, just with most backpacking gear, you can cut weight and bulk with more money, tarps don't have to be expensive.  On my second backpacking trip, I went with a group of scouts that preferred to sleep under the stars, so I took an 8x10 tarp just like you can buy at Wal-Mart or Lowe's.  Unfortunately, it was raining.  Lacking experience on tarp setup, I literally wrapped up in the tarp like a burrito.  It wasn't pretty, but I stayed warm and dry.

If tents seem too heavy, but tarps seem just a little too primitive for you, some companies make hybrid products.  They are as light as tarps, but they set up more like tents.  My hiking partner, Doc, used a couple of different products, including the TarpTent ProTrail.  It really is the best of both worlds.  (In the picture above, Doc's TarpTent is in the back left of the photo.)  The only downsides are that it's a little expensive ($225) and, like tents, they're really one-trick ponies.  In other words, you only get one type of pitch, so if you find a campsite that doesn't fit that optimally, you're stuck.

As an aside, many backpackers are now opting for hammocks both out of comfort and to minimize the environmental impact of covering the ground.  I'm intrigued by this new trend but as yet have no experience with it.  My initial research, however, shows that a backpacking hammock system weighs on the order of 3-4 pounds when accounting for an underquilt to provide warmth and a tarp and bug net to protect you from the elements.  All that gear will also set you back $300-$500.  Many that have tried it say the better night's sleep is well worth the trade-off, though.

Ultimately, the choice you make comes down to a few factors:  First and foremost your comfort and expertise.  If you can't imagine sleeping under a tarp open to the elements or aren't familiar with setting up a tarp, the extra weight of a tent might be worth it.  Additionally, if I expected a strong chance of snow or rain, I might opt for the tent instead of the tarp so I didn't have to worry about the possibility of ruining a good night's sleep and possibly dealing with wet gear the next day.  Practice and experience can mitigate many of those fears and inadequacies, though.  Practice setting up the tarp in your backyard will make the setup go smoother.  And experimenting on a night with bad weather has low risk as well since you can come inside at any time.  Personally, I like the flexibility my tarp provides and the weight it saves.  I would pack a tarp on 90-95% of the backpacking trips I go on, knowing I could be reasonably well protected on a night with unexpected wind and rain.

Capulin Volcano NM

Ever wondered what it would be like to go down inside a volcano but figured it wasn't possible for mere mortals?  Well, actually, there is!  Capulin Volcano National Monument in northeast New Mexico is an extinct cinder cone volcano that has not been active for thousands of years (likely the time of the Flood).

Unlike many, this volcano is also very accessible. A road travels all the way to the top, and then there are paved trails both going around the rim as well as down into the caldera all the way down to the vent.

View from the Rim Looking Down into the Caldera

View from the Vent Looking Up Toward the Rim

The view down onto the plain from the top is stunning.  Many of the peaks in the area are a result of the same hotspot that created Capulin Volcano.

On the day we visited, there was also a herd of mule deer inside the caldera.  They continually bounded back and forth across the caldera, trying to stay out of our way.  After getting a close-up view of a couple of them, though, I'm not sure why they were afraid of us.  Each of them are about twice our size!

Although in a remote location (about an hour off of I-25 just south of the NM-CO border), this is a very worthwhile trip for the experience of walking down into the caldera of a volcano.  It's also a quick trip. We felt quite fulfilled after only about an hour, although I could have watched the deer all day!

S is for State Parks

By now, you all know my love for National Park sites.  They have some of the best experiences our country has to offer in the way of beauty, history, and recreation.  But when it comes to camping, state parks may be better.  We have found just as beautiful scenery in many of the state parks we have visited and have found the campgrounds nicer on the whole.  Many (but not nearly all) have running water, to include sinks to wash dishes and showers to freshen up.  This week, I wanted to share highlights from a few of my favorites.

Assateague, MD:
At this park, you can camp right on the beach of a barrier island off Maryland's eastern shore.  Beyond the obvious attraction of the beach, wildlife abounds in the way of wild horses and deer.  On the back side of Assateague Island is the Chesapeake Bay, so there are also opportunities for canoeing/kayaking or crabbing.  There are a few hiking trails to explore some of the more undisturbed parts of the island, but bring plenty of bug spray.  Mosquitoes abound away from the beach!  As far as camping amenities, Assateague State Park has sinks, flush toilets, and showers.

Patapsco Valley, MD:
This park follows the Patapsco River for 32 miles and is broken into several different areas.  We hiked on one of the many trails, waded in the river, walked across the suspension bridge, and played on the playground.  There is also canoeing available along the river and the world's longest arched stone railroad bridge within the park.  Camping amenities include hot showers and running water.

Rifle Falls, CO:
This little gem is off the beaten path a little ways in western Colorado but is well worth it for an overnight!  The park itself is small but it has a beautiful triple waterfall that will captivate attention for hours and limestone caves to explore.  Camping here is primitive with no running water, but there are restrooms.

Sinks Canyon, WY:
Located in western Wyoming, this park was recently listed by REI as one of the best state parks in the nation to camp at.  After staying there, I have to agree!  The scenery is absolutely gorgeous!  That said, it might be light on activities, but if relaxation is your thing, check it out.  We went with friends for a weekend and found plenty to do for 2.5 days, though.  The park is so named because the Popo Agie River "sinks" underground, traveling for a couple of miles before reappearing downstream.  You can walk right up to this geologic oddity at the entrance to the park.  You can also hike to the Popo Agie Falls, about a mile and a half upstream, where the Popo Agie River tumbles over the edge of a granite gorge in a series of cascades.  Camping here is primitive as well with only vault toilets but the campsites sit right beside the river providing beautiful sights and sounds as you relax.

R is for Route 66

On the same trip we stopped at the Petrified Forest, we took a journey (literally) down the road of Americana on America's Highway:  Route 66.  Back before the days of interstates criss-crossing the nation, our highways still went through every city, town, and settlement.  Out west, where there were miles and miles between towns, entrepreneurs set up lavish wayside stands -- souvenir stands, diners, and motels -- to attract people to stop.  In turn, with many people heading west, they were fascinated with the land and were only too happy to take in the sites and purchase souvenirs along the way.  This highway from middle America to southern California thus became the legendary Route 66.

With Interstate 40 as the primary east-west artery through the middle of the country, much of the physical roadway that once was Route 66 has been torn up.  Such is the case for the preserved Route 66 roadbed within Petrified Forest National Park.

Historic Route 66 Roadbed at Petrified Forest National Park.  The telephone poles are original.

In some cases, part of the road may still exist, but just like Radiator Springs of Cars fame, the towns have either dried up or become mere shadows of their former glory days.  Sanders, AZ and the Twin Arrows gas station and gift shop are great examples

The Sanders Diner, once a popular stop along Route 66.  The actual Route 66 road no longer exists here.

The Claymine Road Bridge in Sanders, a part of old Route 66.  The bridge still stands, but there is no road on either side.

Twin Arrows, AZ.  The flashy arrows, gas pumps, and the trading post structure still stand, but it has long been abandoned.

In a few places (generally right off the interstate), the trading posts are still there, struggling to cling to an era that has passed them by.  It doesn't take much imagination, though, to conjure up an image of what this bustling roadside stand must have been like in its heyday.

Route 66 trading post at Lupton, AZ

In still other communities, such as Winslow, Holbrook, Williams, and Kingman, the legend lives on.  These communities, while not bustling metropolises, still attract large crowds of tourists each year with the small-town feel, their diners, neon lights, and architectural oddities, hearkening back to the days of fancy-free trips on the open road through the romance of the wild west.

Standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona...

The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ, the inspiration for the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars.  We spent the night here!

Route 66 Diner in Kingman, AZ

And in still other areas, the same roadside America oddity that captured attention back in the day can still be seen along the highway today.

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX

My kids still don't completely understand why I drag them on some of my crazy adventures.  But I think it's important not only to appreciate the landscape in the beauty of creation but to also appreciate our historical and cultural heritage -- what it is about us that made us America.

Q is for Quick Backpacking/Picnic Meals

It's almost backpacking season, so it's time to start doing some planning, to include meal prep.  Gone are my days of settling for Slim Jims, crackers and Pop Tarts for breakfast and lunch.  We do still opt for quick meals for breakfast and lunch, but we now significantly boost the quality.  I've provided some of our favorites below.  Note that these can also be used for picnicking as well if you don't like stopping at restaurants while traveling or if you just like to mix it up a bit.  Unfortunately, I don't have very many pictures for this post, so you'll need to use your imagination a bit.

Breakfast

Oatmeal:  Pick up some some instant oatmeal packets.  I recommend two packets per person for backpacking since you burn calories much more quickly on the trail.  If you want to bulk it up with extra protein or even more calories, you can also add some dry milk powder (amount varies based on preference but no more than the dry equivalent of what you would normally put in at home).  Prep it ahead of time by adding all of the above to a quart-size ziplock bag.  Then, on the trail, add boiling water to desired consistency (more soupy vs more congealed) and let it sit for a couple of minutes.

Bacon-Cheese Grits:  Instant grits packets, Butter Buds, dry cheese powder (the equivalent of 1/3 cup of real shredded cheese), and Real Bacon Bits (not the fake bacon-flavored bits) to taste.  Combine all ingredients in a quart-size ziplock bag ahead of time, then add boiling water on the trail to desired consistency.  Credit to The Scout's Backpacking Cookbook for the inspiration. 

Yosemite Yogurt Drops:  Simply dehydrate small splotches of your favorite flavor yogurt (quarter-size drops are perfect size) until completely dry and leathery, then package into a small, snack-size ziplock bag.  I also refer to these as yogurt jerky because by the time you get around to eating them, many of the drops will have stuck together, leaving you to eat it more like jerky.  Credit to The Scout's Backpacking Cookbook. (see picture at bottom)

Niagara Falls Bars:  Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats, whole wheat flour, sesame seeds, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, dry non-fat milk powder, vegetable oil, honey, and vanilla extract.  These require about an hour's worth of prep/cooking time at home, but there is no prep required when eating these on the trail.  They have the consistency of granola bars, but they have a lot more calories.  They also taste great!  These have gotten rave reviews from my entire family and nearly everyone that has had them.  Credit to The Scout's Backpacking Cookbook. 

Lunch

Peanut Butter and Honey Rollups:  Peanut butter (or Sunbutter if someone has a peanut allergy), honey, and a tortilla.  Combine the peanut butter and honey into a small ziplock bag but carry the tortilla separately.  Be sure the ziplock bag is completely secured, then put the tortilla into a quart-size freezer bag along with the peanut butter-honey ziplock for traveling.  Credit to The Scout's Backpacking Cookbook. 

Pizza Rollups:  Two tortillas per person, a pizza sauce packet per 2-3 people, 1-2 string cheese sticks per person, and a personal-sized portion of your favorite pizza toppings (pepperoni, precooked sausage, real bacon bits, etc.).  Recommend combining the toppings into their own ziplock bag, along with the string cheese packet(s).  On the trail, add all ingredients to your tortilla and roll it up into a pizza wrap.  Credit to The Scout's Backpacking Cookbook for the inspiration. 

Sausage, Cheese, and Crackers:  Okay, so I said I don't do Slim Jims and crackers anymore, but occasionally, we do still have this similar yet tastier option.  Take a mini sleeve of Ritz crackers (see picture below), a small, sealed log of summer sausage to share among 2-3 people, and cheese squares to share among 2-3 people.  Combine or eat individually as you prefer out on the trail.

These recipes are all very tasty and very quick to prepare out on the trail.  If you're ready to move past junk food-type lunches or just want to add some more options, or if you're looking for some good picnic lunches, give these suggestions a try.  I think you and your crew will be quite pleased.

Crackers for Sausage, Cheese, & Crackers in the middle (my partner was provding the sausage and cheese squares), Oatmeal beside it, and Yogurt Drops on the far left.

P is also for Prince William Forest Park

We camped a lot when we lived in DC.  One time, we camped at Prince William Forest Park, a site managed by the National Park Service, and the largest green space in the DC area.  Its 15,000 acres are heavily forested with streams and waterfalls and contain many ways to see the park, including hiking trails, biking paths, and a scenic drive.

Yes, that's a Harry Potter Book we're reading together!

There are a lot of things I remember about that campout.  First, it wouldn't have been a Schwamb family campout without a hike.  This particular trip, we chose a pretty short one just to get out and experience the park a little.

Additionally, the kids took their bikes on this campout, and the park was secluded enough that at ages 9 and 6 we felt comfortable letting the kids ride around on some of the trails and up to the ranger station without us having to be with them.

This was also the big kids' first campout setting their tent up by themselves.

What I remember most about this campout, though, was Lauren.  This was our first campout with her.  She was very mobile but was just starting to think about walking.  We put her down initially to start getting the camp set up, and before we knew it, she was crawling all over.  In the dirt.  She was a hot mess as she crawled all over the site.  Initially, we were concerned about that until we realized we would be fighting a losing battle if we thought we could keep her clean all weekend.  By the end of the weekend, she looked like a refugee, but she had clearly had a great time.