Spirit Camping - Camping, Hiking, Travel and More

It’s approaching that time of year again when people start asking the question, “When does winter start?” The answer for 2009 is December 21. However, the real underlying question that outdoors enthusiasts are asking is when do winter activities start? There are certainly a lot of people who dread the snow storms, snowblowing, shoveling and other chores associated with winter’s start, but there are just as many (if not more) people who look forward to the very first snow so that they can pull out the snowshoes, skiis, sleds, snowmobiles and all of the other outdoor gear that you love to enjoy when the snow is powdery and in great supply.

In this post I’m going to explore what climatologists are saying you can expect for the winter season this year. This prediction will include average temps, areas of the world where climate change will be most drastic, and of course where you’ll be able to find most of the snow!

When Does Winter Start? When the Snow Flies.

The first day of winter for the next few years falls on the official calendar date of December 21, except for 2011 when it’s going to fall on December 22. Setting the calendar aside, what are climatologists saying that outdoor enthusiasts can expect for the approaching winter season? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the leading U.S. Department of Commerce source for climate information, predicts that El Nino is, once again, going to be a significant factor in winter weather. The NOAA predicts warmer ocean water in the Pacific which will, in effect, strengthen the jetstream and therefore strengthening winter storms.
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Tags: skiing, snowshoeing, weather, Winter Adventures, winter weather

As the camping season gets good and fired up this year, I wanted to take a moment and reflect upon one of those things that makes going on a camping trip with a large group of people so fun - easy camping pranks.  And there’s nothing that’s quite as good for the spirit as a good, hearty laugh.

The following pranks are some of the best I’ve found throughout the Internet, as well as a few that I’ve played along with friends on various camping trips through my life. When you grow up in the Northern Maine woods, camping becomes a way of life and one of the easiest ways to have some fun with friends on the weekend (away from parents).  So pack up the fake bugs and whipped cream, and let’s go!

The Top 10 Easy Camping Pranks

I started out this list with a series of about five of my own favorite camping pranks that you can pull off with very little preparation (in most cases). However, if you spot one or two that may require a little bit of prep work, don’t let that discourage you because those are often the pranks that work best. A few of these only require a straight face!  So, without further ado - here is this years list of the top 10 easy camping pranks.

#1 - Attack of the Birds (and Possibly Critters)

If you’ve ever sprinkled breadcrumbs or small bits of food near a campsite and observed that location over the next few hours, you know that it doesn’t take very much to attract nature’s smallest animals to that spot. Both birds and squirrels seem to have an uncanny ability to zone in on the smallest morsel of food that hits the forest floor. Taking advantage of this knowledge can be a very powerful think for the prankster camper.  All you have to do is wait until an hour or so before dawn, creep out of your tent and sprinkle breadcrumbs all over the top of the tent of your victim(s). Go back to bed and wait. Within an hour or so, depending on the time of year (and the population of birds and chipmunks or squirrels in your area), you’ll start hearing fluttering wings and scampering feet all around the target tent!  The poor campers inside won’t know what all the ruckus is about.

#2 - The Ranger Just Told Me…

There are a few variations to this prank, and each one is a riot. Every campground is maintained by a great crew of rangers or campground workers. Most of the time these workers are friendly and will answer questions or offer advice. One of the funniest “setup” gags is to walk off to go to the bathroom or get some water. Wait a while, and when you return to camp, tell everyone that the Ranger just told you that he’s alerting everyone that the local news just reported an escaped convict from a local prison (it helps if there’s a local prison, or if the campers are clueless about the local area).  It’s best if you tell everyone this just before bed. As people crawl into their tents, they’ll be wondering about the news…possible fretting about spending a long night in an area where there could be an escaped madman. Wait about twenty minutes after everyone is settled in, and then all of a sudden start screaming, “Oh my god! It’s him! He’s here! Oh my god he’s coming!”  Watch everyone scramble out of the tents with a frantic look on their faces.

#3 - The Bear Variation - another version of the Ranger prank is that the ranger told you there’s a bear that’s been ransacking tents and going after camper’s food, and in one case attacking a boy scout troop by tearing up a tent and pulling a camper into the woods. After about twenty minutes, creep out of your tent and then start grunting outside the target victim’s tent. After a little while, as you do one last grunt, slap the side of the tent as hard as you can.  Just make sure the victims don’t have any weapons, because there’s a strong possibility of panic setting in!  It’s hilarious - especially when they all scream.

#4 - The Critter Variation - This version of the Ranger prank involves telling everyone that the ranger reported that snakes have been creeping into sleeping bags (or small animals, spiders, etc…) When your victims aren’t paying attention to their tents, creep in and sneak pine cones or some other rough object into the foot of their sleeping bags. When everyone goes to crawl into bed, wait for the screams!

#5 - The Case of the Annoying Cricket

If you’ve ever had a cricket trapped inside your house, you know how annoying it can be at night. Catch a cricket by setting a light down on the ground at night and wait for them to come to it (they’re attracted to light). Capture one or two in a jar.  Go into your victim’s tent (either that night or the next day) and release the crickets into the victim’s tent. Once night falls and those crickets start singing, the campers in that tent will never get any sleep.  This has to be one of the funniest camping pranks I’ve ever witnessed, as the victims will start cursing the cricket and complaining, while you and your friends are rolling around in your tent in fits of laughter.

More Easy Camping Pranks

Can’t get enough camping pranks? The following will keep you occupied all throughout this camping season:

• Padlock the two zippers of the front tent flaps together so the campers can’t get out.
• Prepare breakfast for everyone, and slip a bit of hot sauce in the orange juice (mix well).
• Set up camping chairs for everyone, but carefully remove the nuts and bolts - watch as everyone collapses to the ground.
• Squirt toothpaste inside everyone’s shoes at night, and watch the fun in the morning as people slip their feet into their sneakers.
• Fill up water balloons, and have your friends help you stake out the victim’s tent in the morning. As your fellow campers arise from their slumber and exit, let them have it!

Tags: camping, camping pranks, easy camping pranks

The following guide will provide a brief overview of the top ten Internet resources where you’ll find everything you need in a very small space. These not are all shopping sites - in fact, most of them are valuable informational portals with camping, hiking and other information related to life outdoors. Bookmark this page and use it as your starting point each time you are ready to start planning for your next camping trip. I keep this list updated every month.

#1: National Park Service

An obvious top contender for camping information is the National Park Service . In my opinion, the most valuable camping resource on the Internet is the National Park’s "Find a Park" service. This graphical interface allows visitors to click on any state in the U.S. and pull up detailed listings of all of the National Parks within any state.

Each individual state page lists every National Park - quite possibly a few that you never even realized existed. You can drill down to an individual park (and in many cases a trail), and read a brief description, directions, hours, fees and even useful maps.

You could easily use this one resource to plan your entire camping or hiking trip and you’d be set.

#2: Altrec is a Camper’s Paradise

I didn’t want to focus too much on the outfitters, but I have to mention Altrec Outdoors if only because I’m obsessed with their electronic camping gear. I’m a GPS fanatic, and Altrec carries the top brands and models at the lowest prices I’ve found anywhere.

It also helps that they carry every piece of camping and hiking gear imaginable. Every year, before our family camping trips start, I spend at least three hours every day in the 80% off outlet section - it’s a camper’s paradise. That’s where my tax refund check goes every year!

#3: TheBackPacker For Camping Gear Rankings

If you’re a camping gear fanatic like me, then you’ll love TheBackPacker.com . Whether you’re hunting for the smallest and lightest cook stove, or the most convenient and flavorful freeze dried meals, this is the place to check whether or not the product is any good. Of course, these camping rankings are only the start. At this site you’ll find backpacking info, trail reviews (I can never get enough of trail reviews), and a section where visitors can upload their own pictures. There are some pretty cool pics in there.

You’ll also find articles, and a pretty cool forum called "Trail Talk," where you can hook up with other camping enthusiasts and talk about gear, trails, or anything else.

#4: DayHiker For The Extreme Day Hiker

One of the best websites for hiking enthusiast information and tips is easily DayHiker.com . DayHiker started in 1999, and since then has become the "go-to" point for all day hikers. This site puts the "extreme" in extreme day hiking - visitors can post their own day hiking experiences in the forum.

You can read examples of extreme day hikes, hiking tips, and the spectacular photos of day hikes come from around the world. A few of these forced me to make a pact with myself that I’d go hiking in the Tetons some day.

#5: GORP is A Way Of Life

GORP is just one of those websites that I can’t get enough of. The volume of information that you’ll find here is unsurpassed online, and includes destination guides, activity guides, and national park information. There’s also campground info, camping rankings, gear info - heck, there are even city guides! The "Gear Guy" answers daily questions and offers gear suggestions, and you can read about the "park of the week."

By far, my favorite area is the "activity" section where you can read through hiking and camping guides that cover just about any camping or hiking issue you could imagine. This is where I spend my lunch break every day.

Need More Camping Rankings?

All of the resources above are those that I suggest because I use them, and I’ve also based these reviews on search rankings and popularity. These are the best of the best for outdoor enthusiasts. I also have a few more gems from my favorites list, and those include the following.

• American Hiking Society (http://www.americanhiking.org/aboutUs.aspx) - Support the protection of natural trails and the promotion of hiking.
• GreatOutdoors (http://www.greatoutdoors.com) - By far one of the best camping and hiking blogs I’ve found (other than this one, of course!)
• Trails.com (http://www.trails.com/) - This is an unsurpassed resource for tracking down and learning about trails.
• Go Camping America (http://www.gocampingamerica.com/) - This is a great resource for park reviews, and focuses a fair amount on "RV style" camping.
• Camping.com (http://www.camping.com/) - It lives up to its name, with categories like camping furniture, water sports and even dog supplies.

One of the most important things you can do before any hiking or camping trip, whether it’s individual or as a family, is to properly plan out where you’re going to hike, activities to do in the area, and the best trails to check out for a scenic hike. Having good resources is critical, and the list of websites above should serve you well for years to come.

Don’t forget to share your own opinions and input in the comments section below!

Tags: campgrounds, camping rankings, camping reviews, camping websites, national parks