Category: Camping

How to make Popcorn Over a Campfire
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I make sure to buy my popcorn in 25 or 50 gallon bulk bags at the local warehouse store because it is cheap, easy, fun, and if push comes to shove can be ground into some resemblance of cornmeal.

Most folks think microwave when they hear the word popcorn, but their are sorts of other, and better, ways to cook popcorn.

Recently we have done a lot of campfire/off grid cooking techniques, so I felt it was only fair to show how to cook popcorn over a campfire…

Procedure
- In the center of an 18″ x 18″ square of heavy-duty or doubled foil, place one teaspoon of oil & one teaspoon of popcorn.
- Bring foil corners together to make a pouch.
- Seal the edges by folding, but allow room for the popcorn to pop.
- Tie each pouch to a long stick with a string & hold the pouch over the hot coals.
- Shake constantly until all the corn has popped. Season with butter & salt.
Serves one.

Campfire Popcorn is a great recipe to try when out camping with your kids. Its cheap and fun, but best of all your kids can easily do this with only a little adult supervision.

Besides, its nice to see people cooking items normally and not in a microwave.
December 3, 2015
How to Carry Duct Tape While Backpacking

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A common trick among backpackers is to wrap some duct tape around their water bottle or lighter so that they always have a couple feet readily available for quick repairs. This is an easy duct tape tip that ensures you always have some tape on hand.

I find that having some duct tape with me in the things that I carry everyday helps me stay prepared. When hiking, I can use it on “hotspots” to prevent blisters, and its invaluable for survival when making things like plastic water stills and bags. However, since I spend most of my time in an office, I tend to use my duct tape in more normal ways.

This tip is useful more than just outdoors-men. I have a cut off ink pen body wrapper with duct tape on a monkey fist hanging from my keys. In the end, it really does not matter if you wrap duct tape on your keys, lighter, water bottle, or frame of your pack. What matters is that duct tape is dead useful, but a roll is bulky and heavy.

This simple tip ensures you have some if needed as well as saves weight and space.

This duct tape tip is one of my favorites as it keeps tape close at had for any emergency purpose as well as makes my water bottle easily distinguishable from the ones carried by everyone else.

You can also use this tip on hiking sticks and trekking poles – I even know a handy guide to purchasing trekking poles.

November 26, 2015
Camping: Hula Hoop Camping Shower

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Being out on the land camping while I clear the land has its benefits. I can save travel time and I get to see my land at all times of the day. However it also has a drawback. Namely working hard and being outdoors makes showers a luxury. I am NOT used to having a shower being a luxury.

I do have neighbors so I need a shower stall. After long thought I came up with a hula hoop camping shower stall.

All I did was buy a hula hoop and a cheap shower curtain and rings.

By putting the rings around the hula hoop I could mount it with some 550 cord and have an outdoor shower stall.

Add a pallet so you don’t stand in mud and a solar shower like the one pictured and you can be in business.

September 3, 2015
How to Setup a Camping Tarp in the Woods

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I needed a semi-permanent shelter out on the land as James and I went about clearing the trash from the land. I did not want to spend any money. Additionally, I did not want to take a lot of time messing around as time on the property is limited. Since Tarps are cheap and plentiful we decided on a tarp setup.

All we did was string a taut center-line between two trees,. Next, we spread the tarp over the line. Then we created cord tie-outs from the corners out to other trees to finish the tarp setup.

I set up the tarp so that the 4 corners are pretty high when it is in use. However, when I leave to go back to work, I can take two corners and drop them much lower so that rain does not collect.

This setup works pretty well, and we have had a couple of good thunderstorms over the past month and I am very pleased.

In conclusion, I would say a trap and a length of rope are bush craft essentials and you can build a shelter anywhere. A tarp setup is extremely adjustable you can adjust to almost any situation. One tree, two trees, no trees, it can all work with a little thought and some rope.

February 5, 2015
Camping: Map Contour Lines II

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Being able to read contour lines is pretty important. This is the second in a series of land navigation posts. Like the first article this one also deals with map contour lines.

The method I use to show contour lines is one I learned in the Boy Scouts and it is how I finally grasped the concept.

As I mentioned in the first video I think a good understanding of contour lines and a good topographical map will allow you to find your location in the woods and navigate without any other tools.

I am not suggesting you do not need a compass for land navigation. However, the ability to visualize map topography will allow you to recognize terrain features in a way that a compass bearing can not do.

Once I learned this skill I never got lost in the woods again. But if I was honest, I would have to admit I didn’t really get lost in the woods much before I had this skill. I grew up in a State Park and knew those woods like most kids know their neighborhood.

I used to turn my radio up loud, lock my door and sneak out to go walking in the woods.

November 13, 2014