Many residents of the northeastern US are camping out in their own homes due to winter ice storms that knocked out power to thousands of homes in the region. Tim Jones of the Republican-American writes about using his camping equipment to survive in style inside his Connecticut home. With only a small generator to power his heating system, Tim and his wife have been using mummy sleeping bags to sleep warmly at night as outdoor temperatures dip into the teens and indoor temperatures struggle to break 50 degrees.

Tim’s article almost reads like a survival manual for post apocalypse living in the face of a crippling power outage that has been going on for days. Camping lanterns provide a decent light source for dressing and reading and a single burner camping stove (used outdoors of course) is a means for heating warm meals. Warm technical clothing and outdoor jackets are keeping the couple warm and a camping headlamp provides another source of light during the long winter nights.

Sure, living without power in the midst of a winter ice storm doesn’t sound like a picnic but having the right outdoor gear and equipment seems to be making things a bit more bearable for this Connecticut couple. Most of us haven’t considered using camping equipment for emergencies since we usually leave it packed away for summer recreation. But consider these scenarios: Water quality problems with your local municipal system? Why not break out your portable backpacking water filter. Spending the night at a friend’s house without a guest room? Pack your camping air mattress and you’ll sleep like a pea in a pod! Who knew camping gear could be so versatile?

For most hikers winter means putting away the hiking boots and maps and hunkering down in front of a warm fire in the fireplace. But in San Diego, dry winter air means clear vistas atop some of the area’s most picturesque peaks, making it the best time of year to get outside. Not only that, winter means spectacular sunrises and sunsets and, according to the San Diego Reader, Cowles Mountain in San Carlos and Woodson Mountain near Ramona offer the best sunset views in winter.

Here in the southeast winter means great views as well - though here it’s all about the leaves falling off the trees to reveal awesome mountain vistas. Many of my favorite mountain hikes and bike rides take on a totally new look in winter which makes them feel brand new, even if I’ve done them dozens of times before.

With the kids out of school and time off work, the winter holidays are a great time to get out and hike or camp! I have my own New Year’s tradition of taking a mountain bike ride on New Year’s day - this year I’ll be heading down to Oak Mountain State Park in Alabama - see you on the trail!

Set your alarm clock: campsite reservations for Custer State Park in South Dakota open January 2 at 6am for the upcoming summer camping season. Of course you can make your reservation the old fashioned way over the phone during business hours OR you can make your camping reservation online at CampSD.com 24 hours a day.

Many other states offer the convenience of online campground reservations but check this out: the South Dakota Department of Natural Resources also offers gift cards that can be used to pay for park fees, merchandise, and services. The gift cards are available for purchase online or at most state parks starting January 1, though there’s no word on whether the cards can be used for payment online (though I would guess they can).

It’s pretty incredible how technology is changing the way we find, book, and pay for campgrounds these days. Heck, many private campgrounds even offer wi-fi connections these days so you can share photos of your trip with friends before you even come home! What tech will 2009 hold for camping? I can’t wait to see!

Overview of the Pinhoti Trail (from pinhotitrailalliance.org)

The Sierra Club is beginning a series of hikes along the Pinhoti trail in Alabama that will cover the entire 174-mile trail over the next two years. The 21 hikes are free and are open to both members and non-members of the Birmingham based club. Hikes will occur on the third Saturday of each month and will average around 8 miles each. By December 2010, participants will have hiked the entire length of Alabama’s longest continuous hiking trail - now that’s something to look forward to!

This seems like a great opportunity for both experienced and beginning hikers alike and the schedule really makes the complete hike doable for anyone. The timing is also great for New Years resolutions plus the group dynamic will keep slackers accountable Even if you miss a hike every now and then it’s easy to get out there on your own to hike the sections you missed. Think about it this way: 174 miles over 2 years works out to just a quarter mile a day - you probably already walk that far from your car to your office and back each day! Which trail will you endeavor to complete in 2009 and beyond?

The Ozark Society’s Highlands chapter will lead an organized Christmas Day hike at the Lake Wilson trail in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The hike will be an easy one, just 2.5 miles, perfect for the whole family plus it starts at 1:30pm which means plenty of time to open presents beforehand. This seems like a great tradition and it’s the perfect opportunity to test out all the new hiking gadgets you get from Santa

Speaking of Santa, the big guy himself was spotted outside San Luis Obispo doing a little rock climbing last week. We even spotted him out on the mountain bike trail as well, who knew Santa was such an extreme sports nut?

Tribune photo by Joe Johnston (SanLuisObispo.com)

Finally, for those in the Fayetteville, AR area, the Ozark Society will also be hosting a New Year’s Eve campout, another great excuse to get outdoors and use your new camping gear during the holidays!

A new website just launched that has the potential to open up millions of new campsites in the United States and the world. It’s called Single Spot Camping and the idea is that landowners can advertise a portion of their homestead for campers looking for places to pitch a tent or park an RV. Now my own yard is pretty small but I reckon I could fit at least 4-5 tent campsites in if I really tried - I’d just need to pick up all the dog poop

Seriously though, this is an interesting idea but there are certainly some barriers to making this work. First of all, many municipalities don’t allow camping within city limits so you’d need to check with officials before opening your own backyard campground. Ditto for outdoor burn permits - what’s camping without a campfire anyway? Finally, campground hosts would have to consider the fact that the “campers” will want to use your showers and bathrooms, particularly if they get muddy while camping in the rain.

The article I read points out that this is a good alternative to “couch surfing” in that camping gives both the campers and the hosts more privacy than if they were sharing indoor quarters. Still, I don’t think I’d like to have anyone other than my own kids camping out in the backyard - just seems a little weird.

Via Springwise.

Sometimes the hardest part about getting out for a winter hike is opening the front door to brave the elements but hikers in Idaho have another worry: downhill skiers. Sawtooth National Forest officials are warning snow-shoers and hikers on Bald Mountain to watch out for downhill skiers enjoying the fresh powder slopes. Officials recommend hikers make it up the mountain before 9am when lifts open or after 4:30pm when the lifts close for the day.

As a downhill skier myself, this brings up an interesting point some may not be aware of: lift tickets aren’t usually required to use a ski area unless you plan on riding the lift. Since most western and many eastern ski areas are located on National Forest land, resort operators can’t legally limit access to the slopes themselves - only to the manmade equipment (i.e. lifts). So, if you’re feeling strong and are looking to save some cash you can walk up the slopes with your skis or snowboard and enjoy a complementary downhill run on the US government. Of course it will probably take 50 times longer to go up than it will to go down and even the most fit hikers won’t be able to get in more than 2-3 runs in a day but hey, at least you’re outdoors!

A few camping and hiking news items to share with you today:

Another Glamorous Hiking experience: Last week we wrote about an example of glamorous hiking (gliking, as we termed it) and this week we found yet another example, this time in southwestern Utah. The Ottawa Metro wrote about the Red Mountain Spa outside St. George, UT where guests can choose from 30 different hikes through the red rock desert. After a day of hiking, guests indulge in a gourmet “healthy” buffet back at the spa. Sure beats a Snickers bar back at the car…

Hikers missing in Four Lakes, AZ area: A Tuscon couple is missing after heading out for a hike in the Mogollon Rim area in Arizona this weekend. The couple is described as experienced and rescuers believe they’re well stocked with cold weather gear, camping supplies, and 3 days worth of food. Still, cold temperatures and heavy snowfalls in the area could make things difficult for even the most experienced hikers. Fortunately the couple left a detailed note with their hiking plans which should make it easier for rescuers to find them quickly. Stay tuned, we’ll let you know if we hear of any new developments.

More camping fee hikes: Camping fees are rising again, this time north of the border in Canada. Citizens and some legislators are pretty upset about the $2 daily camping fee increase and the $5 reservation fee hike. To most campers this is a pretty minor increase but I suspect the ire is really due to the increases in seasonal site reservation fees - these are jumping from $830 to $1,500! As far as I know there aren’t many (if any) government owned campgrounds that allow seasonal campsite rentals here in the US. Sounds like a lot of money to me, wouldn’t you want your RV to be mobile during the summer? I’d get pretty tired of the same campsite every weekend.

You already know what a GPS can do for you in the car but what can you do with a GPS on the hiking trail? Plenty, and we’re here to help you get started!

First of all, it’s important to make a distinction between GPS units made for the car and those made for the trail. For hiking you’ll want a small, handheld unit that runs on AA or rechargeable batteries - after all, who wants to lug a car battery around the trail with them Seriously though, while it is possible to get some use out of your car navigation system on the trail, you’ll want to get a GPS made specifically for the outdoors if you plan on using it on a regular basis. Garmin has several outdoor series GPS units including the eTrex, GPSMap, Geko, and now the new Oregon and Colorado series. From Magellan the Triton and eXplorist series are good outdoor choices and DeLorme is even getting in on the game with its Earthmate PN series.

No matter which outdoor GPS you choose for hiking, here are the things you can expect to do (at a minimum) with your GPS on the trail:

• Track distance, time, and speed. It’s always good to know how far you’ve been and how far you have to go on the trail and a GPS can help you out big time. Imagine the trailhead sign says it’s 4 miles to the scenic overlook - you can use your GPS to tell you exactly how far you’ve been. Speed is another good thing to know - if you’ve moving at 3 miles per hour, you’ll get to that overlook 1 hour and 20 minutes after you start the trail!
• Mark cool stuff for your next trip. Every GPS allows you to mark waypoints along the trail that you can label for quick reference the next time you’re out. Mark the position of that gnarly looking pine tree on the side of the trail so you can point it to your friend the next time you’re hiking. Or, mark the location where you parked your car in case you forget
• Map where you’ve been. Basic GPS units may not be able to show you where you’re going but every GPS we’ve used at least shows where you’ve been. At first glance this might not seem helpful but I’m here to tell you this feature has saved me on more than one occasion. Once, while hiking Camelback in Phoenix, Paul and I found ourselves at the top of the hike when the sun went down. Hiking down what we thought was the trail we quickly realized we were heading in the wrong direction. Checking the GPS showed that we were off the original trail we hiked on the way up so we walked left to rejoin the correct route. On a mountain biking trip Leah and I got onto a trail that basically fizzled out and we needed to rejoin the dirt road we pedaled up on. The GPS revealed the road was a few hundred yards above us so we bushwacked our way back on track.
• Check your elevation. When hiking in the mountains, it’s often helpful to know how high you are and most GPS units can give you a good estimate of your elevation. A trail guide, for example, may tell you the peak is 12,280 feet high and your GPS can help you estimate how far you have to climb to reach the top. Some GPS units even plot your elevation as you go so you can view a profile of where you’ve already hiked.

These days hiking and outdoor GPS units are adding more features like color screens, advanced navigation, topo maps, and even integrated digital cameras. Pick up a GPS before your next outdoor adventure to make sure you stay on track! Read our outdoor GPS reviews right here on tripleblaze.com.

Photo courtesy The Discovery Channel

Bear Grylls, host of the television series Man vs. Wild, fell and injured his shoulder during an expedition to Antarctica last week. Grylls was in Antarctica as part of a Ethanol Ventures expedition promoting alternative energy (not sure what that has to do with Antarctica) and his trip was not related to the taping of his own show.

After four days awaiting airlift, Bear finally made it to Cape Town South Africa where he is said to have received medical attention before heading to his home in UK. From the articles I read about Bear’s injuries, it sounded fairly serious but there were no details about how it happened. If you’re seen Bear’s show, Man vs. Wild, you know the adventurer isn’t afraid to put himself in dangerous situations to teach a lesson or prove a point. Here’s to hoping for a speedy recovery so our favorite outdoor guru can get back to his incredible survival series!

Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think: fees for single campsites in California’s Sequoia and Giant Sequoia National Forests will be rising $1 a night in 2009. Current rates range from $17-$19 so at worst we’re looking at a 6% increase - hey, what hasn’t gotten 6% more expensive in the last year? Cabins and group campsite rates will be increasing by about the same percentage.

Camping is still a bargain vacation and it’s pretty incredible that a family can spend a weekend immersed in some of the world’s most spectacular scenery for 40-bucks or less (not including food or gas, of course ). Get out and explore in 2009 - you’ll be amazed at the value you can still get in our National Parks and Forests!

According to an article in the Washington Post, camping along the Presidential inauguration parade route and in the National Mall will not be permitted. The Park Service says the National Mall is *technically* open 24/7 but security operations will be in effect to keep folks from setting up tents or otherwise occupying spots the night before the festivities.

Some observers expect 3-5 million people to jam Washington for the inauguration which could potentially overwhelm the city’s public transportation system. So why not let people come out a day or two early to beat the crowd (and ease the transportation crunch on inauguration day)? If Best Buy can handle shoppers camping out for Black Friday deals, shouldn’t our National Park service be able to accommodate camping in our nation’s capitol for such a historic event? Oh well, at least MetroRail trains will start running at 4am - set your alarm clock

We wrote about glamorous camping recently (glamping, for those in the know) and we think we’ve uncovered an example of glamorous hiking (gliking if you like) at the New Life Hiking Spa. This Vermont spa won the Spa Finder “Best Spa for Hiking” award in 2008 while receiving nods for Best Affordability and Best for Weight Loss. Impressive.

So what does a glamorous hiking experience at the best hiking spa in the country look like? After a morning Chi Kung session and a gourmet breakfast, hikers hit the trails until lunch time, exploring Vermont hikes rated easy to difficult (depending on guests’ abilities). After lunch it’s pilates, water excercises, and afternoon activities including cooking classes and off-site excursions. Afternoon and evening massages and facials are available for those who are interested. Of course this doesn’t come cheap (though it may be less expensive than you think): rates start at $209 per person per night inclusive.

I can’t argue that Vermont has some of the best hiking opportunities so it’s really no surprise that New Life Hiking Spa is the best in the nation. But if you’re an experienced and fit hiker looking for challenging new terrain, I say skip the spa experience - you’ll have better luck choosing your own hikes right here.

The Salt Lake Tribune published a great article on winter camping in Utah that’s got me all fired up for a little winter camping of my own. The article points out that most prime camping areas in Utah (including Arches and Bryce Canyon National Parks) are practically deserted in winter and offer some of the best solitude and natural beauty you can imagine (if you’re into that kind of stuff). A light dusting of snow adds a whole new dimension to the stark desert scenery and clear, starry nights in winter are your reward for gritting through the cooler temperatures.

From the article it sounds like all five of the state’s National Parks have at least one camping area open which is pretty rare (just look at winter campground closures in Colorado). In the southwestern portion of the state around St. George, temperatures are more moderate and winter might just be the perfect time of year to experience the desert.

Of course you need to be prepared if you decide to go camping in winter and choosing a warm sleeping bag is a good place to start. Tent camping in winter is always a possibility but you can almost guarantee your comfort in an RV - check around to find great winter rates on RV rentals in your area.

Yep, just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your camping season has to end. Gear up or head for warmer climates to get your outdoor fix in the middle of winter - you might just have the great outdoors all to yourself!

Via WinterCampers.com.

Choosing the right sleeping bag can be challenging, especially with all the choices available today. Fortunately, we’re here to help with our guide to choosing the best sleeping bag:

Shape matters

The first major distinction you’ll notice when looking at sleeping bags is the available shapes: rectangular or mummy. Rectangular shaped bags are not as common these days and you’ll generally find this shape used in childrens’ and lower-priced sleeping bags. Mummy bags, on the other hand, are designed for maximum heat trapping ability and literally cover you from head to toe. Rectangular sleeping bags need to be rolled for storage while mummy bags are generally stuffed into a sack. Because mummy bags are tapered at the top and bottom they are often lighter weight and more compact than their rectangular cousins.

Fill material

Choosing the best sleeping bag ultimately comes down to a choice of fill material and this is where you’ll notice the biggest differences in terms of cost and performance. Most mid-range sleeping bags utilize a lightweight, synthetic fill material that will keep its insulating value even when it’s wet. Higher end bags contain down which is lighter-weight and more compressible, meaning a down sleeping bag takes up less space in your pack. Because down loses much of its insulating value when it becomes damp, most down sleeping bags are wrapped in a water resistant fabric. Older sleeping bags may contain cotton or wool but those materials are becoming rare these days.

Temperature ratings

When shopping for a new sleeping bag you may be tempted to base your comparisons on temperature ratings, and while this is a good thing to consider, it isn’t as helpful as you might imagine. There are basically four different temperature ratings used for sleeping bags and it’s important to understand which ones each manufacturer uses so you’re comparing apples to apples. Most sleeping bags are marketed using the “comfort rating” which is the outside temperature at which an adult woman can comfortably sleep. The “extreme rating,” on the other hand, is the temperature at which an adult woman can survive a night’s sleep - definitely not something you’d want to attempt yourself

Lower temperature ratings are typically better but if you’re planning to use your sleeping bag in summer AND winter you’ll want to stay away from the most extreme rated bags. I live in the southeast and for me, a 15-degree bag works pretty well year round (though I usually don’t get all the way inside during summer trips).

Accessories

Most sleeping bags come with a stuff sack but if you’re planning to take your bag backpacking you may want to invest in an even smaller compression sack to get maximum space savings. Also consider a sleeping bag liner - these are typically made of cotton and give the inside of your bag more of a bed sheet feel for those who aren’t fond of nylon. Liners can also elevate the temperature rating of your sleeping bag so keep that in mind as well.

Choosing the best sleeping bag is pretty straightforward once you understand the basics. The only hard part is choosing your favorite color!

Still need help deciding? Read our sleeping bag reviews.

Photo from highlandsanctuary.org.

The Arc of Appalachia recently previewed the Cave Canyon Nature Preserve, formerly known as 7 Caves, near Bainbridge, OH. The nature preserve features hiking trails that criss-cross the 100-foot deep vertical canyon and lead park visitors past entrances to many of the caves. Unfortunately visitors are no longer allowed to enter the caves as the lighting systems have been removed to restore cave ecosystems to their natural states.

Some folks are disappointed to see the caves closed to tourists but from what I read this needed to be done. For one, all the stalagtites and stalagmites in the caves were been broken by vandals over the years and Arc administrators hope to preserve the caves so new cave formations can grow. Second, the lighting system installed in the caves back in the 1920s kept indigenous bats from returning to the caves, a key part of this area’s natural ecosystem. Bat experts say many local bat species are endangered in this area but the good news is that four of the caves in the preserve have already seen their previous tenants return after closing the caves to tourists.

Cave Canyon Nature Preserve will be open to the public from April through October each year and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Although access to the caves is now limited to bats you can still check out the cliff deck overlooking the Rocky Fork Gorge and take a self guided tour of the 3 nature trails.

If you’re looking for deals on camping and hiking gear this holiday season, head over to Overstock.com through December 8 (just 3 days!). All camping and hiking items are 10% off in addition to the normal Overstock discounts. Just browsing the site I found a 4-person dome tent for $60, a refurbished Garmin eTrex Legend with color screen and turn-by-turn directions for $175, and a -15 degree (!) sleeping bag for $60. Sweet.

According to the National Forest Service and the Associated Press, visits to US National Forests declined 13% between the periods 2000-2003 and 2003-2007. This decline comes despite the fact that the overall population in the US grew between 2000 and 2007 making the drop in visits even more precipitous.

It sounds like the National Forest Service and informed observers aren’t exactly sure about the reasons for the decline but there are a few guesses out there. Younger generations are spending more and more time in front of the computer and video games and even some adults find the idea of going somewhere without internet or Blackberry access a little old-fashioned. And as the US population becomes more diverse and clustered around urban centers, National Forest areas are increasingly seen as distant and inaccessible.

It also doesn’t help that investment in National Forest recreation areas like campgrounds and hiking trails has steadily declined over the years despite a booming population. Other observers point to the fees charged at some National Forest recreation areas as a deterrent to visitors but I don’t buy that argument - most people can afford a $3 parking fee to go hiking or $15 for a campground. Nope, since much of the US population is centered around urban city centers the biggest cost to visiting a National Forest is gas!

Still others argue that visits to National Forests are down due to a small group of obnoxious recreational users riding noisy off-road vehicles. Clearly this could be a deterrent to some visitors and I can say from experience that I often avoid National Forest areas where I know ATVs are in use or where gun enthusiasts like to take target practice. In some places like Yellowstone there have been limits placed on noisy snowmobiles and it certainly wasn’t a popular decision with everyone involved. It would be interesting to see how those limits have affected overall park visitation…

One of the biggest concerns with this drop in National Forest visits is that if fewer people visit our forests, fewer people will value them. This could one day open the door for more drilling, logging, mining, etc. and could diminish our hiking, camping, boating, and biking opportunities even further.

So, if you haven’t made a visit to a National Forest lately, show America you care and that you still value the recreational opportunities our forests afford. If we don’t start using our National Forests for recreation more they just might not be around for future generations to enjoy!

Over the years I’ve tested nearly a dozen GPS units from Garmin and Magellan and I thought I’d share my personal recommendations for the best GPS units for hiking and outdoor activities. These GPS units are great for hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, canoeing, mountain biking - you name it - and many of them pack the same navigation features you’ll find in expensive vehicle navigation systems.

The Garmin GPSMap 60CSx was built just for outdoor enthusiasts meaning it’s rugged, reliable, and ridiculously feature rich. This GPS unit is water resistant and beefy enough that you can get a good grip on it even with gloved hands in cold weather. Unlike some GPS units, the GPSMap 60C uses standard AA batteries making it a great choice for extended trips away from electrical charging opportunities. And talk about outdoor-specific features: the GPSMap has functions to tell you when the sun will set based on your location, the best times for hunting and fishing, and even tells you when to expect the next full moon! All of these features are in addition to the color screen, the ability to load and view topographic and road maps, basic navigation information (speed, distance, elevation, etc.), and the ability to mark and navigate to stored waypoints. Yep, the GPSMap 60C series is a great choice for the outdoor enthusiast looking for a dependable, feature-rich GPS for a reasonable price.

If you don’t need a color screen on your outdoor GPS, consider picking up a Magellan eXplorist 400. The eXplorist includes a rechargeable battery PLUS the ability to utilize AAA batteries in a pinch and has a memory card slot for loading detailed topographic maps. The buttons on the front of the eXplorist make it easy to mark waypoints and zoom in on areas of interest and the on-screen menus make navigation simple. My biggest complaint about the eXplorist 400 is the clunky serial PC interface - most new units use USB for maximum compatability. The eXplorist is a great value though and it’s one of the cheapest GPS units you’ll find with the ability to load detailed topo and road maps.

The eTrex series from Garmin is another popular choice with hikers and the original yellow eTrex is the first GPS I ever owned back in 2000. All the eTrex units are fine for geocaching and are great for beginning and younger users alike. The eTrex Vista comes with built-in base maps covering major US highways and even tells you what restaurants can be found at interstate exits. Some eTrex units include color screens, the ability to use more detailed maps, and other more advanced features that beginning users may not find all that useful initially. Luckily the original yellow eTrex GPS is perhaps one of the most affordable outdoor GPS units and you can usually find one on sale for less than $100.

Finally, if you’re looking for an ultraportable GPS for hiking and other activities like running, consider the Forerunner series from Garmin. These GPS units aren’t great for navigation, though they can certainly help out if you’re off track. Otherwise, the Forerunner series includes all the features you’d expect from a recreational GPS unit (distance, speed, breadcrumb map, elevation, etc.). I like to use my Forerunner for running or backpacking so I can analyze my route on a more detailed map once I get home without a lot of fuss while I’m outside. The included USB connection makes it easy to download your hikes to your computer for more in-depth analysis of your route and elevation profile.

Yep, a good GPS unit is a welcome companion for hiking and these days I honestly don’t know what I’d do without mine on the trail. Whether you decide to go high tech with all the bells and whistles of a GPSMap 60C or lean and mean with a Forerunner, you’ll certainly appreciate how a GPS can enhance your next hiking experience.

The Camping Blogger posted a good article on staying clean on while camping and shared some tips about using wet wipes and hand sanitizer. I have to say, hand sanitizer is great stuff - where was this product just a few years ago?

Anyway, one of my own minor annoyances about camping is coming home with smoky clothes and jackets. Smoky clothes I can deal with - just throw them into the washing machine and they’re fine. But jackets and other items like sleeping bags, chairs, etc. are another story. I know, I know, many campers (myself included) enjoy the smell of a campfire but it’s less endearing when I’m back at home wearing my jacket to the mall. Anyone have tips for removing campfire smoke smells from delicate fabrics without resorting to the dry cleaners?

Another area where campers need to avoid dirt and germs is dishwashing. It’s never convenient to wash dishes outdoors because you generally don’t have a source of warm running water with a sanitary drain nearby. Instead we’re often left to soaping pots and pans and giving them a good wipe with a paper towel before using them for cooking and eating again. As a Boy Scout we cleaned dishes using two pots - one filled with hot, soapy water and a second with boiling water for rinsing. Steel wool did a great job getting caked food off plates and cookware and the boiling water pretty much ensured our stuff was safe and clean.

Of course we still always ran pots and pans through the dishwasher at home upon our return from the great outdoors and that’s probably a good idea just to be safe. It seems like every serious backpacker has at least one story about contracting a food-borne illness and dirty cookware can often be the culprit. Staying clean in the campground or on the trail isn’t just a matter of propriety - it can keep you from getting sick as well!