This fellow hiking Camelback at dusk may have been in trouble.

In an article about increased mountain rescue calls at Phoenix-area hiking trails, hiking experts speculated the increase in rescues was due to an overall increase in foot traffic. Increased foot traffic, the thinking goes, is due to the fact that hiking is an inexpensive and accessible family activity (that is, until hikers get in over their heads). Unfortunately emergency responders are facing budget cuts at the same time calls for help are increasing.

All of this got me thinking that despite pitching camping as a budget-friendly family outing, we forgot to talk about hiking in the same light! Yep, hiking is even more inexpensive than camping - in fact it’s usually free - and it’s a great alternative to schlepping the kids to the amusement park or the mall. Hiking can be educational and it’s a fun way to get exercise. Springtime is one of the best times of year to get out and enjoy the great outdoors and fortunately most of us live within a short driving distance of parks and trails.

Hiking is also a great budget-friendly activity because it doesn’t require any special equipment other than a sturdy pair of shoes (I prefer running shoes myself). Taking the family on a hiking trip is pretty low commitment as well - you can make the trip as short or as long as you like. I often like to bring a picnic lunch along in a backpack when I go hiking - any excuse to spend more time outdoors

Research the best places to hike near you right here on Tripleblaze.com. You’ll be surprised how much fun you can have for free!

Here’s an idea for a dream camping vacation: spend the night in a tent in the middle of Sydney Harbor. Cockatoo Island sits smack dab in the middle of Australia’s largest city about 3 miles from the world famous Sydney Harbor bridge and offers a unique camping experience you won’t get anywhere else. Imagine a campground on Ellis Island in New York City or on Alcatraz in San Francisco - how cool would that be? Read travel writer Tom Adair’s report on his recent camping trip to Cockatoo.

Cockatoo Island, like Alcatraz, once hosted a prison and over the years has housed a girl’s reform school and a shipyard, among other things. These days you can take the ferry (less than $5 US per person) and pitch your tent for around $30 US per night. If you don’t feel like lugging you tent halfway around the world, you can rent a tent for an extra $20 US a night or so. There are even grills for rent and meat available for purchase so you can enjoy your shrimp on the barbie during your camping trip.

Camping on Cockatoo Island isn’t exactly a trip into the Outback (the interior of Australia - not the restaurant). The Island boasts restrooms and even a café on site - now that’s what I call roughing it in style!

Reservations for Cockatoo Island campsites can be made up to 6 months in advance - see the official website for more details.

Backcountry.com included a humorous comparison between the outdoor utility of an iPhone and a stick in their latest newsletter and it’s worth a read if you’re looking for a Friday morning chuckle. The pics are a little cheesy but it’s nice to see someone poking fun at the Jesus phone for once. Oddly enough the article sounded pretty similar in tone to our own article comparing the iPhone to the Garmin Edge 705 GPS.

But seriously though, it’s crazy how many applications are available for the iPhone these days and you might be surprised to know there are a few that might actually be helpful for camping and hiking. Here’s a sampling:

Knot Time ($0.99): Both a learning tool and field guide for tying knots. Tying knots is a time honored camping tradition and this app adds a high tech twist (no pun intended). Rated 3 stars.

Scat and Animal Tracks ($0.99 each): Two different apps for helping you identify scat and animal tracks in the great outdoors. Who needs field guides anymore when your phone knows more than Bear Grylls?

TopoPoint USA ($9.99): TopoPoint gives you access to USGS topographic maps on your iPhone to help you on your next hike. Although we’re not big fans of USGS topos in general (most were hand drawn in the 1960s) this could be a helpful tool - just remember to download the necessary map tiles before you get out of cell range!

Mosquito Device ($0.99): According to the developer, “Mosquito Device uses high pitch sound waves to keep away mosquitos. Almost silent, you won’t notice it working.” I’m pretty sure that last bit is right: you won’t notice it working (and it only received 2 and a half stars to prove it). Believe it or not there are at least two other iPhone apps that promise to do do the same.

GPS Compass ($4.99): This little app does way more than make your iPhone into a compass (though it does do that) - it also lets you use your iPhone as a full blown GPS. There are a number of apps out there that do the same thing but the great thing is you don’t even need a cell signal to get your current location coordinates, altitude, and distance hiked.

Yep, the iPhone could come in pretty handy on your next camping or hiking trip. Now if there were only a good way to re-charge your phone outdoors…

It’s not often that you see one of the techie gadget blogs covering camping gear but this week Gizmodo introduced us to the EGGo, a mobile kitchen concept that’s made for the outdoors. The egg-shaped pod includes a heating surface and a sink plus the water and fuel you need to get cooking.

It’s certainly a beautiful concept but it seems impractical in just about every way I can imagine. First: eggs aren’t good at standing on end (if you hadn’t noticed). It’s pretty obvious from the drawing below that strapping the EGGo to the roof of a car is awkward in every sense of the word.

The mirrored finish is certainly striking and in theory it reflects the natural beauty around you, making it fit nicely into the great outdoors. But consider this: camping (and especially outdoor cooking) can be messy and keeping the EGGo sparkling will be a losing battle. In fact I avoid the trendy stainless steel outdoor gas grills for this very reason. Black grills don’t show grease spots or soot

EGGo storage space seems to be minimal since the fuel and water need to be stored below the cooking surface and the egg shape tapers toward the bottom leaving little room for utensils.

Finally, I have to assume that integrating the sink is a huge technical challenge. How is the water pressurized such that it comes out of the faucet? Where does the waste water go?

Of course this is just a concept but I’m guessing we won’t be seeing the EGGo at a campground anytime soon (in this form anyway). I’ll stick to the Big Green Egg for my outdoor cooking needs.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a photo contest starting this week and the photographer with the best shot will receive a free 14-day stay at any Oregon state park campground. No word on whether they’ll also arrange for your boss to give you the time off to enjoy your prize

Two honorable mentions award winners will receive 2-year day passes good at any Oregon State Park - a much more valuable prize in my opinion. All you gotta do is get out and snap pics at any of Oregon’s amazing state parks and submit your (digital) photos before August 1, 2009. The submission process is completely automated - just hit the website and upload your pics.

Many of the best photographs from the Oregon contest will end up in promotional materials marketing the state’s parks. If you have a chance to get to an Oregon state park this summer, don’t forget your camera - you might just capture a winning shot!

In keeping with our themes on extreme and urban hiking, here’s something you may not have heard of before (officially anyway): Urban Exploration. No, this isn’t what you do when you vacation in NYC and it’s not a sport you’ll see REI sponsoring anytime soon. However, urban exploration is a fun way to explore the environment and it uses some of the tools you rely on when camping and hiking the great outdoors.

Growing up I was always into suburban exploration: finding old rusty cars in the woods, diving into culverts and big stormwater pipes, exploring construction sites, etc. Although *technically* tresspassing, urban exploration is generally a victimless crime and the fact that it is illegal in many cases actually adds to the excitement. (note: it is also potentially dangerous and did I mention illegal? if you get injured or arrested, don’t blame me!)

In college a friend and I explored the steam tunnels underneath Duke University (is there a statute of limitations on this?). We always geared up with all our best outdoor stuff: headlamps, hiking boots, canvas pants and sweatshirts - the whole nine. Our favorite route started beneath a ventilation grate outside the Social Sciences building, went through a machine shop and a lighted corridor through the hospital, and eventually put us out underneath a dining facility across the quad more than a quarter mile away. We probably inhaled an unhealthy amount of asbestos and rat feces (is there a healthy amount?) as we low crawled through some tight spots but it didn’t matter - we felt like Magellan finding a new route around the world!

As an adult I’m still curious but these days I do much of my urban exploration vicariously through the writers at Infiltration.org (the site is down today - I hope it’s not permanent). The writers at Infiltration have explored abandoned missle silos in New Mexico, crumbling factories in Canada, and catacombs in France, just to name a few spots. Cool stuff.

If you’re never heard about Urban Exploration definitely read up on it - it may just scratch an itch you didn’t realize you had. Of course I don’t condone it myself - I’m just an admirer

Kotula’s put together a pretty funny “redneck camping” video starring Rusty Barefoot and Larnold Jernigan, Jr. with some “tips” for making camping more enjoyable. The boys show off some pretty ridiculous camping products like the Off Road Commode (a knock-off of the Bumper Dumper if I’ve ever seen one) and a gasoline powered “portable” blender. The boys also have an interesting take on skeet shooting, using chicken breasts for target practice before dinner. Anyway, good video if you’re looking for a laugh this Monday morning.

A “paid hike” on the Daniel Boone Scout trail, part of Grandfather Mountain.

If you’re looking for new or relatively unused hiking trails, here’s an insider tip: go on a restricted hike. Restricted hikes take place in areas that require a permit (paid or free) or a guide to enter and many times they offer some of the most amazing outdoor experiences you’ll encounter as a hiker. The PressDemocrat.com, for example, recently published a good article about undiscovered hikes in Sonoma County, CA that mentions a few “restricted hikes” that sound incredible.

Restricted hikes exist for a number of reasons. In some cases permits or guide requirements may be in place to limit access and ultimately environmental impact. In 8th grade my class took a field trip to a place called “Heggie’s Rock” in rural Columbia County, GA where granite dish gardens support two endangered plant species. Restricted access helps protect the ecosystem and makes hikers aware of the uniqueness of Heggie’s Rock.

In other cases hikes may be restricted for safety reasons. At Tallulah Gorge State Park in north Georgia, hikers are required to get free day use permits to enter the gorge. The hike down is steep and rocky while the hike back out of the gorge can be a real physical challenge. At the bottom of the gorge the river creates slippery surfaces and many have been injured sliding down the rocks and swimming in the shallow pools. Permits allow park personnel to keep track of who goes into the gorge and, more importantly, who comes out. There are limits to the number of permits given out each day and park personnel enforce a “no flip flop/crocs” rule at the time of application.

Finally, hiking permit or guide systems may be in place for revenue reasons. It takes money to support and preserve recreation and wilderness areas and permits help agencies recoup costs. In some places in Europe guides are required when entering wilderness areas and are intended to sustain employment for a specific class of workers. In other cases like at privately owned Grandfather Mountain, permits are a source of revenue. The upshot: fewer hikers on the “paid trails” means more solitude.

At first glance permit or guide requirements may seem unfair or unnatural but in many cases they serve an important purpose. With a little advance planning and a willingness to spend a few dollars you can get special access to some amazing hiking spots - reserve your hike now!

A hiking and biking trail skirts the cliff edge at Palmer Park in Colorado Springs, CO.

On Sunday a group of 5 children accidentally fell 75 feet while hiking the Rachael Carson Trail in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Some of the children remained in the hospital on Tuesday while undergoing treatment for their injuries.

According to officials the cliff where the children fell is located at least 15 feet away from the main trail and it appears the kids slipped on some leaves while getting too close to the edge. Asked whether it would be a good idea to install a fence at the bluff one official said “I don’t think we are going to put a fence up. There is a lot of liability connected with that, and it would spoil the view.”

View from the Broad Mountain Loop near Jim Thorpe, PA.

Hiking can certainly be dangerous at times and we’ve profiled some of the world’s most dangerous hiking trails here on the blog in the past. It’s not unusual for hiking trails to approach cliff edges and steep drops - that is, after all, where the best views are usually found. As a hiker it’s important to make sure your footing is steady as you approach vistas like the ones pictured above. Sometimes I like to use the “3-points of contact” approach, making sure that I have at least 3 parts of my body in contact with the ground as I move across a ledge. Sure, sometimes that means getting down on all fours but you can never be too careful!

We’ve been saying it week after week: camping is an inexpensive way to enjoy a family vacation. Today we found two more ways to make camping even more affordable:

• The Polk County (Iowa) Recreation Department is selling camping coupon booklets with savings worth about 30% over regular rates. Seven day electric campsite coupon booklets sell for $100 (a $133 value) and non-electric campsite booklets are just $70 (a $28 saving). Coupons don’t have to be used on consecutive nights and they’re valid at all 4 county recreation areas and campgrounds. Now that’s a value!

• Last chance for free camping in Stanislaus National Forest in California! Five popular campgrounds in Sanislaus National Forest - located between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe - will begin charging fees for camping starting next year. In the meantime, get out and enjoy the great outdoors at Union, Utica, Pacific Valley, Lumsden and South Fork campgrounds without spending a dime.

No more excuses - get out and camp this summer!

We wrote about night hiking back in January and this month Backpacker.com posted an article with some more tips for getting started. While we can’t recommend ditching the headlamp and flashlight entirely, Backpacker tells us how to maximize night vision using the moon and stars plus our own rods ‘n cones.

With days getting longer night hikes are becoming less of a necessity and more of a new way to experience familiar trails. In some areas like Death Valley, backpacking at night and sleeping during the hotest part of the day is a valid strategy - plus you get a chance to see wildlife that isn’t otherwise active.

Hiking at night can be dangerous but it can also be pretty fun and exciting, provided you are prepared and know what you’re getting into. Too bad you won’t be able to work on your tan at the same time

Meadowbrook Campground - Lake Placid, NY

Campground reservations are up 6% in New York state so far this year and campsites and cabins can be reserved up to 9 months in advance. Some more popular campgrounds like Moreau Lake, Thompson’s Lake, and Cherry Plain have seen increases around 13% - pretty impressive for sure.

The article I read didn’t offer any reasons for the increase and it’s surprising given that the state of New York has recently closed several parks due to funding issues. Apparently bookings have been rising for the past year or so and I have a few ideas about why:

• It’s the economy, stupid. Yep, we’ve been saying it for months - families looking to save money on their summer vacation will be opting for the great outdoors instead of Disney or Vegas. Even frequent campers are sticking closer to home and New York state is a convenient destination to millions of folks in the northeast.
• Campground reservations are becoming easier to make. Thanks to modern technology it’s as easy as pulling up a website to find and reserve the perfect campsite. Savvy campers are realizing that popular holiday weekends like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day fill up fast so it pays to reserve as early as possible. Kinda like when Outback Steakhouse introduced us to call-ahead seating
• Fewer unspoiled campgrounds means higher demand. Since New York state closed several recreation areas recently this could be driving more folks to reserve the dwindling number of remaining spots. This is the “musical chairs effect” - everyone is dashing to get the last campsite before the music stops!

I predict we’ll see campground reservations continue to grow in the long term based on these factors. Make sure you get your campground reservation in today before it’s too late!

Examiner.com has a good article by Deb Stanley about keeping a list of hikes she’d like to do “someday.” It’s a great idea to keep a list of dream hikes - everybody needs goals - and we make it easy for you right here on Tripleblaze.com. We call it our “hiking wishlist” and with your free account you can start adding some of the nearly 1,000 hiking trails listed on the site already.

Here’s how it works: just search for a trail you’d like to add to your list using the search box at the top of this page. Let’s say you want to hike the North Rim of the Grand Canyon - find the trail listing and click the “Hiking Wishlist” link just above the trail title near the top of the page. That’s it! After adding a trail to your wishlist you can view and mange your list, removing any trails you’ve already hiked or added by mistake. Other members can view your list (here’s mine) and you can get ideas about other hikes to add based on what others have on their lists.

If you can’t find a trail on Tripleblaze.com but you’d like to add it to your wishlist, you can simply add the trail by filling out this form. Once the trail has been added you can put it on your list. Simple.

On Tripleblaze.com you can also keep wishlists of campgrounds you’d like to visit and outdoor equipment you’d like to own. Campground and equipment wishlists work the same way - just click to add!

Tripleblaze makes it easy to organize and plan all your outdoor adventures. Start building your wishlist today - that way when spring arrives you’ll know where to go!

Trail 401 in Crested Butte, CO is open to hikers and bikers

Trail use conflicts between hikers and mountain bikers have been around almost since the birth of mountain biking in the 1970s and although relations seem to be improving there are still those on either side who just can’t seem to get along. As a hiking mountain biker I can see both sides and I’m hopeful that both hikers and mountain bikers can continue to coexist on popular trails.

Some hiking enthusiasts argue that mountain bikes cause excessive erosion but studies have shown this is simply not the case. Mountain bikes do cause some erosion but it’s comparable to the erosion cased by foot traffic and less impactful than equestrian traffic. In fact mountain bikers are giving back to the trails in record numbers to improve and maintain existing multi-use routes. In my area mountain bikers are better organized than hiking groups and contribute the majority of the work to local trail systems enjoyed by everyone.

Admittedly encountering a mountain biker screaming down the trail can be a jarring and annoying experience when you’re hiking and I honestly think twice before hiking a trail where I know mountain bikes are ridden. When I’m on the mountain bike I try to be mindful of this and slow to approach hikers and look them in the eye with a pleasant greeting. We’re all on the trail for the same reason - to enjoy the great outdoors - and when you’ve seen both sides you can be much more empathetic. As a hiker I try to step off the trail if possible when I hear a mountain biker approaching, even though bikes should technically yield to hikers. A little consideration on both sides goes a long way.

Many trails are designated hiking or biking only and while this eliminates potential conflicts it seems to reinforce the idea that hikers and mountain bikers can’t coexist. As I hiker I prefer trails that are closed to bikes just because it makes them seem more exclusive but is that what we really want - to rope off parts of the outdoors to certain user groups? Let’s all just get along.

The Southern Oregon Mail Tribune posted an article online about some of the best hiking guidebooks covering Oregon trails. The author mentions that there is no such thing as a “perfect” hiking guidebook but there are several factors that make some guidebooks more useful than others. Most of us expect to find directions to the trailhead, the length and difficulty of the hike, a description of the route, and a map in any good hiking guidebook and there are few (if any) I’ve used that don’t at least have these features.

One thing the Mail Tribune author looks for in a hiking guide book is photos and frankly this is where most hiking guidebooks fall flat in my experience. In general hiking guides are in black and white and are printed on dull, lightweight paper leading to underwhelming photos that tell you very little about the scenery along the trail. Guidebooks are also inherently limited in the number of photos they can show for any given trail, especially when a book has dozens of trail listings.

These days my guidebook of choice isn’t a guidebook at all - it’s the internet. Full color photos, unlimited space for maps, route info, directions, etc. and even space for reviews of the trail by multiple hikers. It’s great to get the perspective of an experienced hiker (i.e. the guidebook writer) but it’s always helpful to get a second and/or third opinion from regular hikers. Plus internet trail listings are often more up-to-date than books that are revised only every few years. Instant updates on trail closures, reroutes, etc. are possible online.

Some may argue that internet hiking guides are limited because they’re not portable and that’s true to a degree. But with new devices like the iPhone you can take your trail information with you (just download the info before you’re out of cell phone range!). You can even keep it old-school and print out hiking guides you find online and SAVE paper compared to a book that includes dozens of printed trail listings you’ll never use. Plus most websites (like this one) offer free trail info - not many free books out there!

Obviously we’re pretty big believers in putting hiking trail information online and we’re working on adding trail maps in addition to the photos, directions, descriptions, and reviews already on tripleblaze.com. Check out our online catalog of hiking trails and add or review your reviews!

Camelback Mountain is a popular hiking destination in Phoenix.

Over at Fit Sugar a reader wrote in asking about fitness training for hiking. Specifically the reader was completely exhausted after a weekend hike at Camelback Mountain in Phoenix and wanted some tips for becoming a better hiker.

If you’ve hiked Camelback you know it’s a steep climb but not all that long (less than a mile or so as I recall). Fit Sugar offered some good tips about doing shorter hikes to build up strength and endurance and general fitness stuff like working on quads and glutes at the gym. But training for hiking doesn’t have to be a boring fitness routine - there are fun things you can do outdoors to get ready for a big hike.

Hiking is, for the most part, all about aerobic endurance and leg strength (especially if you’re heading to the mountains). I run on the road during the week but an even better choice for getting in shape for hiking is cycling (or mountain biking if you’re into that). Bicycling builds the leg muscles you need for mountain hikes (quads and glutes) plus it’s a low impact, aerobic workout similar to hiking.

If it’s a backpacking trip you’re training for it’s a good idea to include a weighted pack as a part of your fitness routine. Even if you live in a place where hills are few and far between, head to the local high school and trek up and down the football stadium stands with your pack on - you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll sweat after just a few minutes. The point is that the closer your workout to the thing you’re training for, the better your preparation will be.

Hiking isn’t a competitive sport so getting in shape to hit the trail should just be about making your next trek more enjoyable!

Photo from The List.

No, we’re not talking about glamping this time. It’s not every day the celebrity and camping news worlds collide but then again it’s not every day that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes decide to take a “low budget” family camping vacation. The celebs say they want to give their daughter Suri many of the same experiences the two of them had growing up - you know, sleeping in a tent under the stars, campfires, and cooking over a camp stove.

At first glance this seems like a down to earth and refreshing celebrity perspective but here’s where the camping trip plans get a little strange: A security team will be posted near the family’s camp to keep them safe AND a member of the Church of Scientology will accompany Tom, Katie, and Suri on their adventure because “Tom never likes to be too far away from his religion.” Hmmm… interesting. Isn’t being outdoors in itself as close to a religious experience as many folks will have in life?

Keep you eyes peeled this spring and summer - you just might be sharing a campground with the Cruise - Holmes family

The Pacaya-Samiria Amazon Lodge (photo from GreenTracks.com)

If you’ve exhausted all the local camping options and are flush with green this summer, why not head down to the Amazon rainforest for a few days in the jungle? Green Tracks offers a 7 day, 6 night camping trip in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve that is sure to be the trip of a lifetime for any outdoor enthusiast.

The first part of the trip is spent in a lodge at the edge of the rainforest and gives guests a chance to hike around the surrounding forest. By day 3 the real camping begins and you’ll spend time on the water in canoes while sleeping in tents at night. The final night is spent back at the lodge before it’s time to head to the airport and the “real” world

A trip like this sounds great for anyone interested in photography, nature, or just getting away to an incredible environment and isn’t afraid to rough it a little bit. As such the price is actually pretty reasonable (just over $100 per person per day for a family of 4 inclusive of meals and lodging) and your adventure can start any day of the week you like.

Camping and hiking are all about adventure and exploring new places. What part of the world will you explore this year?

Note: Tripleblaze.com has not evaluated this travel offering and as such cannot provide any type of recommendation - do your research before you book!

In an effort to step up conservation efforts (and perhaps boost state tourism along the way), the California State Parks Foundation is releasing 40 free podcasts each featuring a different state park hike. The website already has two podcasts posted including one by legendary rocker Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame. Each podcast is narrated by a different California resident and includes ambient sounds recorded inside the parks themselves. The website also features video and articles to celebrate state parks and the foundation’s 40th anniversary.

The nice thing about the content being produced by the California State Parks Foundation is that you can get a feel for some of the state’s natural beauty no matter where you live! I know I’ve been talking about technology and the outdoors a lot lately and this is just another example of how the two are converging - in a good way if you ask me. Podcasts can help raise awareness of our natural resources while allowing a wider audience to view (or hear!) them without over-running the parks with vehicles and campfires.

We have our own list of the best hikes in California here on Tripleblaze.com and while the list isn’t perfect yet, it keeps getting better as more folks review and rate their favorite trails. Check the list to see if your faves are there!

The Reporter-Times out of Indiana posted a humor column by Gordon Grindstaff titled “Camping and Canines Don’t Mix” recounting a recent Florida camping trip with a barking dog. I’m guessing the experience wasn’t too humorous for the other campers staying at the campground that night and if your dog is a barker he or she may not be well suited to campground livin’.

A barking dog isn’t just annoying to other campers - it’s also annoying to the wildlife around you. Nature lovers may not appreciate your dog scaring off the birds they’re trying to watch and a dog chasing a squirrel through a field of tents is just an accident waiting to happen.

I’m sure I’ve shared this story on the blog before but for some reason I couldn’t find where (or if) I did. Anyway, we took our dog Jackson on a backpacking trip to the Appalachian Trail in Virginia a few years back and after finding a small, secluded campground along the trail we settled in for the night. At some point after we all fell asleep in the tent, Jackson woke us up with a low, guttural growl that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. What was out there? I didn’t hear anything but apparently he did.

My mind raced - what could it be? A bear? A person? Just a raccoon? If it was a bear I didn’t want Jackson attracting or provoking the animal somehow so I tried to quiet him. He continued to growl and crane his neck to look out the mesh tent window for a little while longer but eventually went back to sleep.

I, on the other hand, could not get back to sleep the rest of the night for fear of what could have been outside. I’ve been camping for decades and I’ve never been fearful outdoors - except this time - even though I’m sure it was nothing. Stupid dog.

Anyway, camping with your dog can be a fun experience but just remember that you will be forced to take the good with the bad. Read our tips for camping with your dog to make your next canine camping experience a good one.