With all the modern technology that exists today, it’s very easy to sit at home and stay constantly distracted. Every once in a while it’s nice to just leave behind all the gadgets and furniture that makes living convenient and comfortable, and escape to the woods. Camping is an excellent way to do this. I first started camping as a little girl with my family and remember loving every minute of it. As an adult it gets harder and harder to find time to do more of the things you truly enjoy. So whenever time, weather, and money permits I plan a camping/hiking trip.

Last summer my boyfriend and I were able to take a weeklong vacation and headed up to the north Georgia and western North Carolina mountains for some much needed camping and hiking time. To get ready for this excursion we would need to gather some essential items from home first. The list of provisions included: a tent, sleeping bags and pillows, flashlights, hygiene products, clothes and shoes, foldable camping chairs, a lighter, a cooler, eating utensils, hydration packs, canned and dry food, and maps of the general areas we would be visiting. With all our supplies packed in the car, we headed north and didn’t stop until we saw mountains.

Our tent all set up. The small creek was just to the left.

By the time we arrived it was close to nightfall and we had to set up camp. Our campground for the night was DeSoto Falls located in the Chatahoochee National Forest. We drove around first to pick out our ideal campsite and noticed there weren’t too many other people around. It was a very quiet and secluded area which was just perfect for us. This campground had a bathhouse with an outdoor fenced-in shower. We also noticed there was a hiking trail which led to two waterfalls. After driving around in a complete circle, our campsite choice was obvious: the one right next to a small creek. We would make this our home for the next day.

It was getting dark quickly so I retrieved the cooler and started assembling dinner while my other half set up the tent and then collected some nearby wood to make a nice fire. After a long day we ended up with just enough light left to eat some food, get our tent set up, and get a fire started. When the sun went down and it was completely dark outside, we sat in our Coleman camping chairs around the mesmerizing fire and just soaked in the natural atmosphere. There were a few fireflies floating around, crickets chirping, the sound of the creek behind us, and even an owl hooting. We both looked at each other and yawned and decided it was time to crash for the night. Just before nodding off we heard some animals rustling in the bushes and I just smiled, turned over, and quickly fell asleep.

The bridge before the waterfall

The next morning we were refreshed and ready to hike the waterfall trail we discovered the day before, so we headed over to the DeSoto Falls Scenic Area. The name comes from a legend which says there was a piece of armor found near the falls that supposedly belonged to Hernando DeSoto or one of the explorers traveling with him. The area features a quarter mile trail leading to the Lower Falls and a 3/4 mile trail leading to the Upper Falls. We hiked to the Lower Falls first. It was a short, easy, fairly level trail paved with dirt and mulch. The first waterfall was somewhat small but beautiful. We sat and gazed at it for a little while, then started hiking to the Upper Falls. There was a nice bridge that we crossed to get over the river, just before getting to the waterfall. These falls were a lot taller and we stayed and watched the water for a bit longer.

The Upper Falls

After returning from our morning hike we decided to follow the plan we made the night before to leave this campsite and explore more of the Chatahoochee National Forest. Our next destination of choice was the Raven Cliffs Trailhead which leads to the popular Raven Cliff Falls. We took down the tent, packed up our belongings, and headed off toward our next adventure. There is nothing more exciting and freeing than being able to travel wherever your heart desires and not having ties to one specific place. It’s also satisfying to be able to pack up and take with you everything you need to survive.

Having a whole week without internet, electricity, appliances, furniture, or a private bathroom may seem like a sacrifice to some people but to us it is a state of relaxation and connectedness to nature.  Hundreds of years ago people didn’t have all the amenities we have as Americans today. There are people in other countries right now who are still living without what we would consider the basic necessities of life. I feel like it’s important to know that I can exist without technology and amenities and still have an awesome time!

GSI Bugaboo Basecamper Cook set – nested

This cook set beats all other camping cook sets hands down.  Full disclosure:  We love GSI products.  We have the GSI dualist backpacking set, an older GSI cook set, and even a GSI kettle for camping.  This set though?  This set takes the cake.  Here are the specs from GSI:

Teflon coated.

Includes 3 and 5 liter pots.

The lids are crush-proof, heat-resistant nylon with silicone rings.

The cutting board has a flat and a dished side for various needs.

The cook set also includes a frying pan and a folding gripper handle that locks onto the 3 L pot and frying pan.

5 L pot, 3 L pot with lid, frying pan with gripper handle, and cutting board

On our first night out I was most excited to try the strainer in the lid.  Our older set has plastic lids that are difficult to use as straining devices.  So I decided to make a pasta dish for dinner since I knew then we’d have to strain something.  The 5 L pot is great.  It’s deep but not too wide, so it even sits fine on our one-burner Primus stove.

5 L GSI pot

Straining was a breeze because the lid doesn’t get too hot! I could hold it shut and strain the pasta with ease. No burns, no water dribbling around the edges, nothing!

I later mixed the pasta, veggies, and sauce all in the same pot and the Teflon coating worked so well it hardly needed cleaning. Nothing stuck to it at all. Since it’s so big, we actually used it as our wash pot as well.

The next day I was super excited to use the frying pan to make pancakes. I thought we’d truly test out the non-stick coating.

Attaching the gripper handle to the frying pan

I used maybe 2 tsp of oil in the pan. I wanted to use as little as possible to really see how non-stick this pan was.

Here is giant pancake #1.

After the flip! No sticking at all from the GSI frying pan.

Finally, just because I love it so, I have to show off our GSI kettle.

GSI kettle – holds the perfect amount of water for 2 giant cups of coffee.

My overall assessment is that everyone who likes to camp should have this cook set. It nests and has a mesh bag to hold everything. There is even room inside the 3 liter pot to hold a small one-burner stove or tea kettle. Everything cleans up easily and the lids stay cool enough to touch while straining water from the pot. The Bugaboo Basecamper Large cook set retails for $79.95 and is worth every penny for avid campers.

Thanks to GSI Outdoors for allowing us to review this great cook set.

Panthertown Valley, located east of Cashiers, North Carolina, is a high-altitude valley (by East Coast standards) that contains and is ringed by tall mountains with several massive granite faces. This unique topography has earned it the title “Yosemite of the East.”

Andrew hiking along the top of the Big Green Mountain cliff.

Contributing to the Yosemite-feel are several granite faces that stretch for thousands of feet along the sides of some of the mountains, with cliffs as high as 300-400 feet. As you can imagine, the views from the top are fantastic! But Panthertown isn’t just a one-trick pony: there are many more natural attractions, including at least 8 major waterfalls, many more minor waterfalls, beautiful streams and rivers, and unique flora and ecosystems.

As a result of all of these things to see and do, this breathtaking valley is an increasingly popular hiking and backpacking destination. Despite the increasing traffic, Panthertown still maintains a very raw, wilderness feel. While it might feel like wilderness, it is technically a part of the Nantahala National Forest. As a result, many of the trails are also open to mountain bikes and some are open to horses, although there is little indication of significant traffic from either.

In my opinion, this is one of the things that truly sets Panthertown apart: there are just so many different ways you can enjoy its wild beauty! While you can always come to hike and backpack, be sure to pack the rock climbing gear, the mountain bike, and the fishing pole too!

The network design of the trail system can make it easy to get lost at times, so bring a map. Most of the main trails are marked on National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map #785 and have corresponding USFS trail markers. However, there is veritable spider web of unmarked footpaths branching off the main conduits that generally lead to interesting attractions like cliff access points, waterfalls, and rivers. There is officially about 30 miles of trails in the valley, but if you factor in the plethora of spur trails, there is no telling how many miles of trail there are to explore!

While the scope of the trail system can be daunting, if you buy a good map (see above) and stick to the main paths, the network design can transform Panthertown into a great beginner’s backpacking destination. Since you are never more than a few miles from your car, the commitment is very minimal. You can do a multi-day backpacking expedition, see a significant amount of the area, and still end up back at your car where you started. Or, if you’d rather, you can just do a quick overnight and only cover a few miles. As a result, the logistics of hiking in Panthertown are much simpler than doing an epic point-to-point hike on the Appalachian Trail. There’s no need to worry about reaching your destination in a set amount of time to meet your shuttle, removing all of the headache and letting the submersive experience of backpacking in the wilderness take over.

If you are looking for a great East Coast destination for your next backpacking trip, be sure to put the Yosemite of the East on your short list!

This past weekend a group of us from work and some friends headed to Moab, UT for a weekend of camping and hiking.  One person went over early on Friday to secure a campsite and found a great one at the Spring Site campground out on Kane Creek Road.  There are 5 campsites here and they share “facilities” with the Hunters Canyon campground about a mile further down the road.  Dust aside, Spring Site #3 was a great spot for us and provided plenty of room for tents.  Still, if you’re squeamish about not having a bathroom handy at all times, you might want to pitch your tent right down at Hunters Canyon instead.

My tent is the tiny yellow MSR up on the hill.

Since we were here, we decided to hike Hunter Canyon on Saturday. We got a late start, but by 1:30 (yes, 1:30) we were standing at the trail register reading the description of the hike. It included something along the lines of “Distance: 4 miles round trip. Duration: 4 hours.”

“Ha! Yeah right…4 hours. It won’t take us that long,” someone said.

We set off up the sandy trail to explore. Surely, we thought, it won’t take us 4 hours to go 4 miles! Hunter Canyon is beautiful. There is a stream that manages to snake its way through the desert canyon, over and under rocks, from beginning to end.

Spring flowers were blooming and the rock formations were definitely photo-worthy. Little arches in rocks, made by wind and water, just called for attention.

Tiny arches in rocks along the trail

Blooming Barrell Cactus

Desert primrose

It was hot. So hot. After a while even the flowers blooming all around us took a backseat to the heat. I kept dipping my hat in the stream and sipping water. Still, I was afraid I was going to run out at every sip. Supposedly there was an arch at the end of Hunter Canyon. We found this, but it looks nothing like an arch.

“Did we take a wrong turn? Was there another cairn back there?” someone asked. So we turned around, after reaching the very very last possible can’t-go-any-further end of one canyon. There was indeed another cairn marking another trail. We headed in that direction across some high meadows, criss-crossing the stream, and eventually found a nice cool pool of water and some shade.

At this point it was 3:15. We’d had a good hike so far, but we still had to get back to the campsite… at least 3 miles away. So we turned around. We hadn’t encountered any amazing arches, but we’d seen tiny desert flowers, tiny waterfalls, and huge rock formations. The hike out was quiet. Everyone was tired and running low on water. We stumbled back into “civilization” at Hunter Campground and said, “We should have driven down here.”

With a mile to go to get back to camp we started walking back up Kane Creek Road. All I could think about was having a nice cold beer and some chips. And ice cream. Maybe a sandwich. In the end, this canyon hike falls under the “it was an adventure!” category. It’s beautiful and I highly recommend it, but I also recommend heeding the “duration” description. It will take you four hours. Prepare accordingly with plenty of water, snacks and sunscreen.

By the way, THIS is what an arch should look like!

Sunday’s hike was to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.

A Walk in the Woods chronicles author Bill Bryson’s  hope of rediscovering America through the Appalachian Trail after living abroad for two decades. His goal is to hike the 2,146 mile trail from Maine to Georgia but his adventure does not meet the idea of a typical through hike approach. The stories of Bryson, his friend Katz, and the many wild characters they encounter along the trail kept me reading and laughing late into the night.

Bryson’s goal was simple: “I wanted a little of that swagger that comes with being able to gaze at afar horizon through eyes of chipped granite and say with a slow manly sniff ‘Yeah, I’ve shit in the woods.’” From a fellow hiker that wouldn’t stop talking to arming himself with toenail clippers to fight off a bear, Bryson found a way to turn every moment into something that would make you really laugh.

Bryson’s attention to detail in this book stood out. At the end of the book, he offers a list of suggested reading material which he also references throughout the book. Information about the geology, ecology, and history of the Appalachians leaves the reader not only understanding Bryson’s personal adventure, but also the factors that have shaped the trail into what it is today. At times he takes on hard issues, such as the Department of Interior’s land usage and preservation policies and at other times he shares his fear of bears by quoting selections of Bear attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (Stephen Herreos. Harmony Books, 1992), a book I will not be reading anytime soon!

Overall I think A Walk in the Woods is a great book and may even be a great primer for through hiking the AT as it provides insight into the politics, the geologic and more recent history, and what it means to be on the trail. I give it two thumbs up and suggest it to anyone who wants a good laugh and an introduction to the Appalachian Trail.

A UK company recently launched a website that connects campers with homeowners offering a place to pitch a tent called Camp in My Garden. While the website appears to be mostly centered around camping for events (think music festivals and the 2012 Olympics), the site also allows you to search potential campsites by location.

It’s free for land owners to list their camping spot and members who’d like to pitch a tent need to “apply” before confirming the arrangement. Whether the property owners can charge a camping fee is unclear – we suppose that depends on local ordinances. For now it seems that the arrangements are purely based on generosity.

While a quick search for big US cities like Denver and New York yielded no results we’re sure this concept has plenty of room to grow here in the states. Got a big yard suitable for camping? Would you allow strangers to camp there? Would you be interested in camping in someone’s yard for your next trip?

We recently read about a company called Suburban Camping that offers to take all the hassle out of setting up a backyard for family camping “scenarios.” The idea is that some folks don’t have the time, equipment, or the know-how to give their families a real camping experience on their own. Suburban Camping promises to have an “expert outfitter” set up a backyard campsite for customers which is probably overkill but we can see how that might be reassuring to clueless homeowners.

Aside from providing the usual camping stuff (tent, sleeping bags, lanterns), Suburban Camping can also set you up with a “S’mores bar” and even an outdoor movie. The movie thing sounds a little odd at first until you consider the fact that the whole experience is sorta like being on a movie set anyway.

Suburban Camping’s mission statement seems to be in line with what many would consider the spirit of camping:

… By nurturing genuine connections thru the camping experience, we have the ability to enrich lives by bringing back simple but often forgotten pleasures. …

Perhaps for some who have never had a camping experience, Suburban Camping can offer a safe, accessible opportunity to get started.

What do you think? Clearly this service isn’t meant for experienced campers but is it a good concept?

via Springwise.com.

Last week I met up with my friend Paul and his brothers, Dan and Greg for a couple nights of camping and hiking in the Smoky Mountains just outside Robbinsville, NC. Since I was the one with the maps I suggested a couple spots that looked interesting and we settled on Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness.

Initially our plan was to backpack and spend one or both nights on the trail but late arrivals Monday meant we’d set up a base camp at Horse Cove campground at the edge of the wilderness area and head out the next day. As we approached the campground on the twisty road along the shores of Lake Santeetlah we noticed three or four campsites on the lake that looked amazing. Turns out they were part of the Horse Cove camping area, separated by about a mile of asphalt from the campground kiosk and restrooms. We jetted back to one of the empty sites, jotted down the number, and paid our $10 registration fee for the night.

To say that this campsite was nice is a bit of an understatement. Granted, it didn’t have running water (at least in the traditional sense), easy access to showers, or even a restroom nearby – but none of that really mattered. Site J-9 jutted slightly out onto Lake Santeetlah and had two flat, clean tent pads, each with room for a large family tent. There was an upright grill, a ground-level “fire circle” grill, and a built-up rock fire pit, along with a nice picnic table. Two lantern hooks rounded out the amenities.

On one side of the campground there was a rushing stream that emptied out into the lake. Firewood was plentiful thanks to recent storms that appeared to have washed tons of logs and sticks onto the shores. The campsite offered easy access for swimming in the lake, though I’m not sure if it was completely kosher for us to take a dip.

A little fun with the camera at night. Nice work on the flashlight lettering Greg!

With such a nice site I was hesitant to give it up to go rough it for a night out on the trail. Instead we decided to do a day hike loop in the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness area that we estimated would be about 10 miles.

Sometimes maps can be confusing.

At around 11:30am we started up trail 53A toward Jenkins Meadow. Now apparently I can’t read a topo map very well because I was surprised by the climb up to the meadow – at least 1,500 feet in just a couple miles. We ran into a group of three hikers (the only ones we’d see all day) who told us Jenkins Meadow wasn’t really a meadow at all (perhaps it was decades ago). They recommended hiking out to the Hangover overlook for true 360-degree views which was a great tip.

The trail continued to climb after Jenkins Meadow, eventually topping out over a mile high (5,280 feet). Since we started at just over 2,000 feet that was a serious climb and it was interesting to see that the trees were just starting to show their leaves at the top of the mountain. We hiked down to the overlook and were treated to spectacular (and rare) unobstructed views of the Smokies.

Greg takes in the views.

On the way back down we took trail 55 which basically parallels Little Santeetlah Creek and had a much different feel to it than the trail we hiked up. Toward the bottom we were treated to lush greenery, streams flowing in every direction, and enormous old growth trees towering above. Greg and Dan decided to go for a swim in the creek near the end of the trail but Paul and I pressed back to the lake for a (warmer) dip.

The next day we packed up camp and drove to the Deep Creek area just inside Smoky Mountains National Park. From the parking lot we took the short hike to Juney Whank Falls and Indian Creek Falls. We saw plenty of people on the trails and in the water, unlike our previous two days at Horse Cove. From Deep Creek we hit the Filling Station deli for Cuban sandwiches and Frosted Orange milkshakes next door before I had to head back to Atlanta.

Paul, Dan, and Greg ended up spending one more night out, this time at a backcountry campsite inside Smoky Mountains National Park. I’m told they saw a couple of bear cubs up a tree near Clingman’s Dome – seems like I always miss seeing the bears!

It’s hard to believe there’s still another month until summer officially hits – plenty of time to get in more camping and hiking adventures! Where are you heading this month?

Congratulations to last month’s outdoor review and photo contest winners, SCgregg1 and newcomer Iron Kalli Cutlass. SCgregg1 racked up an impressive triple digit score while Iron Kalli Cutlass added some sweet hiking and camping info across California and Nevada. Once again we didn’t receive a single gear review (!) so there will be no third prize this month.

To make it easier for folks to find outdoor gear to review, we’ve added hundreds of new products this month so if you haven’t checked out the gear review section in a while, get busy! Who knows, just a single review of a sleeping bag or tent could net a cool $25 REI gift card next month…

We also wanted to announce our recent partnership with ReserveAmerica’s campground reservation service that makes it easier than ever to find and reserve great campsites around the country. Just look for the “Reserve” button on select campground pages and claim your spot for spring and summer camping!

Finally, we’ve added a new trip tab that links to info about guided outdoor adventures around the world. The info comes courtesy of SWAE Sports and you can book any of the trips directly through their website for a hassle-free experience. Where will you explore in 2011?

Ok, so we won’t go into much detail on this one but for those who are interested there’s a new DVD available called “Stand 2 Pee.” From the website:

At Outdoor Retailer we learned a little more about Easton’s carbon tent pole technology and came away suitably impressed. For those who haven’t purchased a tent recently, carbon fiber tent poles are much lighter weight than standard aluminum poles and are more durable as well. Easton’s poles have been tested in extreme conditions like Mt. Everest so they should be up to whatever you throw at them.

This year Easton is debuting a patent-pending tent pole connection system called “AirLock” that reduces the weight of standard aluminum/shock cord pole systems by 59%. AirLock basically does away with the idea of a continuous, stretchy cord connecting tent poles. Instead, special connectors on each end of the pole are held together with a monofilament tether. It’s a little tough to tell exactly what’s fixed and what’s not based on the diagram above so we’re anxious to get our hands on these tent poles in the field.

Video from TrailSpace below.

image courtesy smokeybear.com.

If you’re not already his friend on Facebook, you probably didn’t know today (August 9) is Smokey the Bear’s birthday. The venerable forest fire prevention bear turns 66 this year and doesn’t look a day over 25 in our opinion! Almost anyone, no matter how young or old, knows Smokey’s slogan – “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

In honor of Smokey the Bear’s birthday don’t get him a cake with candles (I’m pretty sure he’s pyrophobic). Instead, send birthday wishes by following him on Twitter or becoming his fan on Facebook. But most importantly, remember his mantra and be extra careful with your outdoor campfires this summer and fall!

Congratulations to Tripleblaze member Chrissy, winner of the Coleman Quickpack 2-mantle propane lantern from Kmart.com/Camping! Chrissy added a review of Olive Ridge Campground in Estes Park, CO last week and was randomly selected from dozens of other campground reviewers. Thanks to everyone who participated, stay tuned for more contests this summer and fall!

If you do any amount of camping you already know the Coleman brand but what you may not know is Coleman outdoor equipment is available online at Kmart.com/Camping. Kmart’s online camping section even features a camp packing checklist, outdoor tips, and camp game and entertainment ideas. Just about the only thing missing is campground reviews!

And that’s where you come in. Add a review to any campground listed on Tripleblaze.com through August 1 and you’ll be entered to win the Coleman 2 Mantle Quickpack Propane Lantern from Kmart. This lantern pumps out a blinding 967 lumens on high and runs for nearly 8 hours. The best part is the new design packs down easily for transport and storage.

The more reviews you add, the greater your chance of winning the Quickpack Lantern on August 1!

Thanks to Kmart.com for providing the Coleman Quickpack Lantern for this contest.

We’ve been asked about camping gear rentals before and a recent blog posting got us thinking about the subject once again. Springwise reports on Contented Camping, a UK-based company that lets you try camping gear before you buy (which is a fancy way of saying camping gear rental). A one to six day tent rental will set you back just over $30 US which seems like a good deal for anything longer than a quick weekend trip.

An even better idea than renting tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc. is to ask a friend to take you camping so you can mooch off their gear! Seriously, most campers I know are always dying to introduce friends and family to the joys of sleeping outdoors and would be happy to scrounge up some extra gear for you.

If you don’t happen to know any camping enthusiasts, you might be surprised to find that entry-level tents and sleeping bags aren’t all that expensive. For less than $100 you can buy an easy-to-pitch, medium-sized tent at any major sporting goods or department store. And don’t feel like you need to get specialized equipment to make it outdoors: blankets work almost as well as sleeping bags and kitchen pots and pans can substitute for fancy camp cookware.

These days there are more options than ever for outfitting a family camping adventure. No more excuses, get your crew outside this summer!

As if you needed another reason to go camping this month, according to the North Face, June is National Camping Month. This is the second annual National Camping Month and the company’s retail stores will be:

offering a series of free clinics on topics such as how to select appropriate camping gear, pack a backpack, pitch a tent, make campfire meals and where to camp locally. The stores will also celebrate National Trails Day on the weekend of June 5 in partnership with the American Hiking Society

So find a great campground and sleep out under the stars at least once this month!

Here’s a new camping/hiking product you may not have seen before: The JakPak. Although the name implies a jacket backpack, this thing is actually part jacket, part tent, and part sleeping bag. Waterproof and breathable fabric make this a super versatile 3 season jacket where the “sleeping bag” folds down and the “tent” comes out of a hidden rear pocket.

Of course with any design there are always tradeoffs (like tent poles in your back if you decide to lay down in your jacket) but hey, you’ve got a tent strapped to your back! Let’s just say the tent and sleeping bag could be good survival items to have in such a convenient package. Then again, who knows – ultralight backpacking may have just gotten even lighter!

via Springwise.

Although I’d much rather be hiking or mountain biking the day after Thanksgiving, it’s tough to pass up great deals on outdoor equipment. Here are a few deals you need to know about this year.

REI: The first 300 customers through the door at REI stores on Black Friday will receive gift cards ranging in value from $5 to $100. Stores open at 8am so there’s no need to wake up before dawn – sweet.

Bass Pro Shops: Apparently there will be different deals at each store from 6 to 11am on Black Friday. For example, my local Bass Pro will have a $39.99 dog bed for just $14.94 and a digital food dehydrator for $70 off the regular price. Check here to find your local store and view the deals in your area.

Dick’s Sporting Goods: The folks at Dick’s are being coy with their deals this year and to find out what’s on sale you have to check the website after 6pm EST tonight. Doors open at 5am on Black Friday and if you’re shopping online you’ll get free shipping on orders over $49 all weekend. Honestly I’m a little confused about what’s on sale where and when so it may be worthwhile to call your local store.

Backcountry.com: No Black Friday deals as far as we can tell but their “Secret Stash Sale” is going on right now with up to 25% off 10,000 items.

Cabela’s: Ho-hum, Cabela’s is offering free shipping on orders over $99 through December 1. Of course there’s also the everyday “Bargain Cave” with thousands of items marked up to 70% off where you may find a decent deal.

That’s all we got so far, if you know of any Black Friday deals on outdoor equipment we missed, fill us in through the comment section!

I don’t know about you but I’ve always thought pop-up campers were a little, er, ugly. Of course I’m no RV enthusiast but the idea of a pop-up camper is mildly appealing – it is, after all, sorta halfway between a tent and a RV. The Opera is a new pop-up camper design that’s turning heads in Europe and is scheduled to begin production in 2010. Even the logo is pretty sweet if you ask me

As you might have guessed the Opera takes its name from its design inspiration, the Sydney Opera house. The arched canvas cover keeps the sun and rain off the wine cabinet and espresso bar inside (no kidding). The post I read mentions that this pop-up camper will be targeted to the high end of the market so don’t expect to get one of these on the cheap anytime soon. Let’s just hope other manufacturers get the hint and start giving camping enthusiasts more stylish choices!

Congratulations to our September content contest winners, SCguide1 and Mountain Rest Cabins. SCguide1 is a two time winner and he’s already out in front for October. Mountain Rest Cabins snuck into second place with just 4 photo uploads last month – and they were of their own property – how great is that? As you can see it’s easy to get your $25 REI gift card – just add your reviews and photos and you just might win this month! Read details here.

In other site news, we launched the a Google map showing the locations (exact and approximate) of thousands of  campgrounds across the US. We still need your help zeroing in on exact locations for many campgrounds – hit up the white pin points and let us know where they belong.