Photo from Time Out Dubai.

Quick - what do you think of when you hear about Dubai? Ridiculously large sky scrapers? Luxury shopping and resorts? Oil? Better add camping to the list because according to Time Out Dubai there are some amazing opportunities for desert camping just outside the city.

Desert camping outside Dubai sounds pretty awesome to me: spots where there is no light or noise pollution and no tire tracks (probably because they were erased by the wind the night before). There is plenty to see as well: sand monitor lizards, sand cats, and desert gazelle (if you’re lucky). Driving and hiking are some of the more popular pastimes for desert campers.

However, this warning from the article makes me think desert camping in the UAE may not be for everyone:

You should never journey into the desert without another vehicle – or another two if you’re going into Liwa. You must also be a competent desert driver and equipped with GPS. Be sure to check all fluid levels, tyres and the weather forecast before setting out.

It’s not really clear why you need multiple vehicles - breakdowns? hijackers? Clearly the tip on checking fluid levels and weather conditions is a good one for any type of desert camping or hiking excursion.

Finally, I want to share a camping tip this article reminded me of about staking a tent in the sand. While I was in the Air Force we often set up large canvas tents (called GP Mediums) in the sandy soil in Colorado and Florida and my NCOs taught me this trick: instead of pushing tent stakes straight into the sand, angle the stakes AWAY from the tent at a 45 degree angle. Of course this seems counterintuitive but it turns out the friction (or suction as some claimed) is what keeps your stakes secure from lateral movements caused by wind. A vertical tent stake will quickly be rocked back and forth until the hole is enlarged and releases your tent stake.

Now you’re ready to pitch your tent in the desert outside Dubai!

It’s happening in West Virginia too - campground reservations are up 2-3% this year over last year (which was also up 2-3%). State Park officials chalk it up to the economy as more families are choosing less expensive summer vacation alternatives like camping. Of course a 2-3% increase isn’t all that much given the poor state of the economy - instead we suspect population growth and the ease of telephone reservations may also be contributing to the increase. If West Viginia added internet reservations the increase would probably be more like 5%.

Either way, the good news is that the state of West Virginia is responding to the growth in camping interest by adding more capacity including a new 75 site campground near Beckley. The new campground will be in addition to the 26 state campgrounds in the state.

If you haven’t already made your reservations yet, don’t worry - only half of the campsites in each campground may be reserved in advance meaning there are still plenty of good old fashioned “first come, first served” sites available. Planning ahead is overrated anyway

The Camping Blogger posted a great article on preparing for the unexpected when camping and it’s a good place to start if you’re getting your gear prepped for the summer. It’s a fact that on most camping trips you’ll forget and/or break at least one item but if you’re prepared with some versatile emergency supplies it won’t ruin your trip. In fact, after you MacGuyver a solution to your problem you’ll probably feel pretty smart - and there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned sense of accomplishment. Some of the versatile camping items mentioned on Camping Blogger (and in the comments):

• Duct dape. ‘Nough said.
• Aluminum foil: great substitute for pots and pans
• Zip lock bags: I like to use these to keep clothes organized and dry but there are hundreds of other camping uses.
• Rope/twine: Roy mentions packing parachute cord specifically but at least having some type of rope or string around can get you out of a pickle. A sewing kit with thread can be helpful as well for mending ripped equipment or clothing or even fishing if you forget your tackle!
• Seam grip: I don’t pack this myself but believe me, I’m adding it to my list right now.

In addition to the things mentioned I also like to bring along an extra tarp just in case I find myself in a huge downpour and need to keep things dry. A plastic tarp can also be helpful if you forget a sleeping bag (like one of the Camping Blogger commenters did). I also bring paper towels which can be used for everything from cleaning to fire-starting to writing notes.

Camping is really just improvised living in the great outdoors - as long as you have a few of these versatile items there isn’t any problem you can’t solve!

Photo courtesy Hydros Adventures.

Hydros Adventures is filling empty seats on trips this summer in a pretty novel way: they’re giving them away for free! You can register to win a free trip to Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon at HydrosAdventures.com and the winner(s) will be notified via email at some point in the future (details are pretty sparse despite the website and press release I read). The trip normally costs about $800 per person (minimum) so a free trip is one heck of a deal!

I hadn’t heard of Havasu Falls before but from the pics and videos I saw this morning it looks truly amazing. The Hydros Adventures trip is 3 days and involves hiking 10 miles each way to the falls and back. Fortunately pack mules do most of the heavy lifting and that’s a good thing since the elevation change is about 2200′ over the route.

It seems like free camping and hiking opportunities are popping up everywhere this summer - we’ll keep letting you know about the deals we find!

We’ve been working for several months on the latest innovation in camping tent technology: the titanium dome tent. Of course tent manufacturers have been integrating titanium into tent poles for years but Tripleblaze has created the first tent completely covered in titanium! No more worries about bear attacks while you’re sleeping - the titanium tent has you covered.

Of course to create a titanium tent we needed to make some modifications to the typical dome tent design. Instead of rolling the tent up for storage you’ll need to fold the titanium tent along the included hinge connectors. While titanium is one of the most lightweight metals we could find, our 4-person dome tent is a bit heavier than your typical canvas or nylon tent - about 55 pounds when packed.

The titanium dome tent is *mostly* waterproof (except at the hinges of course) and in a rain storm the pitter patter of rain will lull you to sleep. Lightning safety has not yet been tested so we recommend avoiding this tent if thunderstorms are in the forecast.

Titanium is not a cheap building material and so the Tripleblaze titanium tent is a little pricey - MSRP is set at $3,800 for the 2-man version. Reserve your titanium dome tent today - now accepting pre-orders through April 1, 2009.

Happy April Fool’s Day.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

If you’re looking for more proof that winter camping is not only possible but can even be enjoyable, look no further than Chris Rodriguez’s blog. Rodriguez and friends camped out on Mount Mitchell in western NC recently (this highest point east of the Mississippi) and had a blast despite cold and snowy conditions. If you need motivation for getting out and camping before spring this is a good post to read.

Whether it’s hiking, biking, or camping in the winter, for me the hardest part is stepping out of the car. But once I’m outside and moving around the cold doesn’t seem as bad as I had thought it would be. And when I’m back in my car or back indoors the sense of accomplishment I get from winter hiking and camping is much greater than it is in the summer. Chris Rodriguez mentions in his post that winter camping feels a little extreme and I totally agree - that’s what makes it fun!

As a new Boy Scout I used to hate rainy camping trips (as I’m sure most people do) until I got proper rain gear. Once I had a set of rain pants, rain jacket, and waterproof boots I actually kinda hoped it would rain so I could show off my gear. And as an older Scout I also appreciated the challenge that camping in the rain added to what had become mostly routine for me (setting up the tent, making a fire, etc.).

It may seem a little masochistic but camping in adverse conditions can be kinda fun - especially when you make it back in one piece.

I came across a ridiculous article recently titled “How to Camp on a Budget” (link withheld as a courtesy ) and it got me thinking: Isn’t camping already vacationing on a budget?

I suppose there are ways to make camping even more inexpensive to the point of it being nearly free. Here are some ideas:

• Borrow equipment or buy used. Many families own camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, a stove, etc.) but rarely get to use it more than a couple times a year. Ask around your neighborhood or church and you should be able to outfit your whole crew for a weekend trip. Also check garage sales or craigslist for used camping gear for sale if you feel uncomfortable borrowing.
• Stay close to home. Nearly every person in the US probably lives within 25 miles of a campground and with gas prices back to reasonable levels anyone can afford to get outdoors. Splurge a little and drive further to your closest National Park.
• Find a no frills campground. Sure some privately owned campgrounds have wi-fi and video arcades but you can often find FREE campgrounds in National Forest areas. Amenities are usually sparse but if you can find a campground with running water and a restroom that’s really all you need for a short trip. Otherwise, even the most expensive state and national parks rarely charge more than $20 a night for a family campsite.

Yep, I’m pretty sure if someone tried hard enough they could find a way to go on a weekend camping trip for zero dollars and zero cents. But why do it? Compared to the cost of a trip to Disney or the beach camping is cheap enough - even on a $0 budget.

Last week I read a story on a forum thread about a guy who had his backpack stolen while camping out on the trail one night. Apparently the pack wasn’t *technically* stolen - it was just traded. When the unsuspecting camper awoke in the morning his backpack containing all his food and cooking gear was gone, replaced with a worn and broken backpack containing just a poncho and a can of Dinty Moore stew. Nice. The camper turned the trip into an ultralight / survival mission and fortunately made it out ok after a few more days on the trail.

Most of us (myself included) give little thought to what we do with our backpacks when we camp on the trail but this story got me thinking. It’s always a good idea to place backpacks containing food off the ground to make it tougher for critters to get at your stuff and if rain is in the forecast I usually try to fit my pack inside the tent with me. But what if the real threat to your stuff isn’t animal or precipitation but rather other hikers?

I suppose we could all start carrying bike locks with us on the trail to lock our packs to trees but if you’ve ever used a bike lock you know those suckers are heavy. Even then, most of us use internal frame packs with few solid surfaces to lock to - nylon straps are pretty easy to cut after all.

Fortunately in the case of the ripped-off backpacker the thief didn’t get away with two big ticket camping items - his sleeping bag and tent. Perhaps the best way to keep your backpack safe is to empty it out and use it as a pillow inside your tent

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Smoky Mountains National Park and there are dozens of events scheduled to celebrate. Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular National Park in the US with nearly 8-10 million visitors each year and is easily accessible to most east coasters. The list below showcases just some of the events taking place in 2009 - check out greatsmokies75th.org for more details!

Seventy Five Miles of Hikes in Knoxville
Music of the Mountains
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Gatlinburg
National Junior Ranger Day
Cosby in the Park
DLIA Citizen Science Event
International Day for Biodiversity A Celebration in Gatlinburg
Fern Foray
Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary: Cades Cove in Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary: Park Headquarters in GRSM Park Headquarters
Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary: Oconaluftee in Oconaluftee
Biodiversity Days in the Smokies
Women’s Work Festival in Oconaluftee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary: Park ‘Rededication’
Fern Foray
Mountain Life Festival in Cherokee
DLIA Citizen Science Appreciation Potluck in Cosby Campground
Festival of Christmas Past
Holiday Homecoming in Cherokee

The Nashua Telegraph posted a great article about winter camping in snowy New Hampshire and I gotta say I learned alot about what it takes to camp in the snow. Aside from the fact that all your gear is much bulkier than in summer (thicker jackets and sleeping bags, sturdier tent for snow loads, etc.) there is also the fact that winter camping gear is much heavier than summer equipment. Yet, it’s still possible to go backcountry camping in winter with the help of a little something called a pulk.

If you’ve been downhill skiing you’ve probably seen ski patrol members practicing with pulks used to carry injured skiers off the slopes. The concept for winter backpacking/cross-country ski-camping is the same except the pulk is used to carry your gear instead of a person (gear which, hopefully, should be lighter than an adult!). From what I’ve read it’s best to use a pulk with rigid poles to help you keep your balance, though I imagine poles can also help with traction on tricky ascents. Unfortunately if you’re going somewhere without decent snow covering the ground you’re out of luck - pulks are only meant to glide across snow and ice.

You can purchase a pulk online or get instructions for building your own - a basic pulk can be constructed from a child’s sled and some rope. Many pulk-packers (is that a real term?) choose to carry some gear (like things that can’t get wet or frozen) on their backs while towing a pulk behind.

It’s pretty incredible the things people are willing do to get outside and camp this time of year - kinda makes me feel wimpy for complaining about the “cold” weather down here in Georgia!