Archive for July, 2010
Our Annual Backpacking Adventure
My brother and I take a couple weeks off from work every summer and go backpacking through the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. We have a strong disdain for technology despite the fact that we both work for an IT company, so it’s a good opportunity to disconnect and reacquaint ourselves with nature. Since we carry our packs with us everywhere, we bring nothing but the essentials: backpacking tents, emergency rations, tools and a few other miscellaneous lightweight supplies.
It may seem irresponsible to head into the great outdoors with such minimal equipment, but my brother and I were both Eagle Scouts and spent time in the Marines, so we’re well versed in the ways of the wild. Much of our food comes from fishing, which is one of our favorite activities on these journeys. On particularly good days, we dry some of the fish to save for later when they may not be biting.
Effectively Setting Up Your Tent
If you’ve ever spent any time among tents, you know that every part and accessory must be functioning well in order for the tent to work its best. To that end, if you’ve lost or misplaced your stakes, it’s not that sound of an idea to use the tent. One strong breeze, after all, could take your Eureka family tent anywhere, including in the woods, off the trail, or even in the water.
You’ll also want to make sure your tent poles are exactly right. If even just one section is bent or unusable, it can severely impair the shape of your tent and your ability to properly set it up. In terms of effectively setting up your tent, improperly sized poles will be just as ineffective as damaged poles. Before you place your stakes, be sure that the ground is solid and that there are any hazards in the vicinity, such as perilous looking branches.