I really enjoy winter camping.

Unfortunately, winter camping in new jersey is somewhat limited. Pretty much all of the private campgrounds in the state shut down by around November 1 and even the public campground choices are somewhat limited.
 

There are still places to go, you just have to do a little more research and make a few more calls. You also have to make sure you bring everything with you that you will need. Even now, many years into my winter camping experience I use a checklist and make sure I am prepared for just about any contingency.
 

Is there going to be snow on the ground? Will there be freezing rain? Can your tent hold up under freezing rain conditions? How will you start a fire if it's pouring? Do you have protection from the biting wind?
 

So what do I do?
 

Well, I go camping with my Boy Scout Troop for one. Scout Reservations are open all year round for the most part. Most of them are not exactly full of amenities and activities during the winter but I don't mind that because we plan our own events and activities so I'm not in need of the campground to provide that for me. Wood Platforms for the tents, campfire ring, latrine and sometimes a pavilion for our cooking & eating is pretty much all I need.
 

If I'm not going with the scouts then it gets a little harder. Over the years I have managed to find a couple of locations in or around the state that are open year round or are on private property but I have developed a relationship with the owner and they don't mind me camping on their property for the weekend.
 

Why do I like winter camping?
 

Mostly for the same reasons I like summer camping. I get out of the house, I get into nature, I get to contemplate my place in the universe, I love watching animals and I love the peace and quiet.
 

I am sure you are thinking "How the heck do you do that with a bunch of rowdy boy scouts around?"
 

It's actually easier than you might think, early mornings, late in the evening and even during the day sometimes when they are out on a hike or doing some sort of activity that I don't have to attend.
 

If you wear enough layers and are prepared for the temperatures and you learn how to just sit still and try to become part of your surroundings it is amazing what you will see and hear.
 

But isn't it cold?
 

Yeah so?
 

Do some planning and preparation and you won't even notice the cold. Bring extra clothing, get a good sleeping bag, bring an extra blanket or two, leave the air mattress at home, bring twice as much firewood as you think you will need, make sure you know exactly what the weather is "forecasted" to be and know exactly what is provided at your campsite of choice.
 

Winter camping New Jersey, limited but still one heck of a fun experience you won't soon forget!
 

Till Next Time…

Eric

Tags: Camping, camping new jersey, winter camping

What do you need to take with you on a camping trip?

That is a question that I get a lot. My reponse is usually something along the lines of: What are YOUR camping needs?

It's really a personal question that varies depending on the person/people that are going camping.

Here are a couple of basics that just about everybody needs:

1. Something to sleep under – a tent, trailer, RV or cabin…for you "rugged" types it could just be the stars in the sky.
2. Something to sleep in – sleeping bag, sheets and a blanket, air mattress, pad, blankets, etc…
3. Something to wear – shorts and t-shirts, multiple layers of cold weather gear or somewhere in between.
4. Something to eat – how long are you going to be there? How many people? What do like to eat?
5. Something to cook with – firewood? Charcoal? Propane?

That was the really, really basic list of camping needs.

Now let's talk in more detail.

Are you a novice camper that needs/wants all the comforts of home?

Are you a little more experienced but aren't sure how to pack lighter?

Do you go camping by yourself? With your spouse? With your whole family? With a bunch of friends that don't know how to camp?

I usually go camping with my wife and two kids and to make sure that I don't forget something important I usually use a checklist I created. Here is the basics:

• Tents – yes plural…my wife and I have a tent and my kids have their own tent.
• Four sleeping bags – 40 degree bags…my wife doesn't really do the whole winter camping thing so the 40 degree bags are sufficient.
• Pillows
• Extra Blankets just in case
• Clothing – Appropriate for the season/location, extra change of clothes and an extra sweatshirt and long pants just in case.
• Dining Fly
• Camping Chairs
• Campfire wood – check the campground you are going to…some don't let you bring your own firewood
• Propane stove – 2-3 small propane bottles
• Camping Kitchen – I love this invention…keeps all my cooking supplies together neatly and in one area
• Garbage bags
• Food for 4
• Drinking water
• Juice
• Adult Beverage of choice – if appropriate and allowed at campground
• Tablecloth
• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Shower gear – towels, washcloth, soap, shampoo, shower shoes
• Rainy day games
• Football, soccer ball & basketball
• Toiletries
• Bag of Charcoal
• Cooking utensils
• Pots & Pans
• Mixing bowls
• Plates/bowls/silverware – we don't do plastic…we wash and reuse
• Wash basins
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Spices
• Misc other stuff depending on the type/purpose/location of the trip

It's a lot of gear but when packed right it doesn't take up a whole lot of space. We can usually pack it all into a couple of 20gallon plastic totes, one cooler, the tent bag and a couple of dufflebags.

Your camping needs will vary to some degree from this list because you are a different person than me, have different needs than me and will probably be going camping different places than me. There really is no right or wrong answer to this question so when you begin thinking about what to pack here is what I suggest:

Sit down with the list above, pen and paper, a description of where you are going and some idea of what you plan to do while there and create your own list ahead of time. Put some time into thinking about this list and what you need and don't need. Also consider the type/size vehicle you are taking because that might very easily limit what you can bring. A Hyundai Elantra will not fit four people and all of the gear that I mentioned above but a chevy Trailblazer with a roof rack will.

Till Next Time…

Eric

Tags: Camping, camping needs

Along the same vein of my setting up camp I figured I would post something on how I break down camp because my friends and I have very different opinions on it.

So let’s say you go tent camping for a long weekend and all the fun has been had, the food has been eaten and unfortunately it’s Monday morning which means it’s time to pack up and go home. What do you do? Do you have kind of a system for putting things away or is it kind of just haphazard?

Read More of Breaking Down Camp

Tags: breaking down camp, Camping, camping basics

I have been approached a couple of times recently asking me how I setup my campsite. Do I just throw things out there kind of haphazardly or do I have a plan in mind or do I alter things based on the site itself or what?

This is kind of interesting to me because I would never have thought that this was a topic that anybody really cared about or ever thought about for that matter but as I think about it and ask some camping friends about it…turns out I was wrong. More people actually think about how they are going to layout their campsites then I would have imagined.

Read More of Setting up Camp

Tags: camp setup, Camping, camping basics

I have a friend who says that he loves camping. Every Memorial Day weekend he pulls all of his camping gear out of the attic and spends the entire weekend cleaning, resealing, sewing, throwing out and upgrading his equipment so that it is ready for what he calls “the camping season.”

Then every Labor Day weekend he gathers all of his gear and does it all again but in reverse so he can store it all away in his attic until next summer.

Overall I love camping with this guy and his family because they are lots of fun to be around, have similar interests overall, their kids are similar ages to mine and they are easy to be around. We have solved many of the world’s problems over a campfire and a 12 pack over the years!

Read More of Fall Camping

Tags: Camping, fall camping

A lot of my friends have been asking me lots and lots of questions lately about whether or not we can expect to see dramatic increases in price for camping and camping related equipment based on the economy and on the HUGE increase in the cost of guns, ammunition and related equipment.

Here’s my $0.02 worth:

YES, YES and YES again but not necessarily for only the reasons mentioned above.

Read More of Camping Price Hikes

Tags: campground, Camping, camping equipment

Hello all, Here is an article that has some basic but still good advice on how to choose a tent for your trip depending on what kind of trip you are taking. http://camping-zone.com/tent-camping/backpacking-tents/

Tags: Camping, camping basics

Many people I know think I am absolutely crazy to go camping.

The idea of choosing to spend a weekend or a whole week sleeping in a tent in the woods with very few creature comforts around has them completely baffled.

Why would somebody willingly give up their TV, DVR, Computer, Internet Connection, soft comfy bed, Air Conditioning, working plumbing and so many other things and go live like our ancestors did hundreds of years ago?

Read More of Why Camping Is so Important

Tags: Camping

Good Morning All,

Well winter officially arrived in my neck of the woods last night when almost an inch of snow finally fell to the ground and put a very light layer over everything. It was pretty and all that but if I had my way that would be the only snowfall of the year and the weather would start warming up about…..NOW!

I'm not a grinch or anything like that I'm just not a big fan of the white stuff. It's beautiful and all that but it makes driving around a pain in the butt.

Read More of Winter is Officially Here

Tags: Camping, stokes state forest, winter camping

Good Morning All,

I apologize for the long hiatus but my life got really, really busy there for a while with the holidays and a new job all occuring right in the same couple of weeks. So it's taken me a lot longer to get back in the saddle so to speak then I thought.

I will begin posting on an almost daily basis again starting today and I will begin publishing the Gazette again starting the next scheduled issue.

For some reason I have recently been on a mission to get more information on Gun Control Laws their supporters and their opponents in the last couple of weeks. This is probably due to my son's desire to go hunting and the research I have been doing for that. I am telling you this because I don't want you to be surprised if the "Hunting" section of this blog start carrying information and critiques of the information I am finding.

‘Till Next Time…Remember “There Ain’t No Better Camping Then New Jersey Camping!”

Eric

Tags: campground, Camping