Camping Equipment Recommendations

[R4R&R]

Gypsy - if your tent is enclosed, all the concerns about snakes are null and void, unless you leave the door open for extended periods.

Besides, the actual rate of snake bite is certainly a very, very tiny percentage! Probably need to worry more about food poisoning or lightning strikes or something!

Funny, I *do* carry a snake-bite kit in my bags. Remember that if I'm ever camping with you and you happen to get bit by a snake. I can't help with lightning.

[MikeCam]

Your set-up is nearly perfect. However, I fail to see a coffee press.

[jacksgp]

Question..Do you try and make reservations for campsites or do you search one out after a day on the road. I,m taking my first cross-country trip (solo) this summer and would appreciate some advice.
Since I have a very lax schedule I,m leaning toward not making any reservations anywhere, just go with the flow!! I just retired and this is something I always wanted to do. All ideas welcome. Thanks!

[ladybeemer]

Wow,
The thought of camping usually makes my skin crawl. However, I think I have just been enlightened to the possibilities. I always knew I could find something way cool at REI.
I'm really going to give this some serious thought, at least for one trip.

[iowabeakster]

Since you are planning on stopping at places where tap water is unavailable...some random thoughts about water filters.

That model you have is fine. I have used the same one. It is not fragile, but it is breakable. Be careful, if the plastic cracks it may be inoperable (don't ask). It is tedious pumping water. It seems like on our fishing trips, we always had somebody pumping water . It gets old, fast. We usually had four people, so plenty of water was needed.

Then we tried one of the "gravity" filters. It is a flexible plastic container that hangs from a tree limb. The gravity pulls the water through the filter and down a rubber hose. The nice thing is no pumping is needed. It did require frequent stirring, as the lake gunk accumulated on the filter element and it worked slowly.

Don't forget about boiling water or those chemical tablets. The tablets are the least desirable, but you can have drinking water in a hurry. They also take virtually no space. A very good back-up plan.

[duckdave]

Well, the inspiration provided by this group (and gas prices) have settled it—I will do the Annual Safari by motorcycle. The location is just below Norfork, AR, on the White River, where AR-177 ends on the river near Steamboat Shoals. These shoals are interesting; the river bed in this area was altered way back in time (possibly back in slave times) by channeling the water to allow the passage of steamboats up the White River, hence the name. Current local reports hold that the trout fishing is EXCELLENT.

Inspired by Gypsy, I went out an purchased a jetboil outfit and a couple of freeze-dried packs (for the first few days). I balked at the price of the frypan and went to Target and got one similar for $5. I already have a little coffee press I'll press into service (ha).

Inspired by ChiTown, I'm headed off to some gravel roads, and a recently washed over gravel bar. This part worries me a bit, but what the heck? If I tip over, so what? (I don't really think I will.)

And speaking of SNAKES, I've seen plenty here in AR, but I've never been concerned about them. But the notion reminds me of a particular road I've heard about in the Norfork area known as the ARKANSAS SNAKE, a stretch of highway runs between Norfork and Big Flat. Think I'll have to check it out, since I'll be in the area. Here's a description a fellow rider sent me:

Dave (and all)
   [AR-]341 is a bout 25 miles in length and runs between 201 and 14, closest towns, Norfork and Big Flat respectively.  The stretch is a hoot as it could best be described as rythmic in sections where as soon as you lay over, you pick up and swoop the other way, repeatedly. Not the whole length, but some neat sections.
   Last time I took  some guys from KC on it, there was a guy on the S end with a cell phone and a stopwatch as we were just starting North, then this Beemer K bike comes around the last bend scraping his bags--could hear it even with my lid and plugs.
   Not quite as good as it used to be as they chip/sealed sections of it, and also the Sheriff and HP would like to curtail racing there. Every year someone crashes, sometimes fatal. Nevertheless, a good ride.  Cheers!

Motorcycling and Fishing. What a perfect combination!

Thanks for the inspiration guys,
-d

[taosports]

Besides, the actual rate of snake bite is certainly a very, very tiny percentage! Probably need to worry more about food poisoning or lightning strikes or something!

Something...like bears!

Gypsy - I don't see a bear cannister in your photos. It is a must for the areas you'll be camping in. Don't go for the food strung up between two trees technique. It's difficult to do properly and no longer recommended by outdoor experts. Seems the bears have gotten too smart!

[GypsyRR]

some photos and comments/report coming soon as soon as I can organize and cull photos of travels so far. Look in Great rides for that. But first some responses to some questions and comments.

MC- there IS coffee each am. See original post where I mention the REI vacuum infusion thermos. Works fine. Doubles as thermos. No extra equip like a press is needed.

WNCBMW - I saw a snake. I walked the other way. Probably that accounts for low snake bite tally. But seeing it at night when walking back to my tent convinced me there are snakes who probably would bite me if given a chance. My tent stays shut tight!!!!

DD - REI has nice sales. My jetboil with frying pan and stabilizer was only $109. Works GREAT. First injury was boiling water burn on right hand. I dropped the pot and it splashed on me. A normal response when the little finger touches the hot burner.

I rode that section of road you mention back in April. Push Mtn road, isn't it? Try Blanchard Springs camp area along the Sylamore around Allison. Let me know how the fishing is there???

TAO - bear cannister in holster just didnt make the photo shoot. I have some.

I'm not in grizzly country yet. I'll be in Colorado next week, and then on to Wyoming the first or second week in July and then on to Montana the end of July. Back in Colorado the second week in August.

IB - the filter is more for long fishing trips where I might run out of water. I dehydrated once in a situation like that and it is quite frightening. I'm not planning on camping in totally primitive areas. I'm not THAT adventurous. However your recommendation is noted and filed and on my list of wants now.

LB - you can do this. Its too fun and bolsters self confidence and decision making skills like nothing else I know. I needed that. Everyone brings back something gained from learning to camp.

Jack- I typically do not make reservations. But if you want to stay in a popular park, especially state parks on the weekends or a holiday, you will probably need one. I have had no trouble finding places open. I did have to move sites in one SP over memorial day weekend.

So far , the best campfood has been the beef stroganoff. Mmmmmm. The highlight of dusk.

[wncbmw]

I hadn't thought about bears! Even not in grizzly country, a fearless campground bear marauding through a campground can be dangerous! I spent the night at Sequoia National Park in my Toyota station wagon once because a rogue bear came calling before I went to bed!

Try to fix and store you food well away from where you sleep if possible. Don't know if bear sprays work or not!

[MikeCam]

Quote: "... the REI vacuum infusion thermos. Works fine. Doubles as thermos. No extra equip like a coffee press is needed. "

In my experience, the longer the name of a device and the more fancy words in its title, the less tasty the coffee.

Note: REI vacuum infusion thermos vs coffee press

[duckdave]

Report from the inspired MC camping/fishing trip:

Inspiration source: ChiTown.

If I tip over, so what?

I don't think I really meant that! So I drove down some twisty roads, then some twisty gravel roads, then some twisty dirt and mud road, then a 1000-yd straight stretch of straight (recently washed by floods) gravel bar next to the White River. 'Bout 500 yards into it, I realized that the old tracks were the worst place to ride, and parked it (note to self: try to find a large flat stone and stash it in your tank bag when the likelihood of parking on a gravel bar is even remote). Luckily, fish camp was vacant so I went on down and found some shade and some water and some beer and a chair and took a breather. Whew. Then I went up and finished the job. Taking care to stay to the un-tire-ed portions of the gravel bar, I made it to my campsite.

Soon after that about 15 people rolled in with 4WD and boats on trailers, and a couple of 4 wheelers. And I could see the writing on the wall... in a couple of hours this bar is going to be full of churned-up gravel. I need to get the heck out of here. This time I stay away from the tracks and make it back down the gravel bar, back up the twisty muddy dirt roads, and back up the twisty gravel roads to pavement. One thing, doing it in reverse is better at building confidence, as everything gets easier. Then I reverse the whole sequence, except this time, instead of ending up on a gravel bar, I end up on 500 yards of a "road" through a pasture. Yeah, just a single swath of the mower represented the "road" to the cabin. But all this went well, just a few squirrely moments in some mud puddles on the dirt part. Fwhew! And what a good idea that was----cause Tuesday morning about 5 AM it started raining and rained all day Tuesday. Now imagine that gravel bar, river rounded rocks mixed with rounded sand, wet. And the dirt roads—wet, and now well traveled, and the grass road—now a budding mud and grass road.

I didn't touch the bike until Wednesday when I left to go home to go to Little Rock Central High's graduation. Basically, my exit was uneventful, tho not pretty. For my return trip, I had decided to use my Suburban. I even packed my 'burb Thursday morning. But then I did the math and watched the weather. 150 miles (one way) X 2 (for round trip) = 300 mi divided by 10 mpg = 30 gal x ~$4/gal = $120, plus sunshine the rest of the week. And then I unpacked the 'burb and saddled up.
M/C-wise, it was a trip up there and back, uneventful (good roads!). So now the rest of the story...

Inspiration Source: GypsyRR
Fishing---Outstanding. I didn't keep many, but caught 3 brownies > 16". Dozens of real nice rainbows (12-16"). One real nice smallmouth (didn't know they had SMBs in that river!). Basically, real nice time fishing.

Equipment... That's the topic of this thread, right? JetBoil boils like a SOB!. Coffee-press meant I had coffee before anyone else every morning. Tent Eureka Timberline (4 person). GREAT tent. Has withstood two major rain/hail/lighting thunderstorms this month. Pros: Easy setup, large. Cons: Large. Therma-rest pad Wow. I would never have got this for myself; Thanks Laura! Beats closed-cell all to heck. Chair Man, these cheap (under $10) Wal-mart chairs suck. This one is starting to collapse after just 10 years (that includes several years in the surf, on both coasts). We've already lost 2 of the 4 we bought in '98; a third is virtally gone, and now this one is going! Dang-it!

Snake Report Only saw one good one. A 5-foot King crossing the dirt track as we were leaving. We "played" with it a bit. I grabbed its tail to make like that Aussie-guy, but the dang thing nearly nailed me, so I backed off. My accent wasn't right anyway. King Snakes are highly desirable snakes ('tho they do tend to eat a lot of songbird eggs), so we were happy to scoot it off the road.

Bottom Line This was a great trip. And doing it "sans" large volumes/masses of gear was a great idea. Less is more is my new mantra (wish I'd remembered that at dinner (Casa Manana's) tonight!)

[sjbmw]

I have to resurrect this great thread. At the MOA rally, we camped next to a gentleman named Don from Gainesville, FL who rode a pristine 06 K1200R. (We both spent time extolling the virtues of naked bikes).

What was interesting, is that Don cooked all his meals, (with gasoline!) washed his dishes, AND his laundry.
He had his own water supply, and even had "hot" water for shaving! It was like observing a mad scientist, until I analyzed the food bill for me and my kid, which was the BIGGEST expense of our trip, outpacing fuel, and hotels before rally arrival.

I already have most of the camping gear, and I won a Jetboil as a consolation prize for our bike raffle (it works! thx Cam), and I am beginning to see the light after observing a master up close.

The REI Closeouts.com website has terrific deals, and I am stuck between the gravity, and pump water filters.
From the reviews read, Katadyn seems to be the way to go on a mid priced budget.

Gypsy's pump, vs. this 5 gallon gravity model.

http://www.rei.com/product/737349





Also picked up one of these doo-dads on closeout...cooking, and cleaning pack.


http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/789036





Riding, setting up a campsite, and fishing, now that sounds like time well spent....even for a extended weekend.

[GypsyRR]

Hey Herb, sounds like you got some good deals. Nothing like camping next to McGyver to make you want to get out and try it for some extended time.

Since I first posted this thread over a year ago, I've camped about 13 weeks. Longest extended trip was 6 weeks. I've added some things and discarded others. I added that same 5 liter gravity model a couple of weeks ago. I'm planning on using it primarily for base camp. The Katadyne is what I carry when hiking up rivers while fishing. It's portable and pretty good for quick filtered purified drinking water. I've not used the gravity one yet, but hopefully will have a chance in the next few weeks. I'll post a review if I do get to use it.

[iowabeakster]

I have experience with a gravity filter. The one I have used is slightly different than the one pictured above. So I can't speak about that particular model. My bothers filter has an open top...which seems like a better design...as explained below.

On the down side of gravity filters...When you pull in and set up camp, it will take some time before you have much drinking water. This is not good, if you get to the campsite late in the day and you want water in a hurry. The speed of filtering is affected by how much water is in the bag, and how much solid matter is in the water. The more solids in the water will slow it down as it accumulates on the filter element. We found that it worked much better keeping it filled to the max, and occasionally stirring the accumulated gunk off the filter made a substantial difference in its operational speed. Hang it on a fairly low tree limb. This makes it easier to add more water and agitate. You should dump everything out sometimes and start over fresh, to get rid of excessive gunk. If you spend only one night at a campsite, then move to another, the slow speed will be annoying.

On the up side... It works continuously and without much effort. This leaves you to concentrate on other things...like building fires, food, booze, fishing, riding or simply relaxing. Fill it up before bed, and you have fresh water when you get up. Go for a ride...you have fresh water, etc. Depending of how much water is needed, it may produce excess in a day or two. If you spend several nights in the same campsite, this is wonderful.

The pump gets you water when you want it...but it is labor intensive. It takes many pumps to produce a big glass of water. But, it is much faster than the gravity filter.

Don't forget, boiled water will work just fine for making beans and rice or coffee, don't waste filtered water on those things. You can think of the algae in the water as "spices".

[sjbmw]

One of the tips in the REI reviews of the gravity filter said to rubber band a paper coffee filter over the filter mechanism, to keep any gunk from slowing it down, and keeping the filter clear.

[Biff's R]

coffee press is good.

Just mention bears, and Vann has a bear bag ready to go, and thrown over the baseball backstop. Must have been something from the App Trail, or Montana.

[Boxer]

You guys probably have more camping fun than I do, but my camping consists of carrying good tap or bottled water along with me. All I really need is drinking water at night and some for my instant coffee in the morning. My morning meal usually awaits me at McDonald's or Waffle House about 9 or 10 AM after I've been riding for a while. Traveling this way, I don't go too remote, which I realize bypasses a LOT of good stuff to see, but I get around to many more places by being able to pack up fast and be on my way.

Every third night or so, I need a good motel/hotel room to relax and get really clean. Age and temperament are factors here.

[jeepinbanditrider]

My shelter is a Hennessey Hammock (SP?) works great and keeps all the bugs out. I need to build up my motorcycle camping gear. With the exception of the Hammock all of my current camping gear is setup for Jeep travel which lets me travel heavier than I can on the bike.

[Airman]

For those of you who enjoy freeze dried food like Mountain House, I found that Vitacost is now carrying the line at much reduced prices compared to say, REI.

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults. ... y%7c1&.y=3

I just bought a couple of the chicken and rice dinners and they were under $5 each.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I have used the Mary Jane's Farms foods. Much healthier, I think, than the Mountain Home, though maybe a little pricier. The salt load in Mountain home is enough to replenish the Dead Sea. Also, I like the variety of the MJ's.

John