The Wildernest Weblog

Tents II - Pitching Tips

2011-06-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

When it comes to getting your tent set up in the woods, there are several simple tips that could make your life easier. The first piece of advice is obvious, yet often not heeded - set up your tent at home at least once before you go!

Once you have a campsite selected, look at your surroundings. First of all, are there any "widowmakers" (dead branches) above? If so, move! Which way is the prevailing wind? If the wind isn't blowing at the moment, then take a look at the trees - have they have a bend in one general direction? Does the ground show indications of where water lies or flows? You don't want to be in any area where water pools or flows.

Now that you have selected a spot out of the way of water and if possible sheltered by the wind, get your ground tarp or footprint out. Comb the area for sticks and moveable rocks, but refrain from digging up roots and rocks and mowing down the forest floor; you want to Leave No Trace. If you must be set up in the wind, position the most aerodynamically designed side of your tent into the wind. This may not have you facing the camp fire, but it could make for a more peaceful night of sleep.

Next is where there is some debate among the experts. The best advice is to stake out your tent at this point. Admittedly, I usually run my poles through next and then make some final position tweaks before staking, but staking first gives the tightest pitch. No matter when you do put in your stakes, you should not move around the tent in a circular pattern. Rather, pick one corner to stake, then go to the opposite corner, just like tightening the lug nuts on a wheel. This will ensure the most weatherproof pitch.

To finish, secure your fly to the tent body. This should definitely be done after staking and should also be done from corner to corner. If foul weather is on the way, most tents have guy lines that should be secured in order to add more stability to the structure. Now you're ready for a good night's sleep in the woods!

Tents I - what size?

2011-06-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

So, you're looking for a new camping shelter - what size should you get?

Well, first of all, we should start looking at what type of camping you are doing and what other options are available. Alternate options include a backcountry shelter (or cabin), a hammock, or no tent at all. The latter option is OK with the right weather conditions - and certainty about those conditions holding. I wouldn't recommend this one for much more than an overnighter, but it certainly is a beautiful and refreshing way to stay out under the stars. As for a hammock, they are becoming more and more popular. These are more of a one-size-fits-one option, although you could certainly make up your own customized rig with a light nylon hammock, a lightweight tarp, and maybe some mosquito netting. The most standard names in camping hammocks would be Hennessy and Clark. When it comes to staying in an Adirondack-style shelter, you should first consider availability; some of these can be reserved along some trails.

Let's just say a tent is what you want. What will you be using it for? Backpacking? Car camping? A mix of the two? How many people?

If you're like me and others of us at the Wildernest and you've been camping regularly for years, then you may have a tent for each situation. That's not always feasible for everyone, but if you have a family of more than two kids and you are backpacking and car camping, then you will most likely find yourself eventually in the market for multiple tents.

When picking a backpacking tent, I have a personal rule of thumb for customers looking for a certain size of tent - 15 square feet per person is an around average room for a tent. Many times newer backpackers look at the size of the tent on the floor and think it looks small for two people, but when they see the size rolled up and the weight on their back they realize that space is still a function of packed size and weight. Someone whose primary goal is weight savings must be willing to consider looking at a tent that has less than 15 square feet per person, while someone who wants something larger must be willing to add weight. However, the square footage should only be an initial guideline; there are several other features that affect roominess and weight. For example, tents with a significant amount of mesh will be lighter. Tents with multiple doors will be heavier. Freestanding tents will be heavier. Single wall tents will be lighter. Maybe more on this later...

When looking at the size of a tent, one important feature to consider beyond the square footage is the volume and livability. Look for a tent with more vertical walls, especially at the entry. Not only will this provide more space to move, it will also help with moisture management when exiting and entering the tent in foul weather. Walls with extremely angled sides leave you with little corners, nooks, and crannies that you rarely find a good use for. Tent companies have not been releasing a cubic footage, but I don't see why that couldn't be an unreasonable endeavor for companies to do so in the coming years.We may end up being surprised at how some tents compare.

Outside of the realm of backpacking, the 15 square feet per person seems to be a reasonable number to use as a guideline for car camping and family camping. These camping adventures usually do not have the weight restrictions, so you can splurge a bit on size here. However, when car camping often one takes much more with them so that extra space ends up easily being filled.

Bottom line, regardless of the person capacity a tent lists, you will want to check the square footage, check the height, and if possible, see the tent set up so you can see how livable it will be and how vertical the walls are. If you are ever stuck hunkered down in the rain you'll be glad you did!

Standing Stone Trail Part II

2011-04-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I made mention of the Standing Stone Trail in the initial post on this (so far occasional) blog just over a year ago. Last year I took I went with a group of friends and hiked the northern 20 miles of the trail; this year a friend and I put together a 3 night/day excursion that covered the middle 30 miles of the trail.

For a quick review, the Standing Stone Trail is a trail in central Pennsylvania that runs generally north to south and extends from Greenwood Furnace State Park to Cowans Gap State Park. It links the Mid-State Trail in the north to the Tuscarora Trail in the south. Thus, the former name of "Link Trail." The name change was to give the trail some identity in its own right; I would say that personally I probably pay more attention to a trail with a legit name other than the word "link" in it. Apparently "connector" trails are beneath me! The KTA has a nice map that shows the location of these trails.

So, this year's journey picked up at route 655 just northeast of Fousetown on April Fool's Eve. Rather than an early Friday start, some guys wanted to get up on the trail Thursday evening to reduce some of our Friday and Saturday miles. Hence we got on the road and didn't get vehicles situated and our feet on the trail until after 9PM. We got into it right away with a solid 3 mile climb to the top of the first mountain to the edge of Rothrock State Forest. It was a beautifully stark and dark evening with some views of valley lights, punctuated by two going on three inches of fresh snow. Bedding down close to midnight, we had a chilly night's sleep on the snow pack.

Friday morning came with continued snow, flurries, and chill - and that's no April Fool's joke! But, as we dropped down off of Jack's Mountain we began to realize that elevation was the demarcation between winter and a cold wet spring day. Halfway down the mountain the snow diminished and by the time we went down the Thousand Steps none was in sight. We stopped in Mapleton on a park pavilion for lunch where we spread out and hung most of our gear to air out and dry a bit. Apparently we were a town spectacle - quite a number of cars pulled into the park and pulled right out! A kind Mapleton resident filled up our water across the street before we headed out of town for another long pull back up Jack's mountain. We met at the top and then cruised down the ridge where we met up with three more friends to camp along Singer's Gap Run for a total of about 14 miles on the day.

Saturday brought a slight improvement in weather, although another snow squall blew in on our climb up to the Throne Room. We were looking to make Saturday a pretty short day but we kept struggling to find a decent campsite, so our day extended to around 11 miles. On the positive side, that made for a quick 3 mile jaunt on Sunday and a lunch run to Hoss's; on the negative side, it caused us to push into State Game Land to stealth camp - not something we planned on doing.

So, what's my overall take on this trail after completing a large portion of it? Well, the camping situation is definitely sketchy, thus our Saturday night botched campsite. The trail maintainers are calling it "premier," but I still debate that moniker and deem it a "hidden gem in central PA." It's good enough that I'll go back for those last 20 miles next year anyway.

I'm Cold!

2011-01-29T13:40:00.000-08:00

So, are you a three-season camper who's eagerly awaiting spring's blossoms? Perhaps you are even waiting for the groundhog's forecast here in Pennsylvania next week. If so, you are not alone; but, I would encourage you to take the leap into a winter camping or backpacking trip. The downside... well, of course it's cold!

But let's talk about some potential upsides... For one thing, trails and campsites won't be crowded. Also, bugs won't be a concern. And finally, for those of us who like a challenge, you get the opportunity to test your mettle in the frigid weather.

So, how do you prepare? Whether you are backpacking or car camping, make sure you plan details in advance so that you are well informed of conditions and the needed gear. In the winter you will find many campgrounds and trails closed or allowing only limited access. For the novice, don't be afraid to reschedule if a blizzard rolls in and the three inches of snow you planned on backpacking through gets covered by a foot - and you don't have snowshoes. But, don't wimp out - reschedule!

For the car camper, you just need more of everything. More insulation, more firewood, more fuel/batteries (less daylight!), and in some cases more food and water. For the backpacker, that's the same, which means fewer miles on the trail. But, I should stress again - being prepared is essential. Don't go out in the winter without finding some more details beyond what's discussed here (disclaimer!).

I try to make it a point to get out one or more times each winter, but I haven't been afraid to change a trip if conditions were too much for me. Some memorable winter excursions for me...

- A pre-kid Thanksgiving (in the Mid-Atlantic I'd loosely consider "winter" anything from November to March) car-camp with my wife. A couple of inches of snow on the ground, steaks on the fire, and a massive pile of blankets in the tent.
- A one-child cabin trip to Cook Forest State Park in PA. Great family time in the outdoors.
- A one night backpack on the Laurel Highlands Trail with a friend when I was a little less experienced. We almost got lost without a tent in the snow and I burned up my shirt drying it over the fire, but... oh well.
- A March backpacking trip on the Chuck Keiper Trail without all that advance planning, only to find six inches of snow on the northern slopes!
- An annual Christmas backpacking trip to the West Rim Trail, Chuck Keiper Trail, Allegheny Front Trail, and other locales. That trip received less approval as the family grew and the gods of fate took over on the AFT when my friend's stove nearly exploded and we conceded to the cold and our wives' wishes by coming home early.

I've had several other trips, and in order to get my children involved, some of those trips have been to cabins with day hikes. In fact, as I think about it, that's the only think in the pipeline this winter. Am I getting soft? I am going to have to keep my eyes out for an open weekend!

Of course this has been only a basic primer on getting out in the winter. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com. Don't fret too much about the cold, everyone stays warm while walking!

A PA Park and a PA Trail

2010-07-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings! If you've began to follow us, sorry for the long gap in posts - I was hoping to get this one just under the wire for June but it looks like it will be the first entry of July! This is Chris from the Wildernest here and I just wanted to let you in on one of my favorite parts of Pennsylvania when it comes to outdoor recreation. I'm talking about the Pine Creek area of northern PA. In this area there are opportunities to hike, backpack, camp, bike, fish and hunt. One of my favorite base camps to get this fun started is Little Pine State Park. Little Pine has modern camping facilities along with camping cottages and yurts. If you don't know what those are then I recommend you get on the PA DCNR website and check them out.

I said there are quite a few recreation opportunities, but of course some of our favorites are hiking and backpacking. If you want to get out and backpack PA there are numerous trails in this area: The Black Forest Trail, the Susquehannock Trail System, the Donut Hole Trail, and several other trails that aren't too far out of the region. And don't forget the Pine Creek Rail Trail. In my opinion, that is one of the finest rail trails around and a model of the development of other rail trails. If you've got several days to put together into an adventure, you can backpack the West Rim Trail on the rim of Pine Creek's Grand Canyon and bike back to your starting point through the gorge on the Rail Trail. If you're really adventurous you can go with the trifecta and paddle the creek down, hike up, then bike back down. I haven't paddled it yet but I have done the other two along with many other trails in the vicinity. If you have questions about any of those trails feel free to contact me or stop in the Wildernest for a trail guide.

But, for some of you, maybe backpacking one of those long trails isn't currently in the cards for you. Well, there are many other lesser traveled trails that you can hit for just an afternoon. That's what I did back in May when I took my three oldest sons (ages 6, 4, and 22 months) on a camping trip to Little Pine with some other friends. I've always wanted to hike the entire 9 mile Golden Eagle Trail (I've hiked a portion), but that's a bit aggressive for three young boys. With some research, I happened upon the Bob Webber Trail, a 1.75 mile one way up and back hike to a lookout. (For those that don't know, Bob Webber was a pioneer for several of our PA trails; he and is wife live in a cabin up in the Pine Creek area.) On Saturday afternoon we set off with some friends and their children. I carried the 22-month old on my back, but was a bit anxious about the ability of my four-year-old. My personal rule of thumb is one mile per day per year of age is a cap, and 3.5 miles up a steep hill and back down would be pushing it. I figured go as far as possible and turn around - I've been getting a bit wimpier the older I get!

Well, the six-year-old stormed to the top and the four-year-old just needed a bit of positive coaching; later on I saw there was about 1300 feet of elevation gain which certainly justified the coaching. An ice cream reward down in Waterville capped the hike for the kids. That's another thing I like about the Pine Creek area - lot's of outdoor recreation with some great stops for food and rest.

So, next time you are looking for some great backpacking or camping, go hardcore or take the kids and head up to the Pine Creek area. Look for one of those lesser-traveled trails and enjoy the trip! If you had any more questions about the area, feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com.

Let's Talk Gear - Stoves

2010-05-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we'll come back to the hiking and camping with kids soon (I'll actually be taking my 6, 4, and 2-year olds camping next weekend), but for now let's go to something that's on every hardcore hikers mind this time of year, including those of us at the Wildernest: gear.

It's spring, and for those who either loathe the winter or haven't taken the plunge into winter camping, it is a time to get the gear out, clean it out, or head out to upgrade your gear. One of those technical pieces of gear that (nearly) every backpacker ends up owning is a stove. So, what to choose?

Backpacking stoves fall into three main categories these days: alcohol stoves, canister stoves, and liquid fuel stoves. Yes, I know there are other options - no cook, cook on the fire, fuel tablets, gel, etc. - but we're talking the big three here - any of which would be a necessity on a backcountry adventure.

The lightest choice is an alcohol stove. To clarify, you're not cooking using rubbing alcohol or your favorite libation; you're using denatured alcohol. The benefits of an alcohol stove are inexpensive fuel and one of the lightest functional cooking options available. There is also something cool about making your own alcohol stove. I haven't done it myself but one of our former employees at the store made each of us one that can be measured in grams. Man that thing is cool! There are also some great pre-made models like those offered by Trangia that are still pretty light but a bit more polished. There is a distinct down side to alcohol stoves, and that is fuel efficiency. Boil times are not near those of gas powered stoves so you will need to be patient come dinner time. I often take my alcohol stove when I am going on a quick and light overnighter that only involves 1-2 meals to cook, that way my entire stove and fuel weight is an incredible three ounces.

Not ready to make the plunge to something so extreme, but you still want to to light? Then maybe a canister stove is for you. Canister stoves are typically filled with isobutane/propane mix whose ratio varies by manufacturer. The different canisters leads to the inevitable question: Do I need to use the brand of fuel that matches my stove? The rule of thumb is that if it fits, it works; nonetheless some manufacturers have proprietary canisters that fit only their stoves, like Camping Gaz or Coleman. (My Personal Liability Disclaimer: Use the fuel that matches your stove! The manufacture will have used their own fuel in determining statistics such as boil time and canister life anyway.) One of our personal favorites here at the Wildernest is the Pocket Rocket by MSR, although there are many different designs. The upsides of canister stoves are weight, compactness, and ease of use with instant gratification. The downsides are an uncertainty of how much fuel remains and less than optimal performance in cool weather. In addition, you can't enclose most with a windscreen since you are enclosing your flame and fuel in the same area - a big no-no. However, that is where some companies like Jetboil and others come up with remote canisters and the ability to flip canisters to burn more fuel. Believe it or not, there are more details we could discuss, but we'll move on for now.

The third major category is liquid fuel stoves. The fuel of choice is typically white gas. Even though alcohol stoves have become extremely popular among long distance hikers, liquid gas stoves such as the MSR Whisperlite have been a staple of the hiking community. The Whisperlite has been hanging on to my generation like the Svea did to the prior one. Why are they so cool? Many white gas stoves are field serviceable and maintainable, plus you always know how much fuel you have left. Refilling fuel bottles can be clutch when on long distance trails like the Appalachian Trail, where you can purchase fuel by the ounce at some outfitters. Looks like you might run out of fuel before the next town stop? Engineer a trade with a fellow hiker for some of your signature GORP and you are still in business. Another plus - you pressurize the bottle so they perform better in colder conditions that other stoves. Before you get too excited, there are of course some negatives... These stoves are generally the heaviest and bulkiest, plus they often involve priming which means you have a couple of extra minutes to wait before you can start dinner.

Can't decide which one? Then do what some of us do and own one of each kind... (envision wry smile and please don't tell my wife I don't need one of each). If you have any questions about stoves or anything else gear related, feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com. Happy camping this spring!

"A Walk in the 'Woods'"

2010-05-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

This is Chris from The Wildernest again, with some info on a Lancaster hiking trail a stone's throw from the store - the Farmingdale Trail located off of Good Drive. Please pardon the double quotes in the title; I can explain. The outer quotes are an inside joke code that my wife Sarah and I use when I want her to go on a hike with me, to indicate that I wasn't going to overdo the miles. It's not that she doesn't like to hike, it's just that, well... I was a little too aggressive in choosing the mileage for her and I to hike and backpack early in our relationship. So, when my reputation for long hikes was already in place, she would inquire, "Why don't you just walk in the woods?" And so, a walk in the woods implies something less intense than a hike in our family.

The interior quotes refer to the location of our hike. We decided to go to the landlocked Farmingdale Trail, the trail head of which is located at the Noel Dorwart Park in East Hempfield Township. The purpose of the hike was two-fold: to get out for a nice walk with my wife and three sons... and to possibly assist in inducing labor on Sarah, who was very pregnant with our fourth son.

The first thing I noticed was that the woodlands along the trail were young and distinct. A bit farther along I noticed the occasional tire along the side. With some further research, I realized that in my ignorance I had no idea that the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority had opened the trail on a former landfill. That sort of nixed my thought that someone should come through here and get these tires and take them to a landfill. Ha! However, this is a great example of reclaiming some land that was lost for some time.

Anyway, the trail makes for a nice easy walk (or jog or bike), especially with kids. Its location is also a plus, with few other trails in the vicinity. You can easily piece together three miles worth of travel with the various loops. So, if you want to make a quick and easy jaunt with just a bit of seclusion and you live in the area, I would highly recommend it. However, if you are truly looking to get into the forest in Lancaster, you should head to the northern or southern parts of the county where more outdoor opportunities are offered.

So, the walk to didn't bring on the baby, but we were blessed with a healthy birth within a couple of weeks. Another plus was that our 20-month-old hiked much of the 1.5 miles we went without being carried - his longest trek ever! One final kid note: My oldest son, a kindergartner, shares my same concern for keeping hiking areas clean. He found a plastic bottle on the ground and picked it up for us to carry out, saying that we need to keep the Earth healthy. I asked him where he learned that, expecting to feed my parenting ego; however, his response was, "I don't know... I think I just know it." Wow - maybe we are hard-wired for tree hugging...

Well, stay tuned for more on Lancaster trails, hiking/camping with kids, and much more. If you have any questions or comments, contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com or Shawn at the store at thewildernest@msn.com.

Welcome to the Blogosphere

2010-03-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome! If you have stumbled upon this blog, then you've encountered the potentially first unofficial post for The Wildernest outdoor outfitters, located in Lancaster, PA. I'm Chris, and I've worked part time for the store for the past nine years. In the previous nine years (and before), I've been able to trek a few thousand miles on trails in PA and the east coast, now the journey has become a trek to the blogosphere! You may get to meet other employees and the store's owner in future posts.

So, what will you find at the Wildernest 'Blog? Well, that is still to be determined in some ways. You'll probably get to know us a little better, learn about gear and products, read about relevant hiking information and find out about trails through trips I'll share. In many ways, you may help design this blog - what do you want to hear?

How often will I post? I don't have all the answers right now, so why don't I tell you about the Standing Stone Trail, where I went for a quick overnighter this past weekend. It was supposed to be a two-night trip - something I organize every year with a friend for some guys at my church - but my quite pregnant wife wasn't keen on taking care of our other three boys ages six and under for two nights alone. (What, by the fourth child I am supposed to realize that scheduling a trip when your wife is eight months pregnant is not wise?!)

Anyway, the founders and maintainers of the SST are looking to turn it into a "premier" Pennsylvania trail. That led to many wry "yeah, this is premier" quotes while walking, but all in all the trail was a great moderate hike. Not quite premier, but I'd call it a hidden gem for those of us in south central PA who are looking for something a bit different from our usual AT haunts. We hiked from the northern terminus at Greenwood Furnace State Park to where the trail crosses 655 about 21 miles later. The northern end is quite rocky with a good bit of boulder hopping, but nothing that a seasoned PA hiker would find as a surprise. Don't expect water for the first 8-10 miles of that northern ridge run. A friend and I started Saturday morning and played catch up with the rest of the group that left the night before; we caught up with them early afternoon and they were getting a bit thirsty... The rest of the stretch to 655 had water much more readily available. One part of the trail that was a bit sketchy was some apparent rerouting before you pop out at the dead-end portion of Frew Road. A bit of logic and map-reading easily had us headed in the right direction before too long. I'd definitely recommend it for our south-central PA backpackers; I'd also recommend using the public use map for Rothrock State Forest to get a big picture for shuttling. There were some great vistas and other sites along the trail - I'll plan on uploading some pictures here when I think about it. I'm looking forward to finishing this trail in sections in the next couple of years.

So, what's on tap next? I hope you are willing to stay tuned and find out as this blog develops. Post comments and feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com.