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camping backpacking

Read and learn more about camping backpacking. For more, visit the Camping website CampingCamper.com

Q: Where is a good place to go primitive camping/ backpacking?
I live outside Madison, WI and am looking for places that allow primitive camping/ backpacking. I don’t want the Campgrounds with picnic areas, pools and game rooms. I want to take my backpack and be in the wilderness. Places near lakes or rivers would be nice, but anywhere is okay. I am looking to do this for about a week. Any ideas?

A: patagonia

Q: Where is a good place to go camping/backpacking?
I live in Charlottesville va and am looking for a good place to go camping or backpacking. I want something secluded. No pay camping or designated campsites.

A: Do you really have to ask that question? You have the Appalachian Trail practically in your back yard. If you want to avoid the permits and restricted camping of the SNP go on down to pearisburg which according to yahoo maps is about 3 hours from charlottesville, from there to waynesboro would give you a good 225 miles on the trail and you have many other places to start closer if you don’t want that kind of distance.

Q: What is a good backpacking/camping retail site with super low prices?
It seems like every website I go to always has either really high prices…or the same as everyone else. Is there a site that has really cheap camping/backpacking gear besides EBAY!?

A: I always buy from Campmor.

Q: Anyone know any good places to go primitive camping/backpacking?
I live in Chicago, and am willing to travel up to 5 hours. I am not looking for a place that has rv’s and pools and game rooms. I am looking to go backpacking for a day, and camp out in the woods with nothing but nature around me. I would not mind canoeing to a sand bar. I just can’t seem to be able to find anything about it. It would be nice if there was water around, since I like to fish.

A: Many of the destinations mentioned so far are nice, but over 5 hours from Chicago. A canoe destination where you can camp overnight on a sandbar would be the Wisconsin River near Madison.

http://www.iit.edu/~travel/wisriv.html

There’s good hiking at Devil’s Lake State Park, but I don’t think any primitive camping is allowed. You can probably hike along sections of the Wisconsin river and camp out as well.

Q: How can I get into hiking/backpacking/camping?
I’m interested in taking up hiking/backpacking/camping through parks and the woods, especially in Northern Maine. Does anyone have any ideas of how to get started? Small goals? What would I need as far as equipment?

A: Well, I started doing some camping with my father at a young age. I joined the scouts and things went from there. I would suggest something along those lines – find a local club or group that enjoys doing camping and backpacking. You’ll want to try camping first – backpacking is an acquired taste if you know what I mean. As far as hiking goes, go to an EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) or REI or LL Bean, and purchase a good pair of hiking boots and a good day pack(it doesn’t have to be huge). Ask one of the sales associates to help you find the proper fit. Remember to break in your boots before hiking in them. Also get 2 Nalgene bottles – they’re great. Get a guide book – it will have loads of helpful info. Try a few short hikes in the area and work your way up. After awhile try some 4000 footers. Camping and backpacking require a lot more equipment and a bit more experience. Always camp with at least one other person – and see if you can start out by borrowing some gear. Don’t buy much until you’re sure you want to get into the sport.

Q: What is some cheap camping/backpacking food?
I planning on backpacking across the United States. What are some cheap options for feeding myself over 2 months on the go? I will carry everything in my back pack, have frequent access to supermarkets and infrequent access to a kitchen.

A: Crackers
Trail Mix
Cups of Soup
Dried Fruit packets
Tuna in a bag
Freeze dried food such as chicken
Granola bars
Bagged nuts
Beef Jerky
Packets of ketchup, jellies, and other condiments
Powdered drinks that just need water
Water
Cereal

Q: Does anyone remember the old style coffee percolators that were used for camping/backpacking?
I’m researching equipment that I will need for a backpacking trip and am wondering if anyone remembers the old style coffee percolators. If you do, do you know if you can still find them and where?

Thanks, any info would be helpful

A: If you will truly be backpacking, you will more than likely find the old style percolators to be heavy and quite bulky. They are certainly available still – as the other answer mentioned, Walmart will likely have them, as do outdoors stores like Cabela’s, Bass Pro, REI, etc.

For backpacking, I have a few different means of making coffee, and will switch them around from trip to trip. If a good strong cup of joe is what you’re after, there are some great french presses that are great – and if you use the JetBoil stove, there is a java press for that too, which I’m told is excellent. GSI Outdoors manufactures a whole variety of coffee making toys… including the percolators, coffee filter baskets, presses, espresso machines, etc. LOTS to choose from.

http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/cat/coffee/ (Note, there are 3 pages of goods!)

For ultralight backpacking, I hate to say it, but I tend to use Starbucks VIA packets or instant espresso powder… and sometimes I spike either of those with a teaspoon of hot cocoa powder.

Q: What’s a good water purifier for camping/backpacking?
I’m thinking the MSR SweetWater, but I’d like to hear what others think. Often the water I use would come from Lake Superior and backcountry streams. Thanks for your help.
Or should I use purifying tablets? Which brands?

A: Do you camp/hike regularly? Is weight a consideration?

I personally don’t have an aversion to tablets, among which the Katadyn Micropur tablets are good.

I generally boil snow and ice at high altitude and often don’t carry a filter except in normal alpine hikes, favoring tablets for weight.

If you think it is something you will use for a while, and you want to invest $75 or more, the MSR Sweetwater is a solid choice. The Katadyn Hiker Pro Water Filter is comparable, and generally a bit cheaper.

I have an MSR Miniworks EX which is fine, but is not the easiest to pump. It’s pretty stiff, like Timinator in the JC Penny lingerie department.

Q: Anyone know of any good backpacking / primitive camping in Northern Wisconsin?
I would like to go backpacking and primitive camping in northern Wisconsin, anyone know of any good areas?

A: I used to live in Northern Wisconsin. If you want primitive, stay away from tourist towns like Minocqua, Bayfield and Hayward. The tourist brochures make them look rustic, but in the summer there are soooo many people, that traffic is ridiculous! Sometimes I felt like I was driving in downtown Chicago! Try going up toward the U.P. There are a ton of waterfalls. The northshore of Minnesota is awesome too. Some of my buddies used to go to places near Antigo for hunting/canoeing. Nicolet National forest ROCKS! There’s long stretches of wilderness and it can be pretty hilly too. In the spring, the roadsides are carpeted with Trilliums, sweet. I stayed at Pattison State Park’s campground once. Its not super rustic, but there are two waterfalls in the park and tons of hiking around the general area.

Q: what are the most important things to bring camping/backpacking that people usually forget?
Like in the question, I need to know. I think I have everything, but I’m not sure. Please remember, I am carrying it all on my back for 2-10 miles. and I don’t need a lot of luxury’s, but I don’t want to forget something really important

A: toilet paper, matches, and batteries

here is a link for a good check list

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/backpacking+checklist.html

@added double thumbs up Don, Good Judgment

Q: can you use a backpacking tent for camping multiple nights in a campground?
backpacking tents seem generally cheaper and lighter weight, but would they work well for camping in general? i want a tent i can camp in but also use for backpacking if need be
i dont mean if im allowed to, just if it would work and hold up alright

why are they split anyways? isnt a backpacking tent just a lighter camping tent?

A: none of the campgrounds I ever heard would care if you slept on the ground without a tent at all as long as you weren’t naked

Q: overnight backpacking/camping in new york state?
I want to go backpacking/camping in new york state (possibly Adirondack State Park) with three other people. We are hoping to hike up to a spot to set up tents etc. and spend the night. We are each 17 or 16 years old – is this a problem? I know that in Connecticut at least one person must be 18. Thanks!

A: It shouldn’t be. There usually isn’t someone there checking IDs at the trailheads. I’m pretty sure there is nothing in the DEC regs about age limits. However, if you are camping in an area where use of a bear can is mandatory and you don’t already own one, you will need a credit card to put down as a deposit when you rent one. Aside from that, most backcountry campsites are first come-first serve.

Q: How much water should I expect to need per day of backpacking/camping?
One person, moderate temps, high 70’s (fahrenheit) in the day, 35-45 at night, some exertion but not continuous or extreme.

A: 100 oz. per day personal consumption plus 10-15 oz. for cooking dehydrated foods

Q: Can someone outline for me exactly how to prepare for winter backpacking/camping?
I am an experienced distance hiker, but I’ve never pitched a tent in the snow before. I’ll be hiking around Slovakia over Christmas and New Years. I can dress warmly enough, but is there a specific kind of tent I need to buy? Or sleeping bag? And anything else I should think about?
Advice from experienced outdoorsmen much appreciated!

A: Yes, there is a specific sort of tent you should buy, it’s called a “single walled tent” and they’re more expensive than usual three season double walled tents. Because blowing or falling or drifting snow could get into any other sort of shelter the single walled tent is the only way to go. I mean besides building a snow cave.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/single_wall_tents_shelters_review_summary.html

http://www.outdoorswithdave.com/camping/building_a_snow_cave.htm

Before you set up your tent on snow it’s important to stomp the snow down, stand back and let it harden for a while, then set up the tent. You’ll have to consider wind protection in case of storms, pitch your tent in a protected area, whether to build a snow wall around your tent or dig out a hole to pitch your tent in, and avoid trees where snow has accumulated and might fall if the winds pick up. Rather than stakes you’ll need snow stakes or make “dead men” out of bags filled with snow to which you’ll tie off your tent and bury.

Of course you should have 1 1/2″ – 2″ of sleeping pad between you and the snow, and a sleeping bag of sufficient insulation. I recommend the use of a vapor barrier liner bag in sub-freezing conditions to prevent condensation from forming inside your sleeping bag insulation, especially important on long trips where a bag will fill with moisture.

http://www.netbackpacking.com/vapor-barrier-and-radiant-barrier-liners.html

http://www.basegear.com/integral-designs-hooded-vapor-barrier-liner.html

Here are pics from one of our snow-camping trips: http://paigefalk.smugmug.com/Backpacking/Dewey-Point-Snowshoe-Backpack/4357856_smgcd#255751461_WNrcM

Q: Philmont Backpacking Camping Stove?
Hello, I am planning a two week treck to Philmont Boy Scout high adventure camp in New Mexico. I can not decide what type of backpacking stove to carry with me. Can anyone give me a information on a specific stove that they have taken on long back packing trips and enjoyed, or did not enjoy?

A: We prefer the Whisper-lite international — I have used it for over 17 years and many fuels. It competes well in heating time and is easy to maintain. We have several other types — downside on canisters is packing them in and out (two small fuel bottles is easier)– plus there are now so many types of canister stoves that require a specific canister. Check with your crew leader — a crew of 12 needs only 3 stoves tops — if you all have the same type packing and being prepared for repair is easier.
Have a great time Philmont is beautiful.

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