Seasons Greetings from Southern Ontario Outdoors

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my camping friends. Thanks to all who are following this blog; your comments and suggestions will help me provide you with even better items throughout 2009

The tents, trailers, and RVs are cleaned and stored for the winter, and except for the fortunate few that have joined the geese and headed south, all we have are the memories of 2008 to help us while away the long winter days until the parks open once again.

But alas, not all is lost. I’ve always found that planning is almost as good as being there, especially sitting around the fireplace on a cold wintery day, sipping a wee dram of scotch. Within the next month I will have added a large interactive database to http://www.sooutdoors.ca that will make it very easy for you to zoom in on specific destination and campground related information.

Pull out the camping guides and start planning your strategy for next summer. And, just in case you can’t wait that long remember that there are 25 Provincial Parks in Ontario that are open year round and offer winter camping.

“Peace on earth; good will towards men.”

Lloyd

The Essential Kitchen Shelter

This might seem like an odd time of year to suggest adding camping equipment, but remember that Christmas is just around the corner and what better time to think about camping supplies for next season than when you’re making out your Christmas wish list.

One item that has served our family well over the years is the addition of a kitchen shelter. Because we started our camping experiences at a time when counting pennies was essential we came to the realization that a relatively small sleeping tent would suffice if we could have enough room to eat and lounge comfortably outside the sleeping tent.

We used awnings and tarps for awhile but were constantly driven into the tent to escape the bugs or just to get warm. Then we realized that investing a bit of extra cash for the purchase of a kitchen shelter would give us exactly what we needed, without breaking the bank.

There are many makes, models, and designs of kitchen shelters on the market but there are a few essentials you should consider before you begin your search.

1. Look for a shelter that is screened on all four sides.
2. The shelter should have entrances on two sides.
3. The screened sections should have a waterproof cover that can be rolled up, or down, completely or partially.
4. There should be no floor in the shelter, but it should have a 6” to 8” “lip” inside the tent. You can place heavy items or rocks along this lip to help keep animals out.
5. Be sure it is large enough to put a picnic table inside.

For those of us that like to camp on the ground the shelter will quickly become an essential piece of equipment because:

1. The screens will keep the bugs out.
2. The waterproof covers will ensure that you and your equipment are dry when the rain falls.
3. Your camp stove, or even a lantern, will provide enough warmth to keep the chill off for those evening card games.
4. Strategically closing the covers on one or two sides will give you will have greater privacy when you’re eating or lounging.

Get that shelter on your Christmas list and be ready for dry, bug free camping trips next summer.

Lloyd

5 Post Season Tips for Campers

Well it’s sad to say but I’m afraid that we’ve reached that time of year when we need to turn our thoughts to packing up the camping equipment for another year. That’s not to say that you can’t enjoy some great camping through the late fall and even throughout the winter; but that takes a special breed whose sanity I have always questioned – just kidding!

For the rest of us there are a few things to be done to ensure that your camping equipment is in prime condition for next season. Perhaps your equipment hasn’t been used for a few months or maybe you had to do a rush pack-up in the rain at the end of your last trip and never had time to pack and dry things properly.

Here are a few simple tips to help you deal with camping withdrawal and give you one last chance to fondle your equipment and ponder memories of last summer.

1. Open up your tent and be sure that it is clean and dry. Even modern day fabrics can be severely damaged if they are stored damp and dirty for an extended period of time…not to mention the unpleasant smell of mould and mildew that will greet you when you first set up your tent in the spring.

2. Wash or dryclean your sleeping bags. That way they will be fresh and ready to use next spring.

3. Take an inventory of your equipment. Things do tend to go missing and now is the time to replace any tent pegs, ropes, poles, etc. that decided to stay at the campsite.

4. If you were having trouble with any propane appliances, now is the time to get them fixed.

5. Be sure that all water containers are empty and dry. Giving them a quick rinse with a chlorine solution isn’t a bad idea.

Taking a few hours now to inspect, clean, and store your camping equipment will ensure many years of great camping and will help you avoid some frustration when you head off for that first camping trip next spring.

The SO…Camping Blog will be a bit intermittent over the winter months but will be updated as I find relevant or entertaining material to pass on Have a great winter and keep enjoying our great Southern Ontario Outdoors.

SD

Ease the Kids into the Fall Routine with a Camping Trip

If you're one of those that think Labour Day is the end of camping season for another year, think again. What better way to ease the kids back into the school routine than putting a couple of camping trips on the agenda for the month of September.

The temperature is still warm during the day, but cool at night; making for a comfortable sleep. And when you venture onto the trails for streams during the day you won't be bothered by hoards of biting insects. As an added bonus the water can be at it's warmest this time of the year and offers a great chance for those last few dips or splashes before cooler weather descends on a more permanent basis.

Late summer camping can be one of the most enjoyable outings of the whole year so don't rush to pack up the tent, trailer, or RV too soon.

I hope you can take time for a great late summer camping experience and will share your experiences with a post here on the Southern Ontario Camping blog.

Lloyd

SO...Outdoors Camping Blog

Welcome to the Southern Ontario Outdoors camping blog. This blog is sponsored by www.SoOutdoors.ca . I will bring you news, views, and interviews related to camping in Southern Ontario. Whether you carry your camp on your back to remote locations or prefer the comforts of taking your whole house with you, I will provide information and stories to help you along your way.

For more information about Camping in Southern Ontario please visit www.SoOutdoors.ca/camping.