Camping Gear Must Haves: Disaster Survival Edition Natural disasters are happening around the world every day. Hurricanes, tornadoes, forest fires, floods, earthquakes, blizzards, volcanos, and mudslides bombard our daily news. We also have to consider those emergencies that are man-made also. Domestic and foreign acts of terrorism are on the rise. Plane crashes, trains derailed, vehicle accidents and random public shootings rob us of peace and security. How can we prepare? This week lives were ...

Named for a smoke-like haze, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was opened in 1934 and is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching across North Carolina and Tennessee. The park is over 800 square miles of Appalachian forests, hilly hiking trails, and verdant river valleys. Hundreds of native tree and plant species can be found there, and well over a thousand flower varieties! Summer is the busiest camping season in the Smokies, making fall a great time to visit! This is one of...

I was a few miles south of Wall, South Dakota, when I finally saw the line of campers perched perilously close to a cliff ledge. After nearly two days of nonstop driving, I’d finally reached my destination, Nomad View in the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recarea/?recid=30329 ).   Gnarled rock formations rise above the low plains, the remnants of geological instability 65 million years ago and continuing erosion ever since. On this unseasonab...

Pitching a tent right on the beach allows you to fall asleep listening to crashing surf and wake up to a stunning sunrise over the ocean. Wide open spaces, salty ocean breezes, and sand under bare feet allow us to relax and recharge. Many people consider camping on the coast to be the ultimate beach getaway. However, beach camping presents a unique set of challenges. Thankfully, a little knowledge and preparation can help keep your beach camping trip from turning into a sandy nightmare. &nb...

National park crowding has been an issue for years, but what if the solution is hanging in your garage right now? Can e-bikes make for not only a less congested park system, but also a happier and healthier visitor experience as well? Late last fall, I spent two months visiting all the national parks in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. It was an incredible road trip, but even during the supposed shoulder season, the crowds were often stifling.  So many people see these parks, among the most bea...