If you like to go camping, you probably know how great a simple granola bar can taste after a long hike.  You probably also know that when you have to carry everything on your back, the ideas of “light” and “heavy” take on whole new meanings.  You want to carry as little as you possibly can.  There is a funny moment in Bill Bryson’s book, “Walk in the Wood,” where his companion throws half of his provisions out because he thinks his pack is too heavy, including some of their food!

Packing Food

This is why a lot of camping foods focus on packing a lot of calories into a small volume, and weight.  One staple of camping snacks is trail mix…nuts, chocolate and dried fruit can give you a lot of calories and nutrients in just a small handful.  Beef jerky is another great option if you want to add some meat into the mix.

If you are looking for a creative option (sick of the old staples), try whipping up a batch of your own nut butter to make some cracker sandwiches!  Not only will it be healthier than your store bought versions, but it will also taste better and be more satisfying.  Nut butters provide nutritious fats, are high in Vitamin B, and contain lots of protein.  I expect you won’t be bringing a portable food processor with you camping, so you will need to whip up a batch of your nut butter before you leave.

Nut Butter Recipes

The recipe is pretty simple!  In general, you will need some nuts, a little salt, a little oil, and maybe some spices (like cinnamon).  You can experiment with taste and consistency, but you will need about 2 tsp of oil per 2 cups of nuts.  Add the nuts to the food processor and grind until they become sticky or paste-like, and then add the salt and slowly add the oil until the butter binds together.  Experiment with different types of nuts, and don’t be afraid to venture out from the boring peanut!  You can make walnut, cashew, pecan, almond or even hazelnut butter.  Spread it on some crackers and you will have a tasty camping snack!

First Time Camper

I recently went on my first camping trip with my husband and our dog. How is it that I have never been camping before? Well, growing up, it wasn’t something my parents were interested in. My brothers did boy scouts and camped with that organization. They had tents and pocket knives and backpacks.

I tried to do girl scouts, but I don’t think I graduated from Brownies. My most vivid memory of Brownies is going outside and picking up dried leaves to crumble up and put in a bag with cheap perfume – voila! Potpourri! Amazing I didn’t stick with it, right?

Leave No Trace

Back to the first camping trip. I think camping, like any other hobby, takes practice and the right gear. I have none of the right gear, and I don’t have any practice. If you are going into a foreign environment (aka the outdoors) it helps if you are comfortable with everything you are wearing and bringing.

Oh, and did you realize that you have to CARRY everything that you want to bring? That can all get seriously heavy. Lucky for me, my husband carried most of the stuff. It was a good excuse that I don’t have my own pack.

Look Out for BUGS!

Problem one with camping is the bugs. Bugs are noisy, and they are everywhere. We had to pull a tick off of our dog. Contrary to what I expected, I didn’t think the big bugs were that scary. After all, you can see those. It is the little bugs that were the problem. They could sneak up on you at any moment. Especially the ants.

I have heard that many people prefer camping in the winter time because there aren’t as many critters around. Being more of a warm weather person myself, I thought that crazy. Now I understand. I had the false expectation that it would be quiet and peaceful in the outdoors. Peaceful…maybe, but definitely not quiet.

We only did a short hike to our camping spot, which was good because of all the gear. Because we weren’t hiking too far, we were able to bring fishing equipment to try and catch our dinner out at the local lake. I’ve been fishing before – when I was in sixth grade we went deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. I don’t remember what we caught, but they were big and it was fun. Any other fishing I’ve done (lakes or rivers) has been purely recreational (not for food). We would always catch them and throw them back.

As you’ve probably gathered by now, I’m quite a bit more urban than rural. So, I caught a large mouth bass, which was pretty exciting. I didn’t so much mind catching it, since I knew it was for food. Circle of life, right? If you are going to eat a fish, after you catch it, you have to gut it! This is the most disgusting thing that I have ever seen.

You literally cut the belly of the fish open with a sharp filet knife, hook your finger under the gills, and pull out the guts. I will never look at fish the same way again. I did try the fish, but I didn’t enjoy it. My husband seemed to think it was tasty though, but he was tapping in to his inner caveman. Luckily, we brought a few of the prepackaged dinners to warm up; those things really aren’t too bad!

All in all, the first camping trip wasn’t too bad. I definitely would prefer to try it in the winter, and I now know that I’m not the “kill it and eat it” type. If that was my only option, I’m sure I would be a vegetarian!

We love seeing families enjoy our Pompton Lakes and take part in any number of activities in the great outdoors.

Camping is one of the most popular ways to get out and enjoy some fresh air and relaxation, and many people come from miles around to camp on our shores. Over the years, we have picked up many tips, tricks, and best practices, and to help you make the most out of your trip, we think it’s useful to go over some interesting information that should keep you well informed.

Enjoy Camping with a Large Family

While the average family still has 2 children, we get quite a few people coming by who have 3 ,4, 5, or more kids. If none of them are yet teenagers, it’s probably important to you that they sleep in the same tent as the parents (you). While some larger groups simply spread out with multiple tents, if you are a large young family, you don’t have that option and have to come up with a compromise.

One of the great things we’ve seen over the past few years is an increase in the available tents designed specifically for families. These family tents sleep anywhere from 6 to 12 people, making camping easy for people with many children.

Kodiak, Coleman, and Kelty make some of the top tents that we would recommend based on our years of experience camping, hiking, and backpacking in this area. In particular, the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe 8-Person Tent is our top choice for people looking to sleep between 4 and 8 people.

What To Look For in a Family Tent

The first thing you should know is that most manufacturers of camping equipment exaggerate their claims. For some reason, the industry is full of not-quite-accurate statements. For example, sleeping bag companies give temperature ratings. While true that a specific bag could work in 0 degree weather, it usually only keeps you comfortable for a few minutes, and will let you survive through the night, but not much more.

Similarly with tents, when you see an “8 person tent”, you should really think 6 people. You could hypothetically fit 8 people in the tent as long as they all slept in individual sleeping bags and were lined up head to foot to head (like sardines). How much fun will you have like that? Probably not much, not to mention you won’t be very comfortable and there will be no room for your gear.

Take this warning and remember it when looking at tents – always buy a tent with a rating of 2 more people than you actually need.

Like with all tents, you should be looking for something that is:

• Well made
• Sturdy
• Easy to put up, and
• Preferably water proof

Well Made

It’s hard to go wrong if you buy a tent from one of the manufacturers we recommended above. Things like good zippers, secure seams (particularly around the bottom of the tent and any zippers), reinforced bottom panels, and high quality material are things you should be looking for. Longevity should be a major feature of your tent, and you do not want to be running into quality issues when you’re out by the lake trying to enjoy your time.

Sturdy

Some tents come with flimsy support rods and poles. These days, good aluminum poles are lightweight and sturdy and are a major feature of many tents these days.

Easy to put up

There’s nothing worse than getting stressed as soon as you get to the campsite. Therefore, you should be looking at a tent that has simple set up methods. If you are battling with 10 rods, 10 stakes, and a difficult to understand instruction manual, you’re going to have a bad time. Instead, look for units that have only a couple of rods (even better if they are fold-able, rather than multiple loose pieces.)

Waterproof

You want to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at you. Don’t assume that you’ll only ever go camping when the weather is nice. Things can change very quickly, believe us! Getting wet inside your tent is heartbreaking. If your sleeping bag is wet, you’ll never get dry, warm, or comfortable. Your gear could get wet, too, and you could spend days waiting miserably to go home. Look for reinforced seams, waterproofed material, and a good rain fly.

We hope you will enjoy your next family trip to Pompton Lakes in whatever family tent you choose!

Camping in New Jersey can be fun, exhilarating and a wonderful learning experience. However, if you’re not careful, you can get so caught up in a new environment that you may forget to eat healthy foods. There are some tips that will help keep you healthy; no matter where your camping trip takes you such as planning ahead.

By planning ahead and preparing menus that include fresh fruits and vegetables, you will be one step ahead in staying healthy.

Take with you plenty of the following:
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Lean Meats

All you need to prepare these foods is a sharp knife. Another tip is to freeze meals ahead of time. To do this, prepare extra food when preparing your main meals and then freeze the leftovers. Then, all you have to do is put them in a cooler, defrost them when you need them, heat and serve. Some also take frozen vegetables along in place of the ice in their coolers.   It’s a good idea to take along meal replacement packs or protein products that will mix easily and satisfy your hunger on the go.

Keep Breakfast Easy

Another tip that some have found helpful is by taking some homemade or already prepared muffins along. These, along with some coffee, make a great tasting breakfast. Then, instead of taking along too many sugary soft drinks, take with you some bottled water or freeze several gallons of water ahead of time. Cool water is much better for you than sugary drinks and there are no calories in water.   It will also keep you refreshed when you are out hiking in the woods.

Keep in mind that sweet potatoes and baking potatoes do not need refrigeration and are easy to prepare. All you need to make a tasty meal with these vegetables are the following to prepare a great meal:
• onions
• salt and pepper
• a good sized iron skillet
• and some vegetable oil

Snacks and Granola Cereals Work Well so bring some along for the ride!

Be sure to also pack some peanuts or walnuts; they make a great snack and are full of protein and other great nutrients. Granola cereals also make great snacks or breakfast choices and all you need is the cereal, plastic bowls and spoons and some water. Some like whole grain pita bread or wraps, filled with peanut butter, nut butters, vegetables or tuna. They fill you up, are nutritious and taste great. This kind of food works best for lunches because they give you additional energy for the rest of the day.

Make some Easy Pizza or Tortillas

For supper, make some easy pizzas and use whole grain tortillas or whole wheat pita bread filled with cheese, sauce and veggie toppings. Toast these items in a pan over a cook stove until the bread is crispy and the cheese is gooey and delicious looking. Another tip that helps is to keep lean meats in a cooler. Make sure they are packed well in ice. In most cases, they should keep for several days; as long as ice is refreshed when needed and the meat is not left out for more than a few minutes.  Meat that is also kept out too long will lose protein and other nutrient value (creatine is in meat) the longer it sits.

To conclude, camping be fun and healthy; however, to ensure that your camping experience remains healthy and safe, be sure to take with you healthy and nutritious food in order to stay in shape while you are in the great outdoors at Pompton Lakes!

It is often difficult to determine which tool to use when cutting firewood.  It is essential that you look up chainsaw reviews to help you in determining which chainsaw is right for you.  Camping always brings back memories of being a child, sleeping in a tent with your family, sitting around telling stories, fishing with your dad, cooking and eating the fish you caught, enjoying life in the great outdoors.  All of these activities are enhanced by the sights and sounds of a big roaring campfire.  The crackling embers, the dancing flames, the smell of burning wood.   One crucial element to a campfire, of course, is the firewood.

In National and State parks there are many regulations governing the use and procurement of firewood.  However, if you are truly in the “backcountry”, or camping on your own vast acreage of wilderness, than you are responsible for obtaining your own firewood.  And it is imperative. Without a proper campfire, you lose the ability to cook, and you lose the ability to keep warm.   Most of your kindling for the campfire can be gathered on the forest floor, twigs, brush, leaves, etc.  However, a long lasting fire needs bigger branches, bigger logs, to maintain fuel to the fire.  It is at this point that a proper chainsaw comes into play.

Many campers do not quite understand the need for a chainsaw.  They feel that the forest will provide an adequate supply of firewood.  While true, there is plenty of burnable brush, most if not all of the kindling you find will be quick burning, and really only good for starting a fire.  In order to maintain a quality blaze, you need sizable logs and/or branches.  You may find a three-foot long branch on the ground.  How do you get that branch into your campfire?  It is way too big.  You break off the twigs and leaves, and you are still left with a three-foot long log.   You could feed it into your campfire, but wouldn’t it be better to cut the log into the proper portions for your campfire.   That’s where a chainsaw is needed.

You could turn to an axe, hatchet or handsaw.  These tools might well for twigs and small branches, and will eventually cut through your larger logs, but this will take a long arduous time period.  You did not come camping to toil for hours cutting logs with an axe or handsaw.  Nightfall may be coming.  The temperature may be dropping.  You cannot spend all your time sawing through a log.  This is difficult and time-consuming work, which can be made so much easier by having the proper chainsaw.

There are many different types of Stihl Chainsaws, with many different options and choices.  The first question should always be, what is my need?   After that many factors, including size, weight, affordability, power source, the fit of the chainsaw meaning your comfort level in operating the saw, safety features, chain brake, among other factors.   You will be using this chainsaw for many hours, so make sure you have the appropriate level of comfort of use, otherwise it is a waste.

While buying a chainsaw is a personal choice, it is necessary to compare and contrast many different options, choices and styles.   You decide to go camping to enjoy nature, enjoy wildlife, enjoy the great outdoors.  Why waste time, sweat, and energy cutting by hand the appropriate amount of firewood you need?  Read chainsaw reviews and pick the right chainsaw for your needs and spend your time living in the wilderness not working the forest.