national forests
Jumping Cholla
Isn’t this a pretty flower? It is a blossom on one of the most painful plant you never want to bump in to – the Jumping cholla (pronounced CHOY-yah). I’m not sure if “Jumping” is its official name. It is definitely a good descriptive term for this member of the Prickly pear family. As an Read More >>
Packing for six months on the road – it isn’t easy
As our departure date approaches, all the big decisions have been made. By big, I mean we have a departure date, selected the national forests will be visiting and campgrounds to survey, our route is mapped, and all that stuff. I have my lists of what we need to take like laptops, medicines, files, etc. Read More >>
A leashed dog is a safe dog
(This is a blog I wrote years ago but think it is worth repeating every now and again. As folks begin to start planning for their 2021 camping adventures, I want to repeat it as a reminder that a leashed dogs is a safe dog. Stay safe.) The other day we received an email about Read More >>
It’s a big, beautiful country waiting for you
My November 2018 National Geographic magazine has huge article titled “Battle for the American West.” It is a good read but what I found most interesting, and exciting, was the number of photograph of things Fred and I recognized from out travels. I mean we have seen Bears Ears and explored Comb Ridge, been awed Read More >>
In the Kitchen for Novice Campers
This article was first published in 2010 but its tips and suggestions are still current. You got to eat but, like every other activities associated with camping, meal planning and preparation while camping can seem daunting to the novice camper. The secret is K.I.S.S. (keep it simple silly) and a well stocked kitchen. One thing Read More >>
Good night’s sleep means good time camping
Speaking as someone who has been camping for a long while, a good night’s sleep is essential to enjoying any camping adventure. From buzzing bugs to an inadequate sleeping bag, there are a number of factors that can keep a camper from a good night’s sleep. So what is a novice camper to do? Element Read More >>
No Ash trees in our national forests? Say it ain’t possible
A tree with many uses Black ash, a dominant tree species of forested wetlands in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, serves several purposes. It provides multiple ecosystem services. It is a valuable resource for Native American basket-makers. Now the ash tree’s existence is threatened by the emerald ash borer (EAB). It is killing virtually all ash Read More >>
Fire!!! Got a plan?
There doesn’t seem to be an end to the misery folks in California are going through with all these horrible fires. So many missing. So many dead. So many homes gone. So many acres destroyed. My heart aches for all those people and what they must be going through wondering about loved ones. When Fred Read More >>
Lots of new photo albums
We have thousands of individual photos on our Pictures page. However, to streamline viewing we have started composing “photo albums.” Each album is a grouping of photographs of the album’s subject. Some albums are small while others are large. A lot has to do with the things like time of day, weather conditions, and subject Read More >>
Tuskegee National Forest
There are only two national forests with no developed campgrounds: Tuskegee in Alabama and Delta in Mississippi. A little background info on the Tuskegee NF. The land, purchased by the federal government between 1935 through 1938, was once one of the most eroded and abused territory in Alabama. Many restoration projects and changes occurred between Read More >>
