national forests
Hiking Trails for Walkers
The other day I asked a friend and avid hiker, “What’s the difference between hiking and walking?” He thought a minute and declared, “Hiking requires looking where you put your feet but with walking you don’t.” I like that definition and I like walking better the hiking. That preference is probably the result of my Read More >>
Nothing Fancy Spaghetti
Enjoyed a pleasant evening visiting with Jim Gorman, a contributing editor for Backpacker magazine, and John Molloy, author of 33 books on the outdoors, at Rucker Canyon Forest Camp in the Coronado National Forest. This is the yummy pasta dish Jim made for all of us. It was fun watching him create and making do Read More >>
Always something New to discover in our national forests
You just never know what you’ll discover when exploring a national forest. I remember years ago, while researching the national forests in Arkansas, Fred and I discovered some petroglyphs on a wall under a rock ledge. (Actual size of the image was about that of a Barbie doll.) We felt like Columbus discovering America. We Read More >>
Memories from Forest Travels
The updating of forestcamping.com from the information received from the Forest Service has been completed!!!! Okay, there are some phone calls I’m waiting for to resolve a few remaining issues but the work is done!!! It felt like it was taking forever to get everything entered. The whole process is so boring but necessary. I’ve Read More >>
Thinning = healthier forest?
This article was rewritten back in 2009 and the question still hasn’t been answered. However, wildfires in Northern Arizona, where the thinning sighted was tried, weren’t anywhere as badly damaged as the forests in California were no thinning was applied. What’s your opinion? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A couple months ago, the Arizona Daily Star had an article Read More >>
Monsoon
For years my girlfriends have been raving about the Monsoon season. The general rule of thumb, Monsoon begins in the July 4th week and continues to Labor Day. First, let me define what I see is a Monsoon? It is more than a rainstorm. It is an event brings change to the constant heat that Read More >>
Solitude – A precious thing
Anyone who has read some of my “stuff” might conclude my favorite campground or forest feature is solitude. They would be correct. I look for and enjoy solitude when and where I can find it. To me, experiencing solitude can “recharge my batteries” and completely adjust any negative manure going on in my life. While Read More >>
Hickory – Special tree – Special nut
A great thing about our work is meeting so many great people and being exposed to their special interests. Years ago we met a man who enjoyed wood-carving. A favorite medium for him was the nuts of hickory trees. Through him we have learned more about hickory trees. Did you know hickory trees once grow Read More >>
Fly Fishing Festival in Ennis, MT
On Labor Day weekend each year, Ennis, MT, located on the banks of the Madison River, holds its annual Fly Fishing Festival. Lots of fly-fishing related stuff, such as equipment, demonstrations, along with lectures and art, as well as music and good food (the smoked trout pizza was amazing!). The Madison River, flows between the Read More >>
You can prevent wildfires
Wildfire continue to destroy wide swaths of national forests and grasslands. The black stumps and scorch earth left by wildfires are reminders we should always follow basic wildfire safety when in the forest or on a grassland. Here are some of those basics: Scrape dead grass and other flammable materials away from campfire sites. Keep Read More >>
