Basic Tent Camping

Book excerpt: Many non-campers hold irrational fears that tent camping is an uncomfortable and even dangerous activity. But author Frazier Douglass knows from experience that living in a public campground several days or weeks can be a very safe and comfortable experience. In Basic Tent Camping, Douglass offers a host of information about this popular recreational activity. Major topics include: detailed information about tents, sleeping bags, ropes, hatchets, lights, ice chests, kitchen gear, and other items; compressible, fast-drying garments that can be worn separately in hot weather and layered to provide warmth in cool weather; how to perform variety of camping tasks such as setting up kitchen tarps that provide shade and storm protection, hanging hammocks, and battening down before bedtime; dozens of simple, but delicious meal suggestions that can be easily prepared on a campfire or small camp stove; how to plan basic tent camping trips to popular state and federal campgrounds during the peak summer camping season; information about the history of tent camping and current ethical guidelines; misconceptions and controversies related to basic tent camping; and how to care for each piece of camping equipment to extend its lifetime. A valuable resource for both novice and veteran campers, Basic Tent Camping details a fresh approach to basic tent camping that emphasizes comfort and convenience.