Whitewater Rafting Family Vacation

Now this is something everyone can enjoy together: whitewater rafting! Planning a whitewater rafting family vacation will not only make you the coolest parents to ever exist, it will also provide a powerful bonding experience for your family as a unit.

This type of cooperative adventure experience is second to none in terms of building family trust, proper dependence skills, and overall self-reliance combined with teamwork. There is no better combination to develop great skills in your children than an exciting whitewater rafting family vacation.

The idealism behind a whitewater rafting family vacation is that your family will end up in the raft learning from each other and cooperating as a team for the great, noble cause of adventure.

The reality behind a rafting family vacation is that the family has a great amount of fun and ends up laughing and screaming their way to jubilation as they cruise up and down the raging waters together. Either result, of course, makes for an explosively exhilarating family vacation and will make you a hit among parents for years to come because of your unforgettable vacation idea.

Take the Plunge

Booking your whitewater rafting family vacation is literally just a phone call away. There are a variety of travel agents and support staff available at a large number of rafting facilities that can book and furnish your entire vacation plan within minutes and have your family on their way to the greatest vacation experience of their lives. This type of thing doesn't have to happen just once in a lifetime either, as many people take whitewater rafting family vacations several times a year and end up making it a regular part of their lives.

It has been said that “the family that rafts together, stays together” and it couldn't be truer. The notion that families experiencing adventure and skilled turmoil together are closer is certainly supported by nature and biological evidence.

Clutching tightly to your parents as your plunge into the river is a great bonding experience, as is yelling at your children to “paddle faster” before hitting the swirling currents. All of these experiences add up to the wonderful reality of excitement behind a whitewater rafting family vacation.

Of course, you could just take your kids to Disneyland and only partly experience adventure this summer. You could even go on an amusement ride to attempt to capture some of the fun of whitewater rafting. It might work.

Truck Camper - Camping Freedom

Each year millions of campers leave the confines of their homes and neighborhoods and set off on a quest for the fresh air and open spaces of the great outdoors. But campers are no different than other vacationers, and the degree to which they escape the comforts of home can vary greatly. Some campers like to travel in their RV (recreational vehicle) in which they can enjoy all the comforts of home and then some! Some RVs have more amenities than many homes or hotels!

In contrast to the RV camper, some people truly like to rough it and live off the land as their ancestors did. For them a tent and fire provide their basic necessities, and the fun lies in getting away from modern creature comforts. However, not all campers are interested in staying in one place. Sportsman - like hunters or fisherman - or those who simply like to explore, need something different that will provide them with shelter, comfort, and mobility, and nothing fills that role like a truck camper.

A truck camper is a camper that rests securely in the flatbed portion of a pickup truck. Unlike an RV or pop up camper (a camper that is towed behind a truck or car), a truck camper allows you to bring a solid shelter with you in the smallest possible footprint.

Because it rests in a pickup truck, it can go just about anywhere a pickup truck can go. Back roads or the boulevard, parkways or national parks, a truck camper can go anywhere your heart desires. That is why these campers are the choice for the sportsman who seeks remote hunting or fishing grounds, or the campers who want to find their own campsite far away from the convention of the hardwired campgrounds.

Truck campers offer obvious advantages in their mobility, as well as lower gas mileage and lower profile than RVs or pop up campers. However, do not let their smaller size fool you, they can be incredibly well appointed and more spacious than one would imagine. Like all recreational vehicles, they range in size, features, and price.

Starting with a smaller and more basic model, one would typically find a truck camper that offers floor space that is roughly eight feet in length. While that may sound small, a well designed truck camper can pack a lot in that little space. You can expect to find that even the more basic, lower priced truck campers will have features like an ice box, a sink with hot and cold water, a stove top, Porta-Potti storage area, an outdoor shower with privacy curtain, a sitting area, and a generously sized bed. When combined with propane gas and water storage ability, even a basic truck camper can allow you to venture far from the beaten path without sacrificing comfort or ignoring any of your basic needs.

If you have a taste for things that are anything but basic there are truck campers for you as well. Deluxe campers can stretch to as much as twelve feet of floor length and have a list of features that you would expect to find on a full sized RV. How about a bathroom and shower, flat screen television with surround sound system, refrigerator and freezer, multiple burner stove top and oven, heating and air conditioning, and a queen sized bed? Yes, all of those things and more can comfortably fit in a first rate truck camper.

The truck camper that is best for you depends on several things. Your wants and needs, your budget, and most important, your truck; all of those factors will drive your ultimate decision. Some campers can not fit in the bed of smaller trucks, and some smaller trucks can not handle the weight of the largest truck campers (which can exceed three thousand pounds). Once you find a combination that meets your criteria then your destination is up to you! A truck camper is your key to anywhere you want to go, and you can go with as much style as your heart desires!

Backpacking Tent Fundamentals

Tent Weight and Size

The qualities desirable in a backpacking tent are different from those tents being pitched next to a car in a campground.  The biggest difference being that the backpacking tent will be carried with you and therefore, should be small and lightweight.  Most modern two person tents weight around four to five lbs. whereas a roomy family camping tent can weigh twenty lbs or more.  Solo or single person tents can weigh less than three lbs and are great if you are hiking alone.  However, if you are hiking with someone else, it usually works out better weight wise to split the gear and take a two person tent.

Tent Quality

The quality of the tent is more important when backpacking because there is usually nowhere dry to go if the tent starts leaking.  While a top quality tent is not necessary, cheap discount store tents should only be used if the forecast calls for clear weather.
 Being tired, wet, and cold knowing the next dry place is at least ten miles away on a rocky trail will quickly put a damper on what should be an enjoyable outdoor experience.

Clips and Sleeves

There are two common ways that tent poles are attached to the tent.  One is using sleeves that the poles slide through and the other is using clips that latch over the poles.  Some tents even use a combination of clips and sleeves.  In general, clip based designs are easier and faster to set up, while sleeve based designs are stronger and can be easily repaired with a needle and thread right at the camp site.  For most conditions, I believe the clips are plenty strong and are generally better because of how quickly they allow the tent to be set up and dismantled.

Free Standing and Staked Designs

Free standing tents seem to have become the norm.  Their primary advantage is that they can be set up without being staked into the ground.  Stakes are still important to keep the tent from blowing around, but the stakes usually do not need to be driven far into the ground.  Staked tents tend to be a bit lighter than free standing tents, but need to be staked solidly into the ground to hold their shape.  Staked tents can be difficult to set up or keep up if the soil is hard or rocky.  I've become a convert from staked tents to freestanding tents after bending multiple tent pegs beyond repair trying to pitch the tent on hard rocky ground.

Single Wall and Double Wall Construction

Double wall tents are tents that require a separate rain fly to keep out water.  Although they are slightly heavier than their single walled counterparts and take a bit longer to set up, they are generally less expensive, warmer, and hold up better in wet conditions.  While the lower weight specifications and small packing size of the single wall tents make them attractive, the double wall tents are generally a better deal economically.

Three Season and Four Season Specifications

Three season tents are just that; tents designed for Spring, Summer, and Fall camping.  Few people go backpacking in the winter compared to the other three seasons, so the vast majority of tents sold are three season tents.  Four season tents are built from heavier materials in order to hold up against the winter weather and are bulkier and harder to carry.  Some manufacturers offer a 3+ season tent if you are camping early in the Spring or late in the Fall; but unless you are planning specifically to camp in the winter months a three season tent is more than sufficient without undue bulk and weight.

Vestibules

If you don't have room to keep your shoes in the tent with you, vestibules are a great place to keep them dry and yet outside the main tent.  Some vestibules provide enough of an overhang to allow the screen or even the door to be open during the rain.  I personally enjoy feeling the breeze from a storm while I am dry inside the tent.  Most people probably would not consider the vestibule worth the weight, but they are a nice luxury.

Conclusions

While different individuals will select different tents based on various factors, understanding the fundamentals differences between tents can help you pick the tent design that fits your hiking style and conditions.

backpacking checklist

A backpacking checklist is usually about the "stuff." Good equipment is nice to have, but even with the best gear you can get into trouble in the wilderness. You might have matches and the latest fire starters, but still not be able to get that fire going. It takes more than good gear to assure a safe and enjoyable trip. Towards that end, then, this is a list of skills you should have or learn.

1. Navigation. Contrary to what many novices think, a compass doesn't tell you where you are. For that matter, a map doesn't either, if you don't know how to use it. Practice close to home if you can't yet use both of these easily. Do the same with your GPS unit.

2. Staying warm. There are tricks to staying warm. Shed layers as you get warm, for example, so you don't have sweat to chill you later. Use wind-blocking shell clothing, and wear a hat. Eating fatty foods before sleeping can keep you warmer.

3. Pitching a tent.
Pitch your tent or tarp wrong and the rain will come in, or the wind will tear the seams. They need to be pitched tight, and you should be able to do it in a few minutes. Practice in the yard.

4. Cooking over a fire.
Making soup over a small fire is not as easy as it seems. Cover the pan, block the wind, and keep the fire small and concentrated. Time yourself when you practice. You don't have to rush normally, but speed can be important in some situations, and it's always possible your stove will break.

5. Identifying edible plants.
Learning to identify three or four wild edible berries can make a trip more enjoyable. Learning to identify cattails and one or two other good survival food plants can be very helpful, especially if you ever lose your food to a bear.

6. Walking.
If you pace yourself and learn how to move comfortably over rocky terrain, you'll be less tired, and less likely to twist an ankle. Tighten those laces, too.

7. Understanding animals.
Is the bear "bluff charging" or stalking you? The latter means you'll be the bear's supper if you play dead. A clue: making a lot of noise usually means he just wants to frighten you (a "bluff charge"), but you need to read up on this one.

8. Sky reading.
Are those just clouds, or a lightning storm coming? It would be good to know when you're on a high ridge. In the Rockies  afternoon thunderstorms are the norm in summer. Learn about the weather patterns of an area, and the basics of predicting weather, and you'll be a lot safer.

9. Basic first aid.
What are the symptoms of hypothermia? Stumbling and slurred speech are a couple of them. How do you properly treat blisters? You can use duct tape if you don't have moleskin. These and other basics are good things to know.

10. Firemaking.
Start practicing in your yard. Try to start that fire with one match. Also try it the next time it's raining. Get in the habit of collecting dry tinder before the rain comes. Learn what things burn even when wet, like birch bark and pine sap.

This last one can be one of the more important skills in an emergency. Experts can start a fire in almost any circumstances, but you don't need to be an expert in wilderness survival to enjoy a safe hiking trip. For a safer, more enjoyable trip, just do the best you can, and start checking off the skills on this backpacking checklist.

Avoiding Dirt Bike Accidents

Is there any way I can avoid dirt bike accidents? 


The quick answer to this questions is no, you will inevitably have a dirt bike accident during your time as a dirt bike racer. It’s simply a matter of time, however you should be able to limit the number and severity of your accidents by the way you ride and the attitude you have when you’re on the back of your bike.

Does attitude really play a part in reducing dirt bike accidents? 

Absolutely, but there’s a fine line that you need to be on, and riding on either side of the line can result in an accident. If you have little or no confidence then you are probably going to crash, albeit at low speed but even low speed accidents can hurt; especially if you are hit by someone who isn't doing such a low speed. A lack of confidence usually tends to mean a lack of practice so practice somewhere very quiet and gain as much confidence as you can in both your ability and your bike’s behavior.

On the other flip side of the coin, though, you can be too confident and become reckless and dangerous. This will probably lead to more dangerous accidents for you and possibly other riders around you. The trick here is to be confident but not too cocky when it comes to your riding.

Knowledge is power, even concerning dirt bike accidents. 

The more you know all the factors involved in your dirt bike racing the more chance you have of dirt bike racing being a fun and less dangerous sport. Get to know your bike’s abilities, your own abilities and as much as you can about the course before you start trying to break any records or win any races. This is where the fine line comes into it. If you’re racing a track blind you still need to have the confidence to get out there and ride fast enough to make an impact. If possible walk around the track before and see what you’re up against, even better watch some riders practicing and see what they’re doing; where they’re going wrong and where they’re doing well.

Dirt bike accidents can hurt like hell and do damage to you and your bike. If you know enough about your bike and your track and you have the right level of confidence then there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to race for years with only a few less serious accidents; but do bear in mind that accidents are basically a part and parcel of dirt bike racing and they will happen to you eventually.