Summer Camping and Hiking Tips and Saving Ideas

It’s summertime, which means it’s time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors! Here are 6 handy tips that will make your time outside more enjoyable: • Line your sleeping bag’s stuff sack with a heavy-duty garbage bag to keep your sleeping bag dry in any weather. Simply place the plastic bag inside the stuff sack, stuff the sleeping bag inside, compress the garbage bag, and close it with a twist tie. • To keep hot water handy for use around the camp, fill several zip-seal plastic bags with clean water and place them inside a black plastic garbage bag. Lay the bag in direct sunlight on a flat surface, and make sure there are no sharp sticks or stones under the bag. In a few hours, the water in the zip-seal bags will be very hot. For use, carefully remove a bag from the garbage sack, unzip one corner, and pour out as much hot water as you need. If necessary, refill the bag and replace it in the garbage sack to reheat. • Here’s a tip if you need to keep a canoe, johnboat, or other small water craft near your camp site. Pick up a corkscrew-type dog stake from any pet supply store. They make a handy shoreline tie-up. • When hiking or tracking game through unfamiliar country, you need to mark your trail. Instead of using paint or reflective tape, use neon-colored chalk. The colors you use and the special markings you make will not only mark your trial, they will help you communicate with camping, hiking, and hunting partners. An extra benefit of using chalk is that the next storm will erase the trail markings – but remember that you need to get where you’re going before it rains! • A 2-pound coffee can makes a terrific toilet-paper holder for any campsite. o Punch a hole in each side of the can near the bottom – the holes should be directly across from each other. o Thread a piece of wire or cord through the holes, and secure the can to a tree near the latrine with the flat bottom of the can resting tightly against the trunk. o Put a roll of toilet paper in the can, snap on the plastic lid, and the paper will stay handy and dry. • To keep eggs fresh in camp, dip them in boiling water for exactly 5 seconds and then let them cool. This will create a film inside the shell, making the eggs airtight. If done correctly, the eggs should keep for weeks without refrigeration. Before you head out on your next adventure, you’ll need to gear up. When you do, don’t pay retail. These online merchants offer great deals on the stuff you’ll need: Dick’s Sporting Goods • Free Shipping on orders over $99 • 10% OFF when you sign up to receive Dick’s emails • Shop Dick’s Clearance page for great deals and 20% OFF select items Eastern Mountain Sports • Free Standard Shipping on all orders over $48 • 20-40% off select Camping Gear • 30% OFF Clearance Items - updated daily • Save up to 70% In the Eastern Mountain Sports Outlet