Here’s the write-up from the conference organizers:

Can high adventure and high tech coincide? This fun and lively session will show you how to integrate technology to make camping easier, safer, more convenient and even more fun. You’ll learn about useful iOS apps that can be even better than the traditional ones they replace (or enhance); how to find and stay on the trail; how to show the outside world what a great time you’re having; how to identify all those extra stars you see in the country; impress friends with your knot-tying skills; find a Geocache; perform First Aid; call for help even when reception is poor; make sure your iPhone lasts throughout your whole adventure and more.
Who Should Attend?
Tech-loving outdoor enthusiasts who want to combine the love of their iPad, iPhones and other gadgets with their love of the Great Outdoors.
Attendees Will Learn:
- How to use iOS devices for camping-related tasks like navigation, star-gazing, knot-tying, survival, first aid ,etc.
- How to keep your iPhone or iPad powered up during long excursions.
- How to use other high-tech camping gear to enhance your trek.
- Some decidedly low-tech tricks to get extra mileage from your high-tech devices.

You can register at the Macworld | iWorld site. We hope to have some extras to offer TrailCamper readers, like conference discounts and maybe even a surprise or two, so stay tuned.

Enjoy!

Our Boy Scout guides explain their plan for the hike. Believe it or not, this photo was taken at 10:17 a.m.

Not even a drenching rain could dampen the spirits of our small group of hikers–four Boy Scouts and two dads–as we hiked several trails at Point Mountain Reservation in Port Murray, NJ.

We started at the Point Mountain Road trailhead. Our Scout patrol guides were in charge and chose to head out on the Ridge Trail (marked in orange). The trail leads almost directly to the top of the mountain and has some challenging sections: steep ascents on a very rocky trail. The teeming rain made the moss-covered rocks very slippery, but our slow and steady strategy worked well and we soon reached the overlook.

The view was spectacular, even through the misty clouds that drifted by both above and below us. While the wet weather prevented us from climbing out onto the large outcropping of rocks, we had a great view from our more conservative vantage point.

Since it was too early to break out our lunch, we quickly got back on the trail. Since the boys needed to hike five miles to fulfill their rank requirement, they planned a route that took them on several of the reservation’s trails. So, it was down the Overlook Trail back to the Ridge Trail and then on to the White Trail. The forest provide a good cover from the rain and the scouts seemed to be having a blast.

After crossing a road, the White Trail was supposed to pick up again on the other side, but we weren’t able to find it, despite a lot of searching and a fun discovery: the archery range of a YMCA camp the boys had visited as Cub Scouts–we had no idea they bordered one another.

After consulting our map, we followed the road for a while and picked up the entrance to another trail to get us headed back to the trailhead. We stopped for lunch at a small clearing, and while the boys enjoyed their sandwiches, I attempted to fire up my MSR Pocket Rocket to heat up a vacuum-sealed bag of leftover stir-fry I had packed. My matches got wet almost immediately, but luckily one of the older scouts had a JetBoil with an ignition system, which I was able to use to get my own stove started. See, those Boy Scouts really are always prepared!

We made sure our trail back took us up to the overlook again and soaked (literally) in the view once more before heading back to the trailhead, finishing at just over five miles.

Even with all the rain, the boys were already talking about coming back again in nicer weather to see more of this beautiful reservation.

Thanks to the Eagles patrol of BSA Troop 200 in Annandale, NJ for being terrific guides on a really enjoyable outing.

As you’ve no doubt discovered, our site is not ready for prime time. Heck, it’s not even ready for the three a.m. slot reserved for farm reports and infomercials. In other words, don’t believe anything you read here. Yet. Lots of the content is just filler so we can get the look of things right. Other stuff is rough. Some is even copied from other places just so we can remember the kinds of things we’ve found that we like.

Feel free to wander around. You can even send us feedback if you like. Just excuse the mess — we’re certainly not ready for visitors.

One of the best things about camping is it can fit just about any budget, and you have many options. First, ask yourself how often you will camp in a year. This will help you determine the quality of equipment you should buy. Like any sporting activity, camping equipment prices reach far and wide, and “you get what you pay for.” While you don’t need the very best gear when starting out, don’t short-change yourself either. Inexpensive, but poorly manufactured gear can be a great disappointment.

Next, determine where you will camp. State parks and wilderness area campsites vary greatly from primitive use to those with many modern conveniences. Prices can range from $5 to $20 or more per night.

What do you like to eat? You can cook extravagant foods with the latest camp stove, or simplify with sandwiches, hot dogs, beans and trail mix.

How much sleeping space do you require? Most campers want some elbow room, so consider this when buying a tent. Here are some tips for selecting tents, sleeping bags and cooking gear: Because your tent will be your home, and your weather-proof barrier, pay special attention to what you purchase. An average four to six-person tent will range from $69 to more than $400, but you don’t have to sacrifice quality and extra features for an affordable tent. A good price range to start out with is $100 to $150. Keep in mind the tent’s stability and design, its fabric and construction, and its waterproofness and assembly features. Not all tents offer the same features in the same price range, so make inquiries and get educated.

A three-pole, aluminum or fiberglass frame will provide good stability, and shockcorded poles and clip attachments will simplify the assembly and speed set-up time.

Eureka! tents offer these features, plus a durable fabric with reliable waterproof coating and a bathtub floor, which means the seam between the floor and walls is above the ground so water cannot seep in.

Shockcorded poles and clips are the quickest assembly features available, and will save valuable time and steps when you first learn to set up your tent. Waterproofness is crucial, as any camper will confirm. A tent that isn’t coated well or doesn’t have a waterproof nylon fabric won’t withstand a driving rain. Design is also important. When assembled, the tent should be taut and able to shed water. If water accumulates on the roof or other areas, the tent might sag and water could drip through the fabric. It’s also very important to seal all tent seams before a trip.

Good ventilation is another important element. Your body can release up to a pint of water a night and if there’s no place for it to go, you’ll wake up in damp quarters. Eureka! positions its large windows low on the tent walls, so air can flow in near the floor and circulate up throughout the tent.

Sleeping bags are a staple for camping. A bag should be rated for 20 F to keep you warm in most spring through fall camping conditions. Bags with goose down insulation are the lightest and very warm, but quite expensive and loose their insulating effectiveness when damp or wet. Good alternative insulations are Rteq®, ThermaShield™, and Eloft found exclusively in Eureka! sleeping bags. It’s important to buy foam or self-inflating sleeping pads for the extra comfort and insulation against the hard and damp ground.

For cooking gear, don’t throw away those old pots and pans or plates. Pack them away for camping. Also, shop thrift stores and garage sales for old cast-iron or aluminum pans, and plastic plates and cups.

Remember, camping is enjoyed by millions of people each year. Let your budget work for you to make it an experience you’ll want to do again.

(Article courtesy of Eureka.)