The first frost has hit, the leaves have fallen, and blue skies are turning grey…it’s the end of autumn – my favorite time to go camping. When hitting up my favorite camp spots in cooler temps, a bit of planning goes a long way. Here are some essential items that will ensure you have a successful fall camping trip:
If you’ve been to the Overland Expo or been around 4X4 enthusiasts, you’ll learn quickly there is no limit to the amount of money one can spend to enhance the backcountry experience. Regardless of the amount of money you spend on your rig or equipment, you want to protect and keep it safe. The most important part about going backcountry, is the ability to make it back out. The road, or lack of a road, combined with mother nature are going to do their best to challenge your gear and you don’t need to break the bank to protect what you have. Keep these tips in mind when heading out.
My first long distance road trip was a complete failure. I had been riding for years, so I felt assured I could manage a multi- day trip for a couple thousand miles. It was early June in Colorado, and about 5 hours into the ride it started snowing, which turned into a white out. It was wet, heavy and cold and I was not prepared. It was in the high 70’s when I left home, so I was wearing a half helmet, fingerless gloves and a leather jacket. After waiting out the storm on the side of the road and giving time for the snow to melt, I continued, freezing, until I made it to a gas station. I consumed large amounts of hot coffee and chocolate attempting a warm up. The only clothing options available to try to keep dry on the road were bright yellow dishwashing gloves and a shower cap. I planned to be Wyatt from Easy Rider, but I looked like Scuba Steve and I felt miserable. I was so embarrassed I couldn’t even look at the other riders when I finished that days ride.
I’ve learned a number of lessons on my rides throughout the years. To save your ego and get you safely to your next destination, I’ve put together some helpful hints from my years on the road.
I live in an area that has the potential for fires and floods. Last year the fires were so bad, we had our first experience with evacuations. It was an incredibly intense experience and not the best time to be making decisions. If you are under a mandatory evacuation order, there is no time to waste.
My garage is my sanctuary. It is the protector of my vehicle, a room for DIY projects and it’s the only place where I’m allowed to display all the beer mugs and neon signs I collected in my 20’s. The more projects I have, the more the garage gets disorganized, because the remnants of projects past add clutter, and the tools do not always make it back to the original location.
Each spring, the garage needs a refresh. I plan a full day to give it some feng shui and eliminate the negativity associated with walking into a mess every day. There are four steps I take to make it all happen…
It happened again. It seems to happen every year. I am sitting on the patio of my mountaintop home in 70-degree weather plotting out my next bike ride when the weather forecasters start sounding the alarm for winter. In my area, that means snow and wind. We have regular sustained winds of 60 mph and gusts up to 85 mph as storms roll through, so it is essential to be prepared, or risk serious consequences.
My first year living on the hill I used bungee cords to try to keep everything in my yard from blowing away, but the weather was just too severe for the elastic. The cords disintegrated over time and became useless. When I saw a lawn chair connected to a bungee hovering over the hill like a kite on a string, I knew I needed a better solution.
If you consider yourself a Do-It-Yourselfer, have home projects, or are thinking of adding a new feature to your personal sanctuary, the Clip Pock-Its XL Utility Holster is going to be your new favorite accessory. This is the story of how it became mine….
We purchased our dream home in the mountains a couple of years ago, and with it came the customary honey-do list of things to update. This included replacing some electrical outlets, installing blinds and replacing light fixtures.
