Camping

How long is the drive from Hollywood to Yosemite park for this vacationer?

I live in NY and want to visit California with my girlfriend. I want to show her a beautiful waterfall. Would Yosemite park be the place to go? How far is it from Hollywood which is where we were thinking of spending most of our time there? Any other tips are appreciated. I've never been to California before.

I agree with the times above..also keep in mind that during the winter months it might be closed due to snow or the roads may be closed..Lots of snow up there..The best time to view its beauty is the spring time.Bring your hiking shoes and be sure to climb El Capitan, it may look very scary but the reward is worth it…also try to see the huge Redwoods..They are some very old and very big trees..Very beautiful during the spring time.

Cheap camping equipment, where can I find some?

I'd like to take my family of six camping this summer but we have no equipment whatsoever, does anyone know where I could find some reasonably priced, even used camping equipment online or in the detroit metro area?

I have to agree with all the "yard sale" suggestions, you can get some great buys at them.

If you do decide to purchase a used tent, insist that it be set up before paying for it! Be certain that all of the poles, stakes,and rain fly are there. Check it over very carefully for rips, tears and any defective zippers.

If you go with a new tent, please stay away from "store brands" it at all possible. Most are not bad for the occasional camper but, if you plan on camping quite often, buy a well know brand even if you have to buy a discontinued model. (Older models mean markdowns which mean bargin for the shopper!)

I would never consider buying a used sleeping bag! Store brand sleeping bags start around the $15 mark and are adequate for summer camping on a budget.

Used propane stoves can be found at yard sales, at times. Have the owner show you how it works and that it does indeed work properly. To save a few $$, you could consider cooking over a campfire or hot coals. It is a romantic and rustic notion but it is dirty, time consuming and frustrating at times. Better to stick with a stove for your first camping trip with the family so that all goes smoothly and they will want to do it again!

Coolers can also be located at yard sales, just check to be certain the drain plug is not missing or broken, along with handles and hinges.

Cookware can be simply your older pots and pans from how. Same goes with flashlights for night time trips to the bathhouse.

If you are not positive your family will enjoy camping, have you considered renting some of the gear instead of purchasing? There are two REI stores in the Detroit area that rent tents, stoves, sleeping bags and pads. No idea of the cost but may be something you would want to consider and check into.

What other books related to National Parks are good to read?

I have already read these following books below and would like to read more books related to National Parks

1.) Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park

2.) Death, Daring and Disaster – Search and Rescue in the National Park

3.) The Last Season (its about a park ranger, Randy Morganson, that went missing himself) VERY GOOD BOOK!

Thanks!

Read all of the books by Nevada Barr. She is a forest ranger herself and still finds time to write Anna Pidgeon mysteries. Very good reads. Anna is a forest ranger assigned to different National Parks and gets involved with murders and missing persons in all of the books while trying to achieve compliance with all the rules and have a love life too. Very good reads.

Where is a secluded secret place to camp or a good camping spot in Santa Barbara region?

I would like to find a camping spot which is secluded or a place where there are little to no humans around. I am looking in the areas of Santa Barbara or Carpenteria. We don’t particularly enjoy crowds of humans. I’ve read some of the websites explaining about the State Parks and it seems they are over loaded with humans.

You could try Gaviota State Beach.
They are not listed on the website for some weird reason.
It is just before the tunnel north of Santa Barbara. It is small and on the beach with a train that runs high overhead. It makes very little noise but looks cool especially at sunset with the waves crashing.

You could also go up to the Paradise campgrounds up on San Marcos pass, route 154.

By the way there are a couple of remote spots up in Ojai if you were interested in that area.

Surplus Camping Gear Shopping

If you do not mind warehouses, you are more than welcome to go surplus camping gear shopping. These warehouses might be part of the military, and could be filled with any type of camping gear, that is sold at great prices because all of the items are surplus camping gear shopping items that are taking up space that could serve the greater good in some other way.

The surplus camping gear shopping opportunities might lead you to row upon row of backpacks, rain gear, and you might even find a good winter parka that will come in quite handy when you are deep in the forest in the dead of winter. Most of the surplus items are in very good condition, considering their age. You see, the military likes to hold on to the items that they purchase for as long as possible, because you never know when a winter parka might prove useful.

Other surplus camping gear shopping opportunities could help people stricken by the destructive power found in hurricanes. These surplus items could be electric generators that have never been used, because their size was so immense, nobody had a use for them, until now. That large electric generator found while surplus camping gear shopping will provide power to a city that desperately needs it.

The rain gear you found while surplus camping gear shopping will prove quite useful to the people that no longer have a roof over their head. The rain gear might be olive green, and cling to the body like as second layer of skin, but at least the people that are wearing them will be dry and comfortable. Surplus items abound in these large warehouses, and there are treasures around every corner.

Governmental emergency management teams will periodically go on surplus camping gear shopping trips because they are in dire need of supplies to help people that are left homeless by a disaster. These surplus camping gear shopping trips allow these disaster relief agencies to purchase thousands of obsolete, yet functional recreational tents, and recreational vehicles.

These surplus items will not only save the government millions of dollars in disaster relief funds that can be used elsewhere, but they may just provide the necessary shelter for people that no longer have their homes, because they are not livable. The various tools that are found in great abundance on surplus camping gear shopping trips might be slightly rusted or bent, but can quite possibly help those in need, with removing tons of mud that has entered their homes because their city flooded.

The surplus camping gear shopping opportunities available in each city across the United States can be pooled together to help anyone have a better life. When people are down on their luck, any type of helping hand is appreciated, and government surplus is most kindly welcomed. The surplus camping gear shopping trips certainly turned up hundreds of thousands of meals, ready-to-eat with just a bit of boiling water, that came in very handy to people that did not have a home to cook in when the Hurricane named Katrina hit.

Lanny Hintz
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/surplus-camping-gear-shopping-122721.html

The Benefits Of Having A Camping Hammock

You love the outdoors, and as such you like to go camping whenever possible as a form of relaxation. To you, there is nothing better than relaxing amongst the elements of nature. However, you are bored with just being able to relax in a tent. Now you can make your trip even more relaxing by bringing a camping hammock along.

About Camping Hammocks

Camping hammocks are similar to regular hammocks in their basic design. However, camping hammocks do not usually come with a stand for the hammock. For this reason they are actually easier to set up, and also easier to pack.

People who are not familiar with camping might wonder why someone would want to bring a camping hammock along. To them, camping is all about hiking and experiencing new activities. A camping hammock is more for those people who want to go camping in order to get away from the hectic pace of the city.

If you are interested in purchasing a camping hammock, there are some safety precautions that you should take. First of all, be sure that the hammock you choose is sturdily made. Many people make the mistake of buying a hammock simply because it is a good price. However, if the hammock is not sturdily made, you certainly cannot enjoy relaxing in it.

Next, be aware of the camp site you will be going to. A camping hammock is usually meant to be suspended between two trees, so be sure that you have two sturdy trees that are in close proximity to one another for the hammock.

The final step is being sure that you suspend the camping hammock high enough off of the ground. If the hammock hangs to low to the ground and someone gets in it, they run the risk of damaging the camping hammock. Also, be sure that you tie the hammock to the trees tightly. The hammock should come with directions as well as a diagram that will allow you to complete the necessary steps properly.

The price of these kinds of hammocks will vary according to the material it is made out of, as well as how many people can comfortably recline in it at the same time. These kinds of hammocks can be found at local sporting goods stores, or online through a variety of different websites. With the proper research, you are sure to find the right camping hammock.

Ann Marier
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/the-benefits-of-having-a-camping-hammock-161692.html