I have long been an advocate of “keep it simple, stupid” when it comes to campground food. But to keep it hot-dogs-and-smores simple, you need a fire. Yet another drought year in Colorado resulted in statewide fire bans, meaning campfires were out of the question. We kept (naively) kept hoping the bans would get lifted,Continue reading “Beginner’s Gear Guide: Coleman one-burner butane camp stove”
Category Archives: Camping
Beginner’s Campground Guide: Canyon at Yellowstone National Park
Between the cost of indoor lodging and the incredibly nice campground amenities, it’s a no-brainer to camp for at least part of your trip to Yellowstone. The Canyon Campground is located on the eastern side the park near lots of amenities and some of the most stunning scenery.
Beginner’s guide to packing your car and staying organized on road trips
Packing your car for a road trip, and then keeping it organized so you can actually find things, is a massive game of Tetris. Sometimes, things start getting messy. Your car quickly turns into that worst-case Tetris scenario where you’re running out of room and nothing really fits and you also can’t find anything youContinue reading “Beginner’s guide to packing your car and staying organized on road trips”
Beginner’s Gear Guide: Teton Sports Double Sleeping Bag
I’m not too proud to admit that I don’t like sacrificing snuggling while camping. Unzipping one sleeping bag and using it as a blanket isn’t warm enough, plus it always slides off. And what’s the point of sleeping in the cold if you can’t snuggle your significant other? I put the Teton Sports Tracker UltralightContinue reading “Beginner’s Gear Guide: Teton Sports Double Sleeping Bag”
Beginner’s Campground Guide: North Michigan at State Forest State Park
North Michigan is one of five campgrounds in State Forest State Park, a hidden gem in northern Colorado near the tiny town of Walden. Michigan Lake is a great option for car camping, particularly if you don’t look for reservations early enough and don’t get into Crags (this totally didn’t happen to me).
Beginner’s Campground Guide: Aspen Meadows in Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Aspen Meadows in Golden Gate Canyon State Park is a great beginner-friendly camping option for an overnight trip from Denver. It’s one of my favorite places to camp because Golden Gate has the perfect combination of both seclusion and convenience. You’re only an hour from Denver, but also totally in the middle of nowhere withContinue reading “Beginner’s Campground Guide: Aspen Meadows in Golden Gate Canyon State Park”
An Un-Campground Guide: Affordable lodging in Moab
For the uninitiated (aka me before this month), spring is high season in Moab. This is because it’s hot as hell by June. If you go to Moab and you haven’t planned ahead and reserved a campsite, you’re left with first-come, first-serve options on BLM land along Highway 128. The good news is that these campsitesContinue reading “An Un-Campground Guide: Affordable lodging in Moab”
Campground Guide: South Rim at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
I became obsessed with going to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park because of a poster in my office (this sounds weirder now that I’m writing it down) so I made it one of my first stops on a road trip around the state. It’s one of the few national parks where you canContinue reading “Campground Guide: South Rim at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park”
Beginner’s Gear Guide: Best Cooler for under $100
Coolers are a staple for any camping, road tripping, or day-drinking household. And while you can drop hundreds of dollars on a Yeti (and then constantly tell people it’s SO WORTH all that money), you could also just spend about $60 and get this one. We have put AO Coolers’ canvas cooler (36-pack size) to the testContinue reading “Beginner’s Gear Guide: Best Cooler for under $100”
Outdoor Beginner 