Excerpts From Family Camping Magazine - Spring 96 Rodale Press and the editors of BACKPACKER Magazine present Rodale's Guide To Family Camping. This magazine is a complete resource for families who want to enjoy wilderness experiences without having to lug heavy packs. Within the pages of this bi-annual publication, information on "how to", "where to" and "with what" will make this your first stop in planning that family camping excursion. We've provided a sample of the content you will find in this newsstand only publication. If you like to purchase the complete print version of this Rodale Special it is available in the BACKPACKER store here in the Electronic Trailhead or send a check for $5.00 (payable to Rodale Press) to Kelly Young, FAMILY CAMPING, 33 E. Minor Street, Emmaus, Pa. 18098 or check out the newsstand location folder for the dealer nearest you. Cover photo by: Robert Bossi/Courtesy of Eastern Mountain Sports FAMILY CAMPING TABLE OF CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS: EDITOR'S NOTE The master of ghostly campfire tales reveals his spine-tingling secrets. LETTERS Snake watching, log kicking, and other matters. BRIEFS Dogs to the rescue, a 10-member family hits the trail, and other newsitems. HEALTH MATTERS We field test adhesive bandages to find out which ones stay stuck. THE WILD LIFE Raccoons are cute and cunning and they want to steal your camp food. EATING OUT Why settle for s'mores when you can enjoy goop for dessert? TECHNIQUE How to build a great portable camp kitchen. GEAR NOTES Tents you pitch on the roof of your car and other new develpments in camping gear. THE LAST WORD Only a parent could stand over a fire, drying soggy kid's underwear, and smile. ++++++++++ FEATURES BACKCOUNTRY RENTALS Leave the tent home and stay in a rustic cabin or old fire lookout tower. CAMPING ON A SHOESTRING How to save money on almost all your camping needs. WEEKEND WILDERNESS Some of the best camping is near the largest cities in the U.S. Here are some prime spots. OH NO, I FORGOT THE... How to make sure you never find yourself rolling down the highway and uttering those dreaded words. UNDER A FULL MOON Are the woods spookier when there's a full moon out, or does it just seem that way? WHO'S WATCHING THE CAR? A trailhead thief, perhaps, so take a few precautions to safeguard your parked vehicle. NIGHT LIGHTS A field test of 12 camp lanterns that will bring the light of day to the deep, dark woods. A SLICE OF COMFORT Pick the right sleeping pad or mattress and sweet dreams are guaranteed. Here are some good choices. [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] A GOOD FIRESIDE GHOST STORY TRANSCENDS THE YEARS, BRINGS CAMPERS TOGETHER AND SCARES THE FOOL OUT OF EVERYONE. By Tom Shealey, editor It's been almost 30 years since, and I still remember the first scary tale that had me sitting on the edge of my log. We Scouts were clustered around a campfire on a Southern summer's night, trying to avoid mosquitoes the size of beagles. The woods around us were as still as a ghoul's heart, except for the occasional twig cracking somewhere out in the pitch black. The Scoutmaster tried to pass it off as just a curious raccoon or oppossum, but we 10 year olds knew better; we knew it was the footsteps of the living dead. I don't remember the storyteller's name, but how I remember the way he told his tales, and one in particular. There was this madman who had lost his left hand, and being insane, he naturally decided to replace it with a large meat hook. One day he escaped from an asylum that, coincidentally, was down the road from where we were camped. While the police scoured the forests, two teenage lovers decided that one of the woodland's deserted dirt roads would be ideal for getting better acquainted. (Here's where the story teller started leaning closer to the fire so we could see the concern on his face, his voice growing more anxious and the flames flickering in his eyes.) The young man turned on the car radio. That's when they heard the news bulletin warning people of the lunatic's escape. (By now the storyteller was down on his knees and almost in the fire, his eyes large and his voice heavy with concern.) She screamed! The boy frantically tried to start the car, but the battery was dead! She clutched at his arm while a wicked wind suddenly wailed through the trees. At this point the story teller was up and walking around the campfire, pausing to stare into each pair of terrified eyes as he described little bits and pieces of the scene. When he got to me, his eyes were bulging as he told of how the lightning lit up the woods, and how the branches looked like arms reaching out to the terrified teenagers. Then he stopped talking and made a few silent passes around the fire before settling down. When he finally broke the silence, his voice was calm as he almost whispered the rest of the tale. The boy got the car started, and spun the wheels as they drove off. When they reached the safety of the girl's house she opened the car door, and there, dangling from the outside handle, was a large meat hook. By the time the story teller finished, we were so mesmerized that you could have heard a chipmunk sneeze a mile away. Of course, he let us sit there for a two-day minute, pondering the climax and the "what if....." But that story teller did more than scare the beejeezus out of us. His story, and more importantly the way he told it, turned us into a huddled, clutching mass with the manners of choir boys. Any bickering or petty differences we'd brought to camp vanished at the hands (or hook) of an imaginitive madman. The rest of the trip we worked as a team, cooperating with our leaders while occasionally pausing to look back over our shoulders. If that guy hadn't been so good at backwoods theatrics, I doubt I'd still remember that trip. But I do, and I've often wished I could spice up my sons' camping trips with similarly well told ghost tales. Now I can and so can you, thanks to William W. Forgey, who's known in some circles as "Doc" because of his expertise in the field of wilderness medicine. When I first met Doc Forgey a year ago, we chatted about medical-related matters and the books he has penned on the topic. Little did I know that he's also a master teller of fine campfire ghost stories. "During my 10 years as a Scoutmaster, and having worked with youngsters in summer camps and elsewhere, I've told humorous tales, Indian legends, and parables," he says. "But their biggest request -- almost a challenge, it seems -- is `scare me.'" Doc Forgey acknowledges what I found out years ago, and that is that a well-told story "can have far greater impact than any video or movie. A story requires a listener to use his or her imagination, and no aspect of the visual arts is more powerful than the human imagination." He also stresses that the telling of a haunting tale is a "craft, and there are certain skills and techniques you can use to be more successful." 1. Relax and have fun. "Don't be afraid to ham it up and make a fool of yourself, Forgey advses. "If you're stiff and formal you'll make your listeners uncomfortable." 2. Make eye-to-eye contact, which means you can't read the story to them. "Get the general facts down well enough that the story can be told without notes." Don't worry about details like names or dates. "Make up the finishing touches as you go along," he says. "I never tell the same story the same way twice." 3. The closer you are to the listeners, the better. "Stages and podiums are terible, and small groups are good." 4. The quiet of evening is the perfect tale-telling time. "Tired audiences are best because they're receptive and reflective." 5. You must have a campfire. "The fire plays an important part in setting the mood for a memorable story telling experience. Embers burning low are best are scary story telling." And it doesn't hurt to have a full moon (see "Under A Full Moon"). 6. Forget about tricks, like having someone hide in the bushes and leap out at a certain point. "Shenanigans distract from the story and take away from its credibility." 7. Use voice inflections to heighten the fear or excitement. "If the victim in your story gets to a point where they'd probably let out a scream, then do it. With proper timing, everyone will jump two inches off their seats." 8. Stick with credible stories. "A hand crawling across a floor might sound entertaining, but it won't be a memorable tale. Tell somewhat believable stories and you'll hold your listeners spell bound." For a great selection of ghostly campfire stories, check out Doc Forgey's three-volume "Campfire Storytelling Series" (ICS Books, 1370 E. 86th Place, Merrillville, IN 46410, 800-541-7323; $12 each). You'll find plenty of scary stories, each with a simple outline that will help you memorize the plot and important details. The outlines are in large type so you can review them by dim, flickering campfire light. There are exclamation points appropriately placed so you know when to show excitement! And key words that should be spoken EMPHATICALLY are in capital letters. With Doc Forgey's aid, all you'll have to do is pick your tales, review the outlines, then on your next camping trip, as the fire burns down to a fine bed of embers, ask everyone, "Do you want to hear something REALLY scary?" [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] STRIKING A CHORD For years, my husband and I have been looking for a camping guide written by someone who does not enjoy the outdoors while watching TV in an RV. We have plenty of horror stories about tent camping in commercial campgrounds, and we haven't known where to turn for primitive campsites our four children could handle. Your article "Wild Times a Mile From Your Car" (Spring, '95) was exactly what we've been looking for. Thank you, thank you. K.M. Goodwin From America Online ++++++++++ I'm a family-camping wanna-be who has been to the library seeking information to get me started. All the books are outdated, though. Your magazine fits the bill. Brenrro From America Online ++++++++++ I've been trying to figure out how to family camp with a 10-month-old and a 6-year-old. This should be a big help! KimJezak From America Online ++++++++++ Family camping is a hobby/interest of so many that I've always been surprised no one produced a magazine especially for the market. This could be big. AshokGaik From America Online ++++++++++ While you wouldn't consider what we do to be "camping" (sleeping in a van and dining in restaurants), we do build a campfire now and then. But with the help of some of your hints and articles, maybe we'll get a little wilder. ClaytonNJ From America Online MISSING WILDERNESS I was surprised to read that Fire Island National Seashore is "the only designated wilderness in New York State" ("A Shore Thing"). It might interest you to know that New York State has 6 million acres of land designated "forever wild" by the state constitution. It's known as Adirondack State Park. Created in 1892, it's the only wilderness preserve in the nation that enjoys constitutional protection. Many people suffer from an all-too-common illness that blinds them to the fact that there's actually territory in this state to the north of New York City and Long Island. Marti Ohmart Broadalbin, NY WHERE'S THE COLOR? While paging through your first issue, I noticed a disturbing pattern. Most of the children pictured, as well as a few adults, are blondes. Are there no people of color who enjoy the Great Outdoors? My husband and I are Caucasian, but our adopted children are African Americans. We belong to a large organization of adoptive parents of all colors. We all camp, and we sometimes go in small or large groups. There really are brown and black people camping in the mountains. I've seen them. Haven't you? Barbara Johnson Bailey, CO BEARS AND SNAKES We love to camp but for so long were afraid of taking our baby out. Then, when she was 18 months old, we did an overnight camping trip. The area was new to us, but because it wasn't far from home, we weren't overly concerned about things like bears. One morning, we were talking with the campground manager about the incidence of bears. He said he'd never seen one but that we should be aware of the incredible number of rattlesnakes. We hadn't thought about snakes, because there aren't any at our elevation back home. Then we realized we'd dropped several thousand feet in elevation. We were thankful our daughter was safe, despite our ignorance. My advice to parents is to call ahead and ask about the environment where you'll be camping, even if it doesn't seem that far from home. DFred340 From America Online WATCH THE LOGS I've got some advice for anyone who goes camping: Don't kick any logs. We did, and wound up being stung by yellow jackets. Letsgetair From America Online We want to hear from you, so write to us: Family Camping Magazine, 33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, PA 18098; Fax: 610/967-8181. Or you can reach us online through BPeditor@aol.com. Letters are edited for space and clarity. [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] By Lisa Lieberman They no longer carry little kegs, but rescue dogs are still a welcome sight to people lost in the woods. The missing camper left no clues: no footprints, no fire remnants, not even a candy bar wrapper. Tired and frustrated after four unproductive days of scouring California's Sequoia National Park, rescue workers were ready to give up. Then Zeke gave the alert. Ears perked, tail wagging furiously, the 6-year-old golden retriever led handler Marty Cross to a crevasse. Crawling on hands and knees, Cross inched to the edge and peered down. Twenty feet below lay the missing camper, obscured by snow, his back broken from the fall several days earlier. The injured hiker, who recovered fully and was later visited by Zeke in the hospital, was undetectable to the human eye, but fortunately, not to the canine nose. "There's really no limit to what these dogs can do," says Cross, who has worked with search dogs for 15 years. "When all signs of a person have been swept away by wind or snow, these dogs can find in hours or days what searchers may not find for weeks." Cross works with California-based Wilderness Finders Inc. (WOOF), one of dozens of rescue-dog agencies now operating in the United States. WOOF was founded in 1975 by Sandy Bryson, a dog trainer in the Lake Tahoe area, after a skier died in an avalanche at a nearby resort, because rescuers were unable to find him fast enough. At first, the dogs were used only as a last resort, but after hundreds of successful saves, they're now an integral part of national park search and rescue efforts. With as little as a whiff of a comb or discarded candy wrapper from the missing person, search dogs can track human-scent trails five to seven days old. "The most amazing part is the way they stick to the job," says Cross. "at the end of a 20-mile-plus day, when I've got more blisters on my feet than skin, I ask, Aren't you tired?' because I'm beat." Dogs and handlers train by hiking 10 to 20 miles a week as well as practicing agility skills such as balancing on teeter-totters to prepare them for slippery logs above roaring rivers. Out on the trail, the dogs pack one-third of their body weight, carrying their own food, water, doggie toys, and booties to protect sensitive paws. "You don't always find what you're looking for on a search," says Cross. "The important thing for me is that I'm out in the wilderness, exploring--doing what I love best with my best friend." [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] The next time you think car-camping with two kids is trying, consider this 10-member family. By Karin B. Miller Ask 13-year-old Gage Halland about his first and favorite outdoor experience in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of southwestern Montana and he talks of snowcapped mountains, camping near a river, and discovering a great place to swim. His mother tells a different story. "The first day out everyone hollered and screamed, saying, `My pack's too heavy,'" says Stephanie, mother of eight and trip coordinator. "One of the boys tripped and fell and was kicking like a turtle on his back. We started to set up camp, then it started pouring rain. We had to fix dinner in the tent, then someone threw up. I was pretty sure I wanted to go back to car camping at that point." Despite their rough beginning, every summer the Hallands pack up the brood (Jordan, 14; Gage, 13; Chase, 12; Brady, 11; Abigail, 9; Shelby, 7; Hannah, 4; Carter, 2; and Willard, the trusty St. Bernard who carries his own rations) and head out for a new wilderness adventure in the Absarokas. Despite hassles such as a child coming down with strep throat on the trail, or when a youngster refused to take another step (she had to be carried much of the way), the Hallands wholeheartedly endorse family backpacking. "That first trip was the most horrible thing the kids had ever been through," says experienced guide and father Mark. "But about six months later, they started asking, `Where are we going next year?' They bragged to their friends about what they'd done. That trip was a disaster but bottom line, we had a great time together as a family. And now the annual trip punctuates the whole year. Everything's measured in terms of where are we going next year, and do you remember what we did last year?" Seven trips later, the Hallands offer their hard-won knowledge of successful family backpacking in the form of 10 surefire tips: 1. Choose an area your kids will enjoy. 2. Plan ahead and ask for the kids' input. With a hand in planning a trip, children become enthusiastic. 3. Don't set an agenda. "We go until the kids start to poop out, then we stop for the night," says Mark. The Hallands rarely hike more than half an hour before resting. Then Mom reads another chapter from the Chronicles of Narnia or another favorite book. "It helps the kids to know there is a short-term goal," Stephanie says. 4. Don't cut corners on equipment. "If the kids have bad shoes or bad packs," Mark says, "then it's going to be a horrible experience for them." 5. Match gear to age and size of child. The Halland kids ages 5 and up carry their own sleeping bags and clothes, plus some food and utensils. Older kids carry a little more, while 4-year-old Hannah carries a book and candy for breaks. Toddler Carter enjoys the ride in Mom's backpack. 6. Make sure everyone knows his or her role. When the Hallands set up camp, the older kids help Mom and Dad secure the gear, put up tents, shake out sleeping bags, and entertain the younger ones. 7. Provide food with kid appeal. For the Hallands it's fajitas, pasta dishes, black beans and rice, individual pizzas baked in outback ovens, and brownies. 8. Set a reasonable daily schedule. For example, breaking camp takes longer than setting up. With help from the children, Mark and Stephanie cook breakfast, clean up, load all the backpacks, roll up the sleeping pads, stuff 10 sleeping bags (including a tiny mummy sack for Carter), and take down two family-size tents. While they may rise at 6:30 a.m., the day's hike doesn't usually begin until four hours later. 9. Stick together. The Hallands often employ the buddy system, with an older child looking out for a younger one. On the trail, Stephanie and baby lead the clan, and Mark follows at the rear of the pack. 10. Finally, keep the trip in perspective. "What is backpacking? Basically walking, eating, and sleeping. As long as it doesn't become a death march, kids are well suited for it," says Mark. With years of experience under their belts, the Hallands are planning their biggest adventure by far: hiking the entire 2,000-plus miles of the Continental Divide Trail. They hope to start in April and finish in October. [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] The sun is often portrayed as a cheerful smiley-face in the sky, but it has a dark side in the form of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Too much exposure and you risk skin cancer and eye damage. New research shows that long-term exposure also contributes to "photo-aging," or premature aging of your skin, and immune suppression because UV rays can alter disease-fighting white blood cells. To ward off UV radiation, wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the UV rays (read the label before buying), a hat with a large brim, and loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even on cloudy days. The most important preventive measure is to avoid UV radiation at its most dangerous hours. During the summer, UV intensity peaks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Although not quite as severe in spring and fall, it's still a concern, especially if you're on water, sand, or snow, all of which reflect the rays and heighten exposure. UV radiation is a serious concern year-round at higher elevations, because there's less atmosphere to absorb the damaging rays. [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] AMAZING ANIMAL STORIES 16-year-old Ryan Potton was grouse hunting high in the mountains of Summit County, Colorado, west of Denver, in September 1992 with his father and friends when he became separated from the group. Freezing rain began to fall and quickly changed to heavy snow. Dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, a light jacket, and hunting vest, Potton tried to stay warm by retreating under some trees, where he waited for help, occasionally firing off a rifle round to alert rescuers. He soon succumbed to the early stages of hypothermia, shivering uncontrollably and drifting in and out of consciousness. Even though temperatures continued to plummet, creating conditions that ordinarily would kill a person without shelter, rescuers found Potton alive the next morning, cold and wet but with no signs of frostbite. He survived, he told his rescuers, because a pair of female elk approached out of the storm and laid down beside him, keeping him warm all night. When the incredulous rescue team checked Potton's story, which is recounted in the recently released book "Miracles Can Happen," they found two large indentations in the snow next to where he had slept. "There was absolutely no other explanation for his survival that I could come up with," said rescue-team leader Dan Burnett. ++++++++++ ANOTHER REASON TO WASH THOSE HANDS When you're in the woods, you always wonder if the water has been tainted with the dreaded Giardia lamblia, and whether sickness is waiting around the corner. But according to a study published in the journal Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, Giardia-based paranoia may be unfounded. When researchers surveyed health departments in all 50 states and scanned the medical literature for evidence that waterborne Giardia is a significant threat to outdoors folks, they found so little documentation that they compared the risk to that of shark attack: "an extraordinarily rare event to which the public and press have seemingly devoted inappropriate attention." What they did find, however, is that Giardia and other intestinal bugs are for the most part spread "by direct fecal-oral or food-borne transmission, not by contaminated drinking water." In other words, when you're camping and personal hygiene habits often take a backseat, it's vitally important to wash your hands with soap. And the wise woodsman will hold to the "better-safe-than-sorry philosophy," and continue to treat all drinking water before consumption or use. ++++++++++ DEET GOES PRIME TIME Anyone who goes outdoors no doubt has heard about the potential hazards of using too much N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET, to keep pesty insects away. But now Joe and Jane Couchpotato are getting a healthy dose of the safety concerns surrounding the bug repellent. ABC News' PrimeTime Live reported on DEET-related cases of rashes, dizziness, and seizures in adults, and brain disorders, seizures, and even death in children. Physicians still don't know whether the concentration of DEET, the time of exposure, or individual sensitivity levels are to blame. The U.S. military isn't waiting for a definitive answer, though. Soldiers are now being supplied with repellents that contain no more than 33 percent DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 5 not be exposed to concentrations greater than 10 percent. The chemical is used in varying concentrations in 97 percent of all bug sprays and lotions on the market. ++++++++++ DRESSED IN WOLF'S CLOTHING Soon you'll have a choice of buying woolens that didn't cost the life of a wild animal. A green-on-buff "Predator Friendly Wool" tag hanging from a hat, coat, or blanket signifies the wool came from sheep ranchers who use nonlethal techniques to protect their herds from coyotes, wolves, and cougars. The tag is the brainchild of the nonprofit group Predator Friendly. Ranchers who meet specific criteria, such as refraining from killing any ovine enemies for a calendar year before shearing, receive a premium price for their wool. The project is still in the initial stages, and the group is trying to solve the old supply-demand dilemma by signing up more ranchers. Contact: Predator Friendly, Inc., HC 89 Box 4306, Big Timber, MT 59011; 406/388-4945. ++++++++++ JUST THE FACTS, MA'AM Now you can help stamp out wildlife poaching with your fingertips. North American Wildlife Safeguard has established a toll-free hotline (800-800-WARDen) for reporting violations of fish and wildlife laws throughout the continent. Since its 1993 inception, more than 4,000 calls have come in, leading to hundreds of arrests and convictions. One tip led to the arrests in Kentucky of four men diving for protected freshwater mussels. Another anonymous call allowed officials to nab a man who had shot and killed a federally protected great blue heron. For more information contact NAWS, 2860 S. Circle Dr., Suite 2136, Colorado Springs, CO 80806; 719/576-1564. ++++++++++ GOING PRIVATE Faced with third down and 100 yards to go (a maintenance backlog of $1 billion at 4,389 campgrounds and little chance of getting congressional funds), the U.S. Forest Service is getting ready to punt. The agency is considering turning management of its campgrounds over to private industry, which officials say will trim repair bills without harming the natural experience of national-forest camping. Private campgrounds abound in national parks, but this would be a first for the forest service. ++++++++++ RECYCLING GOES DOWNHILL Before you toss out those old skis and ski boots cluttering your garage, hold on to them one more season. You may be able to get a discount toward a new pair next year and also do your bit to reduce waste. Ski Industries America, a nonprofit trade association of ski-equipment makers and suppliers, is trying to implement a nationwide ski-gear recycling program that will accept skis, bindings, boots, poles, and even snow boards. If all goes as planned, you'll be able to take old gear to your local ski shop and trade it all in for credit toward new equipment. The old gear will be ground up, melted down, and recycled into stuff like tires and building materials. And the metal edges on skis can be reused by ski-equipment makers; old, mixed-grade plastics won't stand up to the high-performance demands of new skis and boots. Contact: SIA, 703/556-9020. ++++++++++ SMELLIN' LIKE ROSES (ALMOST) When it comes to outdoor odors everyone can do without, skunk ranks right up there with two-day-old diapers and the inside of a teenager's sneaker. If you or your pet should get sprayed, don't fret. You can remove eau de skunk with one of these household products: -- ammonia and water -- white vinegar -- chlorine bleach, diluted -- borax To deodorize nonwashable items, such as hiking boots, bury them in one of the following for several days: -- fine soil -- kitty litter -- janitorial sweeping compound Or check your local pet-supply store for one of these commercial products suitable for clothes and pets: -- Neutroleum Alpha -- Skunk-Off -- Odor-Mute ++++++++++ THE SNUFF OF MEMORIES Does the scent of fresh air and pine instantly transport you back to a childhood spent roaming in the outdoors? If so, then you're either a died-in-the-wool outdoors person or older than 65. According to a survey by the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, people born before 1930 respond nostalgically to natural scents such as pine, hay, honeysuckle, blueberries, ocean air, and roses. Those born after 1930 more readily respond to artificial odors like airplane fuel, mothballs, exhaust, chlorine, and mosquito spray. ++++++++++ THE SUN'S DARK SIDE The sun is often portrayed as a cheerful smiley-face in the sky, but it has a dark side in the form of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Too much exposure and you risk skin cancer and eye damage. New research shows that long-term exposure also contributes to "photo-aging," or premature aging of your skin, and immune suppression because UV rays can alter disease-fighting white blood cells. To ward off UV radiation, wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the UV rays (read the label before buying), a hat with a large brim, and loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even on cloudy days. The most important preventive measure is to avoid UV radiation at its most dangerous hours. During the summer, UV intensity peaks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Although not quite as severe in spring and fall, it's still a concern, especially if you're on water, sand, or snow, all of which reflect the rays and heighten exposure. UV radiation is a serious concern year-round at higher elevations, because there's less atmosphere to absorb the damaging rays. ++++++++++ TAKE A BOUGH Christmas wreaths are big business in northern Minnesota, and the best, most fragrant wreaths are made of balsam collected from the region's vast public forests. But not all balsam harvesters are playing by the rules. To discourage abuses such as poaching, off-road driving, and removing whole limbs instead of snipping only the last 12 inches of a bough, Chippewa National Forest is distributing a brochure on proper harvesting techniques. Rangers are working with bough buyers to make sure they purchase only short boughs from licensed collectors. "Except along near roadways, collecting hasn't had a big impact yet," says District Ranger Howard Zeman. "We want to head it off before it becomes a problem." ++++++++++ KIDS AND THIN AIR When you gain altitude, the "thin" air affects your ability to catch your breath. Although some research has suggested that young children are more susceptible to breathing difficulties than adults, it seems there's little reason to worry. According to a report presented at the Wilderness Medical Society's annual meeting in Aspen, Colorado, the rate of altitude illness in 9- to 15-year-olds appears to be about the "same as adults" and "rarely is severe." If a youngster is going to feel the effects of thin air, symptoms usually appear after 24 hours at altitude. Watch for headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. Infants may become irritable and sleepless, and refuse to eat. Most cases of altitude illness can be prevented by taking it easy when approaching 7,000- to 8,000-feet elevation. The rule of thumb: Ascend no more than 1,000 feet of altitude per 24 hours. If a child is vomiting, confused, has shortness of breath unrelieved by rest, and a severe headache despite medication, descend immediately. A final point to consider: You don't have to climb Mount Everest to feel the effects of altitude. The average elevation at Arizona's Grand Canyon is about 7,500 feet, and at Yellowstone National Park, 7,700 feet. ++++++++++ THINGS ARE LOOKING UP The next time you're inspecting a tent site for troublesome rocks or roots, cast an eye overhead as well. Ron Penner and Marta Heilbrun of Salt Lake City, Utah, will. The two had just nodded off to sleep in southern Utah's Grand Gulch Canyon last spring when a rock 2 feet in diameter dislodged from the canyon wall and plunged about 100 feet onto their tent. The boulder disintegrated on impact, smashing both of Heilbrun's legs. Penner, an emergency medical technician, pulled clothing on over his own broken left leg and split kneecap, and did his best to stabilize Heilbrun. He left her behind, reading a novel by headlamp, while he hobbled off for help. As luck would have it, he managed to find a group they had passed earlier. Luckier still, they were from the National Outdoor Leadership School, and four were emergency medical technicians. With the help of helicopters radioed in by a Bureau of Land Management ranger, Penner and Heilbrun were evacuated to a nearby hospital, where both were expected to fully recover. ++++++++++ WHAT'S A TROUT WORTH? Putting a price tag on timber, minerals, oil, and nature's many other resources has been all too easy. But what about the value of that land for watching wildlife or going for a hike? The value of such "nonconsumptive" activities has been traditionally difficult to measure. A study of visitors to Pennsylvania natural areas finds that people would pay almost twice as much for recreational activities as they do now. A few examples: ACTIVITY: To catch a trout NOW PAY: $16.56 WOULD PAY: $53.40 ACTIVITY: To watch raptors migrate NOW PAY: $7.00 WOULD PAY: $15.00 ACTIVITY: To watch waterfowl NOW PAY: $2.73 WOULD PAY: $4.28 (Source: Prof. Dick Shafer, Penn State University) [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] NEW AND NOTEWORTHY BOOKS AND GUIDES NO CAMPING FAMILY SHOULD BE WITHOUT 1996 KOA DIRECTORY, ROAD ATLAS AND CAMPING GUIDE Too many campers mistakenly believe that the annual Kampgrounds of America, Inc. guide is only for those who "camp" in RVs and want all the hookups plus a nearby dump station. Not so. Within this guide you'll find information about KOA tent camping facilities, which ones handle pop-ups as well as road maps for the U.S. and Canada. But the real value of the guide is the services listed. Even if you're a die-hard, wilderness-only camper who hates the site of a single human, you still have to get there. That means driving, and you'll need to stop along the way before reaching your paradise. Wouldn't it be nice to pitch your tent for the night in a place that offers hot showers, takes Visa, and has lakeside camp sites plus a swimming pool? (Some even have hot tubs and saunas.) You can actually plot your route and know which KOAs you'll be staying in each night until you reach your chosen destination. The listings provide all the necessary rate information, including off-season fees, and the seasons when each KOA site is open. Available free at any KOA site, or send $3 to: KOA Directory, Dept. MK, Box 30558, Billings, MT 59114. TRACKER PACKS These are more than books. They are organizer-style field guides for kids ages 9 to 14 that contain everything they'll need to spot and identify wildlife, trees, birds, flowers, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Within each pack--there are two so far, Birds and Nature--there are tracking tips and projects that will help your child explore, appreciate, and get involved with nature. The covers are heavy-duty so they can take some abuse, and each has a shoulder strap for carrying ease. Thomson Learning, Customer Service Order Dept., 835 Penobscot Building, Detroit, MI 48226; 800/880-4253; $17.95 each. BACKROADS OF COLORADO By Boyd and Barbara Norton If your idea of a vacation is zipping down the interstate at 60 mph, then pass this book by. On the other hand, if you like to take your time, absorb the scenic grandeur of a wild place, and literally stop to smell the wildflowers, buy this guide. Within it, you'll find information about Colorado's most scenic back roads and highways that pass through the state's mountain ranges, alpine wildflower meadows, ghost towns, and aspen forests. The authors provide detailed directions, lots of road maps, historical notes, and plenty of photos guaranteed to whet your appetite. All routes described are accessible by car, and there are references indicating which roads are best suited for RVs, 4x4s, and pull-behind trailers. Voyageur Press, 123 N. Second St., Stillwater, MN 55082; 612/430-2210; $19.95. KIDS IN THE WILD: A FAMILY GUIDE TO OUTDOOR RECREATION By Cindy Ross and Todd Gladfelter If you're just starting out in family camping, you might want to check this one out. It gives parents and caregivers practical, trail-tested advice on how to share the great outdoors with children of all ages (prenatal to teenage years). There are discussions about a host of activities, including hiking, camping, canoeing, biking, animal packing and skiing. Included with each are recommendations about how families can get started as well as advice on the gear and food you'll need, and pointers on health and safety in the wilds. The Mountaineers Books, 1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134; 800/553-4453; $12.95. [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] AN IN-THE-FIELD TEST OF ADHESIVE BANDAGES, TO SEE WHICH ONES REALLY STICK TO SWEATY LITTLE ARMS AND LEGS By Buck Tilton Earle Dickson worked as a cotton buyer for Johnson & Johnson in the 1920s. His wife, Josephine, maintained their home. He was a successful businessman. She was accident prone. On the many occasions when she'd cut or burn herself, she would routinely dig out a piece of gauze, trim it to fit her boo-boo, tear off a strip of tape, and cut it to the appropriate length. Then, with some frustration, she'd try to bandage one hand with the other, and at the same time keep the procedure somewhat sterile. She usually ended up calling Earle, the son of a physician, to perform the operation for her. One evening Earle, an inventive young man, rolled out a long piece of tape, sticky side up, on the kitchen table. He snipped little pads of gauze and stuck them on the tape about an inch or so apart. To protect the gauze and the tape's stickiness, he pressed textured crinoline (an open-weave fabric made of horsehair or cotton) along the strip of tape and gauze. He rolled up the ready-made bandage and left it with Josephine so she could cut a piece, pull off the protective crinoline, and tend to her own emergencies. In 1921, the research and development boys at Johnson & Johnson, aware of their many possibilities, decided to mass produce the first "band-aids." They were about 18 inches long and 3 inches wide, so you had to cut the appropriate size bandage for your wound. Initial sales were disappointing. But an eager and talented marketing department -- and the idea to make precut strips -- eventually led to Band-Aids becoming a worldwide first-aid staple. Earle retired in 1957, leaving behind a vice presidency at a hugely successful corporation, created in part, by his wife's accidents. To date, more than 100 billion of Earle's inventions have been sold. (Band-Aid is a registered trademark, the brand name for Johnson & Johnson's adhesive bandages.) Part of the reason so many adhesive bandages are used is because so many people get cut or scraped. A second reason is because the bandages tend to come off, especially in rainy or sweaty conditions. Both reasons are common to people who spend time in the woods. A third reason is that kids all too often are the injured, and my informal research has found that no adhesive bandage stands a chance of staying on an active 6-year-old on a camping trip -- especially if there's a stream or lake near the campsite. Still, being curious, I decided to test my theory with a field test of sorts. I selected my team with care: Melissa, for her brutal treatment of any bandage; Lori, for her acute insight into adhesives; Bob, because he's always right, despite tons of scientific evidence to the contrary; Phil, because he had a tantrum when I told him he couldn't play; yours truly, because I have hairy arms, the ultimate test of any adhesive bandage's sticking power. The first stage of our research took us to stores throughout central and eastern Colorado, looking for readily available products. While filling our cardboard box with colorful little containers of bandages, we realized we had three basic types: -- plastic strips -- flexible fabric strips -- flexible foam strips While there are all sorts of oddly shaped adhesive bandages available, such as "knuckle" bandages and circular bandages, we decided to stick with a fairly common size: roughly 3 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide. All had a sterile pad in the center. After returning home and ferreting out the nontest samples (Bob's Better Buy Bandages, for example), here's what we wound up with: -- Band-Aid plastic strips, Band-Aid flexible fabric strips, Band-Aid Sport Strips (foam) -- Curad sheer strips (plastic), Curad flexible fabric strips, Curad Acti-Flex (foam) -- 3M Active Strips (foam) For the all-important second phase of our research, we each stuck two dozen assorted adhesive strips to various body parts, including but not limited to knuckles, arms, ankles, and noses. In the process, we found that the days of the little red string that you pull to open the package are long gone. Because that infernal little string always ripped out before opening the package, manufacturers have gone to easy-open methods that simply require you to pull on tiny flaps of paper that separate the two halves of the package. All the bandages we tested opened equally easily and quickly. As for application, the ease depends on the location and shape of the body part. Putting a bandage on your right hand with your left or vice versa will probably remain an exercise in patience until three-handed humans evolve. One particular advantage we noted was derived from fabric and foam adhesive strips that conformed to the body part much better than the stiffer plastic bandages. No specific brand stood out in its ability to conform. Phase three was more complex. We walked and skied ourselves into a sweaty frenzy (it was January), we took long, hot showers, then we did our final evaluations. Before the end of the test, several of us who wish to remain anonymous, actually acquired small open wounds that needed attention, greatly enhancing our ability to evaluate the bandages. No sacrifice is too great for the committed. Here are our findings: PLASTIC STRIPS: All stuck well to skin and the nonadhesive sterile pads did not adhere to open wounds. They failed to conform comfortably to specific areas of the body, and the plastic doesn't "breathe," which meant three things: 1. They were less comfortable glued to our bodies than the other types of bandages. 2. They sometimes bulged away from the wound under the stress of exercise, allowing for possible contamination. 3. They cause skin to pucker under the nonbreathable plastic. The plastic strips also tended to come off when we were sweaty, and especially in the shower. Colorful characters on some of the plastic strips (e.g., Donald Duck) added no observable benefit, but were preferred by several testers. (I really liked the Ninja Turtles.) THE VERDICT: On the plus side, plastic strips are definitely the cheapest type of bandage, but they were our least-favorite choice for covering small wounds in the great outdoors. ++++++++++ FLEXIBLE FABRIC STRIPS: All test samples stuck well to skin, and the nonadhesive sterile pads, once again, didn't adhere to open wounds. The sterile Telfa pad on Curad strips appeared to absorb wound ooze the best. The sterile pad on Band-Aid strips extended to the edge of the strip, which meant there was no way to seal the wound off from the outside world. They all conformed easily to the shape of specific body parts and: 1. Were comfortable to wear 2. Kept open wounds covered better, if they were applied correctly (see "Making It Stick") Since fabric allows air to pass through it, skin under the adhesive did not pucker. The bandages stayed on surprisingly well when we sweated and sometimes even in the shower. THE VERDICT: Flexible fabric adhesive strips are far better than plastic for in-the-woods wound care. ++++++++++ FLEXIBLE FOAM STRIPS: These are the newest developments in small-wound care, and they cost the most. The foam stretches easily in all directions, making them the most comfortable to wear on elbows and knees. Although all the foam strips stuck, especially on fingers where the strip wrapped around and overlapped itself, we found that the 3M Active Strips slipped off first when we got sweaty. Band-Aid Sport Strips slipped off second, and the Curad Acti-Flex stayed on the longest. On the plus side for 3M, its bandages had the widest strip of adhesive between the sterile pad and the outer edge of the bandage, which meant they didn't bulge at the wound site and protected wounds more completely. Once again the Band-Aid brand sterile pad reached to the outer edge of the adhesive strip, making it less effective at keeping the wound covered. In the final stage of the test, we each voted for our all-around favorite adhesive-strip bandage. The results were: one vote for Curad flexible fabric, three votes for Curad Acti-Flex, one vote for 3M Active Strips. ++++++++++ MAKING IT STICK The best adhesive bandage in the world won't stay put long if you don't apply it properly. 1. Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and rinse with clean water. 2. Apply a small bead of antibiotic ointment to the clean wound for faster healing. 3. Allow the skin around the wound to dry completely so the bandage will stick. 4. Open the adhesive strip carefully to maintain as much sterility as possible. Expose the pad, but leave the coverings over the adhesive ends. Don't touch the pad. If the bandage has been opened previously or is wet, don't use it because it's no longer sterile. 5. Center the pad over the wound and hold it gently in place with finger pressure. 6. Peel off the covering on one side of the adhesive, then smooth out the strip from the center to the end. 7. Repeat for the other side of the adhesive. Get it right the first time because repositioning the bandage makes it lose adhesion. The type of bandage you choose is one of personal preference. Just remember to keep some type of adhesive strip in your first-aid kit, and always carry a small kit when you're out on dayhikes. [Family Camping Magazine, 1996] If you're heading into poison ivy, oak, or sumac territory, try Ivy Screen Towelettes from North Health Care Co. Each small packet contains a single towelette soaked with "skin protectant." Merely rub it on your arms and legs 15 minutes before setting out and, according to the company's information, you're covered. (We haven't tested it yet.) If you've already got a full-blown case of the stuff, the towelettes contain a topical analgesic that's supposed to help relieve the pain and itching. Contact: North Health Care Co., 1515 Elmwood Rd., Rockford, IL 61103. __________________ When you gain altitude, the "thin" air affects your ability to catch your breath. Although some research has suggested that young children are more susceptible to breathing difficulties than adults, it seems there's little reason to worry. According to a report presented at the Wilderness Medical Society's annual meeting in Aspen, Colorado, the rate of altitude illness in 9- to 15-year-olds appears to be about the "same as adults" and "rarely is severe." If a youngster is going to feel the effects of thin air, symptoms usually appear after 24 hours at altitude. Watch for headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. Infants may become irritable and sleepless, and refuse to eat. Most cases of altitude illness can be prevented by taking it easy when approaching 7,000- to 8,000-feet elevation. The rule of thumb: Ascend no more than 1,000 feet of altitude per 24 hours. If a child is vomiting, confused, has shortness of breath unrelieved by rest, and a severe headache despite medication, descend immediately. A final point to consider: You don't have to climb Mount Everest to feel the effects of altitude. The average elevation at Arizona's Grand Canyon is about 7,500 feet, and at Yellowstone National Park, 7,700 feet. [Family Camping, Spring 1996]