Table Of ContentA
An A to Z Lexicon Camping’s
FALCON
25
of Camping’s Top Secrets Revealed! th
F
GUIDE®
A
Top Secrets Anniversary
L
C Edition
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N
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U A LEXICON OF EXPERT CAMPING TIPS
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S
®
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Camping’s Top Secrets goes beyond the scope of traditional camping books, revealing
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hundreds of fi eld-tested tips to enhance your next outdoor adventure. With clear
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e descriptions organized alphabetically for quick reference and even more handy tricks, p
n
t this fully updated edition by veteran camping consultant Cliff Jacobson divulges the i
ia best-kept secrets based on a lifetime of knowledge and fi rsthand experience. Th is is an n
l g essential reference for anyone who enjoys the outdoors—from the fi rst time camper g
e to the experienced outdoorsman. ’
a s
r
f T
o
r Get insider tips on: o
e
p
v • Forecasting the weather • Cooking and cookware
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r • Rigging a canoe or boat • Treating common ailments S
y
a • Treating drinking water • Using maps and GPS units e
d • U sing tents and other types • Camping with kids c
v
e of shelters • C hoosing camping clothes, boots, r
n e
t • D ealing with animal and insect sleeping bags, and gear
ur encounters • And more! ts
e
:
O
u Cliff Jacobson is one of North America’s most respected outdoors writers and
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fi wilderness canoe guides. He is a canoeing consultant and the author of more than a
FALCON
t
Y dozen top-selling books on camping and canoeing. He lives in River Falls, Wisconsin.
o GUIDES® 25TH
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r Front cover photo licensed by Shutterstock.com
falcon.com A
M Back cover photos © Cliff Jacobson $19.95 / Canadian $21.95 NN
i IV
n E
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d S
A
® R
Y
FalconGuides ® E
is an imprint of DIT CLIFF JACOBSON
Globe Pequot Press IO
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Camping’s Top Secrets
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Camping’s Top Secrets
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25
th
Anniversary
Edition
Camping’s Top Secrets
A Lexicon of Expert Camping Tips
Cliff JaCobson
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FALCONGGUUIIDDEESS®
Copyright © 1998, 2006, 2013 Morris Book Publishing, LLC
Published in 1987 by Cliff Jacobson
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for
permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department,
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.
FalconGuides is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.
Falcon, FalconGuides, and Outfit Your Mind are registered trademarks of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.
All photos by Cliff Jacobson unless otherwise credited.
Illustrations: Robert Prince, Cliff Moen, Mary Ballachino
Text design: Sheryl P. Kober
Layout: Justin Marciano and Maggie Peterson
Project editor: Julie Marsh
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jacobson, Cliff.
Camping’s top secrets : a lexicon of expert camping tips / Cliff
Jacobson. — 25th anniversary edition.
pages cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-7627-8185-0
1. Camping. 2. Hiking. I. Title.
GV191.7.J33 2013
796.54—dc23
2012048427
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The author and Globe Pequot Press assume no liability for accidents happening to, or
injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book. The health
information expressed in this book is based solely on the personal experience of the author
and is not intended as a medical manual. The information should not be used for diagnosis or
treatment, or as a substitute for professional medical care.
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Contents Diapers and Diaper Pins .................67
Duct Tape / Repair Tape ..................67
E
Acknowledgments ......................vii
What! Another Camping Book? .......... viii Ethics in the Wilderness .................68
A F
Alum ...................................1 Fabric Softener .........................71
Anchor .................................1 Fire Making ............................71
Animals—Bears and Other Beasts ..........2 First-Aid Kit and Procedures, by
Ax ....................................10 William Forgey, MD ...................76
First-Aid Tips for Common Problems ......82
B
Flashlights and Camp Lighting Devices ....84
Baking ................................15
Forest Fires ............................85
Bannock (Camp Bread) ..................17
Frisbee ................................86
Binoculars .............................20
G
Boots .................................20
Bottles and Food Tubes ..................26 GPS (Global Positioning System) ..........87
Bugs—Mosquitoes, Flies, No-see-ums,
H
and Ticks ............................27
Hammocks for Camping .................89
Bush Living, by Sharron Chatterton .......33
Hand Cream and Lip Balm ...............89
C
Honey and Sugar—Good Medicine
Camera ................................35 for Wounds ..........................89
Canoe- and Boat-Rigging Tips ............35 Hypothermia ...........................90
Canteen ...............................39
K
Cartop Carriers (Canoe Racks) ............40
Knives .................................91
Children (Tips for Camping with Kids) .....43
Knots, Hitches, and Lashings .............98
Clothing ...............................44
Compass ...............................49 L
Contact Cement ........................51
Lightning .............................102
Cooking and Food Ideas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Lyme Disease ..........................104
Cord and Cord Locks ....................61
M
Cozies .................................61
Maps and Map Tricks ...................106
D Monofilament Fishing Line ..............112
Dental Floss ............................64
N
Dental Tool ............................64
Nalgene Bottle Trick ...................113
Desert Camping ........................64
Netted Bags ...........................113
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Contents
P T
Packs and Packing Methods .............114 Tablecloth ............................150
Pillow ................................117 Tarps (Rain Flies) ......................150
Tents .................................158
R
Tents: Classics You Can Make ............173
Rain Gear .............................118
Tent Site: How to Cope with a Bad One ...177
Ropes and Rope Tricks ..................121
Tools .................................179
S Towels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Saw (Folding) .........................124 U
Shovel ................................125
Ultraviolet Protection ..................180
Shower ...............................125
V
Signal Gear ...........................125
Skis (Cross-Country) ...................127 Vapor-Barrier Liners (VBLs) ............181
Sleeping Bags .........................127
W
Sleeping Pads, Air Mattresses, and
Wanigans .............................182
Sleeping Systems ....................131
Waterproof Bags and Boxes .............183
Snow Glasses ..........................134
Water Treatment ......................184
Snow Shelters .........................134
Weather Forecasting ...................187
Snowshoes ............................140
Soaps ................................141 Y
Solar Charger ..........................141
Yard Goods and Repair Materials .........190
Sponge ...............................141
Stool (Camp) ..........................141
Appendix A: Recommended Reading ......195
Stoves ................................142
Appendix B: Sources for.
Stuff Sacks ............................146
Recommended Products ..............197
Survival ..............................146
Glossary of Common Camping Terms .....200
Index .................................207
About the Author ......................213
vi
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Acknowledgments
In my book Expedition Canoeing: A Guide to encouragement and use of their photos: my
Canoeing Wild Rivers in North America, I wrote, friend Dr. Bill Forgey, for his practical tips
“Canoeing the wild rivers of the far north on wilderness medicine; Alv Elvestad (www
makes one understand why primitive man felt .pakboats.com); Gabriel Branby; Sharron
so close to God.” I am not a religious man, but Chatterton; Dan Cooke; Bob Dannert; Darrell
I have brushed with death often enough in Foss; Bill Friedlander; Toni and Ria Harting;
the bush to appreciate the caring spirits who Rod Johnson; Rob Kesselring; Paul Kirtley; Tim
guide my actions. I have spent nearly a lifetime Lynch and Mark Matheny; UDAP Industries
canoeing remote rivers in northern Canada and (www.bearspray.com); Derek Moore (SPOT LLC
neither I nor anyone in my charge has ever suf- and Globalstar); Jim Mandle; Heather Novaday
fered a serious illness or injury. I believe that Maier (HMS Wilderness Experience); Dick
I owe much of my good luck to a kindly spirit Person; Steve Piragis; Scott Power; Mike Rapatz;
who watches my back and helps me make wise Thomas Rapatz; Larry Rice; Larry Ricker (www
decisions. I often feel the presence of my “river .lhrimages.com); Tom Schwinghamer; Paul
angel,” and I wish to say thanks. Swanstrom; Tony Way; Alan Wenker; David
I also wish to credit and say thanks to Wescott, author of Camping in the Old Style;
the following people for their support and Wes Rusk; and my patient wife, Sue Harings.
vii
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What! Another Camping Book?
Camping out has changed considerably since changed at all is knowledge of the sport. The
the good old days of pine-bough beds, bonfires, wise old scoutmaster who could sniff a coming
and fresh-cut trail shelters. No longer is it ethi- storm and rig a tight camp in a driving rain has
cal to shape the land to suit our whims. There all but been replaced by the well-meaning leader
are just too few wild places and too many of us! who atones the night in his pickup camper . . .
As a result, a whole new style of camping or more likely, doesn’t camp at all. Everyone, it
has evolved, one geared to the high-tech, light- seems, has plenty of gear to cope with the ele-
weight equipment of today. Forty-pound can- ments, but precious few know how to use it.
vas tents have been thoughtfully replaced by If misery loves company, you’ll find plenty of
equally spacious nylon models of one-fourth it in the backcountry. Just watch the campers
the weight. Camp stoves have taken over roll home (or to the nearest motel) at the first
where fires once ruled, and a deluge of new sign of rain. The notion that bad weather spells
fabrics—polypropylene, polyester pile, Orlon bad times afield is so firmly entrenched in the
acrylics, and Gore-Tex—have challenged tradi- minds of contemporary campers that it is prob-
tional fibers. Packsacks, hiking boots, rain gear: ably pointless for me to argue the truth in the
Everything has become lighter, more compact, pages of this book. Nonetheless, I shall try.
and reliable. Surprisingly good outdoor gear This book is not intended to take the place
can now be purchased at big-city discount of a sport-specific text on backpacking, canoe-
stores—testimony to the growing interest in ing, family camping, or the like. Rather, it details
camping out. Regrettably, even new technology hundreds of ideas and procedures that are never
has brought disappointments. Outdoor cloth- found in traditional camping texts—ideas that
ing and footwear have become more stylish and will make your next campout safer and more
less adapted for use in the wild outdoors. Tents enjoyable. Main topics have been alphabetized,
have become exotic, difficult to pitch, and less everything is indexed for your convenience, and
rainproof than old designs. And today’s thick- space-consuming anecdotes have been elimi-
bladed, serrated knives are better adapted to nated to make room for the obscure but impor-
cutting through metal doors than slicing salami tant things you really need to know.
and pine. Have we forsaken old ways that work Some of you may recognize procedures from
for fashionable new styles that don’t? my books Expedition Canoeing and Canoeing and
Amidst the generally welcomed improve- Camping: Beyond the Basics. These procedures are
ments in gear, the one thing that has not repeated here for the benefit of those who don’t
viii
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IntroduCtIon
canoe. After all, the rules of backcountry com- What’s New in the Fourth Edition?
fort are the same whether you travel by foot, ski, In a word, plenty! What was intended as a light
canoe, or truck camper. Foul weather can make revision morphed into a substantial rewrite
you just as miserable in a state park campground with additional color photos. Why so many revi-
as on a remote canoe trail. sions when the basic tenets of camping haven’t
I encourage everyone who loves camp- changed in years? The answer is that if you take
ing to read Camping and Woodcraft, by Horace camping as seriously as I do, you are always on
Kephart, which was published in 1917; and the prowl for better ways and better stuff.
Woodcraft and Camping, by “Nessmuk” (George For more than thirty years, I outfitted and
Washington Sears), which appeared in 1920. guided canoe trips on remote rivers in north-
Fortunately, reprint editions of these old clas- ern Canada, where having one’s act together
sics are now available. The theme in both is is a tenet of survival and a prerequisite to hav-
that the old-timers were not bungling idiots ing a good time. Each new adventure tested
who slashed and trashed the backcountry. They old methods and encouraged me to think out-
knew it took a long time to build a bough bed side the box. When I discovered a better way,
or a snug shelter, so they devised surprisingly I adopted it immediately and threw past prac-
good (and ecological) alternatives. For exam- tice to the wind. Recently, I have diverted my
ple, Kephart carried a one-pound mattress tick; attention from Canada to the desert rivers of
Cal Rutstrum—author of The New Way of the the American West. Camping in sand where the
Wilderness (a must read!)—had a down-filled air available drinking water is soaked with silt and
mattress and a “convertible A-tent.” And every the critters scratch and bite has posed new chal-
woodsman felt that a light tarp was essential lenges. I am pleased to share what I’ve learned
for rain—something modern voyagers are just in a new section entitled Desert Camping.
beginning to admit. If you asked a turn-of-the- Finally, those of you who have read earlier
century woodsman for advice, he’d have been editions of this book have surely noticed that
more apt to tell you about the method than some of my recommendations have changed.
the gear. Now, as every modern camper knows, Good! That’s the price one pays for continued
the emphasis is on “things” not “skills.” At one learning.
of my seminars, a man wryly suggested that Here’s wishing you warm winds, fair
my camping ideas were old hat. “You’ve just weather, bug-free days, and enough good camp-
taken the good ideas of Nessmuk, Kephart, and ing skills to cope with the worst of times on the
Rutstrum and updated them with new technol- best of terms.
ogy,” he said. “Shhh,” I replied. “Promise me you
won’t tell a soul!”
ix
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