When I was 24 years old I had a quarter-life crisis. I was working as a reporter for a small newspaper in Upstate New York at the time. It was a wonderful place to live, surrounded by thousands of acres of wilderness. Camping and hiking opportunities were ubiquitous.

But one day it hit me like a punch to the gut: I was trapped. Aside from the occasional walk in the woods, or overnight camping trip, I had settled into a comfortable and routine life without much in the way of excitement. I was too young for that, I thought. Yikes. Suddenly, the quaint mountain town was suffocating. I had to move on.

So I quit my job, broke up with my girlfriend, sold a few things on Craigslist, and, in a drastic attempt to find adventure, loaded up my Subaru wagon and pointed it west. A week later I was in Montana, where I had signed up for a six-month long AmeriCorps position with the Montana Conservation Corps. Along with swinging an axe, wielding a chainsaw and digging in the dirt for eight hours a day, the job entailed 21 day stints in the backcountry.

I was nervous.

I had been backpacking a few times, but most of my experience was in the luxury of car camping. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) Questions often raced through my head. Twenty one days without a shower? No toilet or outhouse? How am I going to poop in a hole for three weeks? No cell phone, TV or free Wi-fi? Guess I’ll have to go cold turkey on Internet consumption. What about bears, mountain lions, giant mosquitoes and Sasquatch? Am I going
to make it?

I made it.

Three weeks is a little extreme, but for a lot of people getting into backpacking and primitive camping can be stressful. There are certain adjustments in attitude that need to occur before getting the most out of a wilderness experience, and they don’t always come easy.

To curb self doubts and insecurities I would recommend reading up on camping and backpacking manuals and tips. Maybe check out an online forum or two. That will get you started if you’re not sure how to pack your pack, what gear you should bring, if you’re looking for suggestions on where to go, etc. But the best way to get into backpacking is to go out with someone who knows what they are doing. For my first true backcountry experience it was a staff member of the conservation corps who taught me the subtleties of cooking over an open flame, the allure of knowing animal tracks, and why the Spork is man’s greatest invention.

Stress about being in the backcountry can come in many forms. One summer I went camping at a primitive site in Maine and took along a friend who considers herself to be a ‘city girl.’ It was her first time camping and I was surprised to find that the thing she was most worried about was not having her coffee in the morning.

“We do have coffee,” I said. “We brought a French press.” (That’s not really an option while backpacking, but there are some instant coffees out there that are actually pretty good.)

She was also worried about bears, naturally, but was happy to find out that there aren’t any Grizzlies in Maine.

The list of concerns for first-timers in the backcountry is a long one, everything from . The trick is to be prepared. Do research, ask questions, plan ahead, but remember why you’re doing it. It’s fun! It can be life changing. Kneeling over a trickling mountain stream and pumping every ounce of water you use though a filter can really change your perception of turning on a faucet. In the same vein, nothing is more satisfying than creating a delicious and savory meal over a fire with minimal ingredients.

Being with a group in the wilderness is about camaraderie and adventure, feeling physically exhilarated and mentally at peace. Don’t take it too seriously. But certainly do your homework.

Here are just a few tips that address common apprehensions before taking the wonderful plunge into backcountry camping:

Bathroom etiquette in the backcountry

There’s at least one book out there, probably more, devoted entirely to this topic. It is uncomfortable to talk about at first, but nature is bound to call when in nature.

It’s not that big a deal.

I’d recommend buying a small camping trowel. Dig a hole six inches deep, do your business, and then bury the waste and toilet paper. Don’t forget to enjoy the solitude as you would in your own bathroom, and try to pick a safe place with a good view.

No shower, no problem

Baby wipes equal a shower in a box. They’re always a good purchase before spending time in the woods.

Rinsing off in streams or other bodies of water is also an option. Just make sure you are aware of any dangers that would be present. It is not usually considered “leave no trace” to put biodegradable soaps directly into a water source, but filling a water bottle and lathering up over the ground can be just as satisfying.

If you happen to be camping in the western United States, chances are there’s Sagebrush nearby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_tridentata). The spicy, lemon scented plant makes for a great deodorant. Hang some in your tent to keep things smelling fresh, or better yet, vigorously rub some in your armpits. You just might get a few compliments around the campfire.

Sleeping easy

This isn’t a post about gear, and I am not going to recommend brands. But when it comes to getting comfortable in your tent getting a good sleeping pad is worth every penny, both for comfort and warmth. I’d say save up and spend a little extra.

Leave no trace

Leave No Trace ethics deserve a whole post, but the philosophy is simple: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. It’s important to learn about having a low-impact in the wilderness and backcountry so it can remain for all to enjoy.

About the author: Eric Voorhis is a journalist, photographer and blogger living on Long Island. As a reporter and freelance writer he’s covered everything from education and local politics to recreation and the environment. He has been camping in nearly every state of the contiguous U.S., from the backwoods of Maine to the beaches of California, and hates it when people burn marshmallows

Attention Outdoor Enthusiasts!

Coleman, a leader in the outdoor industry, is officially announcing the launch of the Coleman “Continue Exploring” Contest where one Grand Prize winner will receive up to $5,000 in Coleman camping equipment for their organization!

The contest is open to nonprofit organizations whose mission is to teach children, 18 and under, about the great outdoors and participate in group camping activities.

Group leaders can enter by visiting the Coleman Facebook page now through October 31st. In addition to filling out the online entry form, your readers must submit one photo of your group in the outdoors as well as what the outdoors means to their group (50 words or less please!). In addition to the Grand Prize winner, there will be four second prize winners who will each win a prize package consisting of Coleman? camping equipment with a retail value of $2,000.

Starting November 5-11, Coleman Facebook fans will vote for the Grand Prize winner. So encourage your followers to log on and let us know what the great outdoors means to them.

No purchase is necessary to enter, for official contest rules, please visit www.Facebook.com/colemanusa. The contest opens at 4 p.m. CDT on October 20, 2011.

Portable Grill

Part of the fun of camping is being able to cook a meal over an open flame. Why take the easy way out by bringing a grill with you? With your campfire and some basic equipment, you can cook just about anything!

RV

The RV lifestyle has become very popular and is great for persons wanting to do some serious, long-term camping while enjoying some of the amenities of a home. But one is hardly necessary for a single camping excursion. It’s okay to camp the old-fashioned way by sleeping in a tent.

Air Mattress

It’s rather common for people to bring along an air mattress to sleep on in their tent. While this does add some comfort versus sleeping on the ground, isn’t the whole point of camping to reconnect with nature and escape the world of modern amenities? Unless you’re prone to serious back pain, a couple nights of sleeping on the ground won’t kill you. Think of it as a chance to reconnect with human history where sometimes sleeping on the ground was the only option.

Space Heater

If humanity survived thousands of years of evolution and sleeping outdoors without an electric space heater, you can too. Prepare by bringing adequate clothing (several thin layers is better than just a couple thicker layers) and sufficient blankets and sleeping bags. By doing this, you can leave the space heater at home.

Power Generator

If you’re going to go all the way out into the wilderness just so you can fire up a noisy generator and enjoy electricity, why not just stay at home? It’s entirely possible to sufficiently prepare for a camping trip that requires zero help from external electrical sources. You can do without a power generator on a leisurely camping trip.

Check and Prevent for Ticks

Most camping settings are loaded with ticks just dying to latch onto your dog as a host. Ticks can cause life-threatening diseases for your dog. You should be applying a tick and flea preventative medicine on your dog, such as Frontline Plus, on a monthly basis anyway. This is especially important if you are taking your dog into an outdoor, woodsy setting. Check for tigs regularly on your trip and have a pair of tweezers on hand to remove the entire tick (head included) from your dog.

Bring a Reminder of Home

While dogs love being outdoors, camping can also be anxiety-inducing for them if they do not feel a sense of home or “den” (remember, they evolved from wolves). Bring a special blanket or dog-bed along. Help adjust the dog to the campsite by taking him or her on a leashed walk around the premises before returning to the site of their familiar bed/blanket. This will help build a sense of normalcy for the dog and allow him or her to have a more enjoyable time with you while camping.

Bring Toys

Camping is a great chance for a real rowdy game of a tug-of-war or fetch with your dog. Let them get out all of that inner canine energy with their favorite toys and games in the great outdoors.

Store Food Safely

A loose, open container of dog food is an invitation to whatever animals may be nearby to come inspect. Keep your dog’s food sealed until he or she is ready to eat. If your dog can subsist solely on “wet” dog food for a few days, just bring along a few packages of that and feed him or her at their appropriate feeding time. Just be aware that if your dog is considerably more active while camping than they are normally that their appetite may increase.

Use Common Sense Precautions

Don’t take your dog camping and insist that he or she sleep with you in the tent when it’s 100 degrees with humidity outdoors. Dogs are very prone to heat-related sickness, moreso than humans. Be aware of this and always provide ample water, shade, and resting time for your dog.

Bring poop-scoop bags to clean up your dog’s waste.

Bring a brush and brush him or her nightly to remove various burrs, twigs, etc from their coat.

Make sure your dog has an identification tag.

Bring a leash and stake to tie him or her to, especially if part of your camping itinerary is involves getting rowdy at night; you don’t want your dog wandering off while you’re not paying attention.

Be aware that not all fellow campers and woodland critters are especially fond of your dog. Be responsible and sympathetic to this, especially if your dog is prone to barking or biting at strangers.

But as any experienced camper knows, camping is a great activity that is usually free from such horrors when proper planning and preparation have occurred.

So suppose you want to go camping but are having a hard time convincing a friend or significant other to go with you. You know perfectly well that if you can just get them in the woods, they’ll have a great time. But how do you get them in the woods? Well, here are a few approaches that may yield success:

Compromise

As with all things in life, sometimes you have to give a little to get something you want in return. Offer some type of compromise whether it’s a willingness to try something they want to do that you don’t want to do, telling them you’ll pay for the trip so there is no financial burden on their end, or even just remind them about all of the great things you’ve done for them and how it would mean a lot to you if they tried it out.

Prepare for Success

Remember, when camping with someone, you’re also auditioning to get them to camp with you again. Make it a great experience for them! Camping can be a great time for everyone, so figure out different ways to tweak your camping experience to keep everyone happy. This way, next time you want to go camping you won’t have to twist arms as hard. A good tip is to pinpoint some of the reasons why your companion doesn’t want to go camping and then do what you can to remedy those excuses. For example, if they say they don’t like sleeping on the ground, bring an air mattress with a foam cover. You can usually always make camping fun for anyone.

Know the Fears

Here are the common reasons people don’t want to camp:

• Fear of bugs
• Fear of animal attack
• No showers
• Sleeping on the ground
• Food quality/availability
• Climate discomfort
• Fear of being disconnected from the modern world

By knowing the typical reasons why some people don’t want to go camping, you can adequately prepare your sales pitch to dispel these concerns. Most people who are reluctant to camp can be talked into it as long as they feel like they are in good hands. Just reassure them that you (or a fellow camping companion) do this all the time and that everything will go smoothly. Throw in a little begging and whining and you should be all set.

Think about it: most people in our society never have to deal with the struggle to survive until they are very old. This is something very new to humanity. Virtually every generation of humans before us had a much more intimate understanding of what it means to surive. Survival is very easy now. Even on a parltry annual income of, say, $10,000, survival is still very very easy.

In this day and age, we are blessed enough that we do not need to feel the pangs that accompany the struggle to survive. We have it easy. Most Americans have far more calories available to them than they need; so many calories that, ironically, it expedites our journey to being in a more legitimate fight to stay alive. That is, of course, because of the health risks associated with excess caloric consumption.

While we have every reason to feel grateful for how easy it is to remain alive, in a way, there is something empty about it. There is a bond that almost every human to have existed shares which we are left out on. That is the bond of survival. We have no intimate awareness of what it is like to truly struggle to stay alive. Most of us don’t, anyway.

That’s why camping can be such a rewarding activity. Of course, camping can be designed to be nearly as safe and free of risk as staying at home for the night, but it can also be designed to replicate the struggle to survive that our ancestors went through. Best of all: it’s you, the camper, who gets to choose how primitive of an experience you want.

It goes without being said that you should always practice common sense. Watch the movie Into the Wild if you need a lesson on what can happen when you camp recklessly. But camping provides an amazing opportunity to put yourself in a situation where you are almost entirely void of the comforts we’ve grown accustom to in our glutanous society.

I challenge you to let your next camping experience be a little less cushy than you are used to. Leave the Tempurpedic pillow and gas-powered generator at home. Try camping in the way early humans had no choice: a nightly struggle for survival. I promise the white picket fence will be waiting on you when you leave the woods!

The website is really easy to use. Just click on the state you want to camp in and scroll through the list. Most camping areas have a scenery and noise level rating; the number of campsites; the maximum days allowed; nearest city; amenities; months open; and a description. Plus, many of the listings have comments from people who have camped there which is great information to have.

Here’s a couple FREE camping places I found:

MONTANA
Columbus. It’s a city owned campground on Yellowstone River. It’s free to camp there but donations are accepted. It’s open all year but the bathroom closes in the winter. It has a scenery rating of 5 out of 5, and a noise level of 1 out of 5.

FLORIDA
Apalachicola Boondocking. The description on freecampgrounds.com says, “I live in Apalachicola, and I know that a lot of RVs and travel trailers camp all over town. Just find a parking lot and pull in. If you go though the blinking caution light (from the east headed west), don’t turn following 98, go straight. Several places along this short road to pull up for the night, but follow to the end (about 1 mile) and you end up at the harbor with all the shrimp boats. Lots of parking there! This is a beautiful coastal village with great seafood restaurants and interesting shops and galleries. There is a lot of history here and is worth a few days stay. St. George Island is 12 miles away with its sugar white sand and beautiful beaches! This isn’t called the “Forgotten Coastline” without reason. It’s totally unspoiled!”

CALIFORNIA
Big Bar Campground near the Trinity River. The nearest town is Big Bar and the nearest city is Eureka. It’s open year round.

These are just a few examples. Check the website out for yourself and find a free or nearly free campground to stay at on your next camping trip!

Your popup camper, like any piece of camping equipment, needs to be maintained each year to keep it in great shape. Many people ask, “When is the best time to winterize my pop-up?” The obvious answer is, “before winter”. The primary goal of winterizing your pop-up is to prepare it to survive the cold winter months without damage. But this annual ritual is also necessary to perform routine maintenance and to be sure that when you open that pop-up for your first camping trip next year, it is ready to go.

The “when” question is more pertinent to your camping plans than to the weather. When you have completed your last camping trip of the year and are ready to store your, that’s the ideal time to winterize it.

Your winterizing schedule includes performing needed water removal and replacement to the interior water systems as well as necessary annual maintenance to the pop-up in general. You will no doubt customize this list to your particular pop-up but here is a good starter list.

• Perform a thorough exterior cleaning, washing down the unit and inspecting for rust or other damage from the year of camping.

• Perform exterior repairs as needed.

• Perform a thorough interior cleaning making sure you get all food residue up from the floors and beds to keep rodents out and so you don’t open the pop-up next spring to the smell of aging food crumbs or smells that are even nastier.

• Perform interior repairs as needed.

• Remove all nonpermanent items including fishing gear, children’s toys, coffee mugs, pillows or sleeping gear to be cleaned and stored indoors until next year.

• Remove all canned or packaged food stored in the camper over the summer, discarding the stale or out of date products.

• Remove all garbage and litter.

• Remove any aerosol cans that could rust or rupture due to changing temperatures.

• Lubricate all motorized moving parts.

• Inspect wheels, brakes and electrical connections.

• Inspect the underside of the pop-up and repair any holes or other damage from travel.

• Remove and store the battery.

• Cover any vents with plastic wrap to keep the pop-up airtight and keep insects or other visitors out.

• Inspect the anode rod and replace as necessary.

• Drain all water retention systems including the fresh water tank, the water heater, holding tanks and toilets.

• Drain all pipes by opening the faucets and letting as much water out as possible. Some people will go so far as to blow out the pipes to clean the moisture out as thoroughly as possible. A small amount of water retention is ok but you don’t want the water pipes and tanks full as they could freeze and cause damage to connections.

• Implement hot water heater bypass systems as instructed in your owner’s manual.

• Put nontoxic RV antifreeze into all water lines that you just drained. Be sure you purchase nontoxic antifreeze that you can buy at any camping or RV retail outlet. Do NOT use automobile antifreeze as it is highly toxic and will contaminate your water lines and create a risk to your family the next time you use the unit.

You may dread getting that winterizing done, but you’ll be glad you did it next spring. So stop procastinating and get it done!

Then reality hits when one of those yellow jackets that seem to be everywhere this time of year stings me. Then I start to think about how I have to start getting out sweatshirts to wear at night and how it won’t be long before fall will be over and I’ll start seeing that four letter “s” word stuff - snow.

But even though Fall brings to mind both good and bad things (doesn’t almost everything?) it’s still my absolute favorite time of year to go camping.

With that in mind, this week’s posts are going to be a series of some great fall camping destinations where you can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery and partake of the bounty of fall (aren’t fresh crisp apples one of the most wonderful things?), but also enjoy a few more days outside in the fresh air, and get cozy around a few more campfires before winter arrives and many of us pack our camping gear away until next year.

The states featured in this 5-day series will be: Vermont, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia and Oregon.

First up is my favorite - Vermont.

VERMONT Vermont is considered the crown jewel of states to visit in the fall. Pictures don’t do the area justice even though the pictures of the fall colors are breathtaking!

My husband and I took our first trip to Vermont 8 years ago and even though we planned the trip a little late in the season when color was past peak, the color was still breathtaking. We took the trip just before we were bit by the “camping bug” so it was a car trip with nights spent in local hotels.

I’m hoping to go on another trip to Vermont in the next year or two, this time with my camper. Since I have a pop-up I shouldn’t have problems towing on the roads in Vermont, but if you are towing a large trailer, 5th wheel or have a Class C or Class A Motorhome, keep in mind that some roads in the state are little more than rugged dirt paths and some of the mountain roads are narrow, steep, and kind of scary (scratch -the “kind of ” - some of them were really scary to me but I’m kind of a wuss).

So if you’re camping with a bigger rig, or any tow vehicle, my suggestion is to find a campground to stay at for the the duration of your stay in the state or maybe pick 2 (one in the Northern part of the state and one in the Southern part of the state, splitting your trip into 2 segments) and take day trips around the area with your car, truck or motorcycle.

Now, let’s talk about the gorgeous fall colors. If you’re wondering why the color is so much better in Vermont and the other New England states it’s because the area has many more deciduous trees that turn colors and shed their leaves each year (hardwoods like maple, oak and beech) than coniferous trees which usually stay green and don’t shed their leaves (pine, spruce and cedar trees). That means when the leaves start turning the area is awash in the brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds we typically associate with fall with few “green” trees breaking up that colorful view.

That is why Vermont is considered the number 1 destination in the United States to view spectacular color and why reservations are highly recommended during the peak viewing season (Columbus day weekend is typically considered the peak foliage weekend and falls on October 11 and 12 in 2008) although color starts showing around mid-September and goes as late as the first part of November.

The northern parts of the state have peak color earlier than the southern portions but instead of guessing when to go, check out the color forecast at Vermont Vacations and click here for their current fall foliage report. If you’ll be away from an Internet connection, call 1.800.VERMONT (1.800.837.6668). As the fall color season gets into high gear, the hotline will have updates twice a week (on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

The great news for 2008 is that color is expected to be great because of warm weather and rain in the early part of summer that helped the trees develop healthy and strong leaves.

A few tips about fall travel in Vermont from Vermont Vacations:

1 - the first two weekends in October are the busiest of the entire year so make reservations (including campsite reservations) as early as possible.

2 - consider a visit during the week instead of the weekend

3 - think about staying in another state and driving to Vermont. Vermont is not that wide - only about 80 miles. Vermont has many residents who commute daily to either New York State, New Hampshire or Massachusetts for their job. East to west driving in Vermont can be a little tricky though. I remember when we were there we thought a trip was only going to take about 30 minutes because our destination was only 25 miles away but we forgot about the mountains we had to drive through to get there.

Where to stay - Sue from the Addison County Chamber of Commerce was kind enough to provide information on area campgrounds. View the list by clicking here (it includes both private and state campgrounds).

If you’ve read my blog posts in the past you know I’m a fan of the campgrounds at state parks because they are typically roomier, have more nature themed amenities like hiking trails, bike trails, and fishing, and most importantly to me - they are almost always cheaper. The downside is that they often don’t have as many amenities as private campgrounds (such as electricity and water hookups) plus there may not be many sites large enough to accommodate large RV’s (if you’re curious about why that is, it’s because most state parks were built over 50 years ago when campers and RV’s were smaller). Several of the state campgrounds in Vermont are already closed for the season, with many more closing by mid-October so call ahead if you want to stay at a state campground to be sure it’s open and to be sure it will accommodate your camping rig. Otherwise, there are plenty of great private campgrounds as well.

Mid-Vermont’s most popular state campground is Little River State Park, 30 miles south of Burlington. It’s open through Columbus Day weekend and has 81 tent/trailer campsites and 20 lean to sites. It was named Park of the Year. As a bonus, it’s not far from Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory! I went there on my trip to Vermont, took a tour, and had some delicious ice cream. And if you’re a cheese fan, it’s only about 34 miles from Ben and Jerry’s to Cabot Farms for their factory tour (yes, I know they are 2 very “touristy” things to do but I was a tourist when I was there and was happy to play the part - I took a tour of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company too).

Beautiful Fall Drives In Vermont
Sue from the Addison County Chamber of Commerce says that any drive over the Green Mountains in Vermont is beautiful in the fall. There are 4 gaps that can be driven in a day or two and they all pretty much run between Rte 100 to the east of the mountains and Rte 7 to the west of the mountains.

Here are 5 recommended drives (4 gap drives through the mountains and one non-mountain drive):
1 - Rte 73 which runs west to east between Brandon, Vermont and just south of Rochester, Vermont, going over the Brandon Gap. Take a break in Brandon to walk around their downtown and have lunch at one of their restaurants. Brandon is also one of the gateway villages to the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area which is in the heart of the 400,000 acre Green Mountain National Forest. The Moosalamoo Recreation area has over 70 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding but a flood in August damaged some trails and roads so check the Green Mountain Forest Conditions web page for closures or call the forest office at 1.802.747.6700 before heading out.

Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore is near Rte 73. It has 22 tent campsites and 6 lean-to campsites. The park is open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekend.

2 - Rte 125, west to east from E. Middlebury over Breadloaf Mountain/Middlebury Gap to Hancock. The views are great but the road isn’t so great. Because of flooding in August there is dirt and gravel along some of the road surface edges although the road is open, but only to passenger vehicles in some areas.

The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail is just off Rte 125, about about halfway between Ripton village and the Breadloaf School of English. It’s an easy walk through a woods a little over a mile long where people can pause to read markers with Frost’s poems written on them. The walk is meant to show people what one of the walks in the woods was like when Robert Frost took them while thinking about his writing. Maybe the walk will inspire the inner poet in you!

3 - Rte 116 from Bristol east over the Lincoln Gap to Warren. Both Bristol and Warren have nice downtown areas. Note that some of the road surface at the peak is dirt.

Bristol is celebrating their annual Harvest Fest on September 27, 2008. The festival offers family fun with music, horse/wagon rides, children’s activities, a craft festival, the “Taste of Bristol”, a kid’s area, and bandstand music. Car enthusiasts should stick around the next day, September 28, 2008 for Bristol’s 4th annual Better L8 Than Never Car show that will features 26 classes of vehicles to drool over, 10 “best of” trophies, muffler raps, music and lots of delicious food.

4 - Rte 17 from Bristol over the Appalachian Gap to Waitsfield is an especially beautiful day drive with lots of scenery. The road is completely paved but it does have lots of twists and tight turns.

5 - For a nice drive that’s not in the mountains but has nice views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, drive along Vermont’s “coast” (Routes 17, 22A and 125 all skirt along the edge of the shoreline of Lake Champlain). Start at the city of Vergennes where there are nice shops and good restaurants. If you’d rather stay at a cottage than camp, check out the Basin Harbor Club (click here to take a photo tour of their cottages)on Lake Champlain where you’ll have a front row seat to watch the migration of waterfowl that are heading south to a warmer climate for the winter.

For great camping with a view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, check out Button Bay State Park. It has 73 campsites, and 13 lean-to’s. The campground is open from Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day weekend.

Getting Some Exercise in Vermont
Walking on a treadmill or being a gym rat may be some people’s idea of great exercise but many others would rather be active outside in the fresh air. There’s plenty of opportunities for great outdoor activity in Vermont. Click here for some great bike trail guides. There are lots of choices including: Lake Champlain Region Bikeways Map and Guide, Heart of Vermont Bikeways, Adirondack Coast Bikeways, Northern Adirondack Coast Bikeways, Cycle the City (Burlington), Island Line Trail, Champlain Islands Bikeways, Northwest Dairyland, Franklin County Bicycle and Walking Guide, Guide to the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail and Bicycling Along the Richelieu River. Whew! I got tired just typing out all those choices.

For hiking trail information visit VTLiving.com.

How About Something Delicious
All that biking and hiking in the crisp fall air is bound to work up an appetite. How about some fresh, juicy, crisp apples? Click here for a list of Vermont apple orchards.

If you prefer something even sweeter, like delicious, pure Vermont maple syrup (and other maple products), stop at one of the numerous roadstands in Vermont or click here for a list of sugarhouses that are open year-round.

Lastly, this article about Vermont wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention the covered bridges. I saw several when I was there and enjoyed every one of them. Many have weight restrictions so you may not be able to drive over them if you have a large RV or trailer, but you can still stop, look, and maybe ask other people also looking if they’ll take your picture. My husband and I did that while we were there and we had the good fortune to hand our camera to a professional photographer. We got a great picture but that was before my “digital camera” age so I’m unable to share it here.

But most of all, no matter what you do while visiting Vermont, relax and enjoy yourself - and see if you can catch a glimpse of a moose. That’s the one thing I never saw while I was there even though I kept my eyes on the lookout for them(at least while I wasn’t watching for falling rocks!).

And, for a great “armchair tour” of Vermont to give you a taste of how beautiful the area is, watch the Webshots Vermont slideshow below.

VERMONT REVISITED - Autumn 2004 (Hi-Res)

For more information on Vermont, visit Vermont’s official tourism site, VermontVacation.com

Are you sick of feeling like you need to take out a loan every time you fill up the gas tank when camping with your travel trailer, 5th wheel, or Class A, B, or C motor home? Maybe it’s time to think about a more streamlined type of camper that is easy to tow, easy on gas mileage, has a distinctive shape, and has a storied history – the teardrop trailer.

Yes, a teardrop trailer does look like a teardrop, one that’s tipped on its side. Its origins are found in the last century. The first ones are said to have been built in the 1930’s but their popularity didn’t soar until after World War II when soldiers were home from the war and wanted to hook a camper up to the family vehicle and head out on vacation.

Teardrops were a popular project for do-it-yourselfers who used leftover scrap materials from the war to build their teardrops, with jeep tires finding new life as the wheels and the plane wings from bombers leaving the skies and instead becoming the shiny metal exterior of teardrops.

By the 1960’s the popularity of teardrop trailers waned as people wanted larger RV’s, but they are now once again gaining in popularity with the advent of high gas prices and a desire by some people to camp in a more simple and earth friendly way.

One company that is currently manufacturing teardrop trailers is Tadpole Trailers Inc. in Brighton, Ontario, Canada. They have been building teardrop trailers since 1998. Sylvia Doherty from Tadpole Trailers Inc., generously agreed to answer all my questions about Tadpole Trailers and supplied me with pictures so you can learn more about them too.

Here are the questions and Sylvia’s answers:

What is a teardrop trailer?
Basically it’s a “Bed in a Box” that often, but not always, has a kitchen in the rear that you can tow behind a vehicle and have a place to sleep at the end of the day. The name of course was derived from the shape of the body.

What is a Tadpole Trailer? Is it a Teardrop Trailer?
A Tadpole Trailer is a refinement of the original teardrop design. It is very hard to improve on a great design and the original teardrops certainly met all the needs of the day. We started with the same basic needs, a clean sheet of paper and sixty years of technological and materials advances that were not available back then and a decade of continuous improvements.

How did Tadpole Trailers get started? Where did the idea originate?
Terry and I have been “camping nuts” for the last mmmm years (don’t want to date ourselves). We did the “pup tent” thing before the kids came along, then the “circus tent” thing with the kids (and dog). We stuffed the Suburban and filled a cargo trailer, then we had a couple of years with a fully loaded 26 ft class C motorhome!

This is when we realized that we were campers not Rv’ers.

Campers spend enjoyable weeks in constant contact with the environment whatever it may be. Rv’ers turn up the AC when it gets too warm.

Campers sleep with the gentle fragrance of pine needles all around them, RV’ers sweep the concrete pad clean so as to avoid trailing all that dirt into the RV.

Campers sit by the crackling campfire and feel the heat on their faces while your butt is freezing. RV’ers adjust the satellite dish to see if they can get the next Packers game on HDTV.

Enough of that (draggin’ the whole house around with us)!

So we went back to tents and camping…. and started building various camping trailers, some with pop up kitchens. Being fortunate to own our own business that specialized in CNC machining, materials and prototype development we had the technology and ability to produce whatever we could dream up, each summer the trailers got more elaborate and sophisticated. We suddenly realised we were closing in on the RV thing again….OOOOOhhhhh Noooooooo!

Eventually the “Kids” became “Teens” and didn’t want to camp with Mummy and Daddy anymore….so we were back to “us two!” The Suburban was getting too costly with the mileage we did every summer so we downsized to a Honda Civic which finally drove home the point that less is often better. Not having the huge space of the Suburban we could no longer “bring it just in case.” The only remaining issue was sleeping on the ground….uh uh no can do no more!!! So Terry started building trailers with permanent beds in them. One by one the trailers got smaller and more lightweight as the beds got larger.

The next thing to go was the sleeping bags to be replaced with genuine pillows, sheets and a matching duvet. This step led to us standardising the bed sizes to match those of readily available bedding. When a trip is finished the sheets are stripped from the bed and thrown in the laundry and ready for the next trip all fresh and clean. Try that with a sleeping bag! I can’t even get the thing out of the washer when it’s wet.

At the end of each summer we sold each trailer we produced to another dedicated camper. This allowed us to work unfettered on the next trailer for the next trip since we then had no “investment” to protect and we could design the next trailer with no compromises. Finally the smallest and lightest design… the round windows in the doors, the queen size bed, the ice box, the easiest to tow, the kitchen in the rear,…..then one day I looked at the trailers and it dawned upon me ………”Oh my god we’ve got a teardrop!’

The “downside” if there was one was that everybody loved the trailer and it allowed us to meet hundreds of great people all over the continent. To be truthful, we quite enjoyed the “celebrity” status at the campgrounds and the constant offers to buy the teardrops. These experiences had me thinking “here I am standing in a beautiful campsite on a beautiful beach wearing my favourite bathing suit drinking my favourite beverage explaining that we couldn’t sell them this trailer because it was the only one we had”. Teeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrryy! Let’s build some trailers!

Teardrop Trailers is a generic term and although our trailers look like the others we feel that we are offering a very different and distinctive product and that the name should reflect this. For weeks, we tried various names and hokey combinations but nothing really inspired us until one day we were having a coffee and looking at the trailer in the driveway. I commented on how the windows looked like a huge eyeball and Terry said if that was an eyeball then the body would have to be the head. It dawned on us then it looked like a giant tadpole and the deal was sealed. Tadpole Trailers Inc. was born.

Where are Tadpole Trailers available?
We’ve been selling directly to campers at the campgrounds we’ve been to and through our Website www.tadpoletrailers.com. As of this Fall, we’ll be expanding distribution in Ontario through RV dealers who belong to the Ontario Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association in Ontario.

We are also setting up a distributor/dealership in Massachusetts to cover the North Eastern United States in the coming months as well with more to come as interest grows. The thing that really surprised us is how far people will travel to see a Tadpole Trailer in person and this interest has compelled us to find a way of making more Tadpoles available for public scrutiny. The answer, we feel, lies in being present at the Winter RV shows and we promise we will be at as many as we can in the coming months.

Is there more than one size/model of Tadpole Trailers?
For 2008 we have had 3 sizes based on standard mattress sizes: Twin, Double and Queen (easy to find sheets) The length never changes, just the width.

For the 2009 Model year which begins production this October, we’ll just be producing 2 sizes only. The twin size for singles and/or motorcycles and the queen size, luxuriously roomy for two! There just was no demand for the Double and customers who did order a Double said later that they wished that they had taken a Queen instead. We agree.

What are the standard features?
Standard mattress sizes; lockable headboard with storage and lockable upper storage for clothes and towels etc… 12V power with LED lighting- add the optional solar panel and you’ll have more than enough power with the deep cycle battery and its charger!

A standard kitchen in the tailgate consists of three drawers, an ice box, one Tailgator awning to shield a door from bad weather (additional Tailgators add so much more living space); a door on each side, each with a large round window that opens and a roof vent.

I mentioned an ice box-this is the old fashioned style of refrigerator from the 1920’s before the advent of modern refrigeration. These devices work by placing the blocks of ice in the top half in a metal bin along with your beverage of choice, and the dry food goes in the lower half. The metal bin allows the cold to transfer to the bottom chamber where the food stays nice and dry away from contact with the ice and melted water, unlike a regular cooler where everything gets soggy as the ice melts.

The circular window on the Tadpole looks distinctive. How does it work?
Terry designed the windows to swivel around so they would be fully adjustable from fully open to fully closed. The best way to understand the concept is to look at a grated cheese container like what parmesan cheese comes in. One half is fixed in position and the other half pivots around a centerpoint. The circular shape allows the maximum amount of light and fresh air for the weight. Each window includes a full bug screen and is constructed from unbreakable and lightweight Lexan. This material was chosen because of the proximity of the windows to the road when travelling. Yes it may scratch and yes it may get yellow in a decade or so but you never have to worry about arriving at your dream campsite after working all year to find that the window has been shattered.

They work great, and with the roof vent there is ample ventilation. The “Taddy” is well insulated so we’ve never been cold and with the roof vent and windows it’s sooooo comfortable to wake up in the morning (First Hand Experience)!

Are there optional features?
There are a few optional features although “Taddy” is pretty complete to start with. While one Tailgator is included with every package, additional Tailgators really expand your living area (one over each door and one over the tailgate kitchen is great).

A solar panel is great to maintain the charge in your battery We have run all the lights inside and outside plus a fan and the laptop and never run out of juice! The cord for the solar panel is a good length, but you can purchase an extension cord in case the sunspot is a bit further from where Taddy is parked. By using a camping chair we can chase the sun with the solar panel and keep the battery topped up.

The one option we push is the optional electric brakes. Taddy can be pulled easily by anything including a ten speed bicycle but the smaller the tow vehicle the more braking is an issue. Like the seat belts and airbags in your car, the trailer brakes are pretty much useless until something unexpected happens, then they can become a lifesaver.

And for the real “Car Nuts” like Terry we have a Retro Package that includes Cragar SS mag wheels with Ford Vicky style fenders, shipped in grey epoxy primer so the trailer can easily be painted to match your tow vehicle. Far away the coolest!

What if I want a kitchen in my Tadpole?
Every Tadpole Trailer has a basic kitchen in the tailgate. It has a counter top with storage that has sliding doors for easy access to supplies and on top you can put all your spices and condiments etc… There are also 3 drawers below for pots and pans, dishes, cutlery, cloth pegs yada yada yada…. and also the “old fashioned” ice box as mentioned before!

The Taddy does not come with any propane appliances due to the varying regulations from province to province and state to state, however, customers, if they wish, can go to their local RV dealer and have them installed. Oh and custom kitchens are do-able as well!

I don’t see an option for air conditioning in the Tadpole? Does the interior stay cool for sleeping in hot summer weather?
No we don’t offer an option for A/C, as I said previously about the windows, they let in ample air along with the roof vent. With the R-10 insulation in the ceilings, walls and floor there is a long time delay in internal temperature changes when compared to the outside air. We recently had a string of calm hot August nights, and our 12V oscillating fan that we clip to the upper drawer and aim upwards kept us quite comfortable because the air flow follows the curvature of the ceiling and circulates beautifully without blasting directly on us.

As the heat rises out the roof vent it draws in fresh cooler air. All this being said, if we were to camp often in a desert location like Death Valley this might be something we would consider adding but gratefully our climate is a little less severe.

What can you tell me about the construction process and materials used?
The composite panels that make up the Tadpole are very similar to those used in aircraft and high performance boats. They are expensive to produce and machine but they offer such high strength to weight ratios that it is not realistically possible to make the Tadpole body any lighter without using this technology. All Taddy’s composites are created by us in-house using advanced resin-moulding technologies and machined using CNC technology. These panels are not commercially available and we produce them only for our production needs. For this very reason DIY kits are not available and even if we did offer them the process of joining the parts together to make a completed trailer is beyond the scope of most “home builders”.

If everything on the Tadpole is high tech materials how come you still use a steel chassis?
We used a steel chassis because it is simply the best material for this product and its end user. It is possible to bolt our Flexiride suspension units directly to the body of the Tadpole because the strength is there to do so. This is the advantage of using composites. Also it would be very easy to mount a simple steel tongue with a coupling onto the front of the body and call it done for the same reasons. These two changes would allow us to drop the trailer weight by almost another 100 lbs. with no change in functionality.

We used a steel chassis because we are human. Anyone who has watched a Formula One race knows that as high tech as these cars are and as close to the pinnacle of being the ultimate in automotive technology, they are extremely unforgiving and fragile. Campers are human. We drive into places that no vehicle has a right to be. We back into trees. We drive through roads that can best be described as cattle trails and we park the trailer in a spot you would have trouble pitching a pup tent on. With a steel chassis you can sustain damage and still not destroy the entire vehicle and when you drag her home again there is something left to repair. We traded off bragging rights and a hundred pounds so that your Tadpole will live to be abused all over again.

What are the towing weights of each model?
“Well , all Taddys can be towed by a 10 speed bike don’t cha know….” Seriously though, all models are approximately in the 700 +/- lbs. The variation in weights comes from the creature comforts added and weight of the electric brakes option (Highly recommended). Most of this weight is close to the ground, which really helps stability when towing.

What is it like to tow a Tadpole Trailer?
Well this all depends on how much towing you have done. The more towing you have done the more comfortable you will be. That being said; good trailer design can make towing an enjoyable experience and bad design can get you killed. A “drive to survive” is not the way to start your vacation because at the end of two weeks you have to get that beast back home again and that trip alone can ruin your whole vacation. There are certain rules of thumb everyone should keep in mind when considering any trailer and towing. They are:
The longer the distance from the ball on the hitch of your vehicle to the centreline of your rear axles the more stable the trailer will be at highway speeds. This also makes backing up much easier.
The larger the diameter of the wheels and tires on your trailer the more resistant they are to road defects and variations.
The lower the center of gravity is in the trailers, the more stable the platform and more resistance to exterior disturbances like wind and drafts from passing Semi-Trailers. These reasons are why we designed and build our own chassis. Safety, Enjoyment, Safety, Enjoyment, Safety, Enjoyment, Safety, Enjoyment, Safety, Enjoyment.

How much does towing the Tadpole affect gas mileage?
At most I would say about 10% maximum decrease depending on the height of your vehicle. The higher your vehicle is, the more it diverts the wind over the trailer and the less the drag penalty is (better MPG). We tow our Taddy with a Hyundai Tiburon 2 seat sports car (not supposed to tow with it really but..…). On one average trip this summer we traveled 2000 KM (1200 Miles) and it cost us less than $180. in gas; which is about the same as we get without towing the Taddy! Sometimes we have to watch the speedo though……….Terry tends to forget the trailer is there sometimes and……..well ……you know the saying about boys and their toys.

How long does it take to get a Tadpole set up once I get to my campsite, and what about takedown once it’s time to head home or to the next campsite? I have a popup camper and hate the 60-90 minutes I have to spend on setup and takedown every time I use it.
Set up doesn’t exist! Let’s say you arrive late Friday evening in the dark and are really tired from working all day then driving hours to get to the campground. Provided you’re on reasonably level ground, you don’t even have to disconnect from your car! Just crawl inside and go to sleep! It’s that easy! Now if you’re going to be in the same site for a few days of course you would disconnect from your car and level Taddy using the jack (maybe 5 minutes at the most!!!) Then at your leisure you can set up your Tailgator or Tailgators which takes about 5 minutes each. That’s it! I think it is awesome…… park it, open the rear hatch and break out the beer/wine/soda whatever; you’re done That’s it!

Is there a warranty?
There is a one year limited warranty against manufacturers defects. Sorry, but backing into a tree or post does not constitute a manufacturers defect. Don’t laugh, we had one customer claim that the tailgate just fell apart. Since Terry takes all this stuff very seriously he drove 20 hours to the customers home with a replacement tailgate and upon his arrival it was hard to tell who was most surprised, the customer or Terry.

He said the tree bark was most definitely from a pine tree and although he couldn’t be 100% sure he would be betting from the smell of the sap still stuck to the part that it was a yellow pine. I should say we do have spare parts readily available should they be needed and can be shipped overnight in most cases.

What type of maintenance does a Tadpole Trailer need?
NONE - Tadpole Trailers are designed to spend 52 weeks of the year outside no matter what the weather. No seams, no exposed wood. Of course you could wash Taddy periodically if you wanted like you do with your car!

Are you in the planning stages for any new models or features?
ALWAYS! The current Taddy has evolved over the last 5 years to arrive at its current state and as we camp, travel and learn the improvements are always incorporated into the next trailer on the line. In our travels with Taddy we take care to always listen to ideas and comments from the great people we meet and take them into consideration. New ideas are always welcome!

Where can I see a Tadpole?
As we said before we have plans to expand distribution and the best way to keep up to date is to check our Website at tadpoletrailers.com. The fact is often we don’t even have a new trailer that you can look at in Brighton; other than our own TaddyOne. Every Tadpole we produce has been to an order and as soon as the paint is dry the trailer is gone. The owners just can’t wait…… And we don’t blame them in the least. Next year we are hoping to have a get together of all the owners and if we can put it together we will announce it on our Website and anyone can come and check out a whole herd(?) of Tadpoles.

How can I find out more information about the Tadpole?
Check out our website: www.tadpoletrailers.com for any and all information about Taddy.

Current prices are listing on the package pricing page on our website.

If you have specific questions you can go to “contact us” page on the website. We’re always happy to answer any questions and meet new Tadpole ooops teardrop enthusiasts…(must be the Kleenex/ tissue slip of the tongue)!

Thanks to Dorrie and CampingEarth for letting us tell you all about our Taddy!!
Cheers…
Sylvia & Terry Doherty
Tadpole Trailers Inc.
A Modern Teardrop For Modern Times

From Dorrie: I want to send a big thank you back to Sylvia and Terry Doherty for generously taking the time to answer all the questions I threw at them without blinking an eye (and you can tell I asked a lot of questions!), for their in-depth and candid answers, and for sharing the great pictures of the Taddys with us.

Happy Camping Everyone!