The next time you go camping in PA (Pennsylvania) there are some things you should consider. When you think of camping and the outdoors most think of Yosemite Yellowstone and large famous parks. Pennsylvania, though not on the top of the list has other attractions that you should be aware of.
Most state parks are open seasonal. Pennsylvania has three state parks that are open year round. These parks are Little Pine, Ole bull, and Promised Land. The cold might be a factor for some campers. The state is located in the upper northeast and winters see snowfall and cold temperatures. This can be remedy by the cabins available at the campsites.
At one particular park Promised Land has a 422 acre lake, which fishing is a common pastime. During the winter season ice fishing is also a big hit among visitors. That is not the only attraction during the long winter months. Campers in Pennsylvania enjoy cross country skiing and twenty three miles of snowmobile trails.
The majority of the state parks are seasonal. Champan, Gifford Pinchot, Pine Grove Furnace, Shawnee, Parker Dam, and Pymatuning are the top seven state parks in Pennsylvania. Each park has different scales of attractions. Pymatuning may be the most know because of its size. It is one of the largest parks in the state reaching 21, 122 acres. It’s reservoir covers over seventeen thousand acres. This is one of the many reasons why it is also the most visited park in the state.
Before any camper voyages to their campsite, they must know the rules and regulations. Pennsylvania parks have textbook rules. You can bring your pets a long as its dog, cat or a caged animal, that being a bird or something of the sort. Of course, no fires outside of the fire rings and grills. There is one rule that might make some campers go to a local private campsite. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at the campsites or the state parks. This may be a bad thing for a few campers, though there are plenty of campsites outside of the state parks where having alcohol is legal.
Pennsylvania has populations of black bears and coyotes. This is state land that the elk are free to roam and graze about. An elk is much bigger then a deer. A typical male elk can reach a thousand pounds.
If hunting isn’t on the menu, but observing wildlife is you can visit an elk range. Elk are larger then deer and males can weigh up to a thousand pounds. You can drop by one of the ranges near your campsite.
If you have ever hiked over 20 miles in a day with a backpack on your back you’ll probably be aware of how weight soon becomes a very significant factor. Experiences hikers, trekkers and backpackers know that to reduce the weight of your gear you need to concentrate on the three main items: your sleeping bag, shelter and the backpack itself.
So you will want to leave your huge 10 pound tent and snug 5 pound sleeping bag at home and get yourself the lightest backpack you can find.
It may be hard to believe but there are some really good quality backpacks that weigh in at less than four ounces. This is no exaggeration. The typical capacity would be around 1800 cubic inches which is enough for around 15 pounds of gear. This capacity should be enough for your lightweight sleeping bag, a tarpaulin for shelter and a few vital necessities including a first aid kit and some energy bars. And of course an adequate amount of water.
In fact the water that you need to carry when trekking can become the heaviest item. This makes it worthwhile planning your route so that you can refill your water bottle and reduce the amount of water that you need to carry with you.
Another big benefit of going ultra light weight is that the equipment tends to be much cheaper than the heavier, tougher alternatives. You will even find some bargain lightweight backpacks in various discount stores, often sold as day sacks costing only a few dollars. They can be a very simple in desgn with only a few, if any, external pockets. They may be cheap but they can be excellent for lightweight hiking trips.
If you are going lightweight it’s also worth considering your clothing. Forget your all weather outdoor clothing and instead go for an ultra lightweight rain and wind proof fold-up cagoule and some light weight sports shoes rather than heavy walking boots.
If you lighten your load by reducing your clothing weight, equipment and using a lightweight backpack you should find that a 20 mile hike is suddenly much easier to complete.
Are you a beginner or an avid camper? No matter which one you are I am sure that you feel overwhelmed when trying to determine which camping gear to buy for your great adventure outdoors. It is up to you to decide what is right for you and your family when it comes to camping supplies.
Camping is becoming more popular because it is a great way to spend some good quality time together as a family no matter what your age may be. Older couples may enjoy RV’s while younger generations may prefer a tent no matter which route you go I am sure that you will have guaranteed fun. Camping allows for family time, relaxation and is all inexpensive.
Retail stores, outdoor stores and camping stores are all alike they seem to have an endless selection of camping gear so how do you know what to buy and what to leave on the shelf? It is up to you as the consumer to decide on what accessories and gear that you would like or how much you want to spend.
Many families purchase a few larger items such as tents, sleeping bags, lanterns and camping stoves and take the smaller items such as pots, pans and toiletries from home to save some money but everyone is different and likes to do it various ways. I like to keep all my camping supplies down to extra toiletries together so when we say let’s go all we have to do is grab some clothes and hit the road.
There are so many things from pots, pans, grills, containers, lanterns, food, tents, sleeping bags and everything in between that it makes it a whole lot easier just to purchase them all and pack them up so you can keep it all together as you need it.
Storage sheds, closets, garages they are all homes of camping containers and bins, by keeping all your camping gear together you can go grab it and go when planning a camping trip this allows for time saved packing and more time spent in the outdoors.
It is up to you rather you want to purchase the larger items, smaller items or all of it. Any type of camping gear that you purchase is a great investment because it is durable and is made to withstand any type of weather and climate.
Costs, quality time and enjoying the outdoors are just a few of the perks associated with camping. The time spent with your family and friends roughing it are something that you can’t place a price tag on no matter how hard you try.
