The Family Camping Blog

From the "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong" department, we awoke one morning on a recent camping trip to discover that the outside rear tire on our RV was completely flat. It may be a bit difficult to see in this picture, but trust me; there is no air in that tire! Normally this would not be a big issue, as I would just call AAA and they would have someone come out to change the tire. Communication is ubiquitous these days, right? Well, not so fast. We were deep in the mountains and well outside of any mobile phone coverage. As the rest of the family got ready for breakfast, I pondered my options.

One interesting fact about RV’s (trailers and motorhomes) is that they do not come with tire jacks. Because this was the outside tire, though, I thought I might be able to make a ramp for the inside tire, which would effectively raise the outside tire off the ground. I carry a number of stackable leveling blocks, which are used to level the RV on the campsite (the yellow pieces in the picture). Then it dawned on me that I have no idea how to change a dual-tire. Does the outer tire come off by itself?

I ended-up driving the RV down the mountain and into town to get the tire fixed. Being that the inside tire was supporting all of the weight, I kept my speed down to about 25 MPH. It was a long morning, as the nearest tire shop was about 20 miles away. Fortunately, the tire was not damaged and Les Schwab Tires (the greatest tire store in the world!) replaced the metal valve stem on the tire, which had come loose, and had me out the door in an hour, for $19.

Family camping is all about being prepared for any contingency, and I obviously came up short, here. I am going to have to learn how to change these tires and make sure I carry the proper tools for the job.

Posted by Roy Scribner at 05:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

An article out of the Jackson Hole Daily highlights what can happen to bears when people feed them and they learn to equate humans with food.

 

On several occasions in the past two weeks, the brown-colored sub-adult bear had aggressively approached visitors in the Beaver Lake Picnic Area and the Indian Creek Campground, according to a press release. Rangers determined the bear was able to obtain a significant amount of human food.

“The bear was approaching people as they were eating and chasing them away from their picnic,” Nash said.

Repeated efforts by rangers to trap the bear near the picnic area and campground were unsuccessful.  However, it was spotted walking next to a road Wednesday morning, allowing the animal to be successfully darted and captured by park staff members.

The bear, of course, had to be euthenised as it had become too aggressive towards people and it was just a matter of time before a more serious incident might occur.

“Over the years we have worked very hard to educate visitors to their role in storing food safely, which directly results in a successful management of bears,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we don’t have the occasional instance but it is a rarity here.”

In the event that a bear does come in conflict with humans, killing the animal is a last resort, Nash said.

Bears are not normally an animal that the typical camping family should worry about encountering, but there are some normal camping and hiking procedures that should always be followed (for more information, visit the Center for Wildlife Information). First and foremost, just keep your campsite clean. Put food away, either in the on-site food locker or inside an enclosed vehicle and empty all trash containers into the on-site trash bins prior to turning-in for the night. Bears aside, keeping a clean campsite will also keep those pesky racoons at bay! When hiking, keep the family together and make plenty of noise (this should be no problem with the kids!) so that you do not inadvertantly surprise an animal. If you are planning to hike in bear country, carry bear pepper spray (not regular pepper spray - EPA-registered bear spray) and learn how to use it.

Encountering a black bear in the wild is highly unlikely, but like the article demonstrates, there are animals out there that have become used to our food and have lost their natural fear of humans. Taking appropriate precautions is the smart thing to do and it provides a great opportunity to educate your children about the difference between wild and domestic animals.

Posted by Roy Scribner at 07:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I published an article on RV.Net this morning about the Kamp Kaddie, from VacationGadgets.com. I am going to get one of these so that we can get our lantern up off the picnic table, for better light. The fact that it also has paper towel and garbage bag holders is a real plus. The Kamp Kaddie includes different pole-sections for either clamping it to a table, or staking it into the ground. A great camping gadget for the family!

Posted by Roy Scribner at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)