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From a File to a Knife - For Dummies Like Me My apologies first: This is not a tutorial on forging or even on decent knife-making. Nope, this is just for the guys like me that wants to tinker, make something useful and feel happy about it. Unlike real knife forging, what I do is to take away metal from a strip of steel until it looks like a knife and until it can cut reasonably well. The trouble I used to have is to find metal that will stay sharp and is reasonable to work with. We all know a file is hard – really hard. So it will stay sharp very long but it WILL break when abused and it is a real pain to work with because it eats abrasives when you try to shape it.   What to do, what to do?   Allow me to walk you through some tips that work for me: Start with an old file, a broken file or just go buy a cheap file at the hardware-shop. Below is a piece of a file that was left after an experiment, I’ll use this to illustrate the first and probably most important step: heating. Before throwing it in the oven it is a good idea to clean it with a wire-brush to remove old metal shavings or rust. With the metal somewhat more shiny, we can get the oven ready. What oven? That one in the kitchen - be it grill or hot-air. You really do not need more than that old Defy next to the kitchen zink.   What we want is a temperature of 204 degrees Celcius (give or take) or 400 degrees in Fahrenheit. Pre-heat the oven and set it for 2 hours.   After this you will notice the metal has changed color from grey to a golden caramel color. It is a good idea to do this before shaping the file because this treatment will make the metal slightly less hard, less brittle (it is more difficult to break or crack) and allround tougher. Plus it will be a lot easier to grind and shape. It still might not be a good idea to try and file because it might ruin your file, but feel free to try.   Does it need to be cooled in oil or water? Nooo…just let it rest at room temperature till you can handle it by hand. As reference here is a comparison between a normal file and the heated one – notice the color change?   What happens when you heat it too much? Well if you get to the point where it becomes blue or purple, you have created scrap-metal. Without a forge you have no way of repairing what has now become a useless metal piece so be careful when grinding – take it slow! Just for fun and good science I heated it for you guys to show you the nice color you DO NOT WANT TO SEE on your knife. Now you have a piece of metal to play with. How you shape your knife really is up to you and what you have as tools in your shed. I advise a 125mm (5”) angle-grinder, a bench vice or clamps to hold the metal in place, a Dremel is very handy, a wetstone of sorts and/or sandpaper with a 600 grain.   It is handy to fold the sanding paper on a rectangular piece of wood of around 100mm (4”) by 50mm (2”) and say 25mm (1”) thick and use this to sharpen your knife. Feel free to use a finer grid paper, but in reality you are good with 600-grid. I find one of those flappy-discs handy to smooth the sides (bevel) of the blade. I’m not going to tell you how to use your tools or what shape to make the blade into, just go with what you feel and enjoy the process.   Again please take it slow with the grinder because you do not want to heat things too much. (watch out for the pointy bits where the metal is thin because that seems to heat up much- much faster than you might think. When is your knife sharp?   This question is what bugged me for some time and I experimented quite a lot so here’s my non-scientific and non pro tip; After you have shaped your bevel into something that looks like a cutting edge and you are ready to sharpen your knife. Start with one side and smooth it on your wetstone or sanding paper. Stay on that one side until you are happy that it is smooth and it has a straight and flat edge. A tip is to start with strokes length-wise along the side – this will ensure you have a flat surface. When you are comfortable with keeping a steady hand you may try the more usual side to side movement we are all familiar with and have seen in countless clips.   When this one side is done, flip the blade over and get going until the cutting edge starts to feel like business…Go ahead and test it with your finger, we all do it! Does it feel sharp? Awesome! Does it cut a piece of meat or whatever? Great! But can it be sharper? Can it cut paper, can it shave your arm-hair? Well?   Back to that wetstone/paper. After some time you might test it again with your thumb and @#$%! it is not as sharp as it was!!! Well…well done! What has happened is that the cutting edge has made a small fold. Have a look at the picture. This is an exaggerated view of what happened with your blade – THIS IS A GOOD THING!   Flip your blade to the other side and very lightly run that part over your wetstone. (Yea "stropping" is done with leather or porcelain or the polishing wheel of your Dremel but a simple light stroke on the stone really will work the trick.)   This will give you a blade as sharp as it will get.   Remember this is NOT a stainless-steel blade so it WILL rust and stain, but it really do make a very robust and handy tool so treat it as such and be proud of what you made.

A buddy asked me how I braid the handles of my bags and why, so I decided to do a little tutorial. Not a video, because it is a pain to stop-rewind-play to get that ONE detail you missed. I took pics of the important steps that will get you going on your braiding way and help you untangle some of the tricks to it.   Oh why I braid? Apart from it looking good, I feel it makes for and easier carrying bag with a wider strap and softer feel. So let us pretend this orange strap in the photos is the handle of your bag. How would you start? Well let us decide what paracord to use first and then get an idea how much of it we will use. I use 550 Paracord type 3 – the 550 is how much weight it can handle in pounds. This cord is +/- 4mm thick and easy to work with. How much will you use? There are formulas but so many variables so let me just say that 5m is enough. I usually take a bit more than I may use and just cut off what I do not use – paracord really is cheap enough … (And for handles it is also easy enough to join two lengths of off-cut should you need a bit extra cord.)   In pic 3 you can see I joined two lengths of different color cord, I recommend you use one length and let my “joint” be the middle of your length of cord. For the tutorial it is easier to have two colors to show where the ropes go… Start with the cord under and over your strap (this “strap” can really be anything you want to wrap in cord). The braid I’ll use is the Cobra-weave, probably the most common of paracord braiding “knots” and the most recognizable. You can see I have the black cord “under” and the gray cord “over” the strap. From here on a little sentence I repeat: “Over, under the strap and through the eye.” (Yea sounds kinda kindergarden, but it WORKS!) Pic 5 is the “over” part of your sentence. Pic 6 is the “under the strap and through the eye” part. Now here is another little “trick”: See the “bulge” the black cord does in pic 7 on the left side of the strap? That is you next sentence and a handy reference should you become “lost” along the way.   This is your “over, across and under” sentence. (If you manage to bungle your weaving, just untie the cord till you have this little bulge again and then repeat the sentence…)   Pic 8 “Over, across and under.” Under the black cord that is.   Pic 9 “Over, under and through the loop”.   That is black cord over the gray cord, under the strap and through the loop of the gray cord on the opposite side. Tada! Your first pass… Now pull it nice and tight to give you what you see in Pic 10   You will notice the “bulge” is now on the right hand side of the strap. (Yup this will go on like this – left right, left right so it is easy to follow…) So after repeating this a zillion times you end up with a bit of a weave – Pic 11.   By now you have sworn a bit at the cord getting tangled while weaving so here is another tip: You will notice the gray cord always follow the one path of “over across and under” so I just bunch it up to keep it compact and easy to handle. The black cord is the one you get to thread and pull through every time to you need to keep that cord tidy…   With only 5m of cord this is not much of a deal, but if you are adventurous and start on some project that use 30m of cord you are in for a wild time.   So let us pretend this is the end of the strap. See each pass have been pulled nice and tight and bunched up kinda neat. After inspecting your work and relaxing your fingers it is time to cut the ends. You will always end with one end being longer than the other – this is normal. You will notice sometimes the inner core of the cord pops out a bit – this is also normal and you can just trim it a bit with scissors or a knife. I found that where you join two cords it was not always very neat and came up with a way to hide this joint: SHRINK-WRAP! (The kind you use to insulate electrical joints.) Cut a piece of 10 to 15mm and slip it over one end of the cord. Do it NOW or you WILL forget this till after you made the joint – you have been warned.Now it is TIME…to burn your fingers that is. Melt the two ends of the cord with your lighter. It is better not to allow it to ignite the cord but I did it just for “effect”. Do not be afraid that things will cool down too fast – you really do have enough time to do this. Join the two melted ends (try to keep it neat and straight) if you are brave enough you might roll the joint between your fingers to get it flat and in shape (It really does not burn that much). Slip your piece of shrink-wrap over the joint (the piece I used was a bit too short, but you get the idea.) Reach for that lighter again. A word of caution: you do not want to melt or ignite this shrink-wrap so keep the flame some distance away – the heat will let the wrap shrink around the joint. There is the joint nicely wrapped. While it is hot you can give it a bit of and arch by pulling at it. I just hook my finger in the loop and pull, but be careful because the wrapped part would retain some heat and it might burn a bit… and then you have your wrapped handle done! Keep the loop at the end compact – it is a good place to hang a carabiner shackle or key-ring.Here you can see why a bit longer wrapping would have covered the piece of cord that got melted. Source: PacoWarabi (YouTube) Credit: Sandspoor, OneTigris LiFE Ambassador

In theory, a hammock under-quilt allows for better insulation because it hangs a few centimeters below your hammock, not compressed by your bodyweight. The under-quilt also covers both sides of the hammock, providing extra insulation and protection from cold wind. As if by fate, my friend Sebastian called one day and asked if I wanted to join him on a 2 day hiking trip, and I needed to test the OneTigris 3-season Hammock Under-quilt. On the first day of the trip, we hiked until the afternoon in great weather. We wanted to find a good campsite soon because it is much more comfortable to set up a hammock in daytime or it’s easy to miss the perfect pair of trees. Eventually we found a matching spot on a light slope to set up both our hammocks and also to provide cover to hide from officials. Sadly speaking, wild camping is not allowed in Germany and the penalties are costly. The new camo tarp and my coyote brown hammock really helped me to stay hidden. Between the thick vegetation and especially under low light conditions the setup can hardly be noticed from 50 meters away. The setup of the tarp and new hammock under-quilt went smoothly. I was careful to make sure there wasn’t too much tension on the under-quilt. When it was time to sleep, I got in my hammock and the first thing I noticed after about one minute was that my back was warmer than usual. During the next 30 minutes, it got even more comfy in the hammock and I wasn’t cold at all. I slept really well and Sebastian woke up before I did to film me while I slept like a baby. So you can say I am a big fan of hammock under-quilts now! Until next time, Carlos and Leo   Tip from Carlos: One thing people ask me all the time about hammock camping where to put their backpack and their shoes. My suggestion is to tie your backpack to the next tree and use a rain jacket to protect it from rain. I always put some sticks in the ground right next to my hammock and hang my shoes there. This keeps the shoes dry and within easy reach. Credit: Carlos, Germany

It was late July 2017, after a successful but tiring day of hiking myself and my good friend decided to set up camp in a secluded woodland. We soon had the fire lit and had a few beers to celebrate finding such an idyllic area to spend the evening.      Eventually we staggered to our respective hammocks and I fell into a blissful sleep…that was until about 2am, I awoke to a BLOOD CURDDLING SCREAM coming from beneath my friend’s tarp! With it being pitch black and myself still being slightly tipsy I struggled to escape my sleeping bags embrace and fell out of my hammock landing on a heap on the floor! With my friend still screaming I eventually escaped my temporary captivity and preformed the most impressive commando roll even Steven Seagal would’ve nodded in appreciation. As I came out of this feat of superhuman athletic ability I saw my OneTigris first aid pouch and grabbed it so that I may assist my buddy with whatever trauma he may find himself in (still screaming). I cross the 10 meters between us in one leap and stick my head under his tarp, what do I see?   No blood, no wild animals…just him, head torch on still in his sleeping bag swatting at the thousands of ants that were covering him and his gear! I’ve never seen such fear in a man’s eyes! I of course immediately started laughing, eventually I helped him escape this torture and helped him shake out the ants and set up in a different location!   Luckily the only injuries suffered were some bruises from my fall and my friend’s pride! Although my OneTigris first aid pouch wasn’t needed it was there when I thought my friend was close to death and is a constant companion for all my adventures!   Thanks, OneTigris! Credit: James Richards, Survival Dads

Camping can be a time of joy and relaxation, but with one condition: you take the right type of gear! You should also calibrate it according to your trip style because you don’t want to be carrying an unnecessarily heavy backpack up a steep trail!   But I was a beginner camper and adventurer once and I know how easy it is to overpack. With this in mind, I think it’s best to guide you towards choosing one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll ever need in a tent: the camping mattress.   Consider the Make (aka Construction)   You’ll find countless designs on the market, but at the base of them all, there are only three main categories of mattresses (or pads).   The Closed Cell StructureThis one’s basically a sheet of foam with air trapped in each cell to provide some cushioning. It is lightweight, and you can simply hook it up to your backpack, but it is rather bulky if you want to put it inside. It’s also not much of a comfort-maker and it won’t keep the coldness of the ground from creeping into your sleeping bag during the night.I like to use this type of a pad for some extra cushioning and insulation on top of an air mattress. Also, it’s nice to have something to sit on during the day. The Self-Inflating DesignAnother foam design, but with open cell structure this time, self-inflating pads can be rather comfortable. Besides the fact that they are bulky and don’t compress too much, I find them perfect for sleeping in a tent or under the stars (depending on your preferences). Air PadsFinally, these are the luxurious models of camping pads since they provide both good comfort and insulation. The downside is that it’s rather difficult to inflate them (if you don’t want to carry a pump around).So, if you want to make sure you’re getting the best camping air mattress, it should be a model from this category.   Compactness   As I already mentioned, size is an important factor when you have to carry all your tools in a backpack. Therefore, you should first check if your pad folds out or if it can be compressed into a small bag and only afterward think about comfort.   If the pad has a protective cover that’s waterproof, you can simply plate the pad on top of the backpack and secure it using some paracord or a strap. However, if it’s too big, it may become a hindrance as you move through trees or hike on tight trails.   Weight & Size   If it’s designed for camping, a pad will never be too heavy. But, any experienced hiker and camper know that even 100g over your weight limit can become difficult to stomach when you’re tired and still have a few miles to hike.   So, before you decide on taking a new pad, make sure you know your limits. If not, better stick with the weight you know you can manage!   In terms of size, most pads are designed for one or two people. However, if you’re going as a couple or a family, everyone should be carrying their own pad (assuming the kids are old enough to hike and carry their own backpack).   Resistance   There is no way to predict the accidents that may happen on a hiking or camping trip, but you can avoid some of them by thinking ahead. For instance, an air pad may get punctured which means you won’t be able to use the entire surface for your comfort (the air is distributed in several chambers).   On the other hand, both the self-inflating design and the closed-cell one are a lot more resistant to punctures.  This information is important for you to make the right decision when choosing the best pad.   Credit: Will

I enjoyed this mesh tent so much. It is very lightweight, and sets up really fast. I really like the tensioning system for the tent pegs. I put a OneTigris tarp over top and set it up like a Whelen tent that allowed cool breezes to flow from the creek all night long.  I had my headlamp on all night long and I never got bit by a single bug lol. I would love to have a ground cloth to fit the bottom. It would be so freaking awesome if you guys could come up with something like that for a Whelen setup. They look like the old Baker's tents anyway, but I'm getting off the subject lol. I loved it and I'm looking forward to more summertime trips. Oh yeah and I didn't wake up all sticky like other tents.  The only thing I can think of is a zipper in the front in addition to the ones on the side. Maybe a ground sheet and a little bag sewn in for odds and ends out of your pocket while you're sleeping. It is a perfect tent for hot weather and without the tarp got a beautiful view of the sky.  Credit: @jayson parker, 1TG

More pictures on my Facebook review. These OneTigris bags are amazing! They are lightweight, water resistant. I have tested them by submerging them and only a little hole at the top of the zipper let's water in. Other than that they're almost completely waterproof. They come clean very easily. If you get them in mud. Bag #2 would be awesome if you can add a strap to the bag. It is now my emergency kit for my jeep. I keep a emergency backpack inside just in case I need to grab it. The bag is so amazing it holds almost everything that I need for survival. I would recommend these bags to anybody and they're a great price. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please ask and I will do my best to answer. Make sure you remember the rule of three's 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.  Credit: @jayson parker, 1TG

The Ideal Hammocking TarpA few wet nights walking the South Downs Way gave me the ideal opportunity to test The OneTigris tarp.You may not have heard of OneTigris but I’m sure you will be hearing a lot more of them in the future. I have had a few small OneTigris items and always found them to be high-quality pieces of kit.Camo Waterproof Tarp I was looking at the OneTigris website and saw this tarp. It is not a square or a rectangle but a hexagon which means that it can have a 4m. ridgeline which tapers down. This means that the tarp can cover the head and foot of your hammock with the minimum amount of material.My first impressions when the tarp arrived was that it was a very lightweight (just over 510g.) but the 15D ripstop nylon fabric with dual silicone coating looked strong.It comes with a carrying bag, 6 red guy lines with reflective speckles (3mm x 4m), 6 black guyline adjusters and 6 red aluminium Y-stakes. The Y stakes are small and have a hole in the top through which I threaded thin paracord to make them easier to pull out of the ground.The ridgeline has three tabs as well as two tabs at each end. This is more than most tarps and makes it more versatile. There is a seam running the length of the ridgeline and it is not taped or seam sealed which made me wonder how waterproof it would be. I noticed later, on the website, that OneTigris recommends using seam seal. I did not have time to do this before my trip.The camo reminded me of Auscam and the colours are quite light.My walk was going to be quite discreet so I exchanged the reflective cord for green paracord. I took the Y stakes as I knew they would be almost completely hidden in the ground and I could further hide them with leaf litter.On my first night, I encountered a badger on my way to my chosen bivi site. I set up in the rain. Set up was easy and I was soon undercover. As I lay in my hammock I really appreciated the 4m length which completely covered me, giving total protection from the rain. I was slightly worried that I had not had time to use seam seal. Would I stay dry throughout the night?I needn’t have worried. After a good nights sleep, I woke up completely dry, as was all my kit.The second night, also raining, I evaluated the effectiveness of the camo. I think the best camo for northern temperate woodland in summer is the no longer issued DPM – in the dry at least. When it wets out it gets very dark and becomes less effective. The multi-cam designs, including the British MTP are always a compromise. I was really surprised at how well the OneTigris camo performed, particularly against the leaf litter and with light filtering through the canopy. The colour hardly changed when the fabric got wet and in fact improved. Again I remained completely dry.Conclusions: Because of its innovative design this is the best tarp for use with a hammock I have used or seen on offer anywhere else. The tarp performed brilliantly but I will seam seal it just to give myself the confidence that it will perform perfectly when exposed to prolonged heavy rain over several days. The tarp is hemmed with a tough, black material which strengthens the tarp but is not camo. I will let you know how it fares over time. But for the moment I can thoroughly recommend this tarp. Look at all the other good stuff they have on the website https://www.onetigris.com/ Credit: @Ravachol, 1TG

Credit: @UglyTent, 1TG  OneTigris SLEDGEHAMMER Sling Pack  Credit: @UglyTent, 1TG

Credit: @UglyTent, 1TG

#1 The most common and easiest setup that allows the setup of a hammock or tent within.Step 1. Find a good spot and make sure the trees for the setup are distanced in an ideal way for accommodating the tent/hammock and tarp.Step 2. First fix up the tent/hammock and make sure a) Guylines and carabiners are properly fastened b) Hammock is hanging at the ideal height.Step 3. Set up the tarp 4'' (10cm) above the tent/hammock and make sure at least all 4 corners of the tarp are staked to the ground, to maintain its shape and offer good wind and rain protection. OneTigris RAIN FLY Camping Tarp #2Similar to setup #1, but a simple shelter with or without a tent, that works in not only forests but bush-camping and on plains too.Setup A. Find two trees and setup up the tarp with guylines and staked corners, either with proper tent pegs or wooden stakes, for good wind and rain protection.Setup B. Not suitable for rainy and/or windy weather conditions. Use two alpenstocks or wooden stakes 3.9-4.9ft (1.2-1.5m) instead of trees. Same setup as above. #3A temporary shelter that is near identical to #2 but offers more light.  #4This setup and #5 and #6 are similar and suitable for forest environments and autumn/winter seasons when there are fewer insects on the ground. This setup is ideal for sitting on the tarp floor with a campfire in front of you for warmth.Step 1. Divide your tarp into three portions and use guylines to fix up the "roof". Make sure the "wall" is leeward, opposite the wind.Step 2. Peg or spread out the bottom section on the ground, so that the tarp forms a C-shaped shelter.  Credit: Bushcraft USA​ #5This setup and #6 are the same but the former is fixed to the ground with stakes and the the latter is with tent pegs. It is a very simple temporary shelter for the wind or sun and is NOT recommended for when you camp overnight.Step 1. Spread out your tarp and fix the top two corners with guylines to two trees.Step 2. Tilt the tarp at a 45° and fix the remaining two corners on the ground with wooden stakes. #6This setup and #5 are the same but the former is fixed to the ground with tent pegs and the the latter is with stakes. It is a very simple temporary shelter for the wind or sun and is NOT recommended for when you camp overnight.Step 1. Spread out your tarp and fix the top two corners with guylines to two trees.Step 2. Tilt the tarp at a 45° and fix the remaining two corners on the ground with tent pegs.  #7This setup and #8 and #9 are similar in method but serve different purposes. The simplest of the three using tent pegs or stakes for pinning the tarp to the ground. It's a temporarly shelter for one night max; take care to build the walls on the lee side for good wind and rain shelter. #8This setup and #7 and #9 are similar in method but takes the longest to complete. It is suitable for winter and colder weather conditions, including snowy environments, and is ideal for lengthier stays.  #9An advanced version of #8, using your own tent poles or sturdy branches onsite. This setup offers the best wind protection. Credit: Wilderness Innovation​ #10The pyramid setup that is highly popular among outdoorsmen and women. Setup methods differ but the most common is by using a long hiking cane to form the tip of the structure while pinning the corners to the ground. Opt for a slanted doorway pulling the flapped entrance to the opposite direction (see picture on the right below) with guylines.    THINGS TO NOTE IN THE WILDNESS! ▲Check the weather▲Respect all wildlife▲Leave no trash behind▲Put down your phone▲Let others know you are heading out▲Know the nearest place to get help▲Bring items for self-protection THINGS TO PACK FOR THE WILDNESS!

If you are a camping enthusiast, but are getting tired of having to eat the normal camp food, then you need to be well acquainted with the Dutch oven. Carrying along your Dutch oven for your next camping trip will ensure that you get to enjoy gourmet food even though you are far away from your kitchen. Dutch ovens are ideal for camping because the pots evenly distribute heat, which means you will not end up burning your favorite dishes. The following are a variety of Dutch oven recipes that you can easily prepare while camping. 1.   Dutch oven Pull Aparts (Bacon and Cheddar Cheese) Imagine having bacon while camping! Sounds like a dream come true for most bacon lovers/camping enthusiasts. With a Dutch oven, making bacon-infused meals is a breeze. For instance, you can make pull apart of bacon and cheddar cheese using a Dutch oven. This recipe is easy to prepare and it is very scrumptious. Cooking the bacon may take some time to prepare (1). However, you can cook it ahead of time before you leave home, slice it, and then preserve in the refrigerator. After getting everything in the Dutch oven, you will need to let the dough rise (2). 2.   Bacon and Cheese Egg Pie Prepared in a Dutch oven When you want a hearty and savory breakfast, a Dutch Oven Quiche made from bacon and cheese can be just the trick. This is an easy recipe, which you can make even easier by prepping in the house before you leave for your camping trip. For instance, it is advisable to cook the bacon at home, cut it up into small pieces, and then place them in an appropriate container (3). You should do the same thing for the bell pepper. Furthermore, beating the eggs and mixing it with the sour cream and storing them appropriately will also save you some prep time when you are making the meal (4). 3.   Dutch oven Cinnamon Rolls Wrapped in Bacon This is probably the simplest recipe you can make over a Dutch oven while camping. There is hardly any prep required, which makes it convenient when trying to cook in a camp zone (5, 6). The recipe takes approximately 35 minutes in total to cook. 4.   Dutch oven Campfire Biscuits The Dutch oven campfire biscuits are a great meal for breakfast while camping. They provide the required energy for the day ahead (7) especially when accompanied with gravy. They are also easy to prepare.  5.   Dutch oven Cinnamon Rolls with Blueberries When doing the baking of the rolls, one should make the frosting. (8) 6.   Dutch oven Burritos This recipe can feed 8 people, making it the ideal breakfast meal for the campgrounds (9). They are a perfect idea, especially when preparing for a crowd. 7.   Cheesecake Dutch oven Recipe This is a simple recipe to prepare and can be eaten even by people who are not so much into sweet foods. The Dutch oven cheese case is scrumptious and surprisingly easy to make when using premade crust in an aluminum foil pie tin (10, 11). Please note that you will need to use two Dutch ovens for this recipe. 8.   Dutch oven Grecian Chicken. This dish too can be prepared ahead of time much like the other dishes too and the chicken stored in a cooler until you are ready to cook (12, 13). The only real work in this recipe is perhaps just the stuffing of some lemons and garlic into the chicken and seasoning. 9.   Dutch Oven Chicken Enchilada Pie Cook the chicken ahead of time, with the onions, squash, green peppers, and spices. Add the drained corn and black beans and head that up. Put all that in a container and store in the cooler (14, 15). 10. Dutch oven Herbed Chicken and Pasta This is a good meal when out camping or when undergoing outdoor activities. It brings the feeling of a real meal breaking from the normal junk food normally taken during such activities (16). 11. Dutch oven Pizza for Breakfast. You can prepare the garlic, the sauce, the mushrooms, and onions early on and then put them in an appropriate container. The eggs can also be beaten, spiced, and put in a Ziploc bag for easy storage (17, 18). 12. Dutch oven Enchilada Casserole The Dutch oven enchilada casserole is easy to cook and is a marvelous dish to enjoy while camping (19). 13. Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls in Gooey Caramel It only takes 30 minutes to prepare this meal. One of the most important meals of the day is a good, nutritious breakfast and one can never go wrong with cinnamon rolls (20). For this meal, it is advisable to do some prior preparation at home in order to reduce the time of preparation in the campsite. 14. Dutch oven Beef Stroganoff This is an easy and quick meal to make. It dates back to traditional Russia (21). The following recipe makes about 8-10 servings. 15. Jalapeno Dutch oven Crusty Bread This may take some time to prepare but it is sure worth the time (22). 16. Dutch oven Shrimp Jambalaya For this Jambalaya, at least 10 gray coals on the bottom and 20 on the top are recommended to keep it around 350 degrees. It is a down south classic and is perfect for fall or spring camping (23, 24). 17. Dutch oven Lemon-Blueberry Biscuits If you prefer not to bring all your supplies to the campsite, just ease up the work by creating the biscuit mixture ahead of time and storing it in the cooler within the Ziploc bag (25). 18. Dutch Oven Monkey Bread with Cinnamon This recipe is simple enough to do at the campsite and therefore ahead of time preparation is not necessary (26). 19. Dutch Oven Chocolate-topped Peanut Butter Bacon These peanut butter bacon bars are easy to make and only use seven ingredients (27,28). 20. Dutch oven Pigs in a Blanket This recipe requires chopped mini-smoked sausage links although one could also use crumbled sausage. You can prepare ahead of time by cooking and chopping the sausages then mixing the egg mixture (29). You can also prepare pancakes ahead of time and freeze them. It usually works best with 12 coals around the bottom and 18 coals around the top of the Dutch oven. 21. Pizza Pie in a Dutch oven Methods have developed to overcome challenges such as preventing the sauce from combining with the dough and producing a crust that can be frozen and reheated without becoming rigid (30). 22. Dutch oven Pork Chops Easy preparation is a major factor for a camping recipe and this meal makes cooking when camping a walk in the park. Adding croutons to the recipe gives it the flavor alongside with the creaminess added by the mushroom sour cream (31). 23. Dutch oven Barbecue Pulled Chicken Sandwiches The advantage of this meal is that all you do is prepare the ingredients and let the oven do all the other work for 90 minutes (32). 24. Dutch Oven Ravioli For those who are fond of Italian dishes, you are definitely sure to love this recipe, which apart from being unbelievably easy to make, provides an excellent, hearty meal loaded with carbohydrates (33). 25. Dutch Oven-baked Salmon This Dutch oven salmon bake takes just less than a half an hour. There is barely any clean up after making it. One can spice this recipe up by adding a little lemon pepper or lemon juice (35). 26. Dutch oven Brownie You can get all your batter ready at home and keep it chilled in a cooler (36). 27. Dutch oven Super Sloppy Joes These are always a good choice for a quick, delicious meal, whether for lunch or for dinner. This recipe is a scrumptious Dutch oven sloppy Joe, which can use practically any source of heat (37). What one needs is just browned meat and vegetable added to the rest of the ingredients and simmered for about an hour, which can do beforehand (38). 28. Dutch oven Southwestern Fiesta Chicken This is a great meal for camping. The best timing being when it is cool. One of its advantages during camping is that it involves pouring in canned ingredients which will save you time and be easy during your camp (39). 29. Dutch oven Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup This stuffed bell pepper soup is also a great recipe for a home for doing lots of preparation work and just throwing in all the ingredients in after the hamburger is cooked (40, 41). 30. Dutch Oven Potato-stuffed Sausage Stuffed sausages and potato boats are very easy to make, especially when you use the mashed potatoes, which are already prepared (42). You can still make your own mashed potatoes but for camping, it is best to just keep things simple (43). 31. Dutch oven Stuffed French Toast Rolls This is a good breakfast meal whose only real preparation work is getting everything together in the night before and keeping the Dutch oven and the bag of toppings in the cooler overnight to let things set (44, 45). 32. Dutch oven Triple Berry Camp Cobbler The topping accompanies this cobbler by which quick and easy to prepare. Some cold buttermilk biscuits cut up and brown sugar would do, laid on top of the fruit mix (46). The ease of this cobbler recipe comes in its use of refrigerated biscuit dough. 33. Dutch over Potatoes with Cheese This dish serves as a very good side dish for almost any meal. It is simple and fun to make when camping although it is full of everything not so healthy (47). You can do some preparations at home to reduce the work when camping by cooking and crumbling the bacon and chopping the potatoes and onions before heading out for camping (48). 34. Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast This is a great meal to start you off in the morning. It consists of sausages, hash browns, and eggs. There is a serving of 6-8 plates (49). 35. Dutch oven Sausage and Hash Browns The sausage and hash brown breakfast bars provide you with the chance of cutting up the veggies and even pre-cooking the sausage and bacon if you would like (50). Find the ingredients & methods at Jen Reviews!

Yes, it is absolutely one of the best and the strongest cardiovascular activity which offers you with tons of health benefits for your body including strengthening and muscle toning, improve endurance and boosting your overall stamina. Even opting for a short day hike can boost up your energy levels and this, in turn, will help you get more sleep during night hours. Hiking in the Mother Nature will also help to lower the chances that you over-think negative experiences as well as emotions. When checked with the medical experts to rate the sleep-promoting activities, hiking banged the first place, leaving behind many other popular sports like callisthenics, squash, downhill skiing, basketball and so on. You can also reduce your stress levels with active hiking in nature, breathing the fresh air. This is the only way to unplug you from the wi-fi world and connect with the nature to experience peace of mind and a good sense of well-being. Even a short hike can bring you lots of fun and entertainment if planned well. You can check out the below mentioned 23 ways of hiking which benefit your health. Find more detailed benefits of hiking from riderstrail.com. Going hiking anytime soon?  Make sure you've got all the gear you need: Backpack, waterbottle, tarp, flask, head scarf... 

Initiation: Guilin, GuangxiA friend of mine who plays with fire for crowds to see. Her dream is to travel around the world. First stop: Dali, YunanMy hometown turned tourist spot. It used to be all beauty and sunshine, now it’s polluted with human activity. I’m posting old pictures instead as this is how Dali should be. Second stop: Lijiang, YunanNakhi people were the first settlers here all the way back in Sung Dynasty (960-1279AD). It’s an ancient city drenched with history, culture, and amazing landscape. Third stop: Shangri-La, YunanFrom 2000 meters above sea level to 3200. The road to Shangri-La is steep, narrow and winding, and is a 320 kilometer drive. After much motion sickness and unavoidable retching, we finally reach Napa Sea and camp aside it, as there are no hostels in sight. In this majestic land, you feel the “wild” of the Tibetan land, its rugged men and strong women everywhere you go. Fourth stop: Deqin, TibetA world surrounded by holy mountains. If you ever travel to Tibet, see if you can visit the 4 holy mountains of Tibetan Buddhism - Kawagarbo, Kailash, Amne Machin, and Gaduojuewu Snow. The weather and road conditions here can be monstrous so inexperienced travelers, beware. Fifth stop: Yanjing, Tibet100 kilometers that took 4 hours of driving to complete. Only one checkpoint every 100 kilometers. It’s cold and alien and I took zero pictures here. Sixth stop: Dongda Mountain, Tibet5130 meters above sea level. My companions threw up a nightmare and used up more than half of our oxygen supply. The breathtaking sights make up for it though. Seventh stop: Bome, TibetTook a weekly shower and took a break from driving while we stopped in Bome, also known as little Switzerland. The Tibetans love to dance in a wild and reckless way, bursting with life and love for rhythm. I danced too. Eighth stop: NyingchiBack to 2500 above sea level where one could finally manage to breathe without feeling like dying. My companions say they feel like they are in a lounge bar, being served oxygen. Ninth stop: LhasaWe pay our respects to the Potala Palace, Qokang Monastery, the White Monastery… Religions aside, I see calmness in the Buddha. There is an absence of joy, fear, anger, sadness. As the expression is as still as the calmest waters, you see your own reflection instead, and you see how troubled the world is on this side of the mirror. Tenth stop: Kashgar, XinjiangAlong the way you see miniature villages that shy away from public roads. The rivers are small and quiet, and the scattered family-owned restaurants are quaint and humble too. Eleventh stop: Tingri, TibetWe visited small villages that we couldn’t even find the names of on maps. For a moment, we also disappeared on all maps. Twelfth stop: Hor, TibetNo words can describe the beauty and images only capture the smallest portion of it. Indescribable. Thirteenth stop: Zanda, TibetThe ancient Guge Kingdom began and ended here but their ghosts still linger. What we see now are the skeletons of the land with no traces of its vanished past. Fourteenth stop: Sengge River, TibetMy head hurts like hell. I can faintly see India on the other side of Pangong Lake through the headaches. No Man’s Land, KashgarThere are wolves on either side of the roads and not a human soul in sight. It is even more haunting with the 5 mountains to go around in pitch darkness. Final stop: Dahong LiutanI make it through no man’s land and arrive at Dahong Liutan at 4am to fuel up the car. Less worried about gas. The red flickering dots behind barbed wires in the nighttime are those of wolves’ hungry eyes. It is physically and emotionally exhausting. An abrupt stop in my journal but I will continue on the road again soon. This is only half of my trip but it’s been 30 days and I need to lay down my dusty body on clean linens and let all the images run through my mind again. Bye for now, folks. If you see me on the road, come say hi over coffee.

Joel Buhia is a simple and passionate outdoor adventurer. Since the age of 4, he's been bonding with natue and educating himself about Bushcraft and Survival. Here is a brief Q&A between OneTigris and this adventurer: Credit@Joel Bohia THINGS YOU SHOULD CARRY ON YOU WHILE CAMPING "The ultimate gear required in the great outdoors is a KNIFE". A knife can help a person survive the wild outdoors. But for the modern outdoor men and women, what you need is simply to put together a survive kit... Some ideas: - Haversack or Backpack - Knife - Shelter (Tarp is best!) - Cooking Kit & Stainless Water Bottle) - Fire Kit - Navigation Kit - First Aid Kit - Signaling Kit (S.O.S. Kit) - Cordage (Bank lines or Paracord) - Bandana - Proper Outdoor Clothings Ultimate Requirements: - Knowledge & Experience. WE NEED CAMPING, NO MORE EXCUSES! For Joel camping is a state of mind. It's a great opportunity for the busy and weary to sit back, relax and enjoy the peaceful moment in the wild outdoors. A simple way of switching off all walks of life in the modern world and get back to basics. Listening to the sound of nature calms you down from within and the benefits of being outside and living life to the fullest is seriously unmatched. We all need to find time to go into the wild. No more excuses. BASIC ADVICES  FOR ANY ADVENTUROUS MINDS 1. Locate the ideal campsite, safe campsite, basic resources around the campsite (ex. Fresh water source and wild edibles). 2. Study the campsite that you are going to be in by simply doing some research or by simply asking the country park management centre and the people who have been there. 3. Know your capabilities, limits and also your personal gear. 4. Awareness on personal hygiene. 5. Basic knowledge of Wildlife and safety. For example: Basic camp setups, rules in your country parks and the season, how to use navigation equipments, etc. 6. Be prepared for the unexpected and know how to get out of the situation in a calm and systematic way. 7. Beginners should never venture the wild solo. Having a companion with good orientation skills is necessary.   Many thanks to Joel! Now, are YOU ready to go into the wild?

SHTF preparations User Golgo13 From survivalistboards forum shared his experience when SHTF hit his country. He said everything was falling apart. He escaped his hometown, travelled city to city with his father because of the massive chaos that happened to his country. When they got to their new destination, trying to start a new life, the situation wasn’t what they expected. War was still coming their way. Once more they needed to run away as far as possible. They finally end up as refugees in another country. After living this SHTF this is what he said ”This is only a small piece of what I've experienced, and it's still difficult till today to talk about other things I've seen. I hope it gives people a glimpse of what might happen and get inspired to take some precautions.” SHTF – Stuff hits the Fan. It means that some kind of catastrophic event has happened. (Natural disaster, financial collapse, terrorist attack etc) They all can have a major disruptive affect on our lives. Being prepared for any of these events will help you and your family to face this issues and come out on the other end safely and able to handle post disaster situations. Few reminders for your SHTF preparations - Put together a 72-Hour Grab-and-Run Every family should have at least one Grab-and-Run kit that can be thrown in the car on a moment’s notice, or carried on your back, if the need should arise. - Formulate a disaster plan whether you will bag in our bug out. When a disaster happen you need to ask yourself are you going to leave your home or not? What are you going to do? Do you know where you’re gonna go and how you’re gonna get there? The fact is that something could happen someday that could cause you to have to leave your home. Plan for it, come out with a plan because you need to assess the situation ,grab your equipment and gather your thoughts before you do anything. Your plan should also include your contacts (relatives, family friends, etc.) and a central meeting place where your family should meet if separated and local communications are cut. In case you decided to bug in,make sure you have all the necessities supply to keep you and your family safe. Preparations list Remember the whole key to survive a disaster is a prior planning and practice. Make sure that everyone in your family needs to not only know what to do when a disaster happen but they need to know also under what circumstances they should do what they need to do in order to survive.

My Doctor Prescribed Adventure To Cure What Ailed Me And It Was The Best Thing Cure Ever My Doctor told me I needed to turn my life around. I worked in a high-stress job doing Field Service work for a major Fortune 500 company. I went to the doctor for a checkup, and he said I needed to do something else for a while or die. But instead, of giving me a prescription for a pill, he prescribed I get away from it all and go adventuring with my family. This was the strangest thing I had ever heard of. I showed the script to my wife and she, at first laughed it off. But, she looked at the condition I was in, and I was out of shape, I was sleeping too much, and I was irritable.   Fortunately, I had a lot of vacation time, and we had saved money for holidays we never took. So, we gathered the kids together and told them we were going on an adventure. They weren't too keen on the idea. In fact, my daughter could raise her eyes above her Smartphone. My boy was antsy wanting to get back to his MMORPG game on the Internet. So, we decided for them we were taking to the adventure trail, and in the last three years we have been to more places and seen more things that have changed my entire family's outlook on life. My health is better than ever, and I toned down; the wife is smiling more and is tanned. The kids are now active and do not spend so much time sitting immersed in the Virtual World. It's all because we decided to go places and do things we never imagined before and the places we have seen and done so far might surprise you. Camping in Ceylon   I never understood why Camping is a great outdoor activity for families until our first outing and we went to Ceylon. My kids did not even know where the place was and I admit I was vague on the subject as well, nevertheless, after we had talked it over with our travel agent and got on a plane. (A number of them it turned out) Once we landed in Sri Lanka, once we left the airport we saw a world we never dreamed of. We got to make camp in a jungle where flowering tropical plants rose to fantastic heights, and the scent of perfume was in the air. Birds of almost any hue you could image flutter about and sit on branches seemingly unafraid of the interlopers in their midst. We met a whale when we hit the beach and took an aquatic tour on a bunch of 50-gallon drums lashed together to make a raft. Also, my son got to pet a dolphin. It seems they come close to shore and even help fishermen with their catch and both share in the fruits of their labor. Though, lately, the Dolphins are getting the short end of the stick as they are being poached in large numbers. However, when we were there, they were not afraid of man and often you could see them and people swimming together. When we came home, we were tired but we all were bronzed, and I had lost 10 pounds, and we were already planning our next outing. Trek in Sri Lanka Since we had so much fun in Ceylon, we decided to try our luck in Sri Lanka again the following year. This time we decided to meet the animals up close and personal. There were bicycle tours that let us travel around the island that was once home to 2001 creator Arthur C. Clark. We saw Shaman walk on fire and I tried it as well. I don't know what that old guy did. But, I and the rest of the group made it across the hot coals without as much as getting a blister.   We then went to meet some of the largest land animals on the planet, and my wife and daughter rode an elephant for the first time. My son had his picture taken with a monkey, and I got to indulge in some of the best food I have ever eaten. By the way, they got some large spotted cats there as well, and I blundered into one while I was answering the call of nature. I was startled, to say the least as this doesn't happen in downtown Chicago. The cat looked at me once, licked its paw and casually sundered away. I was able to snap a pic with my iPhone, as I knew the kids wouldn't believe me without proof. Needless to say, I was more careful about leaving the bike path after that. This second trip to Asia ended as a resounding success. We came home with mementos and memories that beat playing on the computer, texting and surfing the net. Meet a Tiger in Thailand Our 3rd trip we decide to go all the way to Thailand. In Bangkok, I once again got my fill of delicious and exotic cuisine. The wife and the kids tried it and liked the heat of the spices that actually make you cool. My wife is now addicted to the Thai Iced Coffee and we now go to Thai restaurants here in the states that serve it. We went to the Elephant Park and once again met the Asian elephant. These were retired work animals and the place game them a home to live out their golden years. However, a short trip away from Bangkok we were to the Tiger reservation. Here my son got to hold a baby tiger, and I had to tell him we couldn't take it home with us on the plane. My daughter was very brave, got to ride a tiger, and even had her picture getting her face licked by her ride afterward. We then headed south to Lanta Koh a few hours by boat from Krabi, a small coastal town that is the gateway to the many islands near Thailand. The kids swam and snorkeled while dad sat under an umbrella with an iced drink in his hand. I lost touch with the wife as she and a Thai lady she went shopping for textiles, which are the mainstay industry of the island, and she came away with a suitcase full of new clothes. At night we feasted on freshly caught fish taken from the waters just off where we were, staying, my son and I learned how to spear fish in a small village where the people there are called the "Kings of the Sea." I saw sharks and other large fish that I could not identify. But, the locals seem oblivious of the sharks and they, in turn, ignored them. Too soon, our time was up, and we had to bid adieu to Thailand. However, with so much we have not seen or done, we are even thinking of buying a vacation/retirement home there as the laws now allow Americans to take 30-year leases that are renewable. So, that gets around the "Thai Only" land ownership, and that is making retiring in Thailand one of the best deals around lately.   Adventure and Family Travels Are the Best Prescription My doctor smiles when I walk in for my checkups and asks about my adventures. My heath has improved my health, and my outlook on my life has changed. I am calmer, and I do not feel stressed out anymore. So, if the world, job, and its problems are getting you down. Don't wait until you doctor warns you about your health. Pack up the family and see for yourself why adventure activities are great for the soul, mind, and your health. Author Bio: I'm Tomothy Jackson, a founder of BeastRoar, an adventure, survival writer. I want to help readers by sharing my experiences camping, trekking, hiking and fishing. I hope to inspire others to fully explore the depths of their passion.

Why is it that food tastes so much better when you’re camping? Is it the clean air? Being around friends and family? The smell of the fire and the sounds of the wilderness? Or perhaps it’s a combination of everything. Whatever it is, we love it! And I’m guessing you’re here because you love it too! Below we will give you a basic introduction to campfire cooking and some delicious recipes to get you started on your next trip. INITIAL TIPS There are a lot of things to consider when planning out your meals for your camping trip: What equipment do I have? How many people am I cooking for? How long will I be gone? One of the first things you may want to decide is how much work you want to do while camping. Big, extravagant meals can be enjoyable but don’t forget that you have to clean up afterwards! Simple, one-pan meals can taste just as great and you’ll have less to do after. Another thing to consider is how much pre-preparations you want to do before you get to the site. One of my favorite things to do is cook something at home, freeze it, then thaw and eat at the campground. This is great because you can use the frozen food as an ice-block in your cooler. Do you ever camp with a large group of people? Have a meal with them and put them to work! When my family goes camping, we always have a big pancake breakfast with other families. Depending on how many people come, we make assignments such as who cooks the bacon and sausage, who bring butter and syrup, and who brings orange juice and fruit. A very important thing to remember is wildlife. You must make sure your food is secure when you’re not looking. Are there bears where you’re camping? You do not want one of those guys tearing up your campsite while you (try to) sleep, so put your food in a bear canister. Even if there are no bears, it’s a good idea to clean up after yourself before you go to bed. Raccoons can make a large mess too. And finally, if you’re trying a new recipe, don’t forget to print it out! What types of food should I bring? There are a few important questions to ask when choosing the type of food you want to bring. How much weight can you carry? If you’re car camping, this question comes down to how much room you have in the car. If you can fit a larger cooler in the back, you will be able to get away with more. If you have to carry the food on your back, you obviously can’t bring a big cooler, so you will need to plan accordingly. How much energy will I be using? When you’re camping, you’ll likely be moving around much more than normal: setting up camp, going on hikes, etc. Make sure you bring enough food and snacks to get you through the trip. Can’t I just have S’Mores for every meal? Sure you could – but you’ll probably regret it. If you eat smart by incorporating some fruits, vegetables, and protein into your meals, you’ll be able to enjoy more of the trip. Where am I camping? Remember that at higher altitudes water boils at a lower temperature. This means that boiled food will take longer to cook, so maybe pass on that big bag of pasta. OPEN FIRE COOKING   Using a campfire to cook your meals is lot of fun, but you have to be prepared. The first thing you need to ask yourself is am I allowed to have an open flame at the campsite I am going to? You can find this information by checking out campground websites or calling the campground ranger. If you are unsure, I would suggest bringing a stove as a backup way to cook your food. Another thing to consider is what equipment you have – over-fire grills, skewers, cast iron skillets, pie irons, Dutch ovens (covered in the next section). You will also see that you can do quite a lot with only aluminum foil. Just make sure you have a safe way to get your food out of the fire! 19 AWESOME OPEN FIRE RECIPES Breakfast 1. Campfire Bacon (zestuous.com) This may not be the fastest way to cook your bacon, but its fun, unique, and will give it a nice, smoky taste. 2. Foil Packet Blueberry Breakfast Bake (terrafirmaadventures.com) There are quite a lot recipes you can make with the use of aluminum foil and fire. This is our first one. 3. Campfire Orange Blueberry Muffins (apronstringsblog.com) I know, I know – two blueberry muffin recipes in a row, but these look so good! 4. Lumberjack Breakfast (echoesoflaughter.ca) Customization is a great way to make camping meals fun for everyone. Here is our first recipe that each person can add his or her own special touch to 5. Campfire Breakfast Burrito (alaskafromscratch.com) I’m a big fan of Mexican food, so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it Lunch 6. Campfire Sandwiches (foodloversrecipes.com) As the author of this recipe puts it, “plenty of people eat homemade macaroni and cheese while camping, but how many make it over a campfire?” 7. Camp Cooker Pizza (twindragonflydesigns.com) This one requires a camp cooker, a tool that can add some fun to cooking your meals. It’s always so relaxing to cook while staring into a fire 8. Campfire Pizza Nachos (cookingwithjanica.com) What more do you need in life than a campfire to sit around and a plate of nachos? 9. Campfire Spinach Dip (twindragonflydesigns.com) Sometimes at lunch, you just want to snack on chips and dips. Try this Dinner 10. Baked Potatoes (echoesoflaughter.ca) This recipe is similar to the campfire sandwich, but uses a baked potato rather than a loaf of bread 11. Campfire Paella (zestuous.com) Another great, customizable, aluminum-foil recipe 12. Shish Kebab (reserveamerica.com) This link offers six shish kebab recipes and tips on cooking preparations 13. Ember Roasted Corn and Leaks (bonappetit.com) This is one of the most straightforward campfire recipes, as you can put the corn and leeks directly on the coals without even aluminum foil Desserts 14. Campfire S’Mores Granola (thebigmansworld.com) There are a lot of S’Mores recipes out there, such using peanut butter cups as your chocolate source. Here’s one that uses aluminum foil and granola 15. Banana Boat (tasteofhome.com) If you’re new to campfire cooking, I think banana boats are a great place to start 16. Campfire Cones (hip2save.com) This is another variation on s’mores, just make sure you pack the cones carefully so you don’t break them! 17. Camp Fire Monkey Bread (saynotsweetanne.com) A nice treat for dessert or breakfast 18. Campfire Breadsticks (shockmunch.com) Add cinnamon and sugar if you like it sweet! 19. Campfire Pies (andreasrecipes.com) If you’re bringing your camp cooker, you’ve got to make this! COOKING WITH A DUTCH OVEN The Dutch oven is an excellent camping tool because you can cook almost anything in it, there isn’t much cleanup, and it doesn’t require much work. The thickness of the cast iron decreases heat loss and ensures even cooking. One thing that can be frustrating about a Dutch oven is not knowing what temperature the oven is at. According to dutchovendude.com, a good way to estimate the temperature is to remove the lid and place your hand over the top until it is too hot to keep it there. He states that, “it is about 50 degrees per second counting down from 550, so I just count – “550, and 500, and 450…”If you’re new to using Dutch ovens, I suggest checking out this helpful video from CampCookingTV: https://youtu.be/5J9amg4LHwY OUR TOP 13 DUTCH OVEN RECIPES Breakfast 1. Gooey Caramel Cinnamon Rolls (http://50campfires.com) I wouldn’t recommend this the morning of a hike, but it certainty is delicious! 2. Dutch Oven Breakfast Bars (http://50campfires.com) This recipe is much more suited for a hiker. 3. Campfire Breakfast (http://www.legendsofamerica.com) A straight forward breakfast that covers all the basics: eggs, potatoes, and bacon. Lunch 4. Dutch Oven Pizza (http://whatscookingamerica.net) Whatscookingamerica.com recommends using pre-made crust rather than doing it yourself. 5. Dutch Oven Sweet Honey Corn Bread (http://www.theironflame.com) Eat as a snack, or if you are using multiple Dutch ovens, pair with one of our recommended dinners. 6. Easy Dutch Oven Sloppy Joes (http://50campfires.com) This recipe is great for lunch or dinner. Dinner 7. Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup in Dutch Oven (http://50campfires.com) Soups are the perfect things to cook in a Dutch oven – throw in whatever you want! 8. Campfire Beans (http://patch.com) Channel your inner cowboy with this Dutch oven bean recipe: 9. Dutch Oven Pork Chops and Potatoes (http://50campfires.com) Another meal that will fill you up after a long day of hiking and fun. 10. Chicken Pot Pie (http://www.legendsofamerica.com) This website has several Dutch oven recipes. Check out the chicken potpie! Desserts 11. Peach & Berry Cobbler (http://50campfires.com) Unwind with this easy and delicious cobbler recipe. 12. Dutch Oven Cheesecake Recipe (http://50campfires.com) Cheesecake while camping? Why not? 13. Dutch Oven Peanut Butter Bacon Chocolate Bars (http://50campfires.com) Nothing goes together better than chocolate and peanut butter. STOVETOP COOKING Working with a stove, in my opinion, is the easiest and most reliable option. You’re able to control the amount of heat and don’t have to take the time building up a fire. The only downside is that you can end up having more parts to bring: fuel, stove, stove stand, pots, pans, etc… You can of course get away with just having a one-burner stove with one pot and fuel, but you can get creative with the more tools you have. I highly recommend bringing at least one two-burner stove. If you get a griddle that covers the length of both burners, you’ll be able to cook for everyone faster and get back to enjoying the outdoors.Top 15 stovetop cooking recipes Breakfast 1. Oatmeal (http://www.myrecipes.com) Oatmeal is the perfect breakfast if you’re planning on doing a big day hike, or other taxing activity. According to livestrong.com, “[it] supplies you with the calories, protein, and fat needed to fuel your day.” 2. Pancakes (https://countdowntothecampout.wordpress.com) I can’t go camping without having a big pancake breakfast one morning. I usually go plain or blueberry, but here’s a recipe that uses beer: 3. Scrambled Eggs and English Muffins This is fairly straight forward, but it always tastes so good. Simply scramble and cook your eggs in a pan. Butter your English muffins and place face down on your griddle until golden brown. 4. No Mess Camping Omelets in a Bag (http://www.beyerbeware.net) I haven’t tried this one yet, but it looks pretty good. Each person fills a plastic bag with their own omelet ingredients and then throws the bags into a boiling pot of water. Easy and very little cleanup. Lunch 5. French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese (http://joythebaker.com) I cooked this on my last camping trip, and man-o-man was it delicious. You can of course do your basic grilled cheese, but why not take it to the next level? 6. Quesadillas (http://www.bettycrocker.com/) Quesadillas are another quick camping meal. I like to use precooked, canned chicken to save time. 7. Leftovers Don’t forget that even when you’re camping, you can still eat leftovers! This will save you a lot of time rather than coming up with another recipe to prepare. When I stop to eat on the way to a campsite, occasionally I will use my leftovers as dinner so I don’t have to cook the first night. 8. Hot Dogs Most people like to cook hotdogs over the fire when they’re camping, but I don’t always like to build a fire during the middle of the day. Instead I just heat the hotdogs up on my griddle. Dinner 9. Pastas (http://allrecipes.com) Pasta is another quick and easy meal as long as you’re not at too high of an altitude (see “What Types of Food Should I Bring?”). To save time you can use a basic jar of sauce or prepare and freeze your own sauce ahead of time. Just don’t forget to thaw beforehand. 10. Chili Mac (http://www.sixsistersstuff.com) While it is a pasta dish, I wanted to highlight this recipe. Rather than adding sauce to your pasta, add a can of chili. This will really fill you up after a long day of hiking. 11. Frozen Soups(http://www.countryliving.com) You could try to make soup from scratch while camping, but why not just freeze your favorite recipe before you leave? 12. Frozen Chicken for Street Tacos (https://www.pillsbury.com/) Are you seeing a pattern yet? This recipe is always a crowd favorite. To make it even better, heat your tortillas on the griddle while the chicken heats up. Desserts 13. S’mores Pancakes (http://www.pastryaffair.com) This recipe combines two of my favorite camping foods: s’mores and pancakes. You could eat them for breakfast, but they’re pretty sweet, so I prefer them for dessert. 14. Honey-Rum Grilled Bananas (http://www.tasteofhome.com) The ice cream part of this recipe may be a little difficult for camping, but the bananas sound great. 15. Camp Tiramisu (http://www.mnn.com/food) We’ve made our cheesecake in the Dutch oven. Now let’s make Tiramisu on the stove. This recipe requires some pre-preparations.   There are definitely times while I’m camping when I don’t feel like building a fire or even turning on the stove to eat. That’s what this section is for! It may be silly to say, but there is no reason you have to cook every meal!   SIMPLE MEAL IDEAS Breakfast Cereal Eager to get onto the trails? Just pour yourself a bowl of cereal. Lunch Tuna/Chicken Salad Quick, easy, delicious. I enjoy using pita bread. Add celery and/or relish to your liking. Cold cuts Another quick, no-hassle lunch that you can pack on a day hike. PB&J Even quicker than cold cuts and just as easy to bring with you on a hike. Dinner Salads Salads can take time to make, but they’re great for a meal or paired with something else. Do some chopping at home to save some time. Desserts Cookies You can buy from the store or make your own. Snacks Granola Bars (http://www.rockyforkranchresort.com/snacks-for-camping/) Try this recipe if you’re sick of the normal brands. Trail Mix A classic for a reason. Jerky Fuel up on your hike with some protein. Prairie Paté (http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/prairie-pat) Make your own snacks before you get to the campsite. Chips and Salsa A must have snack in my opinion. Drinks Alcohol Samplers This is a really fun thing to have while you’re socializing, playing cards, etc. There are lots of different types of alcohols you can get such as whiskey or tequila. Conclusion There you have it! We’ve provided you with a bunch of tips and recipes to get you started. You’re next step? Get out there and try these meals!

Health Optimal Blood Circulation: A hammock will elevate the upper body and allow for better blood circulation to the head. This will also avoid obstructed breathing and congestion. @vectis_bushcraft Better Sleep: A better sleep means a better quality and longevity of life. Hammocks provide zero pressure points to the body as it is completely suspended. Giving you a better sleep. Stress Reduction: Just relax! Hammocks help you relax faster and better, reducing unnatural stress levels from the body. Credit to Carlos Recreational and practical Adventurous: Owning a hammock forces you to go to cool places you know about, or even find new ones, to hang up! Being adventurous is what hammocking is all about. Say goodbye to bed making: No blankets/sheets=no bed making=saving time. Need I say more? Above the safety line: If backpacking ,camping or just napping outside are activities you enjoy, a hammock is your best friend. Being suspended above the ground means you’ll stay away from mud wetness, and ground critters. Credit to Joel   Pitch it anywhere: Aside from perfectly forming to your body while providing better sleep, you don’t run into the issues you deal with from the ground. Mainly uncomfortable sticks, rocks and unleveled ground. Space saver: We all love to utilize our storage space and tend to find “under the bed” as a great place. Well, now underneath your bed is 4 feet high of storage space. Go crazy!    Via APHIDWEAR