I’ll be honest here. I didn’t partake in too much camping while living in Michigan but ever since I moved out to Colorado camping has been a top priority on the “to-do” list.  There is just something about these mountains that pulls you in and when the mountains call, you can’t say no. This would be something exciting and new for me because I had never camped in the mountains or quite frankly, outside of a state park or campground in general. After settling in to our new place for the past month and a half we finally had some free time to get out and enjoy a mid-week camping excursion!

It was a rushed job from the start and we are still building up our camping supplies so we weren’t exactly prepared with all of the necessary items. We packed a cooler, threw in some blankets, pillows, a mattress topper, chairs, and a tent and we were off. 

If you are looking for a spectacular place to camp that is in close proximity to Eagle Colorado, I suggest you take a look at Sylvan Lake. It is a beautiful lake for fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding surrounded by numerous hiking trails and campsites. We decided not to stay at the state park but instead we chose to head further up the mountain to find a secluded spot in the wilderness. The area surrounding the lake is national forest so you can camp anywhere for free and it is much more enjoyable to get away from other people.

We Arrived At Our Spot

By the time we arrived at a campsite it is pushing 7PM so we need to act fast to get everything set up and ready before nightfall. We borrowed an REI tent and it was surprisingly easy to set up even for the first time user. Although this tent is no longer available, REI really does make great outdoor products with high quality materials and are extremely easy to use. You should have no problem finding a similar tent based on your needs. We used the REI 4, check out the link here: REI Hobitat 4 Camping Tent

After camp was pretty much set up firewood was next on the agenda because we couldn’t locate a source back in town. The only problem we had was that we forgot a good handsaw to make it easier to gather the dead trees laying on the ground. Everything had to be broke off by hand, so it made gathering wood more physical than I expected.

Important Items Not To Be Forgotten Next Time

Hand-Saw: A small, compact handsaw is ideal for cutting dead limbs and logs. Breaking everything off by hand and snapping long pieces into “fire size” lengths is a lot of work and can be quite dangerous.

First Aid Kit: The mountains are treacherous and you can easily roll an ankle, fall down steep terrain, cut yourself on a number of objects, get burned by the fire, etc.

Survival Kit: We didn’t have any rope, signaling devices, extra matches, additional blankets and a compass or GPS.

Hand Gun: We forgot to bring our handgun for personal protection at night. Bears and mountain lions are known to roam the area .

The Remainder of the Evening

After we had the fire going, it was nice to sit down and enjoy the beautiful evening with my girlfriend Crystal and her dog Apollo. Bratwursts cooked over the open fire were on the menu accompanied by chips and salsa and s’mores! Of course it would only be right to enjoy a few Bonfire Brewing Co beers around a bonfire! After dinner we went for a quick walk to explore the immediate area and then came back to enjoy the rest of the evening around the campsite.

The Perks Of Camping In The Mountains

The nice thing about having a fire on the side of a mountain is that the wind is always going down hill; traveling in one direction. Thermals travel down the mountainside as temperatures cool making the evening more enjoyable because you can position your chairs and tent accordingly. In Michigan, the wind is constantly changing directions and it causes you to adjust your seat every few minutes and can result in holes burned in your camping equipment.

I read a book recently titled Wilderness Survival and it highlighted an important aspect of making camp in the mountains. You don’t want to make camp at the bottom of a valley because cold air settles in the lowest elevation. The top of a mountain is also not an ideal location because of the gusting winds flowing over the top.

The optimal location is located in between; Not too high but but not too low. The wind is consistent but not too heavy. The air is cool but not frigid and it blows at a constant 3mph.

Like a soft whisper in your ear, the wind was faint but was certainly present.

Camping Trip Re-Cap

The mid-week excursion was an exciting endeavor and I can’t wait to do it again. Was it a little rushed and were we a little un-prepared? Yes, but this is how you learn. Sometimes it is best to jump in head first and learn from your mistakes and how you can improve for next time.

Have you ever went camping during the work week before? Share your spontaneous camping stories and tips below in the comments! I would love to hear from you!

-Adam

It Was Good To Catch Up

Moving to a new state is a thrill but at the same time it requires a number of tasks and chores you just have to get done in order to get settled in. We have to buy new furniture, house items, set up bank accounts, get a P.O. Box, switch your drivers license … the list goes on and on. The first month was filled with many of these tasks of which primarily took place on the weekends, leaving little or no time to get out and really explore.

Last weekend I decided to take a drive and headed out to a winding mountain road. I drove higher and higher until I dared not to go any further due to the muddy conditions and extremely deep ruts in the road. I found a spot to pull off the side of the road and headed out on foot with my backpack and binoculars.

Meandering The Mountainside 

I started off not following an existing trail but instead, creating my own. My first intention was to shed hunt if the grass was not too high but it was pretty difficult to see more than 20 yards each way. It was a rather steep hillside filled with oak-brush and it had a fair amount of trails with deer sign. I made my way to the bottom and then started the trek back up. The thick oak-brush made it very difficult to keep a straight line and sometimes I would walk into a dead end wall, having no choice but to turn around and find a different route.

I finally made it back to the top of the ridge and decided to follow an old two-track that switchbacked through the heavy brush. After 20 minutes of hiking, I finally arrived at a clearing where I could overlook a smaller ravine and thought this would be a good spot to enjoy the rest of the evening. As I paused for a few moments, I caught movement of a mule deer buck on the far ridge and it appeared that he was moving to a high meadow in the distance. Then and there I decided to go further up the mountain so I put away the one beer I had until I found the perfect spot.

Now back on the trail, the brush had become less thick and I can start to see the meadow. About 10 minutes later it was like all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I knew I had arrived. The meadow was absolutely breathtaking, filled with wild flowers, grouse, rabbits and butterflies

As I continued along the path through the meadow I began to wonder where that mule deer went; I knew I was close. Just then I look over my shoulder and not 30 yards away stands the buck I had seen from across the ravine. We locked eyes for a few moments and then two other bucks rose from their bed right next to him. All three stood there watching me as I stood motionless. After a short time, I decided to snap a few pictures with my cell phone but they were blurry so I am not posting them.

Its amazing how close you can get to a mule deer without them spooking. In Michigan, a whitetail deer does not give you the time of day to get close and often all you see is a their tail bouncing through the woods before you even knew they were there. Mule deer are much more calm and do not run off at the sight of a human. I’m sure that will change in a few months during hunting season!

Stop And Smell The Roses

After a two hour hike it was time to take a seat and enjoy the beautiful scenery that surrounded me. I cracked a beer and soaked in the breathtaking views of the meadow and the mountain peaks off in the distance. The three mule deer were still in the bottom of the meadow, making their way to an evening bedding area.

What I enjoyed the most about this spot was neither the view of the mountains or wildlife. Oddly enough it was the stillness of the air and the silence that swept through the meadow. There were no sounds of cars, people or city hustle bustle. In that very moment it was me and the mountains. Nothing else.

There are very few places like that in Southern Michigan where you can get far enough away from civilization to have dead silence. I really don’t think it is possible in Michigan nowadays unless you head further north into some of the larger tracts of state land.

Much Needed Alone Time

When I left the truck I had no plans or a selected route of travel. I was taking in each moment as it came and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to the unknown. We all need to step back and find peace in nature without all of the added noises, people and commotion that can often be found in the mix. Sometimes no plans are the best plans. Get lost and be free.

-Adam

The Effects of Humidity

Summers in the midwest can be absolutely brutal due to high humidity levels. Some days it feels like you can’t even breathe or stop sweating even with the AC cranked as high as it will go! I knew Colorado was an arid climate but I didn’t realize how dry it really was in comparison to Michigan.

To the right is a screen shot of a table showing average humidity levels in various states; Colorado and Michigan are highlighted in yellow. Michigan has an average Summer humidity level of 88% in the morning and 54% at night while Colorado maintains 47% and 21% respectively.

So what’s the major change?

I expected dry skin, itchy eyes and a sore throat but the biggest and most noticeable difference has been my hydration, or lack there of. I am constantly chugging down water in order to keep myself properly hydrated. It seems as though I can’t get enough H2O throughout the day.

What makes it even worse is that you don’t realize its happening because you simply don’t sweat, leaving you with the illusion that you don’t have to consume as much water. (As I am writing this at 10:30PM, I realize that I am severely dehydrated and head to the kitchen for a glass of H2O).

How does this affect my future hunting plans?

If you are a midwesterner who is setting out on your first big game hunt in the mountains this Fall, unfortunately no amount of preparation can help your body become acclimated to the effects of accelerated dehydration in a low humidity environment. But what you can do is be prepared in other ways to help combat liquid losses once you are there.

1. Quantity – Bring more water than you think you will need. Whatever you think you will need, double or triple that amount. You can never have too much water.
2. Carrying Water – I plan on upgrading my pack with camelback bladder for better packability and ease of use while hiking. I plan on getting one that is between the 1-2 gallon mark.
3. Water Purification – Have alternate ways to purify additional water for hikes when you can’t carry enough from camp. I have heard good things about Katadyn Micropur Purification Tablets. You can get a 20-pack at REI for $9.95
4. Know the Landscape – Knowing where to find water is key, especially on all day hunts or in a survival situation. Make sure to study the area as much as possible so you know of various water sources if needed.

While hunting smaller tracts of land in the midwest, I never had to worry about bringing gallons of water or purification tablets for everyday hunting. You simply head back to the house to grab water or pack a smaller water bottle for the day and you’re good! Your really have to think differently when entering such vast and treacherous terrain.

I hope this highlighted a few things about my experience with hydration levels in a dry climate and how you can better prepare yourself for an extended hiking or hunting trip in the mountains!

-Adam