As I stare out the window this morning, taking in the gloriousness of a sunny day, I can’t help but feel like spring is here, and it’s time to break out the camping gear. Apparently, Marc Phillippe Babineau had the same thought — last week, he published an article entitled “Essential Tools for Camping“.
In his article, Babineau lists and describes a number of tools you shouldn’t leave home without. Among them are:
Yesterday, I wrote a post about a new line of so-called “female friendly” LED products. The company releasing the “products with a pink twist” said it was due to the lack of uncomplicated and lightweight solutions. Frankly, I beg to differ. Below, you’ll find a handful of Coast products that are just that — uncomplicated and lightweight. Not to mention, they’re what I like to call “Everyone Friendly.”
LED Lenser P2
An LED lighting manufacturer is preparing to “unveil female friendly lighting products” at an upcoming home and housewares show in March, according to a recent press release. Female friendly? Gimme a break. If that doesn’t shout, “Women are inferior!”, I don’t know what does.
Apparently, the company’s research shows females are expressing a growing interest in their LED lighting products, so they decided to develop a new line of products that cater to women. I’ll stop here and say, kudos — they’re analyzing the numbers and attempting to capitalize on a trend — but their delivery is downright degrading. I mean, doesn’t the term “female-friendly” imply that women have difficulties using conventional flashlights?
The search continued today for a 20-year-old man who went missing Saturday while camping near Deschutes Falls in Washington state. Police believe the camper, Jeff “Jay” Nelson, may have fallen off a cliff during the middle of the night.
Officials said Nelson and his friends went to bed at about 11 p.m. after setting up a campsite near the Deschutes River. On Saturday morning Nelson was gone, although his sleeping bag and other gear were still there. Friends, family, and local officials began organized rescue efforts Saturday morning and afternoon. Local rescue dive teams began searching the Deschutes River on Sunday.
Sam D. Hamilton, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, died Saturday after suffering from chest pains while skiing in Colorado. He was 54.
Coast extends its sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Hamilton and wishes to express gratitude for the hard work and dedication he displayed during his years of service.
Oregon and Washington just adopted spring Chinook salmon and sturgeon fishing seasons for the Columbia and Willamette rivers yesterday during a joint state hearing, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
The Columbia River spring Chinook seasons are based on a forecast of 470,000 returning upriver spring Chinook, said ODFW. As a conservative measure, the two states decided to adopt a 40 percent buffer, leaving a combined harvest guideline of 17,200 fish in the sport fishery downstream of Bonneville Dam. Similarly, the sturgeon seasons are based on a recreational harvest guideline of 19,200 fish, including 3,600 in the Willamette.
I was perusing some online camping blogs today when one led me to an interesting pair of articles by Bill Sassani. He wrote two articles for Valentine’s Day, one highlighting outdoor gear gifts for men and one doing the same for women. Now, call me a traditionalist, but I didn’t exactly know camping and hiking gear was on the approved list of gifts to buy for Valentine’s Day. Apparently, they are.
Now, I’ll concede that there’s a good argument for men, but I don’t know if his gear gift-giving opinion on women will stand up. Listen to one of his opening lines:
Apparently, American sports giant NASCAR is planning on expanding its fan base and increasing customer loyalty. In a recent report, the racing organization is said to be preparing to launch up to 500 branded camping grounds over the next decade. In fact, 13 are planned to be constructed this spring.
NASCAR fans are avid campers, with some numbers estimating that over 60 percent are RVers, said Robert Moser, chief executive of NASCAR RV Resorts and co-owner of Morgan RV resorts. “It’s a perfect fit.”
