Camping trip below was last fall.
Where: Lamping Homestead Campground/Trail, Wayne National Forest, OH
GPS Lat/Long coordinates for the area are: 39 deg 37' 32" / 81 deg 11' 16".
When: Sept 17-18, 2011
What: Hike in approx. 1-2 miles.
Set camp.
Fishing?
Squirrel hunting?
Practice basic skills?
Shoot the breeze
Libations
Smokes
Overnight.
Hike out at noonish.
Who: Myself & a buddy (Scott)
***********
Saturday 0-dark:30
Reluctantly wake up, get ready, and start loading pack and maps into vehicle.
06:45
On the road finally. Running a bit late. About 30 minutes later hear a voice come over the handheld radio. It is Scott. We hook up while driving down the highway and proceed south out of Cleveland to Caldwell. Along the way we find a Wal-Mart and pull in to pick up a hunting license for Scott: squirrel season came in on the 1st of the month. We’re soon back on the road. Once we reach Caldwell, we get off the highway and make our way back to Lamping Homestead; an area within the Wayne National Forest here in OH.
~10:30
Finally make Lamping Homestead. Don our packs and head into the forest. About a mile or so in we spot a prospective campsite. It is a couple hundred yards up the side of a hill. We begin making our way uphill. Once the prospective site is reached we begin setting up camp.
Scott is using a dome style tent he brought.
Local scenery and Scotts tent to the right.
Local scenery and Scotts tent to the left.
I’m experimenting so I’m using an 6x8 tarp staked at two corners and the third corner tied up to a tree to form a lean-to. The remaining corner of the tarp is draped back over the tarp out of the way so I have a clear view of the trees and sky above. If it starts to rain, I can pull it over and stake it down. A GI poncho for a ground cloth, Therm-a-Rest Ridge Rest pad, pillow, and sleeping bag complete my sleeping arrangements.
My sleeping arangements.
My sleeping arangements.
Next we constructed a fire ring between the two tents for cooking and because no campout is complete without a campfire. While gathering the stones, we found a couple of salamanders under one of the rocks. We moved the salamanders a good distance from the camp so they wouldn’t wander into the campfire or get stepped on.
One of two salamanders that were living under a rock we were using for the fire ring.
The other salamander that was living under a rock we were using for the fire ring.
Campsite completed we head out to explore the forest. I’ve got my compass and a map in my pocket just in case but don’t expect to need/use it. On our way back down the hill we cut some blazes into some recently downed trees so we can find our campsite later. From the trail below we can see no sign of our camp. Along the way I find a few clumps of sassafras saplings. At each one I pull one of the saplings, leaving the rest of the saplings there to grow. I’ll use them for sassafras tea. Towards the end of the hike we come across a pine grove. Scott gathers some of the dried pine needles and downed branches for use later in starting the campfire. I gather a small branch of fresh green pine needles from one of the trees for making some pine needle tea.
We finally wander back into camp. First order of business is to start a fire. We gather firewood, kindling, and tinder from the immediate area. Once sufficient wood is gathered, I get out my firesteel. Try as we might we just couldn’t get the tinder to catch. Came close once but just wasn’t cooperating. Didn’t feel like going out again in search of dryer tinder/kindling so I get an esbit cube out of my pack and put it inside a stack of tinder/kindling and light it with a lighter.
Scott is munching on his trail mix and I dig an Uncle Ben’s rice bag and some tortilla shells out of the pack. Dump the rice in the pan from my mess, add some water to keep it from scorching, and heat it up over an esbit tab in the esbit stove. While that is heating I peel the outer layer of bark from the sassafras that I found earlier, break it up, and put it and some water in the pot from the mess kit. Set the pot on the fire to boil while eating burritos.
I finish eating and toss the little bit of remaining rice way down the hill. Time for a smoke. Dig a cigar (a Kuba Kuba by Drew Estates) out of my pack and light it. Scott heads to his tent to lay down and relax a bit. I wander away from camp along what appears to be a trail that has not been used in a very long time. I am very much enjoying my cigar as well as the sights, smells, and sounds of the woods. The sun is starting to set and I think “what a wonderful end to a great day in the woods”.
Cigar finished and sun setting I climb into my sleeping bag and watch the campfire a while before falling asleep.
Morning came entirely too soon. Having used the esbit tabs the night before, I decided to try one of the other items in my pack to start the fire for breakfast. Created a pile of tinder and kindling and squirted hand sanitizer onto it. Lit easily and soon had enough flame/coals to brew some pine needle tea. Boiled the water and needles in my USGI cup.
Boiling some pine needles for tea with breakfast.
While waiting on the water to come to a boil, I noticed a squirrel running around on the ground a short distance up the hill. Scott heads off in pursuit. Me, I pack some of my stuff in my pack and eat a powerbar with my tea. After Scott returns having seen neither hide nor hair of the squirrel, we finish packing up our gear and douse the fire. The trip back to the cars goes quickly.
At the trail head we toss our packs in our vehicles and prepare to leave. Before we do though I want to go check out a spot I’d been to a couple of weeks prior with the wife. When she and I were there we had found a bunch of puffball mushrooms but forgot to pick any of them before we left. Just for giggles I went to see if any were left. There weren’t. I turn to go back to the car and in the tall grass at the edge of the clearing is the biggest puffball I’ve ever seen. Knowing how much my wife likes mushrooms I pick it figuring it will keep me out of the doghouse for at least a couple of weeks. Puffball safely nestled on the floor in the backseat of the car we depart and head to the highway and home.
Puffball mushroom I found on the way out.
Could not have asked for a better weekend for camping. Temps on Saturday were a high of 70 with lows in the mid to upper 40’s. Sunday was mid to upper 50’s on the way out. A few clouds in the sky both days but no precipitation. Just a hint of a breeze to keep things fresh. Saturday night the sky was clear. Scott and I were both hoping more of the ZS folks from Ohio would have been able to join us but the company was good and we’ll be planning more outings in the near future.
Biggest lesson learned (for me) was that gathering good tinder is very important and may not be easily available in the area immediately around the campsite. However, I had suitable alternatives in my pack so it was not an issue.
Another take away for me was that the more I use a tarp and simple shelters the less inclined I am to ever want to use a tent. No matter how light the tent, it is just damned tough to beat sleeping under the stars. During the winter I’ll probably stick with a good tent. However, during the other three seasons I’ll do my best to stick with a tarp and, when needed, mosquito netting.
Where: Lamping Homestead Campground/Trail, Wayne National Forest, OH
GPS Lat/Long coordinates for the area are: 39 deg 37' 32" / 81 deg 11' 16".
When: Sept 17-18, 2011
What: Hike in approx. 1-2 miles.
Set camp.
Fishing?
Squirrel hunting?
Practice basic skills?
Shoot the breeze
Libations
Smokes
Overnight.
Hike out at noonish.
Who: Myself & a buddy (Scott)
***********
Saturday 0-dark:30
Reluctantly wake up, get ready, and start loading pack and maps into vehicle.
06:45
On the road finally. Running a bit late. About 30 minutes later hear a voice come over the handheld radio. It is Scott. We hook up while driving down the highway and proceed south out of Cleveland to Caldwell. Along the way we find a Wal-Mart and pull in to pick up a hunting license for Scott: squirrel season came in on the 1st of the month. We’re soon back on the road. Once we reach Caldwell, we get off the highway and make our way back to Lamping Homestead; an area within the Wayne National Forest here in OH.
~10:30
Finally make Lamping Homestead. Don our packs and head into the forest. About a mile or so in we spot a prospective campsite. It is a couple hundred yards up the side of a hill. We begin making our way uphill. Once the prospective site is reached we begin setting up camp.
Scott is using a dome style tent he brought.
Local scenery and Scotts tent to the right.
Local scenery and Scotts tent to the left.
I’m experimenting so I’m using an 6x8 tarp staked at two corners and the third corner tied up to a tree to form a lean-to. The remaining corner of the tarp is draped back over the tarp out of the way so I have a clear view of the trees and sky above. If it starts to rain, I can pull it over and stake it down. A GI poncho for a ground cloth, Therm-a-Rest Ridge Rest pad, pillow, and sleeping bag complete my sleeping arrangements.
My sleeping arangements.
My sleeping arangements.
Next we constructed a fire ring between the two tents for cooking and because no campout is complete without a campfire. While gathering the stones, we found a couple of salamanders under one of the rocks. We moved the salamanders a good distance from the camp so they wouldn’t wander into the campfire or get stepped on.
One of two salamanders that were living under a rock we were using for the fire ring.
The other salamander that was living under a rock we were using for the fire ring.
Campsite completed we head out to explore the forest. I’ve got my compass and a map in my pocket just in case but don’t expect to need/use it. On our way back down the hill we cut some blazes into some recently downed trees so we can find our campsite later. From the trail below we can see no sign of our camp. Along the way I find a few clumps of sassafras saplings. At each one I pull one of the saplings, leaving the rest of the saplings there to grow. I’ll use them for sassafras tea. Towards the end of the hike we come across a pine grove. Scott gathers some of the dried pine needles and downed branches for use later in starting the campfire. I gather a small branch of fresh green pine needles from one of the trees for making some pine needle tea.
We finally wander back into camp. First order of business is to start a fire. We gather firewood, kindling, and tinder from the immediate area. Once sufficient wood is gathered, I get out my firesteel. Try as we might we just couldn’t get the tinder to catch. Came close once but just wasn’t cooperating. Didn’t feel like going out again in search of dryer tinder/kindling so I get an esbit cube out of my pack and put it inside a stack of tinder/kindling and light it with a lighter.
Scott is munching on his trail mix and I dig an Uncle Ben’s rice bag and some tortilla shells out of the pack. Dump the rice in the pan from my mess, add some water to keep it from scorching, and heat it up over an esbit tab in the esbit stove. While that is heating I peel the outer layer of bark from the sassafras that I found earlier, break it up, and put it and some water in the pot from the mess kit. Set the pot on the fire to boil while eating burritos.
I finish eating and toss the little bit of remaining rice way down the hill. Time for a smoke. Dig a cigar (a Kuba Kuba by Drew Estates) out of my pack and light it. Scott heads to his tent to lay down and relax a bit. I wander away from camp along what appears to be a trail that has not been used in a very long time. I am very much enjoying my cigar as well as the sights, smells, and sounds of the woods. The sun is starting to set and I think “what a wonderful end to a great day in the woods”.
Cigar finished and sun setting I climb into my sleeping bag and watch the campfire a while before falling asleep.
Morning came entirely too soon. Having used the esbit tabs the night before, I decided to try one of the other items in my pack to start the fire for breakfast. Created a pile of tinder and kindling and squirted hand sanitizer onto it. Lit easily and soon had enough flame/coals to brew some pine needle tea. Boiled the water and needles in my USGI cup.
Boiling some pine needles for tea with breakfast.
While waiting on the water to come to a boil, I noticed a squirrel running around on the ground a short distance up the hill. Scott heads off in pursuit. Me, I pack some of my stuff in my pack and eat a powerbar with my tea. After Scott returns having seen neither hide nor hair of the squirrel, we finish packing up our gear and douse the fire. The trip back to the cars goes quickly.
At the trail head we toss our packs in our vehicles and prepare to leave. Before we do though I want to go check out a spot I’d been to a couple of weeks prior with the wife. When she and I were there we had found a bunch of puffball mushrooms but forgot to pick any of them before we left. Just for giggles I went to see if any were left. There weren’t. I turn to go back to the car and in the tall grass at the edge of the clearing is the biggest puffball I’ve ever seen. Knowing how much my wife likes mushrooms I pick it figuring it will keep me out of the doghouse for at least a couple of weeks. Puffball safely nestled on the floor in the backseat of the car we depart and head to the highway and home.
Puffball mushroom I found on the way out.
Could not have asked for a better weekend for camping. Temps on Saturday were a high of 70 with lows in the mid to upper 40’s. Sunday was mid to upper 50’s on the way out. A few clouds in the sky both days but no precipitation. Just a hint of a breeze to keep things fresh. Saturday night the sky was clear. Scott and I were both hoping more of the ZS folks from Ohio would have been able to join us but the company was good and we’ll be planning more outings in the near future.
Biggest lesson learned (for me) was that gathering good tinder is very important and may not be easily available in the area immediately around the campsite. However, I had suitable alternatives in my pack so it was not an issue.
Another take away for me was that the more I use a tarp and simple shelters the less inclined I am to ever want to use a tent. No matter how light the tent, it is just damned tough to beat sleeping under the stars. During the winter I’ll probably stick with a good tent. However, during the other three seasons I’ll do my best to stick with a tarp and, when needed, mosquito netting.
