Getting in shape for your camping trip!

When you clear a ridge-line to a majestic view that takes your breath away, it makes everything you did to get there worth it. That includes being in good enough shape that when you clear that ridge-line the view, rather than being out of shape, is the only thing that takes your breath away. When nightfall comes and the campfire is crackling and snapping campfire, feeling really great about your day – rather than feeling you’ve just climbed Mt. Everest and back – makes getting into shape worth it. * If you are just beginning an exercise program, consult a physician. Getting in Shape – know your mission. *As you get into shape, if you have kids let them see how you prepare to meet challenges.

Life is about lessons, not lectures. And camping is about life.

Review where you’ll be camping.What is the elevation? Get a topological map of your campsite. The higher the elevation, the more conditioning you may need, even if you are already in shape. Conditioning for elevation is a fairly simple matter of cardio-conditioning. For many people, the most difficult ingredient to secure in life is self-discipline. But if you’ve decided to take a ridge-line that yields you majestic views, you have self-discipline in abundance. How far will you hike each day? Locate scenic areas and know how far you’ll hike to reach them.How much will you be packing? Imagine you’ve just returned from your campsite to your scenic destination and back. From there, decide what you will have needed to take with you. Training: Start light and work up.

Gym: If you belong to a gym, great! Get on a treadmill, a stair climber or anything else that can have you sweating. You may want to start out light but work your way up to an hour a day. Also lift some weights so you can carry your pack with ease.Around the house and the neighborhood: A great way to prepare for a day’s hiking is to walk up and down your steps for a half-hour or so each day. After you decide how far you’ll be hiking each day, hike that far each day around your neighborhood. If you add one minute each day to your hike, in a month you’ll have added a half hour to your training.

How easy is that?!Carry a backpack: As you hike your neighborhood, strap on your backpack and fill it with more weight than you’ll pack on your real trip when you clear that ridge-line. What you’ll discover are curious neighbors who cheer you on your way.

Winter Kids Camping

When I was ten the first time I camped in the winter, and a boy scout. My leader warned us to change our socks and mitts every couple of hours; I listened, but my best friend didn't. We spent our second night at the hospital after he passed out from hypothermia. Unlike many things in my life, this was one lesson I was happy to learn from afar.

If you're considering winter camping with kids, some preplanning will make your trip safe and fun.For your first adventure, keep it to one or two nights and stay within driving distance to civilization. Kids are generally better sports than adults; cold mornings and early evenings are fine as long the time in between is packed with lots of outdoor fun. Set your kids up for a lifetime of winter camping with these simple rules:Gauge your speed.

If you're hiking to your destination, remember that the snow will slow you down. A trail that takes two hours to traverse in the summer will exhaust short legs and take twice the time during the winter. Moderate your expectations and have a back-up plan if you can't make daily goals.Over estimate clothing needsWarm, wet weather followed by a cold night is your most dangerous enemy. Thankfully, high tech fabrics designed to wick moisture away from skin make staying dry easier to manage. Estimate your clothing needs and add 50 percent more when traveling with kids. And remind them to change often even if they argue. Hypothermia is not a death sentence, but frostbite is irreversible (damage can vary from mild scarring to tissue death).Never go anywhere without your compass or GPS. This is rule number one, no matter what the season, but it can be a life and death issue in the winter. During snowstorms your own footprints, landmarks and animal tracks disappear. And panic sets in fast when freezing to death becomes a real possibility. While you're at it, make sure you have cell service for that first trip.

Stay close to your equipmentThis may seem like a misnomer, but hikers who set up camp and then go for a walk to find water or wood are as common as brown bears in Tennessee. Explore your surroundings only in pairs and mark your position continually on your GPS or compass. If you do get turned around, you'll be able to make it back to the equipment you need to build a fire and stay warm.

When it comes to camping with kids, capitalize on their adventurous spirit. After all, when was the last time you spent a night in a snow covered forest just for the fun of it?