The idea for the Big Kahuna portable shower was born 20 years ago on a camping trip in the Pennsylvania coal areas, where coal dust is a real pain in the @#%$ to get rid of. Jeff Stinchcomb, the inventor of the Big Kahuna, realized he needed some kind of portable washing system to deal with the coal dust problem and thought he might as well try and build one himself to his own specifications. So he did and the device he came up with was baptized “Frankenstein.”

Fast forward 10 years later to California, when Jeff showed his invention to a friend who thought it was really cool. He told Jeff that if they could get the product shelf ready and bring investors on board, “Frankenstein” could really take off. So they took it to the Wal-Mart headquarter in Arkansas, which immediately put in such a big order that Jeff and his friend weren’t able to make them fast enough. Realizing they needed to fine tune their operation, they turned instead to internet sales and to displaying their product at trade shows. Five years of hard work online and on the trade show circuit and they were finally on their way. They began making the Big Kahuna in a variety of sizes to better suit the needs of their customers. After a few years of breaking even, in 2011 they sold over 4,000 Big Kahunas with zero returns, a true testament to the quality of their product. That same year they partnered with Camping Shower World as one of the official online retailers of the Big Kahuna Portable Shower product line.

Family owned since 1990 and assembled in America, the Big Kahuna story is a simple one of perseverance and a belief in a rock solid product.

The Florida Keys just sounded enticing, romantic, and alluring. The stuff made of pirates and expatriates. I had a few days off and decided to visit a couple of the recommended hiking spots along US 1. Looking on-line, the name Bahia Honda jumped out at me. For some reason, a mental picture of fighting Samurais came to mind. A hike through oriental gardens, wind chimes tinkling in the gentle breeze in subtropical Florida sounded exactly what I wanted and needed.

I recently learned that it is a good idea to research the local area prior to traveling to a new destination. As it turns out, there is a yearly event in Key West called the “Fantasy Fest.” The official website refers to this celebration as a 10 day long decadent costuming and masking festival. Tourism expects to exceed 50,000 visitors and an income of 30 million to be generated. There are parades, drag shows, food exhibits and bikers that flock into the small community.

The 50,000 visitor influx is what affected me the most. It took as long to reach Bahia Honda Key on US 1, in the bumper to bumper traffic, than the entire rest of the drive. Cars, vans, bikes, trikes, and campers were all en route to decadence. I could see in a few vehicles that the party had already begun. Some were already in costume; at least I hope that’s their costume! Ultimately I reached my destination after passing  through idyllic communities named for the Key on which they existed. Many appeared to be relics from the 1940’s and 1950’s. The buildings were in need of paint and repair. Many store fronts were vacant; a testament to the economic climate. Famous Key Largo started the run of key names no one ever completely remembers. I actually thought I could hear Jimmy singing in the background. They have a turtle hospital there; I didn’t realize there were so many pet turtles. Notable keys were Islamorada Key, a group of four Islands. Centered at mile marker 81, a memorial erected to the victims of the largest hurricane to hit the Keys (on Labor Day in 1934) exists. A tidal wave 19 feet high wiped out the community and it appears they are still rebuilding. 

On Marathon Key, the largest of the land masses, a dolphin sanctuary exists with a very cool statue in front of the building of a mother dolphin and calf. There is also a decent sized airport the flying enthusiast can land on and take off from.Just past Marathon Key is Bahia Honda Key. It turned out that Bahia Honda isn’t Asian at all. It is Spanish for “deep bay”.  And I always thought my car was Japanese, who knew? The island itself is about 525 acres in total. It is uninhabited except for the state park where I was heading to hike the Silver Palm Nature Trail. Because of the park’s proximity to Key West and Fantasy Fest, all of the overnight camping accommodations were occupied and the little park was flooded with squatters. Most were tailgating in anticipation of activities to the south; so that the hiking trail was peacefully desolate.

In 1934, when “Hemmingway’s Hurricane” destroyed so much of the Florida Keys, the train tracks built by Henry Flagler were lost. Some of the original foundations from the railroad were used to create the road way now known as US 1. When it was undated, there wasn’t enough room for two lanes of traffic, so the original roadway was abandoned and a new route was made. Some of the old structure exists and before I started on the trail, I had a panoramic view of the local keys and unbelievably colored waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

All along the Silver Palm Nature Trail I could hear the gentle sounds of the waves washing up on the shores. Bahia Honda is very close to a Florida Keys Deer sanctuary on Big Pine Key and I was able to see a few nibbling vegetation along the short trail. Key Deer are somewhat smaller than the ones I was used to in the northern states. I also managed to see a Miami Blue Butterfly. They were thought to have been extinct since hurricane Andrew devastated Florida. Bahia Honda State Park is the only surviving colony of this species known to exist anywhere in the world.
There were several species of plants that are unique. A few observed are the Yellow Satinwood, Key Thatch Palm, the endangered Small-flowered Lily-thorn and of course, the Florida Silver Palm for which the trail is named.

Educational information posts along the trail reported the possibility of seeing reef fish, rays, barracuda and shark in the waters, however, all I saw were the blues, greens, and violets of a peaceful sea. It was a short hike, but well worth the time driving. Afterwards, I did go to Key West to check out the Fantasy Festival. In tribute to Bahia Honda I dressed up as a samurai, and I fit right in.

“I met my wife hiking on the Appalachian Trail. She was a model doing a shoot for a clothing company and I just happened by. Recently, for our first wedding anniversary she suggested, demanded actually, that we spend the weekend where we met, hiking and camping for at least a day and a night. My wife is many wonderful things, but I never thought of her as a “nature girl.” A valley girl for sure, hiking for her is a day trip to the mall. I responded: “there won’t be a Sherpa to lug your stuff around.”  Her only response was her best pouty look, usually reserved for the camera. I asked “how much of the trail do you want to hike?” Suddenly the pout became a smile as she gleefully said “all of it!” I’m quite sure she didn’t know that the Appalachian Trail is over 2,000 miles long and takes 6+ months for an accomplished hiker to complete.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail starts at its northern point at Mount Katahdin in Maine and terminates at Springer Mountain in Georgia. Started in 1923, major hurricanes, the Depression, World War II and its travel-limiting rationing all served either to break or delay efforts to complete it, the goal not reached until mid-1951. Earl V. Shaffer, a Pennsylvania veteran “walking off the war,” had reported three years earlier that he had walked the entire trail renewing interest in the project.

The Appalachian Trail doesn't really have a fee for hikers and campers to use it, but because it winds through many different national and federal parks there may be some associated campaign and permit fees. There are a bunch of the simple hard shelters along the trail, most typically they are open type "lean to" structures. Most of the structures don't require a permit and backpackers can use them if they are unoccupied. While it does provide some shelter from the elements, it is far from the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Beverly Hills-I could hardly wait to see my beautiful model wife exist under these conditions.

We elected to start off where we had first met, in New York where the trail crosses the Hudson River. There are 88 miles of the trail in New York, and at this portion, it is actually only an hour or two away from New York City. My plan was to take her to the city when she finally admitted that she was miserable: an attempt to salvage our anniversary. When the time came around we packed (I didn’t notice a single cocktail dress in her knapsack-perhaps she was serious about this) and drove to Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, the site of our first meeting. We unloaded and spent some time getting oriented (and making out-when we found the exact spot of our first meeting,) then decided to head south. We started at a leisurely pace talking, laughing and just enjoying each other. It was one of those late summer dog day’s with hotter than expected weather. It was just simply gorgeous and peaceful. The first wild life we came across was a white tail doe and her fawn. While the fawn was busy nibbling something on the ground, the mother was looking about, darting her head back and forth checking for any sense of danger. We kept very still until they meandered off and continued walking, talking about having a baby of our own (one day.) Suddenly Tasha squealed with joy and said she had seen a mouse. With the superiority gained from watching Jeopardy every night I asked if she was sure it was a mouse and not a rat, or a skunk, or a gopher, a mole, or a vole? Out came that pouty look again so I let it go. A second later, another squeal: “there’s another one!” It was a squirrel! We both laughed as if it was the funniest thing ever. A little while later I had to, you know, go to the bathroom…squatting down. I asked her for the toilet paper. She looked absolutely dumbfounded and asked, “didn’t you pack it?” “No worries,” I said, “I’ll use leaves. “ I could tell by the look on her face she desperately hoped she could hold it, herself, for another day and a half.

We hiked onwards seeing dogwood trees, pines, a lady slipper hidden in the grass and a variety of native birds. A bluejay, in particular squawked his welcome loudly, or maybe it was a warning. We walked and talked until night fall when we located an available lean-to. We dined on cold chicken and killed a bottle of wine she had packed (I knew there was brains behind all that beauty.) I was simply amazed at how easily she fell asleep after we reenacted our wedding night (details censored). I looked at her resting so peaceful, so tranquil, and so beautiful and was so thankful we had met. Then I joined her falling into a sound sleep.

Towards morning, it was still dark; I awoke with a very uncomfortable, almost unbearable itching sensation, “down there.” I quietly got the flashlight and looked to see if I was being attacked by mutant radioactive insects but there was nothing there. The itching was driving me crazy by sunrise and I sheepishly asked my wife to look and see what was going on. No matter what you think, there are some things you shouldn’t have to share with your spouse. Humbled, I lowered my pants and I could hear her trying to control her giggling. “What is it,” I demanded,” what do you see?” Now she was laughing uncontrollably. Through the spasms of laughter she asked, “You didn’t use poison ivy leaves to wipe yesterday, did you?” I was mortified. I couldn’t believe that I was stupid enough to have done that. She rooted around in her knapsack and handed me a bottle of calamine lotion and a tube of steroid cream. “I know you’re allergic to everything, so I packed this just in case.” Now do you see why I married this woman? It was most definitely for her brains.”

The moral of the story: Be careful how you pick your leaves.

So my girlfriend and I will most definitely be packing some extra toilet paper on our trip to Europe.

Eccotemp L5- Is it the perfect travel companion? Perhaps more than that, the Eccotemp L5 may be the perfect replacement hot water heater/shower, depending on your needs.

Ever been frustrated when you lose power and cannot take a hot shower? How about when you’re out for a weekend of camping and you slip into some mud and it’s everywhere?  The hunting cabin; the boat; and what about the beach house-where you still want to lay out in the sun, but you hate having all that sand on your skin?

It’s time to look into a portable shower system that can give you a great shower, no matter where you decide to take one (exercise caution on your choice of venues however: some people just don’t like seeing others “au natural” in public!).

There is perhaps no other portable tankless water heater and outdoor shower better suited to such a wide range of circumstances or available at such a good value as the Eccotemp L5.

It’s got essentials and extras both, but what really stands out about this unit, is that IT WORKS! Straight from the box this unit can produce hot and satisfying showers in a wide range of venues, without a ton of extraneous items or parts.  With the right bundle you won’t even need to find a place to put the shower; it will be plug and play.

Sure most units on the market can produce a hot shower in no time when you connected to a water faucet that's the beauty of this unit the Eccotemp L5 introduce a hot shower in no time when connected to a bucket of ice water! You can get a good flow similar to most home showers, better-than-average water pressure, and the shower runs completely off the grid, with a couple of D cell batteries.

The Eccotemp L5 unit only weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is the size of a big book, but the best part about this product isn't the size, it’s the incredible reviews this unit gets:  this review isn't the only glowing one, as there are thousands upon thousands of other outdoor enthusiasts, off the grid lifestylers and eco-conscious individuals who love the Eccotemp L5.

It uses a propane fuel source, which has a relatively good eco-footprint can be extremely cost-effective and provides instantaneous hot water. The unit connects to a standard barbecue grill propane tank and can last for about 20 hours worth of showers before refill. 20 hours! That's a lot of showers.

Because of its size and ease of use, you can rig the Eccotemp L5 just about anywhere: inside of a relatively small boat, in an outdoor shower stall at the cabin, hung on a tree trunk with a portable shower tent, or just about anywhere else you can envision yourself taking an incredibly hot shower.

The propane fuel source isn't just eco-friendly and burning in almost every way, it outperforms electric water heating elements. Do you spend winters in the Antarctic? You want to get one of these tankless hot water heaters, as that electric heater just won't cut it. Worried about ruptured water lines?  You don't have to worry about that anymore, as the Eccotemp L5 gives you the option to disconnect hoses after each use, a few seconds of reassembly and you're good to go. Now the most extreme conditions won't phase your water heater or your water lines – you don't have to worry about expensive repair bills, and this unit is so economical to run anyways.

Features of the Eccotemp L5 you’re going to want to get your hands on:

• Propane heating element

• Instant hot water from any water source that isn’t frozen

• Small design

• Excellent safety features built in

• Great cost/value

• Good build quality and low maintenance

This shower is so versatile and so extremely usable straight out-of-the-box that in the end, it doesn’t matter what you plan on doing with this unit-as long as it involves a shower-it will excel!

Moving to a predominantly outdoor area can be very fun, but getting used to the new area can have its hurdles.  I’m reminded of the first week I lived there (I have since moved back to California).

My family and friends were overjoyed when I moved here a normal comment being: “now we have a place to stay when we go on vacation.” I was actually happy because I knew I would miss everyone once the relocation was finished. I learned early on that to take my quests to the big theme parks every visit meant taking out a second mortgage on my house, as the tourist industry isn’t for the weak of wallet. The years I lived there, I found a variety of less expensive yet enjoyable activities to entertain visitors when they would come. Only a month after I had settled in, my brother Michael and his family came from New York for two weeks. Michael is a great guy, a professor at a community college with a bit of a dry personality. I had planned to spend the first Saturday on the swamp fishing.  Mike had a different plan. “We’re going bird watching” it was almost an attempt to make it sound interesting.

“Bird watching…really?” was my reply, but I recovered swiftly as the hurt look at my condescending tone of voice caused me to be a bit more flexible, “oh, that’s sounds great.”

Michael took us all to The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife trail. I didn’t even know that it existed. The trail is over 2,000 miles long and is broken up into four geographic divisions. There are the East Florida, West Florida, panhandle and South Florida trails. Because Florida is an extremely long state, about 500 miles, each section of the trail offers varied exposure to habitat and fauna. There are nearly 500 locations throughout the trails. We spent two full days at the South Florida trail and didn’t see a fraction of it.

I had always thought of bird watching as something nerdy guys did to impress nerdy girls. I saw bespectacled thin runty guys with binoculars and a little moustache speaking Greek. It was probably a bunch of Latin bird names, I guess. What I found was an arduous physical trek full of interesting and beautiful birds, plants and scenery. Though created for tourists and Audubon aficionados, the trail was very much like I imagined the Seminole Indian’s saw before Florida was invaded by Disney. I learned more about native Florida in those two days than I had in twenty years. I also learned a lot about my brother.

In planning a trip to the Great Florida Birding Trail, there is an interactive map on line where you can select the birds you’d like to see and then their likely locations along the trail are listed. We elected to select locations and see what there was to see. When the map said two miles, it meant two miles of boarded walkway meandering through relatively dry pinelands, swampy marsh and hardwood stands. When we left the walkway to explore I had difficulty keeping up with my nerdy brother who had obviously been hitting the gym. I used every bird sighting as an excuse to stop and recover from the hot and humid climate Floridians enjoy during the rainy season. It didn’t seem to faze Michael, and I, the resident was getting wrecked!  We saw a Blue Heron, Giant Egret, and Barred Owls. We think we saw a Limpkin. Florida is the only breeding place in the world for this crane looking bird. And we saw nesting cranes. We saw white tailed deer, but they looked smaller and more delicate than the deer I managed to wreck a car or two on in upstate New York (PETA probably does not approve this story by the way). The swamp was kind of ugly, but cool looking, like a bunch of lettuce leafs had been scattered over the water.  I had to get a closer look, but being not nearly as adept as I am now at maintaining my footing, I slipped in the mud. Everyone thought it was very funny had a big laugh. Including a couple of super nerdy birdwatchers who had the white bullfrog sunscreen on their noses.

At the end of our “two mile” four hour walk; I was covered in dried mud, smelled suspiciously like a mixture of rotting lettuce and sweat; I was hungry and tired. My brother looked as if he had just had a nap and wanted to go on to the next location, eager and ready to continue his investigation. I learned a lot about my adoptive state that day. I learned a lot about my brother and though have always loved him; I certainly respected him more that day. I was eager after that to see new out of town visitors-I knew exactly where I would take them!

Sometimes no matter how much fun it is being around your children, you need a break.  When camping it can happen even faster than normal.  With the outdoors giving you a relaxed sense of surrounding, and a mellower attitude, sometimes you need the kids to just take a break and find something fun to do on their own.  Maybe it’s some alone time with your spouse, maybe it’s just to relax after a hard day of relaxing in the great outdoors.  Whatever it is: Snipe Hunting is the answer. 

The elusive snipe is a creature of mythical origin, in the grandest sense: a non-existent animal sure to give you at least 3 years of use if your kids are under the age of 14. Essentially it is your job to lay out the details: what the snipe looks like, how it moves, how to catch it, what the reward is for doing so.  But embellishment is key.  If you can’t convince your kids, they will see right through your shenanigans.  You need a safe spot, obviously nighttime is best, and you want someplace where you can keep a relatively good ear or eye on the kids.  Play along as much as you can to enhance their desire to find the Snipe.

A good snipe hunt goes something like this:

Kids, I didn’t want to tell you about this, but since I think I saw one earlier when we were setting up camp…well never mind. It’s nothing.

(You have piqued their interest now; they will pursue the idea of whatever you are talking about.)

Well, I don’t know if I should, I have only really ever seen one in my whole life before today, and I’m not even sure if I saw it.

Them: “What? Saw what? What is it? Tell us Dad!”

Well I don’t want to get your hopes up, so maybe I shouldn’t.

Them: “COME ON DAD! TELL US! Yeah Dad tell us.”

(Looking at the wife with a sly grin)

It’s called a snipe.  It’s like a prehistoric monkey that moves really fast through the trees.  You can hear him, and sometimes even see him, but he’s incredibly hard to find…I mean, I probably shouldn’t even be saying this, but one of my friends when I was growing up found one, and his family moved to a really big house, and he got all kinds of toys and stuff.  They say the snipe has hidden treasure in his house.  They have houses under the trees.

Them: “…” “Really?” “Cool.” “Yeah, cool.” “I want to find a Snipe.” “Me too!” “Dad, help us find the snipe!”

At this point, the story takes on a life of its own.  In between family activities, you can revisit the snipe hunt, and really, no matter how often you fail at finding the snipe, in the backs of their minds, they always remember, that there is a chance they could find it.

The following scenarios and lines work well to perpetuate the snipe story.

Out of breath, coming back from going to the bathroom: “Kids! I just saw something that looked like a snipe-grab the flashlight, hurry, let’s go!”

Or while sitting with the wife around the campfire, overindulging in smore’s and fire roasted hotdogs while the kids are already n the fringe areas of the campsite in the tree line, looking for the snipe: “I just heard the snipe mating call in THAT direction.” Or, “Do you hear that? The branches moving like that? Sounds like the snipe!” Or even, “The guy in the campsite just came and asked me if I had seen the snipe that just ran through our campsite…”

It will invigorate your young kid’s desire to find this thing.

Some important pointers to keep this gig alive and well:

• Make it as androgynous and hard to find, yet interesting enough to seek out, as you can.  Maybe that means you describe it as have a beak like an eagle, a body like a snake, the tree-climbing skills of a monkey and the camouflage of a chameleon.

• Encourage your kids, don’t let their hope die out for one time finding the snipe.  Maybe that means you have to see it, or get into character more often as the trip nears a close.

• Never laugh too much behind their backs about it, kids are pretty good detectives, they will see right through you if you aren’t at least a little bit careful.

• Give them a cool goal to go after, like: “If you guys find the snipe, we will come back out in two months again.”, or “…we will all stop for ice cream on the way home at my childhood ice cream shop.” Or, “$10 to whoever brings me back the snipe, alive so I can see it…”

Be safe, there are a lot of bad people in the world; make sure your solo snipe hunter isn’t going out into the dark while you sleep.  Make sure that your kids are within earshot at all times.  Maybe invest in a set of cheap walkie-talkies so you can keep tabs on each other.  Nothing takes the fun out of a good humored joke, like a bad injury, or a lost child.

Create a good back story, stick with the details, and create all the drama of a big budget Hollywood thriller, and you and the wife are all set for relaxing, and laughing next to the crackling fire at the campsite.

Don’t forget to eventually tell them that the snipe doesn’t exist…or does it?

I think everyone who has ever had the exhilaration of summiting a sufficiently high mountain has wondered what it would be like to accomplish the next biggest and then the next.  Perhaps even, they have wondered what the feeling of accomplishment is like when climbing to the top of the biggest mountain in the world-Mount Everest.  Many have tried, relatively few have succeeded, and this adventure is far from your comfortable little modern convenience laden home.  It’s the most unforgiving and harshest environment on earth.

The Himalaya’s have for centuries been considered man’s penultimate conquest-to be able to withstand the harshest environment and live to tell about it, or even, to be able to tell your story, when all is said and done.  When you get to the kind of altitudes that the Himalayan mountain range can offer, life itself and basic physiological function becomes difficult.  And I don’t mean it’s hard to do something, I mean it’s almost impossible to do the little something’s that keep each of us alive on a second by second basis.  The little things like breathing, walking, talking.  Did I mention breathing?

Still for some, the lure is too great-the chance to achieve what only a handful of the bravest (or stupidest?), most conditioned and experienced climbers and mountaineers have accomplished, is simply THE goal.  Throw in some other scary things like the yeti, instant avalanches and phantom crevasses, not to mention having to carry the oxygen tanks that could keep you alive (65 lbs.), or the $100,000 price tag for a properly guided and prepared attempt.  It could also be 20+ months to receive permission by the Government to make your summit attempt.  And then there is the fact that you probably couldn’t get in shape, or gain the experience needed to summit Everest without several (many?) years of hardcore training and continual mountaineering.

Then you need to include the most important factor-Luck.  I don’t mean the kind of luck you were smiling about last summer when you won the daily scratch off which netted you 4 free scratcher tickets.  I’m talking about life or death luck.  I mean, you don’t want to be using the outdoor commode and get caught with your pants down by the Yeti.  I mean-that could get ugly, really fast.  For centuries there have been thousands of sightings of the famous hairy guy (your Uncle Joe, in all his chest carpet glory has nothing on this hairy beast-Robin Williams can’t even give the guy a run for his money), and the local porters and sherpas believe he lives near the base camps.  Luck to stay out of the bottom of a 500 foot crevasse, or that your tent doesn’t have a pole fail.  Luck that your climbing companions will remember their training during a stressful situation. Luck that you won’t get pulmonary or cerebral edema and have to end your trip, or risk your life.

With proper planning and physical preparation combined with knowledgeable and experienced guides you can make your dream to conquer the “unconquerable” Everest. With the modern gear, experience of guides and the changing weather patterns, a properly planned trip could be a success for a person in good shape, with a year or two to learn the techniques.  It isn’t unheard of at least. If you have the real desire, and don’t mind selling your second child to come up with the money (I’m only kidding-you would have to sell at least two kids anyways), you can definitely make a real try at summiting the world’s most imposing mountain.

The hard training, icy wet weekends of frozen waterfall climbing, high altitude acclimation and blistered feet could eventually pay off if you decide you want to try for the ultimate high.  Get it-High? It is over 29,000 feet high by the way. 

The fact is this: if you have ever worked hard to climb a mountain, whether it was 1,500 feet tall, or 15,000, you know the exhilarating feeling that comes with a successful summit, and the way that you become reinvigorated for life, no matter how tired you are.  Climbing a mountain above 20,000 feet will enhance the feeling of accomplishment you have at the summit, perhaps in part because of the high altitude, but mostly because so few people have accomplished a climb like that throughout the world. 

Recently I made a trip to climb Mount San Gorgonio and Mount San Jacinto in San Bernadino County, Ca, a couple of 12k+ foot mountains with vicious switchbacks on the initial ascent (I’m building cinematic drama here, bear with me), and huge dry boulder fields on the final ascent. The mountains themselves aren’t particularly tough if you are in relatively good shape, except for the fact that the initial switchbacks “Devil’s Slide” keep you sweaty and your heart pumping with a backpack on. It isn’t until you are tramping back down the mountain that it gets tough again (the hike in totality is moderately difficult), when your tired feet are kicking up dust that clings to your sweaty body and clothes on the steep decline.

The trip during summer makes it a draining one; drink up, because the heat will take it out of you. Lack of water on the exposed ridgeline will make you delirious and somewhat prune-like if you let it get to you. The last thing you want is your friends carrying you out on their backs: THAT will make you think twice about a third helping of Lobster Mac and Cheese. Stay hydrated, pay attention to your group and don’t forget to keep everyone on the same page.

At 900 calories an hour with a backpack and a fast pace, you’ll only have to summit this mountain twelve times to make up for your indiscretions at Hometown Buffet last night.

Seriously though, this hike is incredible if you can handle the exposure to direct sunlight for most of the trip outside of the initial ascent through “devil’s slide”, vampires, fair maidens from Ireland, and Anne Hathaway need not apply (unless they’re willing to apply lot’s of SPF 50 on their pale skin).

There is a beautiful area at the top of the mountains where you can look out for hundreds of miles and even spot the Salton Sea in the distance over 75 miles away! The view is literally breathtaking. By the time you make it up to the summit, and you are breathing hard, the view will take over and keep you breathless. The trip can be done in about 6 hours if you are fairly fit, but it’s an enjoyable all day trip too.

Fun little game: try to get the heartiest of your group to talk up a big game about how they summited Mount Blah Blah (insert lesser known far away mountain whose name was taken directly from Wikipedia) with a 90 lb backpack as though it was a walk in the park, then ask them to recall that story after the last set of switchbacks on Devil’s slide-I am willing to bet their story changes.

Bring sturdy boots on this trip too, as there is no sense in ruining those dainty little pedicured feet of yours or risk turning an ankle on a rock. This trip is not crazy hard, but it’s not a cakewalk either, so if you want a challenge (something harder than that mock Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog eating contest you had to cheat to win against your kids in your garage last summer), and can handle a bit of color in your face (first it’s red, then if you don’t use sunscreen it’s deeper red), get on over to your local desert mountain range (yeah it seems a bit oxymoronic, but in California crazier combinations have existed), and test the elite backpacking skills of your super dad neighbor who’s always bragging, and your own skills while you’re at it.

This is the type of trip you will come back for again and again. This time it was my seventh trip, and each time I swear it gets tougher. Maybe it’s me, who should think twice about the all you can eat buffet, or maybe it’s time to start planning trip number eight. See you at the summit!

If the Grand Canyon is not on your bucket list, you are part of a small minority. America's contribution to the seven natural wonders of the world, it remains a must-see for everyone. The area reports upward of 5 million visitors every year including many international tourists in those numbers. Any experienced camper knows the advantages to camping in an area of scenic splendor; the opportunity to spend time living close to nature, away from modern conveniences and distractions, recharges human batteries and brings an inner peace that dissipates in an urban environment. With the facilities on offer at the numerous camp sites around the Canyon, you can have all this with a large degree of comfort at very affordable rates.

If you'd like to avoid the crowds and feel the space, the Northern Rim offers a higher elevation and serene environment. Some consider its views of the canyon even better that those from the southern rim. The Southern Rim is more convenient as the main entrance and Visitor's Center are located there. On either rim, make sure you take the time to view the canyon during the late day or early morning, when the vibrant hues of warm colors are really at their peak.

Mather Campground

Located on the popular southern rim on the Arizona side of the Canyon, Mather has widely separated and well-wooded camp sites. You are likely to wake with elk grazing close to your tent and at night you will hear the coyotes in the area. Free shuttle buses provide transport to the many activities in the area, so there is little need to make use of your own vehicle during the stay. The walking trails on the southern rim of the canyon are also within walking distance from the campgrounds. Clean and modern bathrooms are available, although campsite bathrooms are limited to cold water only – take your portable shower along, unless you are prepared to make the trip to the heated showers. Some unreserved sites are available, but early bookings are the wise thing to do due to the popularity of the area. Mather is open year-round, but be aware that snow is likely in winter and the rim temperatures will be cold.

North Rim Campground

The North Rim is 1200 ft higher than the South Rim and ten miles away as the crow flies, but offers a quieter location with views of the Canyon that easily rivals those from the Southern Rim. For many, the North provides more viewing of the Canyon and a better sense of its geologic, ecologic and archaeological make up. The campsites are well spaced and wooded and some are literally 30 yards away from the rim itself. There are few places where you can wake to watch the sunrise coloring the canyon walls from the rim itself. The trails are diverse and lead to spectacular views from many viewing points. Cape Royal, Point Sublime and Point Imperial are essential stops and you could spend a whole day looking at the sights on offer at any of them. Unlike the Southern Rim, the North is not available all year-round as snow limits the season to mid-May to mid-October. Temperatures on the North Rim are cool at best, take warm clothing even in summer conditions.

Supai Campgrounds

5,500 ft below the rim, on the canyon floor, is a little oasis with five of the most spectacular falls you will find. The campgrounds are rustic and unsophisticated. If you are looking for luxury, this is not the place, but the journey in and the sights hidden from above are well worth the effort. The campgrounds are accessible by foot, on horseback or even by helicopter for those who are looking for a thrill and an easy way in. Hiking in is strenuous, but you are likely to encounter people of all ages and fitness levels who will manage the route at their own pace. The campgrounds supply composting restrooms and port-a-potties, but no shower accommodations – bring bio-degradable soap and you can use the stream for bathing. Drinking water is available from a well. The campsites are spacious and you have the opportunity of sleeping within feet of the milky blue Havasu Creek, in one of the most spectacular places on earth.

We would like to hear of your experiences at these campsites and camping in general. All contributions will be entered into a draw for prizes from our range of shower bags and butane portable showers. We look forward to hearing from you.

The heat wave enveloping most of the country at the moment is an indication of even hotter weather to come this summer.  You need a cold shower.

Surprisingly enough to some, there is a large market for cold showers. Anyone who has done any desert camping or found themselves in the great outdoors during a hot spell will attest to a cold shower being essential for survival – in some cases quite literally.

A number of showers cater for hot conditions.  The Big Kahuna Shower, for one, is a popular portable shower which has no heating system incorporated in the device. For conditions at sea or on a lake in summer, hot water is definitely NOT a big requirement. For me personally, sand, sea and sun calls for clean and cold water every time I hit the beach or especially when sea fishing.

Solar shower bags also can be used effectively for lukewarm or cold showers. Fill them from streams or local water supply points or from your own water containers. Fill them just before they are needed for lower temperatures or just keep them out of the sun – they won't heat up higher than the ambient temperature and will provide a comfortably cool shower. Spraying down the area of your camping site will also help to drop temperatures in the immediate vicinity and keep dust down – just sling your solar shower bag over your shoulder and take a walk through the camp site with the shower nozzle in your hand, spraying lightly as far as you go. Of course, propane portable showers, such as those from the Zodi shower range, can also provide cold showers – simply don't heat the water.

What is too hot? Well, Health and Safety regulations define 85° F as the threshold for “moderate work” for someone unacclimatized to local conditions. That temperature drops quickly if high humidity is added. Most of us travel to areas far from home when we are camping – and most do quite a bit of hiking too. That qualifies as more than just “moderate work”.

There are a number of unexpected health benefits to taking cold showers. It improves circulation, conditions both the skin and hair and is attributed to increasing the brain's production of nonadrenaline – a chemical that fights depression. Ancient samurai warriors followed a ritual of pouring cold spring water over their heads every morning for spiritual renewal – the fact that the Japanese have the longest lifespan in the world is linked by some researchers to the common practice of daily cold friction showers. If you need any more convincing, recent medical research shows an increase of testosterone and fertility in men.

We would like to hear about your experiences with hot weather on camping trips, so leave a comment and you'll be entered into our draw for a prize for a Stearns Sunshower 5 Gallon shower bag and a Zodi Extreme SC Hot Shower as the grand prize.