Friday, February 28, 2014

A cool new app for the outdoors

Glympse is a cool new social media tool that allows users to share their location with others. You can send a glympse to anyone you want and it allows that user to track your location in real time. You can input a destination, and a comment with your glympse as well. 

One of the best parts about Glympse is that you don’t have to have the app for it to work. If you send someone a Glympse they can click on the link and it will open up a webpage with your location. When you send a glympse , it shows the recipient your location, direction your traveling, the path you are following, your speed, time until arrival, and estimated time until arrival. 

Another useful aspect of Glympse is you can send someone a glympse and specify how long your location will show up. When the time you choose has passed, your location and tracks will disappear. This is a good safety and privacy feature. You can also choose whether to keep your glympse private, allowing only the person you sent it to, to view it, or you can choose to post a glympse to another social media network such as Facebook or Twitter. This allows all of your followers on those networks to see your glympse.You can also create Glympse Groups where a group of people all have access to each other’s locations. This could be useful if everyone is meeting at a restaurant or has an important meeting to attend.

Glympse is a great idea that doesn’t require any sign-up or registration so it makes getting started easy. By allowing people to see your real-time location and eta, people no longer have to wonder if you really are going to “be there in 5 minutes” or it can allow people to share their location so if they don’t show up when they said they were going to, others might know what happened to them. This could really be helpful for the outdoors. Imagine if Aaron Ralston had sent out a Glympse, there might not have been a “127 Hours”

The ease of use, combined with privacy, and functionality, make Glympse a great new social media tool to have.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Jetboil Zip Quick Look

Here is a quick video of my Jetboil Zip Cooking System in action. It boils water in under 2 minutes in most cases, and packs up quite compact too. I take it with me whenever I go camping or hunting because I can use it to heat food, hot chocolate, or coffee, cook food, boil water, and to just keep me warm.

Check it out -

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Camping Essentials - Food

When you're camping, whether it's "on the map" or "Off The Map", you probably would like to skip the grocery store, the ice, the cooler, and all the packaging when it comes to your food.

Who wants to deal with all the trouble of getting all the groceries, packing them in ice, worrying about the ice melting and ruining the food, hauling the cooler around, not to mention hauling a grill around or building a fire to cook the food (another reason to invest in a backpack stove like the Jetboil Zip).

If you're tired of all the food hassle, I've got 2 words for you:
Mountain.
House.

Pick up a few Mountain House dehydrated meals next time you're at Academy, or Gander Mountain or even Walmart. These dehydrated meals are packaged in a resealable foil packaging that doubles as a cooking container. They are so easy to cook it will make you regret ever hauling around that cooler full of soggy food. All you have to do is boil some water, (again, backpack stove), most meals call for 16 ounces but some call for less, and then pour it into the bag the meal came in, stir, then reseal the bag and wait 8-10 minutes. After 10 minutes, open up the bag and give it one more stir and then you're ready to chow down. These are available in several different menu selections, ranging from Spaghetti to Lasagna to Bacon and Eggs. There are several different lunch/dinner options and a few breakfast options.

One of the best aspects of Mountain House meals is they taste great. So good, I am nearly ashamed how much I enjoy eating something out of a foil bag like this. They may not look very appetizing, but just smell them and you will know they're worth trying. I honestly think the Beef Stroganoff variety is the best beef stroganoff I've ever had.

While some may look at the nutritional facts on the back of the packaging and be put off, just remember, you aren't going to eat these while laying on the couch on a Wednesday night, you will be eating these as you're camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, etc. You will be outdoors, getting some much needed air and exercise anyway, so if you have a little more sodium than usual, its not really that big of a deal (at least in my eyes). Also Mountain House has recently begun offering meals in Low Sodium and Gluten Free varieties for those of you worried about those kinds of things

These are also extremely compact and lightweight. I carry my Jetboil Zip and 2 or 3 Mountain House meals in my camping/hiking pack at all times, and I often carry a couple in my hunting bag as well.

Mountain House meals are also sold in #10 Cans which provide 10 servings and have a 25 year shelf life, the regular pouches which have either 1 or 2 servings depending on the variety and have a 10 year shelf life, Pro-Pak pouches which take up even less space, although they forgo the ability to cook inside the packaging, and buckets which contain a variety of meals packaged in the pouches (these are the best bang for the buck).

Mountain House meals are sold at pretty much any outdoor retailer including Academy, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Gander Mountain, and even Walmart. You can also find them at several sites online.

The regular pouches retail for $5-8 dollars in most places.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Staying In Touch

If you decide to camp or enjoy the outdoors for any length of time, and you HAVE to have your phone, tablet, or any other electronic devices, one of the biggest problems you will face is keeping your devices charged.

For a long time I thought the best was way to keep your stuff charged was to buy a car charger if you were going to be close to a vehicle, or a stand alone battery powered charger. Recently though, I have come across a few other ways to stay charged up.

One way is a solar charger. I have never used one, but have heard good things about them from people that have. These are easy to use because you can set them up, and then leave them in the sunlight for a few hours. The only problem with a solar charger is the fact that you will be without power if it's overcast, raining, or you are in a location without sufficient sunlight, like a canyon or the jungle/woods. These come in many different varieties, sizes, and features. One of the more popular products is the Goal Zero line of products. These are available in several different sizes and come in different styles as well. They are available at Cabelas, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, and if you want to, directions on the internet are easy to find that will show you how to make your own.

Another more flexible option might be The Power Pot. I haven't used this either but after looking at it, it seems like a great idea. The premise of the Power Pot is that you replace the cup or pot that you usually boil water or cook food in with The Power Pot. As you are cooking or boiling, the Power Pot heats up and is turned into electricity. This essentially allows you to kill two birds with one stone. It seems like a great idea, the only problem is the price tag, which is also the main drawback for solar panels (unless you make your own).  Neither option is really cheap, which means that you will either really have to be dependent on technology, or have quite a bit of spare change lying around.

So let me know, do you ever just have to have your technology while outside? Is the cost worth it to you? Also if you have ever used either one of these options, how did it go? Is there another product that you recommend?

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Skiing - A Great Experience In The Outdoors

While this blog focuses mainly on camping I would also like to focus on other aspects of being outside and let people know about some great activities available to them.

Spring Break is coming up and most college students are thinking about or already planning a trip. Everyone knows the most popular Spring Break destination is the beach, but in my opinion, people would be remiss to not consider a trip to the mountains.

Skiing (or snowboarding) is an awesome experience that everyone that is physically capable of, should experience. You would be hard pressed to find a better outdoor experience that is as thrilling, physically active, and breathtakingly scenic as skiing or snowboarding.

I have been 4-5 times over the past 5 years and I would go back in an instant if the right opportunity presented itself.

While people in North/Northeast Texas aren't exactly close to any major skiing destinations, there are several places that can be reached fairly quickly by driving.

Ruidosa, New Mexico is a great ski destination that doesn't require 2-3 days of driving to reach. Ski Apache, which is the mountain ski resort, is always groomed, there is a great variety of trails, and you can usually find lodging in town for fairly cheap. 3 years ago I went with 4 friends and we were able to snag an A-frame cabin for under $70 dollars a night. Ski rentals and lift passes also aren't outrageous.

A couple other places that I have heard great things about that don't require a multi-day drive are Angelfire, New Mexico and Red River, New Mexico. I have been to Red River and it was an awesome experience, but it was in the middle of the summer, so I didn't get to experience the skiing.

A few places that require a little more driving, but will be colder and have more snow usually are Durango Mountain Resort (formerly known as Purgatory) north of Durango, Co which is a great place to go that is a little less crowded than other destinations, but has a great variety of trails and runs, and the facilities are incredible, I highly recommend the skiing here. And the entire group of ski resorts west of Denver, including Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, and Keystone. Anything in the A-Basin provides great ski/snowboard experiences. While the prices may be a little higher and the driving is a little further, if you can swing it budget wise, these resorts are some of the top destinations in the country as far as skiing and snowboarding are concerned.

I just skied at Breckenridge over Christmas break and it was an awesome experience. The variety of terrain and runs is so much greater than other resorts, its unbelievable. The vast variety of lodging opportunities allows you to pick and choose where, when, and how long you want to stay. You can get a place at the base of the actual ski resort for true ski-in ski-out service or you can find a cabin more secluded in the surrounding area if thats more your style. Of course there are always the chain-style hotels located in the surrounding areas. When you are at Breckenridge, one of the coolest things to do is explore the town. Noted for being one of the best resort towns in the country, Breckenridge has it all. Also if you buy lift tickets for any of the resorts in A-Basin, they will work for several others in the surrounding area as well so you aren't just limited to one resort.

If you have never been skiing or snowboarding before but always wanted to, maybe try to book a trip to one of these destinations over Spring Break instead of the old stand by, the beach.

If you are a student at Texas A&M University-Commerce and were looking to try your hand at skiing, contact Outdoor Adventures at the Morris Rec Center, because they are putting together a trip to Wolf Creek Ski Area over Spring Break and spots are filling up fast


Here is a video from their trip to Wolf Creek last year over Spring Break-

Links
Outdoor Adventures
Ski Apache - Ruidosa, NM
Angelfire
Red River, New Mexico
Breckenridge

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Camping Essentials - Stove

A camping stove is one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have in your camping or general outdoor arsenal. When most people hear the words camping stove, they probably think the large, laptop sized Coleman propane/butane stove. But there is another kind of stove that is gaining popularity for camping, hiking, hunting, and general outdoor life. It's the backpacking stove.

These stoves are small and lightweight enough to carry around in a pack or duffel bag. They are multi-purpose too. You can cook food, boil water for sanitation, whip up a pot of coffee, or even use them for heat if necessary. Most stoves these days run off of a propane mix, butane mix, or alcohol. There are different fuel mixes for different altitudes and temperatures. It's a good idea to make sure the fuel you pick will work in your scenario. You can find stoves that are sold as stand alone units, or you can find stoves that are packaged with cups or pots to cook or boil water in, as well as other accessories.

One of the most popular backpacking stove brands on the market is the Jetboil system. The Jetboil line of stoves are famous for their quick cooking/boiling, and packing everything into one small, easy to carry package.

The Jetboil Zip is one of the smallest systems that Jetboil produces, yet it still provides the reliability and quick heating Jetboil is known for.

A neoprene material wraps around the cup, which holds up to 27 ounces, in order to protect the user from burns. It includes a flexible drink through lid that keeps food or drink from spilling out, and allows all of the accessories to fit inside when not in use. There is a handy diagram on the side of the cup that shows how to re-package the accessories inside the cup. On the bottom of the cup is Jetboil's patented FluxRing, which is supposed to help distribute the heat evenly quickly, decreasing boil times.

On the bottom of the cup is a smaller plastic cup that slides into place covering the FluxRing when not in use. This plastic cup also has measuring marks on the inside, and can be used to measure out food or liquids, or as a bowl to eat out of.

The burner is the star of the show though. This small lightweight burner can boil room temperature water in 2:30 minutes, although in my testing, I have found that it often boils even faster. The Zip system is lacking the built in lighting function of other Jetboil stoves, but a lighter or matches in the side pocket of the cup can remedy that problem.

Jetboil also includes a stabilizing base for the stove system that helps prevent accidental tip-overs. Also included in the package is a pot support device with fold out arms that allow you to cook or boil water in containers other than the Jetboil one.

The entire setup weighs less than a pound. Fuel canisters are available at nearly every major outdoor retailer and even some Walmart stores, and can often be found for under $5.

I carry a Jetboil Zip in my camping pack, with a lighter in the side pocket of the cup, so I am ready for anything. I can boil water for dehydrated meals, boil water to get rid of bacteria and other nastiness, cook food, or use it for heat in an emergency scenario.

If you are looking for a system to keep in your camping bag, car, or emergency system that is capable of cooking food, boiling liquids, and even providing a heat source, in a small package that can be stored and forgotten about, look no further that the Jetboil Zip Cooking System.

Jetboil also sells a complete line of accessories for the Jetboil Zip to help you get the job done, whatever that may be.

The Jetboil Zip is available from many retailers, including REI, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, and Academy, and Gander Mountain. It usually retails for around $79.99.

Check out Camp Off The Map on Instagram and Youtube for photos and video of the Jetboil Zip in action.

Do you have a stove for camping? If so what kind? What made you choose that model?

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Why do we love the outdoors?

Why do we love the outdoors? What do we love about the outdoors? Is it because it's different? Do we like "being one with nature"? Is it something hard-wired in us from our ancestors living off the wild? I think its a combination of the above.

Personally, I love the outdoors because being outside, experiencing things at a primal level is just so different from everyday life. I love, pardon the cliche, "getting away from it all". When I am camping, fishing, hunting, or doing anything else "Off The Map" from everyday life, I am able to take a step back and notice the smaller things in life. You never notice the color of a sunset, a crisp north wind, or those two squirrels chasing each other up and down a tree when you are driving down the highway at 70 miles per hour, or walking in to Starbucks while talking on the phone.

I love the outdoors because it allows me to spend quality time with friends and family, without being distracted by 739 new tweets I missed, or the latest viral video. There's something relaxing about being off "the grid" having no electricity and you have no cell phone reception or other technological stimuli. It feels like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders when you realize you don't HAVE to be attached to your phone, tablet or laptop at all times. Try backcountry camping at Big Bend sometime and you will know what it truly means to be "off the grid" or "off the map".

I also think there is also a sense of nostalgia that appeals to a person when they are living like their ancestors did. Living without modern comforts, fishing or hunting for dinner, walking from place to place, people don't often do that anymore.

The views aren't too bad either -

Why do you love the outdoors? What appeals the most to you? Let me know below in the comments section.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

An Introduction to Camp Off The Map

Welcome to Camp Off The Map, a website devoted to showcasing the best of camping and the outdoors. Over time, this blog will cover reviews of camping gear, discuss interesting places to camp throughout the state of Texas and surrounding areas, and showcase brief how-tos regarding camping set ups. There will also be occasional videos or pictures included in reviews, discussions and how-tos. Comments on any and all posts are always welcome. Enjoy!

Also, don't forget to check out the corresponding Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube pages linked in the sidebar.