Posted by Roy Scribner on February 27, 2010 under News | 
This is what camping geeks look for on the Internet: vintage stoves! Call it a sickness, call it a midlife crisis, but when I saw this early 60’s Coleman® 425C for sale I just couldn’t pass it up. The “C” model of the 425 series was made in 1961, 1963 and 1964. I do not think there is any way to tell exactly when this particular one was originally sold, but it’s fun to have a forty-something year-old camping stove.
Coleman 425 Camp Stove History
Model 425: 1948 to 1953
Model 425B: 1954 to 1960 & 1962
Model 425C: 1961 & 1963 to 1964
Model 425D: 1965 to 1966
Model 425E: 1967 & 1970 to present
Model 425G: 1968 to 1969
I’m looking forward to getting my “new” stove out and putting it through its paces. Will this replace my propane stove? I think it will, owing to the nostalgia factor and the fact that it should make for a nice campground conversation piece.
One of the reasons these liquid fuel stoves are not as popular as their propane brethren is that transporting the fuel can be a pain. It leaks, it smells and it’s just a big hassle compared to the disposable propane canisters. I plan to carry the fuel in a MSR® bottle, which will be a lot less prone to leaks than the 1-gallon can that the Coleman fuel comes in. The fuel tank on the Coleman stove is 40-ounces and the largest MSR bottle is 30-ounces, so two of the bottles should be sufficient for even weeklong camping trips.
See also…
Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.
Posted by Roy Scribner on under News |
This is what camping geeks look for on the Internet: vintage stoves! Call it a sickness, call it a midlife crisis, but when I saw this early 60’s Coleman® 425C for sale I just couldn’t pass it up. The “C” model of the 425 series was made in 1961, 1963 and 1964. I do not think there is any way to tell exactly when this particular one was originally sold, but it’s fun to have a forty-something year-old camping stove.
Coleman 425 Camp Stove History
Model 425: 1948 to 1953
Model 425B: 1954 to 1960 & 1962
Model 425C: 1961 & 1963 to 1964
Model 425D: 1965 to 1966
Model 425E: 1967 & 1970 to present
Model 425G: 1968 to 1969
I’m looking forward to getting my “new” stove out and putting it through its paces. Will this replace my propane stove? I think it will, owing to the nostalgia factor and the fact that it should make for a nice campground conversation piece.
One of the reasons these liquid fuel stoves are not as popular as their propane brethren is that transporting the fuel can be a pain. It leaks, it smells and it’s just a big hassle compared to the disposable propane canisters. I plan to carry the fuel in a MSR® bottle, which will be a lot less prone to leaks than the 1-gallon can that the Coleman fuel comes in. The fuel tank on the Coleman stove is 40-ounces and the largest MSR bottle is 30-ounces, so two of the bottles should be sufficient for even weeklong camping trips.
See also…
Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.
Posted by Roy Scribner on February 25, 2010 under Camp Cooking |
If you are planning a family camping trip this summer, one of the activities that you are probably looking forward to is roasting marshmallows over the campfire. We consider campfire time one of our favorite family camping experiences and while we don’t always roast marshmallows, it is a great family activity that the kids really enjoy. Here are five marshmallow sticks that will spare you from having to search for that perfect stick in the woods.
Rome Industries Marshmallow Tree
I think we all looked for these kinds of sticks when we were kids – the kind that you could load with half a dozen marshmallows, to maximize your melted sugary treat experience. The Marshmallow Tree harkens back to those multi-branched marshmallow sticks of our youth, but this version is made from steel that is bent to look like the branches of a tree.
Tube O’ Stix™
Worried about finding that perfect marshmallow stick, once you get to your favorite camping spot? The Marshmallow Stick Company has you covered, with their Tube O’ Stix which is a bundle of twenty birch marshmallow sticks that are 30-inches long, with semi-tapered ends that don’t require any whittling by mom or dad.
POPSTICKS®
I first stumbled onto POPSTICKS last year and was impressed with the attention to detail and quality that inventor Ray Westfall puts into the product. They are also one of the best marshmallow sticks I’ve seen for traveling, since the fork stores completely inside the tube-handle when not in use.
Marshmallow Chef Sticks
If machined aluminum isn’t quite your style, but you are still a stickler for quality, there’s the Marshmallow Chef Sticks. These quality roasting sticks are made of 3/4 inch hardwood maple and come in 16, 30 and 47-inch lengths.
Grill Thing
Filling the gap between a simple stick and a metal fork is the Grill Thing. These stainless steel forks attach to the end of any stick, allowing you to safely, and cleanly attach marshmallows or hotdogs. Best of all, when the Grill Thing is removed from the stick it is easy to store.
See also…
Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.
Posted by Roy Scribner on February 23, 2010 under News |
Next week marks the traditional launch of the spring camping season for many across the country, but Nancy Heltman, with Virginia State Parks, is reporting that several of their parks are still snowed-in or flooded from recent rains.
Douthat State Park (photo by pcopros on Flickr)
While the park staff have done what they can to plow the roads in White Oak Campground, the turning radius will not accommodate large RVs. Top that off with the fact that the sites are snow covered, and there is just no way to accommodate campers.
The state is tentatively targeting an April 1 opening for Douthat State Park, dependant on how well the park drains as the snow melts. At First Landing State Park, only one of the campground loops will open on March 1, with the opening of other loops dependant on how quickly the floodwaters subside and how much repair the campsites on those loops will require.
Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.
Posted by JR SCHELL on under Uncategorized |
I agree. I’m a big guy and it’s tough for my wife & I to do more than an overnite in a smaller 2 person tent. So I always look for that bigger 2-3 rating or even 4. I’ve done 3 season camping in Alaska and the problems I heard about were from the heavy rains and winds on Kodiak in the summer. I love mesh top tents so if the weathers good and the bugs are bad I can star gaze.
Posted by JR SCHELL on under Uncategorized |
I agree. I’m a big guy and it’s tough for my wife & I to do more than an overnite in a smaller 2 person tent. So I always look for that bigger 2-3 rating or even 4. I’ve done 3 season camping in Alaska and the problems I heard about were from the heavy rains and winds on Kodiak in the summer. I love mesh top tents so if the weathers good and the bugs are bad I can star gaze.
Posted by Scott Claflin on under Uncategorized |
Absolutely true. The easiest way in the world to ruin a good tent or your gear is to put it away without cleaning. Weather’s starting to get a little nicer here in Florida and we’re getting ready to plan our first trip of the season. It’s been awhile, so time to pull out the gear and check it all out.
Posted by Roy Scribner on February 18, 2010 under News |
Roy and Ed at Oktoberfest in Mount Angel, OR
Okay, I’ve been putting this off for way too long. There’s a popular meme floating around the blogosphere called Honest Scrap – or, as my friend Ed in Portland, OR says; “Honest Crap”, where bloggers share ten interesting things about themselves that their readers probably don’t know.
It’s actually kind of fun learning other people’s deep, dark, secrets! I mean, who would have thought that Bethe Almeras at The Grass Stain Guru had a crush on George Michael and Ricky Martin? Or that Jess at Wild Earth Integration has been struck by lightning? I’m not sure I can top being hit by lightning, but I have been in a few “scraps” over the years, so let’s see!
In 1972, I looked exactly like my son does today. And yes, I still know Vallerie – although I haven’t been back to Magic Mountain since that photo was taken.
I’m not much of a surfer, but in 1991 at Cape Hatteras I surfed Hurricane Bob.
My favorite music is…uh…everything. Literally. My MP3 player (which is my Blackberry – I hate carrying multiple gadgets) has everything from Bob Marley to Linkin Park, with Metalica and Loretta Lynn in there, too.
Camping next to a river in Honduras, I woke up one morning and started making some coffee. After a few minutes of feeling something tickling me on the back of my neck, a friend came over and swatted a large scorpion off the back of my head.
My high school was so small that we played 8-man football and there were only 13 of us in our graduating class. Oddly enough, my little hometown has its own Wikipedia page.
Lisa and I aren’t huge fans of California, although I’ve been an Oakland Raiders fan all my life. Oh, and we picked these oranges and tangerines in our backyard, last weekend, in the middle of February! We also have pears, plums, peaches, apples, lemons, figs and persimmons.
I once had a parachute malfunction in Petawawa, Ontario and escaped by the skin of my teeth. A week later, I jumped into northern Quebec and spent three days living out of a snow cave in the Arctic Circle because the parachute on our akio sled failed to open and all of our gear was destroyed.
Can you tell that one of these kids is adopted? Neither can we.
The only time I can remember ever being scared in the woods was when I happened onto some wild boars, in Panama. I’m pretty sure we both took off in opposite directions at a fairly high rate of speed.
I DJ’d for Oregon State University’s radio station and would probably go back into that if I won the lottery.
Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.
Posted by Roy Scribner on February 16, 2010 under camping tips |
When it’s time to beat the winter blues, a weekend family beach camping trip might be just the thing your kids need, to burn off some cabin fever and get outside. Beaches are a lot more laid back in the winter, so camping spots are a lot easier to get. And, while temperatures may not allow for splashing in the surf, there’s still fun to be had playing in the sand and spending some quality time with the kids around the campfire.
Florida: St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Miles of sandy white beaches (photo by LgclThry on Flickr)
Short of a long airplane ride to a tropical island, nothing beats St. Joseph Peninsula State Park for its miles of sandy white beaches and bountiful wildlife. This is probably the best place to show your kids what Florida looked like, before it was developed into oblivion.
Campsites: 119
Cabins: 8
Primitive Camping Allowed ($4 per person).
Texas: Padre Island National Seashore
70 miles of sandy beaches on Padre Island (photo by Gerald5970 on Flickr)
Located along the south Texas coast, Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world. If you are considering a winter family camping vacation, Padre Island’s 70 miles of sandy beaches is sure to be a big hit with the kids.
Malaquite Campground: 16 RV sites, 26 tent / RV sites and 8 tent-only sites
Bird Island Basin: 45 tent / RV sites
North Beach: Primitive camping
South Beach: Primitive camping
Yarborough Pass: Primitive camping, 4-wheel drive only
All campsites are first-come, first served.
California: Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
Winter camping at Gold Bluffs Beach (photo by tasker on Flickr)
Gold Bluffs Beach is located in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, in northern California, but it’s at the end of an unpaved road – so you are guaranteed plenty of solitude for your family beach camping vacation.
Campsites: 25 RV / Tent, 29 tent-only
Oregon: Bullards Beach State Park
Yurt camping at Bullards Beach State Park (photo by fredsharples on Flickr)
Bullards Beach is a large, family-oriented park located just two miles north of Bandon. The campground is nestled among shore pines and well protected from the strong ocean breezes. Besides three loops of campsites, the park boasts 13 yurts, making year-round camping a very popular choice.
Campsites: 187
Yurts: 13
South Carolina: Huntington Beach State Park
Grand Strand beach at Huntington Beach State Park (photo by LSykora on Flickr)
Huntington Beach State Park features a sweeping Grand Strand beach, pristine and wide open. Sea breeze camping and some of the finest bird-watching on the East Coast make this state park a great winter family camping escape.
Campsites: 131 tent / RV sites, 6 walk-in tent sites
Virginia: False Cape State Park
Winter beach camping at False Cape State Park (photo by pcopros on Flickr)
Guaranteed winter solitude for your family, False Cape State Park is only accessible through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating – there is no motor vehicle access.
Campsites: Primitive camping, reservations required
See also…
Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.
Posted by Roy Scribner on under camping tips |
When it’s time to beat the winter blues, a weekend family beach camping trip might be just the thing your kids need, to burn off some cabin fever and get outside. Beaches are a lot more laid back in the winter, so camping spots are a lot easier to get. And, while temperatures may not allow for splashing in the surf, there’s still fun to be had playing in the sand and spending some quality time with the kids around the campfire.
Florida: St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Miles of sandy white beaches (photo by LgclThry on Flickr)
Short of a long airplane ride to a tropical island, nothing beats St. Joseph Peninsula State Park for its miles of sandy white beaches and bountiful wildlife. This is probably the best place to show your kids what Florida looked like, before it was developed into oblivion.
Campsites: 119
Cabins: 8
Primitive Camping Allowed ($4 per person).
Texas: Padre Island National Seashore
70 miles of sandy beaches on Padre Island (photo by Gerald5970 on Flickr)
Located along the south Texas coast, Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world. If you are considering a winter family camping vacation, Padre Island’s 70 miles of sandy beaches is sure to be a big hit with the kids.
Malaquite Campground: 16 RV sites, 26 tent / RV sites and 8 tent-only sites
Bird Island Basin: 45 tent / RV sites
North Beach: Primitive camping
South Beach: Primitive camping
Yarborough Pass: Primitive camping, 4-wheel drive only
All campsites are first-come, first served.
California: Gold Bluffs Beach Campground
Winter camping at Gold Bluffs Beach (photo by tasker on Flickr)
Gold Bluffs Beach is located in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, in northern California, but it’s at the end of an unpaved road – so you are guaranteed plenty of solitude for your family beach camping vacation.
Campsites: 25 RV / Tent, 29 tent-only
Oregon: Bullards Beach State Park
Yurt camping at Bullards Beach State Park (photo by fredsharples on Flickr)
Bullards Beach is a large, family-oriented park located just two miles north of Bandon. The campground is nestled among shore pines and well protected from the strong ocean breezes. Besides three loops of campsites, the park boasts 13 yurts, making year-round camping a very popular choice.
Campsites: 187
Yurts: 13
South Carolina: Huntington Beach State Park
Grand Strand beach at Huntington Beach State Park (photo by LSykora on Flickr)
Huntington Beach State Park features a sweeping Grand Strand beach, pristine and wide open. Sea breeze camping and some of the finest bird-watching on the East Coast make this state park a great winter family camping escape.
Campsites: 131 tent / RV sites, 6 walk-in tent sites
Virginia: False Cape State Park
Winter beach camping at False Cape State Park (photo by pcopros on Flickr)
Guaranteed winter solitude for your family, False Cape State Park is only accessible through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating – there is no motor vehicle access.
Campsites: Primitive camping, reservations required
See also…
Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.