Avoiding Chores

Tag: camping

  • A Cozy Escape at Moosewood Cabin in Baxter State Park

    A Cozy Escape at Moosewood Cabin in Baxter State Park

    Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

    Nestled amidst the pristine wilderness of Baxter State Park, Moosewood Cabin (Cabin 13) at Kidney Pond Campground offers a tranquil retreat like no other. I recently had the pleasure of spending three unforgettable nights here, from October 16 to 18, 2023. I’ll take you on a virtual journey through my experience at Kidney Pond, delve into the history of this enchanting location, and explore the nearby hiking opportunities at Katahdin Stream and Roaring Brook.

    The History of Kidney Pond Campground

    Kidney Pond Campground, located in the heart of Baxter State Park, has a rich history that dates back to the early 1900s. It was established as a private camp in 1929 and was later acquired by the State of Maine in 1962 with final transfer to the park in 1989. Today, it remains one of the park’s most popular campgrounds, offering a unique blend of rustic charm and modern amenities.

    Staying at Moosewood Cabin

    Moosewood Cabin (Cabin 13) is a true gem in Kidney Pond Campground. This quaint log cabin for two people is equipped with all the essentials for a comfortable stay, including a wood-burning stove, twin beds, and a screened-in porch that offers views of the surrounding wilderness. The cabin is an excellent choice for those seeking a cozy and secluded getaway, with the added charm of being nestled deep in the woods.

    My stay at Moosewood Cabin was an incredible experience. The cabin’s wood stove kept me warm as I savored a cup of hot coffee in the chilly October mornings.

    Exploring Kidney Pond

    Kidney Pond itself is a sight to behold. This glacial pond is surrounded by dense forests and offers opportunities for canoeing, fishing, and wildlife observation. During my stay, I saw other campers take a peaceful canoe ride across the pond and other campers returning from the trails around the lake.

    Hiking Adventures at Katahdin Stream and Roaring Brook

    Kidney Pond Campground serves as a great basecamp for exploring the nearby hiking trails. Two of the most popular trails in the area are the Katahdin Stream Trail and the Roaring Brook Trail.

    1. Katahdin Stream Trail: This trail provides access to the renowned Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. While the hike to the summit is challenging, the views are incredibly rewarding. Even if you don’t tackle the entire summit, the lower sections of the trail offer spectacular scenery, with cascading waterfalls and lush foliage.

    2. Roaring Brook Trail: Another remarkable trail, the Roaring Brook Trail takes you to Chimney Pond, nestled in the shadow of Mount Katahdin. The hike is moderate and presents opportunities for bird-watching and wildlife encounters. The view of the Great Basin from Chimney Pond is simply breathtaking.

    My stay at Moosewood Cabin in Kidney Pond Campground, located within Baxter State Park, was a magical escape into nature’s heart. The history of Kidney Pond and the nearby hiking opportunities at Katahdin Stream and Roaring Brook make this destination a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike. If you’re seeking a peaceful retreat in a historic and picturesque setting, consider Moosewood Cabin and Kidney Pond Campground for your next getaway. You won’t be disappointed by the natural beauty and outdoor adventures that await you in this enchanting corner of Maine.

  • Truck Camping With Kodiak Canvas Truck Tent

    During our research for a new family camping tent, I looked at a few options where you pitch your tent over your truck bed. It looked interesting but we passed on it and bought the Kodiak Canvas Cabin Tent – which for family camping was a good choice.

    However, there are times during the shoulder seasons where I wouldn’t mind going out for weekend or overnight and hauling the cabin tent is not an option. Hammock camping for me is past me, so what else could I do?

    I returned to Kodiak Canvas website and saw that they offered a truck tent version. Their tent model was very simple; akin to a fitted bed sheet. So I got curious and decided to pull the trigger this season.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BoY3qBznPLm/

    Welcome To Truck Camping

    Yes, truck camping is a thing. I noticed it was gaining momentum a few years now where I first started seeing more of it being used during marathon events, ultra or other long term races in the woods. People would convert their truck cab, SUV or van into a sleeper. Cheap and easy camping option.

    Then the world of overlanding started to come in and now a bunch of products and gear are available for a multitude of configuration options. It reminded me when I was hammock camping; the interest was being very modular and customizing the build based on your needs. Truck camping was no different, just the budget got bigger and I could use my backpacking gear.

    The Truck Camping Build

    I currently drive a Ford F150 short truck bed with a few accessories that I wanted to help with outdoor recreation but kept the truck useful for hauling stuff.

    Back Rack

    This is a headache rack that is an easy no-drill install at the front of the truck bed, protecting the glass of the cab. I got it to tie down down bikes, canoes and kayaks. It is an essential item if you intent to use your truck and load up the truck bed.

    I also could, based on the site attach a rope from a post and pitch a tarp to give me some cover.

    DECKED Truck Bed Drawer System

    Instead of shopping for a tonneau cover or other tool box which shrinks down the size of the truck bed, I opted for the DECKED platform. This gives me two 150 litre drawers and four ammo can sized areas in each corner. I love this thing. It can support 2000lbs and you still are able to utilize the entire truck bed.

    Since I have the short truck bed, I could not fit a camp cot into the truck bed, but the DECKED gives me a good flat surface and I still got drawers to use. You see a lot of youtube videos of people building their own system.

    Kodiak Canvas Truck Tent (model 7206)

    This is the truck tent model that will fit truck beds between 5.5 ft and 6.8ft. This looks like an old chuckwagon tent when setup and with the short truck bed, I have to roll up a bit of extra fabric. This doesn’t include a floor so essentially you are drapping a canvas sheet over the truck bed and use the support archs to make the shape.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BopL3vJHvC2/

    Tent Is Not Perfectly In Place

    My truck accessories at the front of the truck bed is restricting the truck tent from covering it completely.

    The backrack uprights are situated on the side 1/3 from center. This allows me to access the corners of the truck bed with the tent no problem. There is a short 18 inch section that I need to clamp down or use magnets to cover.

    But the biggest issue was the gab between the truck bed and backrack. Air would come in very easily. A quick fix is to find some pipe insulation from Home Depot and stuff it in between the gap. This fixed the problem.

    Because of the short truck bed and DECKED, I could not lay flat and straight without having my feet dangling off the DECK over the tailgate. But an easy fix for that was to place a bin on the tail gate as an extension. This was a surprisingly easy fix. Plus I got a quick access bin for my gear.

    My First Night Truck Camping

    I decided to go for an overnight over at Five Islands Provincial Park, overlooking the Bay of Fundy. The camping is geared more for trailers and RV’s as you are up against a mountains side – everything requires you going up or down the hillside. That being said, enjoyed a good stay there and would go again.

    So – doing a dry run setting up the tent is highly recommended. You simply work out the quirks and with this type of tent, it will speed up the process the next time.

    I took 15-20 min setup to get the tent up and secured. I was curious to see how it would react under stiff wind or rain. I was hoping for either but I got wind. I was really surprised how stable the structure was.

    Now – getting in & out of the truck bed….well that depends on how limber you are. A step ladder or bin as a step would be helpful or at the very least some foam on the tailgate for your knees.

    But once in the truck bed and under the tent, I was pleased with the space the truck tent offered and the DECKED worked as a seat when you want to put on your shoes getting out of the tent. The DECKED also was a nice surface to sleep on.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn6xSGbn2H4/

    Reduce Gear Footprint

    I had a mix of regular camping and backpacking gear with me and now that I’ve done a few outings – I think I can reduce the reduce the footprint of some of the gear to pack it more efficiently in the truck.

    Camping Stove

    I tried out two camping stoves: Coleman camp grill and a Coleman 2 burner Fold N Go stove. The stove I ended up liking more was the Fold N Go. Simply was the more compact and as usuable stove. The only downside is lack of wind guard but you can fashion something or only fold down one side and use the other as the guard. There is a one burner version and I might be interested in that down the road. But for now I’ll stick with the 2 burner.

    Camping Chairs

    I had bought these oversized Adirondack camping chairs from Home Depot and while they are fantastic, they are huge. I can’t fit them into my DECKED and have to haul them exposed in the truck bed. At the end of the day, I could return to the 10$ Walmart camping chair, but why stop there?

    I got my eye on the Helinox Chair One XL. this thing packs down really small and supports more weight than the cheaper chairs.

    Cookset

    I borrowed the GSI Bugaboo Camper cookset from the family camping bin and this is a great cookset for 3 people. But with my solo camping it’s a good choice but I want to reduce the footprint more. So this GSI Bugaboo Mess Kit is a good compromise but the GSI Bugaboo Backpacker might be just right.

    The components I am interested in is a skillet, nested cups and something to boil water in and wash dishes.

    Air Mattress

    I was using a Thermarest Basecamp XL which has been a very good sleeping mat when you can afford the size. However it rolls up kinda big and I would prefer something smaller.

    I had found a Windcatcher AirPad but now you can see the technology used across the industry. Wanting a wider pad, I am getting my sights on the Klymit Static V Luxe pad.

  • 5 Tips to Keep Your Camping Gear Dry

    Hiking in the rain is enjoyable for many reasons. The plants and grass look greener, insects come out of the ground and attract birds, and the trails are less crowded. On the flipside, you have to take care to ensure that you and your gear don’t get wet.

    Use these tips to stay dry and never let a light spell or heavy downpour dampen your mood.

     

    Waterproof your gear

     

    • Pack your tent, sleeping bag and other essentials in a stuff sack. Include a pack cover for an extremely wet environment.
    • Place electronics, mobile phones, documents and other belongings that need to be kept dry in a dry bag.
      • Vinyl dry bags are durable, resistant to tears and mildew, and suitable for small personal items.
      • Nylon dry bags are abrasion resistant although they may not be translucent.
      • As far as closures go, you can choose a dry bag with a roll top that rolls to create a watertight seal or a zipper seal.
      • A lumbar bag with a roll-top closure is suitable if you will be bringing along fewer items. It can also serve as an extra bag for gear on overnight trips. A backpack with a roll-top mechanism secures small and medium-sized hiking, fishing, surfing or paddling gear against moisture.
    • If you don’t want to carry multiple bags, consider a water-resistant cargo pack that stows various items and can be top-loaded onto your car’s roof rack.

     

    Bring along hiking poles

     

    In extremely wet conditions, hiking poles can help you estimate water and puddle depth. They also help you manoeuvre slippery ground with greater stability, minimizing the risk of losing your footing and getting your gear wet.

    Hiking in tough terrain can put pressure on your knees and feet after a while. Trekking poles allow you to transfer some of this lower body stress onto your shoulders and arms.

    Do your hands tend to swell from hiking? The use of hiking poles will activate your arm muscles, boosting blood flow and preventing fluid from collecting in your hands.

     

    Pitch your tent wisely

     

    • Pick an elevated spot so you don’t have to deal with accumulated rainwater, and pitch your tent there.
    • Tighten loose rain-flies so they don’t flap or drip. Pitch the tent tautly to lower condensation, and to prevent stakes from pulling out of the ground and allowing rain inside.
    • Although your tent may be water-resistant, you can keep rainwater out completely by covering the tent with a tarp. Pack a tarp that is big enough to cover the entire tent. Secure the four corners of the tarp to the ground to allow rainwater to runoff.
    • Place a floor mat outside your tent to keep water and dirt from boots out of your tent’s living space.

     

    Keep yourself dry

     

    • Wear a water-proof jacket as a first layer of defence.
    • Denim and cotton are ill-suited to hiking in wet conditions as they become heavy after absorbing water, feel uncomfortable against the skin and take a lot of time to dry off.
    • Wool is a better choice for a base layer as it feels warm after absorbing moisture and offers your body good insulation. A polyester or synthetic mid layer is also preferable to cotton/denim as both fibres dry quickly. Top-layer jackets have ventilation zips to let air in and perspiration out. Some have zippers in the armpits to allow wearers to adjust airflow.
    • Wrap gaiters around your hiking boots. They wrap around your calf and have a Velcro, zip or push stud locking mechanism, keeping your socks and feet dry.

     

    Check the weather forecast

     

    Although this may seem like a basic tip, a good idea about weather conditions is advisable to avoid getting caught in extreme weather conditions. It is even more important if you don’t have water-resistant bags or tarps. There is no fun in getting wet and staying overnight in a damp tent.

    If you don’t already have one, consider downloading a weather app that offers weather maps, alerts, news or information such as wind speeds, humidity and rain predictions. Surfers will find surf forecast apps offering information on swell height and direction, water temperature and wind speed useful.

  • Family Camping With Kodiak Canvas Cabin Tent

    If You Don’t Want To Buy a Tent Trailer

    At the end of last summer, our faithful dome tent of nine years finally told us it was time to retire and look for a new tent. The tent, Chinook Twin Peaks Guide 6 was a great tent for the east coast and there were three aspects of a new tent that we wanted:

    1. Stand Up Ceiling
    2. Divided Rooms (tent & screen tent)
    3. Full Rain protection

     

     

    So after some searching, I opted for the Kodiak Canvas Cabin Tent with Awning (model 6133) as opposed to the current slate of dome tents. The features that sold us were:

    • 5’10” to 7’5″ peaks
    • Attached awning with optional wall enclosure
    • Water resistant canvas.

    It wasn’t cheap, especially shipping to Canada, but the premium was worth it the first night we pitched the tent at our first camping trip of the season.

    As part of our purchase, we also got the ground tarp and awning wall enclosure. Thinking back, all of these items I would consider necessary if you were to purchase this specific model to take full advantage of the 17 x 12 feet footprint.

    It’s A Big Tent

    It’s no joke, this tent is BIG. It also comes in multiple bags. The thing to remember is that this tent is meant for multiple days so it is built to withstand some weather. It’s also a tent that you can’t stuff in a hatchback and expect to fit in the rest of your gear unless you have a trailer of some kind.

    • Hockey bag sized bag that contains the tent.
    • Heavier bag that contains all the poles (the heaviest)
    • Bag for tent stakes
    • Gym Bag sized bag for the wall enclosure
    • You’ll need a bag for the guylines

     

     

    But Yet Setting Up The Tent Isn’t Hard

    You can put this tent up by yourself, but as with most dome tents of this size, two people makes things go faster. The easiest way to figure things out is to start by laying out all the poles and organize them by side – middle – side. You’ll quickly see that the poles are mostly in sets of three: two for the sides and the longest one is for the middle. Once you lay things out in this manner, the battle is half won.

    Following the instructions is also very useful. When they say to start by staking the corners, don’t pull the tent taught. Give it some slack. Then you can thread the ceiling and support poles. I won’t go into detail here, but the most annoying part of having this model with the awning is threading the poles through the sleeves that are in the front of the tent. It can slow you down.

     

    Roll Up the Awning

    Once you have the poles in place and ready to push up; you could roll up the awning but either way you’ll be under the awning at some point. You can’t pack the tent with the awning rolled up. But I don’t regret getting this model as opposed getting the cabin tent without the awning. Having this extra shade and wall enclosures will give us an 8 x 8.5 area that we can utilize on a rainy day and not spend the entire camping trip in the sleeping area.

     

     

    Ground Tarp, RV Carpet Footprint & Other Accessories

    I mentioned above that some accessories to get when purchasing this tent are essential. First is the 12 x 9 ground tarp. This will be a little smaller than the tent itself; that’s for rain not getting underneath the tent. It also provides a good idea where to position your tent before you haul out the tent bag.

    Another accessory that you can which ended up being a great addition is a 12 x 9 RV carpet. This carpet is for the awning to allow us to get our shoes off and reduce the dirt coming into the sleeping area. Also great in rain. It is a little bigger than the awning and you can always stake thought the weaves when setting up the wall enclosures for the awning.

    What else do you need which could be handy? Well LED string lights for the awning and sleeping area. My favorite is the ENO twilight LED provides enough light for the evenings outside while giving a nice ambiance under the canvas.

    Another item to consiger is extra set of guy lines for the awning. During rain days, water can pool along the sides in between the velcro tabs. You will notice two tabs along the sides. Using Nite-Ize Carabiner figure 9 lines will fix that problem.

    Finally the awning wall enclosures are a necessity if you have bad weather in the forecast and want to keep your gear dry.

     

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    We shall see what 40mm of rain and wind will do to the canvas cottage 😜#camping #kodiakcanvas #explorepei

    A post shared by Jim Cyr (@thecyr) on

    Performance In Rain and Wind

    You’d think that one inch steel tubes you be sturdy in wind and rain. And yes, that would be correct. The cabin tent performs very well in the wind. It is important to properly stake the tent and tie the guylines. Once secured, this thing isn’t going anywhere.

    But how about rain? Luckily on our last trip of the season, we got a full rain day. So I sent off the girls and stayed in the tent to see how it would perform. I have to say that I was pleased. The canvas did a great job repelling the water. When you touch the inside of the tent wall or ceiling, it would feel damp but not wet. As long as your tent is stakes out and taught ceilings, the water will have a place to go (ie – to the ground).

    The only downside is the drying time. If you are in an open area with a breeze you can expect a few hours until it is dry enough to pack. Otherwise you will have to unpack at home and allow it to dry properly.

     

    Overall Tent Impressions

    Overall I have to say that I’m glad that I spent the extra money on this tent. It totally transformed our family camping experience. We can fit a queen sized air mattress, a cabelas camp cot and storage bin. After our gear is laid out, we still have plenty of room to walk around and ceiling height to get up and change. The awning provide room for our chairs, sidetable and cooler.

    The tent floor is 16 oz vinyl and is noticeably thicker resulting in a dry floor if you don’t have a ground tarp. However I would put a buffer between the floor and the legs of your cot of camp chair to reduce the stress against the floor.

    Tear down is easy and the tent does fit easily in the provided bag. One of the few tents I’ve owned that is able to do that considering the size of the tent.

     

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    ‪All of us inside the canvas cottage bid you a goodnight ‬ #kodiakcanvas

    A post shared by Jim Cyr (@thecyr) on


     



  • DECKED Storage System For Your Truck

    I got the DECKED storage system for my F150 truck as a way to get some storage but keep my truck bed open and not install a tonneau cover or truck cab.

    The install process is identical to the videos you see from DECKED with a few exceptions for the F150 or Tacoma where the front OEM tie down need to be replaced with provided hardware from DECKED. The install manual is very dense with information, so take your time and read each page slowly and while you can do certain things out of order, it’s best to do each step in order.

    DOWNLOAD THE MANUALS

    You’ll find the PDF manual for Ford, Dodge, Chevy & GMC, Toyota, Mercedes and Nissan.

     

    CAN YOU INSTALL THE DECKED BY YOURSELF?

    Yes. Book a morning or afternoon in order to install this by yourself. Provided you watched the videos and read the manual, you should have no problems.

     

    CAN YOU LIFT THE BOX?

    No, Get a buddy or help when loading in your truck or unloading. The size of the box is too big to handle by yourself. If need be, simply open the box while in the truck and unload each piece individually (like I did).

     

    CAN YOU DO THE INSTALL IN STAGES?

    Yes, some items can be done independent such as the drawers and ammo cans with C channels.

     

    DO NOT TIGHTEN ANYTHING UNLESS THE MANUAL TELLS YOU

    Don’t skip ahead any steps and once you reach the spot where the action is to tighten, then tighten. This is important when adjusting the DECKED.

     

    THREAD THE DRAWER WHEELS FIRST

    The cast metal threads for the drawer wheels can be a bit stubborn, so thread them first before the actuall install, it will help as you won’t have a lot of room when putting in those final wheels.

     

    HOW MUCH ROOM DO I HAVE?

    Each drawer for the full size truck is 150 litre in capacity. Each ammo can can fit either an equivalent of a six pack and ice, or a few propane camping canisters and/or webbing. IN short, the ammo cans can fit a lot of stuff you don’t mind getting wet.

     

    IS THE DECKED WATER TIGHT?

    The main drawers are water tight but not air tight. Dust or morning dew / humidity will get in.

    The ammo cans are not water tight. Drill the drain holes if you don’t want water to collect in the cans.

     

    HOW TALL IS THE DECKED?

    12 inches tall. on my F150 I got 9 inches left to store items above the deck.

     

    WHAT IS DECKED WEIGHT CAPACITY?

    Each drawer can fit 200 lbs of gear and the top deck can support 2000 lbs. As long as you don’t drop anything to pierce steel, the DECKED should support the load.

     

    HOW HEAVY IS DECKED?

    It is about 200 lbs and you should not see a difference in your fuel economy, but when loaded you will feel a difference when driving. and you have a stable load in your bed.

     

    WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL DECKED ACCESSORIES?

    Buy the dividers. It is something they should add as default but having 2 to 4 dividers will help you organise your gear in each drawer. Other items to consider would be the drawer locks or bed tracks to secure your load.

    The weekend is almost here!! #inreach #craftbeer #decked

    A post shared by Jim Cyr (@thecyr) on

     

    FURTHER VIEWING

    On top of reading the manual for your truck, these install videos were a great help.


     



  • All-In-One Coffee Brewer Kit For Camping – Cafflano Klassic

    I wasn’t feeling the love with the various outdoor systems out there and I wanted something nicer that would be more than just for backpacking.

    So I found this Cafflano Klassic all-in-one pour over coffee maker at my local hipster coffee shop, but your can find it also at large outdoor stores like Mountain Equipment Co-op, Amazon and other retailers.

    You have 4 pieces to this kit: double wall cup, steel mesh coffee filter, coffee mill with ceramic grinder and a water reservoir with spout to pour your water.

    The coffee mill is adjustable by simply removing the handle and turning the disc, you will see the ceramic grinder increase or decrease in distance between each other.

    The process is easy. Use the cup, filter and grinder and pour coffee beans into the mill. Grind the coffee into the coffee filter. Once done, unscrew the coffee mill and start pouring the water into the filter.

    I’ve found that the little spout in the water reservoir is just at the right amount to properly get your coffee grounds to release the goodness. I tried using the kettle and it didn’t do a good job IMO.

    Once done filtering your coffee, simply lift the filter and place it into the reservoir and you are ready to drink the coffee. Now the size of cup is more like a restaurant and not a mug of coffee. However, it does not take long to brew a fresh cup provided you have a kettle with plenty of hot water.

    Overall, I think this Cafflano Klassic is great for the road, camping, cottage and other excuse to have coffee.


     



  • Chinook Twin Peaks Guide 6 Tent Review

    After nine good years as our primary family camping tent, it’s time to retire the
    Chinook Twin Peaks Guide 6 tent. At time of recording, the tent is still available on Amazon as such I recommend it as a great budget tent for a young family of four or couple that want a lot of room but like to have one structure at camp.

    There are three main requirements that we had when shopping for a new tent, which still holds today.

    TENT SPECS

    The tent has an overall footprint of 9.4 x 13.8 where the sleeping area is 8.5 x9.4 and the screen tent or vestibule area is 5.3 x9.4

    The tent has 5 poles which you can get either in fiberglass or aluminium.

    Peak height is 6.9

     

    REQUIREMENT 1 – INTEGRATED TENT / VESTIBULE

    We really liked the idea of a single structure where the tent and vestibule could be integrated. This tent does well in this department. An included clip floor allows you to keep a clean tent area. The area is large enough to allow 2 adult camping chairs and either a kids chair, cooler or large dog. You still have room to move around. Also makes for a great change room when you get caught in rain.

    REQUIREMENT 2 – HIGH CEILINGS

    As you get older, having high ceilings is just fantastic being able to stand up in the morning to change or move around. Peaks are 6 foot 9. Overall, the tent is great for people just under 6 feet tall.

     

    REQUIREMENT 3 – FULL RAIN FLY

    Unlike many tents you see where the rain fly only covers a portion of the tent, we wanted a full rain fly so that any water could flow away from the tent.

     

    WHAT’S BAD ABOUT THE TENT

    One thing that we had to deal with out of the box was the alignment of the zipper for the tent/vestibule door. You always needed two hands to close it. Extra fabric created pockets where water would pool and drip inside the tent once the tape seams from the rain fly started to fail.

    Other minor issues which came about just after long term usage was seeing the stiches in the floor open up, creating gaps. Now you can use duck tape but it’s time to retire this very good budget tent.

     

    Learn more about the tent from Chinook’s web site



  • How We Got Back Into Family Car Camping

    [info_message style=”info”]This post will be updated as we do more trips and upgrade our gear as we go along![/info_message]

    We haven’t done any car camping in several years, I had gone down the path of hammock camping and rustic camping with the boys for the last few years. This summer, we wanted to do more family car camping.

    Excuse To Buy More Camping Gear

    To my surprise, I had SIX bins full of camping gear, but really only two were suitable for car camping. The first step was to go over all my gear and find out what would we use. Once the initial triage was complete, I broke down the gear into three main containers.

    • Kitchen Bin – This was anything & everything related to the picnic table, fire pit and luxuries like head lamp and radios, games, foil, etc…
    • Bulk Bin – This bin was reserved for larger light items such as sleeping bags, air mattress, propane heater, etc..
    • Tent & Tarp Bag – Our current family tent and silnylon tarps to string across the picnic tables. Tarps include the hennessey hex tarp and MEC guide tarp.

    This would provide the basic shelter and tool required to do a weekend camping trip. Luxury items were additional bags, we ended up packing the following:

    For coolers and drinking water, we made some changes from our initial outing, but settled on this setup

    • Coleman 12v Powerchill cooler – Using a few frozen bottles and the truck battery, our contents kept cold and most importantly dry.
    • Coleman wheeled cooler – we reserved this portable cooler for our drinks and ice packs that we would place inside the 12v cooler during the overnight to keep things cool. This worked out very well, we might add dry ice to this setup.
    • Rubbermaid 5 Gallon drinking water cooler – Filling up 5 gallons of house water before we leave may not seem to be a smart move, but you never know the water situation when you get to camp. Having safe drinking around is a big plus.

     

    Getting the Right Family Tent

    This is a point of great debate. Should you spend a lot of money on a family tent. Honestly, I think you need to. Our current tent which is being retired this year is the Chinook Twin Peaks Guide 6 tent which at the time I paid over 300$ for. However that was ten years ago and just now that parts are failing where we want to consider a new tent.

    The big tent features we look for are the following for a family car camping tent:

    • High ceiling – No surprise that having 6 or 7 foot high walls are a big selling point by not having to crawl out of the tent on your hands and knees in the morning.
    • Screen Tent Vestibule – Out Chinook twin peaks screen room / vestibule can accommodate all our camping chairs and even our large black lab AND small aluminium side table. This saves you space from buying a screen tent and on those rain days, you can all stay in your tent.
    • Double Wall Fly – While many cabin tents have a very small rain fly, we prefer tents with a full rain fly. If you are trying to make a weekend in between rain storms, having that second wall will keep your tent & gear dry much better than seeing your walls get progressively wet as the rain continues to pour down.

    After nine years, our Chinook twin peaks is finally showing signs of wear we are looking at alternatives. We think that the Eureka Echo Tour 600 (Canada only) might fit the bill. Another candidate is Kodiak Canvas Cabin Tents.

     

    Recent Purchases That Made The Difference

    Everytime we did an outing, we kept a wish list of items we think would make our camping experience better. Here is a running list of items we got and highly recommend for car camping.

     

    Coleman Double Wash Basin

    After an outing at Baxter State Park in Maine, I wanted something that we could do our dishes since the rustic area meant we had to be minimalists. Single wash basins were nice but when I stumbled on the Coleman PVC double wash basin, I knew this would be a good purchase. At 14$, it did not disappoint. 3 litres of water on each side can handle dishes up to 4 people and fold nicely into the bin. It sure beats having a large salad bowl in your bin taking up valuable room.

    What’s great about this bin is that you can wash & rince at the same time. While not very good when dumping into a drain, it’s still a valuable piece of your kitchen bin.

     

    GSI Bugaboo Camper Cookset

    A nice compact cookset is a good thing to have IMO. You have what you need in a single footprint and not wasting any space. The downside is that non of the cookware kits are cheap; you will need to invest a bit of money in a good set, no matter the brand.

    The GSI Bugaboo Camper cookset has been out for a few years but has been a great addition to the kitchen bin. Containing 2 & 3 litre pots, covers, 4 nested cups, mugs and plates – this is a great kit. The only thing missing are cutelery. While the plates are small, the only thing I would get is a set of glasses, the odd shaped mugs works ok, but don’t fit in the holders the camp charis offer.

     

    Coleman 12v Powerchill Cooler

    There was a point of time in the 90’s and early 2000’s that Coleman quality was kinda poor. However the last few years it has been a renewed focus on products that just work. This 12v cooler is no excpetion. We wanted something that would eliminate melted bags of ice and take advantage of 12v power or plugged in power at a serviced campsite. We found this Coleman 12v powerchill cooler at an overstock store and it came with the wall plug adapter. You need to manage this cooler with ice packs to keep it cool. We tried the frozen milk gallon and didn’t keep things as cool as I would have like. Using frozen litre bottles and ice packs worked a lot better. The benefit of using this type of cooler is that any leftovers can stay cool on the drive back home so that you don’t waste any food.

     

    Still more camping to come in 2017!

     


  • The Cabins At Daicey Pond in Baxter State Park

    The Cabins At Daicey Pond in Baxter State Park

    Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

    Table of contents

    Note that Daicey Pond will be closed for Cabin renovations for the 2024-2025 season. Access to the lake for day activities are still expected. More can be found here.

    Baxter State Park

    I grew up only 2 hours from this state park, albeit across the Canadian border, but I would look out the window as we drove down I-95 to visit family in Portland & Rhode Island every Christmas. The snow peak of Mount Katahdin was like a mystery. Later in life a big regret was to discover the park and summit the tallest peak in the region later in life.

    My goal after my first visit, was to make this a regular visit so that I can take advantage of this area.

    Baxter State Park is a fantastic model of an independent park and reserve that many land managers here in Canada should be looking at. roll back the clock 70 years or more and you will find that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was the outdoorsman playground, not Maine. But a change did happen and I you can’t fuss about it now. I mean there’s a mile high mountain and terminus of the Appalachian Trail as one of the main central selling points.

    So, for the last few years, I’ve been making the journey to Baxter to enjoy the wilderness. However, as I’m getting older, I do prefer the comforts of the cabin as compared to crawling out on my knees from a tent in the morning. Luckily Baxter State Park has a number of cabins and seem to be adding a few more with each year.

    My personal favourite is Daicey Pond. It has the best view of the mountain (Katahdin from the Abol side) and you can have a campfire, get firewood and enjoy the hiss & glow from the propane lantern over the lakeview.

    I’ve Stayed in cabin number 1 (Olw’s nest), 8 and 9 (Whispering Pines) for the last 5 years, but managed to snag some pics from the other cabins during labour day weekend as the young family crowd switched to the quiet grey beards.

    Best Time Of Year To Stay At Daicey Pond

    Early June is great as the season is just starting and not as busy in my opinion. However once you get into August and fall then things get a bit crazy. However the crowds change noticeably once Labour Day Weekend, where families are back home to school and is replaced by an older crowd.

    How Does Baxter Camping Reservation Work?

    This is often a complicated aspect when planning a trip to Baxter is navigating the camping reservation system. Camping reservations can be made 4 months until your arrival date, meaning that if you want to book the July 4th holiday and want to arrive on July 1st, then the earliest you can place the reservation is on March 1st. The detailed grid to help you plan is right here.

    No Online Reservations For Some Sites

    Not all sites are available for online reservation, depending on the time of year. For example, for all winter sites, reservations are only accepted by mail or in person.

    Some of the other sites that will require reservation either by phone, mail or in person during the month of May due to park slowly opening up or allowing for traffic on the soft dirt roads:

    • Chimney Campground
    • Russell Pond Campground
    • All backcountry sites
    • Bunkhouses
    • Group sites

    How To Make Reservations At Baxter State Park

    Once you have your dates and site figured out, your best bet at success is to take a chance with the online reservation system. From prior experience, it is best to have a plan B and C for sites and dates. Also best to try reserving the sites very early in the morning.

    Daicey Pond Campground Layout Map

    I love these hand drawings from the Park Authority. Download the PDF here. My only complain is that you don’t get a good idea of the scale until you arrive. Some points seem shorter and some points seem longer. I haven’t measured but cabin 1 & from the parking isn’t more than 200m. (update- walk in distances from parking are below)

    daicey pond map

    Daicey Pond Equipment in Cabins

    All cabins will have the following items:

    • wood stove
    • campfire ring
    • picnic table
    • wood chairs (at least 2)
    • small table for camping stove
    • bed matress
    • propane lantern

    What you will need to bring (at the minimum) to Daicey Pond Cabins

    • Pillow
    • sleeping bag
    • utensils & plates
    • wash bucket
    • water, water filter
    • camp axe
    • firestarter
    • cooler & ice
    • flashlight / headlamp
    • propane stove
    • cookset

    What Not To Bring At Daicey Pond

    • Pets
    • No vehicle over 9 feet high, 7 feet wide or 22 feet in length or 44 feet if hauling a trailer/RV
    • Generator
    • Firewood
    • Groups more than 12 people

    More about the rules & regulations, you can read them right here.

    Food Storage At Daicey Pond

    The park recommends that you store your food & cooler in your car overnight so that large black fur critters don’t come knocking. To be honest, we haven’t seen a black bear so far in from our visits. I’ve only seen bear scat along the trail at Chimney Pond once. To be honest, I think I’d be more concerned about running into moose. The key here is to keep extra food stored away.

    Park Facilities At Baxter State Park

    The big selling point of the park is its rustic nature. There are no trash cans, no running water, no waste water drains, no electricity, no cell phone coverage and no showers. Most of the cabins will have their own dedicated pit toilet which are kept clean by the Park Ranger on duty.

    Ranger Station At Daicey Pond

    Upon check-in you can either sign to the Park Ranger on-duty at the Ranger station or generally they will show up at your cabin. They will post the weather forecast each morning and will alert campers of other park news. They have great knowledge of the park, and their time estimates to accomplish a number of trails are spot on. Canoe rentals and wood bundles fee can be paid at the Ranger Station via slot at the door.

    The Library / Boat Rental / The View

    On those truly terrible days, the campground has a cabin dedicated to books, board games and other distractions. The building also has on the side the paddling life jackets and paddles for rental which is payable at the Ranger station. You’ll find a number of Old Town discovery canoes.

    You will also find wheel barrows that you can haul your gear from your car to your site.

    Cabin 1 – Olw’s Nest

    This was our first experience at Daicey Pond. We did early June visits for 2 years straight. The big benefit of this space was that it was the end of line, so no camper traffic. However, the AT trail runs about 100 feet from the outhouse right behind the cabin. The main downside is that the picnic table & fire ring is surrounded by boulders so it’s doesn’t accommodate that many unless you can find a flat spot for your camp chair.

    What’s great about this cabin:

    • great view of the lake and mountains (Katahdin, double top)
    • large screen windows with large chairs
    • 2 rooms (2 single cots)
    • dressers
    • 182m walk-in

    Cabin 2 – Lady Slipper

    This is a nice cute cabin for 2 people. it has a nice landing for your canoe / kayak. The main downside is that the path to get to cabin #1 is only a few feet from the fire ring.

    • 163m walk-in

     

    Cabin 3 – Tamarak

    Another small 2 person cabin where the walking path to cabin #2 & #1 passes within a few feet behind it. The upside is that you are very close to the edge of the lake.

    • 106m walk-in

    Cabin 4 – Chipmunk Hollow

    This cabin is further up on the hill, out of view of the main path towards cabins 1-3.

    • 79m walk-in

    Cabin 5 – Mt. View

    This is the usually the first cabin you see when you get up the hill to the main parking area for the campground. It is closest to the Ranger station cabin.

    • 70m walk-in

    Cabin 6 – Blue Lodge

    This is the only wheelchair accessible cabin in the campground. It includes an accessible pit toilet within 20 feet from the cabin and is closest to the wood shed & library.

    • drive-up site (wheelchair accessible)

    Cabin 7 – Loon Lodge

    This cabin is up along the lake and short distance from the wood shed. Along with Cabin #5, these would be the ones where you’d get the most foot traffic as they along the trails to the other cabins.

    • 69m walk-in

     

    Cabin 8 – Birch Bark

    At top of the hillside, this little cabin doesn’t offer much in terms of views but it’s closest to the pit toilet that services Cabin 8-10. This is a great size for a couple or 3 person family.

    What’a great about this cabin:

    • Straight line from the woodshed loading area.
    • Close to outhouse
    • Larger flat area around the fire ring than other cabins
    • Cabin 7 & 9 make great pairings if want to come with another couple or family
    • 99m walk-in

    Cabin 9 – Whispering Pines

    This cabin offers a nice deck to compensate from the lack of views of the pond. The interior offers a nice large area for the picnic table & wood stove while the single beds are divided into rooms with furniture (ie dresser). This cabin along with #1 would be great options for late fall extended stays.

    • 129m walk-in

    Cabin 10 – Nature At Peace

    The most recent cabin and available in the winter for large groups. It is the furthest cabin, isolated and the longest walk to the pit toilet.

    • 196m walk-in



  • Deep Dish Pizza In A Dutch Oven With Yippee IPA

    We try out a deep dish pizza using the cast iron dutch oven. We got two parts to this: the crust & toppings to prepare. I tried to get everything done in the dutch oven, but you’ll need a few bowls.

    The dough is pretty simple and can be made after you’ve lit the coals.
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