Getting in shape for your camping trip!

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

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

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

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

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

Winter Kids Camping

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

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

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

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

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

10 Fun Camping Activities For Kids To Do On A Camping Trip

by Juzaily Ramli
Camping is fun as it is your opportunity to break away from the hectic routine of city life. Imagine being able to breathe the fresh air while at the same time releasing and submitting yourself completely to nature. Besides adults, kids also enjoy going camping outdoors. However if your camping trip takes too long, they might get bored after a few days away from their television and computer. That could spell disaster. Don't fret though, below are 10 camping activities that would surely keep them entertained and occupied.

1. Get wet and go splashing. If you cannot find a good swimming spot, normally most of the camping parks would suggest where you could find a good and safe spot for you to swim, either a big lake or a small brook. Some of them might have their own swimming pools. Avoid the swimming pool at all costs and go swimming in a lake amidst nature. The experience that you'll get is indescribable. Some camping parks would offer a boat rental service, where you could rent a boat or canoe for a small fee. Your kids will have a blast. A word of caution, never leave your kids swimming by themselves. Be watchful at all times.

2. Rent a bike and go biking together. Most camping sites have biking trails for you and your family to explore. Be adventurous. Riding bicycles is very enjoyable as you are able to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Ride slow and make sure that everybody is not left behind. Bring a map with you and plan your biking trip adventure before making the trip so that you know exactly where you are heading and where you want to be. Plan your time properly, so that you would be able to make the whole trip and back to your camp before it gets dark.

3. Go bird and animal watching. Most forest parks and camping sites have brochures or leaflets about the different types of animals that can be found around the area that are worth watching and to look out for. A fun thing to do is to buy books on wild animals before your camping trip and play a game with your children and see who can spot the animals first. Just be sure that you keep your children at a safe distance.

4. Play outdoor games such as tug-o-war or the classic sack race or just plain tag. Children love these games, especially when they're playing these games in the woods. Make sure that you are playing in a clear area to avoid unwanted accidents and also avoid making loud noises that might disturb other campers and especially the wildlife.

5. Go on a scavenger hunt. Who doesn't love to go on such quests and adventures. What's good about a scavenger hunt is that it involves the physical, which means you'll get yourself and your kids to exercise while having fun at the same time. Prior to the game, just warn the kids on the type of things that they should avoid, such as poison ivy, sumac, oak and other prickly plants that might be lurking in the woods. Also, you have to be sure that you teach your kids how to read maps. That could also be a different game and will be discussed below.

6. Teach your kids how to read maps and compasses. Educate them on the importance of navigation and explore the forest with them using the maps and compasses. Show them the location that they are at now on the map and where you guys are going. Get them to notice anything significant on your path, such as a tree with a weird shape or something that is out of the ordinary to identify. This should go hand in hand with your scavenger hunt.

7. What's camping without a campfire? This is a must to every camper out there. Your camping experience would not be complete without a campfire. This should be done at the end of the day before you go to sleep. Telling each other scary stories and jokes is recommended. Also, don't forget to bring a guitar and sing songs around the campfire. Other activities you can do around the campfire is to play word games and riddles while roasting your favourite marshmallows and hotdogs.

8. Another night activity that you can do is to watch the stars in the sky. This is both fun and educational. Get everyone to lie on an open field and appreciate the free light show in the sky. You can also bring a star chart and try to discover the famous constellations and other heavenly bodies. If you're lucky, you might catch a shooting star. Don't forget to make your wish though.

9. This next game is frowned upon by some campers, but you should bathe in the rain when it rains. This is recommended if the weather is not cold. Otherwise you might get sick. It's sort of depressing when it rains when you are out camping. Rather than complaining about it, take the opportunity to have fun in the rain and enjoy mother earth's natural shower. Not recommended when there is thunder and lightning.

10. Just simply enjoy the moment and relax. It might not be a big hit with the kids but it is the most appropriate time to bond with your family and enjoy everyone's company. Take your time to enjoy the nature, it's not everyday your family get to enjoy this holiday.
There are many other outdoor activities that you could enjoy doing when you go out camping. By no means that the 10 activities discussed above are complete. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy your time with your family. It's not everyday that you get this kind of opportunity. So, enjoy!

About the Author
Juzaily Ramli and Tommy Lehmann are camping buddies and love to camp whenever they could find the time.

Family Snowshoe Outing

We headed out on an outing in early March to take advantage of the snow and test out some new products. Aubrey (3 ½ ) tested out the MSR Denali Tyker. I was testing out the Macpac Possum child carrier with Kellen (1). We headed out to the Petersburg Pass in the Taconic Range and hiked about 3 miles. Aubrey loved the snowshoes and was so proud to have climbed all the hills up and down. She traded up snow shoeing and riding in the sled pulled by Cynthia. What a beautiful day. It snowed as we hiked through the woods making a perfect setting.

The MSR Denali Tyker's were great in deep snow and packed trails. She handled them well, even at 33 lbs. We loved the high front shovel because it allowed her to shuffle int he deep snow without tripping. She loved the red color. The bindings are not the easiest for her small shoe size (Kids 9) but they stayed on very well and fit nicely.

I liked the Macpac Possum. It fit me very well and handled like I expected. There were no surprises when I moved around and the weight was centered nicely. I liked the mirror on the front hip belt and used it often to check on Kellen in hope that he would be sleeping. Kellen did not seem to mind the ride. The one complaint is that we did not find the right height where Kellen's arms would be either in or out of the pack comfortably. I will have to play with the adjustments and further test it for final conclusions. I carried the bulk of supplies with significant extra room. You could really load this pack up. We will continue to test it and report back soon.

What a great way to spend an afternoon with the family. We headed back down the mountain to Williamstown MA for well deserved hot chocolate and cookies before we headed home.

Upside Over Family Program

The Upside Over Family Program was created to enable families with similar outdoor interests to share ideas and expertise. It is our goal to promote education of products and sports via input from other parents and kids. There are two opportunities to be a contributing Upside Over Family.

Family Stories:
Write a short narrative of one of your family’s adventures. Stories should be inspiring and informative. Recommendations and “tips” for other families could also be included. Please include a picture to be added to the website. The Upside Over staff will review your submission for posting on our website. Please email submission to family@upsideover.com.

Gear Testers:
Select families are given an opportunity to test gear and write reviews based on your interests and knowledge. Your personal stories and photos of family adventures will be included on our website. Families who participate in testing gear will benefit from Upside Over discounts. The Upside Over staff will select families based on expertise and need.
Current gear testers needed for:

• Hiking Gear (1)


• Snow Shoes (1)


• Cycling (1)

If you are interested, please email family@upsideover.com for details. If we do not have your sport listed above, please apply for consideration.

The Poling Family

Location: Houston, Texas
Interests: Hiking
Story and Gear Review: Hiking with My 3-Year-Old to Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon
Mom has graciously decided to stay with our 7-month-old youngest son while we travel with some of her old college friends. We have reservations at the Phantom Ranch for one night. I will use a childcarrier for the first time. My son and I have been breaking our new boots and shoes for the trip with small hikes to the park and back. This trip will be interesting since he and I are flatlanders in Houston, Texas. At least we have the heat here to acclimate ourselves.

************************************************************************
My son, three adult friends, and I traveled to Arizona and hiked from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch and back over the Labor Day weekend. We traveled down to Phantom Ranch on the South Kaibab Trail and out of the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. The entire trip was around 17 miles. Nathan, my 3 1/2-year-old son hiked about 10 of the miles, thanks to the many interesting conversations by Mary, a friend from California, to keep his focus. He rode in the Sherpani Rumba for seven miles, 4 miles going down and 3 miles going up, which provided a decent test of the backpack. Nathan weighed 37 pounds before the trip began.

Nathan seemed very comfortable in the bucket seat and never complained about lack of padding. He did not use the stirrups too often so circulation was not a problem. The five point chest plate did take some effort to keep straight while climbing in and out. The backpack had enough storage for our clothes and accessories for one night. If you need to travel longer or plan to tent camp, someone else will have to play sherpa for additional gear. The top sunshade was difficult for us to understand how it fits in place. Maybe Nathan was too tall which made the fit difficult. We did not use the sunshade at all since Nathan's hat and sunglasses were adequate. The suspension system was comfortable for the adult carrier. Two of us, primarily my friend Dave the hiking viking, carried Nathan, and we had no problem adjusting the backpack to fit our frames. Overall, I would rate the Sherpani Rumba as favorable.

Hiking during Labor Day weekend was still very hot down in the canyon. I would only attempt this trip with a small child that is potty trained, with lots of knowledge of the trails, which was provided by my adult travel companions. Lots of fluids and salty snacks are needed when it is hot in the canyon. Dave, Mary and Carmen had hiked the trails in the past. I would never take anyone younger than 3 1/2 years down to the bottom and back. In fact, I found out later that there is a minimum age requirement for Phantom Ranch of 6 years of age. Although, no one at Phantom Ranch was concerned about minimum age once we were there. In fact, most visitors and staff were very pleased to see him there. I think there is a concern that noisy children will keep visitors at the Ranch from achieving a good night’s sleep. If we go again, we will try to get reservations at Phantom Ranch in October.

Isabella's Trip to the Boundary Waters

(Age 7)
Sunday, July 30th 2006
I am Isabella and I go to the Boundary Waters a lot. Today we walked through water and it was really pouring. We got a nice campsite before anyone else got our nice campsite. I slipped on a rock and I fell. I made a waterfall out of a puddle and some rocks with spider webs. Our grandma and papa come with us every year, except one year my grandma and papa and brother didn’t. My brother lost his worm, it was a red plasticky one so the fish wouldn’t swallow it and he wouldn’t waste any worms. I helped my mom filter water. We had five portages. I had to carry my backpack with my stuff in it, a paddle and my life jacket. We went over 3 beaver dams. We camped on a cliff. I am sleeping with my grandma and papa tonight. My grandma and I are going to play the card game war in the tent. We are going to have a campfire.

Tuesday, August 1st 2006
I saw a waterfall yesterday. It was really pretty. I got to see it up close. Yesterday I didn’t swim because it was really pouring. I left yesterday to another campsite. Today I swam in the lake out far. I saw a piece of driftwood. I went under water. I was walking and then there was a rock there. The rock went down and I slipped, but I had my life jacket on. I couldn’t touch. I had a pancake with syrup and bacon and sausage for breakfast. Later I had a peanut butter stick. Today we are camping on a cliff. It is not as big as the last one. This is medium sized one. Just right now I got sap on my fingers and I hate it. The sap sticks for a long time. I helped my papa filter water. In the Boundary Waters I love it here. I come back every year. I am seven. It’s my fourth year. Me and my brother have lots of fun. I love swimming, it’s so fun. I am going to another campsite tomorrow for our last day. This is so fun! I love it here! And I made another waterfall with water, just water.

Wednesday, August 2nd
Today we climbed on a waterfall and my grandma and papa took our picture. It might be for our Christmas card. We caught a big Norskie today that means Northern Pike. We went swimming today, I made a sand castle. It was fun.
I hope you like this story about my Boundary Waters trip.

Isabella Dusbabek

Long distance back packing

Doc, Llama, Coy, Spot and John

Location: North Conway, New Hampshire
Interests: Long distance back packing

Overview: A brief bit about us. I'm Llama, married to Doc, mother of John, with Coy & Spot, our two dogs. I'm 30 years old. Doc is 34. John is now 9 months old. Doc and I met on our first Appalachian Trail thru-hikes in 1998. We stayed together after the trail, worked for 3.5 years, then hit the Pacific Crest Trail in 2002 with our dog, Coy. At the end of the trail in Canada, Doc proposed to me. We were married in March 2003 and decided to thru-hike the AT again for our honeymoon. We did and had just as much fun as the first time. Shortly after, Doc joined the Army and was sent to Korea right out of training so I lived in Hingham, Massachusetts, first waiting tables then working as a dog walker.

After Doc came home in June 2005, I became pregnant with our first child, John, who was born in February 2006 at Ft. Hood, TX. He's the light of my life. And ever since he was born, I've had the strong itch to get back on the trail. I miss it so much!!! And I want him to experience it as soon as possible.

Doc has been deployed to Iraq. I plan to move back to New Hampshire. After much thought, I've decided to attempt a Long Trail thru-hike through Vermont’s Green Mountains with John while Doc is gone. I've never done much planning for my thru-hikes, but I think this one will take a lot of planning. John will be 1 year and 5 months old, and I have no idea what he's going to be like on the trail. Will he want to walk or ride, a little of both? I don't know. Will he even like being out there? He could hate it, sending us home on Day 2. So my goal is to at least get out there July 2007 and give it a whirl. I'll have both dogs with me, as well, so it's going to be crazy. It will probably be slow going since I'm sure John will want to walk some of the way. I'm nervous, yet so excited. So, LT '07, here we come!!!

Llama will be gear testing toddler clothing as well as a Sherpani Rhumba child carrier. If you would like to learn a little bit more about long distance hiking and follow Llama, Doc and John on their adventure, go to the following Trailjournals site:

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=141172