Via Oregon - May/June 2021 - 46

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V I A | M AY+ J U N E 2 0 2 1

says, but for chopping up pieces
into smaller, easily combustible
kindling, he brings along an ax.
" It's come in handy so many
times, " he says, " especially when
you're camping in places that
specifically ask you not to collect twigs and sticks from the
ground. " Along with prebought
firesticks, the Steens also carry
do-it-yourself fire starters. To
make them, simply fill the holes
of an empty egg carton with
dryer lint and drip hot candle wax
across the closure. Then, once
at camp, " Light one, stick it in
the fire along with kindling, and
you're good to go, " says Steen.
PRO TIP: Always keep your car

keys and headlamps in exactly the
same spot inside the tent so if you
need to go to the bathroom or
grab something from your vehicle
in the middle of the night, you
have an accessible light source.

ELEVATE YOUR CAMP
COOKING

" The outdoors is a far more
atmospheric dining area than any
restaurant can provide, " says Ray
Mears, author of Wilderness Chef:
The Ultimate Guide to Cooking
Outdoors. Especially, he says, if
you have the proper tools and
ingredients.
Preparing your culinary kit

When it comes to cooking supplies, says Mears, " Keep it simple,
and bring only what you need. "
A proper cooking set includes
prep bowls, a frying pan, a cutting
board, kitchen tools and utensils
(including a mixing spoon, spatula,
selection of lightweight chef 's
knives, and a peeler), and Mears's
most trusty piece of equipment: an
iron pot or Dutch oven. " Whether
you're cooking over an open fire or

AUSTIN TRIGG / TANDEM STOCK

pitching your tent. Think about
the location as well. Make sure
the site is flat and sturdy, without
rocks or vegetation that might get
damaged, and at least 200 feet
from a body of water.
Set up your tents first, says
Steen, " and then throw in the
sleeping bags, bedrolls (or in my
wife's case, a camping cot), and
headlamps, so you know that
everything you need for a good
night's rest is already waiting for
you. " You can always return to it
after dinner or a hike to set things
up more thoroughly. " Then, when
you're ready for bed, all you basically have to do is get through the
zipper and lie down, " Steen says.
Getting a campfire roaring is
easy, says Steen, as long as you
have the right supplies. " Most of
the firewood that you can pick up
at gas stations and markets are
bundles of larger-size logs, " Steen
Via Oregon - May/June 2021

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