Photo By: Pixabay. Author: Michael Bourke

What’s a camping trip without a hike to truly become one with nature and explore Mother Nature’s beauty? Hiking as a group includes several benefits such as decreasing depression, improving mood, and boosting overall wellness, but there are a few safety tips to keep in mind to ensure the fun doesn’t come to an abrupt end.
 
Can’t I Just Hike Alone?
 
We all love our alone time now and then, but a hike isn’t the best place to start. Like most sports and activities, hiking has its risks but they are exacerbated when you are completely and totally alone. Group hiking is a much safer route. Imagine the pickle you’d be in if you were to twist your ankle or suffer from serious dehydration. In a group there is always someone available to go get help or at least lend a hand. In addition, a group setting is noisier, serving as a deterrent for nosy and oftentimes dangerous wildlife that might get a little too close for comfort.
 
Group hikes are also an excellent opportunity to expand your social horizon. Whether you are hiking with friends or just joined a hiking group, it is a great way to socialize, rekindle old friendships, and start new ones. Besides, everyone in the group obviously enjoys hiking, so this is a great way to pick each other’s brains and discover new hiking trails and to-die-for views.
 
Stay Close
 
Group hiking means exactly what you think it means – hiking with a group. Unfortunately, many search-and-rescues are a result of a hiker falling behind and becoming lost as they struggle to catch up. It is imperative that everyone stay together, but sometimes that is easier said than done. Designate a group leader to place hikers strategically based on their pace and experience level. Fast hikers should take up the rear of the group, keeping those ahead of them motivated and at a steady pace. Consider implementing a buddy system and creating brightly colored t-shirts that everyone can wear so that it’s easy to spot anyone who is lagging behind or speeding ahead.
 
While it might be tempting to separate when certain members get tired and need a break, it is best to stop and start together. You started the hike together, so you need to finish together too. If you find that some group members have a drastically different pace than the others, consider choosing a group leader for a slow-paced group and a fast-paced group on the next outing. Group members can choose which group best suits them, but keep order, direction, and safety via a group leader.
 
Load Up
 
While you won’t need a pack heavy enough to carry you through the Appalachian Trail, hiking will require a few essentials. The most obvious gear is the appropriate footwear. Basic trail shoes will suffice for short hikes, but longer hikes and heavier loads will need the extra support of hiking boots. Speaking of extra, make sure you bring extra food, water, and clothing. For various reasons, you could be on the trail longer than expected, and you’ll be glad you brought along that extra granola bar and water when your stomach starts rumbling or you feel yourself getting dehydrated.
 
Safety items are a must as well. Be sure to pack a flashlight, whistle, matches, first-aid kit, knife or multi-purpose tool, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Accidents happen, both small and large, so it is best to be prepared for anything. Should an accident occur, your greatest resource will be a map, compass, or GPS to help you find a nearby campsite or emergency exit route. Depending on how far out of range you are, cell phones will be rendered useless, so these old school navigation devices will quickly become your greatest ally.
 
Group hiking is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors within the safety of a group and spend time with people who share your same interests. Make the trek a success by keeping all group members together and packing the right gear.

BY SCOTT @ SAWS ON SKATES - ​Do you love those adorable vintage camper trailers as much as I do? I hope so, because today we're turning a few pieces of scrap wood into a DIY painted wood vintage camper napkin holder! A while back I professed my love for flower power buses. Today I'm professing my love for vintage campers! I want a vintage camper soooo bad! The chrome, the fun 50's colors and the vintage kitchens... I WANT one! Until I get a vintage camper, I did the next best thing... I made my own vintage camper. I made a DIY painted wood vintage camper napkin holder!

I love that classic "canned ham" shape of those vintage camper trailers. It just puts a smile on my face :) I showed them to my buddy Rich and he said "They remind me of being a kid and camping with my grandparents... good memories!" Wouldn't a vintage camper napkin holder be fun on your next camping trip, 50's themed party or to add a pop of color to your table? Or what about as a gift for someone with a vintage camper or who enjoys camping?
And just like I did for wooden tiki mask planter and flower power bus planter, I'll show you how to get freehand painted look. So don't worry if you can't paint. Neither can I! I'll show you my "paint by number system". You can do this!! This is another project that doesn't require much wood, so it's a perfect way to use your scrap wood.

 Step 1. Make the Campers. Cut out the camper template from the printed plan. Trace the template on 2 pieces of 1x5 and cut out using a jig saw. Sand the edges smooth. Temporarily reattach the template to one cutout with painter's tape.

Trace the door, window, horizontal line and wheel arch with a ball point pen.

The pen leaves a slight depression in the wood, so painting the campers will be as easy as painting in between the lines.

On the second cutout, flip the template, temporarily attach to the cutout with painter's tape. Trace the window, horizontal line and wheel arch. Don't trace the door on this side.

Step 2. Make the Bottom. Cut 1 piece of 1x2 to 6-1/4". On one end, measure in 9/16" on each side and cut a 45 degree angle at those marks to form the "tongue".

On the tongue end, use the Kreg Multi-Mark to measure in 1/2".

From the side measure in 3/4"

Using a 1/4" drill bit, drill a hole 1/2" deep. I used painter's tape as a depth stop. This hole is for the "tongue jack".

Step 3. Assemble the Camper. Apply glue to one edge of the bottom and place a camper side. Be sure the lines you traced in Step 1 face outward.

Make sure the bottom of the camper bottom is flush with the bottom and attach using 1-1/4" finish nails. Repeat for the other side.

Step 4. Make the Wheels. The wheels are made same way they were made for this project. Cut 2 pieces of 1x2 to 3". Clamp the pieces together and use an all to make mark in between the two pieces.

Drill through the two pieces using a hole saw. These parts are small, so do not hold the wood while drilling, hold the clamp to keep your hand away from the hole saw.

Step 5. Attach the Wheels. Apply glue to the edge of the wheels and center on the wheel arch (traced onto the camper in Step 1).

Step 6. Attach the Tongue Jack. Cut the dowel to 1-1/4". Apply glue to the hole in the bottom and insert the dowel. Be sure the camper sits level and adjust if necessary.

Saturday August 12th from 11-3, guests will enjoy period music from the 1950s and '60s, and a variety of food and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available for purchase. In addition, classic American and craft beers will also be available for purchase, made possible through a generous donation by Lagunitas Brewing Company.

Tickets are $20 per person general admission, $17 per person NCL members or with new membership, $15 for kids 12 and younger. An additional $8/per car park entry fee is required, which allows attendees to stay and enjoy the park all day, including the public swimming pool and hiking trails.

The 3rd Annual Vintage Travel Trailer Hitch Up is in cooperation with Bothe State Park and the volunteers who manage it. Sponsored in part by Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine.

Advance ticket purchases are advised, limited tickets will also be available the day of the event, per availability.
To purchase tickets, please visit NapaCountyLandmarks.org or call 707-255-1836.

I grew up in the Southwest and have been making sterling jewelry since the mid '80's. I am mostly influenced and excited by what is called Fred Harvey era jewelry, which was created and sold to travelers along the highways of Arizona and New Mexico.  The Bell Trading Company continued to sell Harvey style jewelry from 1932 to 1974.  The designs were images of the area, including roadrunners, Thunderbirds, arrows and dogs.  Strangely missing from the designs were the vehicles that traveled the highways and the trailers they towed. 
My personal mission is to correct this oversight and include the creative and innovative mid century trailers to the Harvey era motif.  Early Airstreams and Shastas, among many others, appear on my sterling silver story teller cuff bracelets.  Each of our road trips inspires many new designs and ideas.  Recently we visited Oatman, Arizona and after that I added, you guessed it, several burros to the designs. 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pawntastic

Early arrivals to this vintage camper trailers rally were treated to a Wyoming wind that did a dance with a few awnings,  but there was  no damage. 18 trailers showed up to make  great crowd of repeats  folks and a few new ones. Pot luck was served on the bed of Sarah McReynolds' Texas ranch flat bed truck;with table cloth.of course.Mid morning Saturday the antique tractor guys showed up with 12 classic tractors and a couple of "odd" ones.Tank, (Dan Tulenko) serenaded the RV park in a tractor with dual steering wheels,dual seat,a "rumble seat",attached two-seater ,while playing his accordion. We had a good show up of visitors,two which are going to start work on the 'raw' trailers they have.

​If you would like to hear about these events BEFORE they happen, subscribe to the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine.

Saturday was perfect weather,with a great view of the buffalo herd.The ranch delivered buffalo BBQ sandwiches and side dishes early evening using Sarah's truck as the serving table. Great dinner by the lack of hardly any left overs.Afterwards,we discussed next years rally, not changing anythnig, but hoping we can get some more to attend.We all sat around after dinner and solved all the problems of the world and turned infor the nite.
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Sunday was the usual pack up with most of us being casual.The Ranch and it's staff were made sure our stay was the best and look forward to having us next year. Miss "M" and took off to our favorite place,the Fish&Fry RV park South of Deadwood S.D.,because they have two vintage trailers themselves and make our stay something to look forward to.

This 1963 Safari Airstream has been 5 years in planning and development. It has only been serving coffe drinks for 30 days in the parking lot of the Washington Square Mall in Tigard, Oregon (outside of Portland).

Josh the owner told us there is literally a ton of batteries on board to power all of the equipment inside.

The Silver Bullet is a drive through or you can use the walk up window.