50 Campfires Magazine

50CAMPFIRES THE CAMPING AUTHORITY - ISSUE 6 - JANUARY 2015

PAUL BUNYAN’S SECRET WORKOUT LUMBERJACKS DONT NEED NO STINKIN’ GYM

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OUTDOORSY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGNS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

GET OUT THE DOOR!

SEE MORE IN 2015

HEALTHY CAMPING MEALS

YES, IT’S POSSIBLE!

THE 4 TOTE SYSTEM Vow to finally get all that camping gear off the garage floor.

Be an organizational champ with this easy camping tip that uses 4 Rubbermaid containers for easy access to camping gear.

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6 A KICKSTART TO NEW GEAR

THROUGH

Vow to let some new kick a** gear in your life. Kickstarter is a great place to start, but finding great products can be hard.

We did the legwork and have 7 products that we think all outdoorsy people will drool over.

THE FLY

16 HEALTHY CAMPING MEALS Vow to eat right around the fire this camping season. These 4 recipes are healthy, wholesome and delicious — making them a good alternative to s’mores and hot dogs, that won’t cause a complete derailment of your diet.

SUBMIT ARTICLES Click here GEAR REVIEWS Click here ADVERTISING INQUIRIES If you’re interested in advertising in either an upcoming issue of the 50 Campfires Magazine, or directly on the website, please click here, and fill out the form.

CONTACT US Fill out the contact form on our website with any comments or questions.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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SHARE THE FIRE

BREATHTAKING CAMPSITES Vow to stray from the ordinary this year. Stop going to the same crowded campground. Take a look at 5 campsites that will take you off the beaten path and take your breath away.

28 PAUL BUNYAN’S SECRET WORKOUT Vow to be as fit as the legendary Paul Bunyan. The secret is out!

There’s no need for equipment — we’ll show you how you can use the outdoors as your gym.

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CHECK IT OFF THE LIST

ON THE LINE

FILL YOUR FLASK

IN THE CAN

Vow to learn something from someone you don’t know.

Take a journey with us as we interview Keith from Parks Project and learn how without much effort, we can all make our National Parks a little cooler.

Vow to make cocktails fun this year. Dump out that Morgan Diet and try your hand at making a cocktail that’s perfect to fill your flask on your next cold weather hike.

Vow to crack a few new brews this year. Put down that can of colored water for a can of craft brew. Canned beer is the way to go when camping, but you don’t have to sacrifice taste for convenience. Read on to see a few of our favorites.

EXPAND YOUR MUSIC LIBRARY

Vow to take on some new adventures. Have you ever called in a barred owl or made pine needle tea? If the answer is no — we can help you out with our 2015 Outdoor Bucket List.

Vow to bring new music in your life. Instead of listening to the same few bands over and over let us bring you on a musical journey with a few of our current favorite songs.

50CAMPFIRES

OUR OUTDOOR

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RESOLUTION WE DID IT. WE MADE IT AROUND THE SUN AGAIN. 2014 WAS AN AMAZING YEAR FOR THE 50 CAMPFIRES TEAM, AND WE’RE TAKING CONTROL OF THE IDEA THAT 2015 WILL BE EVEN BETTER. MORE EXPERIENCES, MORE ADVENTURES, MORE TRIPS, MORE LONG WEEKENDS.

2015

In years past, we’ve resolved to eat better, lose weight and kick bad habits. While these are all very honorable promises, none of them have left lasting impressions in our lives. We’re making a NEW New Years Resolution this year. We want to live better.

We want to have experiences that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives. Sure, depriving yourself of a donut will help you realize your weight loss goal, but it won’t

do a thing to help you fill the pages of your memory book.

We want to see the places that we haven’t seen, eat food that we’ve never had with people that we haven’t yet met. We resolve to step outside of our comfort zone, trying gear that doesn’t currently live in our camp box – and being open to experiences that we haven’t had yet.

I know — this is vague. The beauty, is that we believe it

means something slightly different to each one of us. For me - I’ve started planning my family’s annual Memorial Day Camping trip already to places that we’ve never ventured.

In 2015, I encourage you to get outside more often, enjoy the people around you, and of course — don’t forget to look up once in a while.

Here’s to another trip around the sun!

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I VOW TO MAKE THIS A YEAR OF

NEW GEAR We love to find new camping gear to share with you guys. We look high and low to find the latest and greatest, but we’re getting into the time of year when there isn’t a lot of new product hitting the market.

That’s when we turn to Kickstarter, where you can find innovative, fun and sometimes outrageous new outdoor products just trying to get their start. We’ve spent some time staring at the computer screen and think these are 7 Kickstarter campaigns are something you’ll enjoy looking at.

CHIPS ALL-IN-ONE HEADPHONES Outdoor Tech innovates again with these all-in-one headphones. You can stuff the speakers in a hat or attach them to a frame and wear them as regular headphones. They have a microphone that you can use to take calls by simply tapping on the side of the headphones. Oh, you can change the volume that way too. Awesome.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

INDUS RECLAIMED HIKING STICKS These guys are repurposing discarded carbon composite golf shafts and creating a walking stick. But not just any walking stick.

These puppies are four times lighter than the current lightest hiking stick. The grips are styled to accommodate multiple handholds and the craziest feature?

They’re guaranteed for three lifetimes! If you’re grandson breaks one he’s covered.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

EMBER & EARTH FISHERMAN’S JACKET They call it “classic fisherman’s rain jackets reimagined.”

What does that mean? Well, it’s 40% polyvinyl and 60% polyester with a 100% cotton inside. It’s then treated with a durable water repellent that still allows it to remain breathable. And that cotton will keep you all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

INVISIBLE BACKPACK Backpacks for the trail are often big and bright, which is fun. But for urban trekking the sleek, unassuming Invisible Backpack fits the bill. It holds 20 liters of gear and has pockets that can be accessed from multiple directions and has an expandable inner divider to keep your stanky gym shoes in their own space.

The most exposed zippers will also be rubberized and waterproof. Sweet!

You won’t have to worry about your laptop when you’re biking home in a downpour.

HELIOSLIGHT: THE 1100 LUMEN KEYCHAIN FLASHLIGHT Why wouldn’t you want an 1100 lumen light with you all the time? One of the benefits we like is the ability to take amazing looking pics and video at night. You’re very limited if you only have your phone. This tiny flashlight can easily be held in the same hand as your phone, allowing you to shoot great looking nighttime photos. It even has a magnet on the bottom, so in some situations you’ll be able to use it hands free.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

THE DRINKING JACKET The Drinking Jacket reminds me of The Coolest, in which someone just combined all of the things that people are already doing into one product. Some of us like to enjoy a few beers while we’re kicking back with Mother Nature.

If that includes a few yard games and some light hiking, the Drinking Jacket will come in handy. It has a bottle opener, a pocket designed to hold a beer, and a flask pocket that comes with a flask (booze not included). Oh, we forgot to mention that the cuff folds out into a drinking glove. What? Yes, it does.

Awesomeness.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

CINCH! Just when we thought we’d seen every kind of tent imaginable, Jack Jackson hits Kickstarter with the Cinch! It’s disc-shaped design pops up instantly, and has a solar panel that connects to an external battery to charge all of your USB devices. You can enter from either side, and it’s fully waterproof with double skinned fabric. It also has an extra thick bathtub-style ground sheet to keep you nice and dry when you pick a terrible rainy night to go camping.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

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2015 I VOW TO PITCH A TENT IN A

BREATHTAKING LOCATION

January is the start of the New Year and the New You. We all make resolutions to better ourselves that we will forget by February. Don’t worry; we are just as guilty. Instead of making so many resolutions, we like to use January to start planning our summers. We want to max out the fun outdoors.

With limited weekends to dedicate to camping trips, we want to find the best location to take in all the beauty the outdoors has to offer. With that in mind we want to blow your minds with these 5 breathtaking locations to pitch a tent.

JANUARY ‘15

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MIDWEST APOSTLE ISLANDS / LA POINTE, WI

DEVILS ISLAND: Twenty-one islands on the west end of Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin make an archipelago landmark that is the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

These islands can only be explored by boat or sea kayak. The islands remain beautiful and pristine, thanks to the limitation of transportation and the designation of 80% of the national lakeshore to wilderness. The 21 islands offer 12 miles of mainland, with a distinctive blend of cultural and natural resources. If you want a unique secluded campsite, Devils Island is perfect. Devils Island has only one campsite, so you have the whole island of rugged, rocky shoreline and sand swept landscape all to yourself. It is way out in the cluster of islands so we’d suggest honing your sea kayak skills or hitching a ride out there on a charter boat.

THINGS TO DO: It’s worth your time to go “island hopping” by sea kayak. You’ll run in to sea caves, miles of hiking trails and lighthouses spread out among the islands. On a clear day you can even see the Sawtooth Mountains in Minnesota.

PLACE TO EAT: The Candy Shoppe is a staple in Bayfield, Wisconsin for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Stop in to get their homemade Wine Bread or ice cream, they are both to die for. You can even buy extra to take with you camping.

50CAMPFIRES

SOUTH OZARK NATIONAL FOREST YELLVILLE, AK

SPRING LAKE CAMPGROUND: The Ozark National Forest covers 1.2 million acres in the Ozark Mountains of Northern Arkansas. If you want to be surrounded by natural beauty, then Spring Lake Campground is your destination. It is hard to beat the surrounding beauty of this campsite with a captivating forest, large natural pool and steep sandstone bluffs of the Buffalo River. The two-miles of hiking trails help you take it all in - leading you through the scenic hardwood forests where wildflowers generally bloom year-round.

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THINGS TO DO: If you want to get on the water, there is a great float trip between the entrance point at Maumee South and the Spring Creek campsites. Put the canoe in at Maumee and float the 5.3 miles down the beautiful Buffalo River to the Spring Creek campsite area. If water is not your thing, the Blanchard Springs Caverns are only 30 minutes away and offer tours of the incredible cave system.

PLACE TO EAT: The family owned Neighbors Mill serves up home cooking from breakfast to dinner. The legendary Chicken Salad Sandwich is always a good choice as they make all of their bread in house. Their pumpkin muffins are a hit around breakfast time.

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EAST ACADIA NATIONAL PARK SOUTHWEST HARBOR, ME

SEAWALL CAMPSITE: Many campers who live on the East Coast know a trip to Acadia National Park is hard to beat. This park offers amazing views of towering mountains that frame the jagged Atlantic Coast. If you want to get away from the crowd and really enjoy the beauty of the park, then Seawall Campground is where you want to pitch your tent. Seawall Campground is located on the west side of Mount Desert Island, four miles south of Southwest Harbor. Named after

the amazing natural seawall close by, this campground has fantastic rustic campsites in their D loop.

THINGS TO DO: Hiking the scenic Wonderland Trail and Ship Harbor Trail is fun for the whole family. There are many great views and opportunities to see wildlife on both trails. The scenic Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is just off Route 102A.

BEST PLACE TO EAT: The Seawall Picnic Area lets you see a view of the half-mile of cobble seawall that forms a natural barrier between land and sea. This experience raises the bar for a picnic.

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SOUTHWEST KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST JACOB LAKE, AZ

CRAZY JUG POINT: After traveling down 27 miles of soft dirt roads, you arrive at a campsite like no other. Crazy Jug Point offers an edge-of-the-canyon car camping experience with breathtaking panoramic views of the Colorado River. The river comes out from behind the Powell Plateau, wraps around Great Thumb Mesa and winds downstream as far as the eye can see.

THINGS TO DO: Descend Bill Hall two miles to the broad Esplanad. Hear you can see Mt. Trumbull and the rest of the Uinkaret Mountains while hearing the roar of Thunder River from the canyon wall.

PLACE TO EAT: Jacob Lake Inn located in Fredonia, AZ may be 2.5 hours away from Crazy Jug Point, but it is the last place to eat before you head into camp. Baked fresh breads, pies, rolls, and cakes have been a tradition at Jacob Lake Inn since 1923.

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NORTHWEST BLIND ISLAND STATE PARK EASTSOUND, WA

BLIND ISLAND STATE PARK: Blind Island is a small, three-acre marine camping park located near the entrance of Blind Bay at Shaw Island, which is off the west coast of Washington. This island includes 1,280-feet of saltwater and rocky shoreline with no fresh water available. This island is for primitive campers who can only commute to the campsite by human or wind-powered watercrafts. Don’t worry, the effort is not wasted — the island offers unbelievable views and hiking trails.

THINGS TO DO: Since there is no commercial crab fishing allowed in the area, spending some of your time crab fishing can produce spectacular results. Just be aware of shellfish regulations and have your shellfish permits and catch record displayed when you set your crab traps.

Then have at it! The beach is also a great place to find shells when the tide is low.

PLACE TO EAT: This campsite is for the primitive camper, so the best place to eat is at the beach after you caught some fresh crabs.

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I VOW TO HAVE A

BUCKET LIST

Ah yes…it’s that time of year again.

The time when we all decide to quit our bad habits and get the beach body we’ve always wanted. Quitting smoking in 2015 is great. Going to the gym more often would be great too.

But we’d like to propose a different kind of resolution: new experiences.

We view 2015 as an amazing opportunity to try new things and experience new places. There’s a side benefit to doing new things that you might not be aware of: it makes your weekend longer. It’s true. You actually perceive the weekend as longer when you’re doing things you’ve never done before. The reason is that when your brain receives new information, it takes longer to process that information. The longer the processing takes, the longer that period of time feels. It’s like you’re cheating the clock!

2015 O

So we’ve compiled a 2015 Outdoor Bucket List to help you get adventuring. We put some active excursions in here, as well as some that just make you slow down. They’re both important. We want you to print this list out and stick it on your fridge as a reminder to try new things all year long. We also want to hear about your adventures! Send us pictures and tell us how it went. Better yet, send us new activities so we can keep growing the list. The best ones are both unique and specific. That way it’s easier to plan adventures. Cheers to a fun filled 2015 campers!

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CAMPFIRE SANDWICH A sandwich is a lunch standard, but it can get boring — fast. This campfire sandwich will kick up the flavors and is filled with your favorite things. It gives you options, and lets face it we all love options. We’d suggest picking up some good bread, spinach, basil, tomatoes and mustard. Make sure to pick up cheese that has very few ingredients (no American cheese) and meat sliced by the deli to help filter out the added junk you want to avoid. From there let your imagination run wild. Pack on your favorite meat, cheese and veggies. To get it nice and toasty just baste the bread with olive oil and wrap the sandwich in tin foil. Let the fire do the rest.

I VOW TO

EAT LIKE A CHAMP (A HEALTHY CHAMP) A weekend of camping doesn’t have to be a complete derailment of those healthy eating habits you’ve mastered at home. Ok, you can sneak a cookie or two we won’t tell, but the main meals can remain wholesome and healthy. It’s time for alternatives to s’mores and hot dogs. These 4 camping meals will be so delicious you won’t even know you’re eating healthy.

INGREDIENTS Slices of bread 1 tomato, sliced 4 slices of cheese 1 cup spinach 2 tbsp Basil, chopped 1 tbsp mustard Oil Heavy duty aluminum foil

INSTRUCTIONS Prepare your ingredients by slicing how you would for any normal sandwich. Lay out a generous piece of tinfoil underneath your prep space.

Take your slices of bread and spray (or spread) both sides lightly with oil. You can use butter if you would like. Place one slice on the aluminum foil.

Pile on your ingredients, top with other oiled bread and roll your sandwich snuggly in the tin foil.

Toss into the coals of the fire. Cook for 3-4 minutes, check it and flip. You may need to do this a few times. It can burn quickly, so be careful!

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TEX MEX EASY FOIL PACKET We have a thing for Mexican food – it’s kind of an obsession. So when going camping we usually try to make a Mexican dish, but to be honest it’s usually filled with not so healthy things. This Tex Mex Foil Packet is full of veggies and chicken, is bursting with flavor, and is easy to make. Feel free to omit the cheese at the end to keep the health kick going.

INGREDIENTS 1 (15oz) can of navy beans, drained and rinsed 1/2 onion, chopped 1 tomato, chopped 1 (4 oz) can green chilies, drained 1 can of corn bits, drained 1 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp cumin 1/8 tsp onion powder 1/8 tsp garlic powder 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 1 inch cubes 1/2 cup shredded cheese, Mexican blend 3 green onions, chopped tin foil

INSTRUCTIONS Chop the tomato, onion and set aside. Also cut the chicken breasts in to 1 inch cubes.

Combine the tomato, onion, navy beans, corn bits, chicken and spices in a bowl and mix well.

Place 1/4 of the mixture on each piece of tin foil and fold up so that the mixture won’t leak while turning the packet over the fire.

Place on the grate of the campfire or on the grill and cook for 20-25 minutes, turning the packets occasionally so that everything is cooked evenly.

When done, remove and open the packet, add cheese (if desired) and green onion. Let the cheese melt for a minute and serve.

Photo Credit: thekitchenmagpie.com

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JANUARY ‘15 VEGETABLE-PACKED

FRITTATA

There is nothing better to get your day started than a protein packed breakfast. A colorful display of veggies gives this dish a fun look that even kids can get in to. Loaded with peppers, squash, broccoli and onion this frittata only gets better with the addition of lean ground sausage. It’s a hearty, easy to make breakfast that will give you the energy to play outdoors all day.

INGREDIENTS 1/2 lb ground sausage 1 1/2cups onion, diced 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced 1/2 cup yellow summer squash, diced 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped 8 eggs 1/2 teaspoon of Salt, plus more to taste Fresh ground pepper to taste 1/4 tsp granulated garlic 1/4 tsp paprika 1-2 tbsp olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS Brown the sausage in a medium sized cast iron pan. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the pan and reserve to a large bowl, but leave the grease in the pan.

Next, sauté the onions, peppers, squash, and broccoli in the same pan over medium high heat for 5-10 minutes until they are softened.

Season them with a pinch of salt and pepper to help flavor them.

Remove them and add to the same bowl as your cooked sausage.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, ½ teaspoon of salt, large pinch of fresh ground pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Add the cooked veggies and sausage to the bowl.

Making sure the pan is well oiled, cook the egg and veggie mixture in the pan on low for 5-7 minutes or until the eggs are firm and set on top.

PHOTO CREDIT: HONESTLYDELICIOUS.BLOGSPOT.COM

50CAMPFIRES

GRILLED PINEAPPLE KABOBS If you’re going camping you have to make dessert, right? Unfortunately, if you’re trying to make it a healthy weekend your normal camping desserts like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup S’mores or Salted Caramel Apple Dips will be frowned upon. We have a solution — Grilled Pineapple Kebabs.

We’re not claiming it is the healthiest dessert in the world since it is drizzled with honey and butter, but it is a better alternative to the s’more. This delectable dessert is a perfect way to wind down after a day of hitting the trails. Plus, it won’t make you feel like your day of fat burning adventure was wasted by a high calorie dessert.

INGREDIENTS 1 fresh Pineapple 1/4 T. Honey 3 T. Butter, melted 1/8 tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS If you are using wood skewers, soak in water until they no longer float.

DO NOT use metal skewers.

Cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple and cut lengthwise into eighths. Trim off the core and outside from each eighth.

Mix honey, butter, and salt into a marinade. Place pineapple into the marinade for a half hour.

Skewer pineapple eighths with kebab sticks and preheat grill or get campfire grate ready. Grill pineapple for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until heated through and grill marks appear.

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I VOW TO

BE OF SERVICE ON THE LINE:

KEITH FROM PARKS PROJECT It’s easy to enjoy the outdoors and forget about the work that goes into maintaining the environment.

We like to appreciate the beauty around us, but tend to neglect the need to preserve the parks we will interact with for coming generations. Keith and Parks Project are on a mission to change that. Parks Project gathers groups of people to volunteer and support national parks across the country. We spoke with Keith to get a better idea of the vision for Parks Project and the inspiration behind this endeavor to make a difference.

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50 Campfires: What was the original vision of Parks Project and how does that look different than today?

Keith: The original vision was to get friends around volunteering in our parks so we could make a difference and support our favorite places. We got out as a group, did work, felt good about it, and would celebrate after a days hard work with a cold one or two. Then from our experience in apparel, we thought it would be cool if people could wear this cause, so the project evolved into t-shirts. Now, we think it has come full circle because we are still driving volunteer events, but using apparel as a way to tell stories that need support across all our favorite national parks. So, really, we are still holding true to our vision in partnering with Parks and Conservation groups to try to drive more ambassadors and advocates.

50 Campfires: What frustrated you and the creators (founders) of Parks Project to want to make a difference? Where does the inspiration for this endeavor come?

Keith: I think the only frustration that we have encountered during this journey has been in trying so hard to educate people on how they should be so honored to be in one of the only countries in the world where we actually “own” our parks. They are of

the people for the people. In many other countries around the world, parks are the queen’s land or owned by the government. It’s really up to us to take ownership and ensure they are taken care of for the generations to come. And that is definitely one of the inspiring things about this project, we can celebrate their raw beauty and uniqueness while educating people about what they can and should do to promote and protect these amazing places.

50 Campfires: How do you commonly see people getting involved with Parks Project? How would you like to see that evolve?

Keith: At the moment, we are organizing volunteer days and also ask our retailers to host a volunteer day at a nearby park too. We really want that to grow and scale by empowering others to organize these events on their own. On our website we have a template for folks to take on a park project and think if we could get ten people to bring in ten more people, etc, we could influence some major change and see the results of a radical social movement in park volunteering that is much needed.

50 Campfires: Parks Project Ambassadors are made up of several musicians, designers, photographers and videographers.

How does creativity play a role in Parks Project?

Keith: We think creativity plays a key role in creating connections with people and can trip up unique ways of finding solutions. There is no creativity prerequisite to join us and become an ambassador, but our close group inspires us to push our design & fashion perspective, music taste, and way we view our connection with the outdoors.

At the end of the day, a t-shirt graphic is a simple way of putting a story into apparel, but there are other “projects” that we would like to do in the future like concerts, art shows and events that tie in

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I VOW TO BE

creativity for a purpose. Want to help us host one?

50 Campfires: What type of causes, businesses or communities would you like to see Parks Project collaborate with to see your vision grow?

Keith: We are trying to develop partnerships that are organic to what we do and who we meet along the way. It was an honor to meet some of the Patagonia team at the Outdoor Retailer show, and they are a brand we really look up to in the outdoor space. There are simple things we can do like using their blanks, but there are also some creative ways to tackle projects that they could probably provide insights. We really are looking to partner with like-minded folks that can bring in new ideas, projects and park relationships.

Someone like National Geographic is also high on the list because we could create some amazing stories about far off parks in Africa and Southeast Asia.

50 Campfires: What new locations would you like to see Parks Project branch out to?

Keith: Wow, this is the best part of what we are doing! We see park projects in everything we do and everywhere we go. Whether it is a municipal park, skate park, or far off park in another country; there is usually a story there and we would love to find a way to share it with people who want to support it! The best thing about our approach is that hopefully we can find a

project, promote it , fund it, and then move onto a new one. So really, we will be able to keep innovating via new projects that need our support. We can keep learning about various interesting initiatives in our parks while helping resolve them with the support of our followers.

ORGANIZED (AT LEAST WITH CAMPING GEAR)

Having a way to organize all of your camping gear will make going camping more fun. We promise. There are certainly different ways to do it, from using a shoe organizer to using the tried and true camp box. We have always used 1-2 camping totes, but spend too much time digging through them to find the one thing we need.

The 4-tote system allows you to organize your gear into categories such as Cooking, Eating, Clean Up and Miscellaneous. This allows you to easily find what you’re looking for instead of having all of those categories stuffed in to two totes and rummaging through it all to find a few paper plates.

PHOTO CREDIT: WRANGLERFORUM.COM

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I VOW TO BE AS FIT AS

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PAUL BUNYAN The New Year marks a time of change and self-betterment. Every year in January something incredible happens: millions of people make the courageous decision to get in shape with a gym membership. And every year in February something equally incredible happens: millions of people “forget” they’ve made this health commitment.

So this year at 50 Campfires, we wanted to find a way to stay in peak performance for the summer weather to come. We thought there was no better way to get in shape than to follow in the footsteps of a true outdoorsman: Paul Bunyan.

Who wouldn’t want to emulate the friendly, giant lumberjack of the Northwoods, anyways?

As we can all imagine, Mr. Bunyan is a private man, so finding a workout worthy of this logger’s approval can be tough. We set out to find Paul Bunyan’s Secret Workout and we even tested it ourselves. Since not everyone has access to an axe and a blue ox named Babe, we’ve included the outdoor workouts you can do next time you’re trying to channel your inner Paul Bunyan. If you do happen to have an axe and blue ox named Babe, we recommend starting the workout with felling your own tree and a brisk walk up a mountain with your blue ox on your back. For the rest of us amateurs, here’s the outdoor workout that would make Paul Bunyan proud.

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1 TREE BRANCH PULL UPS A true outdoorsperson will look at the wilderness as their jungle gym.

Finding a strong branch a foot or two above eye-level will make for a great pull-up bar. Standing closer to the base of the tree will make a much sturdier area to do the pull-ups. To work both back muscles and build boulder-sized biceps, practice using a front grip and reverse grip while grabbing the branch. While Paul does 100 pull-ups a day, it’s a good alternative to do 3 sets of as many pull-ups as you can do.

2 LOG SQUATS

3 LOG LUNGES

4 SHOULDER PRESS

If you were one of the over-achievers that decided to chop down your own tree, then you’re a step ahead for this workout. If you’re like most that walk through the forest and didn’t happen to bring your own felling axe, then keep your eyes peeled for a down log. Make sure to be safe and choose one you feel confident lifting.

After all, our goal is to look like a young, strong Paul Bunyan—not Paul Bunyan hunched over a cane from throwing out his back. Once you’ve picked out your log of choice, lift it into your arms and bring it up over your head to rest safely on your back. Once stable, flex your core, and slowly squat down until your quads are parallel with the ground. Doing 3 sets of 8 reps will get you to where you want to be: hiking mountains and karate kicking angry brown bears with ease.

Remember that log you made feel like a number 2 pencil? It’s time to prop it back up on your back for log lunges. Once you’ve safely rested it on the back of your neck, take one step and lunge forward until your front leg is parallel with the ground and your back knee is almost touching the ground. Without resting, lift yourself back into a standing position and feel the burn in your front quad. Once you’re standing at attention, lunge forward with the opposite leg to equal out both sides.

Repeat this exercise until you’ve done 10 reps with each leg.

That’s one set. Since you’re trying to turn your legs into tree trunks, you’re going to do three sets. Brutal, we know. But Paul Bunyan doesn’t complain.

That log has now destroyed your lower body twice with squats and lunges. Now it’s your turn to manhandle it. Lift it into a safe resting position on your chest with your arms holding beneath it. To ensure you keep your lower back straight, flex those core muscles.

Take a deep breath and slowly lift it straight up until your arms are locked straight, then bring it back down to your chest. Do this for 2 sets of 8 reps. Your shoulders and biceps will be burning, but you’ll strut your massive pythons afterward just like Bunyan would do. The only difference between your shoulder press and his?

Legend has it he shoulder pressed Babe the Blue Ox. Daily. So do one last rep of log shoulder presses and launch that bad boy out of the way, because you’re done with it.

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THIS YEAR, I RESOLVE TO

NOT GET HUNGOVER There’s no such thing as a magic hangover pill, right? Wrong. I’ve been avoiding them for years with a simple amino acid you can buy over the counter.

DECLINE PUSH UPS

If there’s one physical feature about Paul Bunyan that most people recognize him by (besides his obviously oversized body), it’s his massive chest. So now it’s time to work those pectoral muscles. Next object to search for in the wilderness is a stump or down tree that sits fairly level with the common chair. Once you’ve spotted one that will work, get down in push-up position in front of the object.

Once down, flex those core muscles again and lift both feet onto the stump or log. Your goal is 40 total push-ups. Make sure to take your time and break them up however you feel comfortable. If you stand up and can no longer see your toes, don’t be alarmed. That’s either your new massive chest muscles or a newfound sense of pride for pushing your way through Paul Bunyan’s Secret Workout.

Here’s the deal: when your body breaks down alcohol, one of the byproducts is acetaldehyde. This is the stuff that seeps into your body and makes you feel horrible the next day. N-Acetyl Cysteine is an amino acid that bonds with acetaldehyde, allowing you to pass it, so it doesn’t stay in your body.

You can buy time-release NAC on Amazon. It works even better when paired with a time-release B-Complex. Take one of each before imbibing, and one of each before bed. Everyone I know that’s tried it is shocked at how good it works. Be safe, don’t drive, and thank me in the morning.

I VOW TO FILL MY FLASK WITH A

NEW COCKTAIL BY: TRISH GAVIN

TREE BRANCH AB RAISES You’ve made it to the home stretch, Campers. Good for you. Last muscle group to destroy is your core.

There’s an old folktale about Paul Bunyan that he could grate cheese on his rock hard abs. Well friends, that’s a true story. And he started with Tree Branch Ab Raises. Go back to the branch you used for pull ups and grab hold. From a hanging position, slowly bring your knees to your chest. The key here is to do them slow.

It’s cheating if you start swinging your body. And Paul Bunyan never cheats. Ever. Since you’ll be taking this workout slow, aim for 3 sets of 5-8 reps.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, FOLKS. The never-been-published-before Paul Bunyan’s Secret Workout.

Don’t let the folklore fool you, campers. Sure, Paul Bunyan may be doing these exercises with a hundred year old Red Wood tree and lifting Babe the Blue Ox, but if you commit to a fun outdoor workout like this, you’ll see a much healthier you. Not to mention getting to do this workout in the great outdoors, rather than a sweaty gym. The trick to sticking with your New Year workout is finding an activity that you enjoy doing that doesn’t feel like work. Maybe with a little practice, Paul Bunyan’s Secret Workout will turn into a new favorite for you.

In the 13th century it was ordinary to see a group of people (generally in Southern England) walking along, singing and drinking to apple trees while hoisting up either a young child to “toast”; literally placing a piece of punch soaked bread in the tree’s limbs. This ritual is called Wassailing.

The words “Waes Hail” literally mean be you healthy. The tradition was done on Twelfth Night to ensure a productive apple growing season for the next year by chasing away evil spirits and the “toasting” was done to show the previous year’s bounty.

Ths drink was named after this ritual. Wassail became a warm apple punch great for taking with you on cold nights, whether camping or singing to trees. There are many, many ways to make a Wassail depending on people’s personal taste.

Eggs can be added, bread can be floated on top, and you can even use ale in lieu of cider. *This is my personal recipe and I find leaving the toast and eggs behind allow it to be more transportable.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

HOW TO MAKE IT:

■ 1 gallon of unfiltered apple cider ■ 12 oz Oloroso Sherry ■ 8 oz Yahara Bay Apple Brandy ■ Cup of brown sugar ■ 3 sticks Ceylon Cinnamon ■ 15 whole allspice berries ■ 13 whole cloves ■ 3” fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped ■ The peels of one fresh orange and one fresh lemon ■ 1 tbsp grated nutmeg

Using cheesecloth, make a 10”x10” square, wrap the cinnamon, allspice, cloves and ginger in the cloth and tie the top so it resembles a teabag.

Combine Cider, brown sugar, citrus peels, nutmeg and sachet in a pot. Heat mixture to a simmer and keep there for ten minutes. Remove pot from heat tand add the alcohol. Place back on the burner on low and allow marrying for 15 minutes and stir occasionally. When ready, remove sachet and citrus peels and pour. Cheers!of chicken is clear. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro.

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I VOW TO EXPAND MY PALATE WITH A FEW

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NEW BREWS PURPLE HAZE Brewery: Abita Brewing Company Style: Lager ABV: 4.2% Tasting Notes: It’s brewed with real raspberries and we love that. Abita Brewing Company’s Purple Haze is a lager that uses pilsner and wheat malts to give it a smooth feel. Real raspberries are added after filtration, so those puppies really add a fruity aroma that is tart but sweet. You may even see a purple haze to the beer or fruit pulp floating around. This amber colored beer is a nice blend of beer and berries that provides a rich taste that is perfect for a hot summer day.

PHOTO CREDIT: GALLARYHIP.COM

8-BIT Brewery: Tallgrass Brewing Style: Hop-Rocketed American Pale Ale ABV: 5.2%

Tasting Notes: Anything that uses a hop rocket and has a can that looks like a video game is a must try in our book.

Tallgrass Brewing 8-Bit starts off simple, but is remarkably complex when you dig deeper in to it. Using a hop rocket, which adds extra hop oils, tastes and aromas at the end of the brewing process, gives the Galaxy hops a unique tropical/melon aroma. Pouring a lightly hazy golden orange color, this beer is truly well rounded and a great session beer.

PHOTO CREDIT: BIKEGANG.CC

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FURIOUS Brewery: Surly Brewing Company Style: IPA ABV: 6.2%

TEN FIDY Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery Style: Imperial Stout ABV: 10.5% Tasting Notes: This imperial stout means business.

At 10.5% ABV it’s an immense stout loaded with chocolate-covered caramel and coffee, hidden beneath the smooth blanket of malt. It’s a big beer, with big taste.

Hitting you with coffee, chocolate, vanilla, fruit and a little sweetness. It’s like a party in your mouth. The greatest thing about this beer is its ability to keep it together; with all those flavors it’s still well balanced, finishing dry with some smoke and coffee. Pouring a deep black, this boozy beer is complex and certainly worth a try.

PRODUCT PHOTO CREDIT: DRUNKCYCLIST.COM

Tasting Notes: This beer is what dreams are made of.

Literally. This Flagship beer for Surly is one of many great choices in their line up, and if you like hops, this will be right up your alley. With both citrusy hop aromas and flavors, this beer is hoppy but well balanced with the caramel malt that is the backbone of this beer. The bitter finish is refreshing and lingers. This amber colored beer has an immense depth of flavors and it’s easy to see why many consider it to be one of the best IPA’s out there.

PHOTO CREDIT: FLUKE-BREWING. BLOGSPOT.COM

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BOTTOM UP WIT Brewery: Revolution Brewing Style: Wheat Beer ABV: 5.0% Tasting Notes: It’s exactly what you need on a summers day — refreshing, well balanced adult beverage. Revolution Brewing’s Bottom Up Wit is a Belgian-style ale brewed with pilsner and wheat malts.

The ground coriander and orange peel alongside a special Wit yeast strain give the beer a citrusy aroma and silky finish.

Pouring a hazy yellow-orange color, this beer gives you hints of clove and banana and mixes with a bready yeastiness to end with a slightly hoppy finish.

PRODUCT PHOTO CREDIT: LOSTINTHEBEERAISLE.COM

I VOW TO

EXPAND MY MUSIC LIBRARY We play music all day at the 50 Campfires office, and it’s always a nice blend of old and new. This week I’ve been digging back into Ray LaMontagne and it’s been delicious. I saw him in concert a few years back and it was fantastic.

Another coworker turned me on to Cage the Elephant recently — great stuff. Sheryl Crow is back in the mix — specifically her second album.

I’ve always been a fan of the first two. Plenty of simple heartfelt tracks on them both.

Gun In My Hand by Dorothy is a good foot stomper. If you haven’t heard The Punch Brothers cover Kid A, you’re in for a treat. Then there’s Rope and Summit by Junip. Another concert that blew my mind. Jose Gonzalez was spot on all night.

Right Time by Nikki Lane is great twangy tune that I love, and last but not least — Tony Joe White.

I started listening to him after seeing him on Sonic Highways. He’s the real deal. I hope you enjoy it.

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW THE PLAYLIST

SHARE THE FIRE

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e hope you’re enjoying the 50 Campfires magazine as much as we enjoy writing it. At 50 Campfires we’re passionate about getting people off the couch and into a new adventure. We believe that 50campfires.com is one part of a much larger effort to reconnect people with the trees, rivers, trails and campfires. But - as much as we believe that, we know we can’t do it alone.

That’s where “Share The Fire” comes in. We need your help. We both know that rediscovering nature is what is needed right now. The more that 50 Campfires is shared, the more that happens.

Please help out by sharing. You can facebook, blog, tweet or share a pin on Pinterest — it’s up to you. We’re giving away prizes each week to people who “Share The Fire.” Thanks for helping out!

CLICK HERE

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AROUND THE BEND:

FEBRUARY

THE

JANUARY ‘15

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he New Year has arrived and the holidays have passed. The excitement of new vows and resolutions has set in. But not to long into February we realize all the fun has passed, and we start to get tired. We start to get tired of the cold weather, the short days, the everlasting snow, and, sometimes, even the entire winter season. February shouldn’t be the beginning of hating the next couple months just because the holidays and fun traditions are behind us, so this issue will be deemed The Snow Issue and we’re keeping it fun.

The Snow Issue will include all kinds of different stories around, you guessed it — snow. A wise sage once told us “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just ill-prepared travelers.” So whether you’re looking for outerwear for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, we’ll cover the best gear to have. No idea what to do to pass the time with such cold weather? No problem.

We’ll feature a few winter locations to visit and different activities for people to really enjoy the month of February.

After all, here at 50 Campfires, we believe every season was meant to be enjoyed — not dreaded. Catch the February Snow Issue next month and enjoy the season with us!

w o n S ISSUE

ES N IVITIU NI ACTV F E R A H D TO E POW EEAR TH THE G U AND KEEP YO TO ARM. W