Primers and Tenting in the Wind

From the vibrant colors rolling over the hills to the those chilly mornings when you need to remember your jacket, fall is the season of brilliant change. Festivals liven up small towns celebrating the life and bounty of mother earth. The days slowly begin to grow shorter as the sun, grows orange and slowly slips out of sight, leaving us with those last few 'perfect days.' We are reminded of those times as children, when after a long day of raking endless piles of soft, yellow leaves, our parents would let us jump in them only to create more work the next day. As primers, hikers and campers who believe and practice primitive camping, there is no better time to experience the great outdoors than Autumn. We love wiping the cobwebs off of our fall and winter gear in preparation for the best outdoor living of the year. We only hope we are so lucky as to catch that first, brief snow that sweetens the air and purifies our senses. Its when our campfires become the soul of our natural existence, even if only for a few short hours. We relish, no, we live for these moments of complete human silence when the world and all of its problems fade into the crisp evening air.

This edition of The First Campfire features a short time-lapse showing you how to properly set-up your tent in windy conditions. Our first hike of the season took us to one of our favorite spots, Stone Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, NC. We had a short hike in where we set-up camp on the ridge line. The conditions were fair. Around 65F during the day and 45-50 at night. The wind was mild to moderate during the afternoon and fairly calm during the night.

Welcome to Stone Mountain State Park

Music: Haymaker's Hoedown

 Dirk Powell, Ganey Arsement, Gary Burke, Jay Ungar, Kevin Wimmer & Molly Mason

Suggested Reading
The Essential Guide to Wilderness Camping in the US
by Charles Cook

Comments and additional tips are greatly appreciated.  Come back soon for more tips and advice.

Enjoy the great outdoors!

Your friend and fellow Primer,

Andrew