Camping with Carter

Camping with Carter This page is for those people in North Carolina, South Carolina, or anywhere thereaabouts, who would I look forward to your input and your questions.

As this page grows, I will add more information about camping. Whether you are thinking about camping, have been camping just a time or two, or if you are an expert camper, I hope there will be something on this page for you. The purpose of this page is more than just to share photos of camping trips, although I look forward to some great camping photos. It is about sharing tips, recipes, informat

ion about types of gear to use on different types of camping trips, places to go camping, things to do while camping, etc. If I don't know the answer, I will try to find the answer for you. I have been camping since I was a little boy, and I have learned from each experience. I fell in love with camping and it became a part of who I am. I guess that is why I eventually became a Royal Ranger commander, a Cub Scout leader, and a Boy Scout leader. My time with these organized groups helped me grow in maturity as a camper, and as I attended various training camps, I learned skills that I thought I was good at but realized I wasn't as good as I thought. Even to this day, after decades of camping experiences, I am still learning. I said all that to say this: I don't consider myself to be an expert, just experienced. I don't know all the answers because I am still learning, but together, we can help each other become better campers. Most importantly, we can love camping together.

Practice might not make perfect, but practice does help. Starting a fire is something anyone can do, but can you do it ...
03/14/2026

Practice might not make perfect, but practice does help. Starting a fire is something anyone can do, but can you do it with flint (the rock), steel, and char cloth? I was practicing starting a fire this old-fashioned way since I will be teaching a class about it April 9 - 12, While I was at it, I decided to make two more batches of char cloth.
Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

When you have a large group camping out (this one was a group of Cub Scouts), what better place to have a campfire than ...
03/13/2026

When you have a large group camping out (this one was a group of Cub Scouts), what better place to have a campfire than beside a lake?

Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

In your outdoor adventures, you should always take a first-aid kit, Why? ... Because you never know what will happen. ...
03/13/2026

In your outdoor adventures, you should always take a first-aid kit, Why? ... Because you never know what will happen. Even the smallest incident could lead to a serious infection--a blister, a small cut, a sprained ankle. BUT ... what should be in it? Here is a suggestion to get you started.

Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

One of my favorite dispersed camping sites has been closed off. I asked officials why, and I was told it was because pe...
05/12/2025

One of my favorite dispersed camping sites has been closed off. I asked officials why, and I was told it was because people have left so much trash. The last time I camped there I remember seeing a LOT of trash on the ground, in the fire pits, and all around. I wasn't prepared, so I wasn't able to pick up all the trash that other people left. This is why many other areas are being closed--because people do not respect the earth. Many people, I am guessing, do not care and are disrespectful. Every person who goes out into the beautiful outdoors should practice the seven principles of "Leave No Trace."
Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

Minimize the chance that a bear will enter your camp!Divide your campsite into three areas--kitchen, food storage/trash ...
05/08/2025

Minimize the chance that a bear will enter your camp!

Divide your campsite into three areas--kitchen, food storage/trash areas, and the sleeping area. It is not always easy to do, especially if you are in a campground where space is limited.

Your "kitchen" should be far away from your sleeping area. If you are not limited to a confined campsite, prepare & eat meals AT LEAST 50 yards away. Food should, ideally, be stored in a locked container (or inside your RV), NOT visible in a vehicle. If you are staying in a tent, food should be hung from a tree at least 12 feet high and 4 feet away from the main trunk, and it should not be anywhere close to the tent. Trash should also be located as far away as possible from the sleeping area and put in a container or hanging so that animals cannot reach it. Finally, DO NOT take anything that smells into the tent with you. That includes food, deodorants, etc. Bears and other critters WILL get into food AND napkins/paper towels/tissues if they are left out. Ask me how I know that.

Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

Carter is finally selling some camping gear. Here is a backpacking stove I am getting rid of for only $10.00 I've had ...
04/09/2025

Carter is finally selling some camping gear. Here is a backpacking stove I am getting rid of for only $10.00 I've had it for a while and never really use it anymore.

When you are camping during cold weather, it's not always easy to sleep warm, especially if you cannot use a small heate...
03/16/2025

When you are camping during cold weather, it's not always easy to sleep warm, especially if you cannot use a small heater (such as with the Scouts where heat sources are not allowed in tents). This also concerns sleeping in campers. You may not be able to run a heater all night, but that does not mean you can't stay warm. During the past two years, I have grown to like wool blankets very much. Even if they get wet, they keep you warm, whether it is from condensation, a leaky tent, or whatever. This illustration is how I camp when it is cold, and it works. I know it seems like a lot of stuff to pack, but if you are car camping instead of backpacking, it is well worth it to sleep comfortably. There has been more than one night in which I was cold, and throwing a wool blanket on top of my sleeping bag made a huge difference. Another alternative is to spend $500 for a 0° sleeping bag and $400 for a 4 inch pad underneath you. However, I find this set up to be more economical and just as comfortable for a good night's sleep.

Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

What's for breakfast? You don't have to always fix a complicated meal for breakfast when camping. On this particular m...
03/11/2025

What's for breakfast? You don't have to always fix a complicated meal for breakfast when camping. On this particular morning while camping, I just built a little fire in my Solo Stove Campfire and cooked smoked sausage. Depending on how well you want your sausage cooked, you can cook it over coals, or you can cook it over the open flame. However, you can achieve either result over coals; it just takes longer. I think the best part of this breakfast was the location--at one of my favorite campgrounds. Camping at a rural campground where sites are surround by trees and not people is the best.

Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

When you camp at many state parks and/or national parks, you are instructed to buy firewood locally. Bundles of firewoo...
03/06/2025

When you camp at many state parks and/or national parks, you are instructed to buy firewood locally. Bundles of firewood get to be fairly expensive. Here is one alternative. I use my small debris/wood stoves such as the Solo Campfire or the Redcamp stove. This is especially good if you don't need a large fire or don't have enough firewood for a large fire. All you have to do is search for downed limbs, small twigs and branches, pinecones, etc. These are efficient stoves and can cook a complete meal for one or two people. If you are patient, you could cook a meal for more people.
Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

The worst part about camping is not packing up to go home. The worst part is drying out tents, tarps, and canopies once...
10/31/2024

The worst part about camping is not packing up to go home. The worst part is drying out tents, tarps, and canopies once you get home. One may feel inclined to procrastinate and put it off for a while, but that is just inviting mildew to grow and deteriorate your gear. If you want your gear to last a while, make sure to dry it out after a wet campout.

Treat the earth well, love everybody, and be humble.

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Maggie Valley, NC

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