Top Ten Camping Tips

Camping is a great way to help you reduce stress. Being in the outdoors gives you a sense of natural peace and serenity. And it also gives you a chance to stretch out those cramped muscles of yours. However, camping, when executed unplanned, may yet be a source of stress and even injury. So, in camping, always practice common sense. The effort you put in planning the trip, including the things that you have to bring, may spell the success or failure of your camping trip. Remember the horror stories you hear from people who despise camping because of bad judgment or simply embarking on the trip with a 'come-what-may' mindset. Yes, camping is supposed to be roughing it up but it does not mean you should not plan it. Camping should be an exciting experience but it ceases to be that when trouble sets in. Here are some camping tips that you can opt to follow.

1. Before you get too worked up, line up all the camping gear that you intend to cram in your backpack and give it a once-over. No, check it twice, even three times. I am quite certain you will be able to think something up, an item that is not on your list that might eventually become handy in the outdoors or on this particular trip of yours.

2. Bring extra clothing. This is a contingency for events like a slip on muddy ground, or a fall while crossing a shallow river, or perhaps just a sudden change in climate. Always think ahead.

3. Bug repellents and sunscreen are musts. Do not allow your night to be a sleepless one.

4. Heavy items at the bottom of the bag, lighter ones on top. Crushed food or damaged gear can be a hassle.

5. It would be advisable to precook hot dishes if your plan is to relax on the camping trip. All you have to do when you get there is preheat it and then enjoy. Of course, cooking outdoors is awesome but it would be better to do some heavy cooking on the next day. You might want to rest after that long trip.

6. Make a list of your menu from breakfast to dinner. This way, you can pack your stuff better, last in first out.

7. If water is an issue on the camping area, stock up on drinking water and instead of bringing regular plates, carry paper plates instead. Just make sure you also brought along garbage bags.

8. Of course you did not forget flashlights but always bring extra batteries for emergencies.

9. First aid kits are always a first when traveling into the wild.

10. Always keep out an eye for possible sources of problems. It would not hurt to be proactive.

Always remember, camping can be really fun when you want it to be.

For those who wish to discover more about camping why not do some research here: camping tips

Camping vs Cruising

I am back from a lovely week away in Somerset. We went camping and the park was great with lots of children's facilities and the weather wasn't too bad for October either! We were thinking of doing a cruise next year so I was thinking what would I prefer a cruise or camping in the UK, let me think....

Cruising- Exotic destinations
Camping - Cold and Wet
Camping- Cleaning and Cooking
Cruising- Being Waited on hand and foot
Camping- Cleaning and Cooking
Cruising- A la Carte menus
Camping - Sausage sandwiches
Cruising- Broadway shows
Camping- Talent shows
Cruising- Waking up in different destinations
Camping- Waking up in a freezing Caravan/Tent
Cruising- Dressing up for formal nights
Camping-Wellies


All in all camping was great but I think that a cruise is definitely on the agenda for next year!

Our Camp out!

We enjoyed our first family camp out! We have been wanting to go camping with the kids but with the kids ballgames, and gas prices we decided what was keeping us from just pitching a tent right here in our own yard! Then we could experience it and take notes of what we need to do different. We told the kids we were going to camp out and they got so excited so for a whole day we were getting ready! Steve set up our tent and got all our chairs together. The kids started packing their backpacks with pj's and a change of clothes since they were going on a real camp out! haha I headed for the store and filled an ice chest with some camping essentials! SNACKS! We all knew we were not going to have a camp fire so I just fixed the hotdogs and brought them out to eat! I couldn't wait to sit outside and just watch the stars come out with the kids. Mattie said, "This is a really big screen!" We had lots of bedding and pillows and an air mattress so it was nice and cozy. It was a beautiful evening and I'm so thankful that we did it because it was so much fun. We played games where Mollie held the flashlight and Mattie and Brady danced around watching there shadows grow bigger and they walked either towards Mollie or away from her. They got so tickled at all the things they could make their shadows do! Then we sang devo songs together (this was my favorite) because our goal as parents is to instill in our children a love for God. I want to make singing to God something that they will do to make them feel better, safer, or closer to Him. We enjoyed singing underneath the big beautiful sky while we were amazed by his craftywork. The night did get a little cool but five in a tent was just about perfect for snuggling. I am so thankful to have a family and getting to do special things with them, just enjoying the little things together. The kids are ready to camp out again!

Alaskan Adventures

Last week was our first week of training with our student staff. It was great, and they are an awesome group of students! They are all very different, and I've learned that Anchorage is a very diverse city, full of lots of different kinds of interesting people. Training went well, and Friday was our opening day. It's great that things are finally underway over here. Conference Services operates like a hotel, checking in large groups, like athletic camps or conferences, and also individuals. It's nice that there is more of a buzz about campus now. Here are few pictures from training (yes, I made them play Ships and Sailors).

I am also getting to know a lot of the staff members here on campus. I am going to speak with the Director of Parking Services a little later this summer, to see how UAA facilitates their parking operations. We (the friendterns) also get to have these sessions with different professionals from around campus, including the Vice President of Student Affairs, so I am REALLY excited for that to start up. Works great--a new experience for sure, but interesting, challenging, and rewarding nonetheless. BUT HERE'S THE FUN STUFF... While I have been working a lot, I've also got some great supervisors who really encourage and support our desire to explore The Last Frontier. Here's a few pictures and such from this past weekend of adventures.

We took a drive to Girdwood, AK to see some glaciers. It was a beautiful drive down the coast! These are some scenery shots. Not sure of the names of the mountains, but I do know that the body of water is called the Turnagain Arm, named so because when Captain Cook reached the end, he had to "turn again."

We stopped at Beluga Point to take some pictures (sadly, the belugas did not receive this message...). Our next stop was for breakfast. We ate at the most adorable (and delicious) restaurant! It was called Jack Sprats. It was so cute that we decided to take pictures of our food to document said cuteness. (Oh, side note: As soon as we walked in, they started playing The Beatles Revolver album. I WAS IN ALASKAN HEAVEN!)

After the most adorable dining experience to-date, we continued our drive toward Byron Glacier. We were under the impression that we would drive up to a glacier, given that Maria said, "Hey guys, want to drive to Girdwood and see a glacier?" We were wrong. We began a "nature walk" (a.k.a. hike that was not on an incline), and it was B-E-A-UTIFUL!

Our gorgeous nature walk then took an unexpected turn as we reached the second half of the trail... which was covered in SNOW! We had to bravely traverse the treacherous mountain with no gear but two walking sticks. Okay, it wasn't that bad. It really wasn't bad at all. Quite entertaining, in fact. However, definitely unexpected, seeing as how it was May 29

Turns out, walking on snow is like walking on soft sand at the beach. Except, snow is cold and made of ice, so falling on the snow or getting caught hip-high in the snow was less enjoyable. Anyway... We made it to the glacier! This is Byron Glacier, in all of it's wonder and beauty.

After our trip to Byron Glacier, we took a short drive to see Portage Glacier. We knew what we were getting ourselves into this time--A BOAT TOUR! THAT SERVED HOT CHOCOLATE! It was great. However, we did not anticipate how cold it was going to be! It was freezing on top of the boat!

Saturday was fun! Sunday was a true expedition, though. We went on a real hike (incline included) with Tina, our boss. She lives in Eagle River, a town just outside of Anchorage. It was so beautiful up there. These next couple of pictures are from our hike, and I think they speak for themselves. Every time I looked around, I was more and more inspired to sing, "The hills are alive, with the sound of music...." We ended up hiking ELEVEN miles! I still don't believe this is true, but maps and atlases say otherwise. It was gorgeous, but not easy! I really had a great time though, and I think hiking might be my new favorite thing to do in Alaska (aside from boat tours that serve hot chocolate). We had a wonderful home-cooked meal at Tina's house afterward. On our way home that night, the most amazing thing happened. There we were, driving through the mountains, and all of a sudden, right next to the road, was a MOOSE! So, that was adventure weekend! There's still lots to do and see in Alaska, and I'm so excited about it all! My apologies for the long post, but some stuff was just too good to keep out (and I've still got a TON of pictures that aren't on the blog).

I'm still a little homesick, but yesterday, my parents said they were coming to visit me in July, so I'm feeling better about it now. It's weird to be this far away from Louisiana, especially in this time of crisis over there. Every time I watch the news, I just get more and more sad about what is happening at home. Also, every time I go to the grocery store and pass by BP Headquarters, I get a little more angry about it, too. It's hard to be in such a beautiful place and know what is happening elsewhere. Anyway, I just had to say a little something about the situation.

Sometime soon (hopefully) we are going to be doing the one thing I've wanted to do since I found out I was coming to Alaska. WILDLIFE BOAT TOUR! So excited about this. If you have any other suggestions of what to do or what you'd like to see pictures of, let me know!

Lessons Learned, Discoveries Made, and Our Adventures Along the Way

In this final post we offer our reflections on the work and experiences we had in Cappadocia. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Jones for allowing us to participate in her field research. This is a summer none of us will forget.

Stephanie

Hard as it is, I love what I do, and working in Cappadocia confirmed that the perks of working in art history are vast. My major field of study is Modern art, so I jumped at this unique opportunity to get out of the archive and into the field. The past weeks in Cappadocia became a kind of art history methodological boot camp, primarily of iconography and style, and I was able to really hone my eye (and my calves) as we inspected every minutia of these many churches. Working directly with art objects has secured my knowledge that art history is about honoring the work that you study, and that this field begins and ends with the object.

Brad

This was my third season in Cappadocia and by far the most valuable. My first two seasons correspond to my first two years of graduate school. I was naive and a newbie to art history, Byzantine studies, and fieldwork. I just assumed research in Cappadocia---side-by-side with my Professor in locked rock-cut churches-- was a given rather than an exceptional experience. I made those first two seasons about me and asked Meryamana what she could do for me. This season was entirely different. We did not set foot in Meryamana but she was ever-present. Each rock-cut church spoke to us in a variety of ways, most notably through iconography and style. With each conversation we learned more and more about Meryamana and Byzantine Cappadocia. This summer I learned about our responsibilities as art historians. We are stewards of the monuments. Our job is to listen to what they have to say and find ways to articulate the meanings that have been silenced for nearly a millennium. I felt like the work we did this summer helped us to hear, if only a whisper, what Meryamana has to say.

Sarah

I have acquired a variety of skills during our time in Cappadocia, including how to differentiate between tuff and ignimbrite and how to distinguish the styles of Armenian workshops from those of Constantinople. I have learned that the foundation of these skills lies in the ability to see relationships forming around you. My time in Cappadocia made me realize that the rock-cut churches continue to be intertwined with the local culture. In order to reach the churches we had to pass through modern tourist traps, trek through farms and herds of livestock, and have photo-ops with the Turkish national military. My realization that these churches are approached from a variety of perspectives – i.e. an example of cultural heritage versus a pre-fabricated pigeon coop – encouraged me to see the monuments with fresh eyes. Only then could I begin to see important possible relationships, such as the connection between the brushwork of single decorative motif and the rendering of the Theotokos’s veil by a single hand.

Chris

Our days in the field introduced me to the practicalities of conducting research in Cappadocia. Rock-cut churches are rarely on the map and asking for directions often leads to further confusion, so perseverance is absolutely required. Inside the churches I was first overwhelmed by the sheer amount of imagery that survives; with time I was able to discern smaller variations from church to church. In the evenings, tracing motifs not only resulted in the first drawings of mine that I could consider fridge-worthy, but also trained my eyes to look for the nuances of brushstrokes and technique. Knowing how to search, knowing what to look for, and knowing how to look are all tools I am very thankful I can bring back with me from Cappadocia.

Now we present to you a photomontage full of adventure and bloopers. Thank you for following us this summer. In order to prepare ourselves for our treks through the valleys, our meals always included a layer of the nutritious mineral known as volcanic tuff. Tuff is also useful as a skin salve, nose protectant, and hair styling product. We had to protect our daily rations from the encroaching local wildlife. Aside from all the tuff that we ingested we also sampled the exotic local cuisine. Airplane 'cuisine'.

Entries and Exits

Getting into rock-cut churches often proved to be a challenge, and required cooperation among the group. (Lynn would like to point out--on the left pic-- that she was waiting for the guides to get their act together so that she could get down, and on with her day.) X doesn’t always mark the spot in Cappadocia, but the landscape offers clues. Road hazards and never-ending stairs became a part of life. Here at Ihlara it's 361 steps down--and 361 back up. Thankfully, aside from exhaustion and a few scraped knuckles, our injuries were limited to the infamous “church neck” and “tracing neck.”

Wizard Staffs and Wild Dogs

As we hiked through the Cappadocian valleys, we often had to arm ourselves as rumors of wild dogs circulated. Grrrrrrr. Dr. Jones protected us with her bare hands against the reptiles lurking in the grass and under stones. (Lynn would like it to be noted that she waved tortoises in the general direction of these herpetological threats, and that it seemed to work.) The local tour guides proved to be fountains of wisdom, retelling the narrative of Iconoclasm through depictions of pre-Iconoclastic chickens and Satanic grasshoppers. An important lesson learned: always befriend the people with guns, even if they are a little too friendly.
As tempting as it was, we proceeded on foot and were thus deprived of a “nice experience.” We somehow managed, and saved ourselves twenty Turkish Lira a piece.

Mountenering

Basic knowledge of mountain climbing

Mountain climbing like other adventure activities are a heavy sports activity. Activities that require excellent climber fitness condition. The difference with other sports, mountain climbing done in the middle of the wild outdoors, an environment that is actually not a human habitation, let alone a child of the city.

Good climbers are aware of the dangers that will confront in their activities which is termed the dangers of objective and subjective danger. Objective danger is the danger that comes from the properties of nature itself. For example, the mountains have a cooler air temperature plus the freezing wind, the rain without shelter, steepness of the surface which can cause people to slip at once at risk of falling rocks, and the pitch-dark night. The nature of the hazard can not be altered humans.

However, novice climbers often climb the mountain as a recreation consider ordinary. Moreover, to the mountains popular and "easy" climb, such as Gede, Pangrango or Salak. As a result, they neglect the physical preparation and climbing equipment. Not infrequently in between their bodies coated with only a T-shirt with the stock or water biscuits perfunctory.

Although can not be changed, in fact climber to reduce its negative impacts. For example, by bringing warm clothes and a thick jacket to protect themselves from cold air. Bring tents to protect themselves from the rain when camping, bring a flashlight, and so forth.

While the dangers of subjective self comes from the man himself, that is how ready he is to climb the mountain. Is he healthy enough, strong enough, adequate knowledge of the compass on the map (because there are no traffic signs on the mountain), and so forth.

As an illustration, the National SAR Agency records that from January 1998 to April 2001, there were 47 victims of mountain climbing in Indonesia, which consists of 10 deaths, 8 people missing, 29 people survived, two people were seriously injured and one person lightly wounded, of all recorded ascent (National SAR Agency, 2001)

Other data, from 1969 to 2001, Mount Gede and Pangrango in West Java have been eating as many as 34 people dead. Furthermore, from 4000 that tried to climb Mount Everest as the tallest mountain peaks in the world, only 400 people who managed to reach the summit and about 100 people died. The average accident that occurred on the climb below 8000 m have been recorded as much as 25% in each period of ascent.

Rafting