Evening star., 1953-05-18
Readers s'C|earing House
Conducted BY BETSY CASWELL
CAMPING.

Units. ~. H. - AtCLuHuI tu/
The first mistake we made
In buying camping equipment
was not to realize how much
space is lost in an umbrella
tent by the slanting walls.
You will find that the cots,
being about Is inches high.
will have to be placed closer
to the center of the tent than
perhaps you anticipate. You
will lose a good IL inches OF
floor space on each side OF an
umbrella tent. In a wall tent
the cots can be placed directly
against the walls. thus allow
ing for maximum use OF the
tents dimensions. I doubt II
YOU will be able to get five cots
in the tent you describe. 10
make sure, draw a floor plan
Of your tent to scale and cut
.s-o,,t scale models Of each cot
and crib you propose to take.
being sure to allow at least
- inches Of waste space all
around the edge Of your tent:
! Having a center pole Is, OF
course. more awkward than q
tent without one.
= do urge you to get a three
T ~5hurner stove. However, TINS
might depend on how much
and what you expect to COOK.
even if you plan to eat mostly
from cans, say soup and beans
FOR dinner or pancakes ana
sausage for breakfast, you
might also wish to have cot1ee.
with a two-burner stove you
will find yourself constantly
shifting pots to keep one dish
warm while the others are
I cooking. Some people plan to
cook over an open fire, but this
is especially difficult in rainy
weather and one of the Things
that discourages f1rst-tlme
campers. Since nearly all
campers use gasoline Stoves
YOU will find merchants in the
vicinity of campsites are well
stocked with white gas.
You need not worry about
noisy neighbors. Most campers
retire early and you will nnd
them. as a rule, to be most
: thoughtful. considerate and
helpful. If on a rare occasion
some one does not abide by the
rules. the park attendant or
ranger has the authority to
evict such people from the
premises.
We have camped in Virginia
and in the Smokes in Nortn
Carolina and Tennessee where
the water consists mostly OF
trout streams and f1ood-con-,
troll artificial lakes. We have
never camped in Florida:
Since every one has individual
tastes and preferences. eacn
4 family must decide what type
of camping is most suitable
and it might take several trips
before you find the part OF the
= country you like best. Our
8 choice is an island on one OF
T. the lakes in Northern New
York-not an officially des1g-
i mated campsite. but on state
4 owned land, close enough TO
other campers for help in case
of an emergency but Tar
enough away to have only
birds and chipmunks for COM
pany. In Upstate New YORK
the water will not be too cold
during the latter part OF Au-
gust but the air will be cool'
=. especially at night.
Since most people start their
two-week vacations and arrive
at camp on a Saturday, they
must leave their campsites on
"a Saturday. Therefore,
: would suggest a Saturday ar
arrival for you. However. the
time you are planning is PROB
ably about the most popular
of the season and some OF the
i well-known campsites. espe-
<-cialIy those close to New York
:. City, will be crowded with per-
haps a line of cars waiting at
the gate. You will have to
take a chance that at least as
many campers are leaving as
are arriving.
Regarding the care Of tents
between seasons, we roll ours
IN and store them in the attic.
Your tent will be waterprooted
when you get it. I'm sure. and
the waterproof1ng lasts inden-
nitely. Also, with normal use
and care, your tent will prob
ably last a lifetime.
X \ X X.
FLOOR CARE?
HINT.
n n. ArlinUtOn)