Lightweight Backpacking Gear

Lifestraw Family Water Filter

Family Camping - Basic Gear & Equipment Needed

My Bushcraft Kit for 2-3 Days Camping

How to Lace a Hiking Boot For Better Fit

Extreme Spring Camping

Best Hikes in Washington Washington State Hiking Trails

Exploring The Diversity Of Washington State

Washington State exhibits some of the most diverse geographic and climate features of any state in the United States of America. From east-to-west and north-to-south, the state shows a wide variety of terrain, geology, temperatures, and populations. Eastern Washington and Western Washington, divided by the Cascade Mountains, display some especially contrasting landscapes.

Western Washington

By far the more populated region of Washington, the western part of the state is also the area that feels the brunt of the near legendary rainy weather. The I-5 Corridor stretches north-to-south and goes through communities like Bellingham, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Vancouver on its way from Canada to Mexico. In the north near the Canadian border and the city of Bellingham, the land is forested in most places right up to Puget Sound. Winters are harshest here compared to the rest of Western Washington but are very bearable. Bellingham is also home to one of the six state universities, Western Washington University.

The Seattle-Tacoma area is home to the largest concentration of people in the state of Washington. Seattle is also the business and finance capital of the state and home to professional sports franchises as well as the University of Washington. Seattle has a vibrant downtown area highlighted by the waterfront and world famous Pike Place Market. Ferry service is essential to Seattle and the rest of Western Washington as so many population centers are located on and around Puget Sound. Seattle sits right on Interstate 5 which runs north-to-south, and is also at western most end of the I-90 which is the longest Interstate freeway in the United States (the other end of I-90 is in Boston, Massachusetts). SeaTac Airport, serving the entire state and a major jump off point for flights to Alaska, Hawaii, and Asia is located between Seattle and Tacoma.

To the south, Olympia is the state capital and home to The Evergreen State College. Olympia's weather is similar to Seattle's and it too sits on Puget Sound. Olympia is a kind of hub for travelers as from there you can go west to the Pacific Ocean, northwest to the Olympic Peninsula, east to Mount Rainier, north to Seattle and further on to Canada, and south to the lower Cascade Mountains and Oregon.

The most northwestern portion of Washington State is known as the Olympic Peninsula. The Olympic Peninsula is home to Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge, Dungeness Spit, Neah Bay, the Hoh Rain Forest, and much more. Popular with tourists, it is possible in one day on the Olympic Peninsula to go from the beaches of Puget Sound, to the old growth forest and mountain peaks of the Olympic National Park, to the one and only rain forest in the continental United States, and finally to the Pacific Ocean.

South of the Olympic Peninsula sit the coastal areas of Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor, and Long Beach. This area of the state, though beautiful, is primarily focused on ocean based tourism, lumber, and marine industries. Further south is the city of Vancouver which sits right across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.

Eastern Washington

The second most populous city in Washington State, behind Seattle, is Spokane which is located in Eastern Washington near the border with Idaho. North of Spokane is the sparsely populated Colville area and further on is the Canadian border. This northeast corner of the state has what can be described as dry arid forests. Spokane is home to many of the common things you find in mid-sized cities like minor league sports, assorted colleges, large parks with many events, and major media outlets. Interstate 90 runs right through Spokane and is the major east-west route across the state. Just outside of Spokane is the community of Cheney which is home to Eastern Washington University.

South of the Spokane area is the southeastern section of Washington State, here lies the other major state university, Washington State University in Pullman. Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities (consisting of Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick) area are the major population centers of Southeast Washington. The land here was originally natural grassland and prairies but has been for the most part changed over to farming and agriculture thanks to the irrigation projects on the Snake and Columbia Rivers.

The Central Washington area is usually the term describing the region surrounding Ellensburg and Yakima. Ellensburg is home to Central Washington University and the Ellensburg Rodeo. Ellensburg also sits right on I-90 and is one of the last towns you stop at before heading over the Cascade Mountains to Western Washington. Yakima is the main population center in Central Washington and also a travel hub. From Yakima you can go southeast towards the Tri-Cities, south to Oregon, east towards Moses Lake and Spokane, north to Ellensburg, and west crossing the Cascade Mountains via White Pass to Western Washington. There are areas of Central Washington that are arid enough to actually qualify as desert land. Thanks to irrigation, the Central Washington area is a highly successful agricultural area. Wheat fields, grape vineyards, apple and pear orchards, and more cover the landscape of Central Washington.

Wenatchee is the most populated city in the North Central Washington region. The southern and central part of the North Central Washington area is scarred arid land carved by a giant ice age era flood that covered most of Eastern Washington. This flood created huge gouges that resemble canyons and valleys and are called coulees. The Columbia River dominates the North Central Washington area and the energy and irrigation made possible by it's hydroelectric dams have been a boon to the region. The gem of these is the Grand Coulee Dam located about two hours northeast of Wenatchee. The Grand Coulee Dam backs up water all the way to the Canadian border. Also in the vicinity of Grand Coulee Dam is Banks Lake, a manmade lake made by damming and filling up a coulee with water pumped from the Columbia River below. Downstream from Grand Coulee Dam is Chief Joseph Dam which is the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the nation. Lake Chelan is the largest natural lake in Washington State and sits near the geographic center of the state. At the northwestern end of the lake sits the town of Stehekin which you can only reach by boat, hiking trail, or water plane - no roads lead there. To the north sits what is referred to as the Okanogan country, right on the border with Canada. Rocky rugged forests meet arid steppe lands to make some of the most beautiful country in the United States.

The Cascade Mountains

The Cascade Mountains run generally from north-to-south dividing the State of Washington in half. There are five mountains in the Cascades that are classified as active volcanoes; Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. The Cascade Mountains receive an excessive amount of snow during the winter and are a favorite place to head for anyone with interests in hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, rock climbing, camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and more.

There you have it, when it comes to diversity in climates and terrain; no other state can match Washington State. Home to modern cities, an actual rain forest, desert-like conditions, a major mountain range, Puget Sound, the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River, and tons of other lakes and rivers, Washington State has it all. Whether you live there already or are planning a visit - explore Washington State today.

Mark owns and maintains http://www.NCWpics.com featuring photos and information about North Central Washington.

Family Camping - Basic Gear & Equipment Needed Camping Equipment Needed

Family Camping - Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Choose Camping As Your Family Vacation

Thinking of taking your family for a vacation? Instead of going for expensive vacation packages and burn a hole in your pocket, why not bring your whole family for a great camping trip. Family camping is not only more affordable than a complete stay in a resort, it offers enjoyment that packaged vacations can't even come close to.

The 5 reasons below will provide you with some of the great benefits that family camping can bring:

1. It's educational

The kids will learn about nature and wildlife as well as about learning about national monuments and state parks. Kids also learn other skills from camping like independence, self-reliance, wilderness skills and first aid.

2. It's active

Obesity is a growing epidemic among children. Instead of taking your kids to a theme park or taking them on a vacation where they will just sit around most of them time taking them camping will be encouraging them to swim, hike, and do other outdoor activities.

3. It's a way to get great quality time

When you're off on a family camping trip you will have lots of quality time to spend with your spouse and your kids because it will just be the family in a quiet, beautiful outdoor environment. No TV, videogames, movies, or other distractions will keep you from focusing on your family or keep them from focusing on you. For families where both parents work and are busy all the time it's a wonderful way to reconnect with your kids.

4. It's cheap

Most camping vacations cost a lot less than traditional vacations. Camping in state parks or other historical areas often costs less than $100 for a week's worth of camping. You will need to spend money on gear, but later in the book we'll look at ways you can cut the costs of buying camping gear.

The biggest expenses that you will have will be food and gas. Eating meals that you cook yourself with groceries you bring with you will be much cheaper than eating in a restaurant three times a day like you would on a traditional vacation, and gas will probably be cheaper than what you would spend on airfare for the whole family.

5. It's something everyone in the family can enjoy

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to relax and enjoy yourself without having to listen to one child complain that he or she wants to go to the pool while another cries bitterly because you won't buy them a new boat/sweater/ toy or trinket and the other just sits in the corner with a sullen look and kicks the bed repeatedly?

A camping vacation is a real vacation for the whole family because there is always something fun and active to do for people who want to do something active and that leaves plenty of time for the people that want to do nothing (usually the parents) to sit and enjoy the quiet stillness of nature.

Get your free report entitled "Things You Must Know When Choosing a Camping Tent" plus many more family camping tips [http://www.family-camping-guide.com] by visiting [http://www.family-camping-guide.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_Lanford/27724

Are cheap tents even worth buying?

Camping Shop for Family Camping Tents

There are many reasons to take the family on a camping trip. Quality time, memories that become part of family lore, tenting can be done at a beach, desert, mountains and woods or even the backyard. The cost of camping sites compared to the cost of hotel rooms is a real bargain deal. Another reason to begin camping is health and relaxation. Un-loading the car, setting up the campsite, finding your own firewood and taking down your campsite will give you more exercise than you would ever imagine. As for relaxation, when the chores are done and you are relaxing around the campfire with your family the quietness around you bring peace and tranquility to you.

When purchasing a tent for family camping I have included some information that should be taken into consideration:

When choosing a tent there are several things to consider. If there are small children in the family, you may want to get a larger tent. There are several drawbacks to buying a larger tent such as the weight. Lugging the tent from the car to the campsite may be a little too much exercise. The bulk size may also make packing the car more difficult. Finding an area level and large enough for the tent is also a factor as tents should be on level ground if at all possible. Another reason is privacy, when the children are younger it is not a problem, but as they get older they may have their own privacy issues.

Basically tents will come in four different shapes. The A-frame, umbrella, geodesic or "dome", and wall tents. The A-frame is a pup type tent, but can come in larger sizes. The umbrella tent is usually used as a family camping tent as it has lots of standing room with large windows and a rain fly over the top. The geodesic has many shapes, but they all look like combinations of connected triangles, while the wall tent is similar to an A-frame tent, but is generally larger and has vertical side walls. It is preferable to get a tent with square shaped floor plan as they are more efficient in laying out your sleeping and other gear.

Tent poles will come in either aluminum or fiberglass and most are linked together with an elastic shock cord to make it easier when setting up. Many tent manufacturers provide emergency repair links for you to carry along on the trip as poles are susceptible to bending or breaking.

Most tents are now made of coated nylon waterproofing, with nylon mesh used for inner walls. Most of the better tents have no-see-um mesh used for the window screens and use thicker fabric or rip-stop fabric.

Testing the zippers when purchasing is a top priority as they should open and close freely and not catch and bind up on the tent fabric. The zippers should be made of a non-rusting material.

Another item to be addressed are the seams as they should be reinforced with nylon tape. The tape should be stitched into each seam to make the seam stronger and more weatherproof. The seams in a nylon tent such as in the fly and floor should be waterproofed with a seam sealer. New tents should come with a bottle of seam sealer if do not one should be purchased. It is generally a good idea to set up your tent in the yard before beginning your trip and apply the sealer. You should always allow the sealer to dry before you pack the tent. The re-sealing of the seams should be done on a yearly basis before embarking on your camping trip.

If you have found the above informative and given you a desire to begin camping please contact me at bluejola@cox.net and let me know if I can be of further assistance to you. Please feel free to contact me about any questions you may have in regards to camping and camping tents. On my next article I will discuss pre-planning a camping trip with the items that should be taken on a camping trip.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Larry_Stutes/2307089