A New Boondocking Camp Within an Hour of Vegas

Just when we think that we have found all free campsites worth visiting near Las Vegas, we find another one.  We decided to spend the end of 2010 on Logandale Trail Road near Logandale, Nevada.  We didn't really know much about it but felt it was worth a look.  What we found was amazing!

One of thirteen campsites at Logandale Trails

We arrived in Logandale just as the sun was setting

Our dog, Savannah, climbing the rocks at Logandale Trails

A Quick Review of Our Last Holiday at Death Valley National Park

When you think of your ideal Thanksgiving day, do you ever think of staying at a campground in a National Park?  Maybe you should.  My wife, my youngest child and I had a great time last month in Death Valley, CA.  I was very surprised at the number of people that shared that idea.  The campground was packed.  If we had waited an extra hour, there would have been no sites remaining. 

Anyhow, as usual my wife managed to take many pictures.  I have included a few of my favorites. 

Our campsite at Texas Springs in Death Valley NP

My daughter at Badwater in Death Valley 282 ft. BELOW sea level

My daughter and dog at the sand dunes in Death Valley

The Devil's Golf Course in Death Valley

A Hidden Pearl: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Here are a few pics from a recent visit to this area which is about 1 1/2 hours west of Las Vegas.

There are several springs like this one in Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

One of the boardwalk trails found at Ash Meadows

Mountains near Ash Meadows

A Great Outlook For Life

Just a quick post today.  I saw this and thought to myself that there was so much truth to it!

I have to say that everytime I am camping outdoors I think the same thing!  Happy Trails!

Follow Up on the Dehydrating Apples experiment

On our first blog of October, I mentioned that I was trying to dehydrate some apple slices.  I tried using both the solar oven and the windshield of the truck.  If you go back to the pictures from that blog you will see how many apple "chips" I was able to make with 5 apples. 

I am happy to annouce that it was a success.  The windshield of the truck and the solar oven both worked equally well.  In fact, I wasn't able to take pictures of the final product because they were just a little bit too tasty.  Between my daughter and I, we had those chips eaten in a very short amount of time.  I really think that I prefer the dehydrated apples over regular apples.  I think it has something to do with the fact that there is no water to "dilute' the sweetness of the apple. 

I would encourge everyone to try to dehydrate some fruit.  I simply went online and checked out a few sites to see how to do it.  Lessons I learned:

1)  Soak the apples slices in a mixture of 1 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of Lemon Juice for 8 to 10 minutes to keep the apples from turning brown right away.  (They will brown up a little in the dehydrating process)

2)  Don't look the apple chips touch each other on the dehydrating rack.  Make sure that air has a chance to get to both sides of the chips.

3)  Air temperature should be between 115-150 degrees for the best results. 

4)  Due to cloudy skies, the apples took a couple of days to fully dehydrate in the windshield.  (One full day of sunshine in the solar oven)

If you have any questions just leave me a comment.  Happy Trails!

Fall Colors of a Beautiful Mountain Range

We have a family ritual that we do every year in early October.  We find a place fairly close to us where we feel that the brighest fall colors can be found and have a picnic.  This year as with all years since moving to the Las Vegas area we went to the Mount Charleston region.

Fall view overlooking the ski area near Las Vegas

Entrance to the Las Vegas Ski Area

A look at the Las Vegas Ski Lodge

Our first stop was the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort.  Yes, there is a ski area near Vegas.  I was surprised too when I found out.  It is close to 9000' (3000 m) in elevation.  In fact, a couple of years ago I remember skiing there on the first day of business.  It was October 7th.   It was hard to believe that a ski area near Vegas could be open that early but I was there and it was.  :) 

View from Mary Jane Falls trail near Las Vegas, NV

Anyhow, after having our picnic at a nearby national forest picnic area, we traveled to my favorite trail in the area called Mary Jane Falls.  It is 2 miles out and 2 miles back.  The elevation change is about 1000 feet  (300+ m)  The views from that hike are amazing!  My wife, daughter and I had a great time and I already look forward to next year! 

Happy Trails everyone!

I really didn't know you could do that....

For far too long, I like too many people believed that all food came from stores.  Okay, being raised on a small farm I didn't really believe that.  However, I have to admit that I have grown accustomed to relying on stores for everything.  I really want to change that as much as I can.  Today, I tried something new.  I am dehyrating apples for future use. 

Dehyrating using the windshield of the truck

I am doing it in two different sources.  1) using our the solar oven and 2) using the windshield of my truck.  I am anticipating that they will bring the same tasty results.  I hope so anyhow. 

Another use for the solar oven

As I write, a problem has developed.  A fluke rain storm has just rolled through the area.  I really need to have the sun out to have this effectively work.  Ideally, the temperature should be between 115 to 150 degrees F.  Right now, my solar oven has a temperature of 98 degrees.  The good news is that the sun is now out so we shall see. 

Happy Trails!