Fall is in the Air- Our Favorite Season for Camping

Fall is in the air. You can feel it in the crispness of morning. The leaves are turning on the trees. And in some areas we’ve already seen rain…or even snow!

For many, this is a sign to move indoors, but not for us at the All Good Equipment Company. This is just the beginning of our favorite season for camping.

Why?

• The air is cool, the sleeping snuggly, and you can have fires, not only can you have fires, but you need fires to keep warm. There’s something primally awesome about that.

• Finding reservations at campsites is way easier! Even better, some of the best “secret” spots are available.

• Campfire cooking is awesome (can you tell, we love our fall/winter fires?).

• It’s almost Dungeness crab season!

In fact, our founder’s birthday is in December. What does the family do to celebrate? Go camping, of course! Over the years, this group has faced all sorts of weather from unseasonably warm to freezing cold and snowing. And it’s been awesome every time. No matter what happens, there’s a great story to tell on the other end!

Have we piqued your interest? Is this something you’d like to try? Great! We have some tips and tricks for you to consider.

First and foremost, it’s all about the adventure of it all. Matt B, Sarah, and the rest of the Bettman kids were raised with the infamous Bettman Happiness Tour. This would be an adventure that happened rain or shine…and we would be happy about it, dammit! LOL. Whether it was a rainy hike on Mt Tam or a freezing picnic after cutting down our Christmas tree, we were out there.

It was always an adventure and we made it as great as possible. If nothing else, the adventures gave us something to talk about for many years after.

That adventurous “challenge” is deep in all of our bones and value systems, with Karin and The Other Matt also growing up with similar adventures and stories. That said, Matt B, Karin, and the kids, take it to the next level with fall and winter camping.

On one such adventure, it was a rainy weekend at one of our favorite places deep in the redwoods. There was barely anyone in what is usually a very full campground. It was their loss, because there is nothing more majestic than redwoods shrouded in fog on a rainy day.

Matt B rose up to the challenge on this particularly rainy and cold trip and created the most excellent tarp structure imaginable that allowed for maximum comfort, despite the rain. This structure was so magnificent, it caught the eye of the ranger who couldn’t help but to stop and check it out. It was in this moment Tarpathia was born! There is nothing better than to have the skies open up and watch Tarpathia hold up against the elements.

Though, it’s rare to need such a structure built with tarps and frankly, there are some really cool options these days that provide cover…the spirit of Tarpathia lives in almost every adventure we go on. The power of knowing that one can withstand the elements is what keeps us getting out there!

Having the right gear for you is key. This isn’t about having the best and greatest. Not at all. It’s about knowing yourself and making sure you have the gear you love that will keep you warm. For example, if you are a cold sleeper, like Sarah, you might opt for a warmer sleeping bag or a couple of down comforters- to the dismay of her warm sleeping husband, The Other Matt.

Karin is a big fan of the baseball cap in the rain, especially when her rain jacket hood is up. It keeps the rain off her face and provides some structure for the hood to rest on. She says it somehow makes it feel less rainy.

When the kids were younger, rain boots were a must. They allowed for maximum tromping through the puddles, while being easy to remove prior to climbing into trailers, tents, buses,…you get the idea.

The Other Matt is all about the wool…well, we all are. There’s nothing better when it gets cold and wet. Oh, and his espresso cup.

And Tom loves his rain suit and hat!

Finally, make it special. We choose to do that with food. Fall and winter weather won’t keep us from creating a feast.

We love oysters, so a winter trip to the coast is made special by stopping by the local harbor for fresh oysters and fish. Crab season is in winter, so getting crab off the boats definitely makes the adventure special…or going out to get your own. Though that would mean you are more adventurous than us, but we’d like to be your friend! :)

Each morning starts with warm oatmeal or breakfast burritos, hot coffee or tea warmed by the morning fire and hot chocolate for the kids.

Speaking of warm drinks? There are so many great options. See below for our favorite mulled cider recipe- the base is from the New York Times, but we never make it the same. Drink it as is, or toss in your favorite spirit to spice things up. We recommend rum, brandy, and whiskey, in that order.

Are you ready to go? or already love fall/winter camping? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks!

Still on the fence? Don’t hesitate to reach out. We have a lot of experience and love nothing more than helping our friends try something new. The smiles when they return are priceless!!

Until next time…keep warm and get outside!