Camping Out in the West 
A Few Practical Hints for Outdoorsmen 
the requisites, as with all of these 
in fair abundance the camp be- 
comes a home. Every camper is sup- 
posed to carry some food, if only salt. 
One noted traveler carried only raisins 
and tramped for weeks at a time on 
that concentrated food. The ordinary 
traveler is prepared to carry a more 
liberal assortment. 
Bread or its makings, are of next 
importance. Others in order of their 
value as camp foods are bacon (as much 
for the cooking grease it affords as for 
meat), coffee or tea, sugar, milk 
(canned or fresh), syrup, vegetables 
and fruits (fresh or canned), farina- 
ceous foods (such as breakfast foods), 
rice, macaroni, etc, cookies, crackers, 
pickles, mustard, ete. Of course not all 
of these are needed. Each party should 
suit its own tastes in supplying the 
“orub-box.” Soap, towels and candles 
should be added, also a glass and comb. 
Add to this the equipment for cook- 
ing and serving. In its simplest form 
this will consist of frying pan, camp 
pot, coffee pot, bake-oven, tin plates, 
cups, knives, forks and spoons. Don’t 
carry any glass or chinaware on a 
camping trip. 
Fishing tackle and a small gun will 
often keep the camp supplied with fresh 
meat. Fish, rabbits, squirrels, grouse, 
ducks and larger game, are luxuries 
easily obtained in most camping-out 
countries. 
Don’t hurry. Stop and fish, hunt and 
hike, while you are out. 
Water is a neces- 
sity as well as a com- 
modity in camp and is 
of first importance in 
the selecting of a 
camping place, unless 
you are prepared to 
earry it along. 
Fire is of next im- 
portance, both for 
cooking and comfort. 
Matches in abundance 
must be carried and 
kept dry. Each mem- 
ber of the party 
should carry matches 
at all times. Some- 
times one is lost alone 
and obliged to stay in 
the woods overnight. 
Don’t carry a stove. 
Build a camp-fire in 
the open. The cheer- 
Page 43 
Pies: water, fire and shelter are 
By J. H. FREEMAN 
ful blaze of the camp-fire makes that 
spot seem like a home, as compared to 
the dark prairie or forest surrounding. 
Its light will save the use of candles 
or lanterns. The camp-fire is also a 
protection against annoyance of rep- 
tiles, as well as domestic animals. No 
live thing will venture real close to a 
fire. Select your camp site where there 
is a good supply of fuel as well as 
water. 
Don’t build your fire where it will in- 
jure the trees, and be sure to extinguish 
it before leaving camp. There are 
heavy penalties for leaving camp-fires 
burning. 
HELTER. Carry a light tent or 
canvas for shelter from rain. Some 
of the western spruce trees turn rain 
almost as well as a tent, and a “wicky- 
up” made of spruce boughs will fill the 
bill if the tent is not at hand. Select 
your camp site where there are trees 
for shade and shelter, if possible. A 
cliff of rocks or a high bank, or even 
a hill will afford shelter from the wind, 
if you get on the right side. An open 
valley is often even worse than the 
prairie for wind. Note the direction of 
the wind and select your camp accord- 
ingly. 
Safety. Don’t camp on low ground. 
A sudden rain—sometimes miles away 
—will turn a dry gulch into a raging 
torrent in a few minutes. If there are 
signs of rain in the distance, be care- 
ful how you cross or drive into canons 
or gulches, 
Cloudbursts are common 

A. 
The pack train 

in the mountains and are the greatest 
danger to be encountered. Every year 
some campers lose their lives from lack 
of caution in this regard. 
HERE is little danger from wild 
animals and none from Indians. 
Sometimes either or both will pilfer 
your camp if things are left exposed 
while you are away fishing or hiking. 
Hoboes are worse than either. Skunks 
sometimes annoy campers at night, and 
the little spotted ones, called hydro- 
phobia cats, have a poisonous bite. They 
are not numerous, however, and are 
easily frightened away. Just shoo them 
away without getting too close to them 
and all will be well. Don’t hurt them 
—at least not near camp. 
Mountain rats, chipmonks, camp- 
robbers and mag*pies will steal provi- 
sions in a box or can. Keep your fresh 
meat covered from the birds and your 
provisions in a box or can, or hang up 
out of their reach. Don’t hurt the birds 
or chipmonks; they are cunning camp 
pets, and will keep the camping place 
clean of scraps. 
Don’t camp on an ant hill; they’ll 
run you out. The scattered timber ants 
will get in the syrup and gravy, but you 
can heip them out and they will do no 
harm. 
Tarrantulas (very large spiders) are 
poisonous, but they are very scarce. 
Rattlesnakes are poisonous, but they 
are not numerous. They are not found 
in very high altitudes. Sometimes they 
may crawl under your blankets to keep 
warm. Don’t fool with 
them. They are ill- 
natured, but they sel- 
dom strike without 
first giving a warning 
rattle, which sounds 
like the loud buzz of 
a bee. You will have 
plenty of time to get 
away if you move in 
the right direction. 
Rattlesnakes are most 
often found on rocky 
south slopes where it 
is warm and dry, 
or among prairie 
dog dens. These are 
good places to avoid. 
The chances are that 
you will not see a 
rattler in a year’s 
travel, but it is well 
(Con. on page 64) 
