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Show HINTS FOR AUTOISTS ON CAMPING TRIP , . .v f ; v ? , r Enjoying a Sojourn in the Open in the West. Autocainping is just like any other business or play activity of man after you think you know it all, you find you have just begun to learn. This article sets forth little, but nevertheless important, things for the prospective autocamper to bear in mind. Here they are: Should you find yourself without enough bedding, folded newspapers make a good substitute. They exclude cold well and form a fairly comfortable comfort-able mattress. Avoid pitching your tent on sandy soil, because such ground will not retain re-tain the pegs during a high wind. Sand also has a faculty of creeping into all sorts of food containers. A toilet kit, similar to those carried by doughboys during the World war, is excellent for outdoor use. Include a steel mirror rather than a glass one. Should Take Along Ax. Canvas wash basins should be thoroughly soaked before using and usually will leak a little when filled with hot water. A short-handled ax, like those used by Boy Scouts, Is literally worth its weight in gold on a camping trip. Briar-proof leggings and trousers are Indispensable when one Is hiking about the woods. If you bunk on the ground, a bit of cotton should be placed in the ears to exclude bugs. Guy ropes which have not been waterproofed will shrink when wet Therefore loosen them during a storm and before leaving camp for a considerable con-siderable length of time. This will prevent pre-vent them tightening and pulling up the stakes. Keep copious notes and take plenty of pictures. They will repay you many times Qver for troubles and money expended. ex-pended. If you want a sleeping bag and don't want to Invest In one, pin two woolen army blankets together with heavy pins. To prolong the life of camp shoes smear the soles with heavy glue and sawdust. This covering will wear well and may be renewed. Cook Food Over Embers. A short-handled, strong spade should be a part of your equipment. For a quick-burning wood lire build it up with sticks, leaving air space between the layers. This forms a draft. Confine your cooking fire to a small space for safety and comfort. Cooking on the embers is best for you to avoid the annoying smoke. Don't forget to take along a good, compass. It may save your life in heavily timbered country. If you ever get lost and haven't a compass, locate a stream. If possible, and follow it to its source. Unload firearms when in camp. A heavy pistol and cartridge belt may prove most discomforting to the amateur ama-teur woodsman. To kill smell of fish In pots end pans boil a little vinegar and water in them. Keep supply of matches In tightly . corked bottle so as to always have a few usable ones) on hand. Watch Drinking Water. Be careful of drinking water. Inquire In-quire of natives about conditions. Keep camp clean all of the time for the sake of health as well as appearances. appear-ances. This is easily done if each member of the party has certain tasks to perform, thus making the job a hardship for no one person. To cool contents of a bottle wrap It In a well-soaked cloth and hang In the breeze under a well-leafed tree. A sewing kit and mending bag are valuable adjuncts to the camp equipage. Blisters and tired feet may be prevented pre-vented by wearing heavy hob-nailed shoes, a pair of light socks next to the feet and heavy woolen socks over them. The novice must remember that while a camping trip Is chiefly pleasure pleas-ure It is not entirely a bed of roses, and therefore it behooves him to g nell equipped nnd determined to Joy-full Joy-full take a little bitter with the sweet. |