8 Special Permits to Apply for Now

Posted by: Hello Kammok • Tuesday, January 25 2022

Depending on where you are in the world, and how cold it is outside, the thought of camping right now might not have even crossed your mind. While you’re bundled up at home this winter, take the opportunity to plan your adventures early! Texas state parks allow you to book campsites five months in advance while most national parks allow you to do so six months in advance. Backcountry and lottery permits are a tad trickier, and there’s no time like the present to apply before they’re all snatched up.

We've put together eight bucket-list-worthy trips that take a bit more logistical planning than a simple reservation. Best of luck to everyone who applies for these epic permits!

1. Thru-Hike The Narrows, Zion National Park

Hiking The Narrows is a bucket list item for many, which contributes to the ultra-competitive booking system for the 16-mile through-hike. A backcountry permit is needed whether you want to hike it in a single day or camp halfway, but if you plan to camp, a backcountry campsite booking is required as well. The trick here? Booking opens at 10 a.m. Mountain Time on the 5th of every month, and the NPS reports “most spaces will become fully booked for the next month within minutes of reservations opening.” Don’t be discouraged. You can plan for an out-and-back trip in the narrows with no special permit required. Plan for this one in late spring and summer when temps rise and water levels drop.

hikers in Zion National Park, hiking through The Narrows

2. Rim to Rim, Grand Canyon National Park

A backcountry camping permit for Grand Canyon is even tougher to nab than The Narrows and more logistically challenging as well. You’ll need to plan months in advance and mail or fax your request to the NPS in order to get approved. A Rim to Rim hike in Grand Canyon National Park is extremely challenging when you consider the elevation change and hot, dry conditions. According to HikingGuy.com, the most viable windows for a trip like this is the end of May or beginning of October when hotter temps are least likely. Check out the full guide at HikingGuy and start making those plans now!

3. See the fall colors in Lost Maples State Natural Area

This state natural area outside of San Antonio is best known for its fall foliage. While most Texas trees like pecans and oaks turn to brown and shed their leaves during winter, Lost Maples offers the Lone Star State some true fall colors. Bigtooth maples not common in most of the state still thrive in this unique microclimate and offer a spectacular show come November. But you’ll have to plan in advance if you want to see the brilliant orange leaves in person. Based on the Fall Foliage Report from 2021 and a quick phone call to the park headquarters, it sounds like planning your trip around Veterans Day is the ideal time. Since Texas state parks don't allow you to reserve campsites more than five months out, set a reminder in your phone for June as spots fill up quickly. Day passes are sold a month in advance and also sell out well in advance.

maple leaves in fall shades of golden orange

4. Visit The Wave at Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

This gem in Arizona is a highly sought after photo destination for social media influencers, but it’s so much more than a selfie spot. The Wave is one of the most visually interesting geological structures in North America. Due to its popularity and the fragile nature of the unique ecosystem, permits are limited to a highly competitive lottery system. From the Bureau of Land Management website: “Forty-eight people or 12 groups (whichever comes first) each day are awarded permits through an online lottery four months in advance.” A same-day walk-in lottery is also available, but they limit numbers to 16 people or four groups. Best of luck on this one—the lucky few are in for a heck of an adventure.

hiker standing at The Wave in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

5. Summit Mt. Whitney, Inyo National Forest

Looking to escape in the beautiful Sierra Nevadas? Might as well summit the tallest peak in California while you’re at it. For most hikers, this is a 12-hour day minimum: 22 miles out and back with over 6,200 feet of elevation gain. If this doesn’t deter you, then it’s time to call your friends and put some dates on the calendar! Best hiking conditions run from July to late September when the trail is usually free of snow. Not so fast though—the success rate for 2021 applications was a measly 28%, meaning you’ll likely have to apply multiple times to get a shot at this one. But if you’re a peak bagger, or if you’re just looking for an epic adventure, this one’s definitely worth applying for. The lottery for Mount Whitney runs from February 1 to March 15, so mark your calendar!

6. Float Hell’s Canyon, the Salmon River, or the Selway River

You’ve only got a few days left to put in for these sought-after river floats as well as a few others. The last day to enter the lottery for the 2022 season is February 1st, so you’ll have to make a quick decision. Still, these rivers offer some of the best of the west when it comes to scenic and technical paddle trips. And don’t worry: If this isn’t your year, you can always plan for 2023. For a full list of upcoming lotteries, click here.

A view of the Snake River with a mountain backdrop

7. Hike the Half Dome Cable Route, Yosemite National Park

16 miles with 4,800 feet of gain is nothing to take lightly, but reaching the summit of the Half Dome in Yosemite is definitely a once in a lifetime kind of experience. Hikers have been using this cable route since 1919, and it remains one of the most popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts today. If this sounds like your kind of adventure, know that the preseason lottery runs during the month of March with more daily lotteries to come in May. The cable route opens in late May depending on conditions and is open through October 11. Make your plans and find more info here.

A view of the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

8. Paddle the Devils River, West Texas

Of all the adventures on this list, aside from the Lost Maples trip perhaps, this one might be the most achievable. Why, you ask? The Devils River lies in barren west Texas, completely remote and relatively unknown in comparison to the national park giants listed above. Lucky for you, it’s one of the best kept secrets in Texas. The Devils River is a 94-mile, spring-fed river considered by many experts to be the most pristine river remaining in Texas. To help keep it that way, Texas Parks and Wildlife limits the number of visitors to the river, and especially the number of paddlers given river access permits. TPWD recommends planning your trips for spring and fall to avoid extreme temps. A quick Google image search of the river will tell you everything you need to know about why you should put this on your list, and why if you go you should be extra diligent with your Leave No Trace principles (as always). Want to learn where the Devils River got its name? Check this out from the Devils River Conservancy, and while you’re on their website, read about why this river is so important to protect.

kayak on the devils river with limestone cliffs in the background

For those of you ready for a winter adventure, check out our Guide to Hammock Camping in Cold Weather.

Back to The Outpost

Austin, TX. (March 7, 2023) — Kammok, designer of high-performance outdoor gear, announced the launch of its latest product, the Ursa Sleep System, on Kickstarter. The Ursa is the ultimate camping bed, offering maximum comfort for more restorative outdoor sleep. The Ursa Sleep System is a comprehensive sleeping solution that promises unapologetic comfort and spaciousness, packed with all the bells and whistles necessary to make camping a memorable and peaceful experience. The sleep system includes a 4" self-inflating base pad, 2" ultra-soft memory foam topper, Primaloft synthetic camp comforter with a 30F degree temperature rating, and a travel case, as well as an upgrade option for a deluxe foam pillow with an adjustable air core. Each component fully integrates to create a single sleep system with unrivaled comfort. The Ursa™ Sleep System is designed to work for any style of sleep, utilizing soft-touch fabrics and superior foam that mimic your bedding at home. The Base Pad features four inches of self-inflating foam, generously sized at L 80 in x W 30 in, providing a spacious surface that allows for full-body movement and comfort. The Ursa’s asymmetrical zippers allow you to link multiple sleep systems together to create a queen-size bed for two or larger, providing more room and comfort for you and your camping companions. The Memory Foam Topper provides a two-inch foam layer that conforms to your body shape, providing support and relief of pressure points. Attached to the topper is Ursa’s insulated hood, made for maximum warmth on colder nights at camp. The Camp Comforter is rated for temperatures as low as 30 degrees and includes a cinchable footbox and top seam when the temperatures drop. Lastly, the oversized pillow features premium memory foam and an adjustable air core to match any sleep position. The Ursa Sleep System is a game-changer for camping enthusiasts, offering the perfect balance of comfort, support, and convenience. "We believe that uncomfortable sleep at camp is a huge barrier for a lot of people wishing to experience the restoration of time outside. The Ursa Sleep System completely changes that, inviting people that wouldn’t traditionally like camping to get joy out and enjoy a night under the stars." said Greg McEvilly, founder, and CEO of Kammok. "The Ursa Sleep System was designed to eliminate any worries about uncomfortable sleeping. Our goal was to create a camp bed that maximized comfort and allowed individuals to fully immerse themselves in nature and make the most of their time outside." Kammok is a company that is passionate about the great outdoors and encourages people to enjoy nature to the fullest. By creating gear that inspires people to spend more time outdoors, Kammok believes it can contribute to the preservation of natural spaces, foster a stronger community, and promote a healthier planet. The launch of Ursa marks Kammok's eleventh Kickstarter project, having successfully funded ten Kickstarter projects since 2011, generating over $2.2 million in pledges. Kammok's commitment to delivering the best quality outdoor gear continues with the launch of Ursa Sleep System. Ursa Sleep System is available exclusively on Kickstarter, starting March 7, 2023.https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kammok/ursa-sleep-system About Kammok®:Kammok designs Adventure Grade, Better Made™ outdoor gear to elevate time outside. We believe in the renewing power of time spent outdoors, and we make hammocks, insulation, shelters, and hammock stands with the purpose of maximizing your moments of outdoor restoration. Kammok is a member of 1% For The Planet, a Certified B Corp business, a Climate Neutral Certified brand, and every product we make is backed for a lifetime of adventure. To learn more, visit kammok.com.

Camping at Home with Everyday Adventure Fam

Written by Dr. Felicia Wong. Dr. Felicia Wong is a physician, outdoor enthusiast, and wellness blogger based in Southern California. Between her and her husband (also a physician)'s busy work schedules, raising two young sons, and running her popular Instagram account Everyday Adventure Fam and blog on adventure tips, she exemplifies what it means to live intentionally and joyfully with her family. The Wong family can be found hiking, biking, enjoying a day at the beach, or skiing in the nearby mountains on any given weekend. However, one of their favorite activities is camping. In this blog post, Dr. Felicia Wong shares ideas to help you celebrate National Camp At Home Day! Our family loves to camp - at home, close to home, in state and national parks, or off grid. We started glamping as a family 6 years ago, and have gradually worked our way from glamping to car camping, to boondocking and backpacking! One of my favorite things to do, aside from planning our own camping trips, is to encourage more people to give camping a try. National Camp at Home Day - March 27 - is a great time for new campers to do a practice run, and for seasoned campers to test out and inventory gear in preparation for the spring/ summer camping season! To help you get ready for this fun weekend, we have come up with some ways to enhance your camp at home experience: Turn off your electronics and set them aside. Consider turning off your wifi. Unplug. If weather and space permits, consider camping outdoors on your patio or in your yard. If you have one, get cozy around an outdoor firepit with some camp blankets! If camping inside, you can create a nice camp ambience by moving some houseplants around your tent. If you have a fireplace, set up your Swiftlet hammock stand and hammock nearby. Play “camp games” . Our kids love card games like War and Go Fish! When it gets dark out, turn off the lights and use your camp lanterns, flashlights, headlamps. Treat yourself to classic camp treats like s’mores and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows No campfire at home… No worries! Here are 3 methods to make S’mores at home! S’mores on the Stovetop: If you have a gas stovetop, you can roast marshmallows just as you would over a campfire. Put a marshmallow on a skewer and set the stovetop burner on low heat. Use care while slowly turning the marshmallow over the heat to your desired doneness. We recommend this method for adults, as it involves an open flame. S’mores in the Oven: Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. Break the graham crackers into halves, and place half of them on a baking sheet. Top each graham cracker with chocolate, and then a marshmallow. Bake until the marshmallows are puffed and golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Top with the remaining graham cracker halves and press to flatten. If you prefer your marshmallows extra toasty, you can also use the broiler following the same steps, but will need to watch them very closely, because they can burn quickly. Serve immediately while the S’mores are still warm! S’mores in the microwave: Place chocolate and marshmallows on up to four graham cracker halves and put on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds, or until the marshmallows puff. Top with the remaining graham cracker halves. Learn more about how to participate in this year's National Camp at Home Day here. Happy camping!

May 2021 Taco Tri Recap

While we love our in-person Taco Tri’s at the Gear Shop and can’t wait for them to come back, there’s a certain magic that comes with hosting virtual taco tri’s. It’s the knowing that someone halfway across the world may be doing the same exact thing at the same time. Everyone in the world can participate as long as they can get outside safely and have access to a taco shop or ingredients to make at home. People from California to Pennsylvania participated in the May 2021 event. Some biked long distances, others went on shorter jogs around the neighborhood, but we find this to be the beauty of Taco Tri’s. It’s not about speed or distance but about spending time outside. A few of may’s participants For May we decided it was time to elevate the Taco Tri experience with stickers for each participant. We hope to continue this tradition for every new participant each month. So what do you have to do to get one of these rad stickers on June 3rd? Participant Sticker Get a Strava account and join our club here Record a swim, bike or run that day (bonus points for tri’ing all 3) Eat tacos! Sign up through this form so we know where to send your sticker Post pictures using #KammokTacoTri and tag us @Kammok_ATX

4 Kid-Friendly Ideas for Pest Management That Won’t Break the Bank

As many as 300,000 Americans contract Lyme disease from infected ticks each year, according to CDC modeling. Much of the Eastern half of the country has a large chunk of these cases. However, only a small fraction of Lyme cases are reported to federal health authorities. Elsewhere in the United States, people contend with potentially fatal tick-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Mosquitoes inhabit every corner of the country, spreading potentially serious pathogens like West Nile and Zika viruses and general bite-induced misery. Meanwhile, fire ants terrorize backyards in the southern United States. And they’re joined by too many other insect pests to name. In this year of social distancing, backyard camping is a great way to spend time with your family and enjoy the outdoors. The good news is that suppressing outdoor pests isn’t as difficult or costly as you might imagine. And there are natural ways to get rid of these annoyances. These natural backyard pest control solutions will increase your enjoyment while keeping your kids and pets safe from harm. 1. Moisture Control and Standing Water Management Mosquitoes love standing water. It’s where adults breed and lay their eggs and where larvae spend their lives before transitioning to adulthood. They don’t need much water, so it’s important to identify and control sources of moisture and standing water, even if they don’t seem troublesome. You can’t do much about standing water beyond your property lines. If you live near a pond or swamp, you’ll need to get used to mosquito activity. But you can follow these tips to make your yard as inhospitable to breeding mosquitoes as possible: Dump and Scrub. The CDC recommends dumping standing water from human-made vessels, such as birdbaths and flower pot saucers, at least once per week and thoroughly scrubbing the empty containers. No soap is required, though nontoxic insecticidal soaps can help. Add Oil. If you don’t want to dump the water, drizzle about one teaspoon of olive or vegetable oil into standing water. The oil kills larvae without harming birds or plants. Add Vinegar. Another solution if you don’t want to get rid of the water is to add vinegar to standing water sources. You want to achieve a ratio of about one part oil to five parts water, so this isn’t practical for larger bodies of water, but it should work fine for your birdbath. Mosquito Dunks. These “bacteria bombs” kill mosquito larvae without harming kids or pets. Add them to standing water and let them work their magic. 2. Brush Management Standing water is to mosquitoes as dense underbrush is to disease-carrying ticks. During the cool season, ticks retreat to leaf litter for warmth and protection. They lurk on grasses and ground-hugging vegetation in warmer months waiting for unsuspecting mammals to brush by. Homeowners keen on making their backyards safe for camping need to reduce or eliminate places for ticks to breed and ultimately to find new victims. Here’s how: Edging. Take a trimmer to high weeds and brush along the perimeter of your yard at regular intervals throughout the growing season. Mowing. Mow your lawn regularly, keeping grass ankle-high or lower. Gravel Borders. Create a gravel barrier at least 3 feet wide between your yard and surrounding wooded areas. If this is impractical, use wood chips instead. Stacking Wood. If you keep firewood or downed wood on your property, stack it neatly to discourage tick-carrying rodents from setting up shop. Raking. Rake your grass and cultivate areas to remove leaf litter, grass clippings, and other tick-friendly habitats. 3. Fire Ant Suppression Years of steady northward expansion have brought invasive fire ants, known as red imported fire ants, into contact with backyard campers across a broad swath of the southern United States, from central Texas to Virginia. According to the World Health Organization, fire ants sting as many as 60% of people living in colonized areas. Backyard campers eager to avoid joining their ranks can try two eco- and people-friendly remedies to suppress their colonies: Hot Water. This remedy is only kid- and pet-friendly when kids and pets aren’t around. For each mound you’d like to treat, you’ll need to heat several gallons of water to a near boil, then pour it slowly onto the mound to drench and hopefully penetrate the soil. This measure will also kill nearby grasses, but that may be a small price to pay. Organic Treatments. Though they’re not as effective as EPA-regulated chemical pesticides, two compounds do work to suppress fire ant colonies: d-limonene (citrus oil extract) and spinosad (a microbial byproduct). Follow package instructions carefully. 4. Encouraging Predation Insect-loving predators are the ultimate backyard pest control solution. Bats are voracious consumers of mosquitoes and other biting flies. They’re polite enough to do their work at night too. To encourage them to frequent your yard, Good Housekeeping recommends doing the following: Plant Night-Blooming Flowers. A night-blooming garden should draw night-feeding insects, which in turn will encourage bats to hang out. Popular options include primrose, honeysuckle, dahlia, and raspberry. Put Up a Bat House. Place a bat house (whether purchased pre- or partially assembled or built from scratch) on a south-facing second-story wall or exposed pole near your yard’s edge. The optimal height is 15 to 20 feet above the ground. Final Thoughts Your backyard is yours to enjoy. You shouldn’t have to live in fear of it. Nor should you feel compelled to invest in drastic pest control solutions that could put your children and pets at risk. Thankfully, these kid-friendly pest mitigation solutions really do work. Get started today, and look forward to making your backyard yours once more. Jeremy Kallen is a freelance writer and outdoor enthusiast who uses a number of strategies to watch out for ticks and pests.