Gifts for Camping

Santa was good to us this year and brought us a few items on our camping wish list.

During our travels, we like to explore the area where we're staying, and this Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer map will come in handy for navigating the mountains of our home state of West Virginia and the surrounding area.

The Wisley LED lanterns, which we found out about in Matt Dewitt's YouTube Video on 9 Ways to Keep the Bugs Away, will come in handy.

These lanterns are rechargeable, have three levels of brightness, and feature built-in bug zappers to keep the critters at bay. The light and bug zapper can be operated independently of one another to conserve battery power.

We're looking forward to warmer weather so we can get out and try out our new gear.

Our Fall Visit to Coopers Rock State Forest

What’s a couple to do when one person can’t get time off of work and you’ve got a new camper that has only been used once since you purchased it? You find a local campground with cellular service and wifi so you can get your work done while enjoying your new camper.

Recently, my wife and I took our 5 x 8 Mid-Range Hiker for a quick trip to the McCullom Campground at Coopers Rock State Forest near Morgantown, West Virginia so we could work remotely while enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

Coopers Rock State Forest is a beautiful park best known for the large rock outcropping overlooking the Cheat River in the canyon below. The park is also a popular location for picnicking, hiking, and rock climbing.

The McCullom Campground at Coopers Rock State Forest is one of our favorite places to camp because it is close to home, which is convenient for quick getaways. We typically prefer to dry camp or boondock but we enjoy the amenities like the aforementioned wifi, electric, and the bathhouse. The campground is open April through October and has 25 sites, all with electrical hookups. There is a central bathhouse with showers and water available from an outside faucet. The bathhouse also has a washer and dryer in the back as well as a large sink for washing dishes.

The camp store has souvenirs, camping gear, snacks, ice, and firewood available. Currently, Firewood is $6 a bundle but you don’t get a whole lot for the money and some of the pieces aren’t much larger than kindling. Unfortunately, this is the only place to get firewood. Due to state forest regulations to reduce the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly, you can’t bring your own and there aren’t any locals residents selling firewood near the park. The wood in the photo below is two bundles, which cost $12.

During our stay, we spent our days working remotely; taking breaks with a walk around the campground to stretch our legs. When we weren’t working, we spent our time reading, relaxing by the fire, and cooking in the Dutch Oven. One afternoon we ventured to the overlook to take a few photos and shoot videos for our YouTube channel. Other than a rainy first night the rest of our trip featured cool nights with sunny days. We couldn’t have asked for better weather.