Kristen Bor

The 5 islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park – Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara Islands – are all protected and preserved without modern amenities. The Channel Islands National Park is located about 20 miles off the coast of California near the Southern California cities of Ventura & Santa Barbara. The islands are open and accessible year round but it is important to check for closure updates on the Channel Islands National Park website before planning your trip. A perfect 2 day, 1 night itinerary to Santa Cruz Island would include a morning self-guided hike or tagging along with a Channel Islands National Park naturalist, followed by snorkeling in the afternoon.

However, sit-inside kayaks are a lot more efficient, and if you are paddling a long distance, sit-inside kayaks will be more comfortable for the long-haul. They aren’t as easy to get in and out of, but if you are kayaking in colder water and want to stay dry, sit-in kayaks can be adapted with a “spray-skirt” to prevent water from getting inside the hull. You can see how my knees are slightly bent in my kayak and pushed up against the sides You’ll want to hold the paddle similar to how you hold the handlebars on a bicycle with your hands gripping down on the paddle. Assuming it’s warm and you don’t need a wet or drysuit of any kind, you’ll want lightweight, quick-drying layers – like a rash guard and boardshorts – which also protect you from the sun.

Here’s how to have good hot springs etiquette no matter where you go. Be respectful of this by keeping the noise down, don’t blast music on your phone or portable speakers (unless you’re alone), and be aware of the people around you. While it’s fine and completely reasonable to chat and socialize with friends or other visitors in the hot springs, use your best judgment by having an awareness of the space and energy levels. Unless you’re the only person there, it’s not good hot springs etiquette to grab your camera and start taking tons of photos.

No matter how you look at it, making a great cup of camp coffee is an essential part of your morning ritual while camping. Even though it’s simple (hot water + coffee beans = coffee) there seem to be a hundred different ways to brew a cup of camp coffee As lovers of both coffee and the outdoors, we at Bearfoot Theory decided to break it down and see just how many ways you can make a fresh cup of java while car camping or backpacking. Instant coffee is the best way to brew a cup of coffee while backpacking because it’s easy to pack, dissolves completely and creates one tiny piece of waste. While Camping The best way to boil water for your morning cup of camp coffee is with a portable, lightweight stove like the Jetboil Flash Stove which is a compact and efficient piece of gear for backpacking and car camping.