![MikeBellcampingcropped man in running gear balancing on a rock with water and mountains behind him](/subjects/camping/images/cropped_4.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
![960-leaf2 Sketched illustration of a leaf](/subjects/camping/images/flourish_leaf1.png)
Eating S'mores around a campfire and finding reptiles and insects under logs.
Favorite campground?
Jumbo Rocks at Joshua Tree National Park. I used to camp here as a kid and loved getting lost with my brothers among the rocks.
Most memorable camping trip?
A three week trip with my brother through Zion, Timpanogos Cave, Craters of the Moon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Colorado National Monument, Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, and Chaco Culture.
![960-trees Sketched illustration of three pine trees](/subjects/camping/images/flourish_trees_1.png)
I dream of camping deep in the wilderness of North Cascades National Park. The remoteness of the mountains combined with alpine wildflowers makes me quiver in anticipation.
Advice to a novice camper?
Make a list of things that you forgot (or run out of) while you are at the campsite and buy them (replace them) when you get home; not right before your next trip when you're likely to forget.
Who taught you how to camp?
I camped with my parents a lot as a kid, but it was my friend Bryan who introduced me to backcountry camping when we were interns at Yellowstone.
![960-bear Sketched illustration of a bear](/subjects/camping/images/flourish_bear_1.png)
A queen-sized air mattress
Any wildlife sightings?
When camping in Yosemite, I had a mouse enter the bear box in the backcountry and take one bite out of 7 different granola bars.
Favorite camp activities?
Star gazing can't be beat when at one of our Night Sky Parks.
Any favorite caming recipes?
Overnight Oatmeal. Mix 1/2 cup dry oats, 1 Tbs each (hemp hearts, chia seeds, maca powder, ground flax seeds), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup dried fruit (e.g. cranberries). Premake the mix at home and then add to a sealable container with 1 cup of water, shake it up, store it in the cooler, and you have a fast hearty breakfast that will power you through your morning hike.
Last updated: May 16, 2019