So, here's my story, I fly a '56 172 with the anemic O-300D and I would like to get into some camping with my boys.

I feel pretty comfortable in knowing my limits with my airplane, I've been flying this particular one since I could walk. I have a Horton kit with B&M flap and aileron seals and recently removed 42 lbs of narco ballast! I'm quite aware of my short field limitations as I fly out of 1800' in Washington. I also plan to remove the wheel pants this summer and stay away from things that are soft and rough.

I'm realy looking for advice and suggestions on what gear to bring and what to leave at home. Does anyone have a list camping gear that take or anything of that nature? Obviously light is key so what do you guys do about coolers of food, water, wood for a fire etc. I'm used to packing the truck with half the garage and back yard so I'm trying to figure out what is essential for myself and a 3&4 year old.

Any suggestions for destinations or event in the PNW would be welcomed too. Thanks in advance!

I'm relatively new to airplane camping, limited to OSH for several years with and without a buddy and Marble, CO, for several years with my Golden. In each case, I bring a cooler, but no water, no wood, opting to get those on site. I tend to "glamp" with a large tent and cots, chairs, table, etc., so I fill the airplane (63 P172D, 180hp O-360, CS prop) volume wise but not weight wise. I use a backpacking stove for cooking, bringing enough fuel for the stay, although both of my backpacking stoves will work on avgas. My "kitchen" is largely backpacking stuff, although I just started bringing a new propane coffee maker this year. I also bring a tent heater to Marble, although that's not necessary.

I'm not much help with 3 and 4 year olds, though, since I've only motor-homed with little kids.

Cary

I'd just suggest you don't go for "the boonies" on your maiden voyage.
Maybe fly to a nice campground with a phone (& some neighbors) in case you NEED sumpin real bad/quick.

In your case, look at backpacking gear for most of what you'll need; get a copy of "The Backpackers Handbook" by Towsend for starters. REI is a good place to start looking at gear. White water rafting gear (northwest river supply or Cascade outfitters) is good too but heavier so I'd only look to that for very specialty items; roll-a-tables are great, so consider one of those. REI has a new camp chair that only weighs about 2 lbs but they cost $60. Backpacking stoves are good. I like the MSR liquid fuel stoves. Soft sided coolers are great, just hang them in a tree at night to keep the critters out. Also, search for threads on this site for tents, stoves, and other gear. Lots has already been posted here and there are a lot of knowledgeable folks on this site. Really though, most of us can get by with less than we take and with a 172 you'll need to keep it to essentials.

Others will chime in but this is what I'd consider for some of the essential gear:

Basic first aid kit, a must with kids,
3 person quality light weight backpacking tent,
Thermarest sleeping pads,
3 pound down sleeping bag for you, synthetic for your boys, all light backpacking bags,
Soft sided cooler, use garbage bags for liners, to save weight though leave the cooler behind and go with dry food - backpacking style,
REI light weight chairs,
MSR whisper light stove,
MSR aluminum cook set,
Maybe a roll a table,
Cord and rope,
A couple of small tarps,
A fire pan and charcoal, a Walmart enamel pan is all I use, about 18 x12x4"
Personal accessories - only 1 change of outer clothing per week to save weight,
AA flashlights,
For fire starter I use charcoal lighter fluid in an MSR fuel bottle,
A good knife - see active knife thread.

Thanks so much guys, already lots of great info. My wife is going to love how much stuff is getting added to the christmas list!

Good on ya for wanting to get out with the kids.

Couple threads to get you started. Lots more where that came from on this board.

Airplane camping:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5193&p=150718

Tents:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=11338&p=150608

Airplane camping vs. backpacking:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9528&p=124932

Making two flights is always an option.In the past I have loaded up the 180 with the people, and a few things to make them comfortable(chairs)then gone back a picked up all the gear you will ever need.Not the most economical way to go but you will have all the comforts of home that way.Also you get to fly more.Kids somehow need lots of things.

One of the things I do is to pack food and things in 5 gal. buckets with lids.
It gives you something to sit on and to hull water in. When empty you pack them
inside each other. They keep things dry as well.

Ken in Alaska

It's not what you take in that's important it's what you try to bring out. So no problem bringing water, just dump out what's left. We do that all the time at a place like Meadow Creek. Just because something is small doesn't mean it's the lightest. The best example is those fold up canvas chairs everybody has now. They pack nice but weigh at least twice as much as the old style webbed chairs made of aluminum tubing. Likewise with coolers. That 48 quart cooler is nice but is 10 pounds empty. Soft sided coolers weigh a lot less, downside is they don't work as well. Dry ice is the great equalizer there. You can turn any container into a freezer if you want. Weigh everything and then start looking around for lighter stuff.

No problem in the 172. I've got a 170b with the same engine, a nine and six year old, and the wife comes with too. Get the backpacking style stuff sack sleeping bags, they will fit on the hat shelf. Collapsible style campchairs, soft sided cooler with frozen water bottles for ice. We use small backpacks for clothes. I use an old milk carton for holding pots/pans misc loose stuff. Everything fits in the baggage except pillows and blankets go under/around the kids and the cooler and clothes go at there feet. First aid kit, pistol, tiedowns all fit under the back seat and fishing poles go under the right seat. Performance at the popular places is fine. We've been into rimrock, stehekin(without mom), Johnson creek, moose creek, sulphur, Indian, etc.

Where are you in Washington, I'm in Buckley.

theamherst wrote:No problem in the 172. I've got a 170b with the same engine, a nine and six year old, and the wife comes with too. Get the backpacking style stuff sack sleeping bags, they will fit on the hat shelf. Collapsible style campchairs, soft sided cooler with frozen water bottles for ice. We use small backpacks for clothes. I use an old milk carton for holding pots/pans misc loose stuff. Everything fits in the baggage except pillows and blankets go under/around the kids and the cooler and clothes go at there feet. First aid kit, pistol, tiedowns all fit under the back seat and fishing poles go under the right seat. Performance at the popular places is fine. We've been into rimrock, stehekin(without mom), Johnson creek, moose creek, sulphur, Indian, etc.

Where are you in Washington, I'm in Buckley.

Thanks again for everyones input. I'm based at Cashmere 8S2

My advice is to keep it as light as possible and do not underestimate the effects of density altitude. The O-300 seems particularly vulnerable to these effects.

I was at Stehekin last summer in my 170B with the prop pitched for climb. It was 9:30 AM and just under 80 degrees. The strip is 2600 feet at 1230 foot field elevation. Density altitude a factor, but nothing like 6000 feet elevation and 90 degrees (which is definitely a no-go at any weight with an O-300 using my judgment). I was at 2100 lb (100 under gross). We took off upstream with a solid 10 knot headwind, and lifted off at 60 IAS after about a 500 foot ground roll, and it would not climb out of ground effect. I lowered the nose and accelerated to 80 IAS at 20 feet above the ground and climbed 150 feet agl until the extra 20 mph of energy was gone. Cleared the trees by not more than about 35 feet. Then I was climbing at 3 feet per minute until I rode an updraft for a little extra energy. I am not very comfortable with margins like these, and would be less so with children on board.

There was considerable convective activity in the area, and I must have been in a pretty good downdraft, because I have operated at similar numbers before with no issues. My buddy in the Husky was at 500 feet at the end of the strip. I had 1000 hours in that plane at the time, and thought that I was pretty well aware of its capabilities, and ended up surprised at it's anemic performance under conditions with non-alarming numbers.

A couple of great places to go camping are the San Juan Islands (Eastsound on Orcas) and the Oregon coast (Manzanita-Nehalem Bay). Both are areas where density altitude isn't much of a factor and there are lots of other places to go nearby on the way to/from or for the afternoon. Tillamook, McMinnville are great places to stop in OR and all of the San Juan Islands have airports with short walks into the little towns with lots to do.

As others have said, light weight back packing gear is the best. I have a roll a table too and only bring it when density altitude is not a concern. It weighs 10 lbs by itself and you can easily do with out it, take a table cloth and throw it over the horizontal stabilizer for an instant table! Also the rei chairs that weigh 2lbs are great, I have similar ones and they practically take up no space in the plane they can be jammed into a corner of the baggage compartment after you finish packing your other things. I saved 13lbs of weight compared to my old camp chairs. Light weight sleeping bags in a compression sack are a must too. Get a single burner stove instead of the multi burner Coleman types, you can save another 10lbs. Weigh everything you put in the airplane! You'll be surprised how fast it adds up even with lightweight gear. Also depending on where you're camping you may be able to get food and supplies near by and don't worry about hauling it in. Johnson Creek for example, take one of the vans into Yellow Pine and get your beer, water, ice and some food there. You can also fly to McCall after you get your camp set up if you need some groceries. I fly a 170 with the same HP as you, if you're gonna be flying up in the mountains a lot consider a climb prop. I put an 80" seaplane prop on and it helps a lot. Ohh and if you're rear seat isn't going to be occupied then leave it at home. You'll save 30lbs of weight and also have an easier time loading the plane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYzsqMpIvco

here is some of the stuff we fit in the cub. With the maule we are fairly unlimited, but with the cub we are somewhat careful with what we bring. We do camp in quasi luxury, but have bought somewhat expensive/light backcamping stuff. We only primitive camp, but have never felt short supplied. Hillberg tents are bombproof, big and awesome. Montbell sleeping bags are light and the most comfortable around. We use a lightweight kingsize western mountaineering down comforter unless it is real cold. The biggest thermarest pads are a decent compromise of weight and comfort, Paco Pads from jacks plastic are the most luxurious, but kinda bulky and heavy. We do bring a backup campstove and dehydrated food, but haven't really had to rely on that since we just use a lightweight grate that we throw over the campfire. We did have to learn to drink whisky instead of beer when we just stick to one plane

learntolandshort wrote:We did have to learn to drink whisky instead of beer when we just stick to one plane

Oh the humanity!

Jeredp,

We're in the same situation. I've got a C-170 (at PAE) and two boys (3 & 5). I'd also recommend Orcas Island as a great place in the Seattle area to introduce the kids and your wife to airplane camping. The airport is very kid friendly and you really don’t need to bring much with you besides a tent and some sleeping bags. On my first trip with my son (he was 4) we just brought some drinks and snacks and walked in to town for Pizza in the evening. We brought his scooter and an inflatable kayak with us and had a great time. The bathroom and shower is about 75' from the camping area and our only neighbors had a 4-year-old daughter. The kids had a great time playing with their balsa wood gliders until it was too dark to see them.

Let me know if you plan a trip this spring and we'll load the boys up and meet you there.

Marshall

fly wrote:Jeredp,

We're in the same situation. I've got a C-170 (at PAE) and two boys (3 & 5). I'd also recommend Orcas Island as a great place in the Seattle area to introduce the kids and your wife to airplane camping. The airport is very kid friendly and you really don’t need to bring much with you besides a tent and some sleeping bags. On my first trip with my son (he was 4) we just brought some drinks and snacks and walked in to town for Pizza in the evening. We brought his scooter and an inflatable kayak with us and had a great time. The bathroom and shower is about 75' from the camping area and our only neighbors had a 4-year-old daughter. The kids had a great time playing with their balsa wood gliders until it was too dark to see them.

Let me know if you plan a trip this spring and we'll load the boys up and meet you there.

Marshall

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm excited for the camping season and glad that someone else is in the same boat as I am with the boys! They love flying and fishing so Banks Lake over here on the dry side of the hill is on our list. I'd love to meet up with you guys sometime.

Jeredp,

Sounds great. I'll pm you my contact info. Let me know when you plan a camping trip, or a trip for a burger on a nice day. Harvey has got a good burger joint (Buzz Inn) with a playground out front that our boys love. We also found a great playground near the airport at Friday Harbor. It would be fun to meet up somewhere.

Marshall

haven't read all the posts here so it might have been said.. I've found the RV stores associated with motor homes have a boatload of stuff that is usable for us.. the manufacturers have really concentrated on light weight things for motor homes and campers. I've found small aluminum tables that weigh next to nothing and fold flat to put next to lightweight folding chairs .. gotta have a small table to put my beer and scotch on next to the fire...lots of other stuff made for motor homes will go nicely in our small carriers...also found lots of interesting usable stuff at West Marine here in San Diego... so Marine stores have lightweight things you might need also....just my 2 cents.. just thought of another thing you might be interrested in... when it comes to coolers... I have 2 Marine coolers... they are a little heavier but if you stay longer than 3 days like I do they hold ice for upwards of a week... most Marine co0lers are white and better insulated...