Where to Camp
If the desire is to camp elsewhere than in a municipal motor camping park certain conditions must be considered in making the selection of a camp site. Considering that the motor camper will tent and have a regular camp fire, wood and water are prime essentials. Seek high, well-drained land. Avoid stony or rocky ground or shallow soil. Do not camp in a pine or hemlock grove, at least in summer, as fire is liable to creep and spread in the fallen pine needles and hemlock leaves. If possible camp near hemlocks, firs, spruce or other evergreens, as these have great value for the camper. The air from evergreen trees has an aromatic quality which is both grateful and healthful.
Should the camp be on a hillside dig a shallow trench above the tent and on both sides to carry off the water when it rains. Camp if possible where fallen or dead timber is near to serve as fuel, and where there is no brush or weeds that will be hard to clear away. White birches are very useful to the camper because the bark when peeled off the dead trunks makes splendid kindling. For tent pins use steel pegs, the longer the better. If steel pins are not used, cut maple or birch pins an inch in diameter and at least eighteen inches long. Cut these pins off across a log with two short blows of the ax, cutting at an angle.
Automobiles lined up at Grand Haven State Park, Michigan
Hotel building at Orchard Beach State Park, Michigan. Note the tents provided for motor campers, rented at lower than room rates to those taking their meals at the hotel
[[85]]