Patricia Watson cooks camp cuisine; Swanton, Ohio

Carefully set up your camp in a place where your group will sleep comfortably and make an effort to avoid bears and other pests. Before you choose a spot, look high above it to make sure there are no dead branches that could fall on you. Look for a spot that's nice and flat and doesn't have too many rocks that will hurt your back when you sleep. Avoid grass! Meadows are designed to be sponges. They soak up all the water that comes in and if it rains during the night you'll wake up on a sponge.

Before you settle in for the night, secure all your edibles — nothing will attract animals quicker than leaving your food out. If you're in bear territory, put everything in a "bear canister" made of metal. Put all the food in there, along with anything an animal might consider food — soaps, lotions, chewing gum, toothpaste, etc. No canister? Hang food from a tree branch strong enough to hold your food but not strong enough to hold a bear. Also make sure to set up your camp at least 100 feet from a water source where wildlife drinks.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness
P.O. Box 9754
Reno, NV 89507
www.nevadawilderness.org