Luc Gesell - Camp: Stories and Itineraries for Sleeping Under the Stars

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOVE ALL, I WANT TO THANK my fantastic and thoughtful editor, Angelin Borsics, who has given me this opportunity to realize not only a book but a wonderful life project. My first book.

This project would also not exist without every contributor involved in this bookthe photographers, innovators, outdoor enthusiasts, surfers, hikers, climbers, ridersand campers. You all are this book. A special thanks to the early ones who trusted me when the project was still nothing: Mason Strehl, Benjamin Kinadeter, Roman Knigshofer, Charles Lopez, Grace McDonald, Stphanie Bodet and Arnaud Petit, and John Middendorf. And to Graeme Owsianski, who played an important part in the making of this book.

Camp might have begun with the experiences of many inspiring souls, but other talented and committed people brought it to life: Mia Johnson, who designed the entire book; Kim Tyner, who proofed every image to perfection; Mark Birkey, the one who left no trace of any mistakes; and Aislinn Belton, who guided us along the deadlines. I am so grateful for the passion you have all put into Camp . Thank you very much to my publishing house, Clarkson Potter, which gathered this team and their means around me to make this book a reality.

Thanks also go to two other valuable members of my team: Nicholas LoVecchio, who translated my words and ideas from French to English. And to Lo, my close friend, Ill never forget that Camp took its initial forms at the mythic 255. Your talent and friendship have been precious to me.

All along this journey, Ive been lucky enough to meet generous and open-minded people. Anne Cantin-Hofstede from GEO magazine, who offered me a few pages to talk about camping and about the book when it was still only in the beginning stages. Franois Barbe, founder of the sound-production company Men at Work, who helped me create a very professional promotional video and offered precious support. As Im finishing this book, you both are in my thoughts.

Ive opened this book with a few words to my wife, Fanny, and Ill close it the same way. We can spend our life coming up with ideas, but if they stay in our head, they are just wasted projects. Fanny picked this book idea up from my head and told me, OK, now stop looking for ideas and go with this one. Thank you.

TO ALL OF YOU, I WISH UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

RESOURCES

Here is a list of inspiration I collected while creating Camp.

BOOKS

How to Stay Alive in the Woods by Bradford Angier

Indian Creek by Pete Fromm

The Lost Grizzlies by Rick Bass

Microadventures by Alastair Humphreys

Scouting for Boys by Lord Robert Baden-Powell

To Build a Fire by Jack London

MAGAZINES

BESIDE

Ernest Journal

Sidetracked

Waves and Woods

INSTAGRAM

@bornwildproject

@campingcollective

@camp4collective

@camptrend

@lucgesell

@Ourcamplife

@smokeybear

@survivalist_outdoors

@thetentcommandments

SUPPLY STORES

Au Vieux Campeur

France

auvieuxcampeur.fr

Best Made Company

New York, NY; and Los Angeles, CA

bestmadeco.com

Cabelas

cabelas.com

CAMP

Whistler, BC, Canada

Camp Brand Goods

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

campbrandgoods.com

Iron and Resin

San Francisco, CA

ironandresin.com

La Corde

Montreal and Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

lacordee.com/en

Poler Stuff

Portland, OR; Laguna Beach, CA

polerstuff.com

REI

Rei.com

Sanborn Canoe Company

Winona, MN

sanborncanoe.com

Topo Design

San Francisco, CA; Boulder and Denver, CO

topodesigns.com

United by Blue

Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY

unitedbyblue.com

CAMPING EXPERIENCES

66 Arctic Adventures

Rovaniemi, Finland

66arcticeadventures.fi

Camp Rockaway

Rockaway Park, NY

camprockaway.com

Hipcamp

hipcamp.com

Mer et Monde Ecotours

Quebec, Canada

meretmonde.ca/en

Satori Adventures and Expeditions

satoriexpeditions.com

Siperia

Inari Wilderness Area of Muotkatunturi, Finland

siperia.eu/

Trekker Adventures

New Zealand

www.trekkeradventures.com

Vildmark i Vrmland

Vrmland, Sweden

vildmark.se

THE

ESCAPE

A GREAT CAMPING TRIP CAN BE AS SIMPLE as seeking nearby grounds where you can pitch a shelter, however grand or modest. You dont have to venture too far, nor do you have to brave uncomfortable, cold, or damp conditions. If youre missing a sleeping bag, you can still experience the thrill of nature while tucked into the warmth of a wool blanket. The simple act of sleeping outside is already an experience in its own righta microadventure, to use the English adventurer Alastair Humphreyss phrase, where the idea of getting away from it all is easily achieved. And if youre new to camping, your first night outside might be in your backyard; your second, perhaps on the outskirts of town. Youll be hard-pressed to find a city or town in the world without some forest, field, or garden ready to welcome you.

The art of setting up camp (1/2)

Contributed by Matt Miller

(2/2)

THE COMFORT OF CAMPING

When you camp, you may wish to seek out little luxuries and reminders of home in nature. You pack tokensitems from your home to help put you at ease while youre awayinto a backpack, or a car trunk, and head off to live outside for a short while. Taking the dog for a walk, reading by the fireplace, cooking dinneryou can transpose these everyday activities to the great outdoors for greater enjoyment in the wilderness. Your dog may not be running in the park but in the woods, your stove will be a campfire, and youll get to dine under the stars

This chapter is about easy access to the wildlife and the not-so-secret doors that lead to memorable camping trips. Allow these stories, tips, and testimonies to inspire and encourage you to take a little break from your ever more hectic days. It may prove challenging to get started, but youll return refreshed and at peace after living the slow life.

Q&A

THE OUTDOOR MINDSET

with Mason Strehl

MASON STREHL is a Washington Statebased outdoor photographer. For him, the true appeal of camping is being with friends. Mason tells us more about how he approaches outdoor life: by keeping one leg in his home life and the other in his camp life, he can jump from one to the other very easily. He constantly seeks out inspiration for new spots to explore, and hes always refreshing the weather forecast website.

How often do you camp? And what has been your favorite experience?

I go camping about twice a month. Life can get very busy, but its important to step back and take time to reset in nature. I prefer to go during the week or over the holidays, as its always less crowded. Summertime is especially great for hanging outside, but lately Ive been getting very interested in winter camping.

What do you expect from camping?

Nature is where Im happiestnothing beats waking up with fresh air in your lungs on a cold morning. So in the process of trying to spend every minute I can outdoors, it makes sense I would sleep out there when possible. I am a strong believer that people get too comfortable in their everyday life; camping provides an escape from comfort and makes you feel alive.