Michael's Travel and Outdoor Page

I enjoy the great outdoors. I have traveled across the United States as well as some tropical locations such as Cozumel Mexico, Hawaii, and Guam. I also enjoy camping during the spring through fall and enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing during the winter.

I have created some websites of some of my favorite places from bookmarks I had collected over time. They have helped us to find information about the places we have traveled and I organized them for you to use too.

Number of times this page has
been accessed since December 24, 1996

Places I have been and information about each are available if you click on the picture.

Indiana State Parks & Recreational Areas

Turkey Run State Park

Pokagon State Park

Clifty Falls State Park

Chain-O-Lakes State Park

Other Recreational Areas

Goblin Valley State Park,
Utah

Chitzen Itza,
Yucatan Peninsula Mexico

Tetons National Park,
Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park,
Wyoming

Hanuama Bay,
Hawaii

Colorado National Monument,
Colorado

Arches National Park,
Utah

Bryce National Park,
Utah

Badlands National Park,
South Dakota

Devil's Tower National Monument,
Wyoming

Grand Canyon National Park,
Arizona

Capitol Reef National Park,
Utah

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore,
Michigan

Theodore Roosevelt National Park,
North Dakota

Temperance River State Park,
Minnesota

Links to other Nature Related Information

The Nature Conservancy, Nature Conservancy of Indiana
Indiana Outfitters
Indiana Department of Natural Resources

I support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources by buying annual passes to the Indiana State Parks. These passes only cost $18/year for residents of Indiana and $25/year for non-residents. It allows the purchaser to enter the wonderful Indiana State Parks and Recreational Areas without paying the $2 fee per entrance for vehicles with Indiana license plates or the $5 per entrance for everyone else.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1989 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1989 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1991 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1990 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1994 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1999 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 2000 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1996 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1998 Entrace Pass

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 1997 Entrace Pass

I also support the Indiana Heritage Trust Fund that uses money collected from the $25/year fee for the Indiana Environmental License Plate. The Indiana Heritage Trust Fund's goal is to preserve lands for future generations and buys land on a voluntary basis from landowners. I have been a charter member since 1993 when the Indiana Environmental License Plate was 1st offered. Click on the picture of the Environmental License Plate to learn what the Indiana Heritage Trust has done to preserve land in Indiana for future generations of Hoosiers.

Jump here to find out information on getting your own
Indiana Environmental License Plate

Wildfire in Montanna during
the summer of 2000

Tips for Successfully Backing Your Trailer!

Plan your trips carefully so you always arrive at your campsite after dark. Backing a trailer is much faster when done at nighttime, when it is harder to see the rocks, trees, ditches, holes, grills, picnic tables and small children that may cause you to worry needlessly and expend extra time in the backing process. Your motto should be, "If I hear a crunch, I'll worry a bunch", otherwise, go for it! Do not stop until you "get it right" or hear the "crunch of failure".
Much has been written about how to get your trailer to go in the direction that you want it to go when backing. Some so-called "experts" even recommend that you should simply "place your hand on the bottom of your steering wheel and move it in the direction that you want the trailer to go". This is nonsense and serves only to overcomplicate the situation. The best, quickest and only recommended method is "trial and error", and is performed as follows:
- Turn your steering wheel all the way in either direction (it doesn't matter which way)
- Back up a little bit and observe which way your trailer is going,
- If your trailer is going in the desired direction, keep going,
- If your trailer is not going in the desired direction, stop, turn your steering wheel all the way in the opposite direction, then proceed,
- Repeat the steps listed above until your trailer is where you want it to be.
Select a campsite that is far from being level. You will have to call upon all your expertise and talent as a trailer backer to position the trailer and any blocks, Legos, logs, rocks, Happy Meal toys, etc., you use to eventually get it level. The feeling of accomplishment after sixty minutes of trailer level fine-tuning is unsurpassable.
"Jackknifing" a trailer by turning too far when backing is a myth. Unless you hear the "crunch of failure", you are fine - even if you can see the rear bumper of your trailer when looking through the front passenger's window. By "pushing the envelope" like this, you will find that you are able to get in and out of campsites that otherwise may look impossible.
Always enlist the help of a qualified assistant when backing. Qualifications can be any one of the following:
- The helper is your spouse and is "burned out" after a long day of confinement in a very small area with you and your children. Trailer backing is a great way to relieve stress.
- The helper is a small child who preferably has not learned to speak yet. Trailer backing is a great way for kids to learn the nuances of human communication.
Don't agree on a system of hand signals ahead of time. You and your helper will forget the signaling system between trips anyway, and it's much more fun to have an impromptu game of "charades" every time you have to back into a campsite.
In lieu of hand signals, the preferred method of voice signaling is "screaming" or "yelling". This has the added benefit of frightening any stray forest animals away from the vicinity.
The correct answer to the question "WHICH LEFT (or RIGHT) DO YOU MEAN?" is always "MY LEFT (or RIGHT), YOU DUMMY!"
And here's my best piece of advise. Instruct your helper in the fine art of "standing right where (you) can't see them".

Last updated June 8, 2005