When we started PahaQue in 1997, we knew nothing about designing tents, producing tents, or marketing tents.  All we knew was that we didn't like the tents that were available at that time. They simply did not fit our camping style or our needs.  Worse yet, none of them could really stand up to nasty weather.  They leaked, couldn't withstand heavy winds, and were difficult to set up.

Our Original Tent - The Pamo Valley in 1997

 Which makes sense.  In 1997, the majority of tents being produced were designed for backpackers.  Subsequently that is where the real advances in tent design, materials and performance first appeared.  Family camping had not yet come into it's own, and many manufacturers viewed family campers as a very small and insignificant market segment, in terms of volume and overall participation.  In those early years, one of our largest customers, a large national specialty camping chain, did not even recognize the family camping segment at all.  Today it accounts for over 50% of their camping goods sales.

So in 1997 we committed ourselves to designing and building better tents for car and family campers.  We transferred the best technology of the day from backpacking tents into family style tents, and ended up with the highest quality family tents on the market.  In fact, many of the design features in our original tents - bathtub style floors, all-mesh roofs, partial-coverage rainfly's, tape-sealed tent body seams, to name a few - have become the standard for all family camping tents on the market today.  

After 15 years, we remain as committed as ever to our original goal of designing and producing superior products. We work hard to maintain our small-company culture, and still treat every customer as if you were our first customer in 1997. We believe that if we build a quality product, and aren't afraid to back it up with real customer service, than each year we'll sell a few more tents than the last.  And so far, so good.  When you call us with a question, you will speak to myself or co-founder Mike Greaves, we still answer the phone and always have time to talk to our customers.

We've got some terrific new designs on the drawing board, and we will continue to lead the way in the years to come with innovation and excellent customer service.  We're committed to leading the way with the next generation of camping tent designs.

You an also keep up with the latest camping news from PahaQue by visiting our Facebook, YouTube or Blog pages. Occasionally we make special offers exclusively on our social media sites - everything from gear giveaways to last-minute photo contests.  You can check out our News Feed, and read articles about us from as far back as 1998! Current information about our new and existing products is now available at our updated website - visit us at www.pahaque.com to see what's new!

If you've an idea for ways we can improve our tents to better suit your needs - we want to hear about it.  Our toll-free number is 888.700.TENT (8368) -call us anytime, or drop us an email at happytrails@pahaque.com.

We hope our monthly newsletter is a helpful resource to our customers.  It is our way of sharing the family camping lifestyle with you, our loyal subscribers.  If you don't already own a piece of PahaQue gear, we ask you to consider joining the growing family of satisfied PahaQue campers - we promise that you won't be let down.  We stand behind every piece of gear that we produce, to ensure that your outdoor experiences are the very best that they can be.  If you have any questions, I would love to hear from you.  I can be reached M-F 8-5PST by calling toll-free 888.700.TENT (8368).  Give me a call - let's talk camping!

Happy Trails!

 Jeff Basford

President

Camping Do's and Don'ts  

Now that warm weather is here to stay, we are all thinking about our next camping adventure, and all the fun stuff that there is to do in the great outdoors.  Safety is always a top concern for everyone, as well as learning and obeying local laws and regulations.

So in an effort to make our newsletters a tireless resource to our customers, I've compiled a list of Don'ts that could save you time and headaches, not to mention a criminal record, on your next camping trip.  

For example, did you know that according to Wisconsin Penal Code 86.025, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to camp in wagons, tents or otherwise on the public highways.  Any person or persons violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not exceeding $10, or imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding 30 days, or both.  So be sure to plan ahead and reserve your spot if you're planning to camp in Wisconsin this year!

I know many of us love to go fishing when we're camping, they seem to go hand in hand.  But if you plan to camp and fish in the great state of Ohio, you should know that in Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk.  If you must have beer-tasting fish, pour it over the fish while on the grill, not in its mouth while on the hook.

If you like to hunt, be forewarned that in Texas, it is illegal to shoot a buffalo from a second story window.  Which is why getting a first floor room during buffalo hunting season is so hard to do.

I know what you're thinking.....seems like you can't do anything when camping anymore, except watch the fire burn.  But there's even more craziness - 

In Sag Harbor NY, penal code 38-5 makes it unlawful for any person or persons to disrobe in a wagon or tent in said village. 

Many of us like to bring lots of gear on our camp-outs, which can make packing the vehicle a challenge.  However Oregon penal code 811.205 makes carrying a child on any external part of your vehicle a penalty, which further complicates the packing challenge.  This includes the hood, fender, running board or any other external part of any motor vehicle that is upon a highway. Dang, now where am I gonna put the cooler?

Idaho has determined that cutting off a friend's head with an axe is against the law.  So that makes gathering and cutting firewood much safer, perhaps the safest state to be in when engaged in gathering wood for a campfire with a friend, with an axe.

Safe camping in Idaho has been further assured ever since snakes have been banned from biting humans on a Sunday - except when it's snowing, that is.  Which is fine since few folk's camp in an Idaho snowstorm, on a Sunday, when snakes are out and about.

If you're looking for fun things to do while camping in Kansas, be aware that it is illegal to hunt whales there, so cross whale-hunting off your list.  However if whale-hunting is 'must' for you, you'll be glad to know that in Tennessee you cannot shoot any game EXCEPT whales, from a moving automobile.  So check your local laws on whale-hunting as they seem to vary from state to state.

In Utah, fishing in summer is great in the mountain streams and lakes; however it is against the law to fish from horseback there.  Which is fine, since shooting whales from a moving car in Tennessee is really much more fun anyhow.

Lastly, in Washington you should always bring along a spare tent, since it is illegal to sleep in an outhouse without the campground owner's permission.  Which I hear is very hard to get, and can cause major backups.

So that's just a short list of things to consider when planning your upcoming camping adventure.  As you can see, it's worth the time to check the local laws for the area you plan to visit, just in case I missed any.  

See you 'round the campfire!

Jeff Basford

President

PahaQue Wilderness

For more silliness, check out stupidlaws.com 

Nighttime Camping Activities - 

Get more great Camping Tips at camping-tips.com

  

THE MAY AND JUNE NIGHT SKY

 

For the next month, the planet Saturn will have a close encounter with the double star Porrima, making for a nice show in the night sky. Porrima, also known as Gamma Virginis, is one of the best-known binary stars in the sky.

 

Its two bright component stars orbit around each other once every 169 years. The two stars are almost equal in brightness and are located just 39 light-years away from the sun. 

 

Many experienced astronomers have stopped looking at Porrima because it's been too close to split in recent years. Beginning this year, its component stars are now far enough apart to be visible as a very close pair in all but the smallest telescopes. Seeing these two bright white stars in such proximity is a sight not to be missed. You will probably need a telescope with a magnification of around 200x to see them as separate stars. 

Excerpts from nightskyinfo.com