Giving Thanks
One thing I always give thanks for during this time of year is warm campfires
Thanksgiving in the 21st century is a mixed bag, depending on who you talk to. There are plenty who still believe in the myth of the Pilgrims and the native peoples of the area (the Wampanoag) without the context that it was a temporary alliance that dissolved as more European settlers arrived. There are those who feel that it should be a day of reflection, which is more in line with its religious origins in colonial New England, though those early celebrations also included fasting. And there are those who see the holiday as a gateway to the shopping bonanza leading to the frenzy of “the holiday season.” Read more about historical perspectives of the American Thanksgiving holiday at the National Archives site.
Thanksgiving camping along the C&O Canal Towpath
Autumn of 2020 was a weird time, and instead of a typical family gathering, my husband and I decided to have a different kind of Thanksgiving that was more in line with what we wanted to give thanks for. We reserved our favorite site at the Antietam Creek Campground along the C&O Canal Towpath, packed two turkey legs, some potatoes and green beans, and proceeded to have dinner over a campfire in absolute solitude. We gave thanks to the amazing public lands that we had access to and could visit even in the midst of a global pandemic, we gave thanks to warm campfires, quiet fishing, gorgeous night skies and waking up to birdsong. It was the least stressful and most soul invigorating Thanksgiving either of us have had in a long while.
Since then, we’ve tried to replicate that magic, with mixed success. The weather at the end of November in the mid-Atlantic doesn’t always cooperate. Our family doesn’t always understand and tries to shame and guilt-trip us into changing our plans.
The Antietam Aqueduct in the late afternoon of November 2023.
The peacefulness of solitary camping during autumn or even winter is something that can’t be matched, though it does take good gear to make sure it is an inviting memory and not something to regret. A zero degree (0F) sleeping bag and a three season tent is just a start, and there are even better options if you have the coin to spend. We currently use a Teton Celsius when we camp together, and we got a new REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus tent at the beginning of this year that is easy to set up and roomy enough for both of us and any gear we want to put inside. We use two Kilos Gear Air Sleeping Pads that have a built in pillow (though still bring another pillow for plenty of head support), and we snap them together to make a double sleeping pad. Kilos stands by their warranty and recently replaced one of our more-than-a-year-old pads that stopped holding air overnight; all they wanted was a series of photos showing the deflation over time to send to their engineers.
Another really nice piece of gear that was a holiday gift last year is a pair of Gobi Heat camping chairs. We used them during my birthday camping in February, and I took them to Great Smoky Mountains for my spring break trip. The chairs are very sturdy and balanced, and the heat is similar to a heated car seat. The battery packs last for several hours of heating, and are easy enough to recharge with a USB-C cable.
Hoosier Bear and Snappy warm up in a Gobi Heat camp chair
Whatever you decide to do for your own Thanksgiving this year — whether its spending time with friends or family or nature — I hope you are able to enjoy it unconditionally. Take the time to reflect and to remember not to take the things that you enjoy for granted.
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