Made In Montana

Made In Montana: Camping Gear
By Dody Sheremeta

Did you know that there are a number of local companies that produce products that can make your camping experiences more enjoyable? Here is a sampling of suppliers. (See sidebar at end for Web site information).

For those of you who want to be outdoors and still feel at home, S & S CAMPERS MFG., INC., builds slide-in truck campers in four models to fit trucks of all sizes. Competitively priced, the campers are fully self-contained units that sleep 4-5 people; they include a kitchen, large dinette, queen-size bed, and bathroom; they can be customized to fit your needs. Plenty of screened windows and ceiling vents allow natural ventilation in the summer heat, and with thermostat-controlled, high-output furnaces you should be comfortable camping in the wintertime. This 35-employee company has been family-owned and operated by the Sieler’s since 1971. Their manufacturing facility with office is located in Kalispell. S&S Campers are available direct or through dealers nationwide.

Heading for the outdoors

If a truck camper is not in the budget this year, perhaps a tent or a tipi is. RELIABLE TENT & TIPI constructs quality canvas Wall and Range Tents and Indian Tipis out of their Billings location. For those of you not familiar with these tents, they are the preference of many outfitting companies and hunters for the simple reason that the heavy duty fabric performs better in extreme weather. Additionally, they offer a tent specifically designed to internally house a wood stove, thereby creating even more protection from the cold. This tent is fabricated with a flame-resistant coating. Their tipis are as authentic as they come, since they learned the trade from Montana Native Americans themselves. Tipis are most often sold for individual use but are also popular at summer camps, festivals or reenactments. Reliable Tent and Tipi has been owned and managed by the Nemer family since 1945. They currently employ eighteen people. Tents and tipis can be purchased online or from dealers across the nation.

Residents of East Helena, Ken and Vicky Soderberg, traveled 10,000 miles in three months, camping statewide and have produced an informative guidebook, entitled The Best in Tent Camping: Montana. Published in 2005, and touted as “a guide for car campers who hate RVs, concrete slabs, and loud portable stereos,” their guide includes 50 of their favorite campgrounds out of the more than 300 public campgrounds they visited in Montana. The authors have a six-part rating system for each site, offering a detailed description of what you can expect to find, as well as key information, such as campground fees, restrictions, amenities, Web site addresses, location maps, and much more to help you with your planning. Also provided is a list of supplies to help make your trip more comfortable, along with general guidelines for campers. These outdoor enthusiasts have come up with a well-written, no-nonsense book for novice and experienced campers alike. The Best in Tent Camping: Montana is available at your favorite bookstore, online or at many Montana sporting goods stores.

MYSTERY RANCH – a curious name for a company that produces high quality expedition backpacks. This company is not a ranch at all, but a retail store that manufactures packs on site in their Bozeman location. President and designer, Dana Gleason, along with his business partner, Renee Sippel-Baker, original founders of Dana Design, have worked as a team for over 30 years creating high-tech, durable, heavy load support backpacks with superb carrying comfort. Packs are well designed and fully adjustable so that basically one size fits all. With over 30 styles to choose from, there is a pack to suit everyone’s needs. To purchase, or obtain more information, visit their Web site or retail store.

Backpack

Bear activity in and around a campsite or on the trail is always a threat in Montana. That is why this writer never goes hiking or camping without it. COUNTER ASSAULT was established in 1986 and is presently located in Kalispell. One of the products they are well known for is the COUNTER ASSAULT® BEAR DETERRENT which, when used as directed can be highly effective in deterring aggressive bears. According to Counter Assault, the deterrent was developed as the result of intense research studies performed by biologists and has been field-tested for 20 years by bear management specialists. Counter Assault also manufactures a line of military, law enforcement, and personal defense sprays. Visit their Web site or contact them directly for additional information.

Summertime is not only a popular time of year for camping and outdoor activity but also a time when pesky insects are at their worst. Rita Mill was tired of fighting bugs while outdoors, and decided to do something about it. After much research and testing, her recipe of lavender and sesame oil was finalized and developed 12 years ago. Pleasantly scented and totally natural, her product is most effective at repelling mosquitoes, deer flies, horseflies, gnats, no-seeums and even bees. It also soothes the itch and pain from existing bites or stings. With encouragement from her husband, she began marketing and selling NEVER BITE!® three years ago. Rita’s product is produced in Plains; it can be purchased directly from her Web site or found in various stores statewide.

Funny how a walking stick provides one with a sense of security, whether you are out for a walk or hiking on unsteady terrain. Whitefish resident Dan Wright has not only designed a walking stick that offers stability, but also is equipped with a thermometer, compass, and a bear bell. Each stick is finished off with a patterned woven nylon strap and a brass spiked tip. Dan, a retired electrical engineer, has 250 acres of forest available to comb for his desired material—standing dead wood that is characterized by worm-eaten patterns, making each stick uniquely different. He has aptly named his creations WORM STIX. An avid woodworker, Dan has been selling his walking sticks for the past three years. Worm Stix can be found at Kindred Spirits Gift Gallery located in Kalispell at the Glacier Park International Airport, and the new Art and Invention Gallery in downtown Whitefish, or through Dan Wright directly.

Every camper should have one

After a long day in the fresh air one can develop quite an appetite, and it sometimes can be a challenge to deviate from the ordinary camp fare. Outdoor writer and Bozeman resident, Alan Kesselheim, has written the Camp Cook’s Companion. The convenient pocket guide features more than 150 easy-to-prepare backcountry recipes using fresh and dehydrated ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner. His book offers practical how-to’s, suggestions for equipment, information on water treatment processing, and pre-trip food preparation. Alan, a former outdoor education instructor, has authored a collection of outdoor “how-to” books, and four non-fiction adventure books since 1982. Camp Cook’s Companion can be purchased online or in bookstores nationwide.
Hiking and camping, following the wilderness ethic of “Leave No Trace” is a sign of respect for the natural environment. Since 1999, Phillips Environmental Products, Inc., located in Belgrade, has been making a difference in Montana—and throughout the world—with their WAG BAG® waste kits. Proper disposal of human waste helps to keep the environment clean and aids in preventing the spread of infectious disease. Vice President, Brian Phillips, was instrumental in the development of the heavy duty, bio-degradable bags which allow one to carry out waste safely and conveniently. The WAG BAG® as well as other Phillips’ products, such as their portable toilet, privacy shelter and backpack, are available on their Web site or at sporting good stores nationwide.
Since an article in a previous issue was devoted to fishing rods, we won’t expound on these products here. However, there are two manufacturers that bear further mention. R.L. Winston Rod Co. and Tom Morgan Rodsmiths Co. produce some of the finest high-quality fly fishing rods around. Check out their user friendly Web sites for further information.

So if it’s time to buy new gear or retire the old, look to these manufacturers and many others that are Montana based when evaluating your choices. Let’s support our fellow Montanans whenever we have the opportunity.

If you are an entrepreneur and would like to learn more about the services that the “Made In Montana/Grown In Montana” Program can provide to you, please visit their Web site at www.madeinmontanausa.com for more information.