Tom Watson, Author at Guide Outdoors

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Tom Watson

Tom Watson is an award-winning writer who honed his outdoor skills while living in Minnesota and Kodiak, Al...

Tom Watson is an award-winning writer who honed his outdoor skills while living in Minnesota and Kodiak, Alaska. He is a frequent contributor to several outdoor magazines, author of four books: "Sixty Hikes within Sixty Miles of Minneapolis," "Best Tent Camping-Minnesota," "How to Think Like a Survivor," and "Kids Gone Paddlin' ." He's also an avid kayaker and canoer, camper, naturalist, writer/ photographer specializing in paddle sports, outdoor adventuring and self-reliance skills. He resides in western Minnesota. He writes a column on camping/outdoor adventure tips.

Choosing the Best Campsite for YOU

Two men camping in woods with chair, cooler, fire, and tent

A good campsite can be defined in many ways depending upon your preferred level of back-country comfort, the lay of the land where you can pitch your tent and to a lesser extent, the season in which you are out enjoying Mother Nature.

DIY Dry Bags

Even if you are a totally committed landlubber, you no doubt have a need for keeping gear dry whenever you venture outdoors.

Ice Fishing with a Niksik

Harvesting fish from beneath the frozen lakes and rivers of the Arctic/sub-arctic regions was a critical part of the subsistence lifestyle for most north-country native Americans. There were typically three methods for harvesting fish: traps/nets, spearing from “dark house”- like … Continued

Insulate Your Tent Floor for a Warm Winter Sleep.

My warmest and most comfortable nights of sleep during a North Dakota winter camp out was while nestled inside a tent pitched in two feet of snow cover.

Making Use of Campsite Snow

It’s the opportunity to put one’s skills to the cold-weather test that makes winter camping attractive to so many back-country campers. One of those tests may be in dealing with all the snow in and around the campsite. Under most conditions, … Continued

Winter Camping: Anchoring in Snow

One of the hardest aspects of winter camping is the ground itself!

Drowning? For Real?

Kids jumping off dock as parents watch them

Any time we can enjoy a comfortable day out on the water, it’s important to refresh ones self on the hazard of drowning.

Top Tips for Kayak Re-entry.

While an Eskimo roll is the classic and ultimate recovery move after a capsize in a traditional, standard sit-in kayak, there are situations where that maneuver is no longer an option.

Repelling Pesky Insects

The war against annoying insects that bite, sting or otherwise bring discomfort to the outdoor enthusiast is usually carried out with multiple campaigns.