Circular, Domed Tents Take Camping to the Next Level

1230_ARM_DOM_00_026_00.pdf;Dec19,201318:19:19

OFFduty ADVENTURE, GEAR, MOVIES &MORE [NEWTHISWEEK]

Hugh Jackman will do anything to get back his daughter who has gone missing in Prison- ers.List price: By Jon R. Anderson $29 for DVD,$39 [email protected] for Blu-ray heywere the go-tofield tent forGenghis Khan’s fabled Backcountry Missed UFC 165 cavalryasthe Mongol live? Check out Thordes conquered Eurasia. the light heavy- These days,yurts are becoming weight title fight the go-toaccommodations for Circular,domed between Jon anyone looking to escape the “Bones” Jones masses and getoutdoors —with- tents take camping and Sweden’s out all the mess and hassle of Alexander “The full-on yurts Mauler” Gus- camping. to the next level tafsson. List price That’s anyone from alpine $20 for DVD. skiers and snowshoers looking forrustic no-frills shelter close to the action to those who prefer the increasingly popular “glamping” (“glamour camping”) offering up Hey, cyclists: Does your winter evening more resort-style amenities. commute feel like arolling bonus round in Whicheverthe style, mostyurts “Death are basicallythe same —circu Race lar,domed tents about 20 to 30 2000”? Be feet in diameter. Firstused by seen and the nomads of Central Asia more heard with than 2,000 years ago, yurts still the ORP serve as homes forthousands of ($65) from modern-dayMongolians. Torcano These days,mostyurts used for Industries. camping have at leastplywood This col- floors, canvas-and-lattice side- orful, snap-on, handlebar-mounted accesso- walls and askylight, and are ry features two horns to ward off roadkill typicallyequipped with at least point-seekers —a96-decibel horn that the beds, chairs, atable and cooking maker says can be heard by drivers inside equipment. The higher-end yurts their cars and aless obnoxious 76-decibel can rivalfancy hotelsuites. sound to alertpedestrians of your pres- ForAir Force veteranMae ence. It also serves as an 87-lumen Sinclair-Healyand her active- headlight that can flash for more attention. duty Marine husband Sgt. Kevin The unit is rechargeable, shockproof and Healy, the whole idea of beds in stretches to fit most handlebars. $65 the great outdoors —muchless fancy camping —seemed alittle lame, at first. setalong awinding lake, with Somewhere between barebones He fell in love with their sim- TOPPAID iOS APPS “Since Iwas akid growing up miles of hiking and cross-country and high-end luxuryglamping, ple, intrinsic beauty entwined ITunes gift card burning ahole in your in Maine, we alwaysdid back- skiing trails “justleftusfeeling Maine ForestYurts wasopened with rugged, functional design wallet? Check out some of the top paid pack-in, deep-in-the-woods camp- immersed in nature. It reallywas by Bob Crowley,winner of “Sur- about 40 years ago, so he built is apps for iPhone and iPad as of Dec. 16 ing. We neverevenwent to camp- awesome.” vivor:Gabon” in 2008 at age57. ownyurtinOregon and lived in IPhone: 1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas; grounds,”Mae says.But with And the kids gotagreat taste “All yurts are unique, but ours it through the mid-70s while 2. Heads Up!;3.Traffic Racer;4.Minecraft three kids younger than 5, that of outdoor adventure. comes with an old man who is a working on reforestation pro- —Pocket Edition;5.Afterlight;6.PNP - wasimpractical. “Yurts reallyare agreat way storyteller who will tell youall jects. Portable North Pole 2013;7.Angry Birds When Maine ForestYurts forfamilies to makethat transi- youwant to knowabout ‘Survi- It wasn’t long before word got Star Wars II;8.Santa’sTwerk Shop by opened up forbusiness earlier tion intocamping,”she says. vor,’”the former high school out and requests began to pour JibJab;9.Free Music Download Pro;10. this year,offering free staysfor Stationed at Robins Air Force physics teacher says with a in. Today, Bair’s Pacific Yurtsnot Plague Inc. all active-duty troops and veter- Base, Ga., the mix of comfortand laugh. onlyisthe original U.S. manu- IPad: 1. The Room Two;2.Minecraft — ans, the Healys jumped at the countryside wasjustwhat her Offering free staystotroops facturer,but it’s also one of the Pocket Edition;3.Grand Theft Auto: San chance. husband needed to help ease him and veterans, he says,ishis way biggest, supplying everyone from Andreas;4.Toca Lab;5.Angry Birds Star “It wasamazing,”Mae says.“It through the struggles of post- to givebackand saythank youto resorts and stateand national Wars II;6.Assassin’sCreed Pirates;7. felt more like‘real’ camping than deployment stress. those who serve. parks,toeventhe military. Cops NRobbers (Jail Break);8.Heads Up!; Iwould have ever imagined be- “Because it’s all one big room, If youstayinayurt, chances 9. Ski Safari: Adventure Time;10. Pixel Gun cause it wassosecluded.” it reallymakes connecting as a The yurt man are it will be one of Bair’s. 3D About half an hour outside of familyeasy,” Mae says.“I’drec- Fewpeople in the U.S. know Over the years, he’s added Portland, the 100-acre property ommend it to anyone.” yurts better than Alan Bair. plenty of improvements, while

26 Army Times December 30, 2013 www.armytimes.com 1230_ARM_DOM_00_027_00.pdf;Dec19,201318:18:55

well as arefrigerator and micro- wave.Takeinthe views from eachyurt’s large deck. Rates: $25 per night in winter,$50 per night in summer. 6. Summit Mountain Lodge, Utah Asecluded luxuryvenue, the lodgeoffers 14 tastefullydeco- ratedyurts in southernUtah near severalmajor skiing ven- ues. Some include bathrooms, while others share alarge bathhouse. Ratesrangefrom $75to $225 per night. Be sure to ask for the 10 percent militarydiscount. 7. Cypress Valley Canopy Tours, Texas What Bair describes as “one of COURTESY OF PACIFIC YURTS the mostunique yurtrentals” Yurt camping ranges from barebones you’ll likelyfind, these accommo- accommodations to high-end luxury dations are built high in aCy- possibilities. The yurts at Orca Island press tree and accessed by sus- Cabins, above, on aprivate island in pension bridge. You’ll have your Alaska, fall somewhere in the middle ownprivate bathhouse with a with queen-sized beds and fully waterfall-filled tub that over- equipped, solar-powered kitchens. looksthe ravine below. Located near Spicewood, Texas, over- kitchens and bathrooms. nights fortwo adults startat With its sandy beaches and tow- $300. ering sea cliffs,eight-person rustic yurts at SunsetBay,for 8. Maine Forest Yurts, Maine example, rangefrom $36 to $50 Located 30 minutes from Port- per night. land, this 100-acre wilderness property includes comfortably 4. Treebones Resort, Calif. furnished yurtrentals and plen- This 16-yurtresortincludes ty of tent sites. Bestyet,stays “comfortable accommodations are free forall active-duty ser- COURTESY OF TREEBONES RESORT perched on Big Sur hillside with vice members and veterans. Genghis Khan never had it so good. temperature control.” beyIsland. Overlooking the breathtaking ocean views,” Bair Yurt camping at Treebones Resort in Some of Bair’s favorite yurt Strait of Juan de Fuca and the says.Enjoythe heated pool and 9. Savage River Lodge, Md. Big Sur,Calif., has come along way getaways: Olympic Peninsula, this Navy- outdoor sushi bar.Anocean-view These luxurious yurtrentals since the Mongol invasions. At right is runcampsiteoffers six furnished yurtfor twowith aqueen-sized come complete with radiant floor an interior view of one of the resort’s 1. Orca Island Cabins, Alaska 16-footyurts with twin-over- bed starts at $255 per night and heating, oversized shower, fully yurts. Comfortable “off-grid” rental queen bunk beds and afull-size includes abreakfastbuffet and plumbed bathroom and king bed. yurts located on asmall private futon. Rates: $25 per night in morning yoga classes. All yurts Located near Frostburg, Md., staying true to same basic design island in Resurrection Bay, just summer/$20 per night in winter. are located near acentral bath- double occupancy ratesstartat used by Central Asian nomads nine miles from Seward.Rates house. $225 per night. forthousands of years. startat$239 per person per 3. Oregon State Parks “The traditional yurt’s encir- night and include round-trip “Yurtrentals are scattered 5. Fort Tuthill Recreation Area, 10.Killington Resort, Vt. cling rope or woventension watertaxi to Orca Island, use of throughout the state, but the Ariz. If youenjoyagood meal aftera bands are nowasteel aircraft kayaks,rowing skiffs and stand- majority are ... along the beauti- Near Flagstaffand operated by full dayonthe slopes, consider cable sitting neatlyontop of the up paddle boards, fishing gear, ful Oregon coastline,”Bair says. Luke Air Force Base, Fort Tuth- the Ledgewood Yurt at one of lattice wall,”hesays, while the binoculars and firewood. With more than adozen camp- ill is the perfect launching pad Vermont’s mostpopular ski re- latestinmodernarchitectural grounds nowoffering yurts, you foraslewofoutdoor adventures sorts. Enjoyasnowcat-drawn fabrics have “replaced the outer 2. Cliffside Park, Wash. can choose from rustic rentals that rangefrom whitewater sleigh ride to acomfortable heat- covering of felted wool or canvas, Yurt rentals foractive-duty situated near acentral bath- rafting to skiing and snowshoe- ed yurt, where you’ll feastona and NASA-developed insulation and retired service members and house or deluxeyurts with in- ing. Yurtsinclude twotwin bunk five-course meal. Prices startat provides lightweight but effective their families on beautiful Whid- door beds, awood-burning stove, as $59 per night. N