Camping with Mike Bell

Meet Mike Bell, a Biologist with the Science Directorate for the National Park Service. To him, the most rewarding thing about working for the NPS is connecting people with the plants and animals protected by the parks. When he isn't busy doing all that he loves trail running, rock climbing, yoga, and cooking.

Favorite camping memory?
Eating S'mores around a campfire and finding reptiles and insects under logs.

Favorite campground?
Jumbo Rocks at Joshua Tree National Park. I used to camp here as a kid and loved getting lost with my brothers among the rocks.

Most memorable camping trip?
A three week trip with my brother through Zion, Timpanogos Cave, Craters of the Moon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Colorado National Monument, Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, and Chaco Culture.

Park on your "must camp at" list?
I dream of camping deep in the wilderness of North Cascades National Park. The remoteness of the mountains combined with alpine wildflowers makes me quiver in anticipation.

Advice to a novice camper?
Make a list of things that you forgot (or run out of) while you are at the campsite and buy them (replace them) when you get home; not right before your next trip when you're likely to forget.

Who taught you how to camp?
I camped with my parents a lot as a kid, but it was my friend Bryan who introduced me to backcountry camping when we were interns at Yellowstone.

"Must-have" item?
A queen-sized air mattress

Any wildlife sightings?
When camping in Yosemite, I had a mouse enter the bear box in the backcountry and take one bite out of 7 different granola bars.

Favorite camp activities?
Star gazing can't be beat when at one of our Night Sky Parks.

Any favorite caming recipes?
Overnight Oatmeal. Mix 1/2 cup dry oats, 1 Tbs each (hemp hearts, chia seeds, maca powder, ground flax seeds), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup dried fruit (e.g. cranberries). Premake the mix at home and then add to a sealable container with 1 cup of water, shake it up, store it in the cooler, and you have a fast hearty breakfast that will power you through your morning hike.