Camping with Teagan Tomlin

Meet Teagan Tomlin, a Visitor Services Assistant at Glacier National Park. She has worked for the park service since 2008. She started as a summer intern at Glacier National Park and 11 summers later she landed her first permanent job at Glacier! When she is not busy protecting amazing places for future generations she is out enjoying the splendors of hiking in summer and cross country skiing in the winter.

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Most memorable camping trip?
I was camping in Yosemite National Park and a girl in a nearby tent had kept candy in her tent. That night as I lay in my sleeping bag I heard a rustling sound in the brush followed by heavy footsteps just outside my tent. A few minutes later I heard a scream. A bear had walked by my tent, probably smelled the candy in the girl’s tent nearby, and decided to investigate. It tore a hole in the tent and stuck it’s head in, startling the girl and no doubt teaching her an important lesson. When camping in bear country, never keep food in your tent.

Favorite thing about camping?
My job is in an office so I see camping as a way to be out in nature for sustained chunks of time. I find it helps me reconnect to beautiful places.

Perfect campground?
My dream campground is somewhere totally different than what I have done so far. I think it would be neat to camp at Dry Tortugas National Park.

Any advice for a novice camper?
Your first trip doesn’t have to be perfect. Just get out there and do it. Learn what you like and don’t like about camping by going camping! Also, have a warm sleeping bag if you camp in a cooler area. Bring extra dry socks. And take the time to clear away loose rocks and twigs where you plan to put up your tent.

Must-have item?
Sandals or light weight shoes to lounge in and a pillow.

Any wildlife sightings?
Yes! On my last trip I saw my first tarantula in the wild. That was very exciting for me.I like camping in spring when snow is still on the mountains.

Favorite season to camping in?
I like camping in spring when snow is still on the mountains.

Who would you invite on your dream camping trip?
My dad.

Favorite camping activites?
I love skipping rocks. Last summer I camped at Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park. The campsite was right on the shore of the lake, and the shore was made up of the best skipping rocks. After skipping rocks for sometime, we came up with a new game where someone tossed a rock into the air over the lake while another person tried to hit the rock that was just thrown with another rock before both rocks hit the water. It’s harder than you think! We also made sure no person or animal was nearby while we were tossing rocks in the lake.

Favorite camping recipes?
I love having pasta with olive oil, pine nuts, and sun dried tomatoes. I usually keep it pretty simple so anything with multiple ingredients seems pretty luxurious.

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