I stumbled across this site which I believe is the Gulch Lake Group Camp. There is also another Gulch Lake Campground here, but this one that I reviewed is the GROUP camp. It's right on the trail, but don't let that deter you. It's one of the prettiest sites I've ever seen! You do, however, need a reservation (it says it on the website for the Paul Bunyan Forest where it's located). While I was there I tested our my awesome Ledlenser M10 flashlight and it did not disappoint!

CAMPSITE REVIEW:

Don't confuse this site with a few others in the area. It stands alone, and is directly on the trail. Or rather, the trail runs through it. It's huge!! Surrounded by pines, there are plenty of places for tents, a lot of trees for hammocks, the largest stone fire ring I've ever seen, a huge pile of firewood and in a quiet area as well. It sits not only on the trail, but just off the road too, in case you care to drive in instead of pack in. But it's still very quiet! NOTE: This site does require a reservation. It's $50 for the group camp site. Very picturesque and close to several segments of the North Country Trail. Some of the trail nearby even makes a figure "8" so it's an easy day hike (and there are more campsites nearby).

PRODUCT REVIEW:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get the awesome opportunity to test out amazing products in exchange for an honest review. This time, I tried out a rechargeable flashlight. The Ledlenser M10 did not disappoint!

Now, while this is not the lightest or smallest flashlight in the world, it has so many features that rock, you won't really want to leave it behind. My favorite feature…it's rechargeable. That means no more wasted batteries!! Here are some of my favorite things about it:

1. I already mentioned it's rechargeable, and really..that's a great point! On one charge, it can be on high beam (1000 lumens) for about 6 hours. On low beam (10 lumens…still enough to read and hang a bear bag) about 144 hours. Tell me this thing doesn't rock!
2. It's not giant. It has a huge punch for it's size. That means you can toss it in a purse or a pack. And it comes with a little pouch (can be attached to a belt) and a clip (in case you want to clip it directly to your pack or pocket instead). Ya, it has a little weight to it, but you'll be glad you didn't leave it behind.
3. You can adjust the beam to "near" and "far". No…this is not a muppet reference. Okay, maybe it is, but seriously…you CAN! Create a wide beam for "all over" viewing, or zoom the beam in for more precise location. It's a unique feature that Ledlenser boasts with their products.
4. You can choose which "program" you want for your flashlight when you turn it on. There are a series of "high/medium/low" combos that are available, and you can program the flashlight to recognize the sequence you like best. Not only that, but one sequence creates a quick flashing "strobe" that helps in an emergency.

The only problem I had was reading the instructions for setting up the sequence I wanted. They are in English, but mainly in picture form. Once you know what the pictures mean, they make sense, but to make sense of them, I actually had to do a little research online. But it's well worth your time to be patient and learn the system.

Bottom line, this one is worth the money if you are a die-hard camper, hiker or outdoorsman (or woman). It'll keep you sane in the wilderness, help you distract that bear that's ravaging your granola bars and assist in the late night tent set-ups that might, otherwise, have you flummoxed. Get one…now. I mean it.