In the Summer of 1994, Marty Ohlhaut along with his wife and five children set out for their camping adventure in the Canadian Rockies. Marty loves the great outdoors and had been camping for a couple of decades at this point. He was no stranger to wildlife or nature, and neither was his family. However, this two-week adventure proved to be the most memorable yet – but not all for the best. Tent for Seven: A Camping Adventure Gone South Out West by Marty Ohlhaut and his daughter Grace Ly is a true account of the Ohlhaut family’s experiences during that final camping excursion – and the seemingly endless troubles they encountered along the way. 

Marty, as the narrator, begins the adventure at the very beginning – packing up the 21 pieces of luggage and heading to the airport from North Carolina to Northwest USA, where they will pick up their rental van and head to various camping sites over the northern border. What Marty reminds us, however, is that this was a time before the internet, cell phones, and many of the technological advances we take for granted today. They used a paper map and didn’t reserve sites ahead of time. Consequently, they had to travel extensively just to find somewhere to officially begin the camping part. But those roadblocks were just the beginning. 

As readers make their way through Tent for Seven, we learn about close encounters with bears and other wildlife, torrential downpours, tainted water, a family member losing their teeth, and another one having a nearly fatal accident. As Marty recounts these events, he also reflects on flashbacks from a six-week camping trip he took with friends in the Summer of 1972, among others. Seeing some similarities between these experiences, even 20 years apart, remind him of how far he had come in terms of outdoor adventures. And by the end of the trip, he realizes that what matters, above all else, is his family. 

Tent for Seven is a heartwarming and entertaining adventure. Despite the wild mishaps that the Ohlhaut family went through and the bad luck at nearly every turn, Marty finds a way to infuse humor and wit into his story. And even though it’s been 30 years, he tells the story with such vivid detail that you’d think this happened within the last year. Upon finishing this book, experienced campers will be itching for their next great adventure. Those who like to avoid camping at all costs will have their concerns reaffirmed. And both types of readers will gain a new appreciation for pie.

Tent for Seven: A Camping Adventure Gone South Out West is available August 15.