No matter where you camp, you will have a better time when you are prepared. Read the advice provided below to get some inspiration and figure out how to best prepare for a camping expedition. The information you find will no doubt be useful on your trip.
Pick a sleeping bag which is appropriate for the season. By bringing a winter sleeping bag in the summer you may end up sweating instead of sleeping. If you are going to bring a light bag in the winter, you may end up freezing and having a miserable time. In the worst case, you could be putting yourself at risk of getting frostbite or even worse.
Before setting out on your camping adventure, plan for what you will wear. Pack plenty of clothes that will last you the length of your trip. Pack clothes that will allow you to dress properly for whatever weather is expected in the area where you will be camping. Robust hiking boots that do not tear are another great item to bring while camping.
When camping, be sure to locate a shelter before dark. Once it grows black in the woods, you can have a hard time setting up your tent, preparing food, and getting adequate firewood. This is even more true for city folks whose eyes are not used to the pitch black. Do whatever you can to make sure that you find a safe location for your tent and pitch it before you find yourself in this sticky situation.
Bring things like a bandanna and handkerchief along with you. They can serve many purposes, like potholder, blotter, hand towel or carrying bag. You will find that you can use these in a lot of versatile ways, so bring one along when you’re camping.
Take some indoor activities with you when you’re going camping. If there is bad weather, this can really help to pass the time. If it rains, you may find you are spending much of your time inside. If you have nothing to do, you may find yourself bored and unoccupied. Just bring plenty of things to do inside the tent or cabin.
Don’t make the rookie mistake of pitching camp too close to bathroom facilities. They might think this will make things easier, but they will learn otherwise. There is usually light in that area, as well as heavy foot traffic. This can lead to difficulty sleeping and other discomforts that you want to avoid.
Be sure to bring along lots of pocket or dryer lint. As silly as it may sound, it’s a great way to start a campfire. The lint also produces flames which are brighter than flames produced from wood chips. All you need to start a fire is some lint and a spark.
Make sure that you understand the dangers and risks of the camping site that you choose. This would include stuff like what spiders dwell there, how steep the terrain is, and if the area is prone to flooding. There are natural hazards associated with every camping area.
Take along a survival kit and carry it at all times. Your survival kit needs to have water-purifying tablets, a type of survival knife, a first-aid kit, a flare gun, and waterproof matches. If you are injured or lose your way, this will give you a greater chance of survival. Keep it with you at all times when you leave your campsite for any reason.
Newspaper can be an invaluable resource when camping. It has its standard purpose of passing time as literature, but there is more to this item than meets the eye. Newspaper is a great fire-starter, especially if the wood you have available is wet because of rain.
Old dryer lint makes a great fire-starter. Collect the lint in your dryer and store it in a bag a few weeks before you go camping to prepare for this. Place the lint you normally throw in the trash in a plastic bag to take with you. As such, you’ll have kindling ready whenever you are.
If you have medical issues, even minor ones, you must discuss camping with your doctors before going. Perhaps there are complications associated with camping. In most cases, you probably won’t need to do much, but the little that you do can have big benefits to you during your vacation.
Camping is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous; the difference between the two is preparation. Only go camping when you have prepared yourself for it. If you are camping in a new location, research the local wildlife, geography and the climate before leaving home.
Camping is something that anyone can appreciate and enjoy. If you use this information, you can create an adventure that even those that aren’t crazy about the outdoors can have fun with too. Get out and about and take advantage of what Mother Nature has to offer.