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What is the Best Season for Camping?
For many people, the vernal equinox is a signal that it’s time to get ready for warm weather and outdoor activities. For others, going out in the summer is the ideal time – and for others, autumn means it’s time for one last chance! But which is the best time to go out into mother nature and set up camp? Let’s take a look at the individual seasons and see.
Spring
Spring is a beautiful time of the year for many people who live in cooler areas – it means the snow is melting, birds are flying north again, and it will soon be time to turn off those heaters. Leaves are starting to bud and everything is getting greener. But for those who have gone camping too early, spring doesn’t always seem like the ideal time.
Early spring months like March and April can still be muddy and rainy, which doesn’t make for the most pleasant camping experience. Leaves from the previous autumn are still on the ground and grass hasn’t grown enough yet to provide a solid turf. However, people who go camping in spring might be able to take advantage of less traffic in both camp sites and on fishing lakes.Summer
Summer is the most popular time of the year for camping, which can actually be a disadvantage in and of itself: it means you’ll encounter the most crowds. For some, this isn’t so bad, as they enjoy the socializing that comes with going to popular camping sites or heading outdoors, but for others, it makes it harder to re-connect with nature on your own.
Summer often makes for the best weather, particularly in cooler states where summers are mild and not too humid. It’s also the best time to go swimming, as lakes warm up and feel refreshing against the sun throughout months like June, July, and August. Summer also happens to be when kids get out from school, so this is often the option best for families.
Autumn
As the months move on, summer gives way to autumn, which means cooler air, leaves falling, and school back in session. But autumn can be a great time to go camping – mild temperatures can be perfectly comfortable and lakes still need more time to cool back down to winter temperatures. For many people, going out on Labor Day is also a way to kick off the transition to autumn – or the end of summer, depending on how you look at it.
Which is the best season for camping? For many the best season is summer, but it will depend on your own individual perspective.
Photo Credits: gmutt
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Four Tips for a Solid (And Safe) Campfire
Having a campfire ready at the end of a long day is great; you can lounge with friends, roast marshmellows, and fight off the cold. But how do you make sure you have a campfire that doesn’t constantly need to be poked and prodded – and how to make sure it doesn’t get out of control on you? Here are four tips for having a solid – and safe – campfire on your next trip outdoors.
Tip #1: Build a suitable fire pit. Don’t build a fire on the ground – dig into the earth so that your fire has less exposure to the outside world. The fire pit should leave room for the size of fire you plan on having so that the wood doesn’t “poke out” onto the area near the pit. Make sure the fire pit is in a well-protected area that’s separate from dry brush and other easy-burning materials.
Tip #2: Separate the fire and the surrounding terrain. If your fire gets big enough, it can start burning the grass and brush nearby – that’s a situation you don’t want to have. So make sure that your fire pit is separated from the surrounding terrain from objects that won’t burn: use rocks. Work to make sure the fire is contained within the rocks – if you see a piece of wood in the fire that sticks out over the rocks, keep in mind that embers can drop out of your fire pit.Tip #3: Avoid simply “piling” wood – plan your fire. Once you have a little fire going, avoid the “constant feeding” of your fire simply by piling wood on top of wood. Carefully place your wood to keep the fire contained and stably burning. A great fire that will burn strong and stable without the need for poking and prodding is the “upside-down” or pyramid-style fire. Don’t simply gather sticks and throw them in the pit – use some thought.
Tip #4: Be ready to put the fire out at a moment’s notice. Have some water nearby and be ready to use tools like shovels to contain a fire before it breaks loose. Remember that it’s best to nip a fire in the bud – once it gets large, it becomes very hot and will be harder to put out. You can always start another fire, but it’s hard to put a big one out. Don’t let the fire break through the fire pit.
The more stable and safe your fire is, the better you’ll feel about having a fun, friendly time lounging around it.
Photo Credits: codymcarlson
