Things to Remember When Going Camping

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Ever gotten all the way out to your campsite, only to forget that one essential item?  Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Whether you’re going out for a week long hike or just overnight, the last thing you want to do is get to the camp site and discover that you’re missing that one vital element. This guide will give you a basic list of the items you’ll need to remember in order to make your trip a success.

* Bring the right shelter. Regardless of what kind of camping you’re planning on doing, a proper shelter is will make the difference between a good trip and bad one. Shelters can vary from a simple tarp and rope affair to sophisticated high tech tents. You must pick a tent based on your needs for the trip. Choose one that’s both large enough and sturdy enough.

* Navigational aides. Who wants to get lost when you’re out there to enjoy yourself? There are all sorts of fun technological gadgets to help you find your way on the trip; however, make sure such a device will work where you’ll be traveling. While these gadgets may be useful, if you’re going to be hiking, you may want to have a backup map, compass, and someone familiar with their use.

* Provisions. Rations come in all shapes and sizes, but make sure you keep a couple things in mind when packing them. First, confirm that you’re carrying enough water for the duration of your trip. Second, if you must carry everything in backpacks, make sure not to weigh yourself down with unnecessary luxuries. If, however, you’re just out for a fun time overnight then by all means pack those coolers full.

While camping can be both fun and arduous, this guide will help you make sure your trip is enjoyable. Make sure to keep in mind the kind of weather you’ll encounter, how long your excursion will be, and how you’ll go about navigating. Hopefully, with the help of this basic list, you will make your trip one to remember, not one to forget.

Photo credits: El Dav

Five (Less Traditional) Reasons to Enjoy Camping

Sunday, October 16th, 2011

We all know about the traditional reasons to take a camping trip – enjoying the fishing, getting away from the city – but what about the small reasons that seem to pop up only when you’re out under the stars? Sometimes, these are the types of things that we can only learn by experience, after we’ve already made the decision to head out to the woods. Even so, these can acts as inspirations to get out there again. Here are some less traditional reasons people enjoy camping.

#1: Stargazing.

This is especially true for city folk, whose participation in the metropolitan lifestyle comes with one downside: more light from the city means less stars in the sky. It can be frustrating for an aspiring stargazer, and when night rolls around at the campsite, it serves as a good reminder for just how many stars are in the sky. If you’ve always felt like an astronomer hidden in a city slicker’s body, camping might be for you.

#2: Buying gear.

Some camping enthusiasts believe that the more gear you buy, the less you’ll be in touch with nature. Others say that the gear is what makes the trip fun – and comfortable. Buying camping gear can be just as fun as the experience itself as you imagine all of the things you can do in your rental camper. This is especially nice for the less risk-averse among us.

#3: Eating simpler food.

Believe it or not, camping can be a refreshing break from the hour of nightly cooking you might do in order to prepare a dinner table. Going camping often means eating simpler food – hot dogs, burgers – and actually enjoying it as part of the experience. Need desert? S’mores just have three ingredients.

#4: Nightly campfire socials.

For some odd reason, human beings still find gathering around campfire to be a fascinating experience, as desensitized as we might be to the warmth of fire. Gathering around with friends and family around a campfire is a great excuse to gather around and talk the night away – and keeping the flames high gives you something to do.

#5: Seeing your inner survivalist come out.

There’s a certain satisfaction that comes when you escape from your tent in the morning and find out that it rained overnight. Dry and comfortable, you can’t help but feel that you “beat” nature, at least for one night.

Photo Credits: slworking2

How to Build the Ideal Campfire – Part I

Saturday, October 8th, 2011

Any dedicated campers out there know that the campfire is the lifeblood of your campsite. Without it, you can’t boil water, prepare food, or have heat on a cold night. With it, you’ll be able to do all of those things and more – but the trick is, you have to know how to make a good one.

This article is part I of II in a series on building the ideal campfire so that you can have the most thorough information possible. Since part of creating a great campfire is to be thorough in your preparation and your knowledge, this initial research will be an integral part of learning how to create a campfire that lasts, provides plenty of heat, and gives plenty of flame for cooking. Let’s take a look at the steps to accomplishing this.

First, let’s tackle site preparation. You’re not going to just pile up a bunch of wood and set it aflame – that might make a quick fire, especially if you’ve got lighter fluid with you, but it won’t make a great camping fire. The difference begins with the preparation of your campsite.

For your first site preparation step, choose a location for the fire. Typically, this will be lower than all of the other areas – including where you have already set up your tents. You’ll want to create as much space as possible around your fire so that you can bring plenty of chairs up to it when night falls. You’ll also want to avoid low, overhanging branches.

Second, clear this location of debris and any flammable items. Get rid of garbage and other objects that might get in the way.

Third, pick exactly where you fire will be and dig a large but shallow circle, square, or rectangle. Keep the dirt in a nearby pile – dirt can make a good fire extinguisher for later on. This in addition to the bucket of water you have prepared will help you contain the fire should the need arise.

Fourth, gather as many nearby rocks and large stones as you can and make a ring around the area you dug. This will create a barrier between you and the fire, and since rocks aren’t flammable, will help control the fire and keep it contained.

Like building a skyscraper, much of the work into a great structure goes into a solid foundation that will accommodate large additions. In the next article, we’ll use this campfire site as the foundation for a great campfire.

Photo Credits: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/wili/”>wili_hybrid</a>

Camping in a Thunderstorm

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Although you try to keep tabs of the weather forecast, you find that this particular day, you’ve simply watched the weather by looking at the sky. And although the sky was relatively clear at dawn when you fished, you noticed that by lunchtime it had gotten cloudy and, in the afternoon, downright dark.

In this situation, a thunderstorm might be headed your way. But you’ve got an entire campsite built for relatively mild weather, and no where in particular to go for the evening. What exactly can you do? In this article, you’ll learn how to weather a thunderstorm effectively when you’re camping with your family.

Lightning

First things first: the most crucial issue will be safety, and this means avoiding lightning as best as possible. Being outside during a thunderstorm can be downright dangerous, so you’ll want to pay attention to these tips.

If this is impossible, you’ll want to follow a few rules of thumb. First of all, avoid being the tallest object in the area – get low to the ground by squatting, not lying down. Make sure that you don’t squat under the tallest tree, either.

Make sure you also avoid wires and fence lines, and other metal objects that can move electricity from one area to another.

In order to gauge where lightning is, keep track of the time between a flash and the sound of thunder – five seconds usually means roughly a mile. This information won’t be of much use, as you should try to seek shelter anyway.

Your Campsite

If your campsite is on a hill or comprises the tallest objects around, you shouldn’t try to stick around or seek shelter in your tents. All tents will do is shelter you from rain; it’s better to be stuck in the rain then it is to be exposed to a greater chance of getting hit by lightning.

If you can, get into a vehicle – the metallic frame disperses much of the electric current of a lightning blast. If there is no other shelter, getting into your car is one of your best options; it shelters you from rain and helps protect against lightning.

Most importantly, the best way to camp in a thunderstorm is to stay prepared. Bring a radio or GPS watch that will help you forecast the weather; if you know a thunderstorm might be coming hours in advance, you’ll be able to make necessary changes and adapt. If you get stuck in one, however, you might potentially be in harm’s way.

Photo Credits: nebelkerze

How to Make Your Camping Trip More Exciting

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Camping trips are meant to be exciting whether you’re going with your family or with a group of friends. Whether your group is adventurous or just looking to brave the outdoors there is something for everyone. If you’re off to a bad start though, what can you do to make your camping trip more exciting? This article will list a few ideas that can get your camping trip back on the right track.

Go Exploring

If you’re already at the campsite what’s stopping you from going to explore the wilderness? You never know what you may find out there and it’s a good way to take your mind off any hardships you may be facing. It’s amazing how even the smallest discovery can be exciting when you’re out camping with a group of friends. It’s important that when you go out exploring that you at least bring other person with you in case you get lost. Two heads are better than one when trying to find your way back!

Play Games

Making up different games is half the fun when you’re out camping with your friends and family. There are all sorts of games that you can come up with using the environment that you may have found, whether that is trees or a lake. From freeze tag to racing the woods is a great environment to play all sorts of games. Try to keep them safe because it could be very easy to hurt yourself in the woods, especially if you’re playing in the water.

Try To Rough It

Many people like to rough the great outdoors when they go camping. To them this can either mean being completely helpless to just have to catch your own dinner, whether that is a fish or whatever. This creates a sense of isolation; some people love this feeling because camping is a way to get away from the hustle and bustle everyday life.

Look For Wildlife

Looking for animals is great fun in the woods because often times they’re smart enough to stay away from you making it hard for to observe them. This can even be turned into a competition of who can find whatever animal first. It’s important that if you do seek out wildlife that you don’t anger it. Even the smallest animals can be dangerous if they attack you, especially if you don’t have the proper first aid.

Remember, camping trips are meant to be exciting, don’t just go outside put up the tent and go to sleep. Try to have some fun, catch some dinner, explore, there are endless possibilities waiting for you in the great outdoors.

Photo Credits: TheNickster

Creating Your Campsite Kitchen

Friday, September 9th, 2011

So you’ve finally made it into the great outdoors with a full campsite: you’ve got your fire ready, chairs set up, your tent ready to protect you from the elements, and even a warm place to sleep. You sit down to enjoy the just-beginning sunset, and it suddenly hits you.

Your stomach grumbles.

Oh yeah! After all of that work, you’re still going to have to eat once you’re out in the wild.

For many people, being outdoors is an unappetizing thought, let alone eating outdoors. But it’s not as hard as you might think to create a campsite kitchen that produces good, fresh food and fills you with energy so that you can start worrying about the more interesting activities – like camping! Here are some tips to creating your own campsite kitchen.

Tip #1: Bring your own refrigerator.

Without an RV (which literally lets you bring your own kitchen), you’ll still need a way to keep your food cool so that it lasts as long as possible. Use small coolers – they’re lighter and will require less ice. Make sure to keep cool only that which really needs to keep cool to reduce the burden on your equipment.

Tip #2: Plastics.

Giant, re-sealable plastic bags will be your best friend when you head outdoors – even if you already have another container like a cooler to store your food in. Why is this? Even inside bags and coolers, it’s easy for debris and dust to get on your food if you don’t have your items well-sealed. Plastics will also keep moisture out of your food, which is essential if you want to avoid soggy hot dog buns and wet potato chips.

Tip #3: Easy fire-starters.

Be sure to have plenty of tinder and wood near your fire so that you can easily start a fire for breakfast in the morning, and if you can, cover the wood with a tarp overnight to protect it from potential rain. Even when the weather forecast is clear, you’re never sure if a light shower might break out at four in the morning, so be prepared.

By the way, don’t bring a lighter: bring a torch. The Micro-Jet Lighter Torch will take your lighter and turn it into a flame-blowing torch that will work better in windy conditions.

Tip #4: Bring a decent cooking rack.

Tri-pod racks are popular since they’re relatively easy to set up along with a fire you have just built. Just make sure you have a rock that will be able to stand on its own as you cook hot dogs, burgers, and other meats on your grill.

Photo Credits: BaronBrian

Swatting Bugs: How to Get Rid of Insects at Your Campsite

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Let’s face it. When you head outdoors, you’re likely going to come across one or two unfamiliar creatures that you don’t need pestering you. While some of these creatures can be dangerous, most insects and animals don’t pose an immediate threat. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t pestering you. So how do you minimize the impact of mosquitoes and other insects at your campsite so you can have the best camping experience possible? Let’s take a look.

The first insect on anyone’s mind when they start putting together the campfire is the ever-popular mosquito. The mosquito can be such a pest that even its very name conjures up images of annoyance and discomfort. Summers in the north will particularly see a lot of mosquitoes; so how do you get rid of these pests? Insect repellent on your skin will make a significant difference, but you’ll also want to light some strategically-placed insect repelling candles around your camp area. Make sure they’re in fire-safe areas. Once you have these in place, light your fire; that should be enough to keep a majority of mosquitoes away.

When it comes to larger critters, including everything from chipmunks to snakes, you’ll want to take an alternate route: instead of removing them, you’ll want to keep your distance. You don’t know if a mammal is carrying a disease, and you can’t be sure which snakes are poisonous. It’s better to take the safe route and avoid as many of them as possible. Try to clear out your camp area so that you can tell if anything larger than an insect is around you; this will help you to spot these critters. If necessary, be sure to leave your boots upside down and inspect your sleeping bags before you go to bed.

Sometimes, keeping pests out of your way can be an issue of common sense; simply try to evaluate your situation and come up with a solution that gets rid of the pests most frequently bothering you.

Photo Credits: Mike Burns

Your Campsite Blueprint: How to Set Up Camp

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Setting up a camping area isn’t only about finding a relatively flat space to plop all of your equipment down in. Instead, you should be careful to keep the right sections separate – such as fire and shelter – and understand why you need to design a campsite that will work for you better practically. Here’s how to set up a camp that you probably won’t need to adjust.

Section 1: The Tent Area.

Your tent area should be generally higher than the rest of your campground, since this will allow any water flow that should come in to move away from your tents and not get your gear wet. Try to find a relatively flat area that is higher than surrounding areas for your tent, and try to scout out this part of your location first. A lot of your surrounding tent area should depend on where your tents are so that your campsite isn’t too large.

Section 2: The Fire Area.

Once you’ve set up your tents, take a time to examine the prevailing winds. Moisten your finger or toss some grass in the air if you’re not sure. Why do you want to know the winds? Because when you build your fire, you’re going to want the smoke to blow away from your campsite and not into your tents. Keep your fire at least thirty feet away from the tents, and once you have a fire spot, you can set up a few surrounding metal or plastic chairs.

Section 3: The Bathroom Area.

Of course, a “bathroom” is a loose term when you’re talking about the outdoors, but if you’re going for the rustic experience, you’re going to need a place to, for lack of a better phrase, dump your waste. This should be out of sight and far from the campsite, hopefully behind some trees or a large rock for the sake of privacy. Be sure that the soil will allow for relatively easy burial, and be sure to stick with the same general area – you don’t want to spread this kind of thing out.

Section 4: The Shower and Bath Area.

Of course, a “shower and bath” is a bit of an exaggeration, but if you can, try to set up camp near a clean water source that will allow you to stay clean without straying too far from camp. Having a stream nearby is often better than buying your own water – just make sure that the water is fresh and clean.

Photo Credits: Smoobs

Tips for Merging Your Camping and Fishing Trips into One

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

For those of you with an entire family to please, finding an ideal summer vacation can mean coming up with more questions than answers. Will the kids enjoy camping? What might we do while camping? How can I get some fishing in? Should we go north or south this summer?

The clever vacationer will be able to answer many of these questions with one simple answer: one vacation that includes something for everyone.

Half of the battle of vacationing effectively is filling your time with activities and adventures that truly help you cut loose and relax. On vacation, idle time can often be wasted time. That’s why this article will explain how to merge a camping and fishing trip into one fun, easy vacation.

First, the other half of vacationing effectively is planning.

If you’re going to have a great fishing trip on top of a great camping trip, you’ve absolutely got to scout for the best sites that integrate both. Some great camping sites won’t have any access to good fishing, and some of the best lakes don’t have any camping possibilities whatsoever. You’ll need to search for a camping site, first and foremost, but you’ll also have to make sure it has access to a clean body of water that’s known for good fishing.

Second, you’ll want to consider how you’ll actually accomplish your fishing once you’re at the site.

Can you do it off the platform? Chances are you’ll want to rent a boat instead, so this should be one question you ask your campsite early in the conversation: are boat rentals available, and how much do they cost?

Don’t be afraid to ask about the local fishing, specifically the types of fish you can expect to catch and how deep the lake might be. These will give you clues as to what bait to bring, and a little more research will help you make the most of your fishing outings once you’re out on the water.

Once you’ve done the planning, much of the vacation will fall into place. Simply bring along the right baits, tackles, and tools you need to catch fish and be ready to enjoy a camping trip that will keep the entire family occupied.

Photo Credits: radcarper

Outdoor Activities for the Camping Trip

Monday, August 30th, 2010

You’ve already got the family set up on your camping site – a fire going to prepare lunch, two tents raised, more firewood for later, and a cooler full of cold drinks waiting to be consumed. So far, so good, right? There’s just one problem.

What do you do now?

Sometimes, the fun of a great camping trip can be dampened when you’re looking for activities to fill the hours. Instead of going into the woods to find adventure, you’ve discovered that all you’ve found is a campsite. So how do you have some fun while you’re out there, without taking away from the rustic experience of being away from civilization? Here are some suggestions for some fun, natural activities to enjoy outdoors.

-Fishing.

Fishing is one of the most popular activities for camping, particularly as you can do it anywhere you have a good source of water. Fishing can kill the time when you’re waiting for a meal to heat, or it can be turned into a long afternoon trip if you decide to rent a boat or a canoe. Of course, this all depends on whether or not you’ve got access to water.

-Hiking.

Hiking can usually be done anywhere you have a camp site – all you need are some basic supplies (including a first-aid kit, and perhaps some navigational tools) and you can go explore. Many people find this a serene way to pass the time, while kids might find it to be a good way to seek adventure and look for wildlife.

-Photography.

Hiking can be blended with photography if you bring a camera along. For any visually-oriented members of your family, this is a great way to pass the time while directly enjoying the sights of nature. You could also buy disposable cameras and send your children on a mission to find the best pictures possible while they wait for dinner.

-Paddling/kayaking/rafting.

If you’ve chosen a campsite with access to a water site, you’re in luck – lakes and slow rivers can be great for kayaking while whitewater rafting sites are great places to go and camp. These can often turn into day-long activities, so make sure you stock up on sunscreen and have plenty of water available to drink.

These are just a few of the options available to you when you go camping. The key is to prepare for the “downtime” that inevitably comes when you can’t instantly turn on a television set. A few simple purchases or some wise campsite choosing will help you fill the time easily – and wish you had more to spend!

Photo Credits: Rick McCharles