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Things to Remember When Going Camping
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.
* Choose an appropriate sleeping bag. Make sure that sleeping bag is packed, and make sure it’s the right one. When you’re on your trip you’re not going to have the luxury of several layers of sheets and blankets to keep you warm or cool. Packing the right sleeping bag for the weather will ensure a comfortable night that’s neither too hot nor too cold.* 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
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Three Types of Extreme Hiking
If I ask you to associate a word with “hiking,” what immediately pops to mind? Probably calm words like “serene,” “peaceful,” or “nature.” But the world of exploring nature and crossing different terrain isn’t only about moving quietly up hiking trails in secluded national parks. There are different types of hiking – more extreme levels of hiking – that many of us don’t even think about.
Mountaineering – If you thought climbing up a hill was tough, mountaineering would be like running a marathon. It takes hiking to another level – a vertical level, as it turns out – moving up steeper slopes and more treacherous terrain in order to get a thrill. It’s not always safe, which is why you’ll see more people hiking up the more peaceful terrain than you will mountaineers. For the mountaineers themselves, experience and a good knowledge of safety precautions can help them live a long life even while risking death.
Canyoneering – It’s probably not to difficult to imagine where a “canyoneer” might venture. As opposed to a mountaineer – who travels up – the canyoneer descends, descends, and descends around canyons and crevasses. It’s a dangerous world of steep cliffs and fast rivers. You might see a canyoneer use skills like working with rope, swimming, and rock climbing in order to make his way around a canyon.There are calmer ways of becoming a canyoneer. If you ever find yourself near a spot like the Grand Canyon, you can take more heavily-trafficked hiking trails that are well-mapped out. Just be sure to proceed with caution.
Coasteering – If a canyoneer climbs across canyons, a “Coasteer” works on the coast. If you associate moving up and down a coast with walking on soft white sand, you haven’t seen it all. Coasteering can see a lot of different challenges and outright challenges to basic safety, including rock cliffs and laggoons. The ocean is always a powerful factor that can’t be ignored; tides are powerful and waves can be angry. A coasteer will get pletny of spectacular views, but sometimes it comes with a great risk to their safety.
If you’ve only been a “Hilleer,” scaling small hills in serene forests, this article has probably opened up a whole new world for you. You don’t have to go and risk life and limb in order to have a better time hiking, but you should know that there’s a lot of different terrain to be explored. If you do decide to tackle tougher terrain, make sure to hire a guide and instructor; you can’t simply waltz into it.
Photo Credits: Chewonki Semester School
