Three Things the Rookie Camper Needs to Know

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

For some people, camping is a way of life. Having warm clothes for cool summer nights, knowing how to build a fire, and cooking out in the open air comes easily to them because they’ve been around it for so long. But for the rookie camper, what seems like what could be an ideal vacation is often marred by their lack of experience and the little details that make things different in real life. So how can the rookie camper get off to a good start? By keeping in mind these three things:

1. There’s a good chance you’ll over-pack. When you’re out camping for the first time, the temptation is to bring so many gadgets and so many supplies that you’ll have plenty of options for eating, sleeping, and dressing. But while this may feel fun as you pack, it often just makes things more difficult, getting in the way of utility and taking up precious packing space. You can eat simple foods, you can dress in simple clothes, and you don’t need to bring a laptop with you if you aren’t going to be working on it. Resist the temptation to over-pack on what you don’t need, because you’ll have more space for things you’ll actually use.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of the weather. Even in summer, it’s easy for the temperature to drop during the night, and nothing ruins a night of sleep quite like cold air. Don’t be afraid to over-do it with the warm gear. Pack an extra outer layer and make sure that you’ll be well-insulated against the cold at night. Also, be ready for rain and use tents and tarps to protect what needs to remain dry.

Photo Credits: papalars

Five Essential Items For Your Camping To-Do List

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Have you ever gone camping before and felt, well, terrible at it? Sure, you might have packed well, but when your feet actually hit the great outdoors, you’re in a whole different world, especially if your experience is going to be truly rustic. Good camping comes with good experience, but it also comes with the right kind of knowledge.

If you ever feel lost camping, this article is for you. Here’s your checklist to kick off your camping trip right:

1. Shelter first. I was recently on a camping trip with some friends and we arrived in the twilight hours. Luckily, we followed the idea of “shelter first” by setting up our tents with the limited light we had left. By the time we were done setting up camp, it was dark out and we were getting our fire ready. If we had built the fire first, putting up the tents would have been a major nuisance.

3. Get warm. The fire is useful for keeping warm at night, but you’ll also want to be ready for sleeping out under the stars. Even on summer nights the temperature can drop drastically and you’ll want to make sure you’re properly insulated. Bring some heavy flannel clothes even for camping in the summer and be sure you have a sleeping bag that really traps heat well.

4. Plan for the next meal. If your shelter is up and you’ve got heat taken care of, plan for the next meal – even if it’s tomorrow’s breakfast. Check your cooler and make sure you have all of the utensils and goods you need. When you wake up tomorrow, you should be ready to start a fire and get the bacon crackling.

5. Set up your wants. The three needs of survival in the wilderness tend to go like this: shelter, water, food. With all of that taken care of (you brought fresh water, right?), set up your “wants.” Have the DVD player ready to go in your tent. If you brought an outdoor shower, make sure you found a suitable place to put it, and that it’s filled.

Photo Credits: tranchis