Camping in a Thunderstorm

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

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

The Tent-less Outdoor Sleeping Guide

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

For some people, the definition of “rustic” means simply heading out into the woods – even if you bring a camper with a bathroom, a sink, and a microwave. For others, “rustic” means an experience that at least has some amenities like tents to keep your dry and covered from rain. But for the die-hard campers, there’s only one definition of rustic: tent-less camping, including true under-the-stars sleeping. If you’ve always wanted to do this, here’s your guide.

What to bring: Even if you’re not bringing a tent, you’ll need to bring something in order to keep you warm and separate your back from the hard, rocky ground. Many people bring a simple sleeping bag and sleeping pad, and possibly a camping cot, in order to sleep outdoors.

The good thing about sleeping without a tent is that you can stay warm near – but not too near – a fire. Even so, you’ll want to stay warm for the entire night, including after the fire dies down on its own. Make sure you bring enough to keep you warm and relatively comfortable when you sleep on the ground.

Watch the weather: When you’re thinking about camping in a tent, knowing it’s going to rain is less important knowledge than when you’re sleeping outdoors. You’ll want to be sure that a high-pressure system is moving through the area you intend on sleeping in; these systems keep things clear – and usually provide for better views of the stars anyway. If there’s going to be rain, you probably won’t be able to have a good night’s sleep, so you might want to consider throwing in the towel and simply sleeping under a tarp or simply a tent.

All in all, sleeping outdoors can be a pleasant experience, but it’s not without its risks. You’ll want to be aware of local insects and wildlife before you sleeping without shelter. When in doubt, simply sleep in your tent so that you can stay dry and not worry about everything that comes from sleeping outdoors. You might just be glad you did.

Photo Credits: anoldent

Five Reasons to Bring a Swiss Army Knife

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Many of us marvel at television shows like the Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild” and marvel at all of the things the survivalists are able to accomplish with so little support out in the wilderness. But there’s a common denominator to many of these shows – and to better survival, in general – that helps explain their success.

Their knife.

Any knife has a million and one uses in the wild, but a quality knife like a Swiss Army Knife, with its variety of blades and options, is even more practical. With that in mind, here are five reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife on your next camping trip.

1. Scissors.

Each Swiss Army Knife comes with a small scissors. These scissors might seem superfluous indoors, but it’s only out in the wild where you discover the kind of help they can offer. Whether you’re repairing tents or untying knots, it’s definitely more practical to have a small pair of scissors in your back pocket.

2. Fold-away blades.

It’s not only convenient to have a variety of blades and tools at your disposal, but being able to fold them away safely is a major plus. You can keep all of the different tools and blades tucked away in your back pocket, saving you both worry and space. A Swiss Army Knife can be like having a toolbox the size of a Chicken McNugget.

3. The knife, stupid!

Don’t forget the benefits of a knife – whether you’re cutting meat, gutting a fish, shaving bark, or peeling an apple. The chances aren’t very good that you’ll find yourself in a life-or-death situation on your next camping trip, but it can’t help to be prepared while enjoying the benefits of a strong blade.

4. Preparing for the unexpected.

If you’re really venturing far into the wilderness for a more rustic camping experience, the chances are good that you’ll encounter something you didn’t plan for. A simple knife is definitely beneficial, but a knife with all of the options of a Swiss Army Knife will help you feel that much more prepared.

5. Getting used to the outdoors.

It’s not the same “outdoors” experience when you bring a camper into the woods and enjoy all of the same luxuries you have at home. Sometimes, it’s better to get out there, use tools you wouldn’t otherwise use, and explore your “survivalist” side.

There are more reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife along with you on your next camping trip – this is just a small sampling. To explore more of the reasons, why not make a purchase and get off of the couch and into the woods?

Photo Credits: Alesist

How to Build the Ideal Campfire – Part I

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

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>

Outdoor Activities for the Camping Trip

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

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

How to Conduct a Camping “Trial-Run”

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

If it’s been a while since your last jaunt in the woods, it’s fair to say that your camping skills are, shall we say, a bit rusty. You won’t necessarily be able to start the fires and set up the tents with the same speed you did years ago – unless you practice. You never know what kind of challenges you’ll face until you actually go camping, which is exactly why you’ll want to conduct a camping trial-run to make sure you’ve got everything planned for. Here’s how to do it.

First, set aside one day and one night before you go camping, preferably not too far in advance of the actual camping trip. You’ll be using this day and night to conduct what is essentially a camping simulation. Set up your tent, bring out your own water, and even so far as to avoid using the indoor bathroom – unless you’re in a highly urban area. (Note: If you live in a city apartment, find the closest camping spot and simply use it for a night.)

What skills do you want to work on? Try to gather wood and start your own fire, hopefully bringing a tripod grill along with you so that you can cook any meat you packed in a cooler. You’ll also want to make sure you know how to build your tent – some tents are more complicated than others and require a little more effort. Also, keep note of how you clean yourself – if you’re feeling stinky and dirty by the following morning, there’s a good chance you may want to invest in a device like an outdoor shower.

The key is to treat your trial-run as finding your blind spots. You probably wouldn’t be able to plan for everything while sitting at home on your computer, but if you actually go out and experience what it’s like to camp, you’ll finally see where your blind sports are and what you need to do in order to make sure they don’t detract from your camping experience.

Photo Credits: jaygooby

Four Steps for Effective Tent Setup

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Imagine it: you’re out under the stars, sitting at a lovely campsite with a roaring fire brushing away the chilly night. When it’s time for bed, you get under a spacious tent, which then blocks some of the overnight rain. You wake up dry and warm, ready for another day on the campsite.

Sounds like the ultimate camper’s dream, right? You can make it a reality with an effective tent set-up. Here are the steps you’ll want to follow.

• Step #1: Unload everything.Many tents come in tent packages that include all of the gear you’ll need, not to mention instructions and a protective bag. If it’s windy outside, make sure that all of these materials are well-protected from the wind or at least securely weighed down. There’s nothing more frustrating than poorly putting together a tent only to see the materials blow away.
• Step #2: Identify your materials.Following the instructions, you’ll want to make sure that you have all of the materials handy. Many instructions and manuals will make sure to list and illustrate all of these materials so that you can perform this step. Once you know you have the right materials, you’ll not only know where you can find them, but what they actually are. It’s better than going to search through a pile of tent materials every time you begin a new step.
• Step #3: Plot out a great spot.Most tent manuals will have you begin your tent by setting the foundation – this means driving stakes into the ground so that you can have a secure tent. Before you start following those directions, make sure you’ve chosen a flat, clear spot for your tent, far enough from the fire to prevent any potential hazards. Picking a good spot for your tent will be key – make sure that your tent door will face the campsite.
• Step #4: Follow the directions as closely as possible.At this point, you can begin driving in those stakes, establishing the tent skeleton, and attaching the tarp. Many tents are different, but a lot will follow these general directions. Make sure you read each step thoroughly so that you aren’t caught off-guard later. Some steps might include second actions that you’ll need to perform for later; don’t miss any of these.

Establishing a great campsite starts with the tent: if you have a good one, you can live in the outdoors as comfortably as you live at home. A large enough tent can fit a great inflatable bed, keeping you dry and warm every single night.

Things to Remember When Going Camping

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

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

Holiday Camping Tips

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Camping trips in mountains, forests and beaches is a great group activity for all ages. The experience of sleeping, cooking and eating out in the open is a great way to explore the outdoors. Camping require more equipments and preparations compared to many other outdoor activities.

Some examples of the equipments needed are tents, fire starters, cooking utensils, first aid kit, maps and compass. It is important that you are familiar with the use of these equipments before the camping trip. Learning how to set up your tent before hand will save you a lot of time and trouble during the trip.

Make sure there are enough tents for all campers. A 4-man tents means that it can fit 4 persons at maximum capacity. If you assign four persons to a tent of this size, each of them will have to sleep lined up next to each other like sardines in a tent. For a comfortable fit, two persons should be assigned to every 4-man tent.

Although it is very popular to cook food over open fires, portable stoves provide a convenient alternative. It may be a little bulky, but having a portable gas stove guarantee hot meals during camping. If you opt to build your own fire, make sure you have plenty of fire-starters, matches and have a little knowledge on how to build a fire from twigs. Check with the local authorities if it is permissible to build a campfire and if there is a designated areas to build them. Building a fire may take some effort and time, but it is a fun activity that adds to the rugged experience of camping.

It is always a good idea to bring along lots of canned food for convenience and hygiene purposes. Cooking raw foods takes a little more time, and if not well cooked, may cause tummy-upsets among your fellow campers. It case it rains, make sure you are well stocked with ready-to-eat food and snacks so that you don’t go hungry.

If you are camping in the wilderness, it is important that you pack and dispose your foods properly. Foods should be well packed in plastic bags and be kept away from the tents where you sleep. Wild animals like bears are attracted to the smell of food, so the placing of food away from the main camping area will prevent any unpleasant encounters with these animals.

When choosing your camping site, make sure that you are aware of where the nearest, police stations, hospitals and other local authorities are located so that in case of any emergencies you will know where to go for help. Make sure that the site you have chosen fall within the camping zones of the park.

During the camping trip, it is important to obey all park rules and clean up well after camping. Outdoor activities such as camping and hiking take a toll on the environment, so we should do all we can to minimize the damage that we cause during such activities.
Photo Credit: the left-handed robot

How to Save Money on Camping

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

In these difficult economic conditions across the world, it’s not always easy to consider luxuries like camping trips and vacations as “essentials.” However, if we’re going to maintain our sanity during these times, we’ll have to keep living our lives and find ways to scrimp, save, and still pull off an adventurous, fun lifestyle.

That’s why this article will explain how to save money on camping, allowing you to take a quick, easy, fun camping trip for less money then you’ve been spending in the past. Let’s take a look at how this is done.

To save money on your camping trip, start in your house.

Your house? Absolutely – before you even start spending money for equipment and camping gear, you need to look in your garage, basement, and attic to see what you’ve already got. No sense in buying a new tent if you already have a perfect one downstairs, waiting to be used.

Second, don’t go to the store to buy camping gear without a search online.

Online stores like Amazon and eBay might have what you need at lower prices, especially if you’re buying used equipment. If you don’t have an Amazon or eBay account, don’t worry – it won’t take long to set up and you can be saving in no time! Use the internet to find cheap items you can buy that you didn’t find around your house.

Third, bring your own food and be ready to cook it.

Buying bulk items like hot dogs and buns will be much cheaper than taking your family out to eat, and roasting wieners over the fire makes the process fun. Just make sure that you’re ready for your food: pack up a cooler with ice to keep your meats cold and fresh and you’ll be set for the weekend. You can even cook popcorn over your fire, which makes a great snack and is incredibly easy to carry.

Looking at these tips, you have a great starting point for saving money during your next camping trip. There are dozens of other ways to save money, so the rest will depend on you: if you adequately plan and prepare for your camping trip, you’ll find that saving money is easy, as long as you hold a watchful eye on every purchase and ask yourself “can I save money doing this a different way?”

Photo Credits: mckaysavage