Camping is a great adventure! It is a fun adventure with nature that offers a wonderful experience for families, individuals or couples. Camping allows everyone on the trip to bond with each other through living in nature, but it helps to know a bit first. Check out the following tips to make the most out of your trip.
You need to make sure your sleeping bag is sufficient for the climate. If you use a heavy winter sleeping bag in summer, this can be stifling and uncomfortable. The opposite is true as well, as you need a good, heavy sleeping bag when you are going to be enduring very cold conditions. Using a lighter sleeping bag in the winter could actually lead to you developing hypothermia.
To increase your sleeping experience while camping, bring a pad along that you can place under your sleeping bag. This pad acts as a barrier between you and the hard ground where twigs and tree knots may cause strange sleeping conditions. If a pad isn’t handy, bring a few extra blankets that you can fold over on themselves to create some cushion.
Look up activities to engage in prior to getting to your destination. This will allow you to check for any deals that may be offered. Also, it will help you be more prepared when you actually get to your destination. You can find trails that may be appropriate for everyone in your family or restaurants that you would enjoy.
When you bring your dog on a camping trip, make certain he has adequate tick protection. Bugs thrive in forests, and many flea treatments do not extend protection to include ticks, so ask your vet before departing if your dog has everything he needs and what you should do for proper tick prevention and removal.
Pack your camping supplies in advance of your trip. Forgetting your sleeping bag or food is not what you want to happen. Check to make sure you have everything you need with a check list prior to going on your trip.
If you are new to camping and you are going without a more practiced friend, you should consider staying in a campground rather than camping in the wilderness. This will help you to learn the basics of camping while still having basic infrastructure and friendly people around you in case of emergency.
When camping, most people enjoy relaxing around a campfire. To prevent your fire from becoming out of control, you should incorporate a few safety practices. First of all, build your fire away from bushes and trees so that sparks from your fire will not start a forest fire. You will also want to use a circle of rocks to contain your campfire. Do not ever leave your fire unattended. Before leaving your campsite, make sure your campfire has been totally extinguished and that there are no remaining hot embers.
When you are camping, you should never eat anything unless you are absolutely certain of what it is. There is nothing worse than a strong case of stomach problems when you are far away from both medical attention and a toilet. It is recommended to only eat food that you bring.
Choose your campsite carefully. The location in which you’re camping can make all the difference. Do plenty of research before you make any plans. What is the weather like? Does the campsite have specific rules? How crowded will the campsite be? Poor planning can make for a miserable camping experience.
When taking a dog along, be certain they have a leash and are always supervised. There are those who fear dogs. You should respect your fellow campers in the area. Additionally, your dog may cause damage to the property of someone else if left untethered and unsupervised.
Be mindful of the environment when you go camping. Whatever you carry into a campsite, make sure that you remove it when you leave. This will eliminate litter and protect the natural environment. Before leaving, the area you have inhabited should be as clean as you would want it if you were just arriving to camp there that day.
Bring along plenty of zip-lock bags on your camping trip, for a great mixing tool with foods as well as great storage. Always make sure the bag is completely sealed, then pop in any foods you need to combine, like chicken and batter or steak with marinade! Zip-lock bags are the best at keeping anything you need water-proofed too.
Many people associate camping with misery; bug bites, sunburns and poor food. While this can be a reality, it can also be avoided by preparing about one week ahead of time. Try to think of all the possible situations that could go wrong, and find a product to help you avoid that situation.
Seal all of your tent’s seams when erecting your tent. If your tent doesn’t have it, you may purchase a tube at a sporting goods store. This will allow you to keep wild animals and bad weather from getting into your tent.
A great tip for those of you planning a camping trip would be to bring along flashlights that are LED and run on lithium batteries. These types of flashlights last much longer than traditional flashlight and the last thing you want when out in the wilderness is a broken flashlight.
It is important that you dress appropriately for the outdoors when you go on a camping trip. Dressing in layers is the key! This proves perfect when temperatures increase in the summertime, or cool down in the wintertime. Don’t forget to pack some rain gear in case the conditions turn wet.
Make sure that all food brought along on a camping trip is preserved and prepared properly. Use the correct containers to pack and store food in. Put your food in an insulated cooler. Prevent cross-contamination of raw and cooked foods by storing them separately. Always wash your hands, cutting boards and preparation surfaces to optimize safety and keep yourself from getting food poisoning. Cook all food to safe temperatures, and chill foods as soon as they cool down.
Camping can be one of the most fun activities there is. However, without the proper packing and planning, it might be a disaster–in some cases dangerous as well. Hopefully, the advice offered here can help you make your camping trip an exciting and unforgettable experience.
