Camping provides an exhilarating and fun-filled adventure for a variety of age groups. The easiest way to ensure that you have a great trip is to read up on the best tips and tricks that experienced campers use when they go. The following article will help you prepare for your trip out into the wilderness.
While a campfire gives off enough light in the general area around it, you want to be sure you take along a flashlight on your camping trip if you plan to venture outside of the campfire’s glow. This is a definite safety precaution you don’t want to ignore. It can be quite dark out there in the woods at nighttime.
If you’re new to camping, you’re going to want to arrive early to the campground. The reason for this is you will be new to the campground site and rules, and this will slow you down. You don’t want to be stuck setting up camp after dark, so just arrive a little earlier than you usually would.
When camping, periodically do a tick check. Look for any brown or black spots that have just appeared on your skin. Ticks attach themselves to the skin without causing too much of a disturbance, so be sure to check yourself and your companions for ticks after spending time camping outdoors.
When traveling to your camping destination, plan on stopping and having a meal when you’re near the campground, but before you actually arrive. Being well fed before arriving will ease frustrations if the campground is full, or if it takes longer to get your gear set up. Use this break to discuss your plans and to remind everyone of how to remain safe!
Before you head out for your camping trip, be sure that you take the time to practice setting up your tent. You do not want to get yourself frustrated at the site. Setting the tent up the second time will be much easier than it was the first time around.
Do you know how to pitch a tent? Before you head into the wilderness, take some time to learn about your tent and pitch it. When you do this, you’ll know exactly what it takes to get your tent set up in a timely manner. This also ensure that you can perform the task more quickly if you get to your campsite late, and darkness begins to set in.
If you put some thought in ahead of time, you will not have to worry about drained batteries in your flashlight while you are at a camp out. Your flashlight’s power switch can be easily turned on by mistake while you search through your bag. To prevent this from draining the batteries, store the batteries in the flashlight backwards until you need to use it. If the power switch is touched, the flashlight won’t turn on and you’ll still have full battery power.
Make sure your sleeping bag is appropriate for the location. If the weather is warm, you want a lightweight bag. If frigid temperatures will be present, choose a sub-zero rated bag. You want a sleeping bag that is close to your body and helps you retain your body heat if you plan to sleep in a tent.
You should bring food on your camping trips. You should plan out what and how many meals you plan on eating before going on your trip. As far as how much food you should bring, a good rule of thumb is to only carry the amount of food that you need to prepare your meals.
Ensure that you clean your campsite up whenever you finish using it. Pick up any piece of trash you can find. This is just common courtesy for the people who will be using it whenever you finish. You would want and expect the same thing in return from other people.
Especially if you live in a hotter climate, you need to make sure you know how to get ice. Ice melts rather fast, and you’re going to need more. Sometimes you can buy ice at the campsite, or sometimes at a store, but there are times when ice isn’t so close to where you’re camping.
Take time to learn map and compass reading. Even if you are returning to a campsite you know well, the area could have changed and you could become lost. This can help you to avoid getting lost or falling into a dangerous situation.
If you will be camping in a warm area, you may think it is not necessary to bring a nice sleeping bag. That is a huge mistake as many areas cool off considerably at night. Secondly, a sleeping bag helps to mitigate uneven or rocky ground, allowing for more comfortable sleep.
As silly as it may seem, be sure to pack toilet paper with you on your camping trip. If you don’t happen to have toilets at your site, your only option will be to go in the woods. To keep from having to use potentially dangerous leaves, you need to have toilet paper on hand.
Pack an emergency repair kit for your tent. You can get them at any camping supply shop. These kits will make it easy for you to repair rips, broken poles and failing zippers. The last thing you want while camping is to have your tent fail and not have the tools and supplies to fix it.
Whenever you set up your tent, make sure you first check for wasp nests. The last thing you want to do is have your tent set up and be attacked by wasps. If you are stuck out in the wilderness, then being attacked by numerous wasps can even be life-threatening. So, be smart and thoroughly inspect the area for any wasp nests.
Camping is something that lots of people truly love. Proper advice will help make your next camping trip more enjoyable. Hopefully, you will use what you learned from this article to make your next camping trip a great one.
