It’s always important to do a little research about camping before setting off on your trip. There are so many different things that can happen while you are out there. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared, and can save you a lot of trouble. Here is some advice to help you have the best camping trip possible.
Pre-cool your ice chest by filling it with loads of ice, at least six hours prior to departure. When you are about to leave, pack up your refrigerated cooled drinks and block ice, not cubed. Popping room temp beverages will take up valuable ice-life, and the cubes will melt much quicker than a block!
Leave no trace of your outing at your campsite, for environmental reasons and as a courtesy to park officials who clean up and the next camping crew. Make sure all trash is picked up, you refill holes you may have dug and of course, that your campfire is completely out!
When going camping, make sure that you bring the right sleeping bag with you. Some sleeping bags will not keep you warm when the temperature dips below 40 degrees, while others will have you sweating all night long because they are too hot. The label on the bag usually will tell you what kinds of temperatures are appropriate for each sleeping bag.
Preparation can make your camping trip easy and relaxing. Be sure you don’t go camping until you are fully prepared with all the supplies you need. Research the place that you are traveling to, which will help you to understand the climate and geography.
Affirm that your insurance is intact before you leave on your trip. If you are going camping out of state, you may have to add an additional policy for full coverage. This is especially true if you are traveling out of the country. Better to be prepared and safe than sorry later.
Camping often sounds like a great deal of fun, and it is; however it does require some special preparation. Before going camping for the first time, make sure you have done some research on tents, food and wildlife survival. It can make the difference between a great trip and a dangerous one.
When you are packing your clothing for a camping trip, remember that it is best to dress in layers. This way, you can add or remove clothing to make you more comfortable. Take along a rain coat that you can put on top of every other layer to keep you dry if it rains.
When you are camping, choose flat, soft ground to pitch your tent on. Pitching your tent on bumpy, rocky ground or on a slope won’t make for a very comfortable night’s sleep. Also remember to put down a tarp underneath your tent as an extra layer of protection from water.
Focus on safety during your trip. Educate yourself and the other members of your party about what you should do if you come across a wild animal. Learn as much as you can about bears and what to do in the event of an attack. Refresh your memory on snakebites. Hopefully, you won’t have to use this knowledge, but it is important that it is available to you.
Make sure that you choose the right sleeping bag for the conditions on the campsite. 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.
If you don’t like to drink water, you will be in real trouble on a long camping trip. Water is essential to staying hydrated, so if you really hate the taste, purchase some one-use lemonade and add it to bottles of water. This will keep you hydrated throughout your adventure.
It is advisable to bring beef jerky or trail mix with you on a camping trip. It’s likely that you’ll be so worn out at dinnertime that you will only feel like snacking and not cooking. These items can be stored for quite a while, which means you don’t have to worry about the expiration date.
Bring along a survival kit and a first-aid kit. These two things will make the difference between ending your trip early and taking care of many situations quickly and easily. A survival kits and first aid kits can save your life.
A Frisbee is a great toy to take for entertainment when camping. It is easy to pack and fun. But in addition to its use as a game, it is also a great way to strengthen a paper plate. Just place the plate into the middle of the Frisbee at meal times and the plate will not collapse no matter how big your hamburger.
Pack your things carefully and smartly. Have a checklist on hand and cross your items off the list as you add them to your pack. This is very important if you’re camping in some remote region without quick access to first-aid items or any other emergency supplies.
Since the tent is one of the most important parts of your camping trip, be sure the one you get is appropriate. Figure out how many people are coming on the trip so you can get a big enough tent. Also, make sure the tent you get prevents moisture from getting inside.
If you have more than three people camping with you, take along more than one tent. You are going to want to have some privacy at one time or another. The additional tent will make it possible to get some “me” time while at the camp site. It also gives you additional storage to keep animals out of your supplies.
As you can see, camping isn’t as easy as just setting up a tent and falling asleep. There are plenty of other things to think about as well. Now that you’re more knowledgeable about camping, you should have no trouble coming up with a plan to make your camping trip go well.
