Camping provides hours of enjoyment that you can share with family and friends. Many shy away from it, because they think it is going to be too complicated. With the proper advice, it doesn’t need to be. Check out this article to learn how to plan the best camping trip.
You don’t have to be a boy scout to be prepared, if you plan to go camping. One of the first rules is to be sure to tell somebody where you will be. If there isn’t an exact location to give, then give a general idea of major roads nearby or even GPS coordinates if you know them and give a timeframe of when you plan to return.
When going camping, you must make sure that you keep a list of all of the supplies that you plan to bring. You have to make sure you include everything that you will need on your trip. This is the best way to make sure that you don’t forget something for your trip.
Did you know that a simple mirror can save your life? If you are camping and end up in a survival situation, a simple hand held mirror can be used to signal for help many miles away. Do not buy the standard glass mirror, many camping supply stores sell mirrors made of Lexan that will float and are practically unbreakable.
You might think nature naturally provides all the wood you need, but the wood where you are could have already been picked clean, or it could be wet. It’s a great idea to carry your own wood with you and to keep it secure in a dry area.
Get a sleeping bag that is warm enough. This is important. Even if you go camping in the summertime, nights can get very cold out in the wild. There are sleeping bags promising protection from varying cold temperatures; it is a good idea to opt for as low a temperature as you can find.
Carry a bandana or handkerchief with you. These can be used for several things, like drying your hands or holding a hot pot. Make this multi-use item a standard addition to your camping supplies.
Bring enough food and snack items to last you throughout the whole trip. You don’t want to spend your time going to get food every meal, enjoy yourself while you are camping. Bring cereal, hot dogs, and all of your other favorite food items that will fuel you throughout your trip.
Do not dump any type of food waste on the ground. This is a great way to attract unwanted bugs and animals. The best way to get rid of excess food waste is to dump all of it into the fire pit. It is also not a good idea to bury them.
Make sure you have cover in case of rain. When you’re out in the woods, a rainstorm can be wet, cold and uncomfortable. Make sure you have some kind of protection against the rain, whether it be a tent, cabin or lean-to. In a pinch, you can use a garbage bag as a poncho!
Cross contamination is not an issue that only affects people that cook at home. When you are cooking outdoors, you still have to worry about not using the same cutting board to cut meat that you do to cut any other foods. If you only have one board, use both sides.
When looking into a campground, inquire about the different fees they may charge. You may find that you are charged for water, electric, fire wood and additional campers. Learning the fees ahead of time will allow you to properly budget for your camping trip. It will help you avoid becoming stressed at the gates and ruining your trip.
Plan for every situation that you can think of before packing for your trip. It is important to plan, but sometimes unexpected things happen. The weather can suddenly change, surrounding circumstances can change, injuries and illness can happen, etc. Try not to take unnecessary risks that can yield injury or illness.
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.
Be aware of the wildlife where you are setting up camp. You do not want to set up in a place where the opossums, racoons and skunks have already called home. Learn the signs of the animals so you can find a safe place to set up camp without worrying as much about these animals at night.
If you have other people sleeping nearby your campsite, do not bother them by leave your awning lights on during the entire night. Instead, use a timer that you can set to turn the lights off after a certain time period. By doing this, you won’t bother others with your lights.
Always check the weather forecast before you go camping so that you know what kind of clothing you will need. You could be very cold if a front blow through, and you did not pack jackets and blankets. In addition, consider packing some rain ponchos in case any storm’s blow through.
Whenever you camp, what will you do for cooking purposes? You will have to decide whether you will grill, fry or even bake your food so you know what supplies to bring. Also, take the necessary supplies on your trip to facilitate cooking.
Bring some toilet paper and baby wipes with you when camping. Of course, if you really want to, you can use leaves as toilet paper. However, there’s no reason to torture yourself trying to do this when you can easily buy baby wipes or toilet paper before your trip.
After reading this, you should be able to see camping is not very difficult. No matter your skill level, you can advance very quickly. Use what you’ve read here when you next go camping. Soon you’ll be closer to nature on a great adventure.
