So, you’re going away on a camping trip? Are you fully prepared? Though common sense can cover most of these situations, it never hurts to do some homework to ensure that you cover your bases. Here are some tips to ensure you have a fantastic time.
When you go camping, you wand to find shelter before the sun goes down. Once blackness falls out there in the woods, it can be extremely difficult to pitch a tent, find good firewood and prepare food. That is particularly true if you aren’t used to the blackness of the wilderness. Avoid these circumstances by finding the right shelter while it is still light.
Sleeping Bag
When choosing a tent, pick one that has plenty of room for you and all of your camping companions. That makes it easier for everyone to have a comfy time while they’re asleep and moving around when they have to get up in the dead of night.
You need to make sure your sleeping bag is sufficient for the climate. Don’t take a heavy sleeping bag out in the summer, it could make you sweat and be uncomfortable all night long. The reverse is also true. Using a light, cool sleeping bag in the middle of winter will keep you very cold. You may even get hypothermia.
Review your health insurance policy. If you go to another state, you may have to have another policy. This is especially important if your camping destination is in Canada or another country. It is important to always be prepared.
Get a big enough tent to fit everyone and gear properly. This will allow you to sleep more comfortably and get up easier during the night when you need to use the bathroom.
Your camp should always be set up before the sun sets. If you’re driving an RV, find a safe parking spot. If you have a tent, carefully select the plot of land you are going to use. Getting your camp set up before dark will give you time to get to know your campsite and surrounding area. You will have an easier time seeing the task a hand, preventing frustration from setting in.
Incorporate swimming into your camping trip. Many people miss a nice warm shower while camping. You’ll feel much cleaner by swimming in cool water. Therefore, you aren’t going to miss your home shower as much.
Before you plan to camp in an new area, it is important to be aware of any dangers commonly found there. You should know if there are deadly spiders found there, or if sheer cliffs or flash floods occur there. Every camping spot has a few dangers to be aware of.
Bring oranges with you since they are great for snacking and repelling insects. Keep the peels when you are finished eating them. Rub the peels on your body and mosquitoes will stay away.
Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. Your flashlight’s power switch can be easily turned on by mistake while you search through your bag. To avoid drained batteries, store your flashlights with the batteries backwards. That way, there is no way to turn the flashlight on until you switch the batteries around.
Try to get your camp fully set up by nightfall. This means a safe parking place for RV campers. Seek out flat, dry ground if you are roughing it with a tent. If you do it before nighttime, it is easier to get familiar with the area. This can help you see what you are doing and prevent frustration.
Select your campsite carefully. One thing to consider is whether or not there are insect nests in the space in which you want to set up. If the campsite has a lot of vegetation, protect exposed skin by wearing long pants and sleeves. Insect repellent will also help to keep the insects away.
Camping Pillows
It is always a good idea to bring plenty of trail mix and/or beef jerky when you are planning a camping trip. Both items are fairly healthy and will come in handy when you don’t feel like cooking. Even if you don’t eat them, these are non-perishable snacks that have a long shelf life.
Purchase some special camping pillows. If you take along a regular bedroom pillow, it can get hot and sticky when it is humid outside. Mildew can grow in it when they absorb the moisture from the air. Camping pillows, on the other hand, possess a protective coating that prevents that from happening.
Always pack a first aid kit and a survival kit. These two kits are essential for your safety and well being. A first aid kit helps to prevent situations from becoming serious, and it allows you to help family or friends until medical help arrives.
When you bring a canine along on a camping trip, don’t forget his leash and to keep a close eye on him always. Many folks are scared of dogs. You must always respect the needs of others when camping. Also, dogs can damage your campsite or another person’s campsite if they’re not watched carefully.
Pack strategically. Make a list of what you need, and check off items as you pack. This is especially important if you will be camping in a remote location without access to first-aid supplies or other items you might need in an emergency.
Take along items to use while you are camping in the wild. Pack such things as cards, fishing poles or even plan for a scavenger hunt. This is especially important if you are bringing children, as they tend to bore easily.
It’s essential to take duct tape on every camping trip. Tents may get torn, in which case duct tape can provide a seal. If your tent has damage, duct tape can be used to fixed it so you do not have to worry about getting wet at night.
If you are traveling to a place with an abundance of animals, make sure you are prepared with respect to food. You have to wrap your food tightly and keep them away from the tent; some foods, you may have to forget. Doing this means you cut down on your possibilities of an animal attack.
Learn how to use a compass and read a map before your trip. You can get lost in the woods even if you have been to the area before. This skill can potentially save your life.
While camping’s purpose is to survive off the fat of the land, it is still important to prepare yourself. Blankets are essential, in addition to a sleeping bag, to maximize comfort. This can help you stay warm if it cools down at night or you may use them for extra padding.
Food poisoning afflicts many campers annually, since they don’t pack their food right. If you don’t preserve, pack and prepare your food right, you’re at risk. Bring ample amounts of ice along in coolers to keep perishable items cold, and drain the water from melting ice each day to prevent food from becoming wet.
Always be prepared when on a camping trip. Even with a perfect plan, things can still go awry. Someone could get hurt, the weather could change drastically or people could get sick. The more time you spend preparing for the unforeseen, the better off you will be when it comes to dealing with an emergency later on.
Always bring toilet paper when you are packing for your camping trip. If you take care of business in the woods, toilet paper is imperative to have. Rather than using leaves as a substitute, just bring your own toilet paper.
If you’re taking along the kids, pack current pictures of them. If you lose them during your trip, that picture can help you immensely. Bring one to use for emergencies, particularly if you are a long way from home.
Often, those new to camping make the erroneous choice of putting up tents too close to restrooms. They think this is a convenience for them, but they find out differently. For example, there is a lot of foot traffic in these areas, as well as bright lights. After a while, it becomes less of a convenience and more of a hindrance.
Make sure you have a charged phone somewhere near you, like in the car. Better yet, bring along an extra battery or two in case your phone runs out of juice. A cellphone is a great way to get in touch with someone in case of an emergency so be sure yours isn’t going to die.
You should never camp without your first aid kit. The kit should contain anything that you will need in case of an accident. You need to put essentials in your kit such as splints, bandages, snake bite remedies and gauze for dressing wounds. Although you will try to be as safe as possible, it is better to be prepared in case an accident does occur.
A camping trip could be a relaxing, tranquil experience, or it could end up being a vacation from hell. Whether it goes well or not is usually determined by how prepared you are. The more prepared you are for your trip, the more likely that it will be the relaxing trip of your dreams.
Always take sufficient amounts of sunscreen. You want to keep your skin protected during your trip. Find a sunscreen that will provide enough protection. You can also choose a product that also repels insects. This can minimize the amount of chemicals you are putting on your skin daily.
One easy tip to keep in mind is that you have to build your shelter before nighttime. Tent building in the dark is a major obstacle to confront. It is possible to see what you are doing by the light of the campfire or with the aid of a flashlight. It is basically easier to get your campsite set up before it gets dark and you are not fumbling around in the dark.
Take along some activities you can do inside. Be ready for bad weather while you’re out in the woods. You might get hit with some heavy rain. That doesn’t have to ruin the trip. Be certain to bring activities along to pass time wherever you are.
It may sound silly to be reminded of this, but always make sure you take toilet paper on a camping trip. If your campgrounds or location doesn’t have a properly installed restroom, you will need to go outdoors in the woods. Leaves may have poison on them, as you will want to use toilet paper to wipe.
Before you go on a camping trip, educate yourself on how to identify poisonous plants. Poisonous plants are easy to overlook because they blend in with other plants in the forest, so be sure to know what to look for. There are books, as well as various sites on the Internet that feature information about poisonous plants. You can then be sure that you will not touch or eat any poisonous plants during your camping trip.
Whenever you select a sleeping bag, ensure that your selection is one that is appropriate for the season. Choose a lighter bag for summer months, as an example. However, you’ll need a heavyweight sleeping bag to keep you warm at night.
There are many different essentials that you should bring with you while camping such as batteries, hats and matches. Flashlights will come in handy when you need to urinate at night. You can simply throw on a hat in the morning to cover your un-styled hair and protect your face from the sun, while toiletry help you remain somewhat clean.
Make sure that you take into consideration all safety precautions while camping. That means to steer clear of large wildlife, and even some of the smaller creatures. Even squirrels and tiny animals may pose a threat to you and your family. This should not have to be said, but never feed any bears you see.
Follow campground etiquette, if you are staying in a campground. These rules may be posted, or they may be unwritten. Usually all music must stop before 11pm at night and try to be as courteous as possible to all of your campground neighbors.
With your new-found knowledge, you are now ready for that camping trip. Camping is not a luxury vacation, and you should go into it prepared and ready. Take this advice with you and enjoy the campy road ahead.
Conserve the batteries in your flashlight whenever possible. When moving around, your flashlight could be turned on. To make sure that doesn’t happen, flip the batteries around to an incorrect position. You’ll still have the batteries safely tucked away in the flashlight, but there will be no way for the flashlight to accidentally get turned on.
