How can I make my tenting more comfortable?
Camping may have been something you did as a young child at camp or with your parents, but there is still some fun for you in camping. It can still be enjoyable if you plan ahead and well. The tips below can help.
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.
If you are traveling with children, give them the opportunity to assist you when you get to the campground. They can carry gear, support you as you set up the tent and look for firewood. Not only will it keep them busy and out of trouble, it will be fun for them as well.
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.
When packing for your camping adventure, make sure you pack only what you need for mealtimes. If you are at the campground, your food will have to stay cold so it does not spoil. If you are on the trail, any additional or excess food can be a burden. If you pack just enough food for the time you are on the trail, you will not be weighed down by excess weight.
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.
Consider camping in an area that also provides you with a place to swim. When camping, home showers can seem like a luxury. You will find yourself feeling clean and refreshed after a dip in cool water. This can lesson the desire for your home shower.
Avoid any wildlife you may come into contact with. Bears have become a fairly large problem with campers. In some parks they have been known to rip open the trunk of a car to gain access to food. Raccoons are also a big problem in many campgrounds. Not only are they smart and can gain access to your food supplies easily, but they can carry disease as well.
Camping can be incredibly fun or incredibly dangerous depending on just one factor: preparation. Without proper preparation, a camping trip can turn into a disaster. Do some research on the climate and wildlife if you are unfamiliar with the area.
If camping with children, place each set of their clothing in a zippered plastic bag or a tied plastic grocery bag. By sorting and packing their clothes in this manner, each morning your child can grab a package and have an entire outfit of clothing for the day. When it is time to go to bed at night, each child can stuff the soiled clothing back into the plastic bag and place it back into their suitcase and not soil unworn clothing.
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.
Any time you go camping, do not forget to bring a first-aid kit along with you. Since accidents can happen at any time, a first-aid kit is a very valuable asset to possess. Be sure to include topical creams for bug bites, sun burns and poison ivy when putting your kit together.
Charge all of your electronic equipment such as your cell phones and gaming equipment for the children to the max before you go to a camping trip. You want to get the most out of their charge when you do decide to use them, so make sure they are charged.
Though camping may be about roughing it in the wilderness, being prepared is a necessity. You should take sleeping bags and extra blankets. These can be used for additional padding or for extra warmth on a chilly night.
Having great gear is vital, so make sure that you do not forget to buy some high quality socks. Buy wool socks instead of those canvas tent stove that are made of cotton. This is because cotton socks keep sweat on the skin. This is uncomfortable and it can cause bacteria to form.
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.
Try and adjust your sleep schedule to be in line with nature in the days leading up to your camping trip. Once the sun goes down, there will be very little to do. Also, when the sun comes up, the woods come alive in such a way that you might not be asleep very long.
Consider leaving a handwritten note to the following campers. In this note, you can inform them of some things that interested you during your camping experience. You could even wish them well during their stay. This is a nice gesture they are certain to appreciate, and it only takes a few short minutes of your time.
An essential element of your camping gear is a first aid kit. This should include anything you might need if you have an accident. You need to put essentials in your kit such as splints, bandages, snake bite remedies and gauze for dressing wounds. Safety is important when camping, but accidents do happen, so you have to be prepared.
As you now know from the article above, camping is not simply driving out into the wilderness without proper planing. Rather, there are many important things to consider when venturing out to the great outdoors. Keep the tips you've just read on hand and implement them the next time you decide to go camping.