Camping is a fantastic way to get out there and forget about your troubles. Every day life can be full of anxiety and stress, so it’s good to step away from it every once in a while. Before you go camping, however, it’s useful to keep what you’re about to read here in mind at all times.
Water is critical for your survival when hiking in the backcountry. Carry water purification tablets with you or some sort of water filter that is capable of filtering out bacteria. There are many different kinds available at your local sporting goods store. Whenever you are looking for a water source, make sure the water is flowing; stagnant water can kill you if not treated properly.
As a courtesy to other campers, don’t leave your lighting on overnight, if you are close to others. Pack a timer that you can attach to your lights that will automatically shut them off after a certain time. Leaving lights on overnight is a popular complaint among most American campers!
When it is time for you to go to sleep, it is a good idea to put the coolers that you brought along into your vehicle. Bears have become quite savvy these days and have figured out that these coolers usually carry food items and this will attract them to your campsite.
Look up grocery stores near your campsite. Make sure you know how to get to them. Particularly, if your trip is spanning more than three or four days, the food you bring with you probably isn’t going to last the length of your trip. Not only, that, but your family is going to get tired of eating the same things day after day. Variety is the key.
When you reach your campsite, the first thing, you should do is to start collecting wood for your fire. You won’t feel like it later on, and if you wait until dark you will have a harder time finding the kind of wood you need to keep a fire going. Do it right away.
Clean up thoroughly when leaving a campsite. Try your best not to leave any trace of you at the campsite you stayed in. This is important, not just in terms of being considerate of other people. There are animals and insects that continue to live in the woods after you have left, so think of them as well.
Save space in your bag by leaving mixing spoons and containers behind, and instead just bring plastic zip-lock bags. Place the foods or liquids that you want to mix in the bag, and ensure that the zipper is well closed before mixing. Not only do the bags take up considerably less space than bowls and spoons, but they’re much more lightweight as well!
Even if you’re not going a long distance away on your camping trip, or even if you’re going into familiar territory, always stay in touch with friends, family or neighbors. Tell someone where your trip will be, and how long you’ll be gone. And if you can, check in regularly using a mobile phone.
When camping, most people enjoy relaxing around a campfire. To prevent your fire from becoming out of control, you should incorporate a few safety practices. First of all, build your fire away from bushes and trees so that sparks from your fire will not start a forest fire. You will also want to use a circle of rocks to contain your campfire. Do not ever leave your fire unattended. Before leaving your campsite, make sure your campfire has been totally extinguished and that there are no remaining hot embers.
Now that you know what camping entails, you’ll be able to come up with a plan so your trip goes more smoothly. Knowing what to expect is only part of the fun though, the main part would be actually getting out there and doing it. Use what you have learned here, and have a stress free trip!