When you choose an activity to enjoy with your family and friends, consider camping. If you have never gone camping, you are certainly missing out on a great experience, so give it a try when you can. The truth remains, though, that to camp properly, some specific knowledge is needed. Read this article to pick up some useful advice for camping.
To increase your sleeping experience while camping, bring a pad along that you can place under your sleeping bag. This pad acts as a barrier between you and the hard ground where twigs and tree knots may cause strange sleeping conditions. If a pad isn’t handy, bring a few extra blankets that you can fold over on themselves to create some cushion.
If your canteen is beginning to smell musty, you can give it a good cleaning with baking soda. Place a little bit of water in your canteen, and then add three tablespoons of baking soda. Shake gently, let it sit for sixty minutes, and then rinse with water. Your canteen will be refreshingly clean!
Try to go swimming when you are camping. While you are camping in the great outdoors, it can be very easy to miss taking your daily shower. When swimming, you will feel refreshed and cleaner. If you use some biodegradable soap, you can get just as clean as you would at home.
Your camp should always be set up before the sun sets. If you come to the camp site in an RV, find a parking spot immediately. If you have a tent, find dry, flat ground. Making sure this is all done before dark gives you time to become familiar with the area. It also makes it much easier to actually see what you are doing, thus saving a great deal of frustration.
While camping seems synonymous with a campfire, that campfire doesn’t necessarily have to be made from wood. In fact, it might be safer and easier to use a portable campfire unit powered by propane. For the most part, these units are permitted unless there is a fire ban in place. Marshmallows taste just as good from these units as they do over an open, wood-burning fire, too.
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!
When you are camping, you should never eat anything unless you are absolutely certain of what it is. There is nothing worse than a strong case of stomach problems when you are far away from both medical attention and a toilet. It is recommended to only eat food that you bring.
Be mindful of the environment when you go camping. Whatever you carry into a campsite, make sure that you remove it when you leave. This will eliminate litter and protect the natural environment. Before leaving, the area you have inhabited should be as clean as you would want it if you were just arriving to camp there that day.
Prior to leaving for a camping journey, be sure to draft a list of necessary supplies. This is critical if you are going to be covering some ground before getting to the spot where you pitch your tent. Get prepared well ahead of schedule; at least one day, maybe two, is required to gather all the “forgotten” items you would regret not having in the wild.
As you can see, there is nothing to camping when you have the right information at your disposal. Use these tips to prepare for your next outing. If you use the tips mentioned above, you are sure to have an enjoyable trip.