Many people around the globe have fallen in love with the relaxing pastime of camping with family and friends. However, it is important to be adequately prepared. Read through this article to find the right tips to keep your camping trip on track.
Pick a sleeping bag which is appropriate for the season. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in the summertime if your sleeping bag is rated for sub-zero temperatures. If you are going to bring a light bag in the winter, you may end up freezing and having a miserable time. You may even subject yourself to hypothermia.
When you pack up your camp site to go home, leave a few logs and some kindling for the next camping group that comes along. If you have ever arrived at your site after dark, you know how tough it can be to find firewood! It’s a very nice pay-it-forward gesture that will probably help out more than you can imagine.
It is important to remember that getting dirty is inevitable. If you are prepared for this situation, you will find that when it occurs, you will be less stressed. Take this as an opportunity to enjoy the freedom, let your hair down, and get a little dirtier than usual. Things will go to back to normal soon enough.
Keep the needs of your family in mind before selecting a destination. For example, if you have a baby or toddler, it may be best to stick close to home in case things don’t go as planned. If you have teenagers, however, you may enjoy traveling to a different state. Choose what is best for you!
When you are heading out for that long awaited camping trip, don’t forget to take along your cell phone. You may be tempted to leave all the texting and calls behind, but your cell phone can be one of your most important safety lifelines in the event of an emergency. Make sure it is fully charged and keep it protected from the elements in a plastic bag or waterproof case.
Pour out any water that has accumulated in your freezer each day. You want to do this to prevent the ice inside from melting into the water. It is also a good idea because any contaminants that have entered the water from foods you have in, can be poured off.
Unless you are going to be spending a significant amount of time camping, buying expensive sleeping bags is really unnecessary. Even if your old and musty sleeping bag is rated for below freezing temperatures, it is excellent padding for the ground even when it is hot outside and you will feel comfortable sleeping on it.
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.
Prepare some of the food ahead of time so you will not have to mess around with it at the camp site. Make up some sandwiches, precook the pasta and take along foods that can be eaten as is to make each meal less tedious. Other meals can be enjoyable to prepare in the woods, but some should be ready to go on the days the weather is not perfect.
As you know, camping is supposed to be enjoyable. However, when the preparations are lacking, the trip can be disastrous. Use this advice to make sure that the next time you go camping, everything goes smoothly. Enjoy yourself!