How do you keep a tent warm in the winter?
You may have camped as a child, but it still has a lot to offer you. You can have just as much fun now, if you make use of good information. These tips should help you along your way.
When camping, be sure to locate a shelter before dark. Once it gets dark, it is much harder to find wood for your fire, prepare food, and get your tent ready. This is especially true if you are an urbanite whose sight is not used to the pitch dark. Avoid this hazard completely, by finding adequate shelter long before the sun goes down.
Try to get to the campsite well before nightfall. This allows you to get a feel for the lay of the land and gives you the opportunity to set up camp while you can still see what you are doing. In addition, it lets your children feel a little more comfortable with their surroundings because they will have time to explore.
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.
Water is very important when camping. When camping at a campground, there should be ample supply of water available, but on the trail, you will have to carry some with you. If you are going long distances, you should probably carry iodine tablets to sanitize any water you find before drinking. Be careful, dysentery can be deadly.
Consider purchasing inexpensive walkie-talkies to take with you on your next camping trip to provide a way to keep in touch with everyone in your party in areas where cell phone reception may not be available. This can be especially important if you are camping with children and need to keep track of their whereabouts.
When you bring your dog on a camping trip, make certain he has adequate tick protection. Bugs thrive in forests, and many flea treatments do not extend protection to include ticks, so ask your vet before departing if your dog has everything he needs and what you should do for proper tick prevention and removal.
Make your kids a "jungle breakfast". Tie fruit, juice boxes, and small boxes of cereal to trees. Once the children are awake, tell them they need to forage for their meal. It's a fun way to make camping a little more exciting for the children.
Understand your medical coverage. You may need additional coverage in case you have an accident in a different state. This can be even more important if you're leaving to another country when you are camping, such as Canada. Be ready for any eventuality.
For your first camping trips, try to choose a place that you can drive to. If your car is nearby you can use it as a "fortress" of sorts when you are in the middle of nowhere. Not only can you enter it in case of wildlife attack; it can also protect you from the elements.
Cross contamination is not an issue that only affects people that cook at home. When you are cooking outdoors, you still have to worry about not using the same cutting board to cut meat that you do to cut any other foods. If you only have one board, use both sides.
Keep the environment in mind when you are at your campsite. Enjoying nature is one of the main benefits of camping, so it is important to respect the Earth. Throw away all your trash, and don't get too bell tent vs wall tent rowdy. You can even bring along a solar-powered device if you have one to use.
An indispensable item to pack for your camping trip is Ziploc bags. You can separate items in your gear like sunscreen and bug spray so if they puncture they do not get all over your gear. You can also use them to keep items like matches and cellphones dry if it rains.
It is generally a smart idea to leave your basecamp or car with a fully charged cell phone. You may also want to bring a couple of extra batteries in case one runs out. The cell phone comes in handy in emergency situations, so you will need all the battery power you can get.
Make sure that you only pack the food that is absolutely necessary during your camping trip. Excess food that is packed will likely end up being spoiled. If your trip only has 2 people, you should not bring along numerous servings of food, especially meat, that can feed 4 or 5 people.
Make it a habit to leave no sign of you having camped at a location. As a camper, you're aware of how beautiful nature really is. It's your job to help keep it that way. Take any trash with you to dispose of properly. Before you go, circle your camping ground a second time to look for any litter you may have missed.
Start your camping trip off the easy way with a precooked meal that can be kept in a cooler. There are many things that must be done on the first day and knowing that you have a delicious meal already prepared can make the end of the day relaxing and more enjoyable.
When building a fire at your campground, do not have one so close to your tent. Many fires at campgrounds could have been prevented has campers thought about this simple tip. It is typically recommended that you build your fire at least 15 feet away from your tent and other equipment.
Wear closed-toe shoes when camping. While walking with open-toe shoes or barefoot in nature may sound appealing, there are a lot of treacherous things on the ground that can harm your feet including rocks, sticks, poisonous plants and even animals. Protect your feet completely by always wearing shoes that protect you completely.
Most of the time, camping is fun. Unfortunately, it can also be miserable if you are not prepared for what may come your way. Take the tips this article has given to you to have a stress-free camping trip. Just remember to have fun!