Going off the trail can be very fun but you need to know how to handle yourself to be safe. These tips can really help you out for your next trip.
Always find your shelter before it gets dark when you go camping. After the night falls, pitching a tent, locating firewood and making food can be difficult. That is particularly true if you aren’t used to the blackness of the wilderness. To ensure you get your campsite operational arrive several hours before sunset.
Choose a sleeping bag that is seasonally appropriate. Don’t take a heavy sleeping bag out in the summer, it could make you sweat and be uncomfortable all night long. Conversely, if you bring a light-weight sleeping bag to a winter camping trip, you can be extremely uncomfortable the entire time. Using a lighter sleeping bag in the winter could actually lead to you developing hypothermia.
Learn to set up your tent prior to leaving on your trip. This will not only familiarize you with the process, it will allow you to ensure there are no missing pieces or defects. That can also cut down on the frustration some feel when setting a tent up for the first time.
Take along a bandanna or a small towel. In emergencies, such cloth can turn into a towel, a potholder or a piece of luggage. You can use them to pick up hot pans, or to clean up a tiny spill; therefore, you should always have one with you.
Remember that everything you bring will get dirty on your trip. While baby wipes can be used to help for some level of cleanliness, expect that people will get dirty. Be ready for it and accept it. Enjoy your time and don’t afraid to be messy. You can get back to normal after returning home.
Dryer Lint
Dryer lint can make great kindling for creating campfires. Around four weeks prior to camping, start keeping the lint that you clean from your dryer filter. To make it easy to collect dryer lint, simply hang a bag next to the dryer and fill with your lint. This technique allows you to grab your kindling and go the day of your trip.
Let those you are camping with help pick the site. Discuss which state you would most like to visit. There are various options throughout the United States that it may make it hard to pick only one. If it simplifies things, pick four or five favorites and then give everyone a vote.
No matter how rough and tough your camping plans, bring along a small bit of luxury to add an elegant touch to your camping trip. This can be something simple like fresh coffee or a favorite candy. It is these simple luxuries that can lift your mood.
Oranges taste great, but they can also help keep mosquitoes away from you. After you’ve enjoyed the orange, keep all the peels. If the mosquitoes are swarming, rub the peels over your body to keep them at bay.
Review your health insurance policy. Some policies don’t cover you while out of state and you may have to add an extra policy. This is especially true if you are traveling out of the country. Make sure that you that you are prepared, just in case!
Prior to camping in a brand new area, you must understand its dangers. For example, there might be poisonous spiders or dangerous trails. Each camping spot poses its own dangers.
If you will be camping in an area that is known for having dangerous wildlife, you need to double up your precautions when it comes to food. You have to wrap your food tightly and keep them away from the tent; some foods, you may have to forget. Taking these precautions can significantly lower you chances of being attacked.
Incorporate swimming into your camping trip. When camping, home showers can seem like a luxury. The coolness of the water when you swim will help you feel clean and refreshed, so you may not miss your home shower as much.
Prior to your camping trip, create a list of all the equipment and personal items you need to take. It’s especially important to make a checklist if you will be traveling a distance to the campgrounds. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.
Don’t let your kids out of your sight. There is quite a bit of traffic at campsites, and young kids can wander around in the woods, often getting lost. Disaster can strike in seconds; this makes it imperative that you always have an eye out for your kids.
Dryer lint makes wonderful kindling to start your campfires with. Several weeks prior to your trip, start gathering up everything that collects in your lint trap. You can simply stuff it all into a plastic grocery bag you keep near the dryer. This allows you to just get your kindling and leave when you’re ready.
Pesky mosquito bites can be avoided with an orange peel. If you forgot to bring your favorite brand of mosquito repellant, this remedy might save you from some discomfort. Rub the inner peel of an orange over your body as mosquitoes will refrain from biting you. The mosquitoes should steer clear of you for several hours.
Bring along a survival kit and a first-aid kit. These two items can keep you from ending a trip abruptly and handling many situations swiftly and easily. This is a great way to avoid a situation getting out of control.
Don’t leave home without all of your essential camping equipment. You would be pretty irritated if it turned out that you left your sleeping bag or tent back at home. Look over the items you plan to bring and create a checklist before leaving to ensure that all of your essential gear comes with you.
Learn how to use a compass or read a map, beforehand. Even if you know the area well, getting lost is always a possibility. Using a map or compass can actually save your life if you’re lost. Learn to use them so that you don’t suffer a tragic fate.
When you’re getting a survival kit together for camping, it’s recommended to bring waterproof matches. These should be stored in an airtight container. Even normal matches can be waterproofed with nail polish or paraffin wax. Easy-to-find 35mm film canisters and plastic medicine bottles make handy cases for matches.
You should always have some duct tape along on any camping adventure. Its multipurpose properties aren’t only useful at home, they can be used in the wild too. It can be utilized to fix a torn air mattress. It works well for repairing tears in tent material, sleeping bags or tarps. Duct tape on your feet can be used to prevent blisters on a long hike. In a pinch, it can even serve as a bandage for injuries.
When you are putting up your tent, make sure that you find a way to seal all of the seams. If you tent did not include a tube of sealer, you can find it at sporting goods stores. By sealing the seams on your tent, you will keep out rainwater and any small critter that might want to join your tenting party.
When you’re done with your trip, be sure to leave behind a clean campsite. Consider taking along a few garbage bags so you have a place for all your trash. Pack up any leftover food and take it with you. The best practice to follow when camping is to clean the campsite well, and leave only your footprints behind.
Make sure you bring the right things when you go camping. If you forget a few things, it could ruin your entire trip. Making a list and checking things off is a good way to remember everything. You need to include things like; hand sanitizer, fire starters, utility knife, water, tarps, sleeping bags, tents and prepared foods.
Being prepared can make your camping trip much more enjoyable and memorable. By using the tips and advice mentioned here on your next trip, you can enjoy a safer, more relaxing adventure knowing that you have the skills and know-how to tackle any issues that may arise.
