Camping is a great activity to share with family and friends. Many people avoid camping because it seems hard or requires too much effort. It won’t be if you know the right things in advance. Continue reading to get advice that will make your camping trip more enjoyable.
Always seek shelter before it is too dark to assess your surroundings. Once it gets dark, it is much harder to find wood for your fire, prepare food, and get your tent ready. That can be especially true for someone who live in the suburbs and is not used to total darkness. Avoid this circumstance entirely by securing your accommodations ahead of time.
Plan accordingly when it comes to food. It is a hassle to make room in your car for all the food you need. However, proper nourishment is crucial when you are in the woods. Also, items that are fairly inexpensive in your local store often carry a higher price tag near camping sites. Bringing enough food means that you will save money and keep everyone in your family in a good mood.
When you are camping, a necessity for your gear is a survival knife. This is the most important part of your camping gear. Buy a high quality survival knife, not just the cheapest you can find, your life may depend on it. These knives are all very similar; they have a long blade serrated on one side and a hollow handle. Inside the handle you can carry fishing line, hooks, a compass, and matches as a small survival kit.
Did you know that a simple mirror can save your life? If you are camping and end up in a survival situation, a simple hand held mirror can be used to signal for help many miles away. Do not buy the standard glass mirror, many camping supply stores sell mirrors made of Lexan that will float and are practically unbreakable.
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.
Take only photos and leave only footprints. That is the rule of thumb when camping. Only use the natural resources that you need and do not leave any traces that you were camping when you leave. Pick up all trash, extinguish and cover any fire pits, bury all human waste, and make the area where you camped look exactly as it did when you found it.
A big concern with many people who go camping is the bugs. Do not get stuck in the middle of nowhere without having some sort of bug repellant. Check your surroundings before setting up camp for any wasp nests or ant hills that could cause you problems. Wear long pants and long-sleeved whenever possible and inspect yourself for ticks occasionally.
You can make tasty meals even when you are camping. You do not necessarily need to eat just franks and beans or hamburgers. Pack a box with herbs and spices, olive oil, brown sugar or whatever else you like. You can fix meals that have flavor even when you are “roughing” it.
Camping can be extremely fun or extremely dangerous depending upon how prepared you are. Without proper preparation, a camping trip can turn into a disaster. Research the area you are planning on camping at.
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!
A Swiss Army Knife is a tool that no camper should be without when camping. A Swiss Army Knife contains many useful tools including a screwdriver, a pair of tweezers, a screwdriver as well as a knife. This ingenious tool will come in handy many times during your camping trip.
Bring all of the essentials that you will need while camping. Your whole trip could be ruined if you forget a couple of things. Write a list of essentials and as you pack the items, cross them off. You need a lot of things to take with you on a trip, and you don’t want to miss anything.
Camping is an easy thing to do now, isn’t it? Anyone can learn to perfect the art of camping. Use what you have learned from this article and apply it to your next camping trip. In no time, you will feel confident in your ability to plan a great camping trip that lets you enjoy Mother Nature fully.