Camping is one of Americas greatest traditions, however many people make common mistakes when venturing out to the great outdoors. The following article has some helpful advice on how you can make your next camping trip more enjoyable while also remaining as safe as possible. Read on to learn some key camping tips.
Reserve your spot at a campground as soon as possible. Particularly in the summer, many people are interested in camping with their families. If you make your reservation in the winter, you are much more likely to get the best rate possible. Those savings can translate into additional family fun while on your vacation.
If you are going on a camping adventure, make sure you have enough time to set up camp before dark. It can be extremely difficult to set up camp in the dark and possibly unsafe. You need to be able to scout the terrain, prepare bedding, and possibly build some temporary shelter prior to the sun going down.
Use separate coolers for perishables, ice and drinks. While it does not matter if the perishables and drinks go into the same one, make sure to pack your ice separately. This will keep the temperature down so that you will have ice for much longer than you would have otherwise.
At night, create "bear bags." Tie a rope around the bags with your food and your trash. Then, find a tree and toss bags over a branch, raising until they are at least seven or eight feet off the ground. Tie the rope around the tree so it is secure. This way, bears and other animals will not be able to get into your food and trash during the night.
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.
Be prepared for colder weather than expected when choosing a sleeping bag to bring on your camping trip. Always choose a sleeping bag rated for a temperature range just below what you're expecting, even in the summertime. Also, sleeping bags made with synthetic fibers will dry out faster if it rains unexpectedly, but natural fiber sleeping bags will be lighter to carry.
If you are new to camping and you are going without a more practiced friend, you should consider staying in a campground rather than camping in the wilderness. This will help you to learn the basics of camping while still having basic infrastructure and friendly people around you in case of emergency.
While it is not a good idea to be wasteful, make sure to bring more food and water than you think you need. You do not want to get out intro the middle of the woods and run out of supplies. bringing more than enough will ensure you do not run across this issue.
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 sure to check your first-aid kit before you leave for your trip. You need to be sure it has all the basic necessities. Make sure it includes items like bandages, tweezers, disinfectant, ointment, etc. You never know when something may injure you or another person on your trip, so it's best to be prepared.
Do not forget your cooking supplies. You will need pots, pans, utensils and dishes to cook on and eat with. Make sure that you double-check to be sure that you have packed these supplies before you leave the house. You do not want to get all set up and ready to cook your first meal and find that you have left your pot at home.
Part of the fun of camping is cooking over an open fire or on a camp stove. To make sure you don't forget to pack any key ingredients, make a list of the meals you plan on preparing. Don't forget to take a small cutting board along with you so you have a clean surface for food preparation. Also remember to pack a couple of potholder or oven mitts to handle hot utensils, such as marshmallow forks.
It is a good idea to pitch your tent on a piece of land that is level. This will ensure you sleep better, which means you will have more energy for the next day. If you have to sleep on an incline, make sure that your head is tilted uphill.
Before you head out for your camping trip, be sure that you take the time to practice setting up your tent. You do not want to get yourself frustrated at the site. Setting the tent up the second time will be much easier than it was the first time around.
If you are going camping with a tent you have never used before, put it up in your backyard before you leave. When you get to your campsite, it might be dark and raining, and you might have to go on feel and memory pitching the thing. So, it helps to have done it at least once before.
Some inexperienced campers mistakenly set up camp close to the bathrooms. Although the location is convenient, there are many downfalls to this location. Light and high traffic are usually found around the bathroom area. Thus, campers will find that they are greatly inconvenienced by their proximity to the restrooms.
A great tip for anyone that is going camping is to take plenty of water. In this case, there is absolutely no such thing as too much water. Plan out how much water you will need and then try and at least double the amount just to be on the safe insulated canvas side.
Now that you know what camping entails, you'll be able to come up with a plan so your trip goes more smoothly. Knowing what to expect is only part of the fun though, the main part would be actually getting out there and doing it. Use what you have learned here, and have a stress free trip!
