Thursday, August 2, 2012

Camping For Beginners: Some Tips For Success

Many people look to camping as a fun, exciting get away from their everyday life and stresses. If you don't prepare correctly your trip can end up being a disaster. You can make your next trip 'smooth sailing' by applying the tips from the article below.

Always keep some duct tape with you when you're out camping. Tents can get torn in spite of the increased durability of the newer ones. If your tent has damage, duct tape can be used to fixed it so you do not have to worry about getting wet at night.

If your campsite is known for wildlife, be extremely careful with food. Keep things tightly wrapped and store them away from the site of your tent; if needed, avoid certain types of food altogether. This will reduce your chances of being attacked.

Preparation can make your camping trip easy and relaxing. When you are prepared, you avoid many of the common mistakes that are made on camping trips. If you are camping in a new location, research the local wildlife, geography and the climate before leaving home.

Make sure that all food brought along on a camping trip is preserved and prepared properly. Pack foods in airtight bags and containers that are waterproof. Keep your food in coolers that are insulated. Keep your raw food away from cooked foods. Use hand sanitizer and soap to keep hands, as well as preparation surfaces, clean while you are handling food. Cook all your foods completely, and make sure to chill perishables as soon as possible.

You should bring a small, luxurious item along with you to help keep your mood up. Regardless of how authentic you want your experience to be, this can help. Bring a lightweight, easy-to-carry item like good chocolate, cream for coffee or another reminder of home with you. A few small indulgences can make you incredibly happy.

Bring toilet paper along when you travel. If you go camping at a location with no toilets, you will have to use the bathroom in the woods. Leaves can be dangerous alternatives to toilet paper, so don't forget it.

Over-packing is better than under-packing when it comes to children. Camping is messy business. Your kids may love playing around in the grass and dirt. As a result, they are going to be seriously messy by the end of each day. You can not really prevent it from happening, but you can pack extra clothes. Be prepared for dirty clothes and dirty children by packing extra clothes.

Shower curtains make a great replacement for a tent tarp; keeping you dry and for a fairly cheap price. You could also use it as a place to wash or cook, since you can be in control of the run off. Instead of consigning your shower curtain to the dumpster, wash it and keep it around for your next camping trip.

Do your best to preserve flashlight batteries. Often flashlights will get turned on inadvertently during transit. Take batteries out when you're traveling, and place them in backwards. If the flashlight does happen to go on, the batteries won't go dead.

Though camping may be about roughing it in the wilderness, being prepared is a necessity. While a sleeping bag is obvious, it is still a good idea to bring extra blankets. These can be used for additional padding or for extra warmth on a chilly night.

Have you thought about how you are going to prepare food when you are camping? The cooking method is going to determine what food is appropriate for taking so make this decision well in advance. Without the right items, preparing food over the open flame can be difficult.

You should leave your car or basecamp with a cell phone that's fully charged. As an added safety precaution, you may wish to bring an additional battery so you have plenty of power. A cell phone will be your best friend in the event of an emergency, so keep it charged and available.

Duct tape is the cure-all for many mishaps in camping. It works quickly in a pinch for tent holes, inflatables with leaks, shoes with worn soles, securing the tent to its pole, sealing up your mosquito netting and many, many more things.

Learn about the poisonous plants in the area you will be camping before you leave. Some might not be recognizable to the average person. Read a book or look up the native plants and species online. This can help you stay away.

If your campsite is near a body of water, make sure you "take your business" downstream. If any of your business is handled upstream, it will likely end up contaminating your meal and ruining a good night. Make sure to relieve yourself well away from your campsite.

Plan what you will do from the time you arrive until you leave to make your trip fun. You do not need to stick to just sitting around a campfire and roasting marshmallows. Try to be creative and do some activities that every family member can have fun with. Make sure that all age groups of your family are considered in your planning.

Snake proof your campsite if snakes live where you are camping. Stay away from piles of rocks, brush, thickets and piles of wood. Check boots, bags and clothes regularly; snakes like to hide in these items. Seal off your tent each night and build up dirt around the edges so a snake can't slither under the tent.

When staying at a public campground, observe campground rules and etiquette. These rules may be posted, or they may be unwritten. Typically, music must be turned off by 11 and you need to be considerate of your camping neighbors.

As you read at the start of this article, a camping trip can be a great time to be had by you and your party. Without being prepared properly, the trip can go belly-up. The great thing is that if you use the information above fully, you will almost surely have a wonderful time. Most of all, have a great time!

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