Tips from Experienced Campers

Here’s some tips gathered from experienced campers (who all had a first camping trip, by the way). We talked to families who have camped a few times. We also talked to solo campers who spend weeks at a time in the woods and largely live off the land. Here’s what they had to say…

Camping Dos and Dont’s

You’re finally ready for the great outdoors. Here are some dos and dont’s to keep in mind to make your trip as fun and safe as possible. Be good to Mother Earth. One thing is that you should plan to pack out what you take in. Also be aware that you shouldn’t create new disturbances. If someone has camped in a spot near your destination before you, you should camp there, too — don’t create a whole new area. Be careful with campfires. One of the first things to do is find out if there is a fire ban in place where you’re camping. If you do have a fire, then you should minimize the impact. Avoid campfires near or above tree lines, where re-growth is difficult after a fire, and use a camp stove rather than a fire to prepare meals.

Be Self-Reliant

First-time campers sometimes don’t realize that they’re not on their front lawn and can just pick up the phone when something goes wrong. First aid may be miles or days away. You don’t have easy access to help, so you need to rely on yourself. Be self-reliant. If you are injured you need to be with the group and be prepared to deal with it.

Camping and Alcohol Don’t Mix

You want to stay alert, pay attention, and know your route. You will want to be more aware than normal. So while drinking might be OK in the comfort of your own home, it’s hard to control things outdoors, so beer, hiking and camping don’t mix. If you want a beer at the end of the day, by all means, go for it. Just make sure all the important things that have to be done to secure the campsite for the night have been completed before you get blitzed.

If You Find a Bear or Other Dangerous Animal

Obviously, the goal is not to see or surprise a bear. Bears will usually avoid contact with humans, but if you startle them it could turn dangerous. This is doubly true if they have one or more cubs with them. A bear protecting it’s cubs can be downright nasty. Use bear canisters when you store your food. Store food far away from your campsite, and use a bear sling in a tree to keep the food elevated. Don’t store food in your tent or on your campsite. And if you do see a bear, remember, you cannot outrun a bear. It’s impossible. So you’ll just have to be sure you’re with someone who can’t run as fast as you can.

Bug Off

There are many bug repellents on the market today that help keep those nasty critters away from you. You have a choice of sprays, lotions, wet clothes, special candles and those electric zappers (if you have electrical hook-up). Most work well for several hours. At night, a mosquito net is a very handy accessory. It’s cheap, easy to set up and very effective. Personally, I won’t camp without one (except in winter). A highly recommended investment.

Hiking Tips

You’ve set up camp and are ready to conquer the nearest high peak — or a mountain that is higher than 4,000 feet in elevation. But before you start out, take a little time to prepare. If you’re going on a hiking trip, you need some preparation. Get a guidebook and a topographic map with contour lines so you can get a sense of the steepness of the terrain. Talk to local folks who know the area well.

Water is another factor to keep in mind when you’re planning a hike. Will you be hiking near a water source, or do you need to pack enough for the entire trip. Find out where there are sources of water. Your hike might not be near a source, so you might have to pack more than usual. If there is a water source, you need to disinfect it in some manner by boiling it or using a chemical treatment, or filtering. Taking simple precautions to avoid catching “digestive issues” are well worth the effort. Taking care of Mother Nature’s calls is more complicated when camping anyway. Don’t compound the issue by taking chances with unclear water.

Proper Clothing

Wear the right clothing when you are hiking, because on a mountain, weather can change in an instant. Weather is always a wild card depending on what part of the country you’re in. It can be a bright sunny day one moment and 50 mph winds and rain the next, especially as you get toward the top of a mountain. One way to look at hiking preparation is to think of it in these terms: ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, there’s just inappropriate clothing and poor preparation.’ You want your clothing to keep you warm, dry, and sheltered from the wind, which will help you avoid hypothermia (loss of body heat). And that’s something to be aware of in all seasons — it’s not just a cold weather concern.

High-tech fabrics such as polypropylene are the way to go. This fabric is not only good at keeping you warm, but it wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping you dry as well. Cotton clothing should be avoided, especially when hiking. It retains moisture and can leave you feeling cold, wet, and uncomfortable.

Avoid Getting Lost

As with camping, hiking follows the same simple rule: Don’t go it alone. Hike in groups and don’t split up. A “buddy” system works well on the trail.

Every member of the group should have an accurate topographic map and someone should have a compass and know how to use it. Take advantage of technology too. Arm yourself with GPS, or global positioning system. There’s special models specifically designed for camping and hiking. They work great. If you’re new to hiking, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to lose your sense of direction. A compass is a must-have. A GPS is a “nice to have” but not essential. If you do invest in a GPS unit know how to use, and know how to use it with a map. If someone has a GPS, when you turn it on, it’s most likely going to tell you where you are in terms of latitude and longitude (some models will show you where you are in relation to landmarks (roads, building, other trails, etc). The bottom line is, if you go into the woods with a GPS and still can’t find your way back to the campsite, you probably shouldn’t be in the woods to begin with. Find your way back to camp, pack up your stuff, and go home.

What to Do if You Get Lost

Nevertheless, people have always gotten lost in the woods and will continue to do so. If you do get lost, don’t panic, and don’t move. One of the key things is to stay put. You shouldn’t just wander off and try to get back if you don’t have a map and compass. If you do have a map and a compass, you shouldn’t be lost, theoretically speaking. But sometimes the wilderness gets the best of us. Mark your way on your map as you hike. When you cross a stream, mark it on the map. You are going to hike at a speed of between 1 mph and 3 mph so you should be able to determine where you are on the trail. If you track your path on the map, you are going to be in better shape than if you go off for six hours and then start tracking. All of sudden you don’t know where you are at all. And remember the “just in case” items, like a whistle. If you get lost, and you make noise with a whistle, you can probably attract the attention of someone. Hopefully. they’re not lost too. Wear brightly colored clothing and bring a signal mirror to use, too.

Enjoy the Wild

Camping, if done right, can be good for both you and nature. With some thorough preparation and education, along with the right equipment, it will be a vacation to remember. It’s a true enjoyment to be out there among the trees and the animals and nature. So enjoy the outdoors. It’s extremely rewarding, and camping should be a wonderful experience. If it doesn’t turn out that way for you (and it won’t for everyone), no worries. Just try a different kind of vacation next time.