Camping 101: What You Need To Know For Smooth Trip

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Camping has long been known as a cherished pastime for the young and old alike. It does not matter whether you plan to just kick back by a warm fire and relax, hike or any type of other recreation, you should always be prepared with some basic camping knowledge.

Keep an eye on the weather. Rain or other conditions may impact your travel time and your experience at the campsite. Make sure that you have gear that is appropriate for the weather conditions that you may face. Adjust your departure time as necessary to try and avoid the bulk of the bad weather, if possible.

Pre-cool your ice chest by filling it with loads of ice, at least six hours prior to departure. When you are about to leave, pack up your refrigerated cooled drinks and block ice, not cubed. Popping room temp beverages will take up valuable ice-life, and the cubes will melt much quicker than a block!

When packing for your camping adventure, make sure you pack only what you need for mealtimes. If you are at the campground, your food will have to stay cold so it does not spoil. If you are on the trail, any additional or excess food can be a burden. If you pack just enough food for the time you are on the trail, you will not be weighed down by excess weight.

Cross contamination is not an issue that only affects people that cook at home. When you are cooking outdoors, you still have to worry about not using the same cutting board to cut meat that you do to cut any other foods. If you only have one board, use both sides.

Get everyone involved in choosing a campsite. Think about where it is you want to go. The United States offers so many choices that choosing one can be hard! Try to select a short-list and then put it to a family vote.

When you pack up your camp site to go home, leave a few logs and some kindling for the next camping group that comes along. If you have ever arrived at your site after dark, you know how tough it can be to find firewood! It's a very nice pay-it-forward gesture that will probably help out more than you can imagine.

Camping often sounds like a great deal of fun, and it is; however it does require some special preparation. Before going camping for the first time, make sure you have done some research on tents, food and wildlife survival. It can make the difference between a great trip and a dangerous one.

When you are going camping, do your best to get as early of a start as possible. It will be your job to pitch your tent so you have somewhere to rest comfortably, and that will be much harder for you to do once it starts to get dark outside.

When preparing for a camping trip, people often fail to bring enough clothes. Remember that there will be no washing facilities, and you also need to think about how the weather can call for certain specific attire as well at times. You always want to be prepared, so pack accordingly.

Be certain your camp fire is completely out before you leave a campsite. To your eye it may seem like the fire is gone, but stir the ashes with a stick and you may find burning embers. Pour enough water and keep stirring until you see no more embers in the fire pit.

When looking into a campground, inquire about the different fees they may charge. You may find that you are charged for water, electric, fire wood and additional campers. Learning the fees ahead of time will allow you to properly budget for your camping trip. It will help you avoid becoming stressed at the gates and ruining your trip.

If you have more than best yurt tent three people camping with you, take along more than one tent. You are going to want to have some privacy at one time or another. The additional tent will make it possible to get some "me" time while at the camp site. It also gives you additional storage to keep animals out of your supplies.

If your children are with you, establish a daily routine early on. This will help them adjust to their new surroundings and have a good time. Try to stick to a certain bedtime and eat your meals at about the same time each day. Your kids will be happier, and you will be as well.

Never park your vehicle under a single tree when you are at a campsite. If there is a storm, it will attract lightning. This also means that you should avoid sleeping under any trees that are in a particular area by themselves. Try to be in an area that is free of trees or one that has many.

Make sure you secure all sources of food at night when you go to sleep. There are many animals that can frequent campgrounds at night and scavenge your food, especially when left open and unattended for hours. You don't want to wake up to your food scattered everywhere, and you left with a shortage.

If you have other people sleeping nearby your campsite, do not bother them by leave your awning lights on during the entire night. Instead, use a timer that you can set to turn the lights off after a certain time period. By doing this, you won't bother others with your lights.

Talk to everyone in your next camping party about the health of their backs. Some might not be able to sleep on hard ground or need more than a standard mat or cushion. Also, portable or foldable stools might be needed around the campfire, as constant standing or sitting on the ground is not good for their spine.

If you have other people sleeping nearby your campsite, do not bother them by leave your awning lights on during the entire night. Instead, use a timer that you can set to turn the lights off after a certain time period. By doing this, you won't bother others with your lights.

Learn how to read a map or use a compass ahead of time. Even if you are familiar with your intended campsite, you could still get lost because many areas look the same. Learn to use these survival tools to prevent potentially bad situations.

You are now free to enjoy your camping trip. Enjoy your much needed time off more, by following the advice of this article on your next camping outing and thoroughly enjoying all the amazement that nature has to offer.