How do you secure a tent at night?
Whether you sleep in a tent, an RV or under the stars, taking a camping trip is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. Getting away from it all can be rejuvenating and fun with just a little know-how. Here are a number of tips for enhancing and improving your next camping trip.
Before you start out on that relaxing camping trip, it is essential for your safety to make sure to let someone know you are going. Give a friend or neighbor the name of the campsite if you are using one. If you are headed out on a less structured trip, give your contact a general idea of where you are headed and a timeline for your return. If something goes wrong, there will be someone to know where to look for you.
While a campfire gives off enough light in the general area around it, you want to be sure you take along a flashlight on your camping trip if you plan to venture outside of the campfire's glow. This is a definite safety precaution you don't want to ignore. It can be quite dark out there in the woods at nighttime.
If you have special drinks that you like, take them with you camping. It is easy to forget things like green tea, hot cocoa or your special blend of coffee. You can even take wine if it is a romantic camping adventure. Just don't forget to pack a corkscrew.
Carry a survival kit on your person. Your survival kit needs to have water-purifying tablets, a type of survival knife, a first-aid kit, a flare gun, and waterproof matches. This survival kit may be what keeps you alive if you get lost and the items in it are indispensable in a survival situation. Your kit should not be left behind at the camp site, but should be carried with you wherever you go.
While camping, cook easy dinners like "hobo stew". Simply bring potatoes, ground meat, and veggies. Cut the veggies and potatoes at your campsite. Using tinfoil like a bowl, put the ingredients inside and fold the foil over until the food is covered. Place foil on hot rocks or the coals of the campfire, and eventually you will have a tasty "stew".
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.
Unless you are going to be spending a significant amount of time camping, buying expensive sleeping bags is really unnecessary. Even if your old and musty sleeping bag is rated for below freezing temperatures, it is excellent padding for the ground even when it is hot outside and you will feel comfortable sleeping on it.
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.
Take some things to do on your camping trip. Playing cards, board games and fishing poles can make for lots of fun. Take as many entertainment items as you can fit if you are taking kids on your trip.
Practice makes perfect when pitching a tent. Take the time to put the tent up before leaving for your trip. This allows you to build your proficiency at erecting the tent, and will also help locate any issues with the tent in case you need to exchange it for a better option.
Be sure to create your shelter before it gets dark. It is very hard to set up a tent when it's dark. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. The easier thing is just to do it before darkness falls.
When erecting your tent, ensure that all of the tent's seams camping wedding venues washington are sealed. If your tent doesn't have it, you may purchase a tube at a sporting goods store. This will prevent rainwater or critters from getting into your tent.
When you are packing your clothing for a camping trip, remember that it is best to dress in layers. This way, you can add or remove clothing to make you more comfortable. Take along a rain coat that you can put on top of every other layer to keep you dry if it rains.
Many people forget to set up shelter before night falls. It's hard and frustrating to set up a tent in the dark. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. It's much easier to pitch your tent while it's light out.
Bugs and mosquitoes are a common camping annoyance. You could buy a commercial repellent with chemicals, but a good natural way to keep bugs away from your body is by using an orange peel. Rub the inside of the peel on your arms and legs. This is a inexpensive, responsible way to repel annoying pests.
Learn how to read a map or use a compass ahead of time. Even if you've already been to your future campsite, getting lost once there is still a possibility since many areas of the site will look the same. This skill can potentially save your life.
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 are camping in the mountains or higher elevation, be prepared for cold temperatures. Even in the summer, people just assume that mountains are as warm as it is on flat land; this is simply not true. Have ample blankets with you and be sure to bring proper clothing.
No matter where you pitch your tent or park your camper, camping should be a relaxing, refreshing way to unwind and take life a little more slowly. Armed with the tips and ideas presented in this article, you can make your next camping trip a successful, stress-free outdoor adventure.