Very few things will beat getting out and under the bright stars with the people you love. Camping is a memorable and relaxing pastime. However, while camping may be a blast, you need to plan for many things when taking a trip. This article has some helpful advice that will assist you in planning out your next trip.
Always seek shelter before it is too dark to assess your surroundings. You do not want to be stuck trying to put your tent together or finding a safe location for the tent when it’s pitch black outside. That can be especially true for someone who live in the suburbs and is not used to total darkness. Set up camp before dark to keep yourself from getting into this situation.
Before going camping, take a course in first aid, especially if you plan to bring children with you. If something bad happens, you’ll be able to take care of it because you’ll know exactly what to do while waiting for a health professional to show up. Be sure to do thorough research too. You should be aware of the poisonous snakes, wild animals, etc., that inhabit the area.
Make sure to have an idea of the weather before starting your trip. You may even be able to find a website that gives you a general idea of the normal weather patterns in that area. When you know what to expect, you will have the right clothes packed.
Try combining a swimming experience with your camping experience. When camping, you may find you miss your home shower. Cool water can give you a feeling of exhilaration that may help you to miss your shower at home much less.
Before the sun goes down, make sure that you have your camp completely set up. Look for a safe parking place if you are camping in an RV. When pitching a tent, a level, dry area is needed. Doing this during daylight hours will save you hassle and frustration. This can help to reduce the stress that you have during your trip.
If you are a novice at camping, don’t stray far from home. Things may go wrong and you may have to abort your trip early if things don’t go your way. You might realize you haven’t packed enough clothes or food. Many issues can occur for new campers, so you should camp near home your first time.
Always pack enough of the proper foods. Depending upon how long your trip will last, you should have plenty of food that won’t spoil over the course of your trip. Food poisoning can put a miserable end to an otherwise lovely trip. Take the proper steps to prepare your food and do research if necessary.
If you camp in an area known to have dangerous wildlife, be sure to incorporate extra precautions to stow away food securely. You have to wrap your food tightly and keep them away from the tent; some foods, you may have to forget. This will reduce the likelihood of experiencing an attack.
Find a soft and flat spot to pitch your tent when you are camping in the wilderness. If you pick a spot that is rocky or has a slope to it, you will be uncomfortable when you are inside your tent. Always put a tarp down on the ground first so that water can’t get in and ruin the tent.
Plan ahead to avoid draining flashlight batteries on your next camping trip. It’s easy to accidentally turn on a flashlight when rummaging through your bags. To prevent draining the batteries, place them in your flashlight backwards. This way, you’ll still have fresh batteries for your trip.
Orange peels are great items to reduce mosquito bites while camping. If you forgot your mosquito repellant, do not worry. Use the insides of an orange peel, rubbed gently on any exposed skin. The scent from the orange peel should last for several hours resulting in a long lasting repellent.
Pack ready to eat foods in your camping gear, like trail mix and jerky. These little nutritious snacks can come in handy after a long day. They stay fresh for a while, so you do not have to worry about them going bad if you do not use them up right away.
It is generally a smart idea to leave your basecamp or car with a fully charged cell phone. Even better, try bring along some spare batteries in case your phone’s battery runs out. A cellphone can save your skin in bad situations, but only if it has a battery.
Think carefully when you pack. Prepare a list of supplies, and use this to check off items as they are packed. This is especially important if you will be camping in a remote location without access to first-aid supplies or other items you might need in an emergency.
Don’t make the rookie mistake of pitching camp too close to bathroom facilities. People quickly realize that camping near bathrooms is a bad idea. Bathrooms provide constant light and also have a lot of traffic running through them at all hours. Therefore, camping is not as comfortable and convenient as expected.
As discussed above, there are some things that you need to think about when planning a camping trip into the wilderness. Use the advice from this article so your camping trip will be safe and enjoyable.