You Will Love Your Camping Trip Thanks To These Tips

How do you hold a tent down?

There is nothing like the joy of camping under the open sky with the ones you love. Camping is a great pastime for a reason. While it may be fun, there is a lot to keep in mind when camping. You will find some wonderful advice on how to prepare for your next outing.

Remember, wet wood won't burn right, so nature may not always provide the wood you need. Make sure you bring some of your own dry kindling and make sure it stays in a dry area.

Although it is not an essential part of your back country camping gear, a machete is something that you may consider packing depending on where you are going. It is a very versatile tool in the wilderness. You can cut a trail, hack bamboo and vines for shelter, cut coconuts for water, chop firewood, and even use it as protection against wild animals.

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.

Preparation is key to enjoying your camping trip. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. If you are going to a new place, make sure you do some research about the local wildlife, as well as the local geography and climate.

Dryer lint is a great item to bring if you are trying to start a campfire. A month before your camping trip, begin collecting the lint from your dryer's lint filter. Have a bag next to the dryer so you don't forget to collect it. Just grab your bag of dryer lint and go on camping day.

Even if you're not going a long distance away on your camping trip, or even if you're going into familiar territory, always stay in touch with friends, family or neighbors. Tell someone where your trip will be, and how long you'll be gone. And if you can, check in regularly using a mobile phone.

When traveling to your camping destination, plan on stopping and having a meal when you're near the campground, but before you actually arrive. Being well fed before arriving will ease frustrations if the campground is full, or if it takes longer to get your gear set up. Use this break to discuss your plans and to remind everyone of how to remain safe!

Avoid severe weather when going camping, and pay attention to forecasts. It is horrible trying to pitch a tent in the rain, and not much fun sitting in a tent during a rainstorm. It is equally as disturbing approaching a muddy campsite and trying to make a weekend out of it.

If you're new to camping, you're going to want to arrive early to the campground. The reason for this is you will be new to the campground site and rules, and this will slow you down. You don't want to be stuck setting up camp after dark, so just arrive a little earlier than you usually would.

Remember, when you are camping you will not have access to many kitchen luxuries. At most, you will have a can opener as well as a basic burner. This means canned foods make a great meal, but even better are things that need very little preparation, like peanut butter sandwiches.

Keep the environment in mind when you are at your campsite. Enjoying nature is one of the main benefits of camping, so it is important to respect the Earth. Throw away all your trash, and don't get too rowdy. You can even bring along a solar-powered device if you have one to use.

It is imperative that you are properly packed for your camping trip. Even just a few missing items can turn your trip into a disaster. Make an all-inclusive list, and check each item off as you pack. Don't forget sleeping bags, water, utility knives, anti-bacterial soap and sanitizer, fire starters and a sturdy tent.

Focus on safety during your trip. Educate yourself and the other members of your party about what you should do if you come across a wild animal. Learn as much as you can about bears and what to do in the event of an attack. Refresh your memory on snakebites. Hopefully, you won't have to use this knowledge, but it is important that it is available to you.

Make sure that you choose the right sleeping bag for the conditions on the campsite. Lighter weight bags are great for warm weather; however, if the climate is cooler, a heavier bag will be in order. If you plan to pitch a tent, make sure your sleeping bag stays snug against your body, as this prevents your body heat from escaping.

Bring along plenty of zip-lock bags on your camping trip, for a great mixing tool with foods as well as great storage. Always make sure the bag is completely sealed, then pop in any foods you need to combine, like chicken and batter or steak with marinade! Zip-lock bags are the best at keeping anything you need water-proofed too.

Use an orange to help prevent bug bites. Don't worry if the insect repellant was left behind on the kitchen counter. Just rub the inner peel of an orange on your skin for a natural insect repellent. This will keep the mosquitoes away for long periods of time.

It is important that you dress appropriately for the outdoors when you go on a camping trip. Dressing in layers is the key! This proves perfect when temperatures increase in the summertime, or cool down in the wintertime. Don't forget to pack some rain gear in case the conditions turn wet.

On camping trips of longer duration, bring some entertaining activities along. Don't bring a ton of electronics, but a book or music is great.

Don't ever use any kind of gasoline or fuels you'd use in your car to start a campfire. Making a campfire can be frustrating, especially in unfavorable elements, but you need glamping events to avoid making dangerous decisions. This can cause injury or death to you or the other campers. There are many safer ways to make a campfire, so try learning those methods before the trip.

Now that you've reached the end of this article, you surely realize that you, too, can go on the camping trip of your dreams. Heed the advice you've just been given, and head out for the great outdoors. When you follow the tips you've just read, you can't help but be a happy camper.