Check the climate of the campground
So, the first thing you should do before you go camping outdoors is to carefully check the climate of the area where the campground is located, and whether it will rain in the near future. Only if you know the local conditions well, can you choose the most suitable equipment. Bringing less equipment will cause a lot of inconvenience at the campsite, while bringing more equipment will increase our burden on the road. When checking the weather information, it is best to check the local weather news.
Even if you go to a place with clear skies, there is no guarantee that the heavy rains in other places will not cause the rivers to rise.
Prepare the right equipment
After checking the local geographical and climatic information, prepare the equipment.
The basic equipment for camping is relatively simple:
- tents,
- moisture-proof mats,
- sleeping bags,
- cooking utensils,
- clothing.
According to the campground you’ve picked, choose the right basic equipment first.
Tent. For example, summer Indian tents can be used in hotter climates and less windy places, such as the beach and campgrounds in the south. If you want to go to higher altitude mountain tops, or more windy grasslands and other places, it is not suitable. Remember that for every 1,000 feet of elevation, the temperature drops by about 3.3 – 3.6°F. Unless you are going to camp in hotter areas, it is still recommended to bring a three-season tent.
Canopy. If the temperature of the camping place is suitable and sunny but not too sunny, you can set up a canopy during the day.
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Tide pad. Tide pad is an easily overlooked piece of equipment. However, it actually plays an extremely important role in keeping warm. Without it you will lose a steady stream of body heat while sleeping at night, even in areas that are warm enough – this can lead to exhaustion the next day, and in colder areas it can even be life-threatening.
When buying, ask about the size, material, weight and thickness of the product. Also pay attention to the other two important indicators: R-value and recommended temperature. The recommended temperature is an easy to understand concept, whilst higher R-value of the moisture-proof pad or mat means less heat loss.
Sleeping bag. Again, you need to consider temperature ratings, filling, material, and style.
Preparing all the right ingredients before departure
- Stoves. You need to prepare the stoves before you depart. Lightweight, small size is all the rage today; integrated stoves are becoming increasingly popular. However, split stoves offer greater fire power and more stable support. Gas canisters using methane are popular because of their good portability. Oil stoves have more firepower and work well for plateau locations, but do not have the advantage of size and weight.
- Food. Whether you are going out for a big meal or a long walk with careful planning, you should make it your goal to eat better. In the campground, the only way to recover your strength is to eat well.
Arriving at the camping site
Don’t hurry when you arrive at the campsite – take off your backpack and take a rest, walk around the campsite and observe the environment. Avoid any possible dangerous situations and start camping after you are sure it is safe. In different terrains, there are different things to pay attention to, but there are still a lot of common sense tips.
There are three points that are common to all campgrounds: high terrain, flat terrain, and open campground.
- You need to choose a camping site with high terrain. Even if there is no river in the area to flood you, moisture caused by low ground or falling trees and rocks will bring you problems. Therefore, when choosing a campsite, it is important to choose a place more than 15 feet above the river, if possible.
- In addition to the high ground, pay attention to whether the camp is open enough. An open area with high terrain provides excellent visibility and is convenient to observe possible dangers so as to avoid them in advance, such as seeing dark clouds in the distance and taking precautions against rain.
- The flat terrain is also imperative – this way you won’t slide while sleeping.
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Additional tips:
- Do not set up your tent on the edge of a cliff or under a tree to avoid falling rocks and trees.
- Check around the campsite – there should be no or few signs of animals and no animal trails around.
- Avoid the wind as much as possible, look instead for a sheltered place to camp.
Cooking area tips
There are still some things you need to pay attention to when cooking in the campground:
- In places like mountain tops, grasslands, and seashores, you will need protection from winds. Carrying a windbreak is the easiest way, or if you don’t have one, you can find a few rocks and build a temporary windbreak.
- Fire prevention. Look for a muddy area without grass or trees, or just pull out a piece of grass and dig an insulated area for cooking.
- The cooking area should not be right inside the camping, at least it should be set at the periphery. This will minimize negative effects in case some animals are attracted.
- Leftover food should be disposed of – the simplest way to deal with it is to use plastic bags to hold the food and hang it on a tree after tying it. If the leftovers are not intended to be eaten later, do not dump them in the river or bury them on the spot. Animals will dig it out or the garbage will be exposed somehow later, so just pack the garbage and take it away.
Conclusion
Regardless of the length of the route, preparing for camping is very important. This process can be divided into several major sections, and each deserves separate attention and knowledge base. Once you learn the preparation trivia, you will know how to start, conduct and finalize an exquisite camping trip in a decent way.
Of course, everyone has their own vision of what to spend their free time on. For some the best pastime is camping, others prefer kayaking, and some are into bikes. Speaking of the latter, in case you are a New Yorker, or just happen to be visiting the Big Apple, you can take advantage of Central Park electric bike rental to get the best experience from visiting that wonderful location.
