If you’re brand new to camping and wondering how you’ll ever learn to do it right, don’t worry. Everyone who camps has to start somewhere, right? Follow a few simple tips and tricks, and you will be camping like a pro before you know it.
Get the right gear and know exactly how to use it
Before you head for the hills, beach, forest or other campsite, be sure you have the right sort of camping gear. Buy it or rent it, but always take the proper kind of camping equipment and understand how and where to use it right. For your first camping excursion, you may wish to consider renting high-end gear before going to the expense of a full purchase. Rent a day or two in advance, and learn to set up your tent and camp stove in the backyard. This is a better alternative to learning how to set up gear on-site. If you rely on the setup instructions included with your gear, you may find it takes longer to put together than you anticipated, say the makers of Gore-Tex.
Know where to go and what to expect when you get there
Research destinations such as camping in Yreka, California before you go and learn everything you can prior to selecting a campsite. before you go and learn everything you can prior to selecting a campsite. Read traveler reviews and bone up on the regulations regarding the site. Do wild animals live where you intend to set up camp? This is always a good thing to know. Will there be poisonous plants or biting snakes nearby? Again, this is something you definitely want to understand before choosing a campsite. Obtain a map of hiking trails and don’t forget to find out about camper hookups, restrooms, and other campsite amenities. Program the campsite coordinates into your smartphone to ensure you don’t get lost on the way.
Whether your dietary interests lean toward gourmet meals, or if you’re content to get along with simple camp style grub, you’ll want to take along nutritious foods that supply plentiful energy for hiking, fishing, and exploring. Do as much prep work as you can at home, and putting together camp dinners will be oh-so much easier. Wash and chop fresh veggies and store in zip bags. Bring along foil with which you can wrap fish and vegetables with a pat of butter and place on hot campfire coals for cooking. Scramble eggs with salt and pepper and bring in a tightly-covered reusable container. Don’t forget a cooler chest and lots of ice. If you’re camping in an area known for bears, raccoons and other curious fauna, lock the ice chest in your Jeep Renegade or other vehicle. No matter where you camp or when, never ever store your food in a tent. Doing so only increases the odds that you’ll be bothered by insects and animals in the night.
Temporarily setting up home in the great outdoors is a fine way to relieve stress and refresh your association with nature.