Preparation

1) Plan your hike. You are more likely to have a safe and happy hike if you “plan your hike, and hike your plan”. To rush out on a big hike w/o proper planning is asking for trouble! ALWAYS notify someone close to you where you will be and how long you will be gone.

2) Know your terrain. Use every resource available to get to know your hiking trail before you set out. This will prepare you for the walking conditions. “Are there streams to ford?, Elevation changes?, Is terrain rocky or smooth?”, Just some of the questions that can be answered BEFORE you set out.

3) Know your climate. Hypothermia is real, dangerous, and misunderstood. Hypothermia can strike in relatively warm environments. Hypothermia plain and simple is a rapid cooling of the body. This can be caused by cold, wet or a combination of both. Hypothermia can easily be prevented with proper preparation.

In The Pack Essentials

1) Potable water. Always have fresh water available, on any excursion. It is also a good idea to bring along purification tablets and/or a filtration device. Having the ability to produce drinking water can be just as important as the water you pack in. I also bring along some protein snacks, just in case.

2) First Aid Kit. Although an obvious choice, it is surprising how many folks go in the wilderness without one. Items as simple as pain relief tablets can be a welcome addition when you are far from civilization. Other items are bandages, tweezers, moleskin, antiseptic, needle and thread (for repairs).

3) Fire and light source. Matches and a lighter are essentials for me. I usually pack along a small piece of commercial starter stick for quick fires in moist environments. I also pack a small conventional flashlight and an LED light, as well.

4) Clothing. It is always wise to pack some extra layers. The weight of these items will be dictated by the environment, err to the side of caution, as temps can fluctuate greatly, especially in mountainous environments. An extra pair of socks can be life savers.

5) Orienteering. Packing along a map and compass has gotten me out of a jam more than once. I also carry a cell phone, even though I may not get reception in most places, in a pinch, I may be able to get a call out.

The single most important item to pack on your next hike is common sense. Making sound decisions while on the trail will keep you out of most troubled situations. If you hike with your family members, especially children or seniors, remember that they may not have the stamina handle the same level hike as you, and you ultimately must make the right decision.

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Although it is nice to hear that you should plan your next hiking adventure in advance, you may be interested in wondering why that is so. As it was previously mentioned, a large number of individuals turn a traditional hiking adventure into a full-fledged vacation. If you would like to camp overnight at the hiking park in question, it is important that you make your reservations in advance. During the summer months, you will find that camping and hiking are popular activities; therefore, many hiking parks quickly fill up with camping reservations.

As for the actual hiking part, planning your next hiking adventure in advance will give you the time to research and choose from a number of different hiking trails. Unfortunately, a large number of hikers, especially first time hikers, make the mistake of going with the first hiking trail or hiking park that they come across. While this is more than possible to do, do you know that you likely have a number of different options? No matter where you live, you likely have a number of hiking parks or hiking trails to choose from, often within a reasonable distance away from your home.

Once you have selected a hiking trail to hike or a hiking park to visit, you will want to take the time to familiarize yourself with the park or trail in question. This is nice because you can learn more about the territory that you will be hiking. In addition to examining the difficulty level or estimating the amount of time that you would spend hiking, you may also want to think about familiarizing yourself with the security of the park or trial in question. This information is always nice to know, especially in the event of an emergency

Another one of the many reasons why you should think about planning your hiking vacation in advance is because it will be easier to prepare for your trip. When you go hiking, whether you only go for a day or a whole week, you need to bring numerous pieces of hiking gear with you. For instance, to stay safe on a hiking adventure, you will want to make sure that you wear hiking boots, as well as other hiking appropriate clothing. Making your hiking adventure plans in advance will give you the opportunity to create a hiking gear and supplies checklist for yourself. A checklist will help to ensure that you bring everything that you need to bring with you, as well as everything that you want to bring.

In addition, the earlier that you plan your hiking adventure the more time you will have to prepare an itinerary for yourself. For instance, are you planning on camping onsite or would you like to travel to a nearby hotel or resort? An itinerary not only serves as a guide for you, but it is also something that can help to keep you safe. What you will want to do is give a copy of your itinerary to some of your friends and family members. In the event that something goes wrong on your next hiking adventure, your friends and family members may know where to find you.

Unless your decision to go on a hiking adventure is a last minute one, you will want to try and plan your trip in advance. Those who take the time to fully plan for and prepare for their hiking adventures are more likely to enjoy themselves.

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The Campsite
Make sure you have the proper equipment for camping. Know what sleeping arrangements are and where you will be cooking. If you are using a camper or RV, much of this will be supplied in your facilities but you will need to know any rules for the particular campsite. If you are sleeping outdoors, make sure you have tents and sleeping bags as well as warm clothing. Bring waterproof matches for campfires and cooking. Set up tents according to instruction. Always leave your campsite the way you found it. The best rule of thumb is to make sure it looks like you were never there.

Food
Bring only the cooking utensils you will need to prepare meals and eat. You will not have a dishwasher and may not have trash bins available. So, make sure you can easily clean and dispose of food items and waste. Bring lightweight, non perishable and easy to cook and clean food items. Canned foods, trail mix, soups and stews are great nutritional meals that are easy to store and carry.

My favorite way to cook while camping is over the fire, using a tripod and aluminum foil. There are lots of delicious meals you can cook by putting a few ingredients in a piece of foil, sealing it, and cooking it. Cleanup is a breeze. There are no dishes to wash. You just need to properly dispose of the used aluminum foil. Do an Internet search for “campfire recipes” and you’ll get lots of delicious foil/pouch campfire meal ideas. While getting ready for camping, do not forget the water. Make sure you have plenty available to keep hydrated and to cook with.

Weather
Plan for the expected weather conditions in the area but do not be surprised if there is a sudden climate change. For summer bring hats for protection, sunscreen and insect repellant. For winter, make sure to dress in layers, wear sunscreen, and have waterproof footwear. Always bring extra clothing in case of a climate change. Even in hot weather it can get very chilly at night. Prepare for rain by ensuring you have shelter, tarps and waterproof attire.

Safety
A first aid kit is a required piece of camping equipment. These can be found pre made in pharmacies and outdoor sporting goods stores. Rope, a flashlight and waterproof matches are also important. Having a compass available will help in case you get lost and a whistle can help you call for help even if you are fatigued. If leaving the campsite, make sure you bring food and water supplies.

Fun
Bring games and toys, especially if you are traveling with children. A game of Frisbee or football is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Bring your fishing rods and canoes for fun on the water. Do not forget to bring binoculars and a camera for hikes and nature walks. You may want to bring art supplies and books in case of inclement weather. For nature walks, insect and plant guide books are usually lightweight and can help you identify wildlife and items in nature.

Camping can be great fun but you should always prepare for things that may come up. Sudden changes in weather can occur and accidents can happen. Make a list of the supplies you will need and carefully pack for your trip. Being prepared will help ensure you have a great time and stay as safe as possible in all conditions.

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Choosing a tent for camping is the first task for any camping trip. What type of weather conditions are you expecting? Always be prepared for the worst, rain, wind, and cold. There are three season and four season tents available. Four season tents are heavier than three season tents. They tend to have more poles than three season tents to help them withstand wind and snow fall. Of course, most of us are fair weather campers. A three season tent will be fine for us. So, now, what style of tent do you want?

What style of tent you want may depend on how much backpacking you’re going to do. If you’re a pack backer you’ll want to keep your load as light as possible. A tarp tent may be the one for you, or if you’re camping in summer a lightweight warm weather tent may work.

If you’re the type of camper who likes to “rough it” at a drive up base camp area then the weight of a tent will not be an issue for you. You will probably be more concerned with how many people will be sharing your tent. A two man tent will most likely be uncomfortable for two large adults and all their gear. Those with camping experience say that you’ll want to look for at least 30 square feet of floor space per person. They say that you should divide the number of people a tent says is it’s capacity by 2. If you’re traveling with young children you definitely want to look into a larger model of tent. You’ll want a large area inside your tent, especially as you may experience some inclement weather and have the children inside the tent for long periods of time. It would be nice if they had an area to play their board games.

Before you spend your hard earned money on a tent go to your neighborhood camping store where you can actually see the tents set up. Walk around in it. Lie in it. Stand up straight in it. Make sure that the tent you choose will meet all your camping requirements before you get to your campsite.

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First of all, let’s define car camping? When you can drive your vehicle right up to the camp site, that’s called car camping. Even if you’re driving a truck it’s still called car camping. The advantage of car camping versus primitive or base camping is that you can take anything you want with you. If you want to take a hammock or huge grill or a stack of magazines, you can. Load your car or truck with food, clothing, shelter, bedding, games and anything else you want to take along and get going. It’s really that simple.

So where can you car camp? Just about anywhere. National and state parks don’t allow car camping except in designated campgrounds, other than that, you can car camp virtually anywhere on public lands. The internet is loaded with websites that can help. Start looking at www.backcountrytoys.com/education.htm. Our Education Center is loaded with up to date camping information.

Here are some things I take along when I car camp: hiking gear, bird watching binoculars and field guide, a radio for music and weather updates, tent, cot, sleeping bag, grill, shovel, fire starting gear, lots of food and drink, first aid kit, a stack of reading material – this can also be used for building a fire – such as newspapers and magazines, rain gear, hammock, dogs and dog food, folding chairs and table, stove, table service and utensils….you get the idea. I take all that I need to be comfortable. If you don’t have these things, don’t fret, all you really need are food, shelter and common sense.

Camping is a great way to renew and strengthen relationships. Take your spouse, your children, your siblings, your friends. Without the distractions of television, telephone, internet and alarm clocks, you will have a wonderful time. I’ll always remember something a dear friend of mine told me years ago, “Time spent in our great outdoors is time added to your life.” That sounds like a good reason to go.

Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!

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When BC camping most people just go for a short walk and find themselves lost fore every thing looks the same if you do not now or have any experience in the woods. If you find your self lost stay put do not wander around because every tree will look familiar and every stream is the one you pasted on the little walk you took.

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Most kids that get lost will wander away from the campsite playing with the family pet or playing hide in seek with other kids and got scared and tried to find the campsite. But wandered farther and farther away.

I put a whistle on a sting and place it around the kids neck and the rule is they can not take it off till we are ready to leave for home. The kids are not allowed to blow the whistle unless they are in trouble. They will try just to see if it works but if you explain it is only for an emergency they will understand. Tell them it is like calling 911 on the phone all kids understand what 911 is for.

If you find yourself lost or confused as to the direction back to camp a whistle around your neck would help. I even have one for myself and my wife. This way if you should lose your way for what ever the reason a whistle of three short blasts will get the attention of most campers of people looking for you.

If you are in the woods and lost stay put providing you are not in danger if the weather changes look for a safe place to protect yourself from the elements. But not to far don’t wander around for hours looking for a safe place if needed stand on the down wind side of a large tree. It will offer you some protection and blow you whistle every 10 or 15 minutes with three short blasts and listen for the people looking for you.

Do not wander off looking for the people that are looking for you just use your whistle above all help will arrive .Do not panic if you find your self lost stay calm and reason out where you are sit tight folks are looking for you.

I have found many people only because I have the training. Do not interfere with the professional searches they have the gear and the training to find people. They are a very dedicated group of people and will not give up, no matter how harsh the weather gets. You do not want them to have to find you because you got lost looking for some one be it a family member or a friend.

If some one from your group gets lost and you cant find them in the near area call or find the ranger or park attendant they have the knowledge on who should be called to help, and to call the need for a search.

So be safe and enjoy the camping think before you act. BC camping is great!

Here at Camping-For-Fun I’m going to make sure your camping trip is plenty of fun!

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When it comes to camping, you will find that you need to bring multiple items with you. These items often include items that are referred to as camping supplies and then items that are referred to as camping gear. In most cases, you will find that camping gear is used to describe pieces of equipment, whereas camping supplies are often used to describe food, health and beauty products, and so forth.

When it comes to camping supplies, like clothing and food, there are many individuals who automatically know what they need to bring. On the other hand, when it comes to camping gear or camping equipment, there are many individuals who are unsure as to what they really need to bring with them. Just a few of the many pieces of camping gear or camping equipment that you may want to bring with you on your next camping adventure are outlined below.

One of the most common pieces of camping gear that you will need to bring with you on your next camping vacation is a tent. Depending on who you are going camping with, you may even need to bring multiple camping tents with you. If you have yet to purchase a camping tent, you will want try and make sure that you purchase a tent or tents that are strong, sturdy, dependable, and waterproof. Even if you are planning on camping in a motor home, you may want to think about brining a tent, just incase. Many motor home campers prefer spending at least one night in the open wilderness and you may too.

A sleeping bag is another piece of camping gear that you will want to make sure that you bring along with you. If you are camping with your family or your romantic partner, you will want to make sure that you have enough sleeping bags to go around. Although you may assume that a light sleeping bag is good in the summertime, you may still want to think about brining along a heavy style sleeping bag. These types of sleeping bags are good in case the weather suddenly turns cold.

In addition to brining a traditional sleeping bag with you, you may also want to think about bringing along a sleeping pad or an air mattress. If you will be camping in a traditional tent, you may find it somewhat uncomfortable. While many campsites have level ground, not all do. If you are concerned with how you will be able to sleep on your next camping adventure, you may want to buy a sleeping pad or an air mattress along with you, just to be on the safe side. With these items being relatively affordable, you really have nothing to lose by doing so.

The above mentioned camping gear pieces are just a few of the many camping gear pieces that you may want to think about brining along with you on your next camping adventure.

Camping Gear You May Want to Bring With You on Your Next Camping Adventure is a post from: Troncoproducoes.com Travel - Airline tickets, cheap hotels, cruises, vacations & honeymoon travel

Cooking Essentials For Camping

• Camp Grill
• Water
• Can Opener
• Food
• Pots and Pans
• Ice Chest
• Charcoal
• Matches
• Paper Plates
• Plastic Eating Utensils
• Spices
• Salt and Pepper
• Garbage Bags
• Drinks

Don’t Forget About Clean Up After Cooking

• Dish Soap
• Dish Towel
• Large Tub For Washing Up Cookware

Be sure that you plan meals that are easy. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and
sandwiches are some of the easiest low maintenance camping meals that you
will find.

Sleeping Essentials For Camping

• Tent
• Sleeping Bags
• Pillows
• Extra Blankets If Needed

Personal Hygiene and Shower Essentials

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Towels
• Wash Cloths
• Soap
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Hair Brush and Hair Accessories
• Razor and Shaving Cream
• Toilet Paper
• Small Mirror
• Deodorant

Clothing Essentials

• T- Shirts
• Shorts
• Jeans
• Jacket
• Raincoat
• Socks
• Underwear
• Boots
• Tennis Shoes
• Swimsuit

Miscellaneous Essentials

• Bug Spray
• Binoculars
• First Aid Kit
• Fishing Gear
• Hunting Gear
• Oil Lamps
• Flash Lights
• Deck of Cards
• Screen Room
• Knife
• Extra Batteries
• Cell Phone
• Battery Powered Fan

Camping is a lot of fun, and the more prepared you are, the better your
trip will be. Be sure and print this list out so that you will not
forget anything important for your camping trip.

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There are specialty stores that carry food supplies specifically meant for camping. However, these items can be expensive. They usually consist of pre packaged food and meals that are freeze-dried. Often the food is bland and may not be as nutritious as a fresh meal.

With a little planning, however, it is possible to have nutritious, easy to prepare meals right from the grocery store. There are many foods that are light weight, easy to store and non perishable. Cereals, nuts, dried fruit and candy are great snacks and can be mixed for an energy boosting trail mix. All those ingredients are readily available in a grocery store and can be made up before leaving and stored in an airtight container. Adding some packets into your backpack will provide a healthy snack while on the trail.

Always bring plenty of water for hydration and cooking. Don’t forget you’ll also need water for cleaning dishes after cooking. You can also bring drink mixes and coffee or tea to mix with the water for a pick me up in the morning. Any foods that require simply adding water are great. Cup of soup packets where you just add some water and let it steep are great for a quick and easy warm meal or snack. They are great for cold weather to help keep warm.

Canned meats, meats that do not require refrigeration and canned vegetables are a good source of nutrition. Tuna fish and canned chicken can be used in numerous recipes. Making stews out of canned meats and canned vegetables will provide you a hearty meal that is easy to prepare and easy to clean. Salami does not need to be cooked and is great on crackers for a snack. Beef jerky is a traditional camping snack that will provide nutrition and boost energy while on the trail. Just remember though that if you take any canned goods to also bring a can opener.

For sweets, candy and dried fruits are excellent. But who can resist a traditional s’more? Marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers are lightweight and can be carried and stored with ease. Sitting down to a fire while roasting marshmallows and melting chocolate onto the graham cracker is a fun way to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Remember that when you are camping you will need to carry items with you on hikes and nature walks. Choose items that are lightweight and do not require a lot of cleaning. Bring a variety of meats, cheeses, breads, snacks and sweets. Camping is a temporary state and you should concentrate on ease of preparation and fun. Do not worry that you may not be getting the most balanced meal or gourmet food. There’s plenty of time for that at home. Enjoy the campfire, keep your energy level up and have fun.

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Camping in the Northwest is a popular past time that can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter what their skill level or age. When camping in this area of the country, there are a few things that must be considered and equipment that should be taken. It is important to have durable, waterproof camping gear, no matter what season you are camping in, because this is an area that might be cold or wet unexpectedly, even in the middle of the summer. You also want to be sure that you have plenty of good lighting gear. LED lanterns and flashlights work best in the dense forests of the Northwest because they provide you with an even, long-lasting light. Having a reliable, compact light is important in this area because often time campsites can be located deep into the mountains or forests. These locations require that campers hike in, so packing lightly but smartly is very important.

Washington, Oregon, and Idaho are full of great camping locations. The states are filled with diverse national and state park areas. Explorers that enjoy mountain wildernesses will find great camping in the coastal ranges up Oregon and Washington and along their many rivers. Desert campers can find relaxing places in eastern Oregon and in Idaho. Even winter campers that enjoy the snow can find open sites around Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and The Three Sisters. These areas have excellent camping areas that can provide you with a great place to stay, beautiful sites, and a lot to do while your there.

Peninsula

Located in Northwest Washington, the Olympic is the home to both the towering Olympic Mountains and the Pacific coastline. The Bogachiel, Sequim Bay, Old Fort Townsend and Fort Worden State Parks are a few of many camping and hiking destinations in the area. Camping on the peninsula requires waterproof equipment.

Deschutes National Forest

Central Oregon is the home of the Deschutes National Forest. This area has great camping sites right in the middle of some of the oldest forests in North America. Camping here can be easy or challenging, depending on what you are looking for. When camping in the desert, make sure to pack plenty of water and food. Also, packing a powerful lantern or set of flashlights is important as the deserts in the Northwest are very dark at night.

Priest Lake State Park

The Priest Lake State Park is one of the favorite camping destinations for Idaho residents because of its diverse options. Camping is available all along the shoreline of Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake, as well as on the Lake’s islands themselves.

These are just a sample of the many incredible camping locations located in the beautiful, green Northwest. Campers can find information on camping fees, hiking trails and site amenities by looking online at the various state park web sites.

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