Camping Tips

(Huck OTM)

Trail mix = like nuts and raisins and shit, right? Where are the nummy CARBS though eh?

cashews, dude.

KENDAL MINT CAKE.

There is an olde tea shoppe next door to the camp site too! I'm sure this will come in handy.

x-posed

Chairs?? (We are not driving anyway.)

And remember, don't sleep in your clothes. You'll regret it.

No bears in the UK, eh? Still, some light rope might come in handy.

I don't think Canadians should post to this thread - we're all, like: pepper spray, 30% deet solution, tarp x2, gps, crampons, a canoe. But packing everything in ziplock plastic bags is always good. I can't imagine camping without building a fire - won't they have a woodpile there? And why has no one said: booze!

Cheese requires no cooking and is very forgiving about how you store it.

Do not challenge the bull in its own field. It will take umbrage and you may have regrets.

Some cheese, that is. I would advise against cheddar or anything that has a lot of oil. After a couple of days that oil just leaks everywhere. In my experience, part-skim mozerella has held up the best over long periods w/o refrigeration. Bagels hold up well as far as breads go, as does hard salami.

Remember rope and a tarp.

Are you sleeping in a tent?

http://www.pps.net.au/4wdencounter/articles/checklist.html

Thanks for all the great suggestions (maybe I'll skip the lawyer and the instant mashed potato which is the DEVIL'S FOOD, but I *will* attempt to whittle an obscene item, just for hstencil). No doubt I will report back on what we forgot, what we used, what was pointless and whether the Olde Tea Shoppe would actually serve us in muddy boots.

Don't forget, beer=fun.

We didn't use: spare torch batteries, penknife (boo!), sun cream, spare socks.

I wish we'd taken: ziploc bags for opened food items, a hand mirror so I could have ventured out without looking like an orang-utan, and booze. (We were told not to bring alcohol onto the site but looking at the number of empty bottles in the bins area, it didn't seem that others observed that rule, and maybe I would have slept better). I didn't sleep well. Because there were rats. And very high winds.

We filled up a van with secondhand sofas last time we went. You can get collapsible jobs in Asda for less than a tenner, but they're still a bugger to carry.

Wait a minute. You brought sofas? Now you're talking my language. Sofa Sherpas!

so much for being the nice guy.

i always get a complex about that and if someone spawns in front of me I'll quickly head off without dealing with them, and just try and wait around the corner. obv more often than not they just shoot me in the back.
so much for being the nice guy.

this world is not for me, evidently

It is dirty. It may well be ugly. Its resale value is near zero. But these facts means nothing to a determined practical joker.

So everyone tell me your favorite east coast camping spots - anywhere within a day's drive or so of NYC. I'm looking to plan a long road trip with camping involved. I'm looking for natural beauty and non-overcrowdedness. I'm willing to rought it a bit in exchange, but i'm not a super-experienced camper.

Baby wipes, can't stress importance enough. Baby wipes.

I am also interested in this list. Although maybe more so in places accessible by metro north or Amtrak, or those plus bus and walk or cycle.

http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_gohiking.htm
http://www.amc-ny.org/
http://www.shorewalkers.org/

the delaware water gap is really nice for close to nyc-ness

Do you have any particular Delaware Water Gap spots you like? My one camping experience there was kind of miserable, even though the hike was nice.

Also I want further away spots - Mass, NH, Vermont, Maine even.

Does anyone have any suggestions for backcountry hiking in the NC/TN area? We'll probably end up just picking a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, unless someone has a better idea?

Seriously on the baby wipes!

We're going camping this weekend, too!

For the benefit of UKers, what are you actually supposed to do if you meet a bear when camping? Is it true that it depends on the type of bear as to what you should do?

You go, "Shoo, bear, shoo!"

Adirondacks--High Peaks region (Keene Valley). Great hiking and camping and killer pie at the Noon Mark Diner.

My friends decided to do a collaborative packing checklist on Google Docs. This is what they've put together for an upcoming two night backpacking trip:

Sleeping Bag
Pillow
Sleeping Pad
Sleeping socks
Sleeping shirt
Tent, Ground cloth, Fly & Poles

Bear bag
Bear bag rope

Camelback
Spare Bladder
Water Filter
Water Filter Body
Empty Nalgene bottle

Compass
Map
GPS
Whistle
Headlamp
Flashlight
Batteries
Camera
Leki poles
Matches
Lighter
Knife
Bowl
Spoon
Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
First aid kit

Toilet Paper <-- THE MOST IMPORTANT FUCKING THING ON THE LIST
Plastic Bags -- Large black and small grocery
Stove
Cooking pot
Fuel bottle
Soap

Warm hat
Shade hat
Bandana
Rain shell
Fleece jacket
Zip-off pants
Spare socks & liners
Spare shirt
Long underwear
Gloves

Day-of bag:
Boots, boot socks, shirt, pants, etc.

Day-after bag:
Clean shirt, shorts, socks, shoes

Wonder who's carrying the cooler and who's pulling the wagon...

Guys, if you are into doughy, cheesy goodness, here is the best camping recipe I have ever come across. Buy some shaved meat such as corned beef, turkey, ham, whatever, and some melty cheese that agrees with it (mozarella is, of course, a classic but you can go as classy or low-brow as you like) and wrap said items in the little Pilsbury/generic crescent rolls. Wrap said roll in foil, leaving extra space inside so that the roll can expand. Cook for a few minutes over the fire, flipping occasionally. They lose their crescent shape but they gain a taste explosion that cannot be beat. I think these are the reason I am going camping twice this year (first time is May 18 in Algonquin Park, hurrah! During 2006's "May 24" we got snowed on.)

Subject: Bears met while camping - what to do
To: ilx UKers
cc: all ilx

What you should do depends a lot on the bear and what it does.

In the contiguous 48 states of the USA almost all bears are black bears. Black bears are generally interested in one thing only: eating. If the situation does not include food, the bear will almost always choose to run or walk away rather than risk an encounter, whether or not you yell at it. However, bears are somewhat curious and have rotten eyesight, so yelling will help the bear to identify you as a human and not some novelty item it should investigate further.

If, however, food is involved theings change. Bears can think of no thing on earth more alluring than human's foodstuffs. If the bear is approaching your food supply, you may wish to yell and throw rocks from a safe distance. This sometimes works. Not often.

Once the bear has already nabbed your food, the bear now considers it to be his food and will act to protect it. In that case, it is best to retire from the affray.

Grizzly bears are another critter altogether. They are alpha hunters and don't frighten easily, unless you have a gun and are loaded for bear. Grizzlies do exactly as they please, when they please and as they please. They rarely attack humans, but that is just a matter of having no particular reason. But that is no protection. They don' really need a reason. Just a whim.

Avoid them, if possible.

wot no brewing equipment in that list? Not even a mug or cup ? Madness

I think I can carry a french press, a bottle of whiskey, a beer stein and a couple growlers and still be lighter than these jacklegs.

They've added: mug, brillo pad, deck of cards, and pot holder.

But apparently this is a general checklist for future reference, like the bazillion others online. We're not necessarily taking all of this stuff this trip. Still...

pot holder is probably more important than 1/2 the stuff on the list

where's the trowel?

I have to wonder, if you come across a grizzly in the forest, with your gun - how does the bear know what you've got loaded?

It knows when it becomes either enraged or dead.

This might be a dumb question, but if you camp at a campground and go off for a hike, what's to stop someone from making off with your tent?

I'm sorry but this has me roffling: I can just picture some dude dragging your tent. "Hurry, he's seen us! RUN"

Apart from that: Blairwitch Project nuff said.

wet wipes!

Might I suggest this awesome tent:

http://www.campist.com/archives/treetents-camping-tent-by-dre-wapenaar.jpg

Q: This might be a dumb question, but if you camp at a campground and go off for a hike, what's to stop someone from making off with your tent?

A: wet wipes!

real answer: the camper's code

The $16 Byer of Maine Amazonas Traveler Hammock I got at REI provides the best camping sleep I've ever had.

also, I see no Colemans lamp on that list.

Dude this must be car camping because no way anyone could carry all that shit? Also: pot holder totally asinine: get one sock douchebag!

this is a pot holder

http://www.webbmilitary.com/camping/potholder.jpg

sorry, but pot holder is U & K, socks can get wet.

proper name for it - A bulldog

How is it that socks can get wet and potholders can't? OK I guess if you're talking a gabbneb potholder but for realz how many single-purpose items do you really want to climb mountains with?

A potholder is made of metal so being wet will not increase it's conductivity. Any kinds of fabric heat protection is potentially useless. (TBH I tend to just use my leatherman most of the time but it is not as convenient, but does have a million other uses)

OK but to reiterate for realz how many single-purpose items do you really want to climb mountains with?

I'm taking a firm stand against these contraptions, folks.

are you him?

no backpacker brings an oven mitt along, but a lightweight pot holder is a standard part of a camping cookset. some people would forgo it, but food and basic cooking tools are pretty important when you're walking all day in the middle of nowhere, and wetness is the enemy. i guess we should give up the single purpose of eating - food accounts for a lot of the weight in your backpack.

My list from tramping round wales last summer (admittedly with a bunch of kids would have been lighter if it were just me)

Tent (Macpac microlight)
Sleeping bag (Rab I forget which)
Thermarest
Shorts 1 pair
trousers one pair
baselayer trousers
Short sleeve base layer 2 off.
Long sleeve base layer 2 off.
midlayer top
waterproofs top and bottom
Underpants 4 pair
socks 3x 2 pair
sandals
hat (rain and sun)
sunglasses
Sunscreen (buckets of)
first aid kit (comprehensive)
MSR stove
Fuel bottle
Pan set with insulator
Leatherman
Sheath knife
head torch
watch
maps
compass
Camelbak
Bowl
song book

between us we had an axe, a saw some bigger cooking pots, matches, more fuel etc.

all hail the leatherman supertool!

amen

It is not surprising that most ilxors are unacquainted with the arcane lore of backcountry camping,as practised far from campgrounds and vehicles. It is an specialized hobby quite remote from the knowledge of the vast majority of Americans and Europeans.

Even the majority of people who have done it at some time are just tyros and novices compared to the true adepts. It takes a real nut like me to devote a large chunk of one's life and energy to this pastime.

(he wanders off muttering incoherently about gram scales and trekking poles)

So are you for or against POTHOLDERS? Help me out here!

I am ecumenical. Potholders are are respectable choice, for those who desire them, but I favor bales over potholders. Bales are light, compact and integral. They also facilitate hanging one's pot over a small woodfire in a situation where one's stove has failed.

Such are the arcana of backpacking.

bales heat up

Being remote from the heat source (base of the pot) and connected to the top of the pot only at two small points, they are somewhat analogous to the handle of a spoon, when the bowl of the spoon has something hot on it. Some heat is conducted to the handle or the bail, but not much.

However, if you are happy with a potholder, far be it from me to attempt a conversion.

Look guys, I'm just saying, make the croissants like I said. You all ignore me now, but you will hail me at 9AM on day two of camping!

I'm taking a firm stand against these (single-purpose) contraptions, folks.

-- quincie, Wednesday, April 23, 2008 7:10 AM (2 days ago)

OTM. wtf potholder? That's what calluses are for.

Also: scattered thunderstorms all weekend. Should be rad. though apparently we're down to like 10 planned miles...

I'm taking:
Hammock, tarp, associated rigging
sleeping bag
knife
matches
dice
whiskey

Got rained on something fierce, heard the coyotes at night, legs aren't speaking to me at the moment. Good times.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2451070216_91209c3161.jpg

"Ask before you hunt and fish on private land"

I have a bumper sticker that says this.

Sausages!

http://i31.tinypic.com/4fzifm.jpg
Sausages, Central Oregon Desert, May 5, 2007

bell pepper, onion, kielbasa, beer to cover; simmer til hungry; bun, mustard; de(mo)lish

Technique perfected in Southwestern Virginia, 1999-2002

I approve of these sausages.

Made a killer stroganoff last time camping. Also a great pork and chicory beer stew too.

gong camping here at the weekend.

only for one night, we have tents and sleeping bags and guitars and several bottles of whiskey, is there anything important we're not thinking of?

what foods do people recommend bringing? no cooking equipment.

lol maybe i'll just read the thread tbf

Bring enough whiskey and breakfast becomes superfluous. You might consider an electric torch (what we yanks call a "flashlight"). This can facilitate an egress from the tent in the hours of darkness, should such become necessary.

a very good point, and one that has the ring of truth about it

torch was on the list, as i don't have a light for my kindle.

headtorch headtorch headtorch

Food: a medium or hard cheese, summer sausage, and some nice commercial bagels that won't turn to rock overnight. That's my favorite "Day 3 of no refrigeration" food.

http://www.treepee.com/

http://www.shepee.co.uk

that's the kind of concise rundown i need laurel cheers

you others, not so much tbh

ps there are no trees just fyi

pls to update for motorhome tour of poland

Just on the of chance we have an expert, like

how do I set up a tarpaulin? what knots do I need to learn to tie?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6c/73/0e/6c730eecfea6f146dba7c630b7aa6580.jpg

http://www.proknot.com/assets/images/tautline_hitch.jpg

You're taking a tarp because why again?

because there will be rain, and i don't want there to be tears.

But you do have a tent, right? The tarp is just for extra?

yes! the tarp goes over the tent.

this is the first time either of us have been camping as adults so it will be uh quite an adventure, but i think once the tent is set up properly we'll be fine. i just want to make sure i come prepared.

thank you for the knots!

Put the tent in a high place with lower ground all around it so you won't end up sitting in water if it rains. If you're not sure water won't collect underneath, put another tarp under the tent as a groundsheet. Fold it so it doesn't stick out from under the sides of the tent, you don't want the groundsheet to catch any rain.

^otm

If such a high spot completely surrounded by lower ground doesn't present itself, a less attractive but useful alternative is to pitch on a broad, slight slope without much higher ground above it, and slanted enough that any water that may run toward the tent does not collect there, but continues on its merry way. You do not want to pitch in a place where you are in a watercourse that funnels water toward your tent.

I have a tent bought in a camping sale about two years ago. Great tent but it now has a broken pole and a few missing inner clip (which hold the inner lining to the outside?). Try as I might, I can't seem to find spares for it anywhere. Maybe the model's been discontinued or something. Any ideas what I can do?

reevaluate the tent.

loool

I still have my sister's tent in my basement, should I return it or would it entice her to rejoin the debaucherous world of camping?

Resurrecting...

We - me (40yo dad), E (36yo mum), N (4yo daughter), and C (17mo son) - are going to camp this weekend as a dry-run for Green Man, where we are going in August.

Apart from one abandoned (after one night) trip to Cornwall (inclement weather) when N was about 2, we've not done this before (E and I camped for about 4 nights in Ibiza once when we were younger, but no kids, tiny tent, years ago = doesn't really count compared to life as it is now).

We are playing it safe by not going too far, and by camping near to where E's dad owns a restaurant (so we can eat out for free!), as we are V New to this.

We have a big new bell tent, inflatable sleeping matts, sleeping bags, and that's about it. We'll be in North Devon. Please give bespoke advice for our situation!

camp in your garden first

Garden's not big enough to put the tent up in, sadly. Bloody garage. This is the closest we can do to that though, I reckon.

Just expect to make mistakes, chiefly forgetting to bring some item that turns out to be greatly missed. It happens to all first time campers. Try imagining the phases of the day and various sorts of weather and make lists of what you think you may need. You'll still forget something, but fewer of them.

As I said in my first response to this thread, staying warm enough is urgent and key, while staying dry is only urgent and key to the degree is impedes staying warm enough. Small kids get cold, overheated, or dehydrated much quicker than adults, so if there is a chance of any of these happening keep a close eye on your tykes.

Being wet and cold in windy conditions is very bad and should be avoided at any cost. Strong shivering should be viewed as a red flag and dealt with immediately by any means at your disposal!

thread covers most things but some essentials: take torches, insect repellent, make sure you pick some nice dry ground and ensure your head is higher than your feet

Advice I have received thus far (from here, Facebook, and my office):

Camping tips!
• Freeze some bacon
• Freeze some milk
o Keep them in your coolbox
o Defrosted the next day!
• Box of white wine
o Remove bladder from box
o Freeze the bladder of wine
o Keep in the coolbox!
• Take leftovers to heat up on the first night
• Clear plastic box with all stuff in
o Pots and pans, torch etc
o One for each family member rather than a bag – easier to find stuff
• Don’t forget cooking oil
• Camping chairs
• Pillows – take real ones!
• Blankets
• Hat
• Hoodie
• Plastic wine glasses
• Washing up stuff – including a bowl
• Earplugs – bio ears, silicone
• Toilet paper
• Warm clothes
• Camping kettle
• Camping mugs
• Headtorch / Torch
• Barbecue
• Tinfoil
• Blankets – extra blankets for Green Man
• Dutch oven
• Washing line
• Insect repellent