8 Tips to Enjoy Camping Trips

Camping and hiking trips are a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones and/or family, but you need to be well prepared to make sure that everything goes as smoothly as you hope. No stone should be left unturned when preparing for a wilderness trip as there are several things that could possibly go wrong and spoil it.

1. Make a reservation

Many people like to drive and just stop wherever they feel would be make a great campsite. This allows them the freedom to move from place to place. However, if you know exactly where you’re going it’s a good idea to have a reservation, the same as you would with a hotel. This is especially true in the busy months of the summer as campgrounds often fill up fast.

2. Prepare for the weather

The weather can be unpredictable all over the world these days and that’s why you need to be prepared for both the best and worst. It’s a good idea to check the forecast before heading out, but you should always be ready for rain no matter what the forecast says. If you get to your site and don’t have rain gear you could be literally stuck in your tent for hours or days.

3. Arrive in daylight

It can be a bit of a struggle trying to set up your campsite in the dark, especially if you don’t know the area. Arriving in the daylight will enable you to find where everything is and scout out the surrounding area. Of course it’ll also make it easier if you’re trying to pitch a family camping tent. There may be times when you don’t have a choice when you arrive. If that’s the case, then head lamps will help out. This will leave your hands free.

4. Take enough food

If you don’t have enough food with you and something should go wrong, you could be caught between a rock and a hard place. You should always take a little extra food in case something happens to your food supply, such as burning your steak or losing something to the local wildlife etc. Take at least one extra day’s worth of food.

5. First aid and repair kits

You should never leave for a trip in the wilderness without a proper first aid kit for obvious reasons. Make sure all of the items and medications are fresh and usable. If you’re camping in a tent it’s also a good idea to make sure you have a repair kit on hand to deal with leaks. You could fit the kit with rope, metal pole sleeves, duct tape, and a sewing kit.

6. Keep the campsite clean

You never want to tempt the local wildlife by leaving any food lying around your campsite. Garbage and food often attracts curious and hungry creatures. Not only will you have unwanted visitors and lose your food, it’s not really healthy for the animals. Also, they’ll keep coming back for more if they know food is around. You should keep food and garbage locked in your vehicle or strung up high on a pole or in a tree.

7. Keep toiletries locked away

Many animals are attracted to things such as soap, insect repellent, and toothpaste due to the smell and ingredients. You should keep these items stored away with your food.

8. Try out your camping gear

Before leaving for a camping and hiking trip you should try out all of your equipment and make sure it works. This includes things such as flashlights, phones, radios, and cooking equipment. If you get to the campground and find out you cant’s cook due to faulty gear you’ll have your work cut out for you. Make sure you know how everything operates as well before you leave.