You’ve decided to ditch the WiFi and hot water and escape into nature. Whether you go alone or with friends, you’ll discover camping is a great way to unplug and reconnect with your human side. There is some adjustment and preparation that you should know about before embarking on this new adventure, to make your transition from city slicker to mountain man (or woman), easier and more fun.
Why You Should Sleep in a Tent
Remember when you were a kid, and you made a fort out of the bed sheets and pillows using the living room furniture? That’s what sleeping in a tent is like, only even better. Now that you’re all grown up, you can set up your “fort” with exciting accessories like lanterns, special fort beds (also known as “sleeping bags”), and other exciting options. If you’re new to camping you can invest in a more modern tent with many of the comforts you’re used to at home. Many, but certainly not all.
Full disclosure here; without proper preparation, sleeping in a tent can be unpleasant. New campers might find themselves learning the hard way that not all tents come with a rain fly, and that even the most verdant and lush forest floor can make for a rough and rocky repose. Bring a sleeping pad of some kind to cushion the floor of your tent. A sleeping pad is one of the most important pieces of gear you can have, and it’s often overlooked, even by seasoned campers.
Adjusting to the Outdoors
Thinking of your tent as a fort isn’t really a joke, as you will be using it to protect yourself from the elements as well as the local forest residents. Keep all of your food, even your dry goods, in sealed, air tight containers. No, that beer cooler isn’t sufficient, unless you want to make friends with the local raccoon or squirrel population. A large, hungry animal will think nothing of prying the back hatch of your car to get to your groceries. Yes, they can get in there, and yes, they will definitely try. Having a larger or taller vehicle like the Jeep Grand Cherokee will stand you in better stead.
Bring a lot of light. Lanterns, headlamps, flashlights, whatever you want. It gets dark out here. We’ve adjusted to take much of the ambient light created by civilization for granted. Starlight and moonlight are not so romantic when you have to squint through them to find the toilet paper or cook a meal. Your cooking gear is also an important consideration. Camping cookware, along with tenting gear, has also gone through some impressive developments. When buying your camp food, keep in mind your venue (campfire or cook-stove) and amount of time you’ll be camping. Do you really need three cartons of eggs for two days?
Keeping it Economical
There are two ways to save money on accommodations while travelling. Sleeping on an overnight bus or train, or packing a tent. Even the most hardened traveller never looks forward to sleeping while in transport, never mind that the quality of your repose will always be very low.
Aside from fairly small expenses, such as parking permits or park entry fees (which may not even apply, depending on where you go) and the price of the gear, camping is the preferable option to travel at night. There are other benefits as well, such as discovering new places and natural wonders. These experiences are priceless, and more memorable than the view from a bus.
Camping isn’t always as simple as it looks, but any potential problems typical to newbies can be smoothed out with some extra planning. And if you do have to get a bit wet at night or shoo critters away from your cooler, you’ll build some character and have a great story for the folks back in the city. Don’t be afraid to unplug that laptop and turn off the phone. All of your toys will be waiting for you after you emerge from the wilderness.
Valerie Wright is a Mom of twins who writes about her experiences with family life, whether it be vacations, budgeting or sharing a recipe. She is a new contributor to several lifestyle and parenting sites.
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