Crazy For Camping?

By Glenn H. Kipps

Winter Camping, like any [tag-tec]camping[/tag-tec], can be a great experience with careful preparation. Like anything else you do in life, if you are not prepared, there could be some bad repercussions. In this article, I am going to give some pointers on how to prepare for your winter camping trip.

First, you must get a forecast of the [tag-ice]weather conditions[/tag-ice] of the area where you will be going camping. This will give you an idea of what to bring based on how cold it is going to be during the time you are going camping. There are several websites that will give you this type of information. Just enter “weather conditions in…” into the search box of your favorite search engine.

Now, we’ll talk about clothing. Some folks like to wear several layers of clothing. However, from my own experience, you can actually get overheated if you wear too much. Sure, you can take layers off as needed. However, if you are on a winter hike, where are you going to put those layers of clothing you take off your body? You are a few miles away from the campsite. All you really need is a good supply of quality thermal underwear or Long Johns and a good supply of quality insulated socks. After that, it really does not matter what you put over them. You should also have a good pair of insulated boots or winter hiking shoes for your feet. As a matter of fact, if I don’t leave camp, I often just wear my Long Johns, insulated socks and insulated shoes. Nine times out of ten, that is all I need. However, I will add a layer or two if neccessary.

Ok, let’s talk about the rest of your equipment. Your tent should be an all-season tent. A 3-season tent is close, but will not cut it in the winter. Your sleeping bag must be at least a 15 degree bag. This bag will keep you warm down to 15 degrees. However, I like a zero degree bag. Very rarely do I go to a spot that get’s below zero. There are also thermal sleeping pads available to help keep the cold from coming through the floor of the tent.

Last, but most important, let’s talk about what you should do if you get, or think you might have, frostbite. First, heat some water over the fire so that it is luke warm. Hot, warm or cold water could cause grave damage to the affected extremity. Then, get inside your car or somewhere else that is semi warm and soak that foot or other extremity that is affected until it feels normal. Then, to make sure it doesn’t happen again too soon, either lie in your tent or stay in the heated car for a while. When you feel it is safe, come back out and enjoy yourself around the fire. I have done this procedure a few times. I know it works.

In conclusion, being prepared in anything you do reduces the risk of having bad consequences and increases the likelihood that you will enjoy yourself. To ensure your trip is safe and fun, follow the simple guidelines above when you prepare for your winter camping trip.

By Glenn H. Kipps

Tent Camping can be a great experience. However, the reason a lot of people don’t go tent camping is the initial high cost of [tag-tec]camping equipment[/tag-tec]. These people do not realize that careful planning and bargain shopping can greatly reduce that cost. In this article, my intention is to give insight to the [tag-ice]new camper[/tag-ice] on reducing the cost of camping equipment.

The first thing you must do is decide what you like. You can ask your friends what they use. This will give you a guideline for making your decision when shopping for your equipment. The first time around, you may want to borrow equipment from them. This way, you get to use the equipment and decide whether or not you like the brand of equipment they use.

Another way is to take the info you got from your friends and go to stores that sell camping equipment and try their recommendations out. This way, you are not limited to your friends’ recommendations. There may be another brand in the store that catches your eye. Try it out and see if you think this equipment is superior to that used by your friends. If so, go with your instinct. If not, stick with your friends’ recommendations. You can also get recommendations on the internet through discussion forums on camping.

Now that you know what you want, it is time to shop and make your purchases. One place to start is to visit discount camping stores. However, some of the best deals can be found online. There are discount camping stores, online coupons, online classifieds (craig’s list is one of the most popular ones), etc. This will give you a price range to measure. Then, go to ebay. You can often find the best deals on ebay.

Another option is to take advantage of clearance sales. These sale are usually around Labor Day and the end of the winter. If you are in no hurry, you can wait for these sales.

You can also buy used equipment. This can be done by going to yard sales and/or army surplus stores or looking at classifieds in your local newspaper or online (craig’s list). After that, go to ebay to see if you can beat the average price. New or used, you can often get the best deals on ebay.

If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to get quality camping equipment relatively cheap. After the initial cost, with proper care and storage of your equipment, the upkeep costs are extremely small. You are now well armed and ready to start reducing the cost of camping equipment.

By Glenn H. Kipps

So, you want to go camping, but can’t decide on whether you want to go to a privately owned campground or a campground in one of our many beautiful National or State parks. In this article, “Private Campgrounds Vs Goverment-run Campgrounds“, I am going to show the differences between the two types of campgrounds.

To start with, a [tag-tec]privately owned campground[/tag-tec] is a business whereas a campground in a state or national park in run by the government. As with any business, each campground owner tries to make their campground look better than all the others through both online and offline advertising. A government-run campground relies on the attractions the park offers as a whole. For instance, people who camp at Yellowstone National Park are there to see attractions such as Old Faithful, not because the campground itself was advertised. Most privately owned campgrounds cater to RV campers with full hookups. There are not many tent sites and primative camping is almost non-existent. There are private owned campgrounds that do offer primative camping. However, they are few and far between. A [tag-ice]government-run campground[/tag-ice] caters more to those that want to experience the outdoors. While they do have RV campsites available, campers also have a choice of camping in designated tent sites, back-country camping or all out wilderness camping.

A privately owned campground usually costs much more than a government-run campground. The reason is that privately owned campgrounds have extras (pools, spas, clubhouses, etc) that many government-run campgrounds do not have.

In conclusion, it is really up to you. Some people like the idea of being in a resort-like environment complete with all the amenities such as a swimming pool and spa. Others like the idea of being totally away from everything. If you choose the former, it is important that you look at each advertisement carefully and get all the information you can get on each campground you are considering. All of them are trying to make you think that they are the end-all, be-all of campgrounds. Like any business, some are absolutely great and some are less than desirable. In choosing a privately owned campground, it is really best to talk to people that have been there. In either case, it is a good idea to call the campground in advance to assure yourself a spot during the time you want to visit. I hope this article, “Private Campgrounds Vs Government-run Campgrounds,” has helped you in finding the ideal campground.

By Glenn H. Kipps

Planning your camping vacation can be a very tedious task. However, it is neccessary if you want to have a successful Camping Trip. A very well-though-out plan will insure that you forget nothing, whether it be important or unimportant. The best way to do this is to make lists. By the way, this should be started at least three days before you depart on your [tag-tec]camping adventure[/tag-tec]. Start with a master list that lists all of your main categories. From there you make a list for each of your main categories. There is an article that explains this process in detail. It is so well written that I decided to feature it in this post. It is titled “The Importance of Organized Lists for [tag-ice]Camping Supplies[/tag-ice]“. The actual author is unknown, but it comes from this website: www.camping2u.com. Here it is:

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The Importance of Organized Lists for Camping Supplies

By: www.camping2u.com

Organization is the name of the game when planning any family vacation. The adults involved have to be sure to include every necessary, and several unnecessary items, on the packing list.

There are few things more inconvenient than having to find a convenience store in an unfamiliar area or worse yet, find out the missing item can’t be replaced in your location.

Due to the rural setting of many campgrounds, it is extremely important to be sure you have all of your family?s essentials on a list. Having well thought out lists for camping supplies can make the difference between a great vacation and one where you wished the weather had been a little cooler.

The first thing to do is create a master list for all of the important items needed for your trip. This is the list from which all of the other lists for camping supplies will be made.

Be sure to include sections on food and cookware, tents and sleeping essentials, and personal items, deodorant and shampoo. Obviously the master list will be more detailed than that, but those are good places to start.

Simply go through your familys routine in your mind and write down the needed supplies. From there modify the list for any extras that being away from home make necessary.

Depending on the size of your appetite, one of the most important lists for camping supplies could be the food and cookware list.

Decide what kinds of meals and snacks you are planning to have on the trip and create a grocery list. Cookware is directly related to your food choices. Be sure to have the appropriate pots and pans packed for the trip.

As far as the tent and sleeping bags go, make a list of the items and then go through to be sure they are all in good working condition. This is one of those lists for camping supplies that are best used as a check off list while packing the car.

Personal items are extremely vital for hygiene and comfort during a trip to nature. Check this one a lot. You don?t want anyone forgetting his or her special ointment or contact case and solutions.

This is why personal items are one of the most important of the lists for camping supplies. Be sure to include wet wipes, alcohol sanitizer, and first aid items on this list.

If it makes you more comfortable, visit one of the many camping websites for help with your list. Some actually provide pre organized checklists to make this process easier.

http://www.camping2u.com is your ultimate resource site on camping out and a source to most everything you always wanted to know about camping and camping supplies - but never knew how to ask… Check it out - Grab The Free Course ! http://campersupplies.camping2u.com

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I hope you found this article as informative as I did. Lists are an integral part of planning your camping vacation. Yes, planning is a very tedious task. However, watching the plan for your camping trip slowly unfold on paper can also be very much fun. What have you got to lose? Absolutely nothing, but maybe a little bit of your time.