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

Here are a few things you should know if you are new to camping. These tips, while broad in nature, will give you some idea on what you should bring to make your trip a great experience. The rest is just plain common sense.

First, expect to have a good time, but be prepared for the worst. For instance, it may not rain at all on your Camping Trip, but you should be prepared in case it does. Do not put your tent directly at the bottom of a hill. It is certain that it will flood in a torrential downpour. Make sure you have a sturdy tarp to keep you and your group dry. It should also be able to withstand the strong winds that often accompany a rain storm. Other things to be prepared for are cold weather, pesty insects, sickness, etc.

If you are hiking or canoeing, you should pack MRE’s (meals ready to eat) and other types of food that do not require cooking. In other words, you should pack light (the lighter the better). Save the cooking for when you get back to the [tag-tec]campsite[/tag-tec]. Some [tag-ice]campgrounds[/tag-ice] do not allow fires. Therefore, you should pack a camp stove just in case.

If you like comfort, be sure to invest in a quality air mattress with a quick pump. You should also bring mosquito netting so you do not get eaten alive while you are trying to sleep. Of course a comfy sleeping bag and a tent that doesn’t bleed (rain water seeping through the walls of the tent) are also big essentials.

Do not put a lot of leaves in your campfire. Leaves tend to make a fire smoke (getting more smoke than flame). You do not want to smoke out your neighbors. If there are quiet hours in the area you are camping, please observe them. It all boils down to respect for your camping neighbors.

On packing day, make sure you take all of your garbage with you (or if a facility is provided, use it) and leave the campsite the way you found it. When packing your gear, make sure it is dry. Wet camping gear can develop a musty smell and rot over time.

In conclusion, if you are new to camping, these broad tips should provide a nice foundation from which you can build. The rest is up to you.

by Glenn H. Kipps

One of the most overlooked, yet most important, items when planning a camping trip is the outdoor first aid kit. Most people think that their regular first aid kit they have at home is good enough. On the contrary, there are many missing items in a home first aid kit that could mean the difference between life and death. Additionally, there are certain accessories that are not part of a prestocked outdoor first aid kit that one should consider adding to their arsenal. In this article, I intend to go over those essential items that make up the anatomy of an outdoor first aid kit.

In addition to the usual band aids and ointments, there should also be splints for the occasional broken bone or sprain, ace bandages, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers for extracting debris out of wounds such as splinters, sterile gloves, a snake bite kit (very important) and a [tag-tec]first aid guide[/tag-tec]. The guide is extremely important especially in life or death situations. If you do not know what you’re doing, you can kill someone. It is a good idea to go over the guide before going on a camping trip. This way, you can become familiar with it, so when it becomes time to use it, you can quick-reference it without taking the time to look at the table of contents. That extra minute wasted could be detrimental to the person needing your help. Also, if the guide provided in your first aid kit is not that good, buy a better one to replace it.

There are items that are not part of a [tag-ice]prestocked first aid kit[/tag-ice] that are also essential and should be added to your life saving arsenal. An extra cell phone should be with the first aid kit. If the injuries are serious enough, 911 can be reached and the patient can be med-evacced to a hospital. Sometimes, boiling water to purify it is not enough. Therefore, water purification tablets should also be in there. There should also be some kind of handheld GPS device for finding your way if you are lost. However, if you are good with a compass, that will suffice. Aspirin and other medications you may need, matches in a waterproof container and thermal blankets are other items that will have to purchased separately and added to your kit.

Last, but not least, it is important to take proper care of your outdoor first aid kit. It should be inspected regularly. Any items that are used are no longer sterile and should be discarded and replaced. Attending to a wound with unsterile instruments can be worse than not attending to the wound at all. Any medications that have reached or passed their expiration date should also be discarded and replaced. While they will not hurt you, expired medications have diminished or lost their potency and will not help you. It is important that you replace everything that you discard.

In conclusion, the anatomy of an outdoor first aid kit (what you put inside it), is very important to survival in the wilderness. The first aid kit is the most important item in anyone’s camping arsenal.

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.

Sorry, I have not posted in a while, but my whole system crashed on 10/10/07. It has taken me this long to get my business back on track. I will be posting regularly again after Thanksgiving. In the meantime, I want to wish all of my readers a happy Thanksgiving.

Glenn H. Kipps

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By Glenn H. Kipps

Most people think that the list of essential camping equipment consists of [tag-tec]tents[/tag-tec], sleeping bags, a good camping stove, coolers, pots and pans, eating utensils, food, toiletries and other personal hygeine items. This is true. These thing are all you need to have a great camping experience. However, one thing that is often overlooked is a [tag-ice]screened gazebo[/tag-ice]. A screened gazebo is a great addition to the joy of camping. If you build it around your picnic table, it provides a flying insect-free environment for cooking and eating (provided you keep the entrance closed). You can also do things, such as play cards or other games in a flying insect-free environment. There are also other advantages to camping with a screened gazebo. There are several different types of screened shelters. In this article, I will explain what they are and how they add benefit to your camping experience.

The first one is your basic canopy. It is basically a frame with a shelter on top. This deserves little mention for the purposes of this article. A tarp tied to four trees can do the same thing. If tied right, the tarp is more sturdy than the canopy for obvious reasons. Now, you can get screened canopies. Even though these are not as sturdy as a fully screened gazebo, they are the least expensive, very light-weight and extremely easy to set up.

There are also your basic screenhouses. The frames are similar to those for the canopies. However, they are designed with screened walls with zippered entrances, which makes them a little stronger than canopies. In addition, they provide protection for your food from flying insects and other debris carried by the wind.

Then, you have the hexagon gazebo. The hexagon gazebo is even more sturdy than the screenhouse. It’s frame consists of a spoked hub pole system creating 6 sides. This is actually my choice. I do not want something that is going to fall every time a stiff wind comes around.

Now, I will go into the ways a screened gazebo can make your camping trip that much more enjoyable. As mentioned earlier, it provides you with a relatively bug free environment for eating and cooking. In the evening, decorate your gazebo with soft, colorful lights for lighting. This provides a nice atmosphere for playing cards and other games. If you do not want to use your gazebo as an activity area, it is perfect for storing your food, coolers and any other camping equipment you are not currently using. This will help your campsite look neat and clean. Remember, this is your home for a duration of time. How you keep your campsite is a reflection of you. If you are going to use it for this purpose, you should set up your screened gazebo as far away from your tent as the campsite area will allow. This way, if a wild animal ransacks it, they will not spill over into your tent. This brings me to another point. Never eat in your tent. Of course, you are almost always going to have to deal with the occasional downpour. The mist from the rain inside the screened gazebo feels extremely good after a hot summer day. In addition to adding to your camping experience, a screened gazebo is also great for backyard parties.

Now that you see what a great addition a screened gazebo could be, you should consider adding one to your camping gear. They are very inexpensive and easy to put up. As you all know, I am partial to Coleman. Coleman has a variety of screened gazebos and other types of screened shelters. I hope this information has shown you how enjoyable and practical camping with a screened gazebo can be.

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

In association with http://www.articlefire.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.