A single bad camping experience can ruin a life-time of outdoor enjoyment. Sitting by the campfire, roasting marshmallows, telling stories with friends and family under the stars and so much more are what make camping such an idealistic vacation retreat. That is so long as it’s done right. Bugs, dirt, wildlife, and other unknowns can easily plague a good trip into something of a nightmare. So, I’m here to help you enjoy your first or next conventional camping experience with the plainest and easiest information I have. This is a basic guideline that can be used as a basis to build on from.
Planning
Every camping trip should begin with proper planning. Where do you want to go? What’s the average weather like when you want to go? Are camping reservations necessary? Is there water? Are there fire restrictions? All of this thankfully can be found online now-a-days. Starts with the basics of where and when. For example, camping in Big Sur, Ca (detailed fully in another blog). Many of campsites there are popular destinations and book-out online as far as 6 months in advance. Of these campsites, many do not allow walk-up reservations. Other places however such as your average National Forest or regional park campground may be all first-come first-serve sites, meaning if the site’s empty when you arrive and you want it, take it! Weather should also be seriously considered, both for clothing and transportation safety. Camping in the Sierra Nevada Mountains I’ve seen 90 degree March days and snowy July nights. If not for having the proper gear in my car (chains), I would have been stuck. So as stated, planning is everything. A last thought often over looked that I’ll offer is carry cash. Ranger Rick won’t be accepting ApplePay for the campsite, and he also likely doesn’t have change for your $20. Make sure to keep you’re money safe and have plenty of it available.
Gearing-Up
To enjoy the wilderness in all of it’s glory you don’t need to be a Nat Geo expert explorer; far from it! But you should start with these major items…
- Tent: One big enough for you and your tent-mates built to withstand moderate weather.
o Pro tip: Set it up before you go and get familiar. Try spending a night in it in your backyard to find cold spots or manufactured issues prior to your camping excursion. Also a good time to apply an extra coat of water proofing and make for an exciting family night.
- Sleeping Bag: Make sure it’s the right size, comfort, and rated to the correct temperature for where you’re going. Aim for a minimum of 10 degrees lower than the lowest projected night temperature for ideal comfort. i.e. 40 degree night/ 30 or lower degree bag.
o Pro tip: Spend a night in your new bag in your bed (both clothed and naked) to see if it’s too large or small. Too large = more cold air in the dead air space. Also helps to practice rolling it back up.
- Air Mattress: For your basic car camping, buy one that fits the tent and all those utilizing it. Air mattresses benefit both by making a barrier between you and the cold ground as well as for comfort.
o Pro tip: Buy a patch kit just in case and plan for how you’ll be inflating your mattress; There might not be power available. Keep it clean and keep sharp items away. Sheets will prevent sweating from direct contact with the rubber mattress.
- Cooler: The last thing you’ll want to forget is the box holding your delicious food! Make sure you use one large enough but also not too big. Stack delicates on top and avoid paper wrappers. Buy reusable plastic egg cartons for cheap here. (best buy ever!)
o Pro tip: Test how long your ice will last inside the cooler, and plan how to pack a trip worth of food. Also, make sure it will fit in your car with your gear AND in the bear box at camp (some don’t). Freezing a large gallon of water works as an ice block and clean water supply later.
- Cookware/ stove: Whether roasting hot dogs over the fire, boiling coffee on the propane stove, or cooking burgers on a charcoal grill, you don’t want to forget to bring cookware.
o Pro tip: Multi-use cookware (skillets, large pots) can save space, make large portions easily and work for cleaning dishes around camp. Also make sure you have plenty of your fuel for cooking (charcoal/propane) and a lighter and/or starter fuel handy.
Other important must-haves I personally include are the ten essentials, hand tools such as a hammer/mallet, axe, lighting tools (head lamp/flashlight/lantern), bug spray, a camp chair, a water bottle and a water jug. Fire wood is also something to have but try and buy it where you are going. The phrase, “Buy it where you burn it,” is one of the California Firewood Task Force used to prevent the introduction of nonnative insects and plant borne diseases to new areas. Plus buying it there will save you room. Remember to make sure all of this will fit in your vehicle with room for yourself and passengers. Below I will include my basic personal check list for car camping.
Fooooooood
When camping, your food will be some of the best you ever eat. Hot dogs taste like filet, smores like tiramisu and bacon like heaven. Well, might be a little much but you get the idea. Either way you will want to plan accordingly. More than likely you’ll have more food than you can finish by trip’s end, but falling short is not a fun experience. Items that are nonperishable go a long way such as pasta, canned food and protein bars. Snacks can take up room, so think compact. Chips that are canned instead of bagged such as Pringles or strong like Fritos help with space and save the chips from getting crushed. Fig Newtons last much longer than regular cookies, better yet find a recipe to make some fresh dessert in camp over the fire.
Using chocolate? Dark chocolate is healtier for you and resists melting better than milk chocolate, making it ideal for trail mix or those late night cookies. Planning to drink? Beer is great but consider a single bottle of hard alcohol to go slow on instead; Less room for the punch it packs, and you can mix it with soda or even electrolyte powder. Either way you get the idea. Plan your meals and try to buy stuff that can last for multiple mealtimes and takes up less space. Also, simple is just plain better, especially when camping. There’s a reason why the cowboys ate beans and jerky.
Concerning food further is proper storage. Many wild animals have a much stronger sense of smell than us and will stop at nothing to get what you have. Bears have been recorded opening car doors or breaking windows to get inside for a candy wrapper. They can even recognize brands, labels, and certain words that symbolize “feast” to them. Raccoons are no better. These curious, clever animals will seek and destroy. Some have even ripped though my tent while I was sleeping in it to grab my electrolyte powder. Others are nice and burglarize using the tent zipper to enter. Either way storage is a big deal and just because you're present doesn't mean they'll stop! Take trash out every night, clean dishes out side of camp, and only store food in your bear box when available. If there isn’t one there likely won’t be bears around, but this isn’t always true and further cation will be necessary. If raccoons are the only issue, your car will work, or using some rope or a strap to keep the lid shut. You’ll find dirty paw prints on it the next morning almost guaranteed.
Clothing
This is probably the most critical reason why people have a bad time. We are adapted to man-made conditions making the already tough outdoors seem tougher. Even the most experienced of us have a rough time now and then. The best tip to remember is you can never have too many socks or underwear. Simple as that. Buy wool socks and athletic underwear if you’re planning on doing activities outside of camp like hiking. Also keep a pair of warmer socks in your sleeping bag at night for a clean pair to heat up cold toes. At least two pairs of shoes will always help. I bring my boots for leaving camp to hike or fish and have a dry pair of running shoes waiting for me when I get back to sit around in and for less physical activities. I also bring a pair of sandals and sometimes slippers for my more “luxurious” days. A pair of denim jeans can last a week easy unless you’re really roughing it. Pants that zip into shorts (infamous I know) really are a blessing. Trust me the wildlife won’t judge you, and you'll find out just why they're still selling today. Layers make all the difference. Athletic shirts are nice and clean easily with a quick soak while keeping you warm when its cool and cool when its warm. However good for hot days, avoid cotton in the cold. Cotton naturally pulls away heat while synthetics and wool work to retain it, even when wet. A long sleeve shirt or two can work great to add heat, especially under a flannel or jacket. Best of all a water-proof wind-breaker will keep the elements off your clothes and body heat in. It does help to keep a set of night clothes separate as well for comfy clean sleeping. An added bonus would be to have a hat, beanie, and gloves available.
Dealer’s Choice
Lastly, there are small comforts each person has that lend to the experience. Hygiene products are some of those very important things. Biodegradable baby wipes and body wash/shampoo/detergent are two of my personal favorites. It’s also a good idea to have some hand sanitizer. Other less important things though may be just as important to you. Maybe it's a big blanket you love to sit near the fire with. A book to read in your hammock. A board game to play or a hobby to learn. Either way, the experience is up to you! I highly suggest putting the phone away and just trying to find what it was like before the constant buzz of social media and texting. You’ll find it largely relieving once you become accustomed to it and it will likely pull you back again and again. Remember as well, nothing every goes 100% as planned. As with any trip, roll with the punches and make the best of it! Making a wrong turn has led to me to better places than planned many times. Don’t get discouraged, take it a step at a time, and feel free to reach out for more suggestions and answers to your questions. Don’t forget your camp host and forest ranger will more than happily answer any questions you have when you get there! They do this job because they love it and they’re overjoyed 99% of the time to share some knowledge and just chat. Heed their advice and follow their rules and you might just end up with an even better trip. Also, remember my list below!
The outdoors are a big and beautiful place. One I think everyone should try to experience beyond Instagram and Facebook. One of my favorite John Muir quotes is, “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.” Only those who have gotten out and really tasted what he was speaking of can fully appreciate the grand power of these words. I promise you, you’ll enjoy yourself. You've just got to give it a chance. Happy trails!
Nick Lanham
Aka Lumberjack Nick
Gear
Tent & footprint
Sleeping bag & mattress
Pillow
Wool blanket
Axe & hatchet
Rope & Tarp
Cooking gear/stove/fuel
Plates/bowls/cups/paper towels/ trash bags/skewers/utensils
Lantern & Fuel
Headlamp & Flashlight
Batteries
Backpack
Water Jug/Bottle
Water Filter
Camp chair & table
Table Cloth
Dish soap/sponge
Patch Kit/Scissors
Hammock
Cornhole/Cards
Clothes & Accessories
Socks & Underwear (extra)
Pants (1-2 pair)
Shirts (1 e/day plus 1 for sleep)
Thermals/long sleeves (2)
Jacket (1)
Wind-Breaker (1)
Sweats (1)
Hike Socks (2)
Boots & Running shoes
Sandals/Flip Flops
Hat
Beanie & Gloves
Toothbrush
Toiletries
Deodorant
Baby Wipes
Bug Spray
Medication/Allergy Pills
Sewing Kit
Towel
Hand warmers
Food (example list)
Eggs
Instant Oatmeal
Easy make pancakes
Bacon
Bread
PB&J/Lunch Meat
Condiments
Hot dogs/Buns
Hamburgers/Buns
Chili/ Baked Beans
Fritos/Chips
Canned Veggies
Whiskey/ Alcohol
Soda
Smores/ Dessert
Snacks/Trail Mix
Noodles
Spices
Oil/ Spray Oil
Ice
Milk/Juice