1. Make a reservation
2. Check your equipment and camp gear
3. Tame the foodie in you!
A campsite is not a place for elaborate cooking sprees. Carry food that is easy to cook and less messy while at the same time supplies you with sufficient nutrients. Some easy and cheap camping cooking items are pancake mixes, egg sandwiches, trail mixes, campfire pizza logs, roasted apples and bananas, pita breads and bagels, marinated baked tofu, tinned fruits, chickpeas, ready-made meals, etc. Ensure that you leave no sign of cooking and eating on the campsite before you leave.
4. Do not be guilty of burning down the wilderness!
Campfires make camping much more fun. However, make sure you act responsibly while handling the campfire. Check for the fire permits, rules and regulations of your campsite. After all, you would not love to be held responsible for torching down the entire area! Around 90% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans. Burning of debris, burning cigarette butts and unattended campfires flares up the wilderness very easily and quickly. Ensure that before you leave for the tent, your campfire is successfully killed. All the wood must completely burn to ash, use water to drown all embers and make sure everything is wet and cold. Dirt and sand can also be used to replace water in case there is scarcity of water in the area.
5. Do not poison yourself!
Try not to be too adventurous and taste the fruits and leaves of wild plants. Some plant products may be dangerous and poisonous. Research thoroughly about the campsite and its flora and fauna before visiting the place. This makes you aware of the precautions to be taken. Poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac, angel trumpet, rosary pea and aconite are some of the poisonous plants to be avoided while camping.
6. Do not invite wild guests to your tent!
It definitely wouldn't be nice if you have a black bear poking its nose into your tent in the dead of the night! Never store food materials inside or near your tent. This invites wild animals to your tent. Always try to cook at some distance from the tent so that the smell of food does not linger near your tent area. If your campsite is prone to bear or wolf visits, use food canisters and packs which prevents the smell of food from emanating out of the package. Store this food about 100 yards or more away from your tents. Bears and wolves rarely attack humans. It is the food that they are attracted to and safely stowing away food items protects you from any kind of invading animal species.
Photography : Arijit Nag at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Consider campsites like hotels. Would you visit a hotel at peak season without making a prior reservation? So is the case with busy campsites, especially front country campsites. If you do not wish to face the terrible disappointment of having to return back from a campsite due to full occupancy, make sure you make your bookings days or sometimes even months in advance.
2. Check your equipment and camp gear
A failure to set up your tent due to defective equipments can lead you into a lot of trouble at the campsite. So, if you are using a new tent or a new set of equipments, always ensure you practice setting up your tent at home in your backyard, or any other open ground. Remember, practice always makes a man perfect! Research thoroughly about what is absolutely essential for camping. Never, ever carry insufficient lighting source for the night. Carry flashlights with sufficient battery back-up. Also carry a well-equipped first-aid kit for emergencies. Learn to tie good camping knots which will be very useful in wilderness survival. Carry waterproof gear with you even if the weather looks clear at the starting of your trip. You can never predict weather accurately.
3. Tame the foodie in you!
A campsite is not a place for elaborate cooking sprees. Carry food that is easy to cook and less messy while at the same time supplies you with sufficient nutrients. Some easy and cheap camping cooking items are pancake mixes, egg sandwiches, trail mixes, campfire pizza logs, roasted apples and bananas, pita breads and bagels, marinated baked tofu, tinned fruits, chickpeas, ready-made meals, etc. Ensure that you leave no sign of cooking and eating on the campsite before you leave.
4. Do not be guilty of burning down the wilderness!
Campfires make camping much more fun. However, make sure you act responsibly while handling the campfire. Check for the fire permits, rules and regulations of your campsite. After all, you would not love to be held responsible for torching down the entire area! Around 90% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans. Burning of debris, burning cigarette butts and unattended campfires flares up the wilderness very easily and quickly. Ensure that before you leave for the tent, your campfire is successfully killed. All the wood must completely burn to ash, use water to drown all embers and make sure everything is wet and cold. Dirt and sand can also be used to replace water in case there is scarcity of water in the area.
5. Do not poison yourself!
Try not to be too adventurous and taste the fruits and leaves of wild plants. Some plant products may be dangerous and poisonous. Research thoroughly about the campsite and its flora and fauna before visiting the place. This makes you aware of the precautions to be taken. Poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac, angel trumpet, rosary pea and aconite are some of the poisonous plants to be avoided while camping.
6. Do not invite wild guests to your tent!
It definitely wouldn't be nice if you have a black bear poking its nose into your tent in the dead of the night! Never store food materials inside or near your tent. This invites wild animals to your tent. Always try to cook at some distance from the tent so that the smell of food does not linger near your tent area. If your campsite is prone to bear or wolf visits, use food canisters and packs which prevents the smell of food from emanating out of the package. Store this food about 100 yards or more away from your tents. Bears and wolves rarely attack humans. It is the food that they are attracted to and safely stowing away food items protects you from any kind of invading animal species.
Photography : Arijit Nag at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
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