Make It Your Place, but Leave No Trace

Make It Your Place, but Leave No Trace

 

There is an art to successful camping and it is different for each person. If you want to love camping, you must think about, what you want to get out of the trip, the length of your trip, then what you must have to make your trip enjoyable.

 

What do you want to do in the great outdoors? Hike to remote places; relax in a secluded spot, or camp in a park near plenty of people. Do you want power or to be unplugged? Don’t think you have to be an adventurer day one to succeed in camping. If you are a people person, or new to the experience, I suggest a campsite where there are others close by. If you are a loner and adventurer, you may want to venture out on your own, but be sure to first do your research and take precautions depending on wild life in the area. Go to park ranger sites such as https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/bears to get lots of local information to make sure you are prepared. Remember the rule two is one and one is none. If you are on your own, you must have backups to be safe. Your gear and needs will change depending on the type of trip you wish to take.

 

How long is your trip? That is the second thing you need to know when planning. Before you start a packing list, you need to know how many days and nights you will be in the wild as well as the weather patterns for the time you are out. I recommend breaking down your list by the day, so you don’t run out of food or essentials. For food you don’t have to plan what you are going to eat exactly when, but if you are going to be out 3 days, you want three breakfasts, lunches and dinners as well as snacks and most importantly, enough water. I have put together my Adventure Cooking Cards that will give you different meals for three full days. I break the food into a bag for each meal, so you know you have everything together. What you can do at home to make meal prep at camp easier is also set aside as well as the tools you need. You can get more elaborate or simple depending on whether you are backpacking or staying in one spot. I do the same for clothing and necessities to make sure I have enough for the trip.

 

The final thing you need to consider, is what you are comfortable with on your adventure. For me, a girl who grew up camping in Texas, but now lives in Montana – bear country. I am not comfortable sleeping in a feed sack… so when we started this journey, I said I want walls when I sleep. Yes, I will admit to being afraid of being a midnight snack. I have heard all the stories of friends who grew up tent camping with no issue, but each year someone is mauled to death by a bear. I am aware, it is typically a person making a really bad decision like keeping food in their tent, or walking around quietly in the woods, but my time in the great outdoors is for relaxation and recharging. I am not an adrenalin junkie, and I have the ability to have a small trailer, so walls it is. That being said, for me, I just want walls at night, so we set have a very small trailer just for sleeping. Our first trip we got a mattress for the back of our Jeep, car camping is another good option if you want walls to sleep. Our bathroom is even a little tent outside. That was an addition after our first trip. I figured, we’re in the woods, when nature calls, it’s just a quick trip into the woods, all is well…. That trip my body decided that for every teaspoon of water I ingested, I must take a bathroom break…. I mean what if I waited and I couldn’t get a good spot? On that trip it seemed like I was having a bathroom crisis every half hour. I was miserable and I have never in my life needed a bathroom more. Not just during the day, but in the middle of the night too. So, for me, leaving without a private bathroom tent is a deal breaker. We bought ours at Cabela’s, and I love it. With a privacy tent near camp, my body has processed water at a normal rate ever since.

 

For me, I little planning makes a worry-free adventure. I plan by rooms in my outdoor house. These are my non negotiables – add as you think about your own needs. Pro tip – have a bin for each room prepack as much as possible, so you don’t have to revisit the list each time. When you are leaving camp or as you go, have paper and make a list of what you need to refill for your next adventure. Have an add to list to perfect your trip…. To take care of the “I wants” for your next trip.

Bedroom

Tent (with steaks and guylines) or trailer

Sleeping bags (sleeping pads or cots if tent camping)

Pillow (can use sleeping bag bag with rolled up coat or clothes if space is an issue)

Kitchen

Food – I plan my food by the meal for each day. I put each meal in a bag of its own with everything I need to keep it organized. If you have some cold and some cabinet space, just number your bags so you can get them back together. I have written Adventure Cooking Cards with detailed recipes and easy prep for a 3-day trip. It groups what you need for each meal. Write down what tools you need for each meal. (Can opener, corkscrew, stirring spoon). I use Loksak and Opsak bags for holding food, Opsak holds in odor.

Folding chairs

Folding table

Camp stove – we use the Tembo Tusk Skottle you can cook anything on it and it can be used during a burn ban. Remember matches/propane/lighter

Utensils per person, plates, cups and bowls, pans

Knives – cutting board

Wash bin and soap - towels

Coffee pot and coffee

Fridge or Cooler (if out several days you can get a bag of dry ice and put it at the bottom, it will help your ice stay frozen longer)

Water (a good gage is 1 to 2 gallons per person per day.)

Living Area

Depending on time of year and weather, do you need a covered area and a rug?

Solar charger/ heater

Bathroom

Privacy Tent

Toilet (Tip if using a bucket toilet, trash bags and kitty litter works well for odor)

Hand sanitizer or basin for hand washing – toilet paper

Portable Shower if needed or Klean Freak wipes are also really good to freshen up.

Your toiletries, what does it take to make you feel human each morning.

Clothing

I think through my body for each day or two. I make a grid and check each day.

Under clothes

Shirt

Pants/shorts

Socks

Shoes/hiking boots/ sandals

Warm layers

Rain gear

Sleeping clothes if needed

Hat/sunglasses

Tools/Misc.

Bear Spray/Bug Spray

First Aid Kit

Meds

Tools - Hammer/ all-purpose tool/ Hatchet or axe/knife

Trash bags – It is important that when you pack up, you take care of all you brought and leave no trace when you leave. Be respectful to all who come after and leave no trace.