| Home | Parties | Educational | Science Fun | Kidstuff | Camping | Feeling Sour? | Writing | Me |
|
Equipment Everyone is bound to have different ideas about what to bring on a trip, but here is a general (an opinionated!) list I've developed over the years, starting with the survival basics and working downwards to the luxury items. I've also added a few tips along the way. Basic Needs:For every trip you will need shelter, food, clean water and proper clothing. The shelter will most likely be a tent, but, depending on the time and location, could also be a cabin, trailer, bivy or yurt. Each camper will need a sleeping bag or their equivalent. Tents When choosing a tent, consider the type of camper you are, how many people will be using it and at what location and time of year. Be sure that the tent fly reaches down to the ground so that rainy days are dry days inside the tent, and add liquid seam sealer to all the seams at the beginning of each season. Look for shock-corded aluminum poles rather than more fragile fibreglass poles which tend to splinter. Air your tent after each trip, and hang it up to store it, or bundle it loosely (do not roll it) in a larger bag (not the bag it came with). Occasionally washing out the tent in a bathtub can further extend its useful life. Occasionally rubbing a bar of soap up and down the zipper may help extend its life. Sleeping Bags When choosing a sleeping bag, avoid those with the seams sewn through all the layers. Bulk doesn't always mean warmth, and the temperature ratings can vary between manufacturers and with the size of the person using the bag. Cotton or flannel linings tend to hold moisture from sweat, humidity and dampness and are best avoided. Look for coordinating sleeping bags that can zip together. Couples can stretch out better and stay warmer when zipped together. This once helped when one of us (who shall remain nameless) once developed hypothermia. You can get away with a cheaper bag if you only camp a night or two a year, and only in good summer weather, but beyond that, consider purchasing a better quality bag. Always stuff rather than roll your bag to avoid stressing the same seams and bunching up the fill in the same places. Store hanging up or stuffed loosely in an oversized breathable fabric bag. A makeshift sleeping bag can also be fashioned by pinning wool and/or fleece blankets together, but isn't the best long-term solution. Food Preparation Along with your food, you will need all tools necessary for preparation and clean the water. This could include a single burner butane, white gas or propane stove with fuel (don't depend on a fire for cooking your food), or a larger Coleman-style stove. Don't forget camp pots, plates, cutlery and a means of lighting the stove. Some parks near urban areas may have municipally treated drinking water but most often you will need to purify the water yourself. Best is a filter designed for the purpose, such as a Katadyn filter. Other options are to boil the water, or treat it with iodine (only for very short trips!) or chlorine bleach. Clothing Proper clothing will vary depending on the weather, length of trip, and the activities you intend to do. If you want to swim in a more public area, you will need a bathing suit and either a camp towel or regular towel. Otherwise, be sure to have warmer and cooler wear. Canoers and backpackers usually minimize and just bring a single change of clothing and perhaps an extra pair of socks and underwear. Kids may need one extra change of clothing in case of mud or food "incidents". Be sure to pack sun hats, sun protection and suitable footwear for everyone. Younger kids will need diapers--for shorter trips, cloth are best. Longer trips may require laundering (not a big deal when car camping, but a bit of a hassle in the wilderness), or you can bring a few disposables for that last day. Neither option make for light carrying as all will need to be packed out of the wilderness, just like your used toilet paper will be carried out. You can burn toilet paper; don't try and burn disposable diapers! Other Essentials If you depend on medication, it is a good idea to bring along an extra day's worth. A simple first aid kit is a good idea. Besure that you know how to use everything that is inside or you will be carting aroud extra useless weight. Also remember to restock it after every trip as necessary. Sunscreen or other means of sun protection are important, and insect repellant may be a necessity or just a luxury depending on where and when you are travelling. Almost Essential Items These are items you can survive without, but might seriously inhibit the enjoyment of the trip if left behind. Any paddling? You will need the boat, paddles, pfds for everyone (professional floatation devices), a whistle and a bailer (any pot or container will do). A personal water bottle can help to ensure that everyone stays hydrated. Dehydration is very common for campers. Be sure that everyone gets enough fluids, and remember that salt and other electrolytes are an essential part of everyone's diet. If you are travelling at all during the trip, a detailed map of the area is essential, and a compass is a very good idea as well. Flashlights make night time trips safer and more comfortable. Be sure to have enough battery power to last the entire trip. Kids should carry a whistle with them to be used only in emergencies. This is also a good idea for the adults. A tarp can make a rainy day more bearable. Try adapting a regular one by adding extra grommets and/or webbing loops to make it easier to set up. Rope (avoid the yellow type as it doesn't hold knots very well) will help in many ways, from allowing you to hang your food, rig up a tarp, make a quick clothesline and to use as painters on the canoe. Good quality duct tape has been know to help with the temporary repair of anything from canoes to sleeping pads and tent zippers. A sharp pocket knife can be useful. Look for the attachments you are most likely to use. A larger candle, candle lantern or battery lantern may come in handy when there are fire bans, or you choose not to light a fire. Sleeping pads, from the closed-cell mats, to the self-inflating luxury pads can make sleep more comfortable. One friend brings a hug bed-sized air mattress and foot pump. This works only for car camping though, not wilderness trips! If it works for you, bring along insect repellant. If not, consider using bug nets. You can get these that cover just your head, your entire torso and head, and even bug pants. Be careful around open flames though, as most are not fire retardant. A bear bell on your pack may give you peace of mind when backpacking in bear country. A camera to record your memories. Child carrier (backpack or sling). Personal toiletries. Toilet paper. You can survive without it, and most campgrounds supply it. Wilderness campers will need to bring their own and either burn it or pack it out again with them. If your site has a thunder box on it, you can leave used toilet paper in the thunder box, but don't save it all up from the whole trip and dump it there, and never, ever leave diapers behind! Burying toilet paper isn't a good solution. Toilet paper, even the most biodegradable versions, takes a long time to break down. Many animals like to dig up anything that has been buried. Even if they don't, weather etc. often has a way of bringing the stuff to the surface. No one likes to set up camp among wads of used toilet paper! If you choose natural substitutes, aka leaves, pinecones, etc. be sure to avoid poison ivy and poison oak. Always relieve yourself in the designated area, or if there is none, at least 200 feet from any water source, and well away from the campsite and any trails. Bury your waste in the top 15 cm of soil but pack out or burn the toilet paper. For more info on this delicate issue, I recommend the books: Soft Paths by Bruce Hampton and David Cole and How to Sh*t in the Woods (sorry, I didn't name it!) by Kathleen Meyer. Luxury Items Most of these are best left for car camping, although you might wish to take a treasured luxury or two from this list into the wilderness.
|
New!