Tips When Camping
Although these may seem common sense to most people, I just want to add my 2 cents worth. Some of these tips nobody seems to cover. These are lessons I have learned either by the hard way or just common sense.
- NO RUNNING There are rocks, branches, slippery pine needles, wet weeds and grass. So when hiking it's not worth being in a hurry, watch where you are walking. We are all human, we will trip, fall and yes bleed. Every trip is an investment, and it normally pays off every weekend but if you get hurt, your trip is usually a bust. Children are notorious for running around. Make them aware of the hazards it would make your day easier.
Packing Your Backpack
- Make sure your backpack is well packed and secured. I always make a habit of the last thing I pack is my rope. It's easily reached and could come in handy in a time of need. Strap that pack tight against your body, so not to shift. If it shifts while hiking it can easily throw you off balance. Don't overload your pack. For example, when I was carrying a 2" dredge and all my equipment on my back, gas cans in one hand and a large pry bar in the other, I slipped on leaves when I was hiking up a steep hillside trail and did some tumbling. Trust me, don't carry more than you can handle. There have been many times when I have had to make two or more trips hiking in because I still needed some camping gear and food.
Determining Hip Belt Size
The hip belt (1) should cup your hips and when cinched tightly, the pads should not touch.- Women with straight or narrow hips may prefer a standard hip belt
- Women (and men) with more curve to their hips should choose a women's-specific model
Shoulder straps should anchor to the backpack just below the bony protrusion at the base of your neck and the crest of your shoulders. They should wrap comfortably, yet securely, around the shoulders and should be at least 5" below the armpit.
Sternum Straps
These are meant to keep your shoulder straps from sliding off your shoulders under a load (2). They are not meant to support weight and should never be pulled so tightly that they restrict breathing.
Loading Your Pack for Camping and Hiking Pack
- A lot of packs have zipper compartments to store your most frequently used gear, giving you easy access on the trail
- If your pack doesn't have a separate bottom, the most sensible place to pack your sleeping bag is in the bottom of your pack, as you won't have to remove it until you set up camp
- Prioritize your items. Frequently used items go in pockets at the top of your pack, and least likely to use items go at the bottom of your pack
- Internal frame packs: Heaviest gear should go in the center of your pack for optimal stability and balance
- External frame packs: Heavy duty items at the top
- Put your most frequently needed items within reach such as your cell phone, maps, GPS, snacks, etc.
- Tighten all straps to eliminate empty space and gear shifting
- Bring duct tape for quick fixes with poles, tent fabrics and panels
- Don't attach too much to the external area of your backpack, it can get lost easily in brush and affect your stability
- If you will be carrying a heavy duty backpack with a large load, use trekking poles because "four legs are better than two"
- Zipper repair: You can use paracords or even dental floss for a quick fix to a zipper with a needle and thread
- Duct tape: Always a good item to carry in your backpack. Duct tape can be a quick fix for torn fabric, broken equipment and accessories
- Paracords: Can be used to repair a broken zipper, or replace a zipper pull. Can temporarily replace straps as well
- Hang dry in closet after season to ensure quality and long-lasting use
Fire Safety
- No-one wants to be responsible for starting a forest fire. Here are a few simple rules to make your campsite safe.
- Keep fires away from overhanging branches.
- Clear a 5-foot area around the fire ring, removing all burnable debris down
to the mineral soil. - Avoid building campfires on dry, windy days.
- Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby in case of an
emergency. - Stack your firewood upwind and well away from the campfire.
- Really there is no reason to build a huge fire, It makes it a bit unsafe.
- Gasoline is heavier than air. If by chance you use any liquid fuel to start your fire, remember this. The vapors will stay low to the ground and leave the fire pit. Once you strike your match, the vapors that has spread around you will ignite also. If you forget, and you do the dance of holy crap! You will remember next time.
Gasoline lanterns, stoves, and heaters should be allowed to cool prior to refueling. The appliance should be refueled on the ground, in an area cleared for that purpose. If fuel is spilled, move the appliance to a new location before lighting. Close fuel container and store in a safe place. Do not light lanterns or stoves inside your tent, trailer or camper. Be sure to provide adequate ventilation when using these appliances in confined spaces.
Never hang a lantern against a tree. The heat generated by the lantern damages the bark and may cause the tree to die.
Parking in tall grass or shrubs can start fires because of the hot catalytic converter comes into contact with dry plant material. The exhaust system on a vehicle can reach a temperature of more that 1,000 degrees. It only takes 500 degrees to start a wildfire during the fire season . Don't park where vegetation is touching the underside of your vehicle. Motorcycles and ATV's should have spark arresters installed. All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) produce an enormous amount of heat and can ignite brush from their exhaust systems.
NOTE: Forest Rangers will site you for not wearing a helmet and will check for expired registration.
If you smoke, don't smoke in dry grassy or wooded areas. It easy to knock off your head ( your cigarette head) and not even know it. Don't hike around and smoke, have a seat on the trail or around the campfire site. PLEASE PLEASE, pocket your filters! Every time I come home, my wife bitches at me for having butts in my pockets when they hit the laundry. Better than littering them in the hills. While working the bedrock at times I will make a pile of filters and scoop them up when I leave. Once I had forgotten to get them and had to go back and pick them up. It's not worth it. Pocket them!
Any and all gasoline engines being run in the forest must have a forestry approved spark arrestor. This includes chain saws, electric generators, dredging and mining equipment.
In the heat of the summer, Placer county for example, will not allow any campfires or gas stoves permit or not. Propane is acceptable. If a Ranger happens to come by and you have a fire going at the restricted time, you will be fined. However, if you have a permit the fine will not be as steep.
Never hang a lantern against a tree. The heat generated by the lantern damages the bark and may cause the tree to die.
Parking in tall grass or shrubs can start fires because of the hot catalytic converter comes into contact with dry plant material. The exhaust system on a vehicle can reach a temperature of more that 1,000 degrees. It only takes 500 degrees to start a wildfire during the fire season . Don't park where vegetation is touching the underside of your vehicle. Motorcycles and ATV's should have spark arresters installed. All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) produce an enormous amount of heat and can ignite brush from their exhaust systems.
NOTE: Forest Rangers will site you for not wearing a helmet and will check for expired registration.
If you smoke, don't smoke in dry grassy or wooded areas. It easy to knock off your head ( your cigarette head) and not even know it. Don't hike around and smoke, have a seat on the trail or around the campfire site. PLEASE PLEASE, pocket your filters! Every time I come home, my wife bitches at me for having butts in my pockets when they hit the laundry. Better than littering them in the hills. While working the bedrock at times I will make a pile of filters and scoop them up when I leave. Once I had forgotten to get them and had to go back and pick them up. It's not worth it. Pocket them!
Any and all gasoline engines being run in the forest must have a forestry approved spark arrestor. This includes chain saws, electric generators, dredging and mining equipment.
In the heat of the summer, Placer county for example, will not allow any campfires or gas stoves permit or not. Propane is acceptable. If a Ranger happens to come by and you have a fire going at the restricted time, you will be fined. However, if you have a permit the fine will not be as steep.
We all know what happens if you leave a fire unattended or not completely out. You need to practice the drown and stir method of completely extinguishing your fire.
If you use charcoal, which many people do, don't bury them, don't toss them in the dirt or sand to cool off, make sure they are completely cold and pack the ashes out with you as trash. If there is an existing campfire provided for you, then you could leave the COLD ashes in the pit. I guess, I do. Areas like Siskiyou County prohibits you from using rocks for a ring or a windbreak. This blackens the rocks making them unnatural. You can dig a hole and use a metal trash can lid at the bottom. Just remember not to leave any evidence of a fire, fill in your hole.
One last tip... if using river rock, don't use wet ones. They can build up pressure and steam and will crack.
Some may even explode.
If you use charcoal, which many people do, don't bury them, don't toss them in the dirt or sand to cool off, make sure they are completely cold and pack the ashes out with you as trash. If there is an existing campfire provided for you, then you could leave the COLD ashes in the pit. I guess, I do. Areas like Siskiyou County prohibits you from using rocks for a ring or a windbreak. This blackens the rocks making them unnatural. You can dig a hole and use a metal trash can lid at the bottom. Just remember not to leave any evidence of a fire, fill in your hole.
One last tip... if using river rock, don't use wet ones. They can build up pressure and steam and will crack.
Some may even explode.
Noise
- NOISE. I make it a rule after the sun goes down, so does your voice. Its quiet time. If other campers are around they don't want to hear loud talking, yelling or engines running. Early evening until bed time is a time to reflect on what you did that day and plan on what to do the next. My favorite time of the day is just before bed, looking up at the stars and relaxing with just the sound of the river flowing and the breeze in the trees. Come morning, anything goes! Don't you just love the smell of bacon and eggs in the morning air?'