How To Take Down the Camping Bullies: Rain and Cold

When camping, there are two things that people believe that will absolutely ruin their camping experience. If it rains, even some of repeat campers will pack it up and head home. If it gets cold, many people choose the comfort of the indoors compared to the great outdoors. I’m here to tell you, I’ve weathered the bitter cold and pouring rain, and those have been some enjoyable camping experiences. You may be asking, “How could you enjoy yourself when you are wet and freezing?” The answer is simple, prepare for the worst and enjoy yourself when the worst comes. Nature is a nasty thing sometimes, but as the Boy Scouts of America say, “Be Prepared!”. Preparation before going out into the wilderness is the best way to guarantee that not even rain and temperature will get you down. There are some specific things you can do to prepare though, before you even leave the house. First, if you have the available funds, purchase a low-grade temperature sleeping bag. Yes, there are different degree qualifications that individual sleeping bags have. Sometimes the right sleeping bag can make all the difference on a cold night in the forest. Secondly, check the weather before you leave to go to your campsite and pack accordingly. I don’t mean check the weather three days before and just assume the weather forecaster is telling the truth. I always check the weather about fifteen minutes before I depart, that way I can tell if anything unexpected three days earlier has come about. This last minute check can be a major tool for you and your camping experience. Finally, make sure all your equipment is up to par quality wise. The worst experience I ever had camping was an outing when my propane heater had a leaking hose and went out a couple of hours into the night. This could have been avoided if I had only checked all of my equipment before I loaded up the truck to go out. Although preparation before one reaches the campsite is vital, the time of proof is when you are actually in the camping environment. There are some things that I have become supportive of during my camping experiences that can help you stay warm and dry in the outdoors. First, a few tips for staying dry. My favorite tent-leakage prevention is to tarp over and under your tent. Before setting your tent up, lay down a thick, preferably waterproof plastic sheet on the ground to set your tent upon. It serves as a barrier between your tent and the ground which helps prevent water coming up through the bottom of your tent. The tarp over the top of the tent serves as a raincoat for your tent. Although your tent is waterproof, this extra layer is double protection and can make the difference in a wild weather experience. For keeping your person dry in the outdoors, my favorite tool is duct tape. Yes, duct tape, the most versatile and useful tool for the camper. Create seals around the openings of your outer clothing so that you don’t have any surprise wetness. Tape up the openings to your shoes by duct taping the bottom of your pants to the tops of your shoes. Although this is hard to get out of, it is hard for water to get in. Make the decision for yourself: would you rather be dry or be able to get your shoes off easily? I have been camping in a three day steady rain before and if it wasn’t for my tent rain coat and my duct tape, I would have been miserable. Moving on to the cold aspect of a camping experience, there are a few proven methods to keep warm that I would like to share with you. The first, layers are your friend, but too many layers are just annoying. Try to use the fewest layers possible while still staying warm, you will enjoy your experience much more if you are comfortable in the clothes that you have on. Being cold usually takes its biggest toll during the night time, as most people succumb to the cold during the night hours. After getting the best sleeping bag as I mentioned above, there are a few practical ways to actually keep you warmer. A camping trick I learned from the homeless people that I have been around, newspaper is an excellent insulator. Try stuffing some crumpled up newspapers in your sleeping bag at night and I guarantee it will help, at least a little. Another tip that I have acquired over my years of camping is to change your clothes right before you get into your sleeping bag. This is a scientific tip because it is proven that the oil from your skin on the inside of your clothes that you have been wearing all day makes you feel colder. So by changing your clothes right before you get nestled in for the night will help your body keep itself warmer as it does not have the excess oil to hinder it. Camping in a foot of snow is a fun experience, I loved it, but it must be done correctly or you will suffer from the cold. The best way to avoid being bullied by the elements is to prepare and use common sense. My tips are easily implemented and probably have been thought of by many of you before. From an experienced camper and a previous Boy Scout, I recommend that you use these tips to help you enjoy the great outdoors. The most enjoyable experiences are those you meet head on and control, not the other way around. Never let nature control you, always stay one step ahead.