7 Tips for camping in the Forest for beginners
Nothing sounds better than camping in a forest with birds chattering over your head, sweet morning breeze passing through your hair and a night of sleeping in a tent beneath the dark sky glittering with stars and waking up with a face swollen due to mosquito bites… Wait what? Mosquito bites? Nope! That's not what you want for your camping trip, right?
If you are planning to camp in the forest and want to make it a perfect little trip without messing up, then my friend, you have found just the article for you. In the following paragraphs, I'll give you some amazing camping tips on how to save your trip from turning into one of those funny stories.
1- Check the Weather Forecast
"It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent."
--- Dave Barry
Nobody wants to have bad weather on the day they decide to go camping. Checking the weather forecast beforehand is a good idea. It always might not be accurate, but it will give you a good enough idea of what to prepare for. Also, you must be prepared for all kinds of situations. Bring some warm sheets, waterproof clothing as well as some sunscreen.
2- Beware of Insects
Going to a forest and not expecting insects is like having a chocolate chip cookie without any chocolate chips. Not possible, right?
Most beginners make the mistake of not taking an insect repellent with them. This can cause some real mess. Even if you can't see many bugs, mosquitoes will always be in the forest to give you a warm welcome at night. To prevent any allergies or annoyance, I'll advise you to carry an insect repellent (especially a mosquito repellent) at all costs! Also, you should take with you some allergy medicines, if needed. Try to wear clothes that cover your arms and legs while camping in the forest. This will help you avoid allergy from wild or poisonous plants as well as keeping insects away.
3- Always Bring a First-aid Box While Camping in the Forest
Camping in a forest can get pretty rough sometimes. It means you can expect getting a few bruises, cuts, and rashes here and there. To ensure your safety while camping and avoid nasty infections, you should have a first-aid kit. The fact that you'll be staying in the forest means that emergency services can't reach you, so your first-aid kit should at least have bandages, antiseptics, ointments, medical tape and basic painkillers. Anyone can tell you a story or two on how a first-aid kit actually saved someone's life. This can prove to be a grand help in case of any emergency.
4- Set Up Your Tent Properly
Your tent can be one of the most important things to your camping site. It needs to be comfortable enough so you can wake up without a strain in your neck.
The first thing you need to do here is the inspection of the camping site. Make sure that the ground is clean and no sharp objects are there. The size of the tent depends upon the number of people who are going to squeeze in. Also, make sure your tent is weather resilient.
Set the tent up properly. You probably wouldn't want to wake up in the middle of the night because your tent fell on you. Watch a few videos on how to set up a tent properly. You can also practice beforehand, unpack your tent before the trip. Your choice of the tent should depend on the weather and the size you need it to be.
5- Take Care of the Fire
Us humans need fire to cook food. Unfortunately, forests usually lack gas stoves. You would actually have to set up a bonfire. It'll help you cook some food and can also be used to sit around in the night and tell (no so)creepy camping stories.
To make a fire, always get the following before starting the trip; fire starters; charcoal for the grills; old newspaper; matches and utensils. Your fire needs to be well attended. Always make sure that the fire is a certain distance away from your tents. And is put out properly so that all the embers are gone. Because these little troublemakers can cause some not-so-little fires.
6- Take a Lot of Water and Food
You'll probably need to bring clean water to drink and use in cooking. Make sure all the food you pack is in waterproof containers. Keep food in insulated containers.
Bring safe and healthy foods on your camping trip. Consuming contaminated food and water can cause the development of certain infectious diseases caused by germs. Always make sure that raw food is separated from cooked food and also make sure to cook your food properly and at a proper temperature.
7- Pack Some Necessary Things
If you're planning to camp in the forest, you should always pack things like; a lot of clothes; some rope and a knife would come in good use when you are going out for a day in the forest. To keep your hygiene intact, you must take soap and sanitizers on the trip.
Take a map of the area where you plan to stay. You would also need a camera to capture the scenes as well as a pair of binoculars to observe your surroundings in a better way.
Conclusion:
Camping is indeed one of the most relaxing things in the busy life of a city guy. It gives you time to sit back and relax for a while, to connect with yourself again.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep..."
---Robert Frost
Sometimes a break from the hustle of this world is all we need. By following these camping tips and hacks properly, any beginner can have an amazing camping experience.