First Time Campers at Hiking Town

First Time Campers

So you want to rough it in the great outdoors? Camping is a wonderful past time, a great way to spend vacations and holidays, and can offer you the rest and relaxation that you're looking for. With the availability of camping products and quality state or private campgrounds, camping can hardly be considered “roughing it” nowadays, but you do get the opportunity to sleep away from home, enjoy quiet and fresh air, and be closer to nature.

Before taking your very first camping trip, you will need some basic supplies. It's important not to go overboard purchasing camping gear at first, until you've gone camping a few times and you're sure you will enjoy it. However, before heading out, make sure you have the necessities. First, you'll need a place to sleep. You definitely don't want to sleep under the stars, as romantic as that seems, because chances are- you're going to get soaked when it rains, or freeze when the temperatures drop at night. While you may decide a camper or RV is your style, for the first couple camping trips, you should purchase a tent to serve as your shelter. Practice setting it up a few times at home to make sure you're able to do it correctly, and to make sure it has all of the required tent stakes and materials to withstand wind and storms in case they occur while you are camping. You'll also want to have a nice heavy sleeping bag or at the very least, several warm blankets to snuggle underneath at night. Temperatures can vary greatly in the woods, so even if it's 95 degrees and sunny during the day, don't be surprised if it's cold at night.

You will also need a way to cook your meals. A small gas cook top is sufficient, or if your camping location allows you to have campfires, you can always make all of your meals over an open fire. So you'll also need to bring a few pots and pans, and dishes to eat out of. To keep meats and vegetables and milk cold, you'll want a cooler of some kind and ice. You can purchase blocks or cubes of ice from the store, or you can prepare ahead of time and freeze water inside empty milk cartons. These big blocks of ice will stay frozen longer than cubes.

First time campers also need some lights for when the sun goes down and it's very dark under the trees. Gas lanterns are fairly inexpensive, and will probably last your entire camping trip without having to replace the propane tank that keeps them lit. The other option is to bring a few flashlights and extra batteries. You'll want the flashlights even if you use a gas lantern to light up your camping area at night, in case you need to walk through the woods or find something packed in the trunk of the car or cooler at night.

All campers, whether they've been camping for 50 years or are setting out on their first trip, should bring a fully packed first aid kit. The most common camping injuries will include insect bites, allergic reactions to different plants or insects, blisters, cuts, and small wounds from falling or scraping something on branches or rocks. It's a good idea to purchase a ready-made first aid kit that comes complete with a first-aid manual. This will help you know how to treat different injuries. First-aid kits should include bandaids for small cuts, gauze and tape for larger wounds, antibacterial ointments, pain relievers, scissors or tweezers, and maybe an ace bandage in case someone twists or breaks an ankle. The “second skin” medical product will help protect blisters or cover small scrapes and cut to allow them to heal without getting more dirt in them.

First time campers should not go overboard with purchasing camping gear, just in case they decide camping is not their cup of tea- but if they have the necessities, chances are the camping trip will be successful and enjoyable- and higher quality supplies can be purchased for future trips!

This article has been provided courtesy of Hiking Town. Hiking Town offers great selection of hiking articles available for reprint and other tools to help you get the best bargain on hiking equipment and more.

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<H3>First Time Campers</H3>
So you want to rough it in the great outdoors? Camping is a
wonderful past time, a great way to spend vacations and holidays, and
can offer you the rest and relaxation that you're looking for. With the
availability of camping products and quality state or private
campgrounds, camping can hardly be considered “roughing it” nowadays,
but you do get the opportunity to sleep away from home, enjoy quiet and
fresh air, and be closer to nature.

Before taking your very first camping trip, you will need some basic
supplies. It's important not to go overboard purchasing camping gear at
first, until you've gone camping a few times and you're sure you will
enjoy it. However, before heading out, make sure you have the
necessities. First, you'll need a place to sleep. You definitely don't
want to sleep under the stars, as romantic as that seems, because
chances are- you're going to get soaked when it rains, or freeze when
the temperatures drop at night. While you may decide a camper or RV is
your style, for the first couple camping trips, you should purchase a
tent to serve as your shelter. Practice setting it up a few times at
home to make sure you're able to do it correctly, and to make sure it
has all of the required tent stakes and materials to withstand wind and
storms in case they occur while you are camping. You'll also want to
have a nice heavy sleeping bag or at the very least, several warm
blankets to snuggle underneath at night. Temperatures can vary greatly
in the woods, so even if it's 95 degrees and sunny during the day,
don't be surprised if it's cold at night.

You will also need a way to cook your meals. A small gas cook top is
sufficient, or if your camping location allows you to have campfires,
you can always make all of your meals over an open fire. So you'll also
need to bring a few pots and pans, and dishes to eat out of. To keep
meats and vegetables and milk cold, you'll want a cooler of some kind
and ice. You can purchase blocks or cubes of ice from the store, or you
can prepare ahead of time and freeze water inside empty milk cartons.
These big blocks of ice will stay frozen longer than cubes.

First time campers also need some lights for when the sun goes down
and it's very dark under the trees. Gas lanterns are fairly
inexpensive, and will probably last your entire camping trip without
having to replace the propane tank that keeps them lit. The other
option is to bring a few flashlights and extra batteries. You'll want
the flashlights even if you use a gas lantern to light up your camping
area at night, in case you need to walk through the woods or find
something packed in the trunk of the car or cooler at night.

All campers, whether they've been camping for 50 years or are
setting out on their first trip, should bring a fully packed first aid
kit. The most common camping injuries will include insect bites,
allergic reactions to different plants or insects, blisters, cuts, and
small wounds from falling or scraping something on branches or rocks.
It's a good idea to purchase a ready-made first aid kit that comes
complete with a first-aid manual. This will help you know how to treat
different injuries. First-aid kits should include bandaids for small
cuts, gauze and tape for larger wounds, antibacterial ointments, pain
relievers, scissors or tweezers, and maybe an ace bandage in case
someone twists or breaks an ankle. The “second skin” medical product
will help protect blisters or cover small scrapes and cut to allow them
to heal without getting more dirt in them.

First time campers should not go overboard with purchasing camping
gear, just in case they decide camping is not their cup of tea- but if
they have the necessities, chances are the camping trip will be
successful and enjoyable- and higher quality supplies can be purchased
for future trips!

This article has been provided courtesy of Hiking Town. Hiking Town offers great selection of <a href=\"http://www.hikingtown.com/articles/\">hiking articles</a> available for reprint and other tools to help you get the best bargain on <a href=\"http://www.hikingtown.com/\">hiking equipment</a> and more.