Peace of Mind in the Great Outdoors
Part of my impetus for moving to the Pacific Northwest had to do with the vast natural splendor that’s all around. You can barely drive a few miles without coming across a national park, a scenic overlook or a pristine natural waterway. I’ve done my share of camping and hiking back home in the rural South, but the terrain and wildlife are decidedly different here.
When I told some friends and acquaintances about my future camping plans, they told me to beware of black bears that often make their home in the Cascades. Luckily I know all about protecting my food from bears in the backcountry, but I wasn’t exactly sure what to do in the event of an outright attack on my family tent. A friend clued me in about the effectiveness of bear mace, which can mean the difference between life and death out in the woods.
Plan Ahead for Successful Hikes
You don’t want to worry about forgetting anything while you are having fun camping or hiking. That is why it is a good idea to make a checklist before packing and making sure to check items off it before you leave. This will ensure that you have everything you need well at hand.
Place all your valuable gear in a durable, lightweight bag that is especially designed for an outdoor adventure. No matter how fit you are, a hiking stick is a good idea, as it will help you conserve energy. Even if you are heading out in the early morning and plan to be back before lunchtime, it’s still wise to bring along a lantern. It can get dark real quick out in the forest, so a good light source is a necessity. When going on long hikes, always bring hiking tents, even if you’re not planning to spend the night in the wilderness; it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also be sure to bring some water purification tablets and high energy food bars, just in case.
Camping in Comfort
Living in the Pacific Northwest, the prime days to go camping are few and far between. When we first moved here, my wife and I were reluctant to take part in outdoor activities in adverse weather conditions, but we’ve learned that you have to embrace the torrential rainstorms if you ever want to get outside. We did have to invest in a few extra pieces of camping gear however.
One of the essentials was a truck camper, just in case the weather was too severe during one of our excursions. It has proved to be a sound investment, as we have been forced to use it multiple times already. During the summer we prefer to rough it, so we pull out our dome tents and head out with just our basic supplies.
Head Lamps
After a long day of getting to your camp site, a lot of times it is dark. You have to setup your tent and can’t see how to put everything in place. You have a flashlight in one hand and tent items in the other, which makes it difficult.
There is a way of doing this easier and that is using a head lamp. It frees your hands and allows you to direct the light right where you are looking. It also works great when you are doing other tasks in setting up your camp.
Camp Stoves
When you are camping, food always tastes better in the fresh air.
Sometimes you may not want to work over a hot stove, or maybe you would like to save gas for those
breakfasts that are always so good.
There is an answer to all that. It is called sun ovens , which uses solar power to cook your food.
This can be a very handy item in an emergency power outage to cook those meals for the hungry mouths.
A Little Cover from the Sun
It just so happened that one of my best friends from college ended up settling down in the same part of the country as me. Over the years, he’s become famous for throwing an enormous beach blowout for a weekend during the tail end of summer. I take the whole family over to his lakeside property for an afternoon of swimming, jet skiing and barbecuing.
As the designated grill master for these events, I bring two portable canopies and set them up in the fine, white sand. One outdoor canopy is reserved for people who want some respite from the sun’s harsh glare, while the other one is intended to house the grill. One of these years I’d like to offer up my house for a summer bash, but it definitely lacks a certain beachside charm.
Camping Chairs
When you have been out hiking or fishing all day and come back to camp tired you probably would like to sit and relax. Wouldn’t it be nice to have somewhere soft, where you can do just that.
There are camp chairs that will allow you to put your feet up and just think about the the day. When you take the weight off those sore feet by propping them up, it just helps you feel better all over and really enjoy life.
Why You Should Go Camping
There are many reasons to go camping. The health benefits associated with being outdoors and in the sunshine not only adds vitamin D to your body, but has many other benefits. It has been proven that indoor air is 100% more polluted than outdoor air! Shocking isn’t it! Half of all illnesses are attributed to indoor air. Some of the contributing factors can be carpets and drapes. Dust collected in these can be very toxic.
There is nothing like good old sunshine and fresh air when you are out camping to make you feel better.The allergens such as dust and mold found in buildings and homes can be cleansed with fresh air. There is nothing like feeling better. Camping is also a relaxing and inexpensive way to vacation and have fun.
Playtime Outside
During the summertime, it’s borderline criminal for kids to be restricted to the confines of the home. When I was growing up, my parents would never let me watch TV or play videogames when the sun was shining. But today, kids and parents alike seem more content to stay indoors, texting, surfing the internet or simply doing nothing.
It’s important to instill in your children the importance of being active. And one of the best ways to do this is by purchasing them games and toys designed for the outdoors. Outdoor play tents for kids are tailor-made for this purpose. Many small children-and grownups for that matter-are enchanted by the idea of sleeping outside under the stars, and a play tent is the perfect motivation to get them out of the house and exploring nature.
Things to Think of
When buying a tent there are a number of things to think about. First of all the quality of the tent is very important. The material, fasteners, floors, fly and windows are very important. If you are going to be back packing, weight and size are very important considerations. Sometimes quality influences weight.
As you shop for a tent it is very important that all things are considered. This helps alleviate concerns when you are out enjoying yourself. Have the fun!