Every time I go camping, I make a list of things I absolutely need. And every year, I forget something that ends up making a big difference. Now I want to be completely clear here. While RVs are fine as far as portable living rooms, when I say camping, I mean old. You know—in your tent. Camp is not a retreat from nature unless you pitch a tent, sleep on the ground, and cook around the camp. Whether you pitch a tent in the deep desert or on a lot in a state park, camping exposes you to the elements. and certain things you need to make your trip to your camp a success. Here are ten things to put on your list that you won’t want to forget.
1. Hammer
In order to fix your tent well, you need to drive some stakes into the ground. This is where your trusty hammer comes in. If you’ve forgotten a hammer, expect to spend too much time on tent poles often trampling with flip-flops, then trashing your car for a heavy book.
2. A strong rope
Chances are, you chose your campsite because of its proximity to the beach. Every time you are going to swim, take a shower, or wash your clothes, you are going to do something with a wet towel, or clothes. If it rains and your tent floods, you’ll also have a wet sleeping bag on your hands.
Don’t forget to string the rope between the two trees for the Clothesline. There is nothing worse than a pile of damp material on the floor of your tent, making your sleeping area smelly.
3. Newspaper
Buy wood and branches when you get to your camp, but you’ll need some papers to get the camp fire going. (Don’t bring your own wood into the camp. Moving wood from one area to another is how things like emerald ash borers wipe out all the ash trees in three states.) When in state parks, sometimes you can find discarded leaves dropped in a trash can, but usually not a spare piece of paper around a busy weekend. Instead of burning all other camping supplies (like paper plates), take your old newspapers and your junk mail to get the fire started .
4. Lighter Liquid
Campers might object to this suggestion, but the rest of us might find lighter liquids useful. I don’t know about your luck, but every time I set up camp, I seem to hit the summer season. If it rains, all the wood and wood in the area will be wet, and little else will start a fire. That’s where the lighter fluid comes in. At least you could drive twenty minutes to the nearest store in the hope that they have a bottle left (and pay its over-inflated price). Or you could be prepared and bring your own.
5. Garbage Bag
I know a lot of people who want to burn their trash in the fields, but there is some trash (like plastic) that you shouldn’t burn and trash (like glass bottles) that you shouldn’t burn.
Take several garbage bags and tie one as many as you can to a tree. This will theoretically keep animals out of your garbage. I recently found a rare tribe of acrobatic raccoons in northern Michigan, but most of the time your garbage will be safer. in a tree than on the ground.
Outside trash bags are great for taking home recyclables and carrying your dirty camping clothes and bedding. If you put your camping clothes and straws on the lawn before you come home, you will bring even fewer foreign insects into your home.
6. Beach book
My mother loves camping because there is often absolutely nothing to do. Take a beach book or six so that when you’re stuck in your tent through the rain or staring out into the sand, you’ll have something mind-blowing to keep you occupied. Otherwise, the camp would seem tad…boring.
7. First Aid Kit
Murphy’s Law states that if you don’t take a first aid kit on your camping trip, you will get hurt badly. Plus, you’re bound to accept the usual camping-related scrapes and bumps. At the very least, you should pack a band aid, antiseptic, and vinegar bandage in your backpack. Ideally, you’ll go to the grocery store and buy a really good first kit that will prepare you for a myriad of outdoor Medical emergencies.
8. Phone Cards
You get better and better cell phones, but on the off chance that you camp in a deserted area that doesn’t get cell phone reception , it helps to have a phone card in an emergency. Besides, you don’t want to spend three dollars on a phone just to call your cats home.
9. Sunscreen
Don’t wait until your skin is already toasty on the beach to remember you forgot sunscreen. When your skin starts to sag and peel off in patches, the camp doesn’t seem as fun as the day before getting sunburned your
10. Outside the Udones
Most people think that one pair of socks per day is enough. This is true when you camp, though. Weather, a long hike, or just a nasty puddle of mud all deserve a change of socks, especially if you want to protect your feet from fungus. For every for every day I take two pairs of socks to camp. It’s better to have too many socks than not enough!
