Things You Can't Camp Without

A warmer jacket than you think you will need. Nothing much worse than being cold.

 

man i would take a snow suit if i had one

 

The one thing I could not do without when camping is fire.
It just would not be camping for me if I couldn't sit by the fire at night.
Even if I don't need one, I will build a small ceremonial fire when it gets dark.



Staring into the flames, wondering what could be lurking in the dark woods just beyond your fires light...
Or staring into the night sky,
wondering the same thoughts our primitive ancestors must have had, tens of thousands of years ago...

What are we, where did we come from, and what is beyond?


ZW eace:

 

I agree wholeheartedly with that ZW. I've camped in many places without fire. Either due to lack of wood, too dry/no burn regulations, or torrential downpours haha It's always a bummer. Still if anybody gets a chance check out Isle Royale in lack superior, fantastic park, though fires are no permitted.

 

Toliet paper.

Yes, you can use leaves, but choosing the wrong kind like I did once upon a time can really make life miserable.

If you're in bear country, carry some bear spray. Highly effective in most cases.

A small mirror. If you've ever gotten something in your eye out in the middle of nowhere, you know what I'm talking about.



x

 

fire and tp, k I got it on my list woohoo I can't wait to go camping!

 

And keep the toliet paper DRY. Baggie or something. (I like the heavier freezer type bags) Once it gets wet, leaves are your friend.

Get a referee type whistle. One with the little ball inside. If you need help, that tone can carry for a mile or more.

If you need a signal fire for help, and have a roll of TP, you can soak it in diesel or other fuel and set it ablaze then smother it. A good one can do a smokey burn for an hour.

Bug spray. In the south, you really need this stuff. In a pinch you can use stove fuels or mud. If you have a hammock, you can soak the lines with kerosene or other fuel too. Keeps the bugs from crossing over to you.

There's a million ways to make fire. Unless you're pretending you're on Survivor, be smart. Pack a BIC lighter in the baggie with your toliet paper. Thank me later.

Rubbin' sticks together is too hardcore for me.



x

 

a big fat sack of ganja.

 

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Yes I agree, I'm not a girlscout and my firends arent' either I defianatly will be taking a couple lighters. As for the whistle I don't plan on straying to far away from the campsite or car cuz if a bear tries to attack me I'm heading straight for the car, lol

 

my camera. matches... a vibrator. photo of johnny depp.

 

If you are camping in bear country and you are " Bear-anoid" here's a bit of advice from an old timer from Alaska (not me)
That pepper spray ain't always gonna work for sure...
" Bring a 20 guage shotgun loaded with some #4 shot, and when that ol' bar' finally charges fer shur, wait till she gets within bout three, four feet or so, an blow thar fuckin' face off and run like hell! They can't find what they can't smell or see, and what they can't find, they can't eat! Yup."


When I lived in Colorado, We used to have a secret backpack site right in the heart of a problem Grizzly drop area, a full days hike from the east entrance of the Moffat Tunnel. These were the kind of bears that had been tranqilized so many times they are like fuckin' peep(PCP) heads... very dangerous. The rangers paint orange triangles on their chests and helicopter them into remote areas as a last resort to killing them.


We never brought pepper spray or guns of any sort. We were so fearless,(stupid?) we would pack in frozen steaks that, after the full days hike, would be thawed and ready to roast over the fire as soon as camp was made.
Although we knew about the bears, we were so flip about it, would even joke about attracting them while sitting around roasting our steaks.
(I should mention that we never left food scraps out, and never stowed food in our sleeping area.)
We almost always brought LSD or mushrooms, and inevitably while tripping at night, someone would hear something ( usually deer, coyote, or some other critter) and say " it's probably one of those bears, we are all dead...
Then everyone would crack up.
We never, ever saw a single one.

(
I guess my point is, just don't be "Bearanoid" and you'll be better off. Them "Blackies" you got down there are bigger'n the ones we got up here anyway... they can smell fear too. hahaha

ZWeace:

 

I've had 4 bear encounters thus far. 1 Grizzly (in Glacier). Never a problem, they all took off of their own accord.

 

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Me with a shotgun? Oh shit if I get a shotgun guys you better run, lol!

 

Actually the spray works really well. It's something like 70% stronger than the stuff cops use. It'll almost kill a human.

http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/brownbears/pepperspray/pepperspray.htm



x

 

I worry a lot more about skunks than I do bears.
Skunks have absolutely zero fear of any animal and can be very ornry!
I have had many skunk encounters, but I've never been sprayed! (knock on wood!)
Bringing your dog camping also greatly increases your chances of having your camping trip ruined by a skunk.



ZW

 

Besides all the things mentioned above, I'd have to say coffee. Don't want to go without it. I could probably do without most things, but I feel coffee makes my camping trip most enjoyable.

 

A good folding camp saw makes a big difference when it comes to cutting wood for a fire.

I met a guy at a camp site who brought a propane torch for those really cold nights. We were grateful to him for the fire that night, it got down to fifteen below.

A small trowel like this one is useful for burying your biodegradable waste, which is important for "leave no trace" camping. Bring a bag to carry out your other trash, including spent lighters.

 

Well I live in Florida so I don't have to worry about the cold. Skunks really don't bother me I've dealt with em' before. And I refuse to let my friend take her pit bull camping with us. The dog thinks she is human and has to always sit in a chair never on the floor and is always wondering off while outside.