Camping

All kinds of ways to camp Primitive Tents and some services Tents or a camper and full services Recreational vehicle

Sleeping Bags Best bags is –One made of down –The nylon will wear out first Avoid cotton materials Pad is recommended –Air mattress –Other material

Care of sleeping bag Packing –Best practice is stuffing it into a nylon sack –Then place sack into plastic bag Washing –Warm or cold water only –Half as much detergent –Use extractor (high speed centrifuge) Drying –Low setting –Terry cloth towel will speed drying

Tent A shelter made of: –Nylon –Canvass Has sides and a top Different types –Dome –Ridge –Frame

What size of tent? To be comfortable, the average person needs: –2 ½’ by 7’ to stretch out –Additional ½’ headroom to dress For example a 3-4 person tent is ideal for two people.

Where should you set up tent? Avoid meadows –usually a low area Avoid flat mossy areas –will attract water from miles away Be aware of ground surface –Look for potential trouble due to rain –Glass, sharp objects, low branches

Ground Cloth Should be placed inside the tent –Outside under the tent will trap water Should be plastic-type

Rain Tarp 10’ X 10’ nylon or plastic tarp strung between trees Is great as a “dry area” in wet weather

Camp Stove Types: –Gasoline Most reliable Very volatile –Kerosene Same BTU as gasoline Less volatile –Propane Relatively inexpensive Good heat Packaging can be problem –Butane Cute Unreliable in cooler temperatures

What to look for in a stove? Stability: you don’t want it to tip over Ease of starting: built in pump is best Adjustable flame: especially fine adjustments of the flame Susceptibility to wind: avoid aluminum windscreens, they tend to be flimsy

Knife A good camping knife is: –4” to 5” blade –Thin (1/8”) is best Use a sharpening stone –Raise back of blade 15 to 20 degrees –Push blade down into stone –Maintain a light film of cutting oil or water

Camping Saws & Hatchet Bow Saw Hatchet Folding Saw

Fire Collect all needed materials before beginning Butane lighters work best Have matches available

Building a fire Patience Lay a good foundation of fine tinder Above that: crisscross a few larger twigs As tinder catches, slowly add larger pieces of wood Wet conditions Types of wood

Extinguishing the blaze Where there is smoke there is fire Thoroughly douse everything with water Check the fire with your hands

Ecological Concerns Leftover foods –Either pack it out or burn it Garbage –Burn all garbage –Pack out anything that won’t burn Fish entrails –Bury them as far from campsite as possible Human waste –Dig a “cat hole” (4” to 8” deep) and bury it –Burn the toilet paper Washing dishes –Do at least 100’ from water source

If obtaining water from lake/river Go well away from shoreline Go to deepest point Avoid greenish tinge Avoid stagnant areas From incoming source not outgoing source Not near a beaver dam

Field water purification process Boiling –Must boil the water for at least one minute –Allow water to cool Portable filters –Won’t remove Giardia Chemicals –Don’t work well in the cold

Animals Bears –Don’t confront an aggressive bear –Don’t run away –Back away slowly and calmly –Make yourself appear as “big” as possible –Suggestion: climbing nearest tree?? Remember black bears are very good climbers

Other animals Raccoons –Are very good with their “hands” –Are very inquisitive Skunks –Will sniff out anything –Potent defense! –But also claws and teeth!

Repelling insects DEET Bugs are attracted to dark colors Repellents can dissolve plastics

Your clothing Avoid cotton – a pair of wet jeans could take 14 hours to air dry Best to wear: –Wool –Polypropylene –Gortex –Acrylics –nylon

Hypothermia Hypothermia – killer of the unprepared –Remove wet clothes –“sandwich” victim between two people is the best warming method –Radiant heat will work well too But intense heat can burn sensitive skin

Footwear Lightweight Flexible Wear two pair of socks –Outside layer – wool –Inner layer – lightweight wool or polypropylene –Secret Wear inner layer inside out –Change inner layer daily –Outside layer may be worn 2-3 days

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