Camping holidays are always fun. They are a great way to get closer to nature and enjoy time outdoors. However, a great outdoor experience starts with proper planning. In this piece, we will focus on how to avoid making mistakes while setting up your tents.
Decide on the proper tent
The type of tent to carry for your camping trip should be determined by the type of camping you are embarking on. Are you pitching a tent in the campground? Then you can go with a heavy dome one. If you are going on a back-packing camping expedition, however, a lightweight tent is the best option. Here is more on choosing the right tent.
Stick to the rules
When choosing the best campsite, many people place comfort ahead of every other thing, and rightly so. However, the rules cannot be ignored. The exact rules vary from one national park or forest to the other but one common rule is that you should only set your camp more than 200 feet from the nearest water source. This is to protect sensitive plants around the shoreline and also ensure no one pollutes the water. Check if there are other conservation rules before you lay your tent.
Check the lay of the land
The best location to set your tent is an area that is flat, not bumpy and has good drainage. Sleeping in a tent that is setup on a steep slope is not advisable, as there is a possibility of you sliding downhill in the middle of the night.
Use a ground cloth
Before you start fitting the polls together and stretching the canvas, you need to lay a waterproof cloth down on the ground first. This cloth provides a slim barrier of protection between the bottom of the tent and anything that may puncture through it. It is also good for protecting against ground-level condensation. The ground sheet may also be useful as a rain shield for your cooking area.
Protect your food
A well setup tent should protect your food from wildlife and spoilage. This will ensure you don’t make it easy for animals to steal your food. Many camping resorts frown on campers being careless with food, as it isn’t just a nuisance, but also causes the animals to become dependent on humans for sustenance. Again, attracting animals like squirrels, rabbits, and so on, may not pose a problem for you but attracting a fox, badger, or red deer into your tent is a great way to destroy your tent while placing yourself in potentially grave danger. The smaller animals may not harm you but they may harbour diseases as this article shows.
Don’t use open fires in or around your tent
Regardless of how big your tent is, lighting an open fire inside it is very risky. You can burn down the tent and sustain injuries, especially if the fire is on while you sleep. Many camp sites do not allow open fires either inside or outside the tent, so you may also be breaking a law by doing this. If you need fire, ask the authorities what the rules are. Most camp grounds will allow use of gas stoves, as these have a lower risk of starting a wild fire, or burning your tent to the ground
By following these tips, you can set up your tent and be on the way to enjoying a peaceful camping adventure.