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Here
are some quality points to consider when choosing a tent:
-
living space -
choose a tent that's big enough for your purposes. There should be
room for everyone to sleep comfortably and space to store your gear.
-
strength - look
for sturdy tent poles, securely fastened grommets, double sewn seams,
and heavy duty zippers. There's nothing more annoying than a tent
that lays down on you whenever the wind blows.
-
rain protection
- select a tent with a rain fly which has tension adjustments and
goes all the way to the ground. You may also opt for a vestibule which
gives you a place to take off wet or soiled clothes before entering
the tent.
You've finally arrived
at your camping destination and you're scoping out the area to see which
spot looks best for setting up your campsite. What should you be looking
for?
-
look for relatively
high, level ground There's some truth to the saying "high and dry"
and you should never set up your tent on a slope or you'll find yourself
rolling out of your sleeping bag all night.
-
check for a water
source nearby Water is essential for camping; you'll need it for all
your drinking, cooking, and cleaning up. You don't want to have to
walk far with a five gallon container
-
find an adequate
area for cooking Don't ever cook in your tent! Locate a flat area
away from any leaves, twigs or brush that may catch fire. And never
leave an unattended campfire burning.
-
and another area
for cleaning Don't kill the flora with hot, soapy water. Use bio-degradable
soap, and only dump gray water in designated areas or where it will
do no harm.
-
don't forget the
garbage Always keep a clean campsite. Collect all litter and keep
it gathered away from your tent in a location out of reach of any
of the local critters or pests.
-
pick a campsite
with some shade It's nice to have a shady spot to relax in during
the heat of the day or while hanging out at the campsite
leave no trace
It's all about respect for nature. If all campers would just leave their
campsites the way they found them (assuming it was clean to begin with)
then we will be doing our share
pack it in, pack
it out
Another way of saying, "leave no trace", a concept which I cannot emphasize
enough. If you are a backcountry camper this is particularly important,
because there are no dumpsters in the backcountry.
gray water
This is old dishwater which should not be dumped just anywhere. In the
backcountry dump gray water away from any fresh water sources and use
biodegradable soap. Campgrounds usually have designated areas for dumping
gray water.
ashes from the
grill
Don't dump your ashes on the ground. Either dump them in the campfire
ring or dump them in a bag and put the bag in the campground dumpster.
laundries, restrooms
and showers
Simply clean up after yourself. In the backwoods, take appropriate measures
to cover human waste.
fish cleaning stations
Use them! Don't clean your catch at the campground
dumpsters
Be sure to take along some plastic garbage bags to collect trash.
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