Setting up Camp - A Tarp, A Hammock and a Good Meal

 What is the key to setting up a good camp? There are many factors to be considered when setting up camp. Number one; Be sure to set the site up to provide efficiency of movement when the wilderness turns the lights off.

You would not believe how dark it can get when the sun drops below the tree line and disappears beyond the horizon. 

Guy lines and tent pegs seem to reach out and grab you as you fumble and stumble your way to the privy box or to check on your canoe. I can't tell you how many times I have tripped on a tent line I simply didn't see.  

The second ingredient required for a comfortable camp is a bug mesh shelter. This will allow for the enjoyment of eating a well deserved meal without the need to expend energy swatting at the mosquitoes and other biting insects which have found you to be delectable. The shelter in this video is perfect; easy to set up and packable enough to fit into a tripping bag without adding too much weight. 

Cooking on an open fire is the hallmark of camping. Eating the meal while listening to the natural sounds around you imbues the food with a seasoning not found anywhere else but out here. After setting up camp, cook up a classic breakfast meal and sit back and enjoy the company the forest. 

Happy Camping. 

 

A TENT IS JUST A TENT - RIGHT? PART TWO.

When a single person or two person tent just won't do, you will have to scale up to a larger shelter. Tents are usually sized by the amount of people they can hold.

The problem with this measurement is that gear is never taken into account. A two person tent will house two adults and their sleeping equipment. All other gear must be stowed outside. As you scale up, the same holds true. 

The size of tent you bring to any camp will be determined by the number of occupants wishing to share the tent. Once that is determined, comfort becomes a factor. If you wish to share your tent with one other person, a three person tent will give you wiggle room and a place to stow a couple of packs. The trade off is weight. The larger the tent, the more it weighs. A few pounds extra seems like no big deal until you get into your third portage of a long day and I promise you, you will wish your pack had wheels. 

Algonquin. R.G.Wright.

A tent becomes your home when you are camping.

It's imperative that you choose your shelter wisely. 

I have seen many broken poles, ripped tarps and a 

myriad of other problems due to people purchasing 

substandard tents. 

You can get away with this if you are car camping 

as the car can become a shelter if something should 

go wrong. 

Interior camping is another story, a ripped door or

broken poles will ruin your stay in the woods if no

repair can be made. 

Please see my previous post "A Tent Is A Tent, Right?" 

Part One, on other tent models, for the best fit. 

See my YouTube video explaining more below.

It is my hope that these videos will help you choose a 

tent that is right for your needs. 

Happy camping. 

                                               

A Tent is a Tent - Right?

Long ago, I remember camping with the Scouts in massive canvas tents that housed at least eight people. How the scouters managed to get those  tents to site is beyond my memory, but I do know that setting them up was a task which took the concerted effort of the entire troop. Once erected, we stuffed all of our gear into them and claimed dirt space. I always picked the back of the tent for my bedroll. The reason for me choosing that area was simply because raids by other troops were the norm. When the interlopers came through the door,  I simply rolled out from under the sidewall and was free of the mayhem ensuing inside the canvas walls. This enabled my buddies and I to take on the would be raiders face to face.  

Animals would venture under the sidewalls and make incursions into our shelter, making off with all kinds of gear which they stowed away in the surrounding forest. 

I truly do wish those days never ended. But time moves past our canoes and slips away in the boats wake.  

Modern tents are perfect for camping, provided that you choose the tent which suits your needs. Mesh doors and walls preclude the tiniest of insects from entering the shelter. Advanced ventilation keeps the occupants dry and comfortable. A tripping tent is lightweight and compacts into a very small space saving precious room for other camping necessities within your pack. 
  

Choosing a tent can be a confusing task. It is my hope that this video helps you navigate the confusion and pick a tent that will suit your needs for many years to come. 

Please see "A Tent Is A Tent, Right - Part Two:" ~ enjoy!