Camping: How Not To Get Cold, Wet And Muddy!
Steve Dempster
For many people camping in the great outdoors is a fantastic and
uplifting experience. For some it is plain hell. This Article takes a
look at some reasons why - and what to do to put things right!
Some years ago a friend suggested we go on a camping trip. He'd just
bought a new tent and was bursting to 'christen' it somewhere. At that
time I'd never been camping in my life so I agreed and off we went.
Just to show the depth of our lack of know-how, we chose to go to the
English Lake District in February. I'll say no more - ask anyone who's
been there at the tail end of winter! Suffice it to say we arrived
pretty wet and cold (we both rode motorcycles back then) and hurriedly
pitched the tent then scurried off to the nearest pub to thaw out.
We got back and what followed was probably one of the worst nights I
have ever spent. I was freezing and the thin sleeping bag I had was
useless. I think I managed to get to sleep at about 5a.m. - sheer
exhaustion claiming me.
When I woke I glanced at the radium dial on my watch. It was 9.30a.m. -
and still pitch black. I couldn't figure this out so opened the tent
flap to discover about four inches of snow were covering us!
My friend woke up, teeth chattering. We 'discovered' quite quickly that
we had -
No stove
No matches
No food worth a damn
No drinks
No dry clothes
All I can say in our defense is that we a were very young!
We packed up the tent as fast as we could and headed home, blue with
cold and swearing never to go camping again. It was in fact some time
before I did - but it was with someone this time who knew what they
were doing. What a difference!
My first two times camping taught me a very important thing. It brought
home the fact that, being accustomed to a cozy home and a nice warm
bed, I hadn't the first clue how to stay comfortable in the great
outdoors. Why should I? As a product of modern civilization My habits
were ingrained by a lifetime of relative ease.
And yet it's just as easy to stay dry and warm when camping, except in
the severest of weather - and even then you can get by. It's all down
to knowhow. I'm not talking about being a 'wilderness expert' or having
the survival skills of a member of the SAS either. It's just knowing a
few points on living outdoors and applying them.
So how do you learn these points? Well, you can either do as I did (no
please don't do that!) or you can read up on it or join an outdoor
centre or group. A lot if it lies in the ability to 'think outside the
box' of modern urban living - the creature comforts we all take pretty
much for granted. Manage to do this and you won't be wet, cold and
muddy!
So don't let my first experience put you off. Choose a nice summer
night, stay somewhere not too far from habitation and assimilate the
necessary know-how before you leave. I'm sure that then you will enjoy
your camping experience and it will become for you, as it has for so
many, a lifelong passion.
Steve Dempster writes articles such as the one above as part of his
working day. Learn more about how to enjoy camping at
http://www.anewlife4u.co.uk/camping.html or visit his walking
website
at http://www.countrywalkers.co.uk for tips on walking generally.
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