Pop Up Camping, Prepare for the Unexpected

Wind, rain, tornados, dead batteries and empty propane tanks

Apr 26, 2009 Susan Harrison

On a recent six-night dry camping trip, a couple found themselves in the middle of 40 mph winds, rain and hail storms and freezing nights. They stayed despite all.

Prepare and notify

Thankfully, the couple prepared for the unexpected and stayed dry and secure. Moral: use a camping check list and let someone know where you are. Take cell phones and make sure you have cell coverage in the area you will be camping. If coverage is not available, provide a map of your local and the number of the local police in case of emergency. Our camping couple did both and by day six of the trip, were glad they had.

Gone with the wind

On day one of the trip, winds whipping at 40 mph threatened to rip away the popup awning. Fortunately, it had been well anchored and the campers took it down before any lasting damage was caused to the awning or the camper. The couple was not so lucky with the portable shower/toilet tent. Though anchored well, the tent could not withstand such high winds and an anchor seam was ripped away from the side of the tent. Lesson learned: take down the portable shower tent in windy conditions. A campfire was out of the question because of the windy conditions, so the Coleman stove was used for cooking – lit with a windproof lighter.

Only wet when it rains

Day two found the campsite wet at daybreak and the rains continued until after midnight. The awning went back up, but it was of marginal use in the daylong deluge. Rain gear allowed for fishing and hiking and, again, the Coleman stove proved invaluable when campfires are not practical.

Day three presented an unanticipated problem when a camper got a fishhook embedded in a finger. A well-stocked first aid kit provided needed supplies. One camper trained in first aid procedures provided the needed skills to extract the hook and medicate and bandage the wound. The sun had yet to shine on the campers on this cool and overcast day.

Hail and high water

Day four brought back the rain accompanied by hail. By nightfall, temperatures were dropping into the 30s. Notified by friends that freeze warnings were posted, the campers prepared for the night and made sure the extra propane tank was ready for attachment if needed. Propane was plentiful, but the couple still woke up cold because the pop up battery died during the night. Lesson learned: the extra battery the campers brought with them was more than worth the effort to bring.

Day five featured more winds and a dead battery in one camper’s car. Because someone remembered to bring jumper cables, disaster was averted. Fishing was not an option in the wind so card games and reading occupied the couple as the wind buffeted the camper.

No one braves a tornado

Day six was strike the camp day as friends notified the couple of tornado watches. The camper was taken down in record time and the campers headed homeward, away from almost a week of dry camping in inclement weather. Because they were prepared, only potential tornadoes ended the trip.

Be prepared but do not be foolhardy.

The copyright of the article Pop Up Camping, Prepare for the Unexpected in Backpacking, Hiking & Camping is owned by Susan Harrison. Permission to republish Pop Up Camping, Prepare for the Unexpected in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Pop Up Camping on nicer days