Tent Camping Basics
3 Important Points When Planning Your Tent Camping Trip
Whether you're a novice or an experienced tent camper, answering these basic questions will contribute to a safe and enjoyable tent camping trip.
Despite the growth of Recreational Vehicle camping, the image that comes to mind when the subject of camping is discussed is that of a tent. It can be a pup tent or a family-sized barracks, but a tent is what most people think of when they think of camping. Here are some basics of tent camping.
First and foremost is the question; who and how many are going? This will determine the size and number of your tents. One reason I enjoy tent camping is the solitude it usually affords, so I find myself gravitating toward the one-man tent. If that is your intention, then the easy answer is a pup or one-man tent. This is especially true if you are backpacking, since you'll want the least weight and bulk possible. There have also been times when I have camped with another person or a group and found myself sharing a larger tent with 1 to 6 other people. Believe me, there are few things more uncomfortable than finding yourself with 6 people and a 4 person tent, so be sure to plan ahead on the number of people.
But you also need to plan ahead when it comes to who the people are that are camping. If the group is a family with children, you need to decide if the children will be sleeping in the tent with the adults or if they will need their own tent. Or if there are mixed genders in your group, each may want their own tent for privacy reasons. Knowing who and how many are going on the camping trip is essential.
Second, and as important as who and how many, is the question; where are you going? There is literally a world of difference between camping out in the backyard with the kids in Florida and pitching your tent in Mt. Pisgah, North Carolina during the rainy/sometimes snowy time of year between the end of Fall and the beginning of Winter. The three-season tent (spring, summer and fall conditions in a temperate climate) you use in California won't cut it in the Rockies where a four-season tent (spring, summer and fall, but also with full-cover rainflies, vestibules and window panels that can be zipped closed, and heavier material with more poles to withstand both wind and the weight of snow that can accumulate) is a necessity.
Taking into account where you are camping allows you to take the right kind of tent and equipment, and not just from a weather-wise point of view. Where you are going means being aware of how secluded you might be; in other words how far away from assistance or supplies will you find yourself? You may need to carry extra food, water and medications if you are camping in a remote location. That may mean taking a two-man tent, even if you're alone, so you have the extra room for storage. Without taking into consideration where you're going, you could find yourself uncomfortable at the least or in a crisis at the worst.
Third; how long will you be camping? As with the where you're camping question, this one also determines the amount of supplies you'll be taking. Determining how long you'll be camping and planning properly for whatever that duration is will help you avoid a catastrophe. I once had a doctor who was also a private pilot. He was flying with his wife and child back from Louisiana and crashed one mile short of the landing strip, killing all aboard. Why? He filled the plane with just enough fuel to make the flight for the distance he planned to fly. He did not take headwinds into account and the drain that would place on his fuel usage. His plane ran out of fuel one mile from his destination and the results were fatal. Finding yourself in a remote location with no food or water because you did not pack enough for the length of your camping trip is not a situation you want to experience, so be sure to plan accordingly when it comes to the length of your camping trip. As a matter of course I always take a little extra, just in case something unexpected (like headwinds) happens.
Next installment: Equipment
