If you're going camping, you'll be using a tent that will be
your home away from home during the trip. It's the most
important thing you'll be bringing so better give it your
fullest attention. Make sure that the tent works and that all
of the pieces are together before leaving home. The last thing
you want is to arrive at your site and then find out that you
are missing a pole or that your tent has a hole in it.
The best thing you can do to ensure the quality of your tent
is to set it up for testing purposes before your trip. If it's
defective, you have time to exchange it for something that
properly works, or repair the damages if an exchange is not
possible. Afterwards, you can proceed to packing the tent,
taking care to group poles and pegs together in one bag in
order not to lose one. If you have more time, you can even
label what pegs go to which holes so you don't have to grope
blindly when you need to set up the tent on-site.
During the trip, your tent may meet unexpected damages like
tearing, for instance. Prepare for this possibility by bringing
a sewing kit and small pieces of tarp. If the situation calls
for it, you can fix the tear with a quick patch.
Channel Title: Full text recreation-and-leisure | outdoors | camping articles - Content for Reprint
- Spend Your Summer Vacation At Horse Riding Camp
Owning your own horse has more than likely been part of many childhood dreams. However if you live in the city or don't have a great deal of money, one way to realize this dream is by attending a horse riding camp. This is a marvelous way to spend a summer vacation, and could just be the holiday for you.
Keeping a horse is very expensive as you have to stable it, as well as pay for food, riding tackle, riding clothes, veterinary bills etcetera. Not many families are able to afford these kinds of expenses.
Attending a horse riding camp in the summer, will not only allow you to spend fun times with these magnificent animals, it will also teach you all kinds of different skills. They are a combination of feeding, horse care, tuition and trail rides, plus you get to establish a relationship with your four-legged friend. Instructors are available to take you on trails into the country-side. Exploring the country from the back of a horse, gives you a whole new perspective on nature.
Stable management and how to care for your horse; comes along with all kinds of exciting and new things to learn. You will get to see things like blacksmiths demonstrations, learn about basics all the way through to cantering and jumps and how prepare for gymkhanas, while you are developing your equestrian skills. It is a fun way to spend a vacation, and will definitely give you something to talk about at the end of the summer.
You may have only seen horses on television or read about them in classic stories such as Black Beauty. You will know that they are fascinating creatures. However you may never have been given the opportunity to ride one. Even mentally challenged people love horse riding so this is a sport for everyone.
It can be difficult to decide what kind of summer camp you would like to spend you time at and these camps run from one day to eight weeks. Some are co-educational while others are only for boys or only for girls, the choice is yours (or your parents) of which type you attend. They also offer other activities for a part of each day.
Many of these camps are focused on the English Riding Style, so you will more than likely not be allowed to gallop off into the wide blue yonder like John Wayne. This should please your parents however and reassure them you will be safe. The camp will provide all the safety wear you require so these costs do not have to be met by your parents. You will be required to wear boots and a helmet and safety is essential.
Horses which are found in riding camps are very well trained, and of all different breeds. Although they are large animals and may appear to look dangerous, with the correct training and care they are very gentle animals. Campers are taught how to communicate with them so they know what to do.
Most horse riding camps are found on horse farms, where the campers stay in cabins. Instructors are qualified to provide quality instruction, and camp counselors are generally graduates or college student who are preparing for equestrian careers. They will ensure that they pick out a horse that is well suited to your size and personality. You don't ever want to take on anything you might not be able to handle, and counselors won't allow this.
About the Author
Lance Thorington has written several articles about horses. You do not know what you are missing when you have never been on a horse riding camp! Check this out at http://lets-go-horse-riding.com/blog/category/horse-riding-camp/
- The Keys to Survival in Cold Weather Hiking and Camping
It is much more difficult to survive in a cold weather environment than it is in a warm weather environment like tropical forests when it comes to finding food, water and shelter. They're much like the desert but at the opposite spectrum of temperature.
Even when you have food, water and shelter covered you still need to have adequate warm clothing and most importantly the will to survive. Even trained professionals and seasoned mountain climbers have lost their lives hiking in the cold. The will to live is the main reason why less trained individuals are able to survive similar conditions.
While clothing is important, you also need to know how to maximize the warmth you get from it. You should always keep your head covered as the head loses more heat faster than any other part of the body because there is a lot of blood circulation particularly on the surface of the head. Any part of the body that has little fat is also vulnerable to heat loss so try to keep them covered at all times.
The way that clothing keeps you warm is mostly by trapping air which insulates you from the cold. It is important that you keep your clothes clean because dirty clothes are less effective in trapping air and hence in their insulating properties.
Believe it or not, one of the fastest way to lose heat in cold weather is to overheat. When you overheat your body sweats in order to cool down. The body cools down rapidly when the sweat evaporates.
Try to avoid sweating by opening up your parka a little once you feel a bit hot. You can also remove an inner layer of clothing, throw back the parka hood, change to lighter headgear or remove your gloves. The head and hands are effective in dissipating heat.
Another way of dealing with sweat is by wearing clothes in layers. Use the three layer system where the first layer is the wicking layer which wicks away the sweat away from your body, the second layer provides insulation against the cold by trapping warm air and the third layer is the waterproof shell. You can wear additional insulating layer to keep you warmer. A few layers of this is more effective than one layer of the same thickness.
Always try to keep dry when possible. Brush off snow and frost before entering your tent. If your clothes are wet, it may be difficult to dry them. In sub-zero temperatures, the wind and sun may dry your wet clothing. You can also try placing your wet clothes unfolded near your body so your body heat can dry them. Or you can dry them over an open fire if available.
Wearing your clothing loose is highly recommended because tight fitting clothes restricts blood circulation which makes it prone to cold injuries. This applies to your boots as well.
A down sleeping bag is a valuable piece of gear for survival in cold weather but if it gets wet it loses its insulation properties and it takes a long time to dry down. Synthetics are not as good in keeping you warm at night but when it gets wet it still retains its insulation properties and be dried fairly quickly. Either way, you must have a sleeping bag when venturing into the cold.
Other important gear to survival in the cold are a camp stove (liquid fuel), knife, sunglasses, signaling items, fatty foods, map and compass, tent, waterproof matches and flashlight.
Cold weather environments can be very harsh so make sure that you have the right equipment to increase your chances of survival. Your hiking and camping gear is critical so make sure you test them at home especially if they're new.
About the Author
Jonsky writes for Hiking-Camping-World.com where you'll find some gear for survival such as camp stoves & sleeping bags. Check out the Big Agnes Sleeping Bag.
- Backpacking For Beginners - Starting on an Exciting Journey
There are some things to consider before you start backpacking for the first time. Beginners need to know about backpacking equipment, gear, supplies and essentials.
Backpacking can turn into a horrifying experience if you're not prepared with the basics.
Backpacking can be done in either urban areas or in the wilderness or a mixture of both and the requirements of backpacking equipment and gear are different as well as the planning.
Common tips for Beginners
There are some backpacking tips that apply to both the wilderness and civilization.
Here they are:
Break in your hiking boots by taking them for short hikes.
Test your backpack clothing to check if they'll be comfortable for you by using them on short hikes. Fully load your backpack with all you need for the backpacking trip and take them on short hikes to test for comfort and to find out which of the straps does a better job in distributing the load.
Test and learn how to use your camping equipment including camping stove, water filter, camping tents, GPS, altimeter and headlamps.
Get your body in shape because backpacking can get very nasty if you're not fit.
Travelling light is oftentimes much more enjoyable than having too much on your backpack.
Backpacking in Urban Areas for Beginners
Traditionally, backpacking is a cheap way to get from one place to another. It involves more than just walking and hiking.
Historically it's a cheap form of travel. Though it is an enjoyable experience, it's more of an education than a vacation.
You're likely to experience a lot more of the important stuff when you're backpacking than when you're just using some kind of modern transportation.
An hours' travel by car can mean a whole day or like 2 or more if you're backpacking but a backpacker also experiences a lot more. Backpackers see a whole lot more than the normal tourist. They mingle with local people and witness what real life is really like at a certain place. It's like you're living there for some time.
There is a sense of community as you stay in a backpacker's hostel or lodge where you'll meet other like-minded individuals sharing the rooms, kitchen, toilet, lounge are, etc.
Backpacking is about travelling with a small budget and to avoid the risk of theft backpackers don't usually carry expensive electronic equipment.
The rising trend is backpacking with a big budget, staying in lavish accommodations and carrying expensive equipment such as laptops and PDAs especially for young generations to satisfy their need to stay connected.
Backpacking in Rural Areas or the Wild
In some places, having a big budget doesn't help. Small villages and towns may not be able to offer lavish accommodations other than the backpacker's hostel and sometimes not even that equipment such as laptops and blackberries may be rendered useless especially in you are backpacking in the wilderness.
Backpacking Gear
The initial cost can be quite high if you are backpacking in the wild especially you are hiking and camping as camping equipment like sleeping bags (especially down) and camping tents can get quite expensive.
Backpacking, for beginners, also requires a lot more preparation and research. Care should be taken in preparing equipment and you need to test it out and learn how to use them.
The most important backpacking gear is your hiking boots. It's important that your hiking boots are comfortable so having a perfect fit in the first place and breaking them in later is crucial.
The best way to break in your hiking boots is to take on short hikes with a full load. At the same time it's a good time to test your hiking/camping/backpacking gear including your backpack.
See if your clothing is too hot or too cold for you or if they pose any other problems like 'riding up' and rubbing against your skin.
Test your backpack whether they're comfortable or not. Try all the straps and identify which ones help distribute the load better.
Take your backpacking equipment a gear testing not just on smooth walkways but also on uneven ground going uphill and downhill to maximize testing. This will also toughen up your feet and reduce the chances of blistering when you go for the real trip and at same time improves your strength and fitness which is crucial for a good backpacking trip.
Learn and practice how to use all of your hiking and camping equipment so that you are more prepared for less than ideal situations.
Use a camping list or camping checklist and pack your hiking/camping gear and equipment early so that you can make sure that you don't miss any backpacking essentials including the first aid kit, personal medicine and safety and emergency equipment.
Pack heavier equipment close to your body so as to avoid your load from pulling away and make the backpack feel heavier than it is. Rain gear and a waterproof enclosure containing extra layers, gloves and hat should be kept at the top of your backpack where it is easily accessible.
Your clothing and sleeping bag should also be in a waterproof enclosure so that it stays dry even when your backpack is underwater.
Other things that need to dry include electronic equipment like laptops, cameras and camcorders, personal essentials such as toilet paper and daily essentials like snacks, compass, pocket knife, maps and guidebooks, sunscreen and insect repellents. Pack these in the outer pocket of your backpack as you are likely to use them more.
Water bottles should be kept upright and should be easily accessible as well. Your camping tent can strapped to the outside of your backpack including the tent poles.
The first aid kit should be kept where the contents can be secure yet is still easily accessible.
For beginners, choosing which camping food to bring could be a problem. Unfortunately the best way to determine which kinds of food is right for you to bring camping or backpacking is by trial and error. Take some advice here and there and see if it works for you.
To be safe, base your decisions on taste, nutritional value, weight, ease of preparation and packaging. A favorite among hikers and backpackers are dehydrated food which are light, have good nutritional value and also taste good.
Hiking has been long considered as one of the most effective ways to increase your fitness and it can be grueling.
Good preparation of backpacking equipment and gear and researching the place where you're going to explore as well as keeping yourself in shape will help you go through the expedition with minimal problems.
At the same time backpacking can be highly satisfying so if you're thinking of going backpacking, do it, it can be the most memorable days of your life.
About the Author
Jonsky has articles on camping accessories, camping chairs on Hubpages.com.
- Hiking and Camping in Hot Weather
When hiking in hot weather you are either hiking in the rainforest or in the desert. Both are complete opposites of each other so your camping and hiking gear would be different also.
Hiking in the Desert.
Deserts are areas that receive less than 9 inches of rainfall annually. Water is scarce and you need to carry all your water.
The prospect of hiking in the desert may not seem appealing. Who wants to walk for long distances in a barren desolate, hot and dry landscape?
Yet the desert can be surprisingly beautiful in its own special way. You can see cacti flowering after a desert storm, wild flowers in spring and some interesting wildlife. Even the landscape in itself is beautiful.
There is usually a brief rainy season in many deserts in which sudden storms produce much of the annual rainfall. Flash floods are likely during this time particularly in canyons and steep-sided dry river beds. You have a better chance of finding water after a wet season.
Special Gear
Besides super strength sunscreen you also need a full body sun protection. Cover your whole body to protect from the sun and wear a hat that protects your head and face.
Carrying a water containers and a good water filter is a must as water found in the desert are is often polluted.
You might not need a tent especially in the dry season but a tarp can be useful in providing you shelter from the sun and wind. A poncho is useful in the desert for both sun and wind protection.
Even though the desert is hot, it can get very cold at night and the temperature difference is quite dramatic so make sure you also bring warm clothing and a good sleeping bag.Remember also to bring insect repellent as there can be some nasty insects in the desert.
Tropical Rainforest and Jungles
By contrast, jungles and rainforests are teeming with vegetation and a variety of wildlife, and has a wet and humid climate. They can also be quite cool.
The difference between jungles and rainforests is that jungles have a tangle of dense vegetation and rainforest don't have that much undergrowth. You can find different species of flora and fauna that you've probably never seen before and it could be an eye opening experience.
Tropical rainforests and jungles are found in the tropics and subtropics near the equator in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Temperate Rainforests
Temperate rain forests are found in places such as New Zealand, Tasmania,Chile, Norway and the Pacific Coast of North America and are home to some of the largest trees in the world. Annual rainfall is high and evaporation is low and it is almost impossible to travel off-trail because the floor is a carpet of soft, decomposing stumps and new vegetation growth from fallen trees.
Sometimes wooden boardwalks are necessary to protect fragile plant from hikers and hiker from the mud.
Special Gear
A good rain gear is essential in the rainforest and also might want to consider a tent with a full flysheet coverage. There will also be a lot of insects in jungles and rain forests so remember to bring insect repellent and mosquito netting.
To get you through deep jungle mud you might need to wear rubber jungle boots. Zip-lock bags and waterproof bags are particularly useful in these areas to protect any electrical equipment, clothes and maps.
About the Author
Jonsky is a writer for Hiking-Camping-World.com. Check out the wide range of Parka and Windbreaker collection.
- What You Should Know About Camping
So many unfortunate things can occur while camping; you need to ensure you have packed provisions to deal with any circumstance. A functional knowledge of first aid is precious on any camping out excursion.
One popular camping out activity is walking, although it has the possibility for breaks and sprains. Fractures are of two types simple and complex. A closed fracture can be identified by swelling, tenderness, pain, loss of mobility, and feeling or hearing a bone crack or snap. Simple breaks when not treated at the right time tend to become a complex fracture. Sprains occur frequently when camping out, nevertheless, if attended to and properly cared for, they shouldn't fully wreck the camping out trip.
The first and foremost thing to do when a fracture takes place is to stop moving. In the end, you want to guarantee that the fractured location is firmly secure and won't move. When one of your digits gets wounded, the first thing you have to do is to tie or tape that digit to an adjacent finger. When you believe that there is a fracture of the lower arm, find some kind of sling and use anything you can find as a splint to keep it motionless. If the upper arm is broken then put the arm in a sling and bind it to the chest. Use a splint to immobilize the leg if it is broken or, if the person is able to be carried, bind the leg to the other leg using it as a natural splint. You will sometimes have to be constructive in finding a splint, when you're camping. Splints are made often of items you can find anywhere around the house some of which include a piece of timber, a magazine or even a rolled up blanket.
To keep your ankle joint protected, it's a good idea to wear walking boots while you are camping out. The popular injury while camping is ankle sprains which is indicated by sudden pain, inability to endure weight, bruising, puffiness, and soreness. The optimal thing is to apply a cold compress or ice for at least 10 minutes, while you need to rest the ankle and firmly should bandage it for support, as well elevate it.
Trust for the best but be equipped for any mishaps that may occur when you are camping out. These first aid tips and rules of thumb will help your next camping out excursion be safe and enjoyable.
You should examine the place of your camping out before doing anything else. Proper care needs to be taken and you will also have to look out for smashed glass and few other trash materials that could creat problems for you and your family. You should treat your camping out site as you would your own home, but don't be amazed if not everyone is as considerate as you are. Before you setup camp take some time to cleanup the camping out site. You also want to make sure that there are no projecting sticks or sharp rocks around that could cause an accident if somebody were to trip on them or onto them. To avoid confusion and potential accidents, prepare and clean your camp site when you first arrive.
You should make sure that the place where you are going to do camping out does not has any kind of limitations on campfires, before you go there to camp. If the weather conditions and lack of rain have made your camping out area dry, you may find that there are restrictions in using campfires. The limitations are put in place to try to help avoid forest fires. You'll also want to avoid building a campfire when it's windy since the wind can make the fire to spread quickly to various areas of your campsite. To be safe always keep a bucket of water on hand to put out the fire and constantly completely blow out the flames before going to bed or your camping excursion could have a deadly outcome.
When you go camping out, make sure you have a emergency first aid kit with you and drink lots of water. This way you and your loved ones will stay hydrated. Try to find out if you may be susceptible to something, like to bee stings before you go on a camping out excursion. You don't want to determine that you are allergic to bee stings and be a long way away from the closest hospital. If you do have severe allergies or allergic reactions, such as those to bee stings for example, be sure to always carry your medication with you. Be prepared in advance for any noxious plants or life-threatening animals that may be found in your camping out area so you can deal with them if necessary.
Camping can be a time for creating memories and having enjoyment. If you take the appropriate safety measures when you go, you will find that your excursion will go smoothly and worry free. To make sure you excursion is successful, make sure that safety is constantly on the forefront of your mind.
About the Author
Michael Hehn is a specialist in camping. If you want more information about camping, visit camping info.
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