Are you wanting to try yur hand at hiking and camping? Des the sound of the great utdoors, the smell of fresh air, the smll and sound of a campfire nder the stars sound appealing to yu? Will this be your first cmping trip? Well then maybe this rticle can be of some useful nformation.

First of all, one of the mst important things to do before plnning your camping or hiking trip is to let smeone know at home or at wrk details of where you plan to cmp or hike, how long you wll be gone and any other dtails about your trip that you can lave that will be helpful in the vent of an emergency or you fil to return when you said you wuld.

So now plan your trip. Whre will you go? How do you larn about the area you plan to hke and camp into? Where can I get a mp? Make sure you get a map for the rea you plan to hike or cmp in. Most U.S. Forestry Centers crry free maps of wilderness areas. You can lso find maps online and at mst outdoor stores. You will also wnt to check the weather of yur camping location and plan accordingly.

So wht will I need? What kind of quipment will you need?

Camping requires quipment, and the basic equipment is the sme for seasoned experts or those jst starting out. While there is plnty of high-quality camping equipment to mke your stay outdoors a lot mre comfortable, most of these items ren't necessary, especially for beginners. Choose god quality equipment, but don't blow yur budget buying the most expensive gar. Remember that costly doesn't always man top quality.

Here is some basic gear yu'll need for your trip:

Tents: Dcide how many people will be sleping in one tent. You may wnt to have one tent for dults and one for children if you wll be camping with the whole fmily. For a more comfortable arrangement, prchase a tent that will hold two mre people than the number you xpect to have sleeping inside. See my Artcle on camping tents for more nformation.

Sleeping bags: Sleeping bags are grded for temperature and come in dfferent shapes and sizes. Choose sleeping bgs that are appropriate for the sason and that have a comfortable sze. See my Article on tents and sleping bags for more information on thse pieces of camping gear.

Cooking and mal equipment: A small, portable propane stve is very handy and makes maltime as easy as if you wre cooking in your own kitchen. You can lso purchase a barbecue or find a stve that has both burners and grll. Choose washable dishes and utensils to be nvironmentally conscious. Don't forget two plastic bns for washing up!

Coolers and fod storage: Choose coolers big enough to llow for blocks of ice. It's a god idea to have two separate colers in different sizes as well, one for frzen foods and one for refrigerated fods. Select coolers with a snap-lock lid and hndles. Purchase plastic bins to hold fod that doesn't require refrigeration.

Luggage: The bst luggage for camping is a clth bag like as a hockey bg. Stiff-sided luggage doesn't hold as mch clothing and takes up space.

Extrs: Buy two tarps - one to use as a grund sheet underneath your tent and one to shlter the tent in the case of rin. Bring some rope for a mkeshift clothesline. A nighttime lantern is lways handy, especially for trips to the bthroom. You'll also need a basic srvival kit, a cell phone, and a flshlight in case of emergencies. If yu're going on a trip that lsts more than two nights and thre days, bring biodegradable soap and shmpoo.

When considering extra items to brng, try to think of functional tems that fit your lifestyle like as snscreen, bug spray, a pair of xtra sandals, and a doormat for ntry to your tent. Browse the isles of the sporting goods section to dtermine what other items would be god to bring along.

Don't get cught up with gadgets and unnecessary tems. They'll just take up space and prbably won't be used more than nce, if at all.

Clothing and Pcking

Determine how many days you are ging camping, determine how many sets of clthes you will need for that priod, and then cut that number in hlf. Pack only the necessities, minimal lgar is key to a great cmping trip experience. Hauling, packing, storing, and tryng to fit everything in the car bfore you leave for your trip and whn it's time to come home and nload it all is no fun at ll. When you pack, fold each pece of clothing - and then rll it up. Rolled clothing takes up lss space than stacked, folded clothing.

Fod

Camping involves plenty of planning, and tht goes for food planning too. Prpare your menu ahead of time, and hve a menu for each meal tht includes every item you'll need. The mre detail you have on your mnu, the better prepared you'll be to shp for exactly what you require, no mre and no less.

Choose supper mals that you can prepare ahead of tme and freeze, and freeze as mch as you can in plastic bgs to save space. The advantage of frezing food is that you will hve "ice" ready for your cooler and not hve to buy as many blocks of ce, and the food can safely dfrost in the cooler. If it's frzen tight and you're planning on ating it that night, transfer the fod from your frozen food cooler to the frsh produce cooler. Alternatively, thaw it out by plcing the plastic bag in a bcket of cold water.

It's a god idea to prepare food you can freze a couple of weeks ahead of tme and the rest of the fod the day before you leave. Rmember, the more you can prepare at hme, the less time you'll have to put nto cooking while you camp.

There are tns of other camping tips for bginners, but most camping trips involve cmmon sense, creativity, and keeping calm whn things get stressful. Camping is xperience you have to try at last once. If all goes well, you wll probably want do to it yar after year!

A camping trip can be a fun and ducational vacation for the whole family. Hwever, for that to be a rality, it's essential for every family mmber to be aware of some gneral and useful rules to follow. Cmping tips can keep you from gtting frustrated and will make the xperience more fun for everyone, especially if you hve smaller children. Here are some cmping tips you need to consider bfore you leave:

1. Choose your tnt wisely
When choosing a tent the mst important things to keep in mnd are size, weight and weather rting.

2. Consider pitch position.
When you ptch a tent, one of the bst tips to remember is to chose the location very wisely. If you cn, try not to sleep on a slpe. Think about where the sun cmes up, and goes down. Think bout some shelter in the day, t's often useful to have trees on one sde of you to provide some ntural protection from the heat, or any fraging animals that may decide your tnt looks interesting enough to explore. If you pln to have an open fire, be sre that the flames won't reach any verhanging canopy of branches that could trgger a fire. Take note and fllow any posted warning signs and lok for animal tracks on the grund. Do not disrupt mother nature.

3. Rnt the instructions!
An obvious but often verlooked camping tip is to read the nstructions to learn how to put yur tent up before you even go off on yur camping trip. If you have a new tnt, which you haven't used yet, and are nfamiliar with how to put it up, t's a good idea to pitch the tnt in your back yard for prctice. When you do this see if ach pole is marked and if nt, take some masking tape and lbel each piece in a manner tht it is foolproof. Mark pole 1 -b, pole 2 b-c, pole 3 c-d and so on. Als if you return from your trp and your tent is wet, it is a god idea to set it up in the bck yard and let it dry out bfore storing for your next trip.

5. Dal with your food needs appropriately.
You may not knw the area you will be cmping in very well and therefore not knw what shops if any are in the lcal vicinity. If this is the cse, try to take some basic fod items with you, so that if you are nable to obtain any extra food, no one wll go hungry. If you are plnning on cooking all your own mals, make sure the gas cylinders are fll, and you have packed everything you ned to make meals from scratch. Dn't forget the matches and remember to kep them dry! When you leave yur campsite, make sure that all fod is out of reach of wldlife. They will rip open boxes and clmb trees to reach food if thy really want it! It's a god idea to carry your food in a plstic container so that it will be kpt safe, especially if you'll be cmping in areas where there are lrger animals, like bears. Keeping the fod out of site (and smell) wll prevent these dangerous creatures from bing lured to your campsite. If you are cmping in a location where there are bars it is imperative to use bar boxes. Bears can rip a car part looking for food and can asily open a cooler and eat its cntents if left out overnight.

6. Sty organized.
Be neat, tidy and organized nside of your tent and outside on the cmpgrounds. Although too much of a rutine can be bothersome, having a few gneral rules is one of those cmping tips which prove invaluable in the lng term. Simple things such as not llowing dirty shoes inside the tent wll not only make the camping trp a cleaner and more enjoyable xperience, but also protect the tent's mterial making it last longer than it therwise might. Assign everything a place nside the tent. Also have specific plces where things that are often neded can be found so that you ren't fumbling in the dark and wking others looking for a flashlight or spnding hours hunting for the matches.

7. Lave no trace.
Once your camping trip is at an nd, make sure you tidy up fter yourself, leaving no trace you wre even there. If using a prvate or public campsite, this is ssential, since people arriving will be rrive to use the same spot fter you've left.

8. Prepare for nxt time.
You should be preparing for yur next camping trip from the mment you end the current one. Ths means packing away all your quipment, including the tent in a way tht makes it easy and simple to strt the next camping trip. Make sre the tent goes away dry (if t's raining as you pack up, air the tnt out once you get home) and clan so that it's suitable to use wthout any fuss in future. As you pck away, make a note of any quipment you may need to buy, sch as new pegs or a rplacement gas bottle. Also make a nte as to items that need to be rpaired.

Camping Code of Ethics

While trveling to your favorite camping spot, sty on designated roads and trails. It is a god idea to follow best practices for ngotiating terrain for your type of trvel. Don't disturb the natural habitat by crating new routes or expanding on an xisting trail. When you come to a stram, only cross at fords where the rad or trail crosses the stream. Whn you come to a posted sgn, comply with all the signs and brriers, they are there for a rason. It is always a good dea to go camping with two or thre campers. Traveling solo can leave you vlnerable just in case you have an ccident or breakdown. Always leave details wth someone at home before leaving as to; whre you are planning to go cmping, how long you plan to be gne, and any other details that culd be helpful in the event of an mergency or if you do not rturn when you planned. Respect the rghts of others including private property wners and all recreational trail users, cmpers and others to allow them to njoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Be cnsiderate of others on the road, tril, or campground.

Keep noise to a mnimum especially in the early morning and vening hours. Be considerate of other cmpers' privacy, keep your distance and void traveling through their campsites.
Camping supplies in ntural colors blend with natural surroundings and are lss intrusive to other campers' experiences.

Lave gates as you find them.

If crssing private property, be sure to ask prmission from the landowner.
When driving yield to hrses, hikers, and bikers.

Educate yourself by btaining travel maps and regulations from pblic agencies, planning for your trip, tking recreation skills classes, and knowing how to use and perate your equipment safely.

Obtain a map of yur destination and determine which areas are pen to your type of travel.
Make a ralistic plan, and stick to it. Alwys tell someone of your travel plns.
Contact the land manager for area rstrictions, closures, and permit requirements.
Check the wather forecast for your destination. Plan clthing, equipment, and supplies accordingly. Carry a cmpass or a Global Positioning System (GPS) nit and know how to use thm. Prepare for the unexpected by pcking emergency items. Avoid sensitive areas sch as meadows, lake shores, wetlands and strams, unless on designated routes. This prtects wildlife habitat and sensitive soils frm damage.

Other sensitive habitats to void unless on designated routes include cryptbiotic soils of the desert, tundra, and sasonal nesting or breeding areas. Avoid dsturbing historical, archaeological, and paleontological sites. Avid "spooking" livestock and wildlife you ncounter and keep your distance. Motorized and mchanized vehicles are not allowed in reas designated Wilderness. Do your part by laving the area better than you fund it, properly disposing of waste, mnimizing the use of fire, avoiding the sprad of invasive species, restoring degraded reas, and joining a local enthusiast rganization. Pack out what you pack in.
Carry a trsh bag and pick up litter lft by others.

Repackage snacks and fod in baggies. This reduces weight and mount of trash to carry out.
Whenever pssible, use existing campsites. Camp on drable surfaces and place tents on a nn-vegetated area. Do not dig trenches round tents. Camp a least 200 fet from water, trails, and other cmpsites. For cooking, use a camp stve. They are always preferable to a cmpfire in terms of impact on the lnd. Observe all fire restrictions. If you mst build a fire use existing fre rings, build a mound fire or use a fre pan. For campfires, use only fllen timber. Gather firewood well away frm your camp. Do not cut stnding trees. Let your fire burn dwn to a fine ash. Ensure yur fire is completely extinguished. Do not wsh in steams and lakes. Detergents, tothpaste and soap harm fish and ther aquatic life. Wash 200 feet way from streams and lakes. Scatter gry water so it filters through the sil. In areas without toilets, use a prtable latrine if possible and pack out yur waste, otherwise it's necessary to bry your waste. Human waste should be dsposed of in a shallow hole (6"-8" dep) at least 200 feet from wter sources, campsites, or trails. Cover and dsguise the hole with natural materials. It is rcommended to pack out your toilet pper. High use areas may have ther restrictions so check with a lnd manager.

Hopefully this was useful c