How does one become a good camper? Well, the first thing is of course to learn how to do it – to learn how to pitch a tent, conserve water and food, wash in the wild, and understand what to do in case of any emergency.
However, the other things that every camper needs to knows how to do is all about the unexpected. Away from urban areas, nearly every aspect of life is less regulated and more open to surprises. Every good camper knows how to camp, and part of knowing how to camp means preparing for the unexpected.
Rollercam, manufacturers of cam buckle straps and other forms of cargo security, note however that many of these camping problems or unexpected events are actually not as rare as you might think. In fact, it’s perfectly possible to put together a list of the most common camping challenges as well as how to overcome them.
There will still, of course, be certain problems that cannot be predicted. Anything can happen when you’re out on the trail. But in addition to learning how to camp, knowing what some of the most common challenges are will certainly make you significantly more prepared for the experience. In fact, learning about the common challenges is very much part of learning how to camp in general.
Most Common Problems Faced When Camping
So, here follows a list of some of the many things which can go wrong when you’re out camping. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and you always need to leave room for the unexpected.
Unexpected Bad Weather
This one is a classic. Yes, some people go camping particularly for the survival experience, and many outstanding camping trips bring with them a risk of bad weather. If you go camping in the Pacific Northwest, for example, not even the high summer can guarantee you clear days and no rain. To prepare for this eventuality, simply bring the clothing and equipment you would need for the bad weather, even if you don’t expect to use them.
Animals Eat Your Food
In some places, this is hardly a risk at all. In some camping areas in the U.S. and Canada, however, bears eating campers’ food is not unheard of – or even uncommon. Generally, it’s good news that the bear is eating your food and not you, but you should still learn how to prevent this eventuality. To do that, be sure to store food properly. That means inside containers which can prevent the smell attracting animals and in a secure location.
Getting Lost
The absolute last resort here is to get air lifted out of some ridiculous situation because you have run out of food and have no idea where you are. Nevertheless, you want to avoid things getting to that point (or worse). You should aim to bring paper maps as well as GPS technology, as the signal can cut out. Beyond this, the only real tip is to effectively plan your route and to stick to the trail.
You Cannot Light Your Fire
Generally, the main device here is to bring more matches or lighters than you think you’ll need (constantly striking them in windy weather can lead to a lot of duds). It is also wise to invest in some wind proof fire-starting technology. Furthermore, learning the skill of lighting a fire with a flint and some dry wood makes for a great last resort.
There are many more things that can potentially go wrong during a camping trip, but your way to deal with this is to prepare for the common ones.