Tips For Safe Solo Camping
There’s something very enticing about spending a night or two under canvas. Perhaps it’s a throwback to our hunter-gatherer days. But before you go all Stone Age man in your desire to get back to nature, remember please, you are a child of this modern age. For a start, the canvas is out of the window in favor of more modern lighter materials, even so, there will be no bathroom, no sockets or lights and your bed, such as it is, will, in all likelihood be lumpy or damp. If you do catch any sleep, it will be punctuated by the sounds of night prowlers that are obviously trying to break into your tent to steal your trail mix or worse. Despite it all, if you prepare well, you can enjoy yourself being at one with nature and indulge your stone age alter ego, with a bedroll, your tent and a reliable GPS. Tent camping is a classic way of camping. There are advantages and there are drawbacks.
Benefits of tent camping:
- Tent camping is closer to nature and requires minimal equipment.
- Tent camps are inexpensive.
- Tents don’t require much maintenance and are easy to pitch these days.
- Tents are portable and can fit in any personal vehicle.
- Campgrounds are easier to access and are often located in scenic places.
- Since you don’t need much space you can camp on any camping site.
Limitations of tent camping:
- Tent campers are not always safe.
- Tents are not suitable for all weather. They get too wet in rain and don’t provide protection against scorching heat.
- Tent camping is uncomfortable with only rigid ground available for lying down.
- Tents require more effort and time to set up and to pack down.
- Tent camping can be quite messy.
Tips For Solo Tent Camping Аnd Staying Safe
Solo camping is great for rejuvenating the soul, if you get things right. Solo camping tents are easily available, but you should not just get one and hit the wilderness. Here are some tips for staying safe while solo camping:
Plan Your Trip Carefully
Camping always requires careful planning beforehand and it becomes more crucial if you are opting for solo camping. Check out the climatic conditions and assess the proximity of wild beasts when choosing your camping site. Once you decide where to stay, plan out your complete route. Look out indicators of elevated, hilly surfaces and avoid trails with possible blockages with a good up to date camping map. Keep checking the weather forecast and check with rangers that the way ahead is clear and accessible and safe.
Appropriate Shelter
Tent camping is not a comfortable option since the small space inside the tent and having to haul equipment means you can’t bring your luxuries with you. Often solo campers prefer to carry sleeping bags or sometimes a single sleeping pad in hot weather and take the chance that the weather won’t turn. So it is essential for all campers, tent or RV campers, to have shelter with them if they have to face more challenging weather conditions.
Carry Sufficient Food And Drinks
Solo campers are responsible for all their essentials and are the sole provider of their needs. It is a good idea to carry ready to eat food when you are camping alone to minimize time and effort. Plan each meal before leaving and take extra provisions with you to avoid having to go hungry in the event of unexpected circumstances.
Additional Safety Tips For Solo Camping
Solo tent camping is not a good idea from a safety point of view and carries risks. Lone campers present an easier target for predators seeking an easy meal. Here are some safety tips for solo campers:
- Always carry a first aid kit with all the essentials since you will be on your own and you are your only rescuer in an emergency.
- Inform someone reliable about your complete camping plan along with the trails you will follow so you can be traced if you do get in trouble. A GPS tracker is a must have to allow people back home to track your movement and get some idea about any incident that could prevent you from checking in at agreed milestones.
- Carry portable drinking water with you and check the water carefully when refilling your tanks. Dirty water can make you seriously sick.
- The smell of food attracts bears and other animals so to stay safe, keep all your food completely sealed and in opaque storage boxes and barrels.
- Keep your body fully covered to avoid mosquito stings and insect bites. Use insect repellent on your body and bug spray your camp periodically to stay safe. Even a single sting of some insect or mosquito may make you fall seriously ill.
- Avoid taking fuel powered lanterns to completely eliminate the risk of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning when in a closed space without any ventilation.
- Never risk your safety by getting too close to the wildlife. They may appear attractive and harmless but you can never predict a wild creature’s next move.
Wild creatures aside, when the call of the wild hits there’s no better way to be at one with nature than by pitching your tent somewhere inspiring and setting up camp. Of course, it could all go wrong, but we humans have had eons to perfect our technique of sleeping out under the stars. So, man up and smooth out your bed roll but stay prepared to move to avoid the inevitable drips and leaks. Then secure your tent flaps to keep bugs and beasts out and settle in for a cozy night’s sleep in your portable home from home.
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