Camping season is almost here - JP Fitness Forums

papperclippy · 03-22-2008, 07:56 AM

Anybody else getting excited about camping season starting again? I just started tent camping last year and loved it. Granted, I am still not a wild national park camper yet, but I still like to stay in the state parks and relax.

sg516 · 03-25-2008, 07:52 AM

ok, my wife and i have been discussing this for a while now. neither of us have ever been camping but we both like doing outdoorsy type of stuff (hiking, biking, etc). so we made the decision that this year once the weather was warm enough we would go camping. besides a tent what equipment would you advise? what are the do's and don't about camping?

Lost Dog · 03-25-2008, 08:08 AM

I LOVE camping. I'm a tent camper. California has a ton of great places. Beach, high dessert in the spring, mountains close enough. The only problem for us is that you have to plan sooooo far out because of the demand.

My kids are going to be 10 and 12, this summer. I'm hoping to get in a few trips. Fun stuff. Hiking, hanging, campfires, seeing the stars at night, etc. Time to plan!

afterburn · 03-25-2008, 08:50 AM

I love to camp! The whole family does .... We had been a tent family until last year when my hubby bought an old hunting camper,,,, Yes, it's UGLY !!! But we hooked it up & took it to Cascade Lake ( a great place in the blue ridge mts) We had a great time..... I didn't even care how it looked next to the $60,000 campers! or should I say "hotels", at-least we didn't have to put up a wet tent when we went home!!!!

Someone asked what to take camping ! My advice: matches that light even when WET ! and lots of stuff to make smores ! We always invite all the other campers over for a smore party the last night we are there ! IT IS SO MUCH fun & we meet a lot of cool people that way & get lots of great advice on other campgrounds. PS make sure you tell them a set goodnight time, some will hang around till dawn if you don't ! HAPPY CAMPING...... Oh yeah , take good shoes, bathing suit (incase you find water, even a MUD puddle will work depending on how HOT you get !! ) lots lots lots of bug spray ! A first aid kit ( if you have children ) ,, toilet paper is a good alternative to poison ivy leaves.. And your bicycles !!! OH YEAH the best thing to load up """"A GOOD ATTITUDE !! Have a great time !! TANYA

papperclippy · 03-25-2008, 09:04 AM

You don't really need that much from what I found out. First, buy a decent tent. I read personal reviews online of the tents that I liked to see which ones let water in when it rained outside. Personal reviews don't lie, usually. You don't need a $400 tent, just go to walmart and buy on for below $100. After you get the tent, you need sleeping bags AND some type of mat to put underneath them. The mat keeps you comfortable while laying on it and it prevents you from losing bodyheat while laying on the ground. You could also get one of those airmattresses instead, that is more of a personal preference. The last thing you really need is some chairs to sit on around the fire. If you camp alot, you could buy a big nice cooler, but I just use one of those styrofoam ones each time we went. Almost forgot, get a heavy duty tarp to put underneath the tent. The key to the tarp is that you have to make sure that no part of the tarp is exposed from underneath the tent or the rain will drip down the tent, into the tarp, and just collect on the bottom of your tent.

Jean-Paul · 03-27-2008, 04:35 PM

It's a little bit of a lengthy read, but I posted a little story about one of my many fun backpacking trips a few years ago... I LOOOVE camping outdoors. It might be a fun read for someone getting started.

Lost Dog · 03-27-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean-Paul

It's a little bit of a lengthy read, but I posted a little story about one of my many fun backpacking trips a few years ago... I LOOOVE camping outdoors. It might be a fun read for someone getting started.

We can't see it, man. Is there a link missing?

Jean-Paul · 03-27-2008, 05:00 PM

OOPS!

My Sierra Story!

LisaS · 03-27-2008, 05:15 PM

After you buy your tent, take it home and put it up in the backyard. Then strike it and put it away. Repeat at least once.

Jean-Paul · 03-27-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaS

After you buy your tent, take it home and put it up in the backyard. Then strike it and put it away. Repeat at least once.

Great advice! Listen to that.

RedWifey · 03-27-2008, 10:07 PM

Ohhhhh! Next weekend we are taking the kids on our first family camping trip with a group of friends from church. Samantha is sooo sosooosoooso pumped and we are going to buy our gear this weekend. I am getting giddy myself. We've never done this before...not as a couple or a family. It should be super fun!

dillytl · 04-01-2008, 08:18 AM

We took up camping last year!! We started out at a campground that rented out cabins, and liked it so much we bought a hybrid travel trailer! We were camping just about every other weekend last year! LOVE IT! Can't wait to get camping again....if only it would hurry up and get WARM!!!!

ODB · 04-04-2008, 08:37 AM

Hi Gang!

We went a couple of weeks ago to Village Creek State Park in Eastern Arkansas. Good times.

Jean-Paul · 04-08-2008, 06:45 PM

Wow... Is that a red X from in it's natural surroundings? How did you capture an image like that? You must have waited in the same spot for days waiting for that shot.

RedWifey · 04-08-2008, 06:53 PM

Here are some from our excursion...it was so much fun!

dillytl · 04-10-2008, 12:53 PM

Here's some pics from our excursion end of season last year!

Karen P · 04-11-2008, 06:56 PM

I haven't done much camping to date, but I've always wanted to give it a try. It sounds like the perfect vacation to me, completely isolated from real life. I also like the idea of no distractions. What a great way to get to know the person you are with on a deeper level.

Lost Dog · 04-12-2008, 08:42 AM

and bring a book.