Camping 101 (she: Stacee)

I have debated and debated and talked to everyone I know and I finally decided on Camping. I am 30 years old and can’t remember if there was ever a summer I didn’t go camping. I often spent a great majority of the summer in the mountains (for weeks at a time) with my family. We would take the trailer up the mountain and forget about the rest of the world for a while. Great fun and great memories. And now that I have my own family we follow the tradition. We have yet to stay for weeks, but a weekend works out great. So I thought I would share what knowledge I have on the subject.

1. Find a spot. My favorite spots are in the shade. Mountains may seem cold but when your tent or trailer is set up in the sun, you’ll be wishing you were in the shade. Also, the further from the beaten path the better. I find the quieter spots are more relaxing and less stress (isn’t that what going to the mountains is all about?). Keep in mind though, the further off the main road the more likely you are going to want a four wheel drive truck, I’m just sayin’.

Fresh Fruit Cobbler

Up to one quart of fresh fruit.
(My favorite is either peach or raspberry. No more than a quart but you can use less. Just enough to cover the bottom of the pan is fine. You can use canned fruit but fresh is better.)
1 yellow cake mix
1 can of Sprite, or 7 up or any other lemon lime soda.

Directions:

-You can also follow this recipe at home, using a cake pan. Just follow the directions as above and then set your oven to the recommended temperature on the box of cake mix and cook for the recommended amount of time. At home you can serve with ice cream.

3. Packing Clothes. Pack light. Beauty does not matter when you are camping. All you need is a pair of jeans, a shirt, clean underwear and socks for each day you are gone. Grab a jacket (or coat depending on the season you are going) and a good pair of shoes then head out the door. You are allowed to leave your makeup and shampoo behind. No one cares what you look like when you have been tracking through the mountains for 3 days.

4. Packing other essentials. Here is a list of things I find useful when I am camping…

Sleeping bag. A thicker sleeping bag is best being you can use it all types of weather. I like the Below 0 bags, they keep you nice and warm without an extra blanket. Amazon.com’s favorite sleeping bag is the Teton Sports Celsius 0 Degree, they are extra wide and come in right and left so they can be zipped together.

A tent, or trailer. We bought a gargantuan tent a couple of years ago, it holds the five of us and all of our stuff. I recommend that when you are picking out a tent, get one that holds a couple more people then you have in your family, that way you have room for the rest of the stuff on the list. If you are lucky enough to have a trailer, good for you! Lots of room for lots of stuff. Amazon’s highest rated family tent is the Eureka! Copper Canyon 12 Person , with Eureka! 8 Person at a close second, and Coleman’s Red Canyon tied with that.
, with Eureka! 8 Person at a close second, and Coleman’s Red Canyon tied with that.

Soap. As much as vanity doesn’t matter, clean hands do.

Bug spray and sun screen. When choosing a bug spray get something that will keep off the West Nile carrying mosquito’s and nasty ticks. Deep Woods Off is my favorite for camping it has the recommended 5% or more, Deet. And get a good SPF, the sun is pretty intense in the mountains.
is my favorite for camping it has the recommended 5% or more, Deet. And get a good SPF, the sun is pretty intense in the mountains.

Flashlights or lanterns. That’s obvious but also comes in very handy when you need a potty break at 2 in the morning.

Lots of water. Another obvious one, but I just had to remind you. You’ll want some water that is for washing dishes and hands too, so plan on bringing extra.

If you are going to be dutch oven cooking bring a pair of sturdy pliers or a lid lifter and a pair of good sturdy gloves. Those puppies get really hot.

Matches, garbage bags (you take out what you take in), a great first aid kit, chairs, baby wipes, binoculars are fun but not necessary and a tooth brush and paste (clean teeth matter too).

5. Have fun. We like hiking, fishing, making crafts out of things you find in the woods and just lazying around in our camping hammock. Camping is about finding peace and quiet so don’t feel like you have to be going a million miles an hour like we all often do when we are at home. You can’t usually get cell service in the mountains or WiFi, so leave your gadgets at home and just enjoy being out in the open.

Some fun books to add to your experience…

Camp Out!




Fun with Nature




Cee Dub’s Dutch Oven

P.S. Check out the National Forest Service and the National Park Service websites for great camping locations and other camping information.

~Stacee