Wilderness Camping - The Ultimate Challenge of Survival

By Robert Joe Wallace

 
For people who like a challenge and think they are independent, wilderness camping will be the ultimate test. Camping for fun or recreational camping will be great. You can explore the outdoors, go fishing, hunting, or just plain relax. Wilderness camping well that is a different story.

Wilderness Camping is Dangerous
If you would like the challenge, go for it. If you decide to go out in the wilderness, you will be on your own. There won't be much of a safety net, so prepare yourself. Those who don't prepare for the challenge will regret it if they are lucky enough to survive.
Don't depend on luck; understand the environment and the wildlife around you.
When you are out in the wilderness, you are just another animal. In the wilderness, there are only two types of animals, predators and prey. If you go to fish or to hunt, you will be a predator.

Predators compete for food. Keep this in mind and be prepared to defend yourself and your food supply. The rules of nature are survival of the fittest. If you don't prepare yourself well, you will change from a predator to prey in a heartbeat.

Tips to Surviving a Wilderness Challenge
If you still think you want to accept the challenge of wilderness camping here are some tips to get you off on the right foot.

1. Study the environment. Get as much information about the terrain and the weather patterns for the time you plan to camp. This information will help you to bring the necessary equipment for your trip.
2. Learn first aid. In most cases, you will want to go beyond first aid. You can find many books and articles on both. Remember, there won't be any medical facilities readily available. You may have to treat yourself or your fellow campers for a lengthy amount of time.
3. Know the three requirements for survival. Food, water, and shelter, how to find them and how to shelter yourself. If you have to abandon you're equipment in an extreme emergency, you will need to find these items to save yourself and others.
4. Keep Your Location Known. Let other people know where you plan to camp, the route you are planning to take and how long you plan to stay. This information will be crucial if you get hurt and have to hunker down until help arrives.
5. Carry a GPS locator. Most important, take emergency equipment locators with you, you can find GPS locators and other types of emergency equipment on the Internet or in most equipment stores.

Keep these things in mind and you will have an adventure and stories to tell that you will remember for the rest of your life. Prepare yourself and you will get hooked on wilderness camping or you will hate it. In either case, memories will be your reward.

Robert enjoys many business ventures and sharing his passion with others. As a businessman, he always has new projects going. Visit his latest adventure at http://officefurnitureforthehome.net/ where he shares his knowledge of Computer Home Furniture

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Joe_Wallace

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4577543

10 Mistakes People Make While Hiking and Camping in Bear Country

By Karleen Lindsey

Summer is the time for campers, hikers and bears alike to get out and enjoy the weather, the peace of the mountains, and the freedom of the open space. But if you're camping in bear country, don't make these mistakes that could cost you your life or at the least, your camping gear and food:

1. Leave home without any containers for hanging food and other odorous things in or rope for hanging the container. Without hanging your food, toothpaste, even deodorant in a container from a tree 100 yards away from your camp, you may wake up to find your camp site ransacked and your food gone.

2. Leave home without bear spray. This is a precaution that is fairly cheap and could save your life. Even having 2 or more cans of this spray is worthwhile. One should always be on your person and another should be in the campsite, especially in your tent at night.

3. Spray the campsite with bear spray. Bear spray is not a repellant. It will not keep bears away and in fact might even attract them if sprayed in camp. They are naturally curious animals and attracted to strange smells. It is only to be used in case of a potential bear attack and then sprayed straight in it's face.

4. Set up camp right next to a berry patch or spawning stream. These may be frequented feeding grounds for bears and should be avoided.

5. Wear the same clothes to bed that you wore while cooking and eating your dinner by the fire. Bears have an amazing sense of smell and will follow the scent of food into your tent and directly to you.

6. Walk quietly through areas where bears are known to dwell. Suddenly coming across a bear who did not hear you coming could lead to disaster. Just like people, bears don't like to be startled and may choose to fight rather than run at this point. If you are hiking and making plenty of noise through singing, talking or clapping, a bear will hear you coming and will most likely choose to get as far away from you as possible.

7. Bury garbage in or near your campsite. All garbage should be hauled out of your camping area by way of containers that are well sealed to keep in the odor. Bears will smell garbage buried in the ground and will dig it up.

8. Go off hiking alone without any bear spray or other weapon. Sometimes it is nice to go off by yourself when you're out in the back country to clear your head and be alone with God, but remember to take your bear spray and sing loudly as you go to wherever it is you are going. Being alone is great, but not at the risk of losing your life after startling a bear and her cubs. It might be better to find a place near camp to claim as your own meditation spot, close enough for others to hear if you need assistance.

9. Run away from a threatening bear. If you think you can make it to a tree to climb, forget it. Bears are faster than you and can climb trees. The best thing to do is hold your ground, talk quietly and back away, always keeping an eye on the bear. Bears will usually make a bluff run at something they feel threatened by. This would be the time to use your bear spray. The fear of seeing a bear running towards you is something that is difficult to imagine unless you've experienced it, but keep remembering that it is most likely a bluff charge and when it is within about 30 feet, spray once. If it continues to come toward you, spray again at a closer range. Just keep remembering that you can't outrun a bear, nor can you fight it and win, so the bear spray is your only hope with a charging bear. Stand your ground and keep spraying.

10. Go hiking without telling anyone where you are going or when you plan on returning. It is always important to tell someone where you are going, even if you are not going alone. A situation could come up where trouble befalls your entire hiking group and if you have not returned by your estimated time, a search party will know where to begin looking for you.
Bear attacks are very rare, but they do happen. It is better to be prepared and never encounter a threatening bear than to not be prepared and run into a situation you have no way of getting out of. Be safe out there and enjoy the beauty God has given us.

About this Author

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karleen_Lindsey

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4805582

Wilderness Survival Preparation Tips

 By Aaron Aberson

Before you begin your trip into the wilderness, there are some basic skills you must learn. There are four basic needs that must be met to survive. Warmth, water, sleep and food must be provided for wilderness survival.
It can be very challenging to maintain body warmth at night in some areas. You should be well prepared for any trip or situation that may have you in a cold area. The human body has a very narrow temperature range. You must maintain your temperature in that range for survival.
Water makes up the majority of the human body. Although you can survive for a day or two without water, you should not wait until you are out of water before you start looking.
A lack of sleep can greatly affect your cognitive ability. You may experience hallucinations and be unable to make a rational decision as to your wilderness survival.
Humans can go without food for a couple of weeks. Food may not be your first priority, but considering that you are using many calories on your trek, you will need an adequate amount of food to maintain your stability.
Wilderness survival requires a great deal of preparedness. You need to prepare for the worst case scenario and hope it doesn't happen. Be sure you have the right gear with you. Learn what would be the proper equipment for your trip. Your requirements for a week long backpacking trip will vary greatly from a day trip on the trails. You have to be prepared.
Carry a map of the area with you. Study the land before you see it. Refresh your navigation skills and have the skills necessary for using a map and a good compass. Wilderness survival is your main concern. By learning the lay of the land before you leave, your adventure will be a lot more enjoyable.
Never go out on a trip without letting someone know where you are going. They need to know your route, your destination and the expected return time. There are services that will call family and/or friends if you do not return on schedule or within a reasonable time frame.
It is much easier to survive in good weather. Before you leave on your trip, check with the local weather forecast online or at least watch the predictions on the evening news the night before. If you are choosing to go into the wild in winter, be sure you are prepared and have brushed up on winter survival skills.
To prepare yourself you might also take survival courses and learn what you need to do to make your trip an enjoyable one. Your preparation can save your life and the more you learn, the better your chances for survival will be. Hiking or backpacking in winter in cold climates is not the best idea for a novice heading into the woods. Also, it is best to take a few daytime backpacking trips before you venture into the week long variety of survival treks.
Don't stop learning about survival procedures. Practice your skills as often as you can before you take the trip out to the wild. It is important to remember that the responsibility for wilderness survival is ultimately that of the traveler.

About this Author

Copyright Aaron Aberson. For more on wilderness survival, and to get the free version of the book "Ultralight Backpacking Secrets," visit http://www.the-ultralight-site.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aaron_Aberson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6526766

 

Tent Camping

By Robert Tannery

 Camping Tips for a better Family Experience
Tent Camping can be a lot of fun for families, friends, fishing anglers & hunters and it doesn't matter where you are tent camping at, if you have not put together a checklist of essentials to bring with you then you will find out that your camping experience can turn primitive fast, depending on where you are planning to camp. A tent camping checklist is a must prior to leaving on your journey to wherever your destination of choice may be, how long are you planning on staying, how many people are in your group and what type of facilities are available. For example, the place you are going, some resorts and state parks offers tent camping and in most cases they will have showers, bathrooms & local stores available in the event you forgot something or are you going to be tent camping on a mountain miles away from civilization, these are very important questions to ask yourself.

We are a society of convenience and its bad when you forgot something so simple but extreme, like toilet paper, well this is just one item. How many more things can you think of now with this thought in mind? That's why having a tent camping check list that has everything from your tent, small rope for hanging lights and tying down things like your tent. And don't forget sleeping bags, folding chairs,  right type of clothing depending on the weather, proper footwear, do you have a rainsuit for everybody, food, drinks, cooking utensils, portable gas stove or grill. Is there water readily available for washing dishes or are you doing paper plates. Remember trash bags, lighting is it gas, electric or battery operated, a portable table for feeding the family and matches for a fire. Are you planning to go fishing, hunting or hiking? Then remember items needed for those hobbies.
Oh, don't forget the camera this is one of the most important items that is forgotten, your forever memories.

 By now, you are probably thinking, gee's we are only going to be gone for a weekend, do I really need all of this stuff, is my vehicle going to be big enough or will I need a trailer? It's your call because everyone is different some don't give a hoot and like to ruff it, it doesn't matter if they take a shower or brush their teeth and don't even need a portable potty, most of us can't live without these essentials to go tent camping. Remember this is your extended home for the weekend or however long you intend to stay and you will be surprised with the proper packing a lot will fit in all of your compartments of your vehicle.
 
Tent Camping is a way for all of us to break away from the dreaded JOB and releases all of the stresses we have acquired. And a vacation will give you a break from reality for you and the entire family, but without planning and having a good checklist that applies to your situation can be a disaster and leave you thinking, "Why did we decide to do this tent camping thing in the first place?" On the bright side with the proper planning ahead of time, it can be the most memorable experience for the entire family or friends to last a lifetime. There are millions of people that get out in the great outdoors each year to enjoy nature at its best tent camping.

For more valuable information come visit us at http://www.fishingforcrappie.com

Crappie Fishing Anglers are always looking for more information to be the best that you can be at this sport, get all the up to date information at http://www.FishingForCrappie.com on rods & reels, types of baits, colors, types of habitats and seasons to catch these fun sport fish. Find advise for camping and boating to make your next trip an enjoyable one. I am on the lake over 120 days a year and study fish movements, weather along with types of structure and have enjoyed this sport for over 40 years. We are always adding more information on a regular basis, so bookmark us in your favorites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Tannery

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2013484