Some hikers throw their tent down any old place. Others spend as much time choosing a campsite as a couple of newlyweds spend choosing a house. Your comfort isn’t the only issue to consider when choosing a campsite: You also need to follow minimum impact guidelines that will help protect the area for future users. This column will focus on picking a comfortable site; Part 2 will cover minimum impact camping.
Beating the bugs…It’s bug season: Those pesky mosquitoes and carnivorous blackflies are coming out of their winter slumber packing sharpened teeth and heightened appetites. Will you let them keep you out of the woods? Or can you keep them at bay? Is there a way to avoid these backcountry spoilsports?
Walking lightly on the land…Have you ever thought that there just might be too many of us out there? Our population is growing, our true wild places are shrinking, and the popularity of outdoor sports and recreation continues to rise. Preserving and protecting our wildlands is not just a job for rangers and land managers—it’s a task for the rest of us, not only when we’re camping, but also when we’re walking.
River Crossings…Scout first. The obvious trail often crosses rivers in places that are easy enough to handle when the water level is low. When the water is high, there may be other, better routes. Before you plunge in, be sure that you feel comfortable and confident. It might be better to walk along the shore a bit to find a safer route. Look for the easy way. Currents are slower and water shallower where the stream widens.
Popularity: 61% [?]