Looking at camping and hiking basics

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LOOKING AT CAMPING AND HIKING BASICS

When looking at camping and hiking basics it is important to visualize where you are going, what your primary activity will be and what your expectations involve. Camping and hiking encompass a multitude of outdoor activities, all extremely enjoyable and entertaining. The activities encompass such things as camps, hiking, roughing it, campsites, sleeping accommodations, erecting tents, backpacking, navigation equipment, water activities and cooking. People who take on these activities are motivated to get away from civilization and spend time with nature. They set up tents; they sleep under the stars with a sleeping bag, or they sleep in a camper or caravan, its all about the experience.

Camping and hiking has been revitalised over the last decade with people returning to the environment and introducing their children to the fun and rustic beauty of the great outdoors. Camping can be the greatest experience, especially if you bring the many components of planning together, with a little effort you can make the venture a success. If you are a first timer just make sure that you get all of the right advice and information available ensuring that you have a successful adventure.

There are oodles of camping and hiking adventures to choose from throughout the country. Australia has the best of everything, we have a vast mainland that extends to the long coastline and broadens to the red center of the outback, encompassing many spectacular National Parks, State Forests and Reserves that offer the greatest hikes and bushwalks. Examples of adventures include camping on the beach, a hiking trail trip, a mountain climbing trip, a water sports trip, a 4WD trip, a trip to a state or national park the list goes on. For the individual nature lover, it may mean a walk through the bush with bare essentials; a backpack, hiking boots and some survival stuff (food, water, compass, and map). In the age of camper trailers, serious campers will likely travel with a fully equipped vehicle. This could include not only backpacks and boots, but such things as a cooking stove, kitchen sink, water tap, beds, table, chairs, radio, portable DVD player, and other items that can be used with electricity sourced from the camper trailer or caravan.
Camping and hiking are often done in conjunction with other activities, such as picnicking, mountain climbing, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

If your adventure involves more than a day's trip, you will need to think about such things as: tent, sleeping bag & pillow, backpack, billy, stove or lantern with cooking utensils, sharp knife, compass, map, flashlights, hunting knife, toiletry items, sanitary supplies, camera, food and water, first aid kit including first aid cream, bandages, dressing pads, aspirin or equivalent for pain or fever, insect repellant, sunscreen, soap, and thermometer. Other items such as a mobile phone, small shovel, axe, sunglasses, whistle, appropriate clothing including a hat, ID cards, and cash will also be needed in the majority of places.

Australia is packed with the most wonderful and well maintained campgrounds so the biggest problem you face is choosing where you wish to camp. While much goes into the planning of a good camping trip, the implementation aspects of the trip is equally as challenging. Now that you have decided on the campground it’s time to choose your site. Somewhere that suits your needs, some things to think about would be; What are the limits of the campground? Will the tent be pitched on the slope of a hill or in a clearing? How thick is the bush that you picked for your campground? How far away are the amenities? All of these are questions that must be addressed. Pitching your tent on the slope or top of the hill provides protection from a sudden downpour of rain that could flood the valley. Avoiding too much brush minimizes the danger from local wild life using the brush as cover. Also, a tent provides some protection from insects such as mosquitoes. Wearing long pants and sleeves together with insect repellant provides additional protection from insects.

There is an endless number of leisure activities that one can do during a camping trip. You can go hiking. Of course, you'll need a backpack and hiking boots and always let someone know where you are going and what time you think you will be back. You can fish, either from the banks or in a canoe or kayak. You can go swimming – don’t forget the sunscreen. You can also play cricket or other sports game. Then, there is the option that you can just sit around cooking and eating marshmallows all day long. Another delight of camping is watching the sunset, watching the stars at night and wildlife spotting, Australia has a lot of nocturnal animals so grab a spotlight and go exploring.

• Added on: Feb 5th, 2009
• Country: Australia
• Language: English

• Author: Nadine
• Listed in: Outdoor Recreation
• Tags: camping hiking outdoors camp hike tent