Camping/Overlanding Lessons Learned

[Curious Hound]

Use this as a thread to post valuable lessons learned regarding camping/overlanding/exploring adventures. Things you may be embarrassed to admit might save someone else some trouble or discomfort in the field. Try to make it things you have experienced, not just stuff you read somewhere or saw in a video. And add some context by including a brief story of how you learned the lesson.

 

[Curious Hound]

Always pack a jacket and rain gear, no matter what you think the weather forecast is.

This past week, I made a short trip to escape the heat (90's and above with greater than 50% humidity) at home. I began in a campground that was forecast to be around 7-8 degrees cooler most of the time, with 20-40% chance of isolated rain showers.

It turned out that the campground only had open spaces the first night. So, I explored and found dispersed camping nearby, on the other side of the mountain ridge. Ended up with 2 1/2 - 3 hour periods of thunderstorms, at least twice each day. Then the temperatures dropped. I ended up wearing 2 t-shirts simultaneously to stay warm. While breaking camp on the last day, at 9:30am it had only warmed up to 59 degrees.

Raingear would have given me a little more freedom to hike in the rain when there wasn't too much thunder and lightning.

 

[Curious Hound]

Always download offline maps in your favorite navigation app for the area you will be traveling. This has 3 advantages.

1. Google maps and Wayze are woefully deficient for exploring, finding forest service roads and finding campsites.

2. While downloading, study them, at least briefly. You may find better campsites and places to explore.

3. It will give you more freedom to explore if you have extra time. Knowing that road X connects to road L and eventually comes out on paved highway YYY helps you keep your bearings. It also gives you confidence, knowing that you can't get "too lost". Having a general "lay of the land" in your head is helpful if something happens to your navigation aids.

On the trip mentioned in my reply above, I didn't originally expect to do much exploring. Had I downloaded and studied the maps in GAIA before leaving home, I never would have spent money on campground fees the first night. The campground did give me the privilege of topping off my water supply before leaving, though.

I also would have known about more roads to explore. When I explored the road that my dispersed campsite was on, it eventually brought me out on a paved road. But I had no idea where that would lead me or which direction to turn. So I turned around and retracted my route. I also didnt know about the 6 waterfalls along my route that were all less than 1/4 mile from the trailhead. Missed opportunity by poor planning.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Paper towels wrapped around vegetables, then in the plastic bag will extend the life of the produce 2 to 4 times normal.
Paper plates are best if you have limited water.
Dawn powerwash works pretty good for cleaning dishes.
For caked on pots I use 1/2" of water and boil with the lid on for a few minutes. Then a scrub brush removes the food particles. A quick rinse and towel out the moisture. The residual heat will finish the drying.
Two - Dollar store square basins is what I use for washing dishes. One for soapy water, one for rinse. If I use paper plates, then I only have to deal with cutlery and pots. Washing cutlery can usually wait for several days.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I've learned to wrap food in foil and cook it either over hot coals or on a grill so I don't have to mess with cleaning pots and pans and lose space carrying them. I do however carry a small camp griddle to cook pancakes and bacon on.

Know ahead of time if there are fire restrictions where you're going. They may allow a propane stove or grill but not allow charcoal or burning firewood which will create hot coals.

Please extinguish your hot coals. I've traveled through a national forest and came across hot coals that were still smoking after someone abandoned a campsite.

When using a cooler I use frozen bottles of water instead of ice packs. I can drink the water when they thaw. I also freeze my meats so they'll keep longer.

Properly dispose of your trash in a bear proof trash can or put them in something air tight so that you're not attracting bears to your campsite until you can properly dispose of it.

If you put a tarp under your tent to protect the bottom and to help keep it dry, remember that it has to be smaller then the tent and not stickout from under it. Otherwise it will catch the water and funnel it under the tent.

 

[RobbieD]

If you forget, or run out of, toilet paper, remember to NOT use any plants with shiny leaves in groups of three as a substitute.

And add some context by including a brief story of how you learned the lesson.

Let's not go there.

 

[Curious Hound]

If you forget, or run out of, toilet paper, remember to NOT use any plants with shiny leaves in groups of three as a substitute.



Let's not go there.

We'll make an exception in this case.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I wondered how @Curious Hound got covered in poison ivy back in Kentucky.

 

[Curious Hound]

I wondered how @Curious Hound got covered in poison ivy back in Kentucky.

I keep saying "I didn't " it turned out to be a bacterial infection. That's the doctor's info. Not my guess.

But... if you ask how I got that, I dont have a definitive answer. My best suspicion is that it was related to getting splashed on the legs with nasty mop water in the restroom at Buc-ees. That place is evil.

 

[sgtsandman]

Always pack a jacket and rain gear, no matter what you think the weather forecast is.

This past week, I made a short trip to escape the heat (90's and above with greater than 50% humidity) at home. I began in a campground that was forecast to be around 7-8 degrees cooler most of the time, with 20-40% chance of isolated rain showers.

It turned out that the campground only had open spaces the first night. So, I explored and found dispersed camping nearby, on the other side of the mountain ridge. Ended up with 2 1/2 - 3 hour periods of thunderstorms, at least twice each day. Then the temperatures dropped. I ended up wearing 2 t-shirts simultaneously to stay warm. While breaking camp on the last day, at 9:30am it had only warmed up to 59 degrees.

Raingear would have given me a little more freedom to hike in the rain when there wasn't too much thunder and lightning.

I'll second this. I find convertible pants to be a great option too. They are shorts when you need shorts and long pants when you need long pants. And they take up a heck of a lot less room than packing regular shorts and pants.

Ponchos don't take up a lot of room if they are rolled up and stuffed in a small drawstring bag. I've yet to get some for the 2019, but all three bins that have tents in them have two ponchos packed in with the tent, sleeping pads, folding chairs, and camp pillows ( the pillows aren't great, being that they are so small, but are better than nothing if you forgot to bring your own).

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I always wear jeans.

It was like 95* today and I was at a tractor show, jeans.

Between various nefarious weeds and bugs I just kinda evolved to not need shorts in my life. Nettles, chiggers skeeters... whatever. Sorry the gate is closed.

 

[Snoranger]

I keep saying "I didn't " it turned out to be a bacterial infection. That's the doctor's info. Not my guess.

But... if you ask how I got that, I dont have a definitive answer. My best suspicion is that it was related to getting splashed on the legs with nasty mop water in the restroom at Buc-ees. That place is evil.

We know how you got it…

 

[Uncle Gump]

Always pack a jacket and rain gear, no matter what you think the weather forecast is.

This past week, I made a short trip to escape the heat (90's and above with greater than 50% humidity) at home. I began in a campground that was forecast to be around 7-8 degrees cooler most of the time, with 20-40% chance of isolated rain showers.

It turned out that the campground only had open spaces the first night. So, I explored and found dispersed camping nearby, on the other side of the mountain ridge. Ended up with 2 1/2 - 3 hour periods of thunderstorms, at least twice each day. Then the temperatures dropped. I ended up wearing 2 t-shirts simultaneously to stay warm. While breaking camp on the last day, at 9:30am it had only warmed up to 59 degrees.

Raingear would have given me a little more freedom to hike in the rain when there wasn't too much thunder and lightning.

Frog Toggs poncho

Amazon.com

 

[Curious Hound]

Frog Toggs poncho

Amazon.com

Just put one in my Amazon cart. I have Frogg Toggs raingear for motorcycle riding.

 

[Roert42]

The tarp under the tent is game changer. Even for people that are just weekend camping on a sunny day.

Keeps the moisture in the ground from wicking up through the floor into the sleeping bag.