While camping alone there is always something special for you. In case you enjoy the peace of mind and also the gifts of nature then camping alone will surely be pleasurable to you. There are lots of similarities between regular camping and solo camping. In both cases, you are required to utilize the identical gear and also depend on the same skills. However, protecting yourself happens to be the most significant difference between the two. The best solution for this would be to prepare you beforehand. In the subsequent paragraphs, we will mention several essential guidelines on how to camp alone safely.
- Planning
Planning your route is almost half the fun of solo camping. It is essential to make adequate research on the wilderness areas and hiking tracks to become acquainted with the flora and fauna that you will be coming across on your trip. Go online and visit online forums as well as wilderness adventure blogs. Try to figure out from the previous campers the nature of the destination where you are about to plan your campsite. You’ll also be able to get reliable information regarding the regional climate, seasonal trail conditions as well as the local tradition of the area. In case you are camping alone for the first time, select a destination where you have camped previously in a group. This will help you to stay away from any nasty experiences and untoward incidents.
- Possible hazards
It is imperative for you to focus on your safety concerns since you have to tackle the situation yourself in case there is any natural calamity or life-threatening incident. There are lots of potential threats and when you are alone, it is more likely for you to come across those hazards even more. There are several isolated areas where it will not be possible for you to contact with others over the phone. Injury, as well as illness, is the main concern for you when camping alone. However, it is possible to minimize the risks to a large extent by preparing yourself beforehand.
Amongst the essential steps that you may take while camping all by yourself mention may be made of the ready availability of a first aid kit, wearing protective outfits, keeping medicines handy, safeguarding your hands by wearing gloves while handling firewood, protecting your footwear properly and also avoiding the consumption of unfamiliar animals and plants. Apart from this, make it a point to protect yourself from any harsh weather conditions, avoid any intoxicating beverages as well as bring adequate amounts of foodstuff along with you.
You might also be required to face hazards posed by wild creatures besides those related to illness and accidents. Take adequate measures to safeguard yourself from dangerous predators, poisonous creatures as well as human threats. As per the regulations governing the region where you’ll be camping, you might also consider bringing with you any self-protection device such as a small weapon or even a bear repellent.
- Choosing your equipment
There is no hard and fast rule for bringing any particular equipment with you while camping alone and you simply need to make sure that it does not require too much effort on your part to set up the equipment without the help of another individual. Always test any equipment before using it whether it is a tent, a complicated camp furnishing or a shower unit.
Remember that it is quite cumbersome to set up a tent all by yourself and you require to be patient and also must possess the necessary expertise for doing so. It will be a smart idea to practice beforehand in case you do not have any experience in setting up tents which will help you to avoid any unnecessary headaches. It might be the fact that it is quite difficult to assemble the tent on your own and in that case you will come across quite a few tents on the market which do not require any assembling at all. Some brands will simply fold out all by themselves and the good thing is that most of these are available at affordable rates which will definitely fit your budget.
For some individuals, fishing and camping go hand in hand. In that case, one should choose fishing rod meticulously and plan his camping trips for regions which provide adequate fishing facilities.
There are quite a few options while choosing outdoor footwear for your camping trip. Choose outdoor boots in case the trail is wet and steep and there is a possibility to become injured. You should go for outdoor shoes when the terrain is almost level.
If you do some more research, you can find the 9 best hunting boots you may need for camping whether it be alone or with a group. Checking out some of these reviews will give you an idea of some of the standard features needed for roughing it outdoors versus some of the more lux features you may desire but not necessarily require.
- Use a hammock for sleeping
There are several options in front of you when it comes to shelter. Although, you will come across different types of top-quality solo tents out there, probably the most useful one will be the hammock tent. The positive aspect about these types of tents is that apart from being lightweight, they are also very comfortable. Moreover, it is possible for you to set up the hammock tent almost anywhere you like to camp.
- Be aware of the weather conditions
Always keep an eye on the regional climatic conditions. Although it is possible to set up your camp in almost any type of weather, it will be helpful to understand what you’re actually getting yourself into. Sometimes you might face difficulty due to extreme weather conditions or precipitation. You’ll find updates on the weather conditions on the Internet beforehand which will give you a fair idea of when to start. Make it a point to monitor the climatic conditions every day before you leave and in most cases, the forecast is quite accurate and reliable. However, be prepared for temperature differences of at least 20 degrees below the predicted temperature range and 10 degrees above so as to stay comfortable and safe.
- Give your itinerary to someone else
Ensure to give the itinerary of your trip to some other individual before leaving for the campsite. It is especially important in case you are depending on somebody else to drive you to and from your destination. In case you do not arrive at your home within the stipulated time frame or you fail to show up, they will be able to follow your trail according to the itinerary which can play an important role in saving your life.
You might even leave one more copy of the itinerary inside your locked vehicle in case you happen to drive yourself. This will help somebody to find you in case there is any untoward incident such as the forest catching fire. Rescue teams can find out your location based on the itinerary and rescue you eventually.
Author Bio
Paul Watson is an outdoor enthusiast and aspiring expert who loves to fish and hunt. On his site, http://outdoorchoose.com, he shares tips on how to make your hunting and fishing excursions both exciting and successful
