Outdoor New Life

Camping Food Storage

Mario — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 04:27:23 +0000

If you think camping could be an awesome experience and storage is something secondary, then you should think about it again. Why? Because all kinds of animals can get into your food, and also having free space is valuable. So, knowing a little about camping food storage could be helpful.

All camper should be responsible in to prevent wild animals from accessing human food. This kind of food is not good for animals and makes them dependent. And obviously, there is a danger for you in case big animals get to your food. This could provoke these animals to be removed from the area by the local authorities.

Therefore proper camping food storage can help you to keep yourself and wildlife safe and happy.

Also, some others tips about camping food storage can help you optimize space and to avoid unwanted situations caused by bad food handling.

Let’s go for it!

Camping Food Storage in the Daytime

Keep your food secured during the daytime including kitchen equipment and cooler whenever you are not cooking or eating. It’s recommended to keep all these away from the place you are camping (also includes anything with food scents).

Although you can think is fine to leave the food and the cooler out while you are hanging in the campsite, the best practice is to keep these stored away while you are not using them.

Camping Food Storage in the Nighttime

Usually, the best option to store camping food in the nighttime is inside a vehicle.

However, you will need to check if the place you are camping in allows this. Check with the authorities if this practice is allowed because in certain areas animals have learned to break into vehicles, so you must follow all food storage rules.

If this is the case then you will need a special place to store the food like a metal food locker (usually provided where you are camping).

Remember to store and protect not just the food, but also any other scented items like pet food and trash.

Camping Food Storage Options

There are different recipients to store your food but beyond that, there are other suggestions you can implement to optimize the space and make your camping a better experience.

First, try to freeze as much as possible the night before you pack. The frozen food can serve as ice packs so the non-freezable food will keep cold by the frozen ones, meaning a lot more space free.

Second, check if there is food that doesn’t need to stay in its original package. If it can be removed from its packing it can help to free the space.

Third, you should pack your cold and dry food separately. Why? Because cold food can create condensation and that can make your dry food get wet.

Camping Food Handling Tips

There are some food-handling basics to avoid becoming sick from bad food manipulation.

First, always wash your hands after going to the bathroom and before preparing a meal. Also, remember to dry your hands with a towel not used for drying dishes.

Second, make sure you keep your cooler at a temperature cold enough to maintain fresh food like meat, cheese, and milk. Frozen meat should be put on the bottom where is coldest.

Third, is recommended to cut up your raw meat at home and put the pieces in zip-top bags before putting them into your cooler. If you cut raw meat at camp, don’t cut other foods on a cutting board with meat residue. Be extremely cautious in the cleanup because raw meat could attract animals.

And last, never wash dishes and dump water in your campsite. Always do it away from it.

Other Tips for Camping Food Storage

There are some general tips for camping food storage whether you are in a campground or backcountry. These tips could sound obvious but it is worth mentioning.

First, never leave food or anything strong-smelling inside your tent.

Second, always keep an eye on your food and never leave it unattended.

Third, prepare meals in advance at home if possible. It’s a lot easier to prepare food and clean up.

These are some basic additional camping tips. Don’t let this overwhelm you and enjoy your camping trip! Always keep in mind to do things in a way simpler and easier for you.

Backpacking for Beginners

Mario — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 01:39:28 +0000

Backpacking when you are a newbie into this can be a stressful experience unless you know someone to guide you. Like all in life, when we are learning something new we need others’ help. So, this backpacking for beginners article is made to share with you some tips that maybe can help you if you are a newcomer.

There are a lot of guides on the internet but sometimes they overwhelm you with a large amount of information. So in this post, I will try to bring an overview of the information. Maybe in the future, I can make articles talking more deeply about this topic.

So, let’s go to the tips!

Choose a Destination for a Backpacking Beginner

If we talk about backpacking for beginners then the most common is to begin with an easy hike, near your home, with shorter distances (because of the weight carried), a well-traveled trail (just in case you may need help), ideally with a bathroom, with water near the camp, and summer weather.

Also, a good idea is to consult with experienced backpackers. They can give you options because backpacking for beginners can be bad a experience if you choose a hard trip to your level. Doing your first backpacking travel with an experienced backpacker is a very good idea if you don’t trust enough your current skills.

Know the Permits Needed and Check Local Rules

When you are a backpacking beginner is recommended to know if you need some kind of permit to pass or stay in the place to hike. Some camping areas require permits to avoid overcrowding and protect the environment. Check up on this (search on the website or go physically) and if you need one then learn how to get it. It could be very unpleasant to travel and then know you need a special permit.

Choose your Gear and Equipment

Backpacking gear has to be lightweight and compact because you have to carry it all into your pack. A good tip is to share gear when you hike with a friend to use as little space as possible. Also, some equipment can be quite expensive so a good option is renting or borrowing gear from friends.
Another piece of advice on backpacking for beginners: make sure to test your gear before the trip (and know how to use it!).
The essential backpacking equipment for any backpacking trip is a tent, backpack, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad.

Another thing very important is clothing and shoes. Clothes should be made of moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabrics, and consider wearing in layers. Because of the long hours of hiking, shoes should protect your feet and be comfortable. Find the right hiking shoes/boots according to the destination and your feet.

In addition to the equipment mentioned it’s also a good idea to bring other items as such: something for navigation (GPS or map), a source of light (lantern, headlamp), some fire starters (waterproof matches, Ferro rod), and first aid supplies for emergencies.

Choose the Food, Water, and Cooking gear

Talking about backpacking for beginners is recommended to bring dehydrated and lightweight foods like granola, dried fruit, instant noodles, and oatmeal. The idea is that this food brings plenty of calories and takes up minimal space.

Always keep in mind the weight if you should carry a tiny stove. And try not to bring many dishes.

Last but not least, water treatment is a must for a backpacking beginner. There are a lot of different options like chemical treatment (purification drops or tablets) or water filters (pump filters, gravity-fed filters).

Prepare Physically and Mentally

Backpacking for beginners requires being ready physically and mentally before the trip.

To prepare physically, try to practice walks with additional weight and do routes with a little bit of elevation. If it’s possible for you, also try to strengthen your lower body by doing leg exercises because they are going to work a lot on your backpacking trip.

Mentally, familiarize yourself with your equipment. For instance, know how to pitch your tent, use your stove, and filter water before travel. Learning some basic first aid and navigation (map and compass) are also useful skills. Another important thing is to get ready for the unexpected because sometimes things don’t go how we plan them. Playing with ‘what if?’ scenarios could help you to be aware and to preparing mentally for situations that may need you to adapt.

Hiking Solo or with a Partner

You may go hiking alone but if we talk about backpacking for beginners, it’s not a great idea. If it is possible, go with a friend who has some experience backpacking, but even though he or she doesn’t have it, is a good idea because you can share the weight on some equipment helping you to save a lot of space.

For last, leave a trip plan with a friend o family member that includes the names and contact info of your hiking partners, the planned route, and the dates you will go out and return.

How to Start a Campfire

Mario — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:01:41 +0000

Making a campfire could be an enjoyable experience that can be shared with family, friends, or alone. You can use fire to stay warm, see at night, cook food, and keep away bugs, among other things. But also we must take some caution before, during, and after the activity. So learning how to start a campfire properly can help you not only to have a good time but also to avoid accidents and bad experiences.

Learning how to start a campfire is an essential camping skill, whether you are in the woods, on the beach, or in the snow.

Here are the steps that you can follow to make the campfire a great experience. Get ready and hands-on!

Legal Issues Before Learn How to Start a Campfire

Always check the local fire restrictions before you intend to start a campfire. If the season or region is particularly dry, there might be restrictions on when, where, and why people can light fires. A fire can go out of control easily and dry weather can help to propagate it, becoming a big trouble and danger to any plant, animal, or people near.

Always follow the authority mandates on this topic to avoid any problems. All campfires must comply with local laws.

Keep all this in mind when you are learning how to start a campfire.

Choosing a Place to Start a Campfire

Here depending on the situation, you have two options:

Some places are enabled to build a campfire and have all the necessary things to start immediately (they have fire rings, grills, fireplaces, or similar), so you can directly go to gather firewood to start the campfire.
Other places don’t have it, so you will need to choose the right place before building the campfire. If you want to protect your fire from the wind, you should build the campfire on the ground lower than the land around it. Another option is to build the fire against a rock wall protecting the fire from wind. Always keep in mind safety, so be sure to choose a place where other trees or flammable objects aren’t near.

Build a Fire Pit or Get a Fire Ring

If you are in the number two situation, you will need to dig a hole so that the fire is protected from the wind. Then build a protective perimeter with rocks around the hole (rocks as big as your hand).

An option is to use a fire ring before the rocks if you have one in your hands. Using a fire ring will reduce your impact and keep your fire contained.

If you are in the number one situation then just go to the next step of how to start a campfire.

Gather Firewood to Start a Campfire

To start a successful campfire, you’ll need three types of fuel: tinder, kindling, and firewood.

Tinder: these are small twigs, dry leaves, pine needles, or thin bark.
Kindling: these are small sticks, typically less than one inch around (about as thick as a thumb).
Firewood: any larger piece of wood. This is what will keep your fire going long into the night.

Make sure that they are completely dry. Then, when they are gathered, stack them in the center of the campfire. It’s common to put the firewood only when you have a good fire generated with the tinder and kindling, but this is up to your preferences. This is something you will learn with time, practicing how to start a campfire.

Light the Campfire

This is one of the critical steps when you are learning how to start a campfire.

Light the tinder with a match or lighter. The tinder will begin to burn. Use the same match to light the tinder in multiple places.

After lighting the tinder, blow lightly at the base of the fire to provide oxygen, which will help increase the flame intensity and ignite the wood even more. Place yourself between the fire and the wind. This will stop the breeze from extinguishing your fire.

Put the larger firewood in the fire and always keep an eye on the flame to make sure it doesn’t get out of control. Be aware of where the wind is blowing.

Know How to Extinguish the Campfire

We have learned how to start a campfire, but after we used it we need to extinguish it.

Make sure to extinguish the flames before abandoning the campfire, going to sleep, or leaving the fire unattended. Ideally, wait until the fire burns down to embers. Also, if you are in a place similar to a campground, check the managers’ recommendations. Follow their steps if they provide them.

There are different methods to extinguish a fire. Some people use sand or dirt and then water and others use just water. There are two important things about this. If you use water, avoid pouring it directly over a blazing fire. This will extinguish the flames quickly, but it will also throw up a large cloud of dust and steam. If you use sand, beware because it can insulate coals, which can become uncovered later, igniting a wildfire.

Clean Up the Campfire

Now that you’ve learned how to start a campfire and extinguish it, you have to know how to clean it.

Burn trash items only if they can be fully consumed by fire and turned to ash (don’t burn plastic or cans). If something is not fully consumed by fire, collect the remains and put them in a trash receptacle.

If you are in a campground, consider scattering the stones, rearranging the leaves, and returning the place to the way it was when you found it.

Ok, now that you know how to start a campfire, go out and practice!

Have a good campfire!

Bla Bla Bla

Mario — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 02:43:40 +0000