Be it a Cabin, a tent, RV, or sleeping out under the stars its all camping.
Fall camping is something I do fair amount of with many of my other outdoor pursuits so now is the time to begin planning. For most of my adventures I have my F250 pickup so I keep some minimal supplies in it so I’m always ready. I try to carry a number of things that I can use for shelter including a small tent a couple of tarps and a sleeping bag. Additionally I have a blanket and an old coat that I often roll up to use as a pillow.
Some important tools to have with you are a number of methods to start a fire. Fire is important not only for warmth but cooking and boiling water as well as signaling if you need help. Camping just doesn’t seem to be camping without the campfire and how you going to make Smores?
I don’t often carry firewood with me but opt to get it in the area I’m at. Some places won’t allow you to transport fire wood in because of the danger of introducing a dangerous pest or invasive species. So always check before you bring firewood from home. You should have an hatchet or axe to split up some wood and make kindling to help get the fire going. Always check if you’re on public lands if it is legal to use wood lying on the ground for your campfire and any rules they may have around building campfires.
I always carry a First Aid Kit and a knife in my truck as well as in my packs I take into the wild. These are key components you don’t want to be without. Other important items are insect repellent, your thermacell , some cookware, a COFFEE POT (which means you better have coffee) I’m useless without my coffee. I keep drinking water in my truck and at times when weather conditions may make it hard for me to move or I suspect supplies may become more difficult I carry an abundance of water.
Finally gadgets that make our life that much easier face we are for the most part addicted. Be it flashlights, radios, walkie talkies , GPS, digital camera, etc… we got a bunch and how we power them is just as important. A number of years ago I found myself in the middle of the Maine Woods with night coming on fast and a dead flashlight. Luckily I had a pack of brand new C Batteries in my truck but unfortunately I had a dead flashlight that took D.
From that day on I try to simplify my life and my battery use as much as I can so you’ll find the majority of gadgets I use all take AA batteries. Now I have a big flashlight in my truck that takes 5 D batteries but my core gear all takes AA. That way I can swap batteries between items if things get tough. I would also recommend you don’t skimp on the batteries you use because if you do they may die on you at the most inopportune time. Energizer is a quality battery and they have the Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries that will perform in some of the toughest conditions. Not that we get into those conditions much however if you’re like me and keep your equipment in your truck that’s some tough conditions on a battery.
For the countless electronic gadgets that you can’t live without, get the latest lithium battery technology that’s proven to be the world’s longest lasting AA and AAA batteries in high-tech devices.
Other things you should know:
• Last up to 8x longer in digital cameras (versus Energizer® MAX®. results vary by camera.)
• Weigh 1/3 less than standard alkaline batteries
• Perform in extreme temperatures from -40°F to 140°F
• 15 year storage life
• Leak resistant construction
While -40 would feel nice about now for the most part I rarely see those temperatures much unless I head to Maine in the winter. The 140 is far to frequent with the sun beating down on my truck so the packs of spare batteries I carry in the truck take a beating long before they get put into any of my gadgets. Make sure your battery can take the heat or better yet switch to Energizer you know the one with the bunny that keeps going and going…..
Camping is a lot of fun and with some planning ahead you can make it a very enjoyable adventure. From time to time events like a natural disaster can force us all into an unexpected camping trip. Some preplanning on your part stock piling some supplies like food water and batteries will keep you from hunting for them just prior to or just after the event when supplies may be limited or even unavailable.
