Tuesday, November 08, 2005

The 6Ws For Selecting A Good Campsite

Do you know what the 6 Ws are for selecting a good campsite?

Every campsite is different and unique, but if you are able to find a site that takes into consideration the 6Ws, you'll have a pleasant experience.

Wind

On a hot day, a cool breeze is very refreshing. Early morning breezes can also bring freshness to your tents and campsites.

Strong winds, however, can turn a good camping experience into a bad one. Ever try to set up a tent with hard winds blowing? Have you ever put a stake into the ground only to have it uprooted by the wind? Strong winds are also a problem when trying to start and contain a fire. You don't need the wind blowing sparks throughout your campsite. For these reasons, you'll want to have some sort of shelter (a large rock or a line of trees) to protect you from stormy winds.

While you want protection from heavy winds, be sure that you're enough in the open to get the benefits of those gentle breezes throughout the day. This will also keep you safe from any tree branches that might fall onto your tent and cause damage to you or to your camping equipment.

Water

Camping beside a lake, ocean, river, or stream always adds a special touch of fun to your camping experience. As kids, we used to forget about the camping and focus on the swimming. You'll want to make sure it is a safe environment for little ones, though.

It's always good to be able to have plenty of pure drinking water on hand. Usually rivers and streams can provide this for you. If the water supply isn't pure and clean, you can purify it with Halazone tablets, drops of iodine, or boiling.

You'll also want to make sure that if a heavy rain floods the lake, creak, river, or stream you'll still be high and dry. Make sure any heavy rains will drain out of your campsite and not in.

Wood

If you are at a campsite that permits fires, you'll want to select a site that has plenty of wood nearby. If you know in advance that there is limited supply, be sure you pack your own. Never cut down standing live trees for firewood or shelter unless you are in a survival situation. It may help if you take along camping stoves to conserve the wood.

To find dry wood after a rain, look under leaning or fallen trees and inside hollow logs. If the rain was windblown, look on the side of dead standing timber away from the wind. Use an axe or camp saw to cut into the dead wood - the center of the wood should be dry.

Weather

Take into consideration what the weather will do to your camp. Is there enough shade to keep you protected from the hot summer sun? Will rain send streams of water under your tents or make the ground around them swampy? Will lightning be attracted to tall trees in your camp and electrocute you? Take a look around you and determine if your campsite is "weather protected". The time it takes to select a different site may be well worth your time in the end.

Wild Things

Wild things are all around you - ants, mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, etc. They can ruin your campout if you are not careful. With careful planning, you can avoid some of them. If you pitch your tents 10 to 15 feet above a stream or lake, you can avoid those insects that swarm down close to the water's surface.

Poison ivy and poison oak can ruin a good campout if they find you first. Take the time to check your campsite for these wild things, especially if you are sensitive to them.

Make sure you protect your food from wild animals. Raccoons like to dine on your week's supply of food. In some areas, bears are a problem. Know what kinds of wild animals are in your area so you won't be surprised unexpectedly.

Willingness

The last W puts everything into perspective. It doesn't matter how much you know about the other 5 Ws, if you aren't willing to apply them to your situation, it won't do you any good. If you are the leader of the group, take responsibility. Be willing to take the extra effort to be selective when choosing your campsite. It may pay off dearly when you are able to avoid a calamity because you were willing to move to a different location.

I hope these suggestions help you make your next camping trip a more pleasant experience.

--Henry Juarez
www.FireWithoutAMatch.com

2 Comments:

At 2:41 AM, Blogger Blalalallala said...

Thanx for helping.

 
At 10:45 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

You forgot widow Maker

 

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