Camping is getting popular. Poetry and distant places. Is a tent enough?

Review expert: Gu Minghui, a well-known roundtable blogger on outdoor camping on Zhihu

Because of the repeated outbreaks of the epidemic, whenever a holiday is approaching, my friends' holiday travel plans will be more or less affected: from going abroad to going out of the province, from going out of the province to staying within the province, from staying within the province to staying within the city, and finally they can only take a walk downstairs in the community...

Source: Internet

However, since we are not traveling across provinces during the holidays, why not just camp out?

For office workers who spend their entire lives going back and forth between work and home (like me), the word "camping" itself seems to carry some magical power.

Imagine sitting around a campfire with a few friends on a cool summer night, enjoying a wild dinner, listening to the gurgling stream, and looking up at the Milky Way and stars that are rarely seen in the bustling city. Occasionally, fireflies will draw a misty light by the water, and the breeze will blow, and the sound of insects and leaves rustling will sound like soft music - isn't it refreshing to think about it?

Spending a night in the wild like this may be the ideal camping for many friends.

Source: pixabay

Don’t be anxious, hold back your desire to set off immediately. Before going out camping, let’s first understand the scientific postures and precautions of camping.

What preparations should be made before camping? Generally speaking, the concept of "camping" includes two categories: traditional camping and leisure camping.

Traditional camping refers to carrying limited equipment, using field knowledge and skills to live a simple mountain life in the wild environment, and is more inclined to direct and in-depth interaction between people and nature; while leisure camping refers to carrying more equipment and having a leisure and entertainment camping experience in campsites, scenic spots, parks and other environments.

Usually, what we call "camping" is more inclined to leisure camping, and most people who choose traditional camping are camping enthusiasts. Considering that most friends find it difficult to travel across provinces and cities, the camping we mention here is more inclined to leisure camping.

If you do not spend the night in the wild and are going back and forth on the same day, the requirements for equipment such as tents and mats are not very strict. However, for camping activities that require overnight stays in the wild, the quality of various equipment should be paid attention to. In addition, camping equipment that meets the corresponding requirements should be selected for different seasons and different camping locations.

Source of various camping equipment: Wikipedia

Tent: Choose a tent based on the number of users. Tents can be divided into three-season tents and four-season tents. It is recommended to choose a tent with a stable structure and good wind and rain protection performance.

Ground mat: Ground mat is equivalent to the bed when camping, and is mainly placed in the tent to prevent moisture and coolness. Common ground mats include foam ground mats, inflatable ground mats and self-inflating mats. As long as the quality is qualified and meets the requirements of the camping site, the above ground mats can be used.

Sleeping bags and replacement clothing: Sleeping bags should be kept dry. Down sleeping bags are lightweight, warm, and compact, but they are relatively expensive. Artificial vacuum cotton sleeping bags are relatively cheap but have slightly different performance. You can decide which sleeping bag to prepare based on the outdoor temperature of the campsite and the usage scenario. In addition, replacement clothing also needs to be prepared.

Backpack: The quality of the backpack is very important. It is recommended to choose a sturdy backpack that fits your body structure to reduce the physical burden when carrying it.

Fire-making tools: Lighters, matches, candles, magnifying glasses, flints, etc. are all common fire-making tools for camping. If you are camping for fun, you can choose tools that are convenient for making fire. Of course, you can also use magnifying glasses and flints to challenge other ways of making fire. But pay special attention: when camping, you must comply with the camping site's regulations on the use of fire.

Picnic supplies: including kitchen utensils, tableware, kettles, thermal boxes, gas stoves, etc. for camping. It depends on your own plans, and you also need to consider the campsite's regulations on the use of fire.

Tent in the woods Source: Wikipedia

Food and water: You can bring ingredients and seasonings to cook at the campsite according to your preferences. It is also recommended to prepare some easy-to-store and easy-to-eat food such as canned food, compressed biscuits, self-heating food, etc., so that you can eat them when you cannot cook. If there is no drinking water source at the campsite, you also need to prepare drinking water.

Emergency medicines: You should be fully prepared for medicines, such as medicines for common diseases such as diarrhea and fever, first aid medicines for trauma such as alcohol, iodine, bandages, and sufficient insect repellent and anti-bite medicines. People with underlying diseases or other chronic diseases should also prepare enough common medicines for use during camping.

Camping tools: such as compass, map, rope, folding shovel, flashlight and other lighting tools, knife, needle and thread, etc. The more comprehensive the better.

Compass source: Wikipedia

Entertainment supplies: In addition to the necessary camping supplies mentioned above, you can also prepare some equipment for relaxing activities when camping. For example, if you are camping by a river or the sea, you can prepare suitable fishing gear; if you are camping in the woods, you can prepare insect catching gear, books you want to read, photographic equipment and even game consoles, etc. Of course, emergency power banks are also essential.

>>>>Confirm the weather

No matter where you plan to go camping, you should first check the local weather for the next few days to ensure that the weather is suitable for camping. If you go to the camping site with great enthusiasm, but find that the local area is overcast or even raining heavily, your rare vacation will be wasted.

In addition, continuous rainfall may also lead to geological disasters, so it is even more important to do homework on the weather at your destination before camping.

What are the precautions for safe camping? >>>>Choosing a camping site

After preparing camping supplies and confirming the weather at the destination, when we arrive at the campsite safely, we still have to face the next problem: where to camp?

Camping in the wild Source: Wikipedia

Generally speaking, in a camping site with a management office, you can just pick a location you like to camp, but for large camping sites such as forest parks, it is very necessary to choose the correct camping location.

First, although camping by the river sounds wonderful, remember not to camp right next to the river to prevent flooding, and not to camp on a dry riverbed. When camping by the sea, be sure to set up your tent above the high tide line. Second, do not camp in the middle of a canyon, below a hillside, at the bottom of a ditch, or below a cliff to prevent geological disasters such as mountain torrents, falling rocks, and mudslides. Do not camp under a tree on a rainy day to prevent lightning strikes.

In May 2020, five people were trapped in a river near Shendiao Peak in Yuezhao Township, Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province.

After more than an hour of rescue by firefighters, the trapped people were successfully brought ashore.

Source: Liangdu Fire Department

You can choose a flat hillside or flat land without gravel to camp, and the tent entrance should be in the leeward direction. In addition, the camping location should also be selected as far as possible with a wide view, convenient water access, and good signal. After camping, spray insect repellent to prevent poisonous insects from entering the tent.

Pay attention to fire prevention. After setting up camp, the next problem is to make a fire and cook. For camping, fire prevention must be very careful. If a fire breaks out in the wild, it is difficult to get timely rescue. If it is in a relatively dry season, there is even a risk of causing a forest fire.

A campfire can be said to be an indispensable part of camping, but be careful not to place it too close to the tent when lighting it. You can also prepare a bucket filled with water just in case, and make sure there is someone watching the campfire at all times to prevent accidents.

When lighting a bonfire, an outdoor fire platform should be used to avoid damaging the wild vegetation. In addition, when heating in a tent, attention should be paid to ventilation to avoid poisoning.

Using a fire pit is a safer way to have a campfire while camping

Source: pixabay

Many people have a misconception that they sleep with the help of a warm bonfire after lighting it, but this is actually quite dangerous. If the wind suddenly blows in the middle of the night, an unattended bonfire is likely to cause a fire. Therefore, you must put out the bonfire before going to bed at night and make sure that the bonfire is completely extinguished and there are no sparks that may reignite.

After making the above preparations, is there anything else you need to pay attention to when camping? Yes, in addition to enjoying the fun of camping, you must also pay attention to the disposal of garbage. Remember not to discard garbage at the camping site, and try to pack up all the garbage generated during camping and take it away.

Although camping always gives us a romantic impression and feeling, after all, camping is an activity in the wild far away from towns. Only by making adequate preparations can you enjoy a safe, happy and environmentally friendly camping.