Helpful Info. What Did You Learn by Camping?

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JoePrep

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Harrison Twp, MI
I started posting this thread last week and it got long. It was too long for a forum post so, I ended up writing a blog post instead. The gist is that sometimes I go camping and in doing so, I use the equipment that I purchased for off-grid life. Then I learn things about it that I didn't think of before. Some of them seem obvious afterwords and some are things that I already knew about but the lessons didn't sink in without experience.

For example, I learned that cooking with a dutch oven over coals is both time and fuel intensive and although I may use it in a grid down scenario, I need a rocket stove for daily use. I already knew that rocket stoves save fuel but it wasn't until I got to feeling lazy about making coals, that it sank in.

So, my question is, what have you guys learned by camping? Did you learn things that you kind of knew but didn't sink in before?

If you have rocket stove tips and links, I'd like to see them. In the next few months, I'll be looking at getting one and will probably write about my shopping experience. There are so many to choose from, on Amazon.
 
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Practice in the real world is a must. You can read all the books in the world, but doing the things you learned may be completely different from what you thought. One thing that comes to mind is a second cover over your tent. This relates to prepping rule #1, redundancy. There's nothing worse than a night time rain storm and a drip inside the tent. The extra tarp also provides shade and keeps the area around the tent dry, helping with muddy foot prints, etc. Even just practice with starting fires with damp materials is good. The only way to get good with skills is by practicing them.
 
I started posting this thread last week and it got long. It was too long for a forum post so, I ended up writing a blog post instead. The gist is that sometimes I go camping and in doing so, I used the equipment that I purchased for off-grid life. Then I learn things about it that I didn't think of before. Some of them seem obvious afterwords and some are things that I already knew about but the lessons didn't sink in without experience.

For example, I learned that cooking with a dutch oven over coals is both time and fuel intensive and although I may use it is a grid down scenario, I need a rocket stove for daily use. I already knew that rocket stoves save fuel but it wasn't until I got to feeling lazy about making coals, that it sank in.

So, my question is, what have you guys learned by camping? Did you learn things that you kind of knew but didn't sink in before?

If you have rocket stove tips and links, I'd like to see them. In the next few months, I'll be looking at getting one and will probably write about my shopping experience. There are so many to choose from, on Amazon.
I saw a cool utube video on improvised rocket stoves. One guy made one from stacking bricks. It was really nice with a good sturdy cooking surface. Another dug a hole in the ground for one. It's perk was a lower visibility at night when you don't want to be seen. I think buying one is a great idea, and being able to improvise one if you loose your gear is too.
 
2 things i've gotten a friendly reminder of..1st,something(s) will be forgotten and left at home. 2nd is.it seems to work better,if the welcome mat for the tent,is inside instead of outside.when it's raining out.on account it don't get as wet or as dirty compared to it being left outside.pluss soaking wet shoes n soaks can be left on it that way..

There's nothing worse than a night time rain storm and a drip inside the tent.

here here on that..
 
camping has more to teach about bugging out than actual off grid living, as you get older you realise you aren't Rambo anymore( if you EVER were!) and there is a limit to what you can carry, you also learn what you DONT need. a lot of stuff is superfluous and is carried out and carried back and never used.
 
camping has more to teach about bugging out than actual off grid living, as you get older you realise you aren't Rambo anymore( if you EVER were!) and there is a limit to what you can carry, you also learn what you DONT need. a lot of stuff is superfluous and is carried out and carried back and never used.
What, I'm not Rambo any more?! Seriously, a good point here. Even a lot that you use could be lived without. Speed and stealth are going to be much more important than comforts in a real bug out. I really like a blow up matteress now days, but I could live without it. My bag would be readjusted by the end of the first day I'm sure. My theory is to first bug out with the vehicle. If that dosent pan out then I hoof it, and that's when many luxuries get left. One word of advice here though. If you're taking the wife and kids camping, take all those comforts. That is if you ever want her to go again.
 
Things I've learned:

1. TP - bring it. Leaves are not a good substitute. If you don't have any, a good flowing creek is fine at least...

2. Use thin pots, cooks faster.

3. Spring fed waterways make great refrigerators.

4. As Brent mentioned, can never have too many tarps.

5. Cots are better than sleeping bags in the rain.

6. Plastic rods are better than metal ones in the wind.

7. Have an airtight container for food with smells (so you don't attract bears). Admittedly, this was far more important when I lived in Kodiak...lol.

8. Bring spices. Also lemon juice, powered butter, etc. Much yummier fish.

9. Plastic, washable dishes and utensils

10. Gather and store wood BEFORE it rains

11. Light sources are more of a need than a want...when it's pitch black, just to avoid injuring yourself.

12. The woods can be boring. Bring some things to do.
 
I pretty much was raised in the outdoors and the first thing that comes to mind of my experiences is improvise and foraging, camping should be about doing everything with very little thus using more of what nature provides. There is an o'l phrase 'the more you know the less you pack' or 'the more you know the less you carry' ;) Them rocket style stoves are fine for backpacking though I only use mine if we are under red flag warnings or if it is too dangerous for an open fire when backpacking. When camping I use an open fire for all my needs or I would use my old white fuel Coleman stove depending on the fire dangers in the end camping/hiking revolves around common sense and knowledge. Learning to camp the old ways one would garner far more experience than relying on fancy equipment, If one knows nothing of the old ways than the book(s) by Horace Kephart such as 'The Book of Camping & Woodcraft' written back in 1906 would give you some insight the 1910 field size is preferable ;)
 
the less you carry the further you can walk, our ancient hunter/gatherer ancestors managed on far less.
I cook and eat out of a billy can, fancy pots are for wannabees.
if you think your "roughing" it your doing it wrong.

Yep, the hunter/gatherers only carried bow/arrows or spear, cutting/slicing tool and fire starting tools/tender and sometimes medicinal herbs and bedroll. Pretty simple!
 
I'd still rather put up a small fiberglass tent in 10 min, vs. build my own shelter...ya know?
Bushcraft is all well and good, but no reason to ignore tech that makes it easier. ;)
 
I'd still rather put up a small fiberglass tent in 10 min, vs. build my own shelter...ya know?
Bushcraft is all well and good, but no reason to ignore tech that makes it easier. ;)

For a temporary fix though in many cases a 8x10' may offer better advantages that takes up less room and in many cases lighter, it only takes a few seconds to run a ridge line even with no trees. Tarp gives more options for various terrains whereas a tent doesn't give that options, tarps are great for lean-to to various sapling type shelters until a more stable shelter can be constructed ;)
 
The answer depends on what kind of camping you do.

First is how I think about it: Camping is the act of setting up a camp, hiking is the act of walking in the woods, backpacking is the act of walking in the woods with a backpack (usually with the idea of camping out). So someone camping without backpacking has a car to lug any amount of goods in, that a true backpacker can not.

So for me, backpacking (which admittedly I don't get to do much) weight is very important to my enjoyment of the trip. The more weight I carry the less I enjoy the trip.

Other things I've learned: winter camping at -20C does not need expensive tents or clothes but does need a quality sleeping bag that is warm enough. Stamp down the snow before you light a fire. Army surplus sleeping bag holders that were waterproof in 1976 are not still waterproof in 2016 lol. Pots that are too small to stir the contents without it spilling over are no fun. That black ring around the campfire is still hot and will melt your boots, best to stay on the cold white stuff.

For those "bushcraft" high horse types, bushcraft is two words meaning crafts (old word for skills) in the bush (slang for wild areas). Hiking with a map and compass is bushcraft, building a bush shelter OR setting up a tent (canvas or nylon) is bushcraft. Most high horse bushcrafters don't even know that bushcraft is not about using vintage gear, it is about using the most modern gear you have. The old authors DID NO use vintage gear, when a piece of gear wore out and they needed a new item they went to the local (or mail ordered) general store and bought the item that was currently sold in that store.

Get off your high horse, you are no better than any modern day backpacker. For one, Kephart never used a computer, two likely didn't drive to every trail in a car, and three was dependent a whole lot on modern produced gear than the Native Americans before him.
 
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The answer depends on what kind of camping you do.

First is how I think about it: Camping is the act of setting up a camp, hiking is the act of walking in the woods, backpacking is the act of walking in the woods with a backpack (usually with the idea of camping out). So someone camping without backpacking has a car to lug any amount of goods in, that a true backpacker can not.

So for me, backpacking (which admittedly I don't get to do much) weight is very important to my enjoyment of the trip. The more weight I carry the less I enjoy the trip.

Other things I've learned: winter camping at -20C does not need expensive tents or clothes but does need a quality sleeping bag that is warm enough. Stamp down the snow before you light a fire. Army surplus sleeping bag holders that were waterproof in 1976 are not still waterproof in 2016 lol. Pots that are too small to stir the contents without it spilling over are no fun. That black ring around the campfire is still hot and will melt your boots, best to stay on the cold white stuff.

For those "bushcraft" high horse types, bushcraft is two words meaning crafts (old word for skills) in the bush (slang for wild areas). Hiking with a map and compass is bushcraft, building a bush shelter OR setting up a tent (canvas or nylon) is bushcraft. Most high horse bushcrafters don't even know that bushcraft is not about using vintage gear, it is about using the most modern gear you have. The old authors DID NO use vintage gear, when a piece of gear wore out and they needed a new item they went to the local (or mail ordered) general store and bought the item that was currently sold in that store.

Get off your high horse, you are no better than any modern day backpacker. For one, Kephart never used a computer, two likely didn't drive to every trail in a car, and three was dependent a whole lot on modern produced gear than the Native Americans before him.

There is a difference between woodcraft/bushcraft than that of general camping, you are right, bushcraft isn't about vintage equipment but it is about learning to live and survive in the back country. Camping in of itself takes very little knowledge. I have used the equipment I was raised with 40s/50s and 60s and still have all my equipment, equipment my kids enjoy today. Me on the other hand opted for some modern equipment but maintaining the old knowledge of woodcraft. Camping should also be about learning the old ways if not for living and survival than about keeping the past alive.
 
Maverick, I think we are pretty much on the same page.

One of the things I'd like to learn is hunting, but it wouldn't just be about killing a deer. There is a whole set of bushcraft skills that goes along with hunting, some of which include: knowing your animal, tracking, navigation, weather knowledge, skinning, etc. Even with a modern rifle, a truck, Google maps, and coming back the same day; there is a whole lot of bushcrafting going on there.
 
Camping is like Church, people go for a variety of reason.....just going is mostly all that matters....go light or go loaded up.....just start taking your kids early and they will always want to go, don't wait till they are teenagers....when they are young they will not mind burnt hotdogs, being dirty and no TV.......Camping does not mean you have to re-enact Rambo or Jeremiah Johnson and survive off of nothing.....fun, relaxation and stress relief...
 

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