The Family Camping Trip... Tips to Ensure a Pleasant Camping Experience

You have bribed the spouse and children into taking a camping vacation to the mountains of North Carolina. You dig out the tent that has been sitting in the garage for 5 years, gather the batman sleeping bags, and throw some kitchen utensils into the bag and head out the door.

Upon arrival the campsite is setup and life is good. Three hours later the rains come and suddenly it is discovered that the tent leaks like a sieve. After hours of huddling in the car or the campground bathroom the rains stop and the process of drying out begins. Even though it’s June the temps have dropped into the 40’s and the family has only shorts, tee shirts and light jackets. Worse yet, you just can’t get a fire started in the damp weather, so the burgers and dogs will have to be eaten later. The rocky tent pad and flimsy sleeping bags make for a cold, uncomfortable night. To add insult to injury, the neighbors in the next campsite party until the wee hours of the morning. In the course of a couple of days the family dream vacation has become a nightmare.

Do parts of this scenario sound familiar? Every year I talk to many inexperienced campers who have had similar camping experiences and who have been turned off to the idea of camping. This is truly regrettable, since these trips foster a sense of togetherness and adventure that is hard to duplicate in other venues.
While people spend thousands of dollars and weeks of planning vacations to exotic destinations, we tend to allocate little time and fewer resources to the camping trip. You would be surprised to know what a big difference a little planning and a small monetary investment can make in the quality of the camping experience; and unlike trips to exotic destinations, any investment in equipment can be used for years if well cared for.
The following is my list of useful tips to insure a pleasant, memorable camping experience:

1) GIMME SHELTER : The single most important piece of camping equipment is the tent .It provides protection, warmth and comfort. In effect it becomes our home away from home, and yet we spend little time in making sure our “home away from home” is structurally sound. Many years ago we bought a new tent to use on our camping vacation. We took it straight from the store to Balsam Mountain. That night a monsoon broke over our campground, and our tent took in water in a big way. At midnight we ended up getting a room in Maggie Valley. The moral of this story: Had we set the tent up ahead of time and read the directions, we would have noticed that the manufacturer suggested that seam sealer be applied to all seams. This may have prevented our disaster and saved us a hefty motel bill. If using an older tent, set it up in the yard and let it get drenched a time or two. Apply seam sealer liberally and if the tent still leaks DO NOT USE IT! If you are purchasing a new tent take some time and shop around. We prefer better quality tents at cheaper prices. This usually involves buying last years model, but the results are much better. As an example we had a Kelty Kashmir 6 that gave us 10 years of great service, finally sprouting leaks a year ago .We bought this tent as a closeout and saved a bunch of money. Our newest tent is a Eureka Copper Canyon. We shopped extensively on the internet and between discounts and rebates bought this tent for a third of the MSRP.

2) A LITTLE TARP GOES A LONG WAY: 2 tarps should be part of every camping pack .The first should be roughly the size of the tent and will be used as a ground cloth. This will prevent moisture from seeping through the bottom of the tent. The second tarp will be used for covering the campsite. This tarp can be a 15X20 or 20X20. When tied to adjacent trees using utility rope, you can cover most of the campsite( note: never cover areas near the fire ring) The advantages of this tarp cannot be overstated. Even in the most inclement weather normal campsite activities can be pursued. Instead of riding out a storm in the tent or car, you have free use of the campsite. The firewood stays dry, cooking with a propane stove is possible and any relaxation activities can be done outside, instead of the tent or car. We have actually purchased adjustable tent poles to use with our tarp. These poles come in handy when there are not enough trees to secure the tarp to.

3) LET ME STAND NEXT TO YOUR FIRE: Sitting next to a warm fire on a chilly night can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the camping experience. However to be a successful fire starter requires more than simply lighting a match to a pile of fresh firewood. Always carry a pack of fire starter and some newspaper along on the trip. Gather kindling when conditions are dry and keep this and the firewood stored under the tarp. Just add some fire starter, paper, the kindling and the firewood and in a few minutes you should be sitting by a roaring fire. Having the right supplies and keeping them dry is the key. Sometimes conditions are so bad that it is difficult to start a fire. In this case a secondary means of cooking is essential. Single or double propane stoves work very well in providing a warm meal on a cold wet day.

4) NOT ALL CAMPGROUNDS ARE CREATED EQUAL: There are several factors to consider when choosing a campground. What is the proximity of the campground to your points of interest? What type of facilities does the campground have? How much privacy does the campground offer? These and other factors will determine if your campground experience is a positive one. As a general rule a larger campground will offer less privacy than a smaller operation. Our experience in the Federal campgrounds along the BRP has not been entirely positive. In recent years we have had more instances of disruptive neighbors, usually involving loud parties or in a couple of instances domestic disputes. This could be because of budget cuts resulting in less policing of the campgrounds. Smaller private campgrounds seem to enforce noise controls much better than the larger government ones. Since most campgrounds operate on a first come first serve basis, it is advisable to arrive shortly after checkout (most campground’s checkout time is around twelve noon) A better bet is to call ahead, find out the campground’s policy on quiet time and if possible reserve a good secluded space. Did I mention that not all campgrounds are created equal? It’s a very good idea to research the place you will call home for the next week.

5) SMALL THINGS CAN PAY BIG DIVIDENDS: Here are a few other items that can help make your trip a success. Blow up mattresses and a battery-operated air pump will greatly improve the quality of your camping experience. In today’s world queen and king size mattresses are readily available and very affordable. Sleeping on a cushion of air is preferable to rocks and roots jabbing one in the back. Another crucial piece of equipment is the sleeping bag. As I mentioned earlier even June nights above 5000 feet can get cold, so a good sleeping bag rated at 30 degrees is essential. Having an extra blanket or two is another good idea. Finally, investing in a solar shower would be an investment well made. Since none of the federal campgrounds along the BRP have shower facilities, it is up to you to provide your own method of getting clean and refreshed. A portable 5 gallon solar shower fills this need nicely. Nothing feels better after a hard day of hiking than to be able to stand under a shower. Please note that in the mountains the water rarely gets warm so we usually end up taking a cool to cold shower.
After reading this you might be telling yourself that this sounds like a lot of work and expense. Nothing could be further from the truth. Once you have a plan and have accumulated the equipment, your basic plan will vary little and your kit will always be together. Over the years we have accumulated enough quality gear to open a small outfitting store. We have accomplished this on the cheap. Yard sales, pawnshops, 2nd hand gear stores, ebay and the internet are excellent places to find high quality gear at a fraction of the retail price. A bit of planning and a small investment will guarantee you and your family many years of memorable camping adventures.