Camping tips for novices and experts By Chantal Macartney
Do you suffer from bad-smelling camping gear? Are your clothes always cold in the morning? Do sore feet take the fun out of hiking?
Sweet-smelling equipment If your sleeping bag exudes a pungent odour after storage, try storing a sheet of fabric softener inside. When camping, rip the sheet and place each half inside your boots. Voila! You’ll have fresh-smelling boots and a sleeping bag that even a mother could love. To prevent unpleasant smells developing in hiking backpacks, toss a bar of hotel soap into your pack before storing it. The soap will add a pleasant aroma and purge the bag of any unwanted smells. Canteens can be kept springtime fresh by slipping in a wrapped stick of gum. Mint-flavoured gum works well, but remember to remove it before you fill your canteen up again!
Ensure pleasant dreams A flat sleeping bag isn’t much more than just a blanket. Sleeping bags that have been rolled up or stuffed into a bag are all compacted and don’t provide much warmth. Body heat warms the air in the bag walls, not the insulation itself. About 15 minutes before you climb into you sleeping bag, puff it up so the insulation makes the air pockets bigger to retain the heat. Before it gets dark, place your night clothes in your sleeping bag. When it comes time for bed, you won’t have to play Quest for Pyjamas – they’ll be right there, waiting for you. Trying to travel light and don’t want to pack extra camping clothes for cold nights? Your daytime sweat pants and a hooded sweatshirt make great pyjamas. They are lightweight to carry and warm to sleep in. Add a toque to your sleeping gear and you’re all set for a warm night when the temperature dips. Another way to minimize heat loss at night is to eat a good meal, have a warm drink like tea or hot chocolate, and go for a short walk. Climbing into a sleeping bag cold, tired and hungry will make you wakeful and minimize your ability to get warm. When spring and fall camping, fend off next-morning chills by putting tomorrow’s clothes in your sleeping bag the night before. www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
By keeping them close to you all night, your body warmth will keep them nice and warm for putting on the next morning.
Take a hike at home
The boots you choose for hiking are important. Make sure that you wear them lots of times to break them in before heading out on the trail. As well, softer boots help prevent hiking blisters. When buying hiking boots, choose boots that are comfortable and light on your feet. Some specialists say that one kilogram hiking boots feel like you’re carrying five kilograms on your back. In addition to good footwear, it’s important to maintain good foot care and sanitation. Wear the right socks and examine your feet regularly. To lessen the chances of getting blisters during a hike, go for walks around your neighbourhood to strengthen your feet and build up calluses. Before going on a hike in cold weather, put on two pairs of socks: synthetic ones against your skin, and wool socks over these. The synthetic socks will pass sweat to the thicker socks that provide soft padding for your feet. Remember not to over-layer your feet because sweat can induce blisters. During hiking breaks, at least once a day take socks off to allow your feet to dry out and rest. For hygiene, clean you feet every day. Make sure to dry them thoroughly before rubbing on foot talc. Giving them a massage will ease them further and relax muscles. If you detect a budding problem like blisters, take care of it right away. Waiting will make it worse and cause more damage. Use adhesive bandages or moleskin to gently cover the hotspot so it won’t develop into a serious blister. In a pinch, duct tape works well as a substitute. Remember to keep your feet dry! Camping is great fun for friends and family. By following these simple tips, you can make sure you don’t have to head for home any sooner than planned. —Chantal Macartney is a regular columnist for Ottawa Outdoors Magazine.
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