Main > Travel > Camping
Choosing a site:
To avoid blood-sucking insects: choose a well-drained site among sclerophyll (dry leaf) vegetation and away from creeks and marshes. Green grass or mosses are potentially protecting leeches from the drying sun. Also, popular bush-walking routes attract bloodsuckers.
It is possible to camp on ant-nests, and amidst busy honey bee hives, so long as you don't disturb them. Bee hives radiate some heat, and smell like flowers and honey. Ants also smell and taste quite nice, like eucalyptus oil.
To avoid cold: choose a raised site, with a northern aspect, where a lot of earth is exposed to the sun. Look for windbreaks against the strongest direction of wind, and against cold air descending down a slope. Look for scats, burrows, spiderwebs, and other signs of life: this will indicate a warmer (but busier) spot.
To avoid rain: Find caves, overhangs, or on the leeward side of thick vegetation. The forest floor of conifer forests is an excellent spot: they are usually very dry, soft, bug-free, and very private.
To avoid gun-toting drunks: Avoid sites within 5km of broken or empty beer bottles, cans, rubbish, dead camp-fires. Also, avoid public camp-sites, lookouts, day-use areas with toilets and/or water tanks, and places with barking dogs.
"TSR": In Australia, these letters on a sign on a gate mean you can camp there. It is a travelling stock reserve.
Private property: Only if you are discreet, silent, hidden, and don't leave a trace of being there. If there are houses in the area, you will probably have been spotted approaching, so it is better not to try such a place.
State forests are generally fine, so long as one doesn't start a fire, leave rubbish, etc.
Water catchment zones are off-limits to the public, but if one is very careful not to leave rubbish or pollutants, it is a camping possibility.
Don't camp in sight of passing vehicles, unless you are really desperate and are with someone else.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Travel > Camping > Stealth camping
General tips:
1. Pitch late, strike early. Pitch your tent just before sunset, and leave on sunrise.
2. Select a site hidden from roads, paths, and buildings, preferably not on fenced land.
3. Use a camouflaged tent or fly.
4. Try to hide your tent with surrounding vegetation, or at least break-up the lines of the tent.
5. Don't light a fire. Tiny stoves are okay, but be aware that their light may be seen.
6. Even the white light from small LED torches can be seen from a long distance.
7. Leave no trace.
8. Be aware that while you may view yourself as a "stealth camper" the police may view you as a squatter or a vagrant.
thesource (378)
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Main > Travel > Camping > Stealth camping
Some good campsites:
- Public school grounds during school holidays.
- Town parks or waysides.
- Woods
- Behind firehouses (you should ask permission first)
- Golf courses, behind bushes, on the back nine.
thesource (378)
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Main > Travel > Camping > Sleeping bags
Keeping warm: Fluff your sleeping bag well before bedtime. Use a good ground insulator beneath your sleeping bag. Closed-cell foam works best. Put on fresh, dry clothes before crawling into your bag. Keep your sleeping bag dry. Wear a hat or knit cap to bed.
[guest]
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Main > Travel > Camping > Sleeping bags
Overly compressing a down sleeping bag can damage the down, resulting in less loft and, thus, less warmth. For best performance (and maximum life) don't compress sleeping bags when storing. Hang them in the closet.
[guest]
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Main > Travel > Camping > Boots
To dry out wet boots put boiling water inside a 600ml coke/water bottle, place this bottle in a sock and put in boot before you go to bed.
Spud (21)
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Main > Travel > Camping
Sleep under the stars for infinite thoughts.
[guest]
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Main > Travel > Camping > Boots
Always carry a spare pair of shoe laces.
Spud (21)
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Main > Travel > Camping
Don't reuse plastic bottles. And don't drink water that was poured hot into plastic bottles. Hot water in polycarbonate plastic bottles releases up to 55 times more bisphenol A, a chemical that mimics estrogen, and is linked to breast and prostate cancer.
[guest]
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Main > Travel > Camping > Sleeping bags
Sleeping bag liners will add an extra layer of insulation to your bag, as well as helping to keep it clean. Pure silk is best, as it is lighter to carry, and breathes, helping to stop moisture from forming on your body.
thesource (378)
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Main > Travel > Camping > Sleeping bags
Cold weather: If you find yourself in very cold weather with a sleeping bag that is not designed for that level of cold, you can do the following:
1. Wear all of your clothes, but with a good "wicking" material close to your skin, that will keep your skin dry by drawing sweat and moisture away from your skin. Avoid cotton. Moisture wicking clothes are made from wool or synthetic materials like nylon, lycra, polyester or a blend of these fabrics.
2. Line the inside of your bag with an emergency aluminium space blanket.
3. Climb inside a large plastic garbage bag, which you carry for such emergencies, or your rain gear. This dramatically reduces evaporative heat loss. But make sure that you keep your skin dry by wearing a good "wicking" layer close to your skin. Don't freeze from perspiration.
thesource (378)
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Main > Travel > Camping > Sleeping bags
Temperature rating: Use a sleeping bag that is rated for the temperature in which you'll be using it. Don't use a light summer sleeping bag in the middle of winter.
thesource (378)
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Main > Travel > Camping
Gore-Tex material can be washed with mild soap, in a washing machine, and even put into a drier, a number of times, without harming it. Dirt can reduce the effectiveness of Gore-Tex, so washing can even improve the effectiveness of the material.
thesource (378)
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Main > Travel > Camping > Stealth camping
Ask landowners: Rather than illegally camp on private property, try asking the landowners if you can camp on their land. They may even offer you free amenities. This is not stealth camping, but it may sometimes be the best option.
thesource (378)
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Main > Travel > Camping > Stealth camping
Outback or rural camping:
— Leave gates as you find them.
— Construct a barrier of thorny branches around tent if wild stock encroach.
— Construct a sleeping platform in a tree to be out of reach of carnivorous animals.
— If a hunter is mistakenly firing at you, lie down flat behind a thick, sturdy log for protection.
— Carry food in minimal packaging.
— Stealth cyclists should prevent items with reflectors catching any distant lights.
— Wear dark, inconspicuous clothing.
— Be silent and careful passing houses. Dogs see or hear a stranger, before smelling them (unless they're sniffer dogs on your trail).
— Have dinner at a public picnic spot, then at sunset don't camp anywhere near it.
— Burn used toilet paper before burying fecal waste.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Main > Travel > Camping
Don't eat yellow snow.
Spud (21)
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