Springtime Camping Tips

Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal and the promise of fun for people that enjoy camping and fishing. However, because of the tremendous variances in weather conditions and temperatures, it can make camping outdoors something which requires pre-planning in order to make the best of sudden weather changes and still being able to enjoy the experience as much as possible. Your camping supplies have spent the past six to ten months being in storage, which means you need to check things out and taking care of any potential problems, before hitting the campgrounds.

The weather in springtime is unpredictable, so it pays to be prepared for almost any type of conditions, regardless of what your local weather forecaster might say. The first thing to do is drag out your gear in the backyard and doing a quick set-up to make sure you have all the pieces to your tent, stove and any other supplies. With the tent set-up it is a good idea to renew the waterproof coating and reseal the seams, which is very important lest rain shows up when you are out there in the woods.

If your sleeping bags have been rolled up and in storage all year, now is the perfect time to get them out and fluff them up. Sleeping bags may have a musty smell from being stored in the basement or garage, so take a look at the manufacture’s tag, following the washing instructions and hang outside to get a clean, fresh smelling bag.

Some people find camping in the springtime brings with it the chance of rain, so make sure to have your gear ready so you can sit back, relax and stay dry if you are the victim of an unexpected rain shower. The morning is the most difficult part of camping after rain; the cool, damp air can make climbing out of a warm sleeping bag very unpleasant. Comfortable camping in the rain means packing a waterproof tarp to keep the ground around your tent nice and dry, which means you won’t have to cook in pebbles of cold, muddy water.

Another reality of camping when it’s raining is keeping your food, clothing and shoes dry, because these are vital supplies you can’t do without. A secondary shelter like a canopy or tarp can keep clothes dry and your food and other belonging protected. If your tent does not have a dry area for gear, another good idea is to pack a plastic storage container, which can substitute as an area for both food and garments.

Springtime (and wintertime) is a great time of the year to get out and enjoy camping on the river and with a bit of preplanning and thought, you can have a great time. If last year’s gear in good shape and you are prepared for the elements beforehand, there is no reason why you and your family should be cooped up indoors, get out there and enjoy and make it a great time for everyone.