When camping in the wilderness you not only need to make sure all of your equipment will work, but that you are prepared for every possible problem and issue that might arise. The weather could turn nasty, that GPS may suddenly malfunction and you may come in contact with a poisonous plant, or conceivably worse, a bear.
Jean-Louis Martin, founder of camping-canada.com. notes that in bear country, “you might end up being the food.” To avoid that from happening he recommends either hanging food high above the ground or using a bear-proof container and making sure the food is a considerable distance from where you are sleeping.”
He also suggests setting up camp on a well-drained sandy or rocky sites, or on vegetation that is heavily-laden with soft humus: “Do not establish camp on high ridges that are exposed to wild weather (i.e. cold, high winds and lightening). Camp at lower elevations that are protected by surrounding rocks, trees and brush.”
It is also a good idea to avoid camping in basins, “because cold, damp air collects and you’ll probably awake cold and damp.”
Finally, camp at least 70 steps from lakes and streams to help keep pollutants out of water sources.
“(Also), never venture in a forest without a good map and a compass. Even campers and hunters with a good sense of direction have had unpleasant experiences in unfamiliar territories.”
Robin McKee, founder of camping-expert.com, meanwhile, says that “canoe camping can take you next to nature and bring you into a peaceful state, a little heaven on earth, but if you don’t bring the right equipment it can be the longest journey of your life.
“At 16, my mother sent me away on a backcountry camping trip and I learned a lot. I learned that bringing extra things was heavy an painful, waterproofing is important, kayaks are not fun to portage and that maps can sometimes be incorrect and inaccurate.”
She suggests the following:
- Do not rely only on a GPS, but know how to use a paper map and compass in case something happens. It could get wet, for instance, or you could run out of batteries.
- Bring an alternate communication device such as a SPOT Satellite and Personal Messenger. You can login online and it will route where you are.
- Bring a comprehensive first-aid kit.
- Be sure to tell friends or relative about your specific plans and if possible, communicate with them whenever possible. It is also a good idea to give them a date that they should begin to worry if they have not heard from you.
- Know what animals, reptiles and insects habitate in the area that you will be hiking in and camping. This includes cougar, bears, venomous snakes or spiders.
- Pack light, but also make sure you have everything in case of emergency.
- Since water is vital, know where you’re getting it, its cleanliness and how you are going to purify it. Mr. Martin says that water from natural sources such as a stream or spring should always be treated before consumption. The most common ways are to boil for a minimum of three minutes and add in water purification tablets.
Ed Jager, director of visitor experience with Parks Canada, has his own set of Do’s and Don’ts for anyone embarking on a trip into the wilderness:
- Remember to be flexible: You have to be prepared to understand that something may go wrong and you are going to be delayed at least a couple of times.
- Make sure you have extra fuel and food so you do not get stuck.
- Make sure you have the extra gear you need in case of changing weather conditions. In most rugged locations, the weather can change quickly and dramatically. You want to be prepared.
Have a first-aid kit for you and also for your gear. Do you have duct tape, needle and thread if you want to repair something, do you have a metal pole sleeve so that if a pole gets wrecked in a wind storm you will have a backup?
“If you bought anything new for your trip, use it before,” he says. “You don’t want to be doing anything for the first time when you’re 30 kilometres away in the back country wet and freezing.
“People go through steps to become hard core campers. If you have done a three-day weekend trip in a fairly remote location then maybe you are ready for a five or six day trip. But don’t make the five or six day trip your first experience. You may not ever want to go again if it turns bad. You need to live within yourself.”