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We usually have the camper loaded with the things we use all the time like dishes, silverware, cleaning supplies, paper goods etc., but there is other equipment we take that does not fit in the trailer so we have to gather that for each trip. It is usually in 1 or two storage chests that get loaded into the vehicle just before we leave. We check for consumable items that we might have to replace, like propane cylinders for the camp stove and lanterns, tinder for starting campfires such as newspaper and cardboard. In addition to making sure the water tank in the camper is filled up and sanitized, we fill up a couple of 5-gallon water containers just before we leave as a surplus and for thoroughly drowning our campfire before we leave. Here is a list of some of the things we keep in the trailer or in the equipment boxes:

• Strike Anywhere Matches
• Can Opener
• Flashlight and Spare Batteries
• First Aid Kit ( more on what to have in this later)
• Rope, Parachute Cord or Clothesline Cord, 25ft minimum as you may cut this as you use it
• Hatchet
• Folding Saw
• Insect Spray
• Fire Starter materials (newspaper, greasewood sticks etc). Charcoal lighter fluid can help start a fire after a rain.
• Folding Chairs and Table
• Lantern – either propane or battery
• Cookware – a minimum of 2 sauce pans and a skillet. You can often get a set of aluminum camp ware that has these plus cups and plates
• Utensils – knives, forks, spoons, serving utensils. We use steel flatware and you can get a supply at your local second hand store. Plastic does not fare well in a campsite and is not biodegradable
• Dish cloths and dish towels
• Biodegradable detergent
• Folding Shovel
• Pocket Knife and/or Multi-tool
• Work gloves
• Scissors
• Extra propane cylinders
• Repair kits for tent fabric and for air mattress leaks
• Coffee Pot- even if you don’t drink coffee, it will heat water for tea, hot chocolate etc
• Toilet Paper – Biodegradable or Flushable wipes

Most of this stuff we have collected over time from home or second-hand stores. Some will need to be purchased at a sporting goods store or big box store.

Since we camp using a tent trailer now, the need to gather all of these things each time is somewhat lessened because we keep a lot of it in the trailer. But when we used to use a tent, the equipment list was much the same except a few more things that are specific to tent camping, like extra tent stakes, a ground cloth for under the tent, air mattresses and of course, the tent itself. When tent camping, we had more equipment kept in storage chests to load in the vehicle. These are storage chests we have had for many years that hold a LOT of equipment. At some point we will have to replace them and there are a many more options now than when we acquired these many years ago.  If you are using a larger hard side camper, your equipment list will probably be much different than ours and you will probably not be camping in the harder to access areas that we prefer.

Next, we need to make sure the tent camper itself is ready to go. We check the propane bottles for the heater and stove to be sure they are full or at least have enough for the trip we are taking. We check the battery for enough “juice” for the lights and water pump to get us through the weekend. We keep a set of jumper cables in the camper so that if we drain the battery, we can charge it from the vehicle. A solar powered trickle charger is a good piece of equipment to have if you plan on staying for more than a couple of days in any one spot. Check the tires; including the spare to be sure they are fully inflated and in good condition. Having a flat on the trailer on a rough forest road is no fun!  Make sure you have a jack that can lift the camper. Your vehicle jack and tire change equipment should be enough but a spare jack and tire change equipment for the camper would not be out of the question.

Ok, it’s Friday afternoon. You have checked all your equipment, loaded it all in the vehicle, in our case a pickup truck, loaded up the cooler with cold food and beverages, completed your grocery shopping and you are ready to hit the road. We hook up the trailer to the vehicle, check the lights to be sure everything is working correctly. We keep a spare set of bulbs in one of the equipment boxes in the vehicle. No sense having spare bulbs in the trailer where you can’t get to them easily. Make sure the trailer hitch is securely on the ball and the safety chains are properly attached to the vehicle. We know where we are going and how to get there, so maps and/or GPS navigation are not normally needed. But we keep forest service maps in the vehicle or the camper in case we need to change plans on the fly.  GPS on phones can be hit and miss as there is usually no cell coverage in those areas. A dedicated GPS might be a handy tool to have. We have a small hand-held unit that came in very handy on one trip. We were in a pretty remote area and the SUV battery was dead (probably because we watched a couple of movies on a portable DVD player plugged in to the power outlet and drained the battery!). We did have minimal cell phone signal and called the forest service in that area and gave them the coordinates from the GPS and a very nice ranger came up and jump started the SUV. Otherwise we might have had to setup a homestead!

We drive to the area we decided on and the first couple of sites we came to were already occupied with other likeminded campers. We had scouted the area some time before and knew there were other sites in the area. We find that scouting an area that you might like to camp in beforehand is a good idea so you know if you have multiple options. If you are going someplace you have not visited beforehand, the forest service maps often show the dispersed camp sites so you will have some idea where you might find a suitable site. Part of the fun with this type of camping, at least for us, is the exploration of the forest and looking for suitable sites. But if you are not familiar with the area you are going to, make sure you leave home early enough to be able to find a site while it is still light enough to set up camp. While we have done it in the dark by the light from the headlights, it is not much fun, especially with a tent!

Choosing the right site is not particularly difficult. We look for a spot that has room for the vehicle, the camper (it is about 16 ft long when fully open) or a flat spot for a tent, has a fire ring already made that is in a clearing away from any trees and space to setup our table and chairs. We NEVER setup camp in an area that has not previously been accessed by vehicles or used as a campsite before. It is sort of an unwritten rule (and in some areas it is a rule enforced by the Forest Service). The forests are sensitive areas and should not be disturbed any more than necessary with vehicles. We have always been able to find a suitable site without too much searching. However, occasionally, we find that most of the established sites are all taken, often around holiday weekends, and might only find a clearing that has previously been used by vehicles but has no fire ring. If there is a way to get to the space and not unnecessarily disturb the area and there are rocks to build a fire ring away from the trees, then it might be used as a last resort. But ALWAYS be considerate of the environment and not disturb nature any more than necessary. This is not the time to “boldly go where no one has gone before”. If you cannot find a suitable spot to camp responsibly, it may be wise to try another area, find a campground for the night or worst case, return home. Using the forest and the natural resources responsibly is essential to protecting them for future generations.

Alright, you found a great spot to camp. It has a nice view, sits back from the road and is quiet and peaceful, just what you were looking for. Time to set up camp! If we were tent camping, the first order of business would be to find a good flat spot for the tent. It should be as level as possible, clear of rocks and debris. It should sit back away from the fire ring a safe distance to keep sparks from the campfire from burning the fabric and not under any tree with dead branches that might fall on the tent and ruin your whole trip! For the tent camper, the space does not need to be free from small debris, but it should be as level and clear as possible to make setting up the camper easier. The trailer has some leveling feet and can be maneuvered into a pretty level position. You still need to be aware of those dead tree branches. Once settled into a space, unhitch from the vehicle and set the leveling stands up and open the trailer using the manufacturer’s instructions. Once open and stabilized you can start setting up things inside as you like them.

If camping with a tent, clear away the debris from the space where you want to set up the tent. Then lay the ground cloth, usually just a plastic tarp, on the ground where the tent will go. Since there are lots of different tents, set it up according to the instructions that came with the tent. If this is a new tent, you should have tried setting it up once at home, if possible, before venturing out camping. It will be a lot quicker to set it up if you have done it at least once before and essential if you will be setting it up in the dark!! Most modern tents are pretty simple and can usually be set up in a few minutes, even if it is your first time!

On the outside, you can start setting up the table and chairs, any canopy you might have, unloading equipment chests etc. Depending on the time of day, one of the most important tasks is gathering firewood for the campfire. If it is late afternoon or evening, one of the first things we do, after setting up the tent or opening the camper, is gather fire wood, IF open fires are allowed where you are camping. Many parts of the national forests may have burn bans in place for various reasons. Always check local restrictions before you set out on your trip. It is hard to find wood in the dark and you will need to gather quite a bit for that first fire. So, everyone grab your gloves and fan out to get whatever dead wood you can find and bring it back to a spot near the fire ring. Wood of all types and sizes will be needed. Twigs and smaller branches for kindling and starting fires, larger pieces to get and keep a nice fire burning. Anything over 3-4 inches in diameter may be hard to handle and would need the folding saw and/or an axe or hatchet to cut into usable pieces and when cutting for the fire, try not to make them much longer than the fire ring can hold. If it is later in the day, now is a good time to start the fire and get it going. It will be easier now rather than waiting until after dark, but you will have to tend it regularly while you do other things to setup camp. If you are in a campground, there may not be a lot of dry wood available to gather and you may have to buy bundles of wood from the campground host, if there is one. If there is no wood to purchase, you may have to do without a fire until the next day when you can locate some.

Once you have gathered enough wood to get through the evening, you can go about setting up the rest of your camp. If you are tent camping, the tent should have been your first order of business when you arrived. Now you should set up your sleeping arrangements. Inflate the air mattresses, if you have them, setup cots if your tent is large enough or roll out your sleeping mats and sleeping bags, put your clothing bags in along with any lantern you might need at night. Basically, anything you might need in the tent with you. Do NOT bring food into the tent! It will attract critters, some of which you will not want anywhere near your camp! They all have a very strong sense of smell and your goodies might be their midnight snack!

We usually bring a small rug that is easily rolled up and stored to put right inside the door to the tent to wipe feet on when you go in. It is amazing how much dirt will accumulate over a few days. We also take a small whisk broom and dustpan to occasionally sweep the tent out.

Next, move on to setting up any folding tables and chairs you might have for a place to cook and eat. Table and chairs are actually a luxury and you do not “have” to bring them, but they do make the campsite more comfortable and are pretty easy to pack. Get out your coolers and food boxes if you are going to prepare an evening meal. If you are cooking with a camp stove, find a stable place to set it up, such as on a rock or rocks, a large log or stump or better yet the folding table or the tailgate or hatch of your vehicle. If you plan to cook over an open fire, prepare the fire ring for that. Premade iron fire rings in campgrounds often have a folding grate that covers part of the ring so you can use it for cooking. If you are jack camping (dispersed camping) and plan on cooking this way, bringing a small grate of some kind that can be placed over some rocks at the edge of the fire ring, or even a larger one. These are the kind of grates found in small charcoal grills. We have even brought along a small grill, like a charcoal hibachi (you can use wood instead of charcoal) or small folding propane grill as an alternate to cooking on an open fire or even a camp stove. We camp using a pickup truck so extras like this are easier to bring then if your vehicle is a car or small SUV. When we used to tent camp, we had an SUV and often had the entire back folded down, loaded with equipment, coolers, food boxes etc. We often had to strap a couple of the storage chests on top as well! We were usually pretty comfortable and well equipped! But we have been doing this for a long time and have just built up a collection of gear over the years. You do not have to take a lot of stuff with you if you are just starting out. Think about where you plan to go and take what you think you will need for 2-3 days without being able to go to the store for something you forgot. You will begin to collect the things you “forgot” or wish you would have brought, so you will accumulate the supplies and equipment that will be the most useful to you each time you go. There is no one definitive list of necessary equipment to bring, so the lists we have provided in this book simply represent the things we have found to be the most useful in our experience. Your experiences will differ! Also, what you will take on your trip will depend a great deal on where you are going. Dispersed camping requires more planning, more gear and supplies than campgrounds because you will need to be pretty self-sufficient.

If you want to make setting up camp a bit easier, plan your first evening meal to be something simple to cook or heat. Sandwiches, chips and fruit can often be just the thing to end the day, especially if you got to your site late and were setting up in the dark! There is more about meals and camp cooking later in the book.

Ok, you’ve pitched the tent or set up the camper, set up the campsite, gathered a night’s worth of firewood and started a nice fire. If you got to your site a little late, you might be having a quick meal and beverage by the fire. Now just relax and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature. Bed time will come soon enough. If it is still light out, you should be getting the evening meal prepared, if you have one planned. We will cover the art of camp cooking shortly, along with a few tips and tricks to make the job easier. When you are done with the meal, there are a few very important things that must be done before you turn in for the night.

You need to wash any pots and pans, utensils, plates, cups etc. that you used for the meal. If it is too dark to wash them easily, at least put them in a plastic trash bag and store in your vehicle until morning. These items are usually stored in one of the equipment chests and if you do not clean them and put them away, they become an open invitation for unwanted visitors in the middle of the night! All food items must be enclosed in sturdy containers and coolers and locked inside your vehicle for the night, with all windows closed! Those same uninvited guests will be attracted by the food and will wreak havoc on your camp and your vehicle. Take the necessary precautions to remove the temptations and your trip will not be ruined by some hungry bear or other critter. In areas where bears are common it is often recommended that food be put in a bag and suspended on a rope from a tree branch at least 15ft above the ground if possible. Coolers must always be locked in the vehicle at night. Trash containers should also be locked in your vehicle or suspended from a tree.

Now that you have cleaned up camp and put the food away, and are ready to turn in for the night, be sure that you have everything you need for a good night’s sleep in the tent or camper with you, including a flashlight and bear spray if you are in an area where bears are common. Remember to make a trip to the bathroom before getting all snug in your sleeping bag!

Good Morning Campers!

Time to greet the new day. If you are an early riser, then it may be your job to get the stove out and make a pot of coffee. Or if you are cooking over an open fire, you will need to make a fire. So, get whatever you brought as a fire starter, like greasewood, cardboard or newspaper and put a pile in the fire ring. If you are in a pine forest, dry pine needles are an excellent fire starter and are usually quite abundant. Gather kindling, small twigs and branches and put them on top of your pile of fire starter. Arrange in a sort of pyramid or teepee, smallest on the bottom and some larger on the top. Do not overload the pile to start. Light the starter in as many places as you can with a match, and as the kindling starts to burn, begin adding more pieces and work your way up to larger pieces as the fire grows. The goal for this fire is to get some hot coals you can pull aside to use for cooking or making a pot of coffee or whatever hot beverage you prefer in the morning. A morning fire is not always necessary and usually just uses up wood unless it is crisp and cool in the morning, and then it can be quite pleasant as the day warms up. We mostly use the camp stove and make a pot of coffee while the fire gets going. It is nice to have that first cup by a warm fire, especially on a cool, crisp morning.

Now you are ready for breakfast, so refer to the chapter on cooking, which actually may be the most important part of this book!

As is the case after each meal, the dishes will need to be washed and the “kitchen” cleaned up. We often bring paper plates (not plastic or Styrofoam) to eat from because they can be burned in the fire to reduce the amount of trash you have to deal with. These cleanup chores will take water and you should ration it carefully! You may have a finite amount of water if you are not at a campground with a fresh water supply. A small dishpan can be filled with hot water heated in a pan on the stove or over the fire. Use biodegradable detergent and a cloth to wash everything. You will need a small pan of clean water to rinse with. Dry thoroughly and put back in the storage crates until the next meal.

Activities

After the morning meal, whatever that is for you, it is time to start the day’s activities. That might be hiking a trail, exploring the forest around you, playing card games or board games or outdoor games like horseshoes or ring toss, exploring a nearby attraction, although that leaves your camp unoccupied for a long period of time, so be sure to put everything inside the tent or camper to discourage unwanted visitors of both the two and four legged types! Or just relax, enjoy nature and maybe read a book. The day is yours to do with it as you will!