The Cellar - View Single Post - I will eventually let you know if this was a mistake ...

tw · 08-03-2005, 07:23 PM

Some additional items to consider. A $5 package of rope to string a clothes drying line and make additional connections to trees that may be necessary.

A plastic tarp sufficient to completely fit under the tent floor in one piece. That keeps ground moisture out of the tent and keeps dirt off the tent when packing up. Better also to have some kind of tarp that can be suspended over the tend. Walmart (hardware section) may still have those (what look like) wide alligator clips to clamp onto a suspended tarp and to attach via ropes to adjacent trees. Otherwise, a driving rain will push right through the tent.

Bring a small trowel or other trenching tool to dig a rain water channel around the tent. A wide and shallow trench goes a long way to feeling better in the morning after a night's rain.

Always (religiously) keep the tent screens closed. Those bugs have a nasty habit of not going home for the night.

Find a nearby bar that also has a TV connected to the Weather channel. Once a day, the information is most relevant and dispells those rumors about the weather forecast.

Additional plastic makes convenient coverage such as covering a nearby picnic table that is otherwise dirty from overhead trees. The plastic (held down with rocks) also keeps things temporarily dry from morning dew.

Large trash bags that serve as dirty clothes containers, collect your trash for removal, and dispose of clothes you now find are no longer worthy.

Flashlights. I have modifed mine to be recharged by the car. Also bring matches - an easily overlooked item.

Do not shower in the morning if being in sun that day. The skin produces the best sun screen. A morning shower only removes natural sun burn protection. Any skin exposed to the sun should not be 'soaped' for up to three days. The burn will then turn into tan rather than peal off. Rinsing sun exposed skin is more than sufficient bathing. Soap is only required in locations that don't get sun (underarms, crotch, etc).

A small pile of stones adjacent to your tent is good planning should the skunks visit. They will generally seek your trash, or be coming down from the hills to visit the river or lake. Small rocks can be very convincing to shunks that have little fear of people. Little fear because most people just run away.

Someplace secure to hold keys and other items normally not used frequently in the camp site. I have a plastic container with a rope and screw-on cap so that money, the swiss army knife, and keys will remain dry, where I left them, and float. Even a will hidden spare key magnetically attached somewhere underneath the car can be helpful since lock smiths are so much more expensive (ie $120) in camping country.

A small bandaid box with some neosporin (or equivalent), a few bandaids (preferred are the sport type bandaids that stay attached longer), some apsirin, etc.

08-03-2005, 07:23 PM	#2
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Some additional items to consider. A $5 package of rope to string a clothes drying line and make additional connections to trees that may be necessary. A plastic tarp sufficient to completely fit under the tent floor in one piece. That keeps ground moisture out of the tent and keeps dirt off the tent when packing up. Better also to have some kind of tarp that can be suspended over the tend. Walmart (hardware section) may still have those (what look like) wide alligator clips to clamp onto a suspended tarp and to attach via ropes to adjacent trees. Otherwise, a driving rain will push right through the tent. Bring a small trowel or other trenching tool to dig a rain water channel around the tent. A wide and shallow trench goes a long way to feeling better in the morning after a night's rain. Always (religiously) keep the tent screens closed. Those bugs have a nasty habit of not going home for the night. Find a nearby bar that also has a TV connected to the Weather channel. Once a day, the information is most relevant and dispells those rumors about the weather forecast. Additional plastic makes convenient coverage such as covering a nearby picnic table that is otherwise dirty from overhead trees. The plastic (held down with rocks) also keeps things temporarily dry from morning dew. Large trash bags that serve as dirty clothes containers, collect your trash for removal, and dispose of clothes you now find are no longer worthy. Flashlights. I have modifed mine to be recharged by the car. Also bring matches - an easily overlooked item. Do not shower in the morning if being in sun that day. The skin produces the best sun screen. A morning shower only removes natural sun burn protection. Any skin exposed to the sun should not be 'soaped' for up to three days. The burn will then turn into tan rather than peal off. Rinsing sun exposed skin is more than sufficient bathing. Soap is only required in locations that don't get sun (underarms, crotch, etc). A small pile of stones adjacent to your tent is good planning should the skunks visit. They will generally seek your trash, or be coming down from the hills to visit the river or lake. Small rocks can be very convincing to shunks that have little fear of people. Little fear because most people just run away. Someplace secure to hold keys and other items normally not used frequently in the camp site. I have a plastic container with a rope and screw-on cap so that money, the swiss army knife, and keys will remain dry, where I left them, and float. Even a will hidden spare key magnetically attached somewhere underneath the car can be helpful since lock smiths are so much more expensive (ie $120) in camping country. A small bandaid box with some neosporin (or equivalent), a few bandaids (preferred are the sport type bandaids that stay attached longer), some apsirin, etc.