Camping

[glatt]

I wouldn't spend money on a GPS until you have everything else first. What good is a GPS if you don't have decent footwear yet?

[lumberjim]

PENCIL TORCH


FIRE PASTE



https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Bril...+PHONE+CHARGER

hand crank charger gizmo

[Gravdigr]

Never heard of 'fire paste'. Great concept.

Vaseline-soaked cotton balls are an excellent fire starter.

[captainhook455]

Unless you are a gourmet cook then only one pot is needed and get the Teflon type, because all aluminum is a bitch to clean. Then there is dehydrated food. Everything is edible except anything with potatoes. Tear the pack open and hold close to the pot. Any slight wind will blow the spices away. Get a collapsible water jug with handle that can be strapped to outside of pack. Also you need a bell to hang on the pack so you don't spook any bears.

When walking away from camp put your stuff in the tent.

[glatt]

Yes! We get to enter a lottery for our preferred route in February.

[monster]

What Glatt said about wood. No GPS -certainly not on the first attempt. FIND OUT IF YOU LIKE IT FIRST. Hike a marked trail, don't go too far from your car. stay minimal -in expense as well as weight. I disagree w tarheel, a cheap aluminum pan set will be fine for the first venture out, It's light, disposable (financially) after the trip is over so it doesn't matter if you don't do a great clean-up job, and having more than one pan is helpful if you want to boil water for hot drink as well as cook food. Also, dried meals are disgusting and enough to put you off camping for life. Take real food as much as space and time allow. Pasta, canned corned beef and tomato paste (get a tube not a can) can make pretty tasty/satisfying eating after a day's hiking.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by monster

...Also, dried meals are disgusting and enough to put you off camping for life. ...

There are some really good ones out there. Availability is quite limited; also, you have to know what to look for. They come as entrees only (no side dishes, desserts, snacks, condiments; or, accessories); but, are satisfying and high enough in both protein and calories to constitute a full meal that sustains an active person. They're compactly packaged like a brick and reconstituted in their own packaging. Add hot water and in 10 minutes you have a hot meal (20 minutes with cold water). They are also exorbitantly expensive: with shipping charges they end up costing about $12.50 apiece (sorry for the let down). Just an FYI even though it's not for the typical camper.

[Griff]

I'm a big fan of Mountain House Chili Mac but yeah, stupid expensive.

[xoxoxoBruce]

$5.69 from Amazon for a tasty hot meal after running up and down mountains doesn't sound that expensive.

[Griff]

hmm... maybe I was mistaken on the cost.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by Griff

I'm a big fan of Mountain House Chili Mac but yeah, stupid expensive.

Mountain House produces another line that they don't advertise. It's not the $5.69 stuff that xoB found on Amazon. One of those selections is called Rice and Chicken. In the other line it's called Chicken and Rice (the main ingredient being listed first for both). The other line is the good stuff, the stupid expensive stuff, that most don't know about.

[Pamela]

Argh! I wrote a three page response with tips and advice and everything, then accidentally erased it all. I *hate* the touchpad!

[Griff]

I agree with Pam.

[glatt]

I don't disagree with anyone here.

The problem is that you can spend a ton of money before you even find out if you like it. And even people who do a lot of camping are often reevaluating the gear they use. The opportunities to spend money never go away.

The absolute best thing to do is to go camping with somebody who already has all the gear so you don't have to spend anything. I know you said that's not really an option. Keep looking for group events. If you aren't planning on anything until next fall, you have lots of time. why wait though? Spring camping is fun too, and you don't have to commit to a week long adventure or anything. Just go out on a Saturday morning and come back on Sunday.

If you really decide you want to buy a bunch of gear, come back and talk about each item. So much of this is specific to what you want to do and also your style. Camping choices are just as personal as everything else in life. It's actually fun to go to a big crowded campground and walk around to see how everyone has their site set up.

I'm not such a fan of buying disposable junk gear to get started and then buying the more expensive good stuff after a while. You can find good stuff for a moderate price and use it for years if you shop around and ask for advice about specific items here.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by bbro

ok, just to make sure everyone understands - No Friends. For anything. Why do you think I'm going in the woods alone?

Okay, but hear me out for just a second. People who have lots of camping experience regularly get lost, and subsequently die, in the woods. Even with a GPS unit. Someone with no camping experience is even more likely to do so. Please at least tell someone where you're going, in specific detail, and when they should expect you back, so if you don't show up they'll alert the park service.

Also, watch the movie 127 hours. A.) It's fucking awesome, B.) it's a true story, and C.) the moral of the story is apropos.