Rough Camping & Survival Tips

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[F. Vaccaro]

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Probably keep salesmen away too!

 

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In my humble opinion, the SAK Huntsman is the best practical EDC pocket knife to carry for a huge diversity of tasks and uses!

 

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[F. Vaccaro]

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Unfortunately it will also keep my Wife away.

 

[HankBuck]

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@observe - True…but thats why the Indians LOST

 

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A practical tip...
Just secure your ferro-rod to your knife sheath .
Then you won't ever have to worry about having to whip out your back up steel wool & 9V batteries, or your 1 wet paper match.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

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A practical tip...
Just secure your ferro-rod to your knife sheath .
Then you won't ever have to worry about having to whip out your back up steel wool & 9V batteries, or your 1 wet paper match.

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Road flares work very well!

 

[Desaad]

Never underestimate the raw versatility of a tarp and a spool of paracord. You can use it as a groundsheet to prevent water from seeping in from below. You can cover your tent directly to help add additional rain protection. Or tie it over the top of your tent like a canopy to serve as a detached rain fly, to improve airflow in the tent while still staying dry. You can angle it a bit to direct the runoff, then leave a bin on the ground to collect water. So if it does rain, boom you've got your water right there to wash up in the morning and don't have to go lugging jugs around. If you tie it high enough you can use it to protect your campfire from rain, and to provide a dry spot to sit outdoors so you're not stuck huddled in your tent waiting out the storm.

Oh and always store your food inside a locked vehicle. If that's not an option, suspend it high off the ground to protect it from opportunistic wildlife. And I'm not even talking like bear country or anything, common campground raccoons desensitized to humans are friggen relentless, and will absolutely figure out how to open your cooler if you leave it unattended. Unless it has a latch or something.

 

[HankBuck]

Never underestimate the raw versatility of a tarp and a spool of paracord. You can use it as a groundsheet to prevent water from seeping in from below. You can cover your tent directly to help add additional rain protection. Or tie it over the top of your tent like a canopy to serve as a detached rain fly, to improve airflow in the tent while still staying dry. You can angle it a bit to direct the runoff, then leave a bin on the ground to collect water. So if it does rain, boom you've got your water right there to wash up in the morning and don't have to go lugging jugs around. If you tie it high enough you can use it to protect your campfire from rain, and to provide a dry spot to sit outdoors so you're not stuck huddled in your tent waiting out the storm.

Oh and always store your food inside a locked vehicle. If that's not an option, suspend it high off the ground to protect it from opportunistic wildlife. And I'm not even talking like bear country or anything, common campground raccoons desensitized to humans are friggen relentless, and will absolutely figure out how to open your cooler if you leave it unattended. Unless it has a latch or something.

@Desaad -good tips on tarp & paracord, along with a knife they are very versatile and helpful. Kidding a bit but - if you have a car nearby then you are NOT really roughing it——- just drive to the Store and pick up whatever you forgot. Also, in Parks where bear are common they advise NOT to keep food or coolers in your car, bears have learned to recognize these coolers as a food source and will damage your car trying to get in it. They want food in a “bear proof” cooler or on remote backpacking trails — suspended high in a tree and out on a thin limb away fro the trunk. I always thought that advice was overly cautious and never followed it - then backpacking in Yosemite we lost all our food the first night after bear came in multiple times and eventually got it All.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Never underestimate the raw versatility of a tarp and a spool of paracord. You can use it as a groundsheet to prevent water from seeping in from below. You can cover your tent directly to help add additional rain protection. Or tie it over the top of your tent like a canopy to serve as a detached rain fly, to improve airflow in the tent while still staying dry. You can angle it a bit to direct the runoff, then leave a bin on the ground to collect water. So if it does rain, boom you've got your water right there to wash up in the morning and don't have to go lugging jugs around. If you tie it high enough you can use it to protect your campfire from rain, and to provide a dry spot to sit outdoors so you're not stuck huddled in your tent waiting out the storm.

Oh and always store your food inside a locked vehicle. If that's not an option, suspend it high off the ground to protect it from opportunistic wildlife. And I'm not even talking like bear country or anything, common campground raccoons desensitized to humans are friggen relentless, and will absolutely figure out how to open your cooler if you leave it unattended. Unless it has a latch or something.

common campground raccoons desensitized to humans are friggen relentless, and will absolutely figure out how to open your cooler if you leave it unattended. Unless it has a latch or something.

Never underestimate raccoons and squirrels!.

Attended or unattended coolers; raccoons (plural, cause there is seldom just one) who are use to people will sneak around your camp at night and can easy open any cooler...even latched...in literally seconds, and while you are sleeping nearby.

Squirrels on the other will knaw and /or claw their way into tents and pop-up campers' canvas to get food,.....even while unsuspecting campers mill around camp.

I've been the victim of multiple raccon night raids.

I am easily amused watching squirrels raiding campers' tents, campers, and picnic tables. Squirrels will watch campers move from inside their tent or camper to the "eating/ outside area", then the squirrels with tactically enter the rent or pop-up camper through a hole the squirrels have made. When the campers' go to their tent or pop-up camper the squirrels will run out and go after food in the "eating/outside area".

When the campers start squealing/screaming the squirrels will scurry off to find another unsuspecting camper/campsite.

In my observations squirrels don't mind barking dogs in or around campsites the squirrels intend to raid. On the other hand campersites with cats around are avoided by squirrels.

Over my many years of camping whether, but especially in parks, I have learned to pack 1 loaf of bread and/or bag of peanuts per day while camping as "insurance payments". Usually a 1/2 loaf of bread or peanuts in the morning will "insure my camp won't be "raided" by squirrels during the day. The other 1/2 loaf is distributed at a safe distance, at night, around my campsite as "payment" to prevent my campsite from being raided by raccoons.

Just an observation, during the night deer also have a tendency to sneak into and check around unsuspecting campers' campsites for: bread, cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, plain crackers, most any fresh fruit and vegetables, plastic containers (jars) of: jams, jellies, and peanut butter.

 

[HankBuck]

Never underestimate raccoons and squirrels!.

Attended or unattended coolers; raccoons (plural, cause there is seldom just one) who are use to people will sneak around your camp at night and can easy open any cooler...even latched...in literally seconds, and while you are sleeping nearby.

Squirrels on the other will knaw and /or claw their way into tents and pop-up campers' canvas to get food,.....even while unsuspecting campers mill around camp.

I've been the victim of multiple raccon night raids.

I am easily amused watching squirrels raiding campers' tents, campers, and picnic tables. Squirrels will watch campers move from inside their tent or camper to the "eating/ outside area", then the squirrels with tactically enter the rent or pop-up camper through a hole the squirrels have made. When the campers' go to their tent or pop-up camper the squirrels will run out and go after food in the "eating/outside area".

When the campers start squealing/screaming the squirrels will scurry off to find another unsuspecting camper/campsite.

In my observations squirrels don't mind barking dogs in or around campsites the squirrels intend to raid. On the other hand campersites with cats around are avoided by squirrels.

Over my many years of camping whether, but especially in parks, I have learned to pack 1 loaf of bread and/or bag of peanuts per day while camping as "insurance payments". Usually a 1/2 loaf of bread or peanuts in the morning will "insure my camp won't be "raided" by squirrels during the day. The other 1/2 loaf is distributed at a safe distance, at night, around my campsite as "payment" to prevent my campsite from being raided by raccoons.

Just an observation, during the night deer also have a tendency to sneak into and check around unsuspecting campers' campsites for: bread, cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, plain crackers, most any fresh fruit and vegetables, plastic containers (jars) of: jams, jellies, and peanut butter.

@Ridge Runner - that sounds like a WALT DISNEY idea or if you are trying to be “Squirrel Friendly” then spreading around bread & peanuts is a good idea but it certainly isn’t entering into a “Squirrel Contract” where they agree to leave your other food alone. Any tips for feeding Bears?