Wild Camping Tips for Beginners
Wild camping may be daunting, especially for the first time camper. You may not even know where to begin or what to expect. However, you can put your mind at ease when you choose the right location and work with the following vital tips.
The following tips of will make your wild camping less dreadful and more memorable.
- Get permission if you do not have legal rights
Before heading off to camp, find out if there are any legal requirements. Generally, you do not need legal permission to camp in most areas. However, it's always best to double check in case you need to obtain the land owner’s permission.
There are some parts of Scotland like Loch Lomond which require you to obtain a permit before camping. So you have to do a lot of research before camping to keep yourself out of trouble.
- Choose the best spot and let someone know about your plan
Many factors will affect your choice of campsite, but the one I’m concerned about is a source of clean water. It is challenging to carry water around; think about it. How much of it will you take? How much will you use to bathe, cook and drink?
The best thing is pitching your tent where you can be sure of finding clean water. Ensure the body of water is running, not still. This is because still water holds more impurities than running water. And before pitching your tent, inspect the water to be sure that are no dead animals or animal dung upstream.
- Pack your bag
It sounds easy to say “pack your bag” but it is not as easy as it sounds. To adequately pack your bag for a solo camp, you will need a checklist. This checklist if followed appropriately will help you gather all the essentials you need for the field.
Arriving at a solo camp without having an essential item can totally wreck your experience. Not only that, it will put your life in danger. Imagining going to a camp without a proper sleeping bag to cover you.
4. Adhere to the wild camping rule, which is “leave no trace”.
There is a wild camping rule that you must know; it is “leave no trace”. This means you must try as much as you can to make your presence blend in with the environment. So you may want to think about this when choosing your tent and the type of food you’ll be preparing there.
You must keep the place clean and only light fires that will leave no trace. However, some campsites do not permit campers to light fires.
Ensure you are not too loud as it may disturb the wildlife, except if you want to have bears chasing you from behind.
Lastly,
Solo camping is most fun when you know the reason you are going. I do not advise solo camping for mentally and emotionally unstable individuals. If you have some issues, talk to a therapist or go to rehab. You will always have plenty of time to solo camp when you are feeling okay.