First Time Camping!

[dianux]

 :willynilly:My parents and I have never camped out before. I know, I know, what is wrong with us?!  Well we want to go camping for the first time at Big Bend this weekend. I already did some research but I feel unprepared.  Any tips to what we should know? It is safe to assume we have no knowledge about camping. It is something new to us that we want to appreciate. All I know is to take appropriate clothes and shoes, tents, plenty of water, flashlights, sun block, bug repellent, and food. Any tip about anything will be very appreciated! Thank you in advance! 

[Verduretiger]

It is not clear whether you are car camping or zone camping but I will assume you are car camping.  Make sure that you have a good first aid kit, a map even if it is just the one the park gives you.  Be prepared for changes in the weather so make sure you have clothes for rain, cold, wind or heat.  Since it is your first time try and see the park and enjoy it beauty.  Take your time and enjoy what is around you. 

[jeffblaylock]

Good luck on your first trip. Laugh about any mistakes you make, don't rush anything, and learn for next time. Just be sure to set up your tent once at home so you know how it fits together ... just in case it's windy, or dark, when you get where you're going.

Now, it is Spring Break in Texas this week, and this weekend is the back end of it. Don't be surprised if every camping spot is full. You may need to zone camp, which means camping in an undesignated area out of sight from any road and away from any spring.

[Schooler]

My advice is take all the comforts of home that you can fit with you and car camp for your first time.  If you are car camping, you can take a lot more stuff than if you are backpacking (ie zone camping) 

The biggest adjustment to make will be in sleeping.  Be mentally prepared for not sleeping as well as if you were in your own bed.  I would allow for more sleep than usual because you will most likely wake up a few times in the middle of the night.  Take that opportunity to look up at the stars and appreciate what a great place you are in (instead of feeling irritated because you are not sleeping through the night)  Take lots of your own pillows and blankets that have your own smell and feel and you will sleep better than if you were sleeping in a new sleeping bag.

Cooking food:  If you have a camp stove and propane then you are set (for car camping)  You can make anything on a camp stove that you would make at home.  Get a plastic box and throw all of the pots, pans, silverware, knives and plates you will need in the box.  If you mess something up or burn it, it is still good to eat so no big deal.  If you are only camping for one night, don't worry about dishes until you get to running water.  If not, take 2 pails so you can wash and rinse dishes and a metal pot to heat water in.

The bathroom is also a big issue with camping for the first time.  You must feel comfortable with going outside.  Bring toilet paper, a shovel (for solid) a designated trash bag for used paper, hand sanitizer, wipes and anything else you feel you may need to be comfortable.  I take a designated pee bucket so I don't have to walk out into the night and deal with splashing around the ankles, you can just dump it out away from camp in the morning.

Bottom line: for your first time, don't be a minimalist.  Take what you want to feel comfortable and if you find you didn't use it, than you don't need it the next time.  Everything will be a learning process of what you really need or want to keep you happy.   Happy Camping!

[Cookie]

My advice is take all the comforts of home that you can fit with you and car camp for your first time.  If you are car camping, you can take a lot more stuff than if you are backpacking (ie zone camping) 

I would disagree with that. That's how we started, but I wish we would have had a better clue what to bring. I was miserable camping before we bought our self-inflating sleeping bads. We tried air-mattresses and foam pads, both did not work at all for us. If you can sleep, it makes a huge difference.
Here is a list of basics from my website, hope this might help a little in your packing.  Sounds like you have a great attitude and will have an amazing time, you will be hooked!!

~Cookie


Tent stuff:
Tent
tent stakes
tarp
Hammer
Sleeping bags
Thermarest
Pillows
Earplugs
Flash lights
Ice chests
Water bag
Water
container
Chairs
Lantern
Shovel
Tools

Kitchen stuff:
Propane
Propane stove
Skillet
Knife
Cutting board
Eating utensils
Big spoon
Cast iron pot
Stainless pot
Dish soap
Sponge
Scrunger
Paper towels
Kitchen towels
Spices
Measure cups
Bowls
Ziplocks
Foil
Can opener
Trash bags
Sippie cups
Koozies
Spatula

Personal stuff:
Shorts
t-shirts
Long johns
Coats
Gloves
Hats
Jeans
Undies
Socks
Allergy meds
Aspirin
Tthbrush/paste
Hairbrush
Comb
Shampoo
Conditioner
Fngrnail clips
Sunglasses
Hiking boots
Sandals
Bandaids
Lotion
Sunscreen
Caps
Camelbacks
Bathing suits
Towels
Watch
Camera
Batteries
CD's
Games
Maps
Razor
TP
Dirty
clothesbag
Baby wipes
Shower Bag
bug spray

[elhombre]

Welcome to the outdoors!!!  Camping outside will definately put you in a small elite group of people who are willing to sacrifice a little comfort for a truly memorable experience.  BB is a great place to start because there are stores to buy what ever you may have forgotten. 

Don't leave anything out when you walk away from camp.  Many mice are waiting for you to turn your back to jump in your storage containers.  I once had a fight with a skunk for my tortillas it stole  while I was going to the car for more stuff.

Take a chair to sit in.

A small cooler is all you need because you are so close to ice out there.

When you look around at your campsite, it may SEEM that you are out in the middle of nowhere, BUT you are not.  Many people use the same campsite all the time when you are not there.  If you only walk 30 seconds away from camp to poop, you better believe my little girl will have walked all over that area while playing around camp.    Please be responsible and pick up trash and toilet paper.  Look around for little holes where animals have come around and dug up someone's poop for a meal. Alright, enough said.

Finally, don't spit your toothpaste on the ground.  If you look around camp, I am sure you can find other people's spit spots.  Use 20 oz gaterade bottles which have a screw on top for liquids to be throw away later.

Buy a good map (trails illustrated) at the vistors center and make sure to plan time in the evening to sit and watch the desert during sunset.   Have fun, and enjoy what God created for us to use and enjoy.

[Reece]

Tooth paste?
Who the heck brushes their teeth when they go camping?
Just rinse your mouth out with a little tequila if you don't like your smoker's breath.

[dianux]

Thank you! All the advice was just what I needed. I am very excited and up for the outdoors! I wrote down a lot of tips you guys wrote that I hadn't thought about. Thank you again! I'll post some pictures up when we come back!! Happy Camping everyone!