STORM2K

I'm going camping with friends for Canada Day. I haven't been regular camping in years, usually just civil war re-enacting style camping.

Anyways, I don't know what to bring. I have a tent, and a cooler, but other than that... what is good camping food? What is good food to take camping, hot dogs? Can you take mayo or will it spoil.

We got some fire works, but don't worry we'll be careful. We celebrated Victoria Day with a few. I only have a few days left until I leave.

What do you like to bring camping? I'm definately bringing the weather radio, and a swim suit, there is a lake.

Suggestions?

Well, the pack list depends on whether you're primitive camping or the site will have running water and electricity. Either way, you'll probably need to double the amount of ice you're estimating - there's NEVER enough! If you have an electrical hook-up, bring a fan. Don't forget the insect repellent and first aid kit either!

As for food, cut up fresh fruit, melons, etc., works well if packed properly in ice. Cut it all up ahead of time. Pre-patty the burgers and make a pot of beans a few days ahead of time. You can freeze things like beans and they'll 'travel' longer. Maybe use 'em at the end of the trip instead of the beginning.

If you're going to be hiking during the day, try this: Rent a small u-haul trailer and keep all your valuables in it while you're hiking or floating a river. If the site has electric hookups, you can throw something in a crockpot and stow it in the trailer while you're out. Come back to camp and dinner's ready and no flipping of coins to see who will have to play cook.

Most of all: HAVE FUN!

When we go we have our
-tent
-flashlights
-lanterns
-camping stove
-tarp(for a shaded area or dry place in case it rains and so your not stuck in the tent)
-string/rope to hang lantern and or tarp. Tons of uses for these 2 items. Clothes line, swing, ect.
-ax
-garbage bags, and ziplocs bags for leftovers. You can just throw them in the cooler when they are zipped shut.
-simple first aid kit
-towels, napkins, paper plates, plastic silverware
-soap, just one kind that could be used for hands, body and dishes.
-charcoal and lighter fluid
-can opener if you bring canned items
-water cooler for just water.
-pot to cook in, maybe

All I can think of off the top of my head. You just to think of your day step by step and think about what you may need to do what.

As far as the food goes we go the simple route. A package of hot dogs and then just open a can of baked beans and throw the can on the grill, no pot needed. But we do use our camping stove as well to make rice, pasta, and so forth. You could just use the camp fire you have and make hot dogs, corn and baked potaotes. Wrap the corn and potatoes in tin foil and throw on or in the coals, then put your hot dogs on a stick roast over fire and theres dinner. We usually take ketchup and mustard rarley mayo, but it will be fine if it stays in the cooler. We buy the small bottles of these because cooler space gets tight. You could also buy a bunch of lunch meat and put them in ziploc bags and a few loafs of bread and eat alot of sandwhiches. Breakfast we used to cook bacon and eggs on the camping stove, but latley we have been the easy route on that too. Take a half gallon of milk and a box of cereal and a few bowls and just eat that. Get a box and pack all kinds of dry goods to snack on like crackers, chips, bread, cookies, and whatever else does not need refrigeration. I don't know how the bears are there either, you may want to take that into consideration as well. I know I have heard to put your food in a bag and tie it from a rope hung in a tree in the middle of a branch so the bear can't get to it. But I would be thinking I would want to wrap it in a garbage bag so they can't smell it either. I don't know because bears are not a huge problem here. At any rate hope you guys have fun and most important be safe!!!!! Let us know how it goes.

Oh thanks! I was planning on bringing a small cooler and pop, hot dogs and chips. I didn't know you could take all that food camping.

Nah, just the odd bears up here, there was a black bear seen a few times in the past month around here, but hasn't been found yet.

You should be fine your only going one night right? Wing it, and have fun! You wont starve in one day right? lol.

Nope, 4 days. Uh oh.

You have a great time, and make the most of it.

I know I did when I was volunteering to lead a troop of scouts.

We camp 2 weeks at a time, no electric, no running water. For food, what I do is freeze everything that can be frozen,(meat, OJ, etc.) and it helps keep everything in the cooler cold. I then decide what we will have for dinner based on what has thawed. If it is still frozen, we don't eat it yet as it is still keeping other stuff cold. (This also cuts down on the amount of ice you need to start out, which allows for more food and drinks in the cooler.) If you keep your cooler cold, you can keep anything in it that you would put in your fridge.

I am a firm believer in bringing extra garbage bags. They are very useful if you have any bad weather, you can put things in them to keep them dry. (Your sleeping bag for instance) You should throw in a raincoat or poncho also. Getting soaked to the skin is fun when you have somewhere warm to dry off. It isn't so fun when you have to get into a damp sleeping bag in a tent with puddles in the corners. ( Can you tell we have had mostly rain here for the last week or so? rain on the brain!)

As for bears, there are none where I camp, but there are where I live, and putting food in a garbage bag will NOT stop them from smelling it. If there are bears in the area, do NOT bring food in the tent with you. Not even gum or toothpaste.

And, most importantly, don't forget the TP. A ziplock is a good place for it, again, not something you'd want to get wet......

Have fun. Now you have got me thinking about our upcoming trip at the end of July.

Years ago I camped with my dad and brothers. We had so much fun. That's a very good list OTown provided. My dad had his own and even laminated it. We used to tease him about it. When he passed on, one of brothers got the list, saying - THIS is mine.

I didn't see sunscreen/sunblock on the list. That is a must. There's nothing more miserable than sleeping in a hot tent, with sunburn. In fact, we take along Noxema for sunburn on our family vacations. Others prefer Aloe Vera. Also bug spray. My family prefers the pump bottle, Skin tastic or Deet.

One tip my dad used was he took odd sized plastic containers and would freeze ice in them. We'd also pick up bagged, cubed ice but the larger size freezer blocks took days to melt and thaw, whereas we were always replacing cubed ice at a marina (it seemed like). Also if you're going to grill burgers or steaks, you can freeze them first, they keep longer that way. Just don't thaw frozen meat, then refreeze it - a huge no no (unless you want to get sick). You can only freeze fresh meat (from a butcher to be sure it was fresh).

Camping is fun but if you forgot an item that is really important, you can be just miserable. You'll likely come home from this trip and add something to your list for next time. In fact we used to revise my dad's list at the breakfast table, while camping!

Have fun.

Mary

I'm leaving in just a few hours until Friday. I hope the weather cooperates.

Have a great time. I love to camp!!!! Be careful.

I know you are gonna have a blast! Talk to ya on Friday!