How to Build a Campfire

A campfire is part of the outdoor experience when you’re camping, backpacking, or hunting and plan on spending the night in the wilderness. Having a campfire is one of those experiences that make an overnight stay in the woods memorable. It’s disappointing if you’re at a campground that has signs in the fire pit that says No Campfires. That means it’s too dry to have a fire. Please don’t ignore these warnings for your own convenience. Forest fires are terrible events that are usually avoidable, since many are man-made.



Although most campgrounds have fire pits, you may find a place to camp while you’re backpacking that does not. If it’s been dry you’ll need to be extremely careful where you build your campfire.



The first thing to do is pick your spot for the campfire. Make sure it’s away from anything that burns easily like dry grass and tree limbs from nearby trees. Clear an area twice the size as your fire ring will be. An errant spark from a breeze could cause a fire in a nearby field of dry grass or trees.



The next thing to do is to collect rocks for your fire ring and build it approximately a foot high and 3 feet in diameter. If you’re near a stream, creek, or river you’ll be sure to find good rocks to build your fire ring. If rocks aren’t available, pass on having a fire. The fire ring will prevent the ashes from spreading and keep the fire concentrated in a safe place.



If you have not brought any fire wood or are not in a campground that sells it, you’ll need to search the forest floor for dead tree branches and pine cones. If you’re in a forested area you’ll be sure to find plenty for your needs. An axe, hatchet or folding saw are tools you’ll need in this endeavor. You’ll want to cut the branches and limbs you find to fit the parameters or your fire ring.



Start small when you first build your fire! To start the fire you’ll need tender; small sticks, dry leaves twisted newspaper, pine needles or anything that will easily catch fire. Bring a couple of different methods to start a fire – camp lighters, cigarette lighters, water proof matches, or fire starters that emit sparks by rubbing flint against steel are ideas to think about. When you have a small flickering fire, then it's time to gradually add larger sticks of wood. As the fire gets larger and hotter you can add even larger chunks of wood. You can lay the wood on the fire any way you like as long as there is enough air flow from the bottom of the coals to the top of the fire, to keep the logs burning.



Building a fire is mainly common sense. If you have a small fire, add enough wood, any way you like, to make it into a larger fire.



Try not to build your fire too big. Raging fires are not cool. There's too much of a chance that a spark will get away and set fire to someone's tent or the nearby fields and forests. Keep the fire at a reasonable level and have a safe, happy stay in God’s great outdoors!

How to Select a Good Camping Tent

Before you head out on your next trip to the great outdoors you will need to check whether you have all the right camping gear to make the occasion a memorable one. Camping is a wonderful experience and one that is enjoyed by people of all ages if you’re properly outfitted and have all camping gear you’ll need.

Whether you are heading into the wilderness or planning to tent camp at an organized camp ground, having the correct equipment will ensure you are ready for any eventuality and situation. A quality tent should be at the top of the list. These are available in a dizzying array of shapes, designs, and sizes. It’s imperative you choose a tent that can accommodate the number of people who will be accompanying you on the trip or have more than one tent depending on the situation and how many people want to sleep under one roof.

Before you start looking for a camping tent, decide how much you’re willing to spend.

Types of Camping Tents:

Camping tents are classified using three ratings: 3 season, 4 season, and all season. The 3 season tent works well except for cold weather conditions, the 4 season tent is designed for extreme cold temperatures, and the all season tent is generally thought of as a family or car tent. Most cabin tents are all season tents.

Besides the seasonal classification, there are also backpacking tents and regular tents. Backpacking tents are light-weight and are fast and easy to set-up. The largest backpacking tent I would recommend would be a 3 man tent. This would give 2 people plenty of room and not be too heavy to carry in your backpack. Regular tents are used for car/truck camping where you drive to a campground and don’t have far to set-up your campsite.

What’s the right size of camping tent (not a backpacking tent)?

The size and weight of a tent doesn’t matter, just as long as you’re able to carry it from you car or truck to the campsite and it fits in your vehicle along will all your other camping gear.

Tent capacity is base on the number of people who can sleep in one. For example, a 2 man tent will accommodate 2 people and have very little storage space. A good rule is to buy a camping tent that has a capacity rating of 2 people more than the number who will be using it. This will provide enough space to spread out a little and store your gear, too. If you’re doing family camping, the multi-room tents work great. Multi-room tents come in 2-room styles, where the rooms are separated by an inside tent wall with a zippered door. The 3-room design has the 2 room, plus an added screen room, which is great for storage and for changing clothes, playing games, etc.

Other features to look for are:

A rainfly to keep the rain out

Folded seams and double stitching to help keep rain out

A one piece waterproof tub floor keeps water out

Noseeum meshing to keep insects out

Heavy duty zippers that hold up with frequent use

If it rains while you’re camping or your tent is damp when you strike camp, you’ll want to set-up the tent in your yard to air it out when you get home. This helps prevent mildew and mold.

How to Make Camping S'mores

Before you head out on your next trip to the great outdoors you will need to check whether you have all the right camping gear to make the occasion a memorable one. Camping can be a wonderful experience and one that is enjoyed by people of all ages.



Whether you are heading into the wilderness or planning to pitch a tent at an organized camp ground, having the correct equipment would ensure you are ready for any eventuality and situation.



Although there is always the option of cooking on an open fire it is usually easier and somewhat safer to take a stove with you on your camping trips. We use two different types of stoves – the single burner propane stove, which we mainly use for heating water for hot drinks and dish washing and the double burner stove, which we use for cooking food in a skillet or pot. The size of the stove would depend upon how many people you will need to cook for. If there are only two people then a portable butane burner should suffice. Remember to choose suitable utensils, pots, and pans. You can buy special outdoor cooking equipment that is easy to carry and clean.



One of the highlights of camping are meal times, especially when you cook over the campfire. We always prepare our meals together as a family, so everyone has ownership of part of the meal. This really helps to quell any complaining. It’s also a great family bonding time. After the main meal is over and the clean-up is done, its time to think about a great treat. One camping dessert that has been around for generations is s’mores. Although this dessert takes some time to prepare, the process to get your marshmallows just right is half the fun. When your family has their sticks with marshmallows on the end hanging over the coals, there's always competition to see who can roast the perfect marshmallow. The goal to roast it slowly and get it golden brown evenly all the way around the marshmallow, then it will be the perfect temperature to melt the chocolate sandwiched between the graham crackers.



How to make camping s’mores:



Ingredients: graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate squares, sticks or skewers, and a campfire with good cooking coals.



The process:



Prepare your s’more sandwich makings first: break off 2 squares of graham cracker for the top and bottom of your s’more, then break off a square of chocolate and lay it on the bottom square graham cracker.



Stick a marshmallow on the end of your stick or skewer and roast it over the coals of the campfire. Try not to char the marshmallow by rotating the stick in your hand to roast the marshmallow evenly all the way around. If it flames up, blow it out and continue or eat it and start over.

Once you have the marshmallow roasted the way you want it, place it on top of the chocolate square and sandwich it between the 2 squares of graham crackers – let the chocolate melt a few seconds and enjoy.

Backpack Packing Tips

First of all, the type of backpack you are using determines how you will pack. An external frame pack distributes the weight differently than an internal frame pack. You’ll want the bulk of the weight low with the external pack, since this helps your balance as you’re hiking. With internal frame packs, you’ll want the heaviest items placed in the middle of your back close to your body. This method of packing keeps the weight close to your center of gravity and allows you to turn around without the backpack pulling you off-balance.



Usually, the two bulkiest items you’ll pack are a tent and sleeping bag. Sleeping bags designed to be lightweight for backpacking come with a stuff sack with straps to cinch down the size. You can use these straps to tie them to the frame on the external frame pack. For internal frame packs you can pack them in the bottom quite easily. If you’re packing for a solo trip the bivy sack (all in one sleeping bag and tent) is very practical. If there are others in your party, it’s a good idea to distribute the different tent parts (tent body, poles and rain fly) among three people to spread the weight. You can stuff the tent body and rain fly into the top of a pack and tie the poles to the outside of a pack. Another reason to have the tent at the top of your pack is for easy access. Most people set-up their tent when they first get into camp. With the tent on top, you’re all set and will not need to unload your pack to get at it. Also, if it’s raining, you’ll be able to get out of the rain that much sooner.



I’ve found it’s best to roll your clothes and put the bulkier items (pants, shirts, sweat shirts, jackets) in a stuff sack. Small items like underwear and socks fit into zip lock bags and fit well in the outside pickets. It’s always a good idea to have your socks and foot powder accessible when you’re hiking. Also, don’t forget to have a folding shovel and toilet paper handy. A zip lock bag to store the TP is very important.



Other items to pack are water, raingear, and food. A hydration system is crucial while you’re hiking. Most packs have these configured inside the pack, if not; a camelback system will work underneath the backpack. A poncho that fits over your backpack is a good idea to consider. This can be stored in an outside pocket. If you plan on a sit-down lunch during your hike, you can pack this pretty close to the top of your pack. Energy bars work well, too. These take up much less space. Other food items and cooking gear are personal choice depending on how long you’ll be camping and what you prefer eating.



These are just a few tips to think about when you’re packing your backpack. You’ll come up with your own list before long and you’ll have a routine that fits you.

How to Prepare a Cooking and Clean-up Kit for Camping

Camping is a wonderful time to relax and enjoy being in the outdoors. It’s a great family bonding time to do things together without all the distractions we’re used to around the home. When you’re camping you want to be organized to make sure you have everything you’ll need for your outing. One area you’ll want a list for is your cooking and clean-up equipment. To make any meal preparation easy it's good to have a cooking and clean-up kit as part of your camping gear. You want to ensure your campsite has the essentials for cooking your campout meals. Time around the campfire during meal preparation and cooking is a real family bonding experience. Here are some tips to help you organize your camp kitchen. A couple of large plastic boxes with fold-over lids from the local Walmart will do nicely to store your cooking and clean-up accessories. After a camping adventure, we replenish what we use and then store out cooking/clean-up it in the garage. All we need to do for our next camping trip is to get our boxes and check to make sure everything on our list is included.

This is what to pack in one box:
Pots and pans that fit inside of each other to save space
A non-stick frying pan
A metal and a plastic spatula/flipper
Cutting board, knife and fork
Can opener
A mixing wisk
Aluminum foil
Eating Utensils - the hard plastic washable kind and of course lots of disposable ones
Lots of cups - the hard plastic washable kind and disposable ones too
Matches and a couple camping lighters
Paper towels and plastic bags (for leftovers and to wrap food in)
Spices (salt, pepper, garlic salt, etc.)
Instant coffee and hot chocolate
Some spare food - like a couple of packages of Macaroni and Cheese and a can of Ravioli, just in case you run out of food or for emergencies
Plates and bowls (hard plastic and paper)

Pack these items in the second box:
Camping gear for cooking over a fire:
Old newspaper
Kindling or fire starters
Campfire tripod or grill to place over the fire
Barbecue cleaning equipment

To keep your campsite clean and your cooking materials sanitary, these clean-up items are essential:
2 buckets (that fit inside each other) or 2 plastic tubs (that fit inside each other) for washing and rinsing dishes
Dish Rags and towels
Scouring pads
Disposable wipes
Detergent
Plastic storage bags
Trash bags

These are many of the camping gear essential items you might need for your Campsite Cooking and Clean-up Kit. There will be additional items you may wish to have. Fee free to expand on this list, but try to keep your list to essential items only. Keep your list updated and know where you keep it, so you can find it when it’s time to pack for your next camping trip.

Remember lists are very important for camping, especially a list of your essential items for your camp kitchen. You don’t want to forget anything that could be a show stopper – like forgetting the spatula for your morning pancakes.

I've been tent camping for over 35 years and as a retired Airborne Ranger, have experience in wilderness survival. For more information on camping tents and camping hiking gear, please visit us at http://mycampingtentsandmore.com. We carry a nice selection of camping gear from tents to flashlights at reasonable prices. Check us out!