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Be careful with this kind of advice. I'm an experienced camper/backpacker. The wilderness can be a dangerous place for beginners, even if they are just "car cam

Be careful with this kind of advice. I'm an experienced camper/backpacker. The wilderness can be a dangerous place for beginners, even if they are just "car camping." For example, the Mohave (where I backpacked/camped/rock-climbed for seven years) has 18 species of rattlesnakes, and one of those is the Mohave rattlesnake, which carries one of the most lethal rattlesnake venoms in the world. Food, water and shelter aren't enough for camping. You also need: flashlight with spare batteries, a map of the surrounding region, a compass, extra clothing, sun protection and a first-aid kit. It's also a good idea to know where the nearest ranger station is so that you can haul ass there in case of an emergency.

grecy 10y ago
This kind of advice really irks me. You're discouraging people from even starting. They don't need all that gear and experience to get out and try it - in all honsety their first night will be just off a road next to their car - are they really going to get in trouble from not having a flashlight and map and compass? Just sleep in the car. > the Mohave (where I backpacked/camped/rock-climbed for seven years) has 18 species of rattlesnakes, and one of those is the Mohave rattlesnake, which carries one of the most lethal rattlesnake venoms in the world. Awesome! how many times did you see one? How many times were you in danger of being bitten? Quoting facts like that doesn't help teach people the realities of camping. Chances are the vast majority of people will never see one. For reference, I'm from Australia, and lived in the Yukon for 4 years, hiking, camping and canoeing all over remote Yukon and Alaska. I've been face to face with bears about 10 times, seen tons of deadly snakes, waded across waist deep glacier melt rivers, etc. etc. I camped most nights from Alaska to Argentina, and now I'm camping my way around Africa. I've hiked many of the worlds most famous multi-day hiking trips. I've spent something like 1000 nights in a tent in my life. Stop discouraging people from trying. Soon you'll be telling people they can't try swimming without buying goggles, they can't try golf without buying clubs and thousands of dollars of lessons from a pro, and they can't learn to drive without buying their own $30k car. Encourage people to try something new. They don't have to start out in a store - they have to start out doing.
- douche 10y ago
  Maybe the best advice is to start slow. If you are a complete tenderfoot, going on a 15 mile hike that bags three 4000 ft peaks is more likely to be a bad time than a three mile hike that summits once. Backpacking the 100 Mile Wilderness requires a little more planning and confidence in your gear and skills than an overnight where you have cell service throughout. Hiking on the east coast, where water is plentiful and you pretty much can't walk more than a day in a straight line without hitting a paved road, is a different beast than places out west where you can easily die of dehydration or bumble off and never be seen again.
- DanielBMarkham 10y ago
  I agree that the comment was a bit off-putting. In addition, the assumption is that you're camping in an area where the area itself is inhospitable to life. There's a ton of camping and hiking opportunities on the east coast, and unless you break a leg or something, you can pretty much just pick a direction and walk ten miles and end up in somebody's back yard. You should be able to walk through the woods for a few hours without having to gear up at the local outdoor's shop. (Of course, that's not to say that there isn't a lot of damned good reasons to tool up, or that folks don't get dead even on the east coast. There's just a level of awareness that's involved in being outside that shouldn't come as a surprise to most. Our species is bred to be outdoors. Take it slow. Pay attention. It'll work out.)
- manarth 10y ago
  are they really going to get in trouble from not having a flashlight and map and compass? Perhaps not, but that equipment is recommended by pretty much every recognised outdoor association. It's true to say that many routes wouldn't need that equipment, but many routes would be dangerous without it. Asking people who, in this context, have little or no experience with outdoor trekking, to appropriately identify the necessary clothing, footwear, or safety equipment for a hike, is inviting accidents. Mountain Rescue regularly picks up people from Snowden who are lacking the appropriate kit, such as hikers attempting it in winter wearing shorts and trainers [1]. I am fully in favour of encouraging people to "get out there and do it", but with appropriate guidance: advice from an outdoor shop, a rambling guidebook, a knowledgable friend…something that can steer them towards an activity that's appropriate for their fitness level, experience, and equipment. [1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578247/Foolish-walkers-wearing-trainers-shorts-caught-camera-trying-tackle-snow-covered-Mount-Snowdon.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578247/Foolish-walk...
unethical_ban 10y ago
I'll hop on the bandwagon attacking you, at least a bit. Food, water, and shelter are plenty for car camping in most places. Car camping in Death Valley in August? Or in the Colorado mountains in January? Of course not. Know the environment, have some lighting, and go on. You're not wrong, but you're overselling the danger. Common sense and a general awareness of the climate will be enough to make a judgement on safety.
- enraged_camel 10y ago
  That's OK, I'm not offended. The most important thing about being out in the wilderness is this: it's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. This holds true regardless of experience level. It's true that car camping is considerably safer. But, in my opinion, making sure you have the "ten essentials" I listed is about forming the right habits. You may not need the extra shelter since you can sleep in your car, but when you decide to upgrade to tent-camping, you'll know to bring some with you.

grecy 10y ago

This kind of advice really irks me. You're discouraging people from even starting. They don't need all that gear and experience to get out and try it - in all honsety their first night will be just off a road next to their car - are they really going to get in trouble from not having a flashlight and map and compass? Just sleep in the car. > the Mohave (where I backpacked/camped/rock-climbed for seven years) has 18 species of rattlesnakes, and one of those is the Mohave rattlesnake, which carries one of the most lethal rattlesnake venoms in the world. Awesome! how many times did you see one? How many times were you in danger of being bitten? Quoting facts like that doesn't help teach people the realities of camping. Chances are the vast majority of people will never see one. For reference, I'm from Australia, and lived in the Yukon for 4 years, hiking, camping and canoeing all over remote Yukon and Alaska. I've been face to face with bears about 10 times, seen tons of deadly snakes, waded across waist deep glacier melt rivers, etc. etc. I camped most nights from Alaska to Argentina, and now I'm camping my way around Africa. I've hiked many of the worlds most famous multi-day hiking trips. I've spent something like 1000 nights in a tent in my life. Stop discouraging people from trying. Soon you'll be telling people they can't try swimming without buying goggles, they can't try golf without buying clubs and thousands of dollars of lessons from a pro, and they can't learn to drive without buying their own $30k car. Encourage people to try something new. They don't have to start out in a store - they have to start out doing.

douche 10y ago
Maybe the best advice is to start slow. If you are a complete tenderfoot, going on a 15 mile hike that bags three 4000 ft peaks is more likely to be a bad time than a three mile hike that summits once. Backpacking the 100 Mile Wilderness requires a little more planning and confidence in your gear and skills than an overnight where you have cell service throughout. Hiking on the east coast, where water is plentiful and you pretty much can't walk more than a day in a straight line without hitting a paved road, is a different beast than places out west where you can easily die of dehydration or bumble off and never be seen again.
DanielBMarkham 10y ago
I agree that the comment was a bit off-putting. In addition, the assumption is that you're camping in an area where the area itself is inhospitable to life. There's a ton of camping and hiking opportunities on the east coast, and unless you break a leg or something, you can pretty much just pick a direction and walk ten miles and end up in somebody's back yard. You should be able to walk through the woods for a few hours without having to gear up at the local outdoor's shop. (Of course, that's not to say that there isn't a lot of damned good reasons to tool up, or that folks don't get dead even on the east coast. There's just a level of awareness that's involved in being outside that shouldn't come as a surprise to most. Our species is bred to be outdoors. Take it slow. Pay attention. It'll work out.)
manarth 10y ago
are they really going to get in trouble from not having a flashlight and map and compass? Perhaps not, but that equipment is recommended by pretty much every recognised outdoor association. It's true to say that many routes wouldn't need that equipment, but many routes would be dangerous without it. Asking people who, in this context, have little or no experience with outdoor trekking, to appropriately identify the necessary clothing, footwear, or safety equipment for a hike, is inviting accidents. Mountain Rescue regularly picks up people from Snowden who are lacking the appropriate kit, such as hikers attempting it in winter wearing shorts and trainers [1]. I am fully in favour of encouraging people to "get out there and do it", but with appropriate guidance: advice from an outdoor shop, a rambling guidebook, a knowledgable friend…something that can steer them towards an activity that's appropriate for their fitness level, experience, and equipment. [1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578247/Foolish-walkers-wearing-trainers-shorts-caught-camera-trying-tackle-snow-covered-Mount-Snowdon.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578247/Foolish-walk...

unethical_ban 10y ago

I'll hop on the bandwagon attacking you, at least a bit. Food, water, and shelter are plenty for car camping in most places. Car camping in Death Valley in August? Or in the Colorado mountains in January? Of course not. Know the environment, have some lighting, and go on. You're not wrong, but you're overselling the danger. Common sense and a general awareness of the climate will be enough to make a judgement on safety.

enraged_camel 10y ago
That's OK, I'm not offended. The most important thing about being out in the wilderness is this: it's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. This holds true regardless of experience level. It's true that car camping is considerably safer. But, in my opinion, making sure you have the "ten essentials" I listed is about forming the right habits. You may not need the extra shelter since you can sleep in your car, but when you decide to upgrade to tent-camping, you'll know to bring some with you.