Camping in the outside is fun and as well as a great way for relatives and friends to bond. Most people prefer to camp outside in clear, sunny weather. The thought of rain makes them put off their camping ideas. Rain is part of life and brings with it lots of experiences. However, rain can wreck your camping in case you are not well prepared. Here are few tips on how to keep you and your gear dry while camping.
The tent is one of the most important parts of your camping gear. Picking the right tent will make the difference in staying dry or having a miserable time. When you go to select your tent, make sure it is a water proof tent and not a water resistant one. Water resistant tents only repel the water for a limited time, until they get soaked and let water in. Before setting your tent up, it is a good idea to put down a tarp underneath the tent. This keeps moisture from the ground from getting into the tent. When you set up your tent for the first time, it is a good idea to spray all the seams with a waterproof spray. This is a silicone based spray that can be purchased at most outdoor stores or hardware stores. You can respray the seams once in a while to maintain their water resistance. Do not loose any of the parts that come with your tent, they are all an integral part of the package and the loss of some parts can make the tent useless, or worse, lose its structural integrity. Your tent should come with a rain fly, if it does not, a tarp can be used instead. String the tarp from several trees. Make sure it is sloped so that the rain runs off. If no trees are available, you can use sticks that you collect and tie them in place.
Where you pitch your tent is very important to keeping things dry. High and level ground is always preferred, so that the tent can be set up properly and with enough space to walk around it. Always make sure that there is no evidence of previous run off coming through the site you have chosen. Never set up your tent at the bottom of a slope or in a low point. Water always collects downhill and in low points.
Make sure that you pack lots of extra clothes with you when camping in the rain. A rain jacket that is 100% waterproof will go a long way in making you a happy camper. Many campers choose clothes that are made of cotton or denim, these to not fare well when wet and are very difficult to dry. Stick to man made fibers such as polyster or micro-fleece. These types of clothes dry much quicker. Make sure that there is a separate area for clothes to dry out on. When it is not raining, remember to put your clothes on a tree branch or string them from a rope so that the wind can dry them. The use of a fire will accelerate the drying time considerably. Shoes that are water resistant or water proof will go a long way in keeping your experience a happy one. Even with waterproof shoes, it is important to pack lots of extra socks.
While camping in monsoon, ensure that your sleeping arrangements suit the weather conditions. Get sleeping bags made from synthetic materials instead of down. The ground may get wet in spite of the precautionary measures you take so it would be a good idea to elevate your sleeping bags using cots or airbeds.
Following some of these simple guidelines can make your camping experience much more pleasant.
This article was prepared on behalf of Noah’s Ark Resort. Noah’s Ark Resort is located in Revelstoke, BC and is a wonderful place to Camp in Revelstoke.
