From the article: What They Don't Tell You About Camping
Remember your first camping trip? You made a checklist, tested your gear, filled the gas tank, mapped your route, and you had everything in order. Then you got to the campground. Uh, oh! What didn't they tell you? It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or a veteran camper, something will come up when you least expect it. What surprises have you met when camping? Share Your Story
One Big Bear
- The first time I ever went camping, I was 13. All of the relatives went. We all put our sleeping bags out on the ground to go to sleep. Next thing we heard was someone yelling "There's a bear!" We crammed six of us sideways into a station wagon to sleep. In the middle of the night, the car shook and my cousin sleeping next to that window sat up to look out. The bear was looking in the back window of the car. My dear cousin (who passed away the next year at the age of 14) jumped from the spot next to the window to the front seat in one leap. I still smile when I remember that trip. Must not have scared me too bad. I have camped nearly every summer since then. Almost 40 years and I still love every minute of it.
- —Guest Char
Dont Forget Stuff
- I took a solo boundary waters trip one time and was making pancakes only to find out I forgot the spatula, couldn't find a fork either. All of my silverware was still on the kitchen table when I got home. Surprisingly scrambled pancakes with little pieces of bark in them don't taste very bad at all.
- —Guest joe
Turn It On
- We were excited when we were able to start camping earlier in the year with our new hard side camper. It got cold that first night and we could not figure out what was wrong with the heater. It would not start and it was cold and dark - so we snuggled up in our beds with extra covers over the kids until morning. Then we checked everything and it still would not light - it helps if you turn on the gas at the bottle. The furnace worked fine when it had a fuel source. We had eaten on the way and arrived late at the campsite. We just setup and put the kids to bed. That checklist really does come in handy.
- —Guest Rosiemom
