The Downside To Camping

Camping can be one of the most enjoyable experiences in your life. It can also be one of the most miserable experiences, if you don’t know what to expect. Knowing the downside to camping ahead of time helps prepare you for what could otherwise be a surprisingly bad experience. Here are some of the hard facts about camping:

1. Camping is hard work. Setting up camp can be an ordeal that lasts several hours. You’ve got to assemble tents, set up gazebos, and unpack your vehicle. The same is true for tearing down camp. Fortunately, those days in between don’t have quite as much work.
2. Cooking when camping can be a challenge. The fact of the matter is that cooking over an open flame can lead to very unevenly cooked foods if you’re not careful. Even if you use a gas grill, you’re going to be limited as to the cooking equipment you have with you. Planning out your meals ahead of time will help to alleviate some of the cooking stress, however.
3. You are going to have plenty of bugs when you’re camping. From ants to mosquitoes, expect these tiny visitors. Keep covered in mosquito spray, keep your lights away from where you’re sitting, and avoid using scented fragrances such as cologne or deodorant. Use unscented versions of these products instead.
4. In the morning, everything is wet. Dew settles in on your campsite most mornings. You can’t avoid the dew, but you can make sure to put everything away at night and to put a tarp over things like your firewood that shouldn’t become wet.
5. Camping can be uncomfortable. It can be difficult to fall asleep on the hard ground, even with a nice fluffy sleeping bag. You might consider a sleeping mat or an air mattress, if you’re concerned about comfort.
6. Camping can be boring. If you don’t have some activities planned, or at least a list of activities for when you do get bored, camping can seem to drag on forever. Board games, card games, and sports equipment like volleyballs or Frisbees can be useful, as well.