Camping by Yourself: A How to Guide & Checklist for Camping Alone

Solitary camping is a unique and enjoyable experience. There are many reasons why people camp alone. It could be that you have chosen to go solo camping for the peace and quiet that it provides, that you simply have no one to go camping with you, or that your camping buddy canceled at the last minute. Whatever your reason may be this guide will help make your camping experience a safe and enjoyable one!

 

There is much more to camping alone than one might think. Several benefits are associated with companionless camping among which are the promotion of self reliance and a kind of peace and quiet that is simply unmatched. Companionless camping also provides an opportunity for personal growth through introspection, and it can help an individual discover their own physical and mental limitations.

Space is also one of the benefits of solitary camping. Without company you not only have more space in your shelter for yourself and your things, but you also have extra space in your vehicle for any equipment or luxury items you may wish to bring with you on your camping trip. All the space that another person and their equipment would have taken up is now available for your use should you desire to use it.

Camping by yourself also poses some risks and complications that should be fully understood. There are many challenges involved such as setting up equipment and performing other tasks without assistance. It is also more dangerous to camp alone than it is to camp with a companion and proper precautions must be taken in order to secure one's safety.

Consideration should be given to both the positive and the negative aspects of solitary camping before heading out alone. Unpleasant experiences that could have been avoided are too often the result of improper preparation caused by poor foresight and a lackadaisical approach to the planning process.

 

It is a good idea to put some serious thought into safety concerns before undertaking the challenges of companionless camping. Safety is the greatest concern you should have when it comes to camping alone. When you are camping by yourself you have no one to rely on should an incident occur that is potentially life threatening, especially if such an incident results in your inability to seek help.

Potential risks abound and the more secluded you are the greater the odds are stacked against you should an accident or illness befall you. Things which normally would be of no major concern can become life threatening if you are alone in a secluded area. This problem is only compounded when you consider that there are still many areas where you can not get cell phone reception. If you are allergic to bee stings, are camping several miles from the nearest paved road, and you are unable to get cell phone reception, you could be looking at a serious situation.

Illness and injury should be the two primary concerns you have. You can greatly reduce the risks involved with solo camping by preparing for possible injuries and illnesses and also through the practice of intelligent action. This means that not only should you think of and prepare for what could happen ahead of time, but that you should also take practical steps to avoid hazardous situations.

Simple steps that you can take include having proper medication available, keeping a good First Aid Kit handy, wearing protective clothing, using a saw instead of an axe or hatchet, watching where you walk, protecting your hands with gloves when handling firewood, properly securing your footwear, and refraining from eating unknown plants and animals. You should also wear brightly colored clothes, prepare for unseasonably cold or warm weather, bring along extra food and water, and abstain from intoxicating substances.

Besides the potential hazards associated with accidents and illness there are also risks posed by man and beast. Proper precautions should be taken to ensure you are as safe as possible from poisonous creatures, large predators, sick or disturbed animals, and even human threats. Practical suggestions for personal protection are everywhere, but I would recommend simply not turning over rocks or tree stumps, looking before you grab, and giving adequate warning to animals that you are about to enter an area (singing works). Depending on your personal views and the laws governing the area where you will be camping you may also want to consider a personal protection device such as a large can of bear repellent or a lethal or non-lethal weapon.

 

Once you have given some thought to the rewards, difficulties, and potential hazards of camping by yourself you will need to select the location where you wish to camp and secure a permit for that campsite and any other permits that may be required. The Internet provides an excellent source for researching locations and choosing potential campsites.

You will want to either get in touch with the office of the private campground at which you wish to stay or contact a ranger station concerning camping on state or federal lands. If costs are an issue then you may wish to consider one of the many states that allow for free tent camping. Most camp grounds or state and federal parks and forests require reservations which may be acquired up to three months in advance.

When you call the office or ranger station you should have any questions ready that you may have concerning camping in their jurisdiction. You should request a map of the area, a copy of the rules and regulations, and ask questions regarding anything else you may need to know. If you know it, you should be prepared with the site number, letter, or name of the location you wish to stay at. You should also be prepared to give the ranger your name, address, and phone number. They will also need to know the make and model of the vehicle you will be parking on the grounds of the camp area, the vehicle license plate number, and possibly even your driver's license number.

When you contact the ranger station be sure to inform them that you will be camping alone and to also inform them of any medical conditions that you may have. If you are concerned about letting anyone know that you will be camping alone in a secluded location then you may wish to give the ranger the impression that you are expecting a companion to accompany you or to arrive at a later time so long as you are not breaking any laws by doing so.

After you have secured your campsite and received any information you requested you should acquire driving directions to and from the location. Driving directions can easily be obtained on such websites as MapQuest, Yahoo! Maps, Google Maps, and Expedia, or they can be procured through your local automotive club such as the American Automobile Association (AAA). You should also get driving directions to the ranger station or office which you spoke with and directions and phone numbers to the nearest hospital and the closest police station.

Next, you will want to calculate the mileage to be travelled round-trip and the estimated cost of gasoline. You will want to remember the amount of gas you utilize per mile will be significantly increased due to the added weight of a vehicle being filled with camping gear and any necessary provisions you will require for your trip such as food and water.

Lastly, you should do some research on the climate of the location in which you are planning to camp. It is very important that you understand the environment in which you intend to place yourself in order to avoid any unwanted and potentially disastrous circumstances. Once you have familiarized yourself with the local climate you can then select your choice of clothing and supplies for the trip accordingly and avoid freezing, overheating, dehydration, and similar issues caused by improper preparation.

 

The equipment you select will be much like any other camping trip with the exception that gear which absolutely requires assistance to set-up will have to be discarded and replaced with equipment which can be erected without any aid. Typical items that will have to be considered and tested for their friendliness towards solitary camping include tents, shower units, and complicated camp furnishings. The weight of certain items will also have to be taken into consideration.

Most dome tents can be set-up without any help, but doing so requires patience and a little bit of ingenuity or skill. You may wish to practice erecting your dome tent prior to your arrival at the campsite you selected in order to avoid any unnecessary headaches. If you absolutely can not seem to find any tent which you are able to assemble yourself there are some tents available on the market which require no assembly and simply fold out and up as a complete unit. The CampRight Pop Up Tent is one of those camping tents that requires no assembly.

Most other camping equipment will not pose any problems. Folding camp chairs and tables are usually very simple devices that do not require any assembly or help from others and the same goes for camp stoves, portable camp toilets, and other essential camping supplies. The only other piece of camping gear which might pose some difficulties is an enclosed camp shower or utility room. If you feel that this item is an absolute necessity you will also want to practice erecting it without any aid before arriving at your camping destination.

Another important thing to consider when camping is the weather. One of your top priorities as the date of your solo camping excursion nears should be monitoring the meteorological forecast for the area in which you will be camping. You can literally camp in all types of weather, but it is best to know what you are getting yourself into before you find yourself in a position that you were not prepared for.

Most websites offer an extended weather forecast of somewhere between 10 to 14 days out, so you should be able to start getting an idea of what the weather is going to be like close to two weeks in advance. You should continue monitoring the forecast each day up until the day you leave. Forecasts are usually fairly accurate when they are made no more than three days prior to the date of your plans.

Regardless of what the weather forecast may be you should have preparations for temperature differences of up to thirty degrees below the projected temperature ranges and ten degrees above them in order to ensure you remain comfortable during your camping experience. Weather plays a major factor in any outdoor experience and sudden changes in temperature or incorrect expectations due to a lack of foresight concerning elevation often can result in an extremely unpleasant and sometimes dangerous foray.

You are now prepared to create a camping checklist. Such a list is encouraged as it will help you to properly organize for your trip and also to ensure that you do not forget to take anything along with you on your trip.

Creating a camping checklist is easy and I'm going to show you how to do it! I will also provide a sample checklist at the end of this section for you to use or to use as a starting point for your own checklist.

When creating your camping checklist you will want to start by listing important information at the top as you will be making a copy of this checklist to take with you in order to ensure that you do not leave anything at your campsite, and you will want to take important phone numbers and information with you anyway. You will want to include some very important information that could be of use to emergency personnel or anyone else who may find it useful should anything occur in which you are unable to provide them with such knowledge. Important info that should be listed at the top of your checklist includes the following:

Your name, address, & phone number(s)

Name/number and location of campsite

Name, address, and phone number of ranger station or office

Local emergency number

A list of any allergies or medical conditions you have

A list of any medicines you are taking

Your blood type (if known)

An emergency contact name and number

A description of the clothing you intend to wear

Anything else that might be useful knowledge should you be found unconscious, incoherent, or become lost.

You will keep a copy of this checklist in your vehicle, so if anything should occur anyone finding you or your abandoned vehicle and campsite will be capable of attaining this valuable knowledge in a timely manner. If you are camping in a secluded area where your vehicle is visible you should place this checklist on your driver's seat so that it can be seen through the window. If you are not in a secluded area or your vehicle is in a location that is not in your direct line of sight it is recommended that you place this paper in the glove compartment of your vehicle.

The next step in making your camping checklist is simply a matter of creating categories and placing well-thought items in those categories. The very best way to make a camping checklist is to divide the categories of your list up as if you are listing the items that would go in various rooms of your home. Then go through those categories (or rooms) and consider the various items that are in them which you use on a daily basis and then refine those items for outdoor use. The idea is to look at the tent, RV, or camper as your bedroom and the campsite as your entire living area. The categories of your checklist should look something like this:

Bedroom

Bathroom

Kitchen

Dining

Living Room

Laundry & Utility

The list you are making is not for where your things will go while camping (though you can plan that too, if you wish), but for what things you will be taking based on what you keep in the various rooms of your home. You should walk through each individual room of your home and make note of what items would be practical and useful while camping and what items you use on a daily basis. This is the very best way to personalize your own camping checklist.

There are plenty of checklists available on-line, but years of experience has taught me that using any of them ultimately results in forgetting an item, including useless items, or in forgetting personal items that you would have included had you created your very own checklist.

While walking through your home and making note of various items you should consider your daily activities including use of the bathroom, showering and grooming, cooking, eating and washing dishes, preparing meals, lounging, dressing and undressing, cleaning, and also sleeping and awakening. Special attention should be given to the fact that moisture and temperatures may be a factor and your list or the planned storage of items should be adjusted or compensated for accordingly.

Once you have created a list of items you can then go through it and check to make sure you haven't forgotten anything, check for practicality, and also remove unnecessary items from your list. You will not want your list to be too large as you will be solely responsible for loading and unloading your vehicle, setting up camp, and tearing your camp back down.

Add the items from your list to the checklist you are creating. You should then have a complete camping checklist. As mentioned earlier, you can review or print the checklist below for help in the process of creating your personalized checklist:

 

Campsite ID and Name of Road:

(Town) Ranger Station Telephone:

(Town) Ranger Station Address:

(Your Name) Home and Cellular Phone:

Home Address:

Emergency Contact:

EMERENCY DIAL: 9-1-1

Allergies:

Prescriptions:

Blood Type:

I will be wearing:

My planned departure date and time is:

Communications & Electronics

[ ] Apple iPhone 4 (fully charged)

[ ] Charged Radio Shack Pro-528 Portable Scanner with Weather Radio

[ ] Grundig S350DL Shortwave Radio w/ Batteries

[ ] Canon Powershot S95 Digital Camera w/ Spare Batteries

Tools

[ ] Buck Knife w/ Sheath

[ ] MXZ Saw

[ ] Swiss Army Knife

[ ] Rubber Mallet

[ ] Trowel

Safety & Protection

[ ] Guard Alaska Bear Repellent

[ ] Hiking Vest (holds many essentials)

[ ] Whistle

[ ] Lensatic Compass

[ ] First Aid Kit (fully stocked)

[ ] Sportsman's OFF

Fire & Illumination

[ ] Refilled Zippo Lighter

[ ] Spare Zippo Flint

[ ] Box of Waterproof Matches

[ ] Bottle of Cotton Balls Soaked in Vaseline

[ ] Rayovac Sportsman Mini-Lantern w/ Batteries

[ ] Citranella Candle

[ ] Rayovac Headlamp

[ ] Mini-Maglite w/ Batteries

Kitchen

[ ] Folding Cooking Grate

[ ] Large Grilling Tongs

[ ] Picnic Plate

[ ] Fork/Knife Utensil

[ ] Bottled Tea

[ ] Bottled Drinking Water

[ ] 6 Gal. Tap Water

[ ] Rubbermaid Cooler

[ ] Bag Ice

[ ] 6 Pk Beer

[ ] Cooking Spray

[ ] Dinner #1

[ ] Breakfast #1

[ ] Lunch #1

[ ] Dinner #2

[ ] Breakfast #2

[ ] Lunch #2

[ ] Dinner #3

[ ] Breakfast #3

[ ] Snack #1

[ ] Snack #2

[ ] Spare Food

[ ] Small Trash Bag

[ ] Dish Sponge

[ ] Small Bottle Dish Detergent

Bathroom

[ ] 3 Rolls Toilet Tissue

[ ] Reliance Portable Camp Hassock (toilet)

[ ] Towel (in bag)

[ ] Washcloth (in bag)

[ ] Soap (in protective case)

[ ] Comb (in bag)

[ ] Deodorant (in bag)

[ ] Toothbrush (in protective case)

[ ] Toothpaste (in bag)

Shelter, Furniture, & Bedding

[ ] Coleman Folding Camp Chair

[ ] Coleman Folding Camp Table

[ ] Tarp

[ ] Kelty Grand Mesa Tent

[ ] Columbia Camping Pillow

[ ] Therm-A-Rest Ridgerest Sleeping Mat

[ ] Alps Mountaineering Mummy Bag

[ ] Fleece Throw Blanket

Luggage

[ ] Kelty Redcloud 5000 Overnight Pack

Clothing & Laundry

[ ] Sweat Pants

[ ] 3 Pr. Trekking Pants

[ ] Sweatshirt

[ ] 4 Pr. Socks

[ ] T-Shirt

[ ] Long Sleeve Shirt

[ ] 4 Pr. Boxer Shorts

[ ] Columbia Hikers

[ ] Moccasins

[ ] Wristwatch

[ ] Boonie Hat

[ ] Tuque Hat

[ ] Fleece Jacket

[ ] Clothespin

[ ] Small Bag for Dirty Clothing

Entertainment

[ ] Hacky Sack

[ ] Deck of Bicycle Cards

Documents & Papers

[ ] Camping Permit

[ ] Wallet with License

[ ] Checklist

You are now ready to go camping! I am certain that if you followed the advice given in this article you are going to have a safe and rewarding experience. I have over thirty years of experience camping and backpacking, and I have been solo camping and backpacking for the past seven of those years in some of the most remote locations of Pennsylvania. Camping alone is guaranteed to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life and you will more than likely be plotting your next excursion before the first one has even ended. Good luck and happy camping!