Stuff to Take Camping

cwh wrote: Yeah, especially with kids, you will need a first aid kit!!

Not my kids, not my problem. But I could just be a nice guy and bring some stuff.

Firewood? Hard to camp and have a fire without firewood.

Personally, I actually do like to rough it. Makes you appreciate how nice we people actually have it day-to-day.

If you have to wipe you butt with a leaf, make sure it is not poison ivy or oak, or a pinecone. Also, if there are no toilets around, bring a small shovel, and dig a cat hole, no one wants to step in poop, human poop is that much worse.

I miss the scouts.

a good folding table is nice to have, it seems clean, flat places to put stuff is always at a premium, especially at cook-time.

check with the park to make sure there isn't a burn ban, if not then you should bring firewood, texas state parks and most national parks don't allow gathering of firewood in the park. those $5 folding camp chairs are great for sitting around the campfire at night, and don't take up too much space or weigh much either.

i just picked up one of these sets for our trip this weekend: http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_36368_-1?N=565945945

i've heard they can be pretty fragile, but for $12 i'll give it a try as i dont' have time to make one. seems sturdy enough. makes a fun game to play while standing around drinking beer.

i'll second the propane lantern, even better if you have a 20lb LP tank and tree you can put it on top of. i have the tank, tree with lantern and a hose to run from the tree to the stove/grill, so no messing with little green throwaway propane bottles. i do still bring one just in case the big tank runs low, but i've used it for probably 10 nights since i got it and the tank was only about 3/4 full, still have between 1/2 and 1/4 left in the tank. before i go to my tent for the night, i just shut off the tank, and the lantern will still run for 10-15 minutes on the residual pressure in the tree.

other than that, i'd say just be sure to think about everything you might need, as it won't be just a quick walk across the kitchen to get it. we always find that the small things like salt/pepper, spices for cooking, paper plates, cutting boards, paring knife for cutting up stuff to cook type stuff are the frustrating things you will forget.

also don't forget a pillow, my biggest "left behind" item. sucks having to try to make a pillow out of your duffel and clothes to sleep on.

To much food is a problem and eats up cooler space . Plan big breakfast .Eggs /sausage /ham toast,,,, microwave potatoes at home and cut onions for breakfast carbs ,,,,,,,, bacon is sorry to say harder to cook......... and do a steak / chix night meal. Salads pot /cole/mac . Freeze a 2 litre bottle of water for cooler beats ice melting sogging everything. Charcoal/fluid and some aluminum foil . Long cord and Big light , Card table . folding chairs ................. booze and cigars

No bread, >>Tortillas. Less space.

Be sure to bring your scary ghost stories for right before bedtime!

Actually, at state parks in VA, campers are urged NOT to bring in firewood from outside the park. Especially if you are coming from a long distance away, you can be transporting alien creatures into a new territory where they can cause undesirable consequences. I have always found an abundance of fallen wood in good condition for campfires. By all means bring a saw. I carry my Disston bow saw which will cut through an eight-inch diameter log in just over a minute when operated by my mighty right arm.

Woody wrote: No bread, >>Tortillas. Less space.

heheheheh nice

Karl La Follette wrote: Plan big breakfast .Eggs /sausage /ham toast,,,, microwave potatoes at home and cut onions for breakfast carbs ,,,,,,,, bacon is sorry to say harder to cook..

We hard boil a few dozen eggs before we leave, and take pre-cooked bacon.

The mic'd taters are a good idea. Just fry them up with the onions, and you'll have a full breakfast with easy clean up.

So you guys just skip the pop-tarts all together and go big huh? Hehe. Im loving the ideas.

A cast iron pot or dutch oven set next to the fire with a roast and vegetables inside it is an easy meal.

Put ground beef about the size of a big hamburg patty on some foil. Layer on top, a few slices of onion, some carrot slices, and a few slices of potato. If you want, put some salsa, or tomato sauce under the meat, or even on top, for added flavor.

Salt, and pepper, close up the foil to make a little packet, and put on the coals in the fire (not too hot or it will burn before cooking through) for about 20 minutes.

Similar recipe here.

It's way better than you'd expect it to be, and there's no clean up.

I've put stew beef in foil, along with carrots, celery and onions. Seal it up and toss it right in the coals.

Zomby woof wrote: Put ground beef about the size of a big hamburg patty on some foil. Layer on top, a few slices of onion, some carrot slices, and a few slices of potato. If you want, put some salsa, or tomato sauce under the meat, or even on top, for added flavor. Salt, and pepper, close up the foil to make a little packet, and put on the coals in the fire (not too hot or it will burn before cooking through) for about 20 minutes. Similar recipe here. It's way better than you'd expect it to be, and there's no clean up.

Hobos, had that for dinner, yum.

Sleeping pads. When I was younger sleeping on the ground was fin, but I find that as I have gotten older that rock in the middle of my back that I didn't notice when I pitched the tent really ruins my sleep.

1988RedT2 wrote: Actually, at state parks in VA, campers are urged NOT to bring in firewood from outside the park. Especially if you are coming from a long distance away, you can be transporting alien creatures into a new territory where they can cause undesirable consequences. I have always found an abundance of fallen wood in good condition for campfires. By all means bring a saw. I carry my Disston bow saw which will cut through an eight-inch diameter log in just over a minute when operated by my mighty right arm.

Many campgrounds around the country have signs saying not to bring your own firewood. I've even seen billboards to that extent.

Auto ADD wrote: Sleeping pads. When I was younger sleeping on the ground was fin, but I find that as I have gotten older that rock in the middle of my back that I didn't notice when I pitched the tent really ruins my sleep.

If you have the kind that are foam-filled, with a valve that you open to let the foam decompress to blow it up, be sure to close the valve after it's filled.

I won't admit to why I'm passing this tip along.

""

RealMiniDriver wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote: Actually, at state parks in VA, campers are urged NOT to bring in firewood from outside the park. Especially if you are coming from a long distance away, you can be transporting alien creatures into a new territory where they can cause undesirable consequences. I have always found an abundance of fallen wood in good condition for campfires. By all means bring a saw. I carry my Disston bow saw which will cut through an eight-inch diameter log in just over a minute when operated by my mighty right arm.

Many campgrounds around the country have signs saying not to bring your own firewood. I've even seen billboards to that extent.

Hardwood skids (FTW, as they say).

BEER!

I forgot fishing gear, definitely want to bring that!

Edit: Please fish responsibly and only in approved areas.

EastCoastMojo wrote: I forgot fishing gear, definitely want to bring that!

Dynamite?

Hmmm, have we been camping together before?

so, since we're on the topic, who all is going camping for the upcoming long weekend? we are headed down to padre island national seashore friday night with 5 or so other people for three nights of beach camping/drinking/fishing fun

going to Keaton Beach fl trout fishing and gonna dig hole w/ post hole digger install whole corn and water to sour for hogs love fest with Marie and our dogs and a friends of the family Jimmy Beam and Professor Smirnoff Rasp Berry