Camping
 
Camping describes a wide range of activities. Survivalist campers set off with little
more than their boots, whereas recreational vehicle travelers arrive equipped with
their own electricity, heat, and patio furniture. Camping may be an end unto itself,
but often it is done in conjunction with other activities, such as hiking, hill
walking, climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, swimming, and fishing. It may be combined
with hiking either as backpacking or as a series of day hikes from a central location.
Some people vacation in permanent camps with cabins and other facilities (such as
hunting camps or children's summer camps), but a stay at such a camp is usually
not considered 'camping'.
Common tent camping equipment includes:
* A tent, lean-to or other shelter device
* A sleeping bag for warmth
* A sleeping pad or air mattress is often placed underneath the sleeping bag for
cushioning from stones and twigs as well as for insulation from the ground
* A portable stove to prepare hot meals and/or drinks where campfires are forbidden
or impractical
* A lantern or flashlight
* A hatchet, axe or saw for cutting firewood (where allowed; see campfire) or constructing
camp gadgets
* Various types and sizes of ropes and tarps for stringing clotheslines, sheltering
dining areas, and other purposes.
* A chuck box to hold the many varied camp kitchen items for food preparation, consumption
and cleanup. Some campers may prepare food by cooking on a campfire, sometimes using
such equipment as a Dutch oven. If utilizing a campground with electricity an electric
frying pan is highly recommended. |