Camping and Campfires: Some Tips
If you are going camping, nothing quite completes your night like a campfire. Even if you are in an RV at an RV park, you'll probably enjoy sitting around the fire at night. It's enjoyable and cozy, and has the added bonus of keeping bugs away. If you are planning a campfire you should keep a few things in mind.
Firstly, make sure you pick a spot that is downwind of your campsite. That way the breeze will blow the smoke away from your tent. Make sure you build your fire on a bed of sand or dirt away from logs, stumps and vegetation. Clear away anything that could catch fire and spread. Building your fire on sand or dirt, and away from logs or stumps, is sensible. Don't burn plastics, as they will give off poisonous fumes, and don't burn aerosol cans, as they could explode.
Make sure you put your fire out at night by covering it with sand or dousing it with water. Do not wait for it to burn out unattended; that is a very risky strategy. Make sure your sleeping bag is warm enough. That way you won't have to rely on the campfire to keep you warm when you are camping.
Camping covers many levels of relative comfort, but just about all of them involve campfires. For the more dedicated, hardcore campers, survival camping is the way to go. It involves setting off into the wilderness with almost no gear besides their hiking boots. At the other end of the spectrum, recreational vehicle owners travel inside their own mobile hotel room. These recreational vehicles (RVs) come equipped with almost every possible luxury: their own electricity, heat, and patio furniture, and in some cases, satellite TV.
People often camp as part of some larger recreational plan, which typically involves activities like hiking, hill walking, climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, swimming, and fishing. In tandem with camping, hiking can either be done as an extended backpacking journey, or as a series of day hikes radiating from a central campsite.
Permanent campsites typically have campfire facilities. Many people vacation in permanent campsites, which offer facilities such as toilets, water and electricity hookups, and even swimming pools. Others live off the land and camp in the wilderness. People who take this approach must leave their campsite better than they found it and generally have an obligation to engage in environmentally sound practices.
Campers come in all ages, abilities, and degrees of ruggedness. There are campsites made to accommodate all these various levels of camper. Some have all the comforts available, including fire rings and/or barbecue grills, utilities, shared bathrooms, laundry, access to recreational facilities and even swimming pools, but not all campsites offer similar levels of relative luxury. The campsite itself can range from a patch of dirt to a level, paved parking spot with full sewer and electrical facilities. No matter whether you are in an RV or a tent, there are always facilities available to you. Even if you are roughing it you can pack some creature comforts.
