Inexperienced Camper Seeks Advice

JCV

JCV

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Do we not have a camping thread? If we do I couldn't find it, link me tehre and I'll delete my post :-)

The girlfriend has been bugging me to go camping, I've never gone, she has when she was younger. She used to spend a lot of summer's on campgrounds with her family. To me this isn't camping, I don't want my first camping experience to be on a campground. I don't want to hear/see other people.

Since I'm so inexperienced, any advice would be appreciated.

I "THINK" I have most of what I would need. girlfriend, two pitbulls, tent, sleeping bags, weapons, food. Obviously flashlights/headlamps and toilet paper. I'm not listing everything out but if I'm missing something major let me know.

I'm also open to suggestions on where to go. I'm on the northshore and I'd like to keep it within a couple hours driving distance. So western MA, NH, So. Maine all works.

Really just looking for a 1 night stay to get away and hang out at first then I'll up the stays to maybe a few days.

Flame on.
 
Air mattress.

Chem lights

Tarp for under tent, tarp to cover tent if rain comes (comes in handy....)

If you're on the North Shore, and haven't camped before, why not camp on Cape Ann?
 
I would suggest a campground as a first timer, you can learn a lot from fellow campers, I do not mean you have to go to a Resort campground there are places you can go that offer camping on remote wilderness sites like Tripolee Rd or Franconia falls as well as places along the AT in MA VT and NH, I am sure there are places in MA I just try to avoid it if at all possible

Water Filtrations
Cooking
TP and Shovel
 
Boghog1 said:
I would suggest a campground as a first timer, you can learn a lot from fellow campers, I do not mean you have to go to a Resort campground there are places you can go that offer camping on remote wilderness sites like Tripolee Rd or Franconia falls as well as places along the AT in MA VT and NH, I am sure there are places in MA I just try to avoid it if at all possible

Water Filtrations
Cooking
TP and Shovel
Click to expand...
I just saw the sites on Tripoli rd the other day. Awesome, but I prefer a crapper. We are actually down the road at the KOA with the camper. The tenting I do is with the Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts only.
 
Matches would be good. A knife, bug repellant, paracord. Rain gear. FIRST AID kit. Coffee is good too. Gold Bond is your friend. Smartwool hiking socks are great. Map is good, charged cellphone and tell a friend where you are going. SMORES are good.

Car camping would be a good first step. What outdoor activities are you interested in? White water rafting, fishing, hiking,...

Always have a plan B. I have a couple of my scouts on standby to take your girlfriend camping. [smile]
 
CoastieRon said:
Air mattress.

Chem lights

Tarp for under tent, tarp to cover tent if rain comes (comes in handy....)

If you're on the North Shore, and haven't camped before, why not camp on Cape Ann?
Click to expand...

Tarps- completely forgot how useful those could be.

I'd personally rather be more inland and in the woods than on the coast.

In your opinion is an air mattress superior to mattress pads? Easier to carry, lighter?
 
CoastieRon said:
I just saw the sites on Tripoli rd the other day. Awesome, but I prefer a crapper. We are actually down the road at the KOA with the camper. The tenting I do is with the Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts only.
Click to expand...

I don't mind a crapper myself, Franconia Falls is nice because they do have an outhouse available. I think I should plan an NES winter trip therefor this coming February
 
Boghog1 said:
I would suggest a campground as a first timer, you can learn a lot from fellow campers, I do not mean you have to go to a Resort campground there are places you can go that offer camping on remote wilderness sites like Tripolee Rd or Franconia falls as well as places along the AT in MA VT and NH, I am sure there are places in MA I just try to avoid it if at all possible

Water Filtrations
Cooking
TP and Shovel
Click to expand...

I'll look into those suggestions, thanks.

loneranger said:
Matches would be good. A knife, bug repellant, paracord. Rain gear. FIRST AID kit. Coffee is good too. Gold Bond is your friend. Smartwool hiking socks are great. Map is good, charged cellphone and tell a friend where you are going. SMORES are good.

Car camping would be a good first step. What outdoor activities are you interested in? White water rafting, fishing, hiking,...

Always have a plan B. I have a couple of my scouts on standby to take your girlfriend camping. [smile]
Click to expand...

I'm not too concerned with outdoor activites because I'll have my dogs with me. Not too sure they'd have as much fun as me, white water rafting.
Besides the paracord and coffee I've got everything covered.
 
JCV said:
Tarps- completely forgot how useful those could be.

I'd personally rather be more inland and in the woods than on the coast.

In your opinion is an air mattress superior to mattress pads? Easier to carry, lighter?
Click to expand...

If your goal is to not be a pack mule, and you are hiking your gear in, go with a mat. There are some mats that have airpockets as well, but a $10 blue mat will be fine. I hate them personally.
 
I meant to question someone else's post abnout "car camping". I'm guessing you do not hike where you want to be and stay close by to the car?

I planned on going for a hike in the woods picking a spot and setting up the site, but maybe I'll find somewhere that I can drive into and set up by the car.
If I go with the latter I'll probably go with an air mattress but If I'm hiking in a mat makes more sense to me.
 
We recently upgraded from air mattress to sleeping pads. Much better, better insulation from ground and more comfortable. +1 on tarps and paracord. Grill grate for cooking depending on how fancy you want to get. Anybody say hatchet for wood/kindling?

Location ideas to throw into the mix:
Sebago Lake area, Maine
Cape Cod (just came back from camping there last weekend, had a great time, traffic back is nuts)
 
JCV said:
In your opinion is an air mattress superior to mattress pads? Easier to carry, lighter?
Click to expand...

it depends on what you're doing. If you are pulling your car up to a camp site and dropping all your gear go with an air mattress; if you're going to have to carry everything from a place you park to the place you camp smaller/lighter are better. how much comfort are you willing to sacrifice for convenience?
 
Car camping - your car brings your gear and supplies to your camp site which may be a tent or trailer. Makes it easier to setup and break camp. Usually car camping sites have water, latrines near. The car is right there for day trips or supply runs.

Backpacking - you carry your gear and supplies to your camp site which is usually off a hiking trail. Activities are limited as to what are along the trail.
 
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Tripolee Rd is a good place. if you drive all the way to the end on the right there's a place that drops down on a brook. i went there with my dogs its just a quite relaxing place. it does suck to carry stuff down but very unlikely to have visitors.
 
todd c said:
Tripolee Rd is a good place. if you drive all the way to the end on the right there's a place that drops down on a brook. i went there with my dogs its just a quite relaxing place. it does suck to carry stuff down but very unlikely to have visitors.
Click to expand...
I know just the spot you are talking about.

Also, don't be afraid of using 40% or even 100% deet.....
 
CoastieRon said:
I know just the spot you are talking about.

Also, don't be afraid of using 40% or even 100% deet.....
Click to expand...
I was researching and found the effectiveness of DEET stops right about the 40% mark, buy the 100% cut it 50-50 with oil (Olive, Sunflower etc... and apply as needed I normally get a couple hours before the need to re apply it makes it a bit more sweat and water proof
 
xtry51 said:
If it has a crapper and all your stuff doesn't fit in a backpack, its not really camping [wink]

Listen to Boghog, he gave a few good places to get your feet wet.
Click to expand...

Yup, Tripoli looks like the best bet so far.

And I agree, I don't want a toilet.
Though I do plan on bringing a small generator to charge my iphone and laptop so I can post on NES.
 
We just did a hike off of Tripoli Road a couple of weekends ago too. If you like Geocaching, there are 3 on that trail..... (will find the name)

Edited to Add: East Pond Trail
 
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CoastieRon said:
WTF?

Official BioLite Site | Home of the CampStove - Free Shipping

A buddy of mine brought this to the last Cub Scout camp out, it works awesome.
Click to expand...

LOL, just kidding.
Though that CampStove seems cool, planned on cooking some hotdogs over a fire.

CoastieRon said:
We just did a hike off of Tripoli Road a couple of weekends ago too. If you like Geocaching, there are 3 on that trail..... (will find the name)

Edited to Add: East Pond Trail
Click to expand...

I actually just first heard about geocahcing a few weeks ago, awesome concept. If I do go to Tripoli I will look into them and the trail.
 
JCV said:
LOL, just kidding.
Though that CampStove seems cool, planned on cooking some hotdogs over a fire.



I actually just first heard about geocahcing a few weeks ago, awesome concept. If I do go to Tripoli I will look into them and the trail.
Click to expand...

So here is another question to answer: fuel for fire (wood) fire starters. Fuel is readily available depending on if it hasn't rained recently. Firestarters come in all shapes and sizes.
 
CoastieRon said:
So here is another question to answer: fuel for fire (wood) fire starters. Fuel is readily available depending on if it hasn't rained recently. Firestarters come in all shapes and sizes.
Click to expand...

Hmmm not sure. I didn't think of the rain and just thought I would find some wood to use.
 
JCV said:
Hmmm not sure. I didn't think of the rain and just thought I would find some wood to use.
Click to expand...

if your avatar is your gf then finding wood should be easy. [wink]

one of the best firestarters I've ever used was a mixture of dryer lint, saw dust, and white gas. I used to keep it in empty 35mm canisters - those are hard to find now.
 
chaser001 said:
if your avatar is your gf then finding wood should be easy. [wink]

one of the best firestarters I've ever used was a mixture of dryer lint, saw dust, and white gas. I used to keep it in empty 35mm canisters - those are hard to find now.
Click to expand...
We use egg crates and dryer lint. Works great.
 


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