Some folks know the basics of camping, pitching tents, roasting marshmallows and sleeping bags. Retired veteran outdoorsmen know there’s a
whole world of unwritten rules and wildlife truths that brochures don’t mention. The “Cold Butt” syndrome is a sleep destroyer that new campers learn about the hard way. They think a good sleeping bag is all they need to stay warm. They don’t realize that your body weight compresses the insulation on the bottom of the bag, rendering it useless. The ground will suck the heat right out of you.
The Secret: An insulated sleeping pad is actually just as important as the sleeping bag itself. If you’re freezing and you don’t have a pad, slide your backpack or extra clothes underneath your sleeping bag to insulate your body from the cold ground.
Animals Aren’t After Your Food: They’re actually just attracted to the smell. Most people think keeping food sealed in a plastic Ziploc bag inside their tent is enough. It’s not. Bears, raccoons and mice can smell through plastic. More importantly, toothpaste, sunscreen, chapstick and scented deodorant smell like candy to wildlife.
The Secret: Anything that has a scent (even toothpaste) must go in the “bear vault” or be hung from a tree branch far away from where you sleep. Never sleep in the clothes you cooked in, the grease in the fabric lingers.
Pitching a Tent Under a Tree: Doing this is a rookie mistake. It seems romantic to pitch your tent directly under a massive, leafy oak tree for shade.
The Secret: Trees rain long after a storm stops because water drips off leaves long after the rain actually stopped. They also drop sticky sap that ruins tent fabric. For heaven sake don’t discount the dead branches (“widow-makers“) that can fall on your tent without warning in the middle of the night. Always look up before staking your tent.