Safely Explore The Great Outdoors With These 7 Useful Tips

If you are a lover of nature, wildlife, and the tranquillity to be found away from the city, then exploring the outdoors would be something you may be considering. While the excitement may be hard to contain when camping out, it is also crucial to prepare adequately for the trip. Read on to see helpful tips as you venture out to the wild.

1. Do Your Research Before Heading Out

Do Your Research Before Heading Out

Researching your destination should be the obvious first step. You should check out the weather forecast for the place you plan on camping so you're aware of what the weather will be like for the duration of your stay; do this by checking with multiple weather forecast sources, so you'll know what you should expect.

Don't forget to go through the intended paths you or your party will be taking. Try reading the instructions for the area you will visit since places like parks have a set of guidelines to help with your research. Also, read up on other campers' experiences on that camping trip and their tips.


2. Prepare The Right Gear For The Trip

Prepare The Right Gear For The Trip

The next thing to do is prepare your camping gear. There’s some gear worth carrying on any outdoor trip, including sleeping bags, first aid kits, maps, radio with battery, water, food, compass, extra clothing, pocket knives, and water purification tablets. While these are essentials, your destination will determine what other items you would need to take with you.

For example, if going on a mountain hike, then you should bring hiking shoes, rain clothes with dry fast layers, and trekking poles. Taking the right equipment is essential because they make your journey easier.

As another addition, you may want to include a handheld GMRS radio in your list. They’re great for two-way, short-distance communication, whether you’re out hiking on short trails or hitting the road. They can also come in handy in emergency situations, especially in no-network areas.

A helpful way to double-check you are packing the right equipment is to ask someone with experience or go to a survival kit shop and explain to them the nature of your trip so they can help you out. The first time can feel overwhelming, but it gets easier as you plan more trips.


3. Learn The Basics

Learn The Basics

While packing the right gear is critical, learning how to use them is even more so important. Learning how to use a map is essential to a successful hike or camping trip. It also helps if you learn how to use a compass. If left without a map or with a faulty compass, it is fundamental that you are able to locate yourself using the night sky and nature.

Learning how to identify symptoms of poisoning, stings, bites, and being able to administer first aid treatment is also paramount. It helps to join a camping community or attend survival training programs to equip yourself with the appropriate knowledge. Putting what you have learned to practice a few times before heading out is also a good idea.


4. Know Your Limit

Know Your Limit

We all have our physical limits, and understanding yours is crucial. We can link our physical limit to our fitness, age, and way of life. While planning to go on your trip, consider booking a doctor's appointment for a check-up. You would want to know what your fitness level is. If you have an underlying illness, and if yes, if it is okay to go on such a trip.

If you or a team member have a breathing problem, prepare well for the hike by learning emergency procedures. A good rule for preparing when considering fitness levels is to always have the weakest person in mind.


5. Go With A Companion 

Go With A Companion 

It is better to go with someone rather than go alone because they can help in case of an emergency. If you still insist on going alone, then leave your itinerary with someone you trust.

The itinerary should contain your travel plan, date of return, and details of your travel route. Doing this will help in the case you go missing or are stranded.


6. Stay Hydrated

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is one of the most important lessons you would learn firsthand as a person. Most of us have had experiences of going hours without drinking water or spending a lot of time outside the blistering sun. Take that feeling and multiply it by three, and then you get an idea of how thirty you would be if on a hike or camping trip without adequate water.

Carry a lot of water on you and also a water purifier. Do not under any circumstance drink water directly from any lake or river, no matter how clear it looks. Microbes and other organisms are always present in such water.


7. Have A Plan In Case Of An Emergency

Have A Plan In Case Of An Emergency

If you are alone, you should know what to do in case of an emergency. What do you do when you get lost? Knowing what to do if lightning strikes, a snake bites you, you lose your footing, encounter a wild animal, are bitten by an insect, digest poisonous plants, lose your sleeping gear, and so on is crucial.

Understanding what to do and how to keep yourself calm and rational may end up saving your life.

Exploring the outdoors can be an exciting experience, but it is also a dangerous one. Being prepared is always the best approach when venturing into the wild. These tips are but a few to help guide you as you prepare for the trip. It's good advice to have an experienced camper by your side when attempting your first camping trip or hike.

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