Preparing for the Mountain Weather

A little forethought and organization will payoff in acampers that fit in the back of a pickup truck. These
great memorable adventure for that next outdoorscan have full kitchens, beds, a shower and toilet in
excursion you may have planned.them.
Gas lanterns give off bright light but are noisy and will3. Check the altitude of your destination before
be the most expensive of all lanterns to operate.climbing � air pressure decreases as you go
You will have to pack extra propane bottlesup mountains, the higher you climb the thinner the air
Then you have the glorious Sunset and after thatwill be. See if you are going to climb heights that will
why not get together with your neighboring campersrequire you to have aid for breathing.
for a story telling session and singsong round the4. Always keep your head covered for cold weather
campfire. If you thought a Camping Vacation would� you typically loose almost half of your
be 'roughing it' and 'hard work' then think again, yes itbody heat with an uncovered head.
will take some planning but that's half the fun and it5. Remember the useful mnemonic for surviving cold
won't be that much work.mountain weather: COLD � Clean clothing,
To go camping does not have to cost a arm and aOverheating prevention, Loose and Layered clothes,
leg. With the basics found in your home you could goand Dry clothing.
today.6. Watch for frostbite in freezing mountains
To make the most of the camping experience,� check for signs of frostbite regularly,
it�s important to consider the weatherrewarm the body part if the symptoms are mild,
before packing up the camper or travel trailer.keep frostbitten areas from freezing again. Do not
It is important to check beforehand as to whererub the frostbitten area with snow, avoid drinking
cycling is allowed. Most National Parks only allow bikingalcohol, do not smoke, and do not try to thaw the
on the paved and backcountry dirt roads throughoutfrostbitten part drastically.
the parks. Most hiking trails do not allow bicycles.Surviving weather on the mountain is all about
Most of your cycling through the parks will be donepreparation. Learn from the boy scouts �
on the same roads used for cars.always be prepared. But be sure that your
A large van called an RV in employed by manypreparations are appropriate, nothing is worse than
campers, or more commonly in the UK a caravan isbeing unprepared or being improperly prepared.
attached to a car. Both of these serve as basicDon't expect to bring along your everyday
mobile homes, with beds, gas and sometimesdinnerware and automatic coffeepot for your
electricity.campout. Remember, you will be roughing it, so pack
Where to go is the big decision. Some are luckyaccordingly. Bring plastic dishes and cutlery that can
enough to live near national parks.These are nationalbe washed and reused, but won't break in transit.
parks because they are very special areas.Camping... a way of life!
Had it with the "rat race"? Got time off but notMore and more people are traveling these days for
much cash to spend? Losing touch with your family?different reasons. Some travel for adventure, some
Sounds like an old-fashioned campout is just whatto be close to nature and some for just a
you need.rejuvenating weekend getaway. A definite upcoming
Outdoor Survival tip: Preparing for the Mountaintrend is more and more people seeking untouched
Weatherlocales and wilderness.
Climbing is one great feat that thrill-seekers enjoy forCamping is a great way to enjoy amazing outdoors
all of its challenges that force one to exercise greatand be close to nature. It is not just another holiday;
skill and strategy. One of the great challenges ofit's a way of life. While camping out, one is
mountain climbing is severe weather conditions atsurrounded by nature and serenity. The experience
great heights. Weather on mountains may bemight be missing urban comforts that one is used to...
drastically different from that of lower elevations, sobut in return one gets to explore a lot that is
it is very important to prepare for mountain weather.absolutely different from the usual city life.
Here are some tips to help you get ready to faceMore on Wilderness Survival Tips.
weather on the mountain:In the hustle bustle of the fast paced life that we
1. Know the weather you are up against�live in, we tend to lose touch with our own selves.
before gearing up and going for your climb check outCamping is a wonderful way to get in touch with
first how the weather will be at your climbing site.one's inner self.
Check out weather forecasts through the localOne of the most convenient and popular camping
weather bureau or through weather websites. Youactivities is hiking trails. For some people a hike can
would not want to take a thick parka on a scorchingconsist of a simple walk around the park, while
hot day nor would you want to wear your tank topothers prefer a much lengthier hike. Regardless of
on freezing peaks.what sort of hike you will be taking, a little
2. Base your gear on the reported weatherpreparation will go a long way in ensuring a
� if the weather forecast reports a hundredcomfortable journey.
degrees on your climbing site, be sure to wear coolMany of the activities you might be interested in will
and loose fitting clothes and take sun block, lots ofbe available in the towns near the parks. Various
water, hydrating salts and other gear to combat theoutfitters and companies outside some of the
heat. If you are facing cold weather be sure to wearpopular National Parks will offer excursions that go
thick and layered warm clothes, some climbing eyeinto the parks.
protection for the drafts and other things you mightGet out and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether
need to combat freezing temperatures.you�re camping, hiking, fishing, or just
Whether you have a tight budget or believehanging out in the woods for the day, with a little
sky�s the limit, you will find many campingplanning and by following these tips, I�m
supplies that range from as little as $20.00 all the wayconfident you and you�re palate will have
up to the hundreds.the experience of a lifetime.
Many campgrounds provide fun activities like pools,With the hectic life many of us lead it would certainly
playgrounds, fishing or recreational boating, so checkbe great to just "get away" from civilization and have
your local listings to see what adventures lie ahead.fun in the wild outdoors. How many of us really know
Camping is relatively inexpensive, often nostalgic, andwhat to do when we get there or what to take with
gives campers a chance to really appreciate theirus in the "survival pack"? Camping can be a really
natural world.refreshing lift to life, but roughing it may not come
Cross country skiing is a wonderful way towithout some sort of price. Adequate preparation is a
experience the parks wilderness during the wintermust and may prevent your trip into the wilds from
season. Snowshoeing trails may also be available inbecoming a disaster.
parks.True to its name, the local quarries provided some of
Given below are the kind of clothes you should getthe highest quality stone for monuments in
from the stores in order to keep you comfortableWashington.
during your trip and the technologies following theseMore on Camping Outdoors Tips at
clothes.Conversion van camping doesn't give you the luxury
A roll of tin foil will be needed the thicker the better.of life in an RV, nor the discomfort of sleeping in a
works very well for cooking in .Bring a plastic pail totent. It can be tough to safely heat a van at night,
carry water in. A plastic basin will work to do dishesbut it's cheap compared to an RV, and you can go
and wash up little dirty faces and hands.places they cannot. We spent more than 25 nights
Be aware that the glass globe of all gas and propanesleeping in our conversion van last year.
lanterns get extremely hot and can give you aInstead of going up to other campers and saying,
serious burn.�Hi, I�m Kerry and I�m
The thought of camping alone can be veryhere by myself� ask questions like
intimidating, especially if you�re a woman.�How can I contact you if I experience a
Ideally, it is not something recommended to womenproblem� or �is this campground
new to camping.regularly patrolled?
RV's come in many sizes and shapes. They start with