Camping

9 Campsite Selection Tips

Two tents protected from the wind by a small embankment

Good campsite selection is an important backpacking skill. Here are some tips to pick a safe and comfortable campsite that will enhance your enjoyment of the backcountry. 1. Plan campsites in advance If backcountry regulations require that you camp at designated campsites, …

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Solo Car Camping Tips

Bring a tent that's much bigger than you need

I do a lot of solo camping before and after day hikes when I’m up in New Hampshire’s White Mountains for the weekend. It’s a great way to save money, get a good night’s sleep between hikes, and get a little privacy …

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Stealth Camping and Pre-existing Campsites

Another pre-existing tent site - adjacent fire ring not shown

Stealth Camping has become a fashionable term in backpacking circles, but I’m convinced that most people don’t know what it means. They confuse it with pre-existing campsites, which are very different. Stealth Campsites Most stealth campsite have never been used before. They’re called stealth …

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Tarps, Tarp Tents, or Tents?

Oware Cat-Cut Tarp

Over the past 4 years, I've progressively migrated from tents, to tarp tents, and finally to tarps as my preferred camping shelter. Over time and many backpacking trips, I came to appreciate the flexibility of of tarps over tents or tarp tents …

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Assembling an Ultralight Bear Bag System

bear-bag

  I’ve bought a few commercial bear bags in my time and found them lacking in various ways. So I assembled the following bear bag system that I’ve been using very successfully over the past 2 years. It has 5 components: a …

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How NOT to hang a Bear Bag

When I was hiking a section of the AT recently near Crawford Notch in New Hampshire, I came across this bear bag hanging on a tree at the Ethan Pond Shelter. I was stunned when I saw it because it’s one of …

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