How to camp when you are missing essentials?

For all the outdoor adventure enthusiasts, camping is one of their favourite ways to escape in the wilderness of nature. Sometimes their love for camping takes them to those less travelled and secluded areas which are yet to be explored and sometimes the unpredictableness of nature allows for a whole new experience, adding to the adventure. But amidst all this, safety and comfort are the two important factors that should be at the top of your priority list as it can make your camping experience either a great day out or an absolute spoiler. Isn’t this the reason why almost every time before you go out Camping you spend hours in planning, packing and preparation? You make sure that you don’t miss out on anything. From tent to sleeping bags and from shoes to headlamps — you make sure you are equipped for the obvious and also for the uncertain to some extent.

But then, despite all the preparedness, there are times when something just slips out of your mind and you forget to bring it along in your kit or it so happens that something doesn’t cross your mind and you realise it only when it’s too late and you are already in a situation. No matter how experienced you are, or how careful you have been while packing and preparing, there can always be a time when you are too late to realise that you are missing on something which is so basic and essential to Camping. Imagine, you are out there in the cold and it starts to snow, you reach out to your bag only to open it and find that the down jacket you had planned to bring for a situation like this is still there waiting to be picked, hanging in your wardrobe. You left that for the last moment and in your excitement and rush you didn’t even realise being without it all this time. This awkward and sudden realization of missing out on something essential can make you stressed, push you into a quaint discomfort zone and ultimately spoil all the fun you were supposed to have.

Also there are times when your plans related to camping are so spontaneous that you hardly get enough time to plan and purchase all the essentials.

Spontaneity does make your camping experience more adventurous, but that may come with a price of compromising with some essential gears. Moreover while trekking, it might get so strenuous that your body starts demanding to shed some weight and you have to part with some of the things you packed and needed while camping at the end of the day. It is in these situations that one has to know the art of camping even when they are missing essentials.

Before I start with how to camp comfortably while lacking essentials, it is important to understand that Camping is adventurous because it is “survival” — survival with alternate means of safety, comfort and engagements. And when we talk about alternate means, we should know that the alternate means are not limited only to our regular camping gears. There are substitutes which do serve the purpose almost equally fine if not better, and can be an alternate to that essential camping gear you are missing. The most important thing is to know these alternates, as this will save you the panic, stress and discomfort that you are likely to have without some important camping stuff.

Also, the weather can be treacherous and with all your preparations you might still be lacking. Looking out for an alternative is what should be your approach if you ever find yourself in a situation where you are missing essentials while camping. Trust me, a right approach is already a fifty percent of the solution.

Here are some of the most common situations and alternative ways that every Camping enthusiast should be aware of:

No down jacket and it’s freezing —

Now, let’s go with the situation we talked about earlier. How could you keep warm when you open your backpack to see that you don’t have your down jacket and it’s already freezing? Cold can be very discomfortable and one of the best ways to wear warm is to wear your clothes in layers. Make sure you wear a Top or an inner and then a full sleeve shirt. You can wear a jumper or fleece on top of it and finally a wind cheater to keep your body heat from escaping. Wearing in layers will definitely keep you safe from the dripping temperatures even if you don’t have that down jacket. Moreover, it is always advised to dry yourself as much you could. It is often possible that after hiking when you get to camp your body is still wet because of sweat. Always remember that the drier you are, the warmer you will be.

What about drinking water?

It is quite often that camping sites do not have access to clean water and you don’t have any gravity or squeeze filters or ultra-violet filters to purify the water. If you find yourself in this situation, the best you can do is to look out for any source of running water. It can be a stream, waterfall or a flowing river. Make sure you take the water in a jar and allow the particles in it to sediment. Thereafter if you have an option to boil it, you are good to go. If not, let the sedimentation take place and then drink the water on the top. Always avoid any kind of stagnant water.

Without sleeping bags —

It might happen that you made a plan with your friends and then you realize you don’t have a sleeping bag to yourself. No worries, as there are ways you can keep yourself warm without a sleeping bag. Use a plastic cover or a piece of cloth as an insulation between the ground and your sleeping mat. This will considerably restrict the heat to escape, keeping you warmer. Next, you should make your bed in layers with all that you have to wrap yourself with. Remember layers are the most efficient way to keep warm.

No Mosquito repellent:

Out in the wild and under the sky, it is quite likely that if you are not well protected, mosquitoes might turn your nights under the stars into a probable nightmare. The most natural way of repelling mosquitoes under a crisis situation is by making smoke. Light a small piece of wood and then don’t let it ignite to the level that it has flames. Try to burn some wet twigs that would create relatively more smoke. Once the smoke fills your camp and the mosquitoes are out just seal the tent and let the ventilation for air which is typically on the sides.

There could be inumerous unpredictable circumstances as nature is capricious and we cannot always be accurate. But there are ways to survive and make it safe. However, these are the last resorts and shouldn’t be understood as alternatives. It’s always good to make sure you have the right equipments and gears for camping.