Many people like to get out and go hiking. Many people like to hike Chautauqua but it is just one of many hiking trails in Boulder. (CU Independent/Aly Daugherty)
A lot can go wrong during a camping trip if it is not planned well.
Tents can collapse, the weather can change quickly, people can get hurt and if someone eats four hotdogs, they will probably vomit. Fortunately, all of these mishaps can be avoided by following these reporter’s simple guidelines.
1. Always bring a first-aid kit, or at least some disinfectant and band-aids. It is easy to get hurt in the wilderness.
2. Bring bug spray. Mosquitoes are not fun.
3. Dress accordingly. Wearing layers makes it easy to adjust to the changing temperature, especially when night falls. Wear tennis shoes or hiking shoes and bring extra socks and a jacket. It might be a good idea to bring a rain jacket or a poncho, just in case it does rain. Colorado weather is very unpredictable.
4. Check the weather before picking a trip date. Camping and raining do not go well together.
“Weather can be unpredictable. It can snow and then be sunny within a few hours. Prepare for the worst,” said Stephen Swanson, a 21-year-old senior architect major.
5. Learn how to set up a tent before the trip. It’s often a lot harder than it looks.
6. Tents and sleeping bags can be rented from the Rec Center very inexpensively, but these items must be booked for the trip in advance. These items get rented very quickly during camping season.
7. Mark out trails or interesting spots near the campsite before going, and bring the maps on the trip to minimize the chance of getting lost.
8. Research different campsites. Some places are better than others.
9. Bring flashlights, so getting into a tent in the dark is not impossible.
10. Keep an eye on everyone on the trip, just in case someone falls down a mountain.
Kaia Nutting, a 19-year-old sophomore vocal performance major, had some other tips for camping.
“For fires, make sure you have dry wood and a tarp to put over the fire,” Nutting said. “And maybe keep matches in a plastic bag. Take care of your trash, don’t just leave it out because animals will come get it.”
Nutting suggested Pickle Gulch as a good campsite in the Boulder area, but said she has also been to many other campsites.
“There are some nice [campsites] near Winter Park and Estes,” Nutting said.
Nutting also advised campers to plan a trip during July, August or September. Otherwise the weather can get very cold, especially at night.
Ryan Hendrickson, an ex-Army sergeant and former employee of the National Forest Service, also offered some advice for campers.
“Observe the weather, time of year, and location,” Hendrickson said. “Be prepared—it’s the biggest thing—for any situation, any weather, especially in Colorado. Bring two of everything.”
Hendrickson recommends camping at Lake Jefferson in Pike National Forest off of Route 285.
R.E.I. has a list of 10 essentials for camping:
1. Fire (Bring matches)
2. Map
3. Compass
4. Light
5. Food (Bringing a couple of Powerbars might be a good idea)
6. Shelter, emergency heat blanket
7. First aid
8. Whistle
9. Extra clothing
10. Sun protection
R.E.I. employee Dan Dalton also offered some of his own advice for camping.
“It’s starting to get chillier, so if you don’t want to buy a new [sleeping] bag, you can just buy a liner,” Dalton said. “Layers are super important. And bring a camera.”
Dalton also revealed one of his favorite camping desserts.
“Bring Bisquik, mix it with water, mold it around a stick, cook it on the fire, then pull it off,” Dalton said. “You can fill it with chocolate or something and it’s like eating pie.”
For this time of year, Dalton recommended camping at Brainard Lake or Nederland, because of the scenery of all the trees’ leaves changing. He also recommended camping at Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park at any time of the year.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Nicole Zimbelman at Nicole.zimbelman@colorado.edu.
