A Quick Guide To Dry Camping
Dry camping can be intimidating for camping newbies, but it's one of the best experiences you can have. It's also known as boondocking or wild camping. It's the art of living outdoors without hookups to water and electricity – but it doesn't have to be scary. Let's walk through what you need to make your dry camping trip a success.
What Is Dry Camping?
Dry camping is a way to enjoy the outdoors and save money — in the process, you get to practice basic survival skills. You don't need expensive equipment, and you don't have to be in shape. It's about getting outside and enjoying nature. Suppose you haven't tried dry camping before. In that case, it's an excellent opportunity to break out of your comfort zone and get more experience with food preparation, fire building, and other wilderness skills.
Dry camping can be done in various ways, but the main thing is that you're staying at least partially off the grid, and you don't want to rely on electricity or running water.
You don't have to be comfortable outdoors to enjoy dry camping, and it's not just for those skilled at packing a tent and pitching a tent on top of the snow. Even if you're not an experienced camper, there are plenty of ways to enjoy dry camping.
There are almost as many ways to dry camp as people who do it. You can choose a campsite that is secluded and far from others, or you can camp near others so you can share in the communal joys of food preparation, cooking over an open fire, and general bonding.
You can also pick a campsite that suits your needs as opposed to what's available, such as searching out areas where you won't encounter other campers or where you won't have to worry about having adequate facilities nearby.
Sometimes it's good to have company when you're camping, especially if you have children or pets who might get restless and want attention during the day when you don't want them taking up your space. Some campsites allow pets; some don't. If yours does, make sure you keep your pet away from fire pits and other flammable materials.
Tips For Dry Camping
While many people believe that "dry camping" is different from staying in a cabin, there are some essential things to remember when doing so.
When it comes to dry camping, it's essential to understand that you don't want to go too far from the nearest water source. No one plans for the weather to turn on them, and ensuring adequate water access will make all the difference in the world when you need it.
Don't forget that you'll need to consider basic equipment when choosing your location. Pack a tarp and stakes if you're not going light; a tent is also worth considering. You might be able to get by with just a sleeping bag if you're going out of town during the week. But if you plan on camping long term, it's worth investing in a durable tent.
Know your surroundings before you go. This might sound obvious, but it's easy to get lost on a hike and not realize it. If you're planning on hiking, be sure to study up on the area's terrain and flora, as these will be essential factors in your success or failure.
Make sure everyone knows what they're doing before they leave. Find out how long the trip is supposed to take and make plans for how long everyone will stay out there.
Bring more than one person if possible – especially if it's a more extended trip. Two people are easier to keep track of than one, making for a safer trip overall.
Don't Be Intimidated
Don't let camping in the middle of nowhere intimidate you. We hope that this guide has given you better insight into how and why to dry camp, and more importantly, shown you that it's pretty easy. You'll be just fine—and if not, at least you can say you tried. Once you get out there and try it for yourself, we think you'll enjoy dry camping a lot more than you initially thought. It's just one more reason to go out into the great outdoors and do some exploring.
Start Dry Camping With Melanated Campout
Dry camping made easy at Melanated Campout
Melanated Campout is from August 19th through the 21st. This year you are able to bring your own electricity and water. As you have read above, dry camping can be made easy and fun! Expecially during Campout where your electricity and water needs maybe a bit lower than usual because a lot of your time will be spent during any of the fun or self-care activities. And if you are wondering, yes, black folk camp too. And in recent years, their has been a big increase in the number of black folk camping and joining in the back outdoor movement.
Learn more about the Melanated Campout and register today.
