Thursday, 16 June 2011

Camping in the rain: An introduction

By Charlie Kane


When you go camping, it's always best to try and plan your trip for a time when the weather will be nice. In reality, though, the weather tends to be pretty unpredictable in many parts of the world, and the chances are you'll end up camping in the rain at some point. If you're well prepared, however, there's no reason that wet weather should ruin your camping experience.

It's always advisable to set up your tent based on the assumption that rain is coming, regardless of the weather forecast. Any other approach is foolish. In order to avoid any puddles that form when it rains, you should pitch your tent in an elevated spot and place a waterproof ground sheet underneath in order to keep everything dry. In addition, you should ensure no objects are in contact with the sides of the tent, either internally or externally, as this will allow water to penetrate the material.

If you're expecting rain and you're leaving your campsite, be sure to leave your bedding and belongings in the centre of the tent, away from the edges, and throw a plastic sheet or tarpaulin over the items inside the tent. Erecting a tarpaulin over the tent itself, ensuring that it slopes to the sides, is also important. As well as this, you can set up dining fly as an additional form of shelter external to the tent itself - this will provide you with an ideal space for cooking meals etc.

It's always worth taking plenty of plastic bags with you on a camping trip, as this will help you keep clothing and other items dry, especially when you're loading or unloading your vehicle. Bin-bags are ideal for packing sleeping bags and pillows.

You should also make sure you pack appropriate waterproof outwear so that you can venture away from your campsite and enjoy the surroundings as much as possible.




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