jeffnsa

1.if you forget your coffe pot just add the grounds and water to a sauce panuntill done, when you go to pour it, put cold water on the grounds that are floating and they will sink to the botton alowing you to have a clean cup of joe.
2.can't get a fire going? try burning fritos, there is so much greas in them that they will burn like a candle.


what are some things that you know.:yes:

rockhill

Would have never thought of the Frito's trick...

Thanks for sharing that.

jeffnsa

3. i've heard of using dryer sheets attached to tent openings to repell mosquitos, along with spraying listerine. the listerine thing i have heard from a couple of people.

riverrat

Another good firestarter - chunks of spam.

JanetJ

I hadn't heard of using Listerine or Spam & Fritos. I will have to remember those!

I have heard that putting black pepper around your camp site will keep the raccoons away. I don't know if this works anywhere else but I think that the raccoons down here in Brazoria County would just use it for seasoning the food that they just stole from you

jeffnsa

when camping in the cold, put the next days clothes and shoes at the bottom of your sleeping bag for the night. that way they will get warmfor in the morning.

to get rid of racoons, find a noisy neighbor and open a can of sardines and pour the sardine juice all over their camp site. the racoons will harrass them and not you.:eek:

baytownbert

- Never leave the fly of your tent open - always keep it zipped or you may have a snake or wasp inside when you go in to sleep at night.

- Put a large rock on top of your cooler before you retire for the night, as raccoons can open coolers.

- Remove your trash at the end of the day to keep raccoons from tearing into it and yes, they will shimmy down a rope to get at a trash bag.

- Bring 4 times the wood you think you will need. Always leave some for the next camper.

- Police (clean-up) your camp area before and after arriving/leaving. You want to look for bad things, such as needles, or glass, etc. and you want to leave the campsite like YOU were fixing to camp there.

- Set up your night camp the way you want to see it when you crawl out in the morning into the cold to make a fire. This saves you from running around groggy, banging and making noise AND makes your mornings much more pleasant.

- Bring a GOOD first aid kit.

JohnK

1. Keep camping checklists on your computer. Print out a copy for use prior to each trip. Make notes during a trip of things you wish you had brought along and add then to saved list when you return home. I have separate lists for backpacking versus family camping.
2. Tyvek homewrap makes for an inexpensive and impenetrable tent ground cloth (footprint). Can be purchased easily in desired sizes online. Search for "Tyvek tent ground cloth" on ebay.
3. When camping in bear country, always suspend food high in the air or use a bear canister or bear boxes, if in a park that provides them. Never leave food in a car, tent or RV!

JohnK

JohnK

I forgot to mention that the Tyvek homewrap is also extremely light-weight, for something so tough. I have a Tyvek "footprint" for both of my backpacking tents.

JohnK

campermom

1. Get flashlights that all require the same size battery. Have extra batteries.
2. Pack clothes in ziploc to keep them fresh and dry. Pack dirty clothes into ziplocs to keep the odors in.
3. Put first aid kit on a tree, in the kitchen area of the campsite. Make sure everyone in camp knows where it is AND can reach it if needed.
4. Add to your first aid kit. Medicines like chewable Tylenol for kids, Benadryl, tweezers, meat tenderizer for jellyfish stings, and Tums.
5. Use 2 coolers. The best one should hold the meal items, like meat, cheese, eggs, and milk. The other cooler, which will be opened and closed all day should hold the drinks which won't spoil if a little warm.
6. Freeze bottled water to use at the bottom of the drink cooler. When they melt, you drink them.
7. If using a dutch oven, line it with foil and make cleaning up MUCH easier. (Thanks for the idea T198).
8. Liquid hand sanitizer with some junk mail left in the truck is an excellent fire starter.
9. Keep a pair of river shoes or flip flops in the truck/car, under the seat. You never know when you'll need them. I've needed those more than those jumper cables.

__________________
Charcoal is a spice, dirt is a condiment, and there is no 3 second rule.