Austin
I know this sounds like a stupid question but I've grown up in a family where we don't camp or do anything outdoorsy and I would like to start learning to live and survive outdoors. I live in the country where there is an area way behinde my house that is a good spot to start learning however I know in my area there are bears, coyotes and other wildlife in the area back there and I am wondering how safe it would be to camp out there in a tent. Carrying anything more than a bb gun or a knife is out of the question so with that in mind is it safe. Thanks!
I can't carry more than that because I live in a house hold where guns are not allowed and I do not have a firearms license
Answer
It's not a stupid question. If you want to learn how to do wilderness camping, I suggest that you go with a group of people that have experience and can teach you skills. If you live somewhere where there is an REI, LL Bean or EMS outdoor store, they often have backpacking seminars and classes. You can also look on Meetup.com and see if there is a camping group in your area. You don't state how old you are, but if you are a teen there are groups like the Scouts where you can learn wilderness skills.
I've camped my whole life (more than 50 years) in areas where there are coyotes and bears and have never been bothered by them. As long as you don't leave food or garbage lying around your campsite they will have no reason to come near you. The people on here who claim you need a weapon to camp are silly and delusional. In fact, people who carry weapons camping are statistically more likely to hurt themselves or another person than to defend themselves from an animal. Most Black bears and coyotes don't bother people -- you have a million in one chance of anything happening to you camping out near where you live. We have black bears on our property (there are 100 acres of woods behind us) that come up on our porch to steel cat food. We chase them away by banging on a pan. The biggest danger in the woods is tick bites -- be sure to use bug repellent and check yourself all over each day to make sure none are stuck to you. You can get Lymes disease from tick bites, a nasty illness.
Besides a clean campsite, one way to deter animals is to pee around the edge of the area you are camped in, by the way.
It's not a stupid question. If you want to learn how to do wilderness camping, I suggest that you go with a group of people that have experience and can teach you skills. If you live somewhere where there is an REI, LL Bean or EMS outdoor store, they often have backpacking seminars and classes. You can also look on Meetup.com and see if there is a camping group in your area. You don't state how old you are, but if you are a teen there are groups like the Scouts where you can learn wilderness skills.
I've camped my whole life (more than 50 years) in areas where there are coyotes and bears and have never been bothered by them. As long as you don't leave food or garbage lying around your campsite they will have no reason to come near you. The people on here who claim you need a weapon to camp are silly and delusional. In fact, people who carry weapons camping are statistically more likely to hurt themselves or another person than to defend themselves from an animal. Most Black bears and coyotes don't bother people -- you have a million in one chance of anything happening to you camping out near where you live. We have black bears on our property (there are 100 acres of woods behind us) that come up on our porch to steel cat food. We chase them away by banging on a pan. The biggest danger in the woods is tick bites -- be sure to use bug repellent and check yourself all over each day to make sure none are stuck to you. You can get Lymes disease from tick bites, a nasty illness.
Besides a clean campsite, one way to deter animals is to pee around the edge of the area you are camped in, by the way.
Backpackers! Tent decision help?
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Short version:
Tent 1- 5lbs, size is 95% of my perfect size
Tent 2 -6lbs11oz and is 125% of my perfect size
Do I buy the smaller one that is a nice weight and I just have to be conscious about not touching the walls at night? Or get the bigger one and carry unnecessary weight? This tent is for me alone and maybe a medium size dog.
Long version:
So, I've always been a car-camper, and am slowly building a different system so I can hike a few miles and then camp. Maybe 5 miles, maybe 10, not sure. I'm interested in the Marmot Limelight 2p(2-person)(http://www.rei.com/product/828149/marmot-limelight-2p-tent), but am concerned about the size. I bought it and when I'm in it diagonally with my sleeping bag I fit pretty much perfectly, my feet are right at the walls, but I tend to toss and turn at night and am not sure if it's worth it to get the 3-person version(http://www.rei.com/product/828150/marmot-limelight-3p-tent) which is pretty much only wider, but laying diagonally will get me more room. Also, I want to bring my future dog. We could cram in the 2-person decently enough I think.
For the purposes of this question, lets assume these tents are the only options. I know there's other tents that can work as an in-between option for me, but please let's leave those options for a different question.
So, I'm hoping to learn from other's mistakes. Is it generally better to get lighter weight stuff, but "rough-it" a bit more since I'm not going to be living in it for months at a time, or get something bigger and more comfortable but 2 lbs heavier since I'm not hiking 50 miles?
Thanks for your help in advance!
Answer
I would never choose a tent I didn't fit into, it makes no practical sense. Leaking shouldn't be a problem, but your head and feet will be cold in the winter without any air between you and the tent walls. And if you are a fitful sleeper already, the annoyance of being pressed against the walls isn't going to help.
You must be really tall, or maybe you're sleeping on a cot or thick air mattress that is positioning you up into the narrower portion of the tent. I'm 6'1" and have no problem fitting in the Limelight 2p.
Regardless of the overall length of your trip, you're going to have a maximum comfortable pack weight to be able to enjoy a full day of hiking. If you're just hiking in-and-out, staying for a few days or even a week at one location, the extra weight probably isn't going to be a factor. Even if it is, there are ways to save weight on all tents. You can leave behind the stuff sacks and tent stakes; just stuff your tent into your backpack, slide the poles in afterwards, and use found wood to cut stakes on-site. That will save you a pound or more in weight. You can literally shave off another 4oz or more by cutting-off labels and unnecessary pockets, loops and straps from your tent and other gear. This all might seem extreme, but consider that a down jacket like the Patagonia Down Sweater weighs under 14oz, or you can get 4 to 5 servings of cooked rice, beans or pasta per pound of dry weight. Besides, as anyone who's walked the walk knows, the lighter your pack the happier you'll be.
I think you're unnecessarily limiting yourself to a model of tents that aren't the best choice for your body. And in doing so you are eliminating options that could both be more comfortable AND reduce weight. I'd suggest you research the REI Quarter Dome T2 Plus tent. It is 6" longer than the Limelight 2p yet weighs only one extra ounce. If that's out of your budget you might look at the Eureka Spitfire 2, a non-freestanding tent that provides 10'9" of length in a 4.5lb package. Don't be concerned that Eureka isn't considered one of the "elite" tent brands, I've owned a Eureka Backcountry 2 tent for 20 years and it is still my choice for backpacking.
I would never choose a tent I didn't fit into, it makes no practical sense. Leaking shouldn't be a problem, but your head and feet will be cold in the winter without any air between you and the tent walls. And if you are a fitful sleeper already, the annoyance of being pressed against the walls isn't going to help.
You must be really tall, or maybe you're sleeping on a cot or thick air mattress that is positioning you up into the narrower portion of the tent. I'm 6'1" and have no problem fitting in the Limelight 2p.
Regardless of the overall length of your trip, you're going to have a maximum comfortable pack weight to be able to enjoy a full day of hiking. If you're just hiking in-and-out, staying for a few days or even a week at one location, the extra weight probably isn't going to be a factor. Even if it is, there are ways to save weight on all tents. You can leave behind the stuff sacks and tent stakes; just stuff your tent into your backpack, slide the poles in afterwards, and use found wood to cut stakes on-site. That will save you a pound or more in weight. You can literally shave off another 4oz or more by cutting-off labels and unnecessary pockets, loops and straps from your tent and other gear. This all might seem extreme, but consider that a down jacket like the Patagonia Down Sweater weighs under 14oz, or you can get 4 to 5 servings of cooked rice, beans or pasta per pound of dry weight. Besides, as anyone who's walked the walk knows, the lighter your pack the happier you'll be.
I think you're unnecessarily limiting yourself to a model of tents that aren't the best choice for your body. And in doing so you are eliminating options that could both be more comfortable AND reduce weight. I'd suggest you research the REI Quarter Dome T2 Plus tent. It is 6" longer than the Limelight 2p yet weighs only one extra ounce. If that's out of your budget you might look at the Eureka Spitfire 2, a non-freestanding tent that provides 10'9" of length in a 4.5lb package. Don't be concerned that Eureka isn't considered one of the "elite" tent brands, I've owned a Eureka Backcountry 2 tent for 20 years and it is still my choice for backpacking.
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Title Post: Is it safe to camp in the wilderness?
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