There are many types of camping, including glamping (my preference) but that’s not the type of camping I experienced recently. By those of us who prefer glamping, the type of camping I subjected myself to is known as ‘primitive’ camping. Definition of ‘primitive’ camping? No electricity. No wifi. No plumbing. No running water.
But “no worries” I said.
My fellow campers didn’t refer to it as ‘primitive’ camping. Instead, they called it ‘car’ camping. Reason being, camp is close to our parked vehicles and we used the car to hold all the gear that was needed for ‘primitive’ camping…err…car camping.
It was actually fun once I got over the no running water or modern day plumbing. Admittedly, that was the most anxiety causing aspect of this experience for me. It helped that there were a few other girls (experienced campers) who acted like it was no big deal at all to walk away from the campsite carrying a roll of toilet paper. So, when in Rome…
At night, we slept in our designated tents and in the mornings we’d get up, go to our vehicles and set up shop to make breakfast. We each came equipped with our own Coleman camping stove(mine was brand new), a foldable table to use as a ‘counter’ for the stove and meal prep, and all the various things that are needed to make a meal. Since this was my first time doing this, I was quite ill-prepared. I forgot basic things (like cooking utensils) but made do with what I had (plastic flatware).
After breakfast, we’d clean up, pack the makeshift kitchen back into the car, then head off to nearby walls for rock climbing (I am a novice rock climber and have been for the past 4 years now). In the early evening, we’d return to the camp site and reassemble the kitchen to make dinner. And afterward, everyone would gather around the fire pit, build a fire, and enjoy a beverage (or a few) of choice.
My favorite memory about the trip was making breakfast and drinking coffee in the mornings. My least favorite was the pick axe – I elaborate a bit below.
Overall, I absolutely loved it and I’m looking forward to doing it again. I’ll be better prepared for the next trip though. That’s because I’ve thought of a few ways to make it even more enjoyable.
Tips (for anyone thinking about car camping) and Observations (for me to keep in mind on my next trip):
- Bring a small shovel to go along with the toilet paper. That should be self-explanatory. This is actually at the top of my list because my significant other brought along none other than a pick axe. I could carry it without a problem but it was about half as tall as I am and was not at all discreet.
- Invest in a sleeping bag that fits my frame. My bag was too big for me (I had a loner from my 5’11” significant other [henceforth referred to as SO]. I found out that having a sleeping bag that is too big meant my own body heat wasn’t enough to keep me warm in the bag. Since it was cold out, I was cold all night and didn’t sleep well at all.
- I’m bringing an insulated mug. I like a warm beverage in the morning (coffee). I had a camping mug made of thick plastic – it didn’t keep my coffee hot for very long.
- Bring regular cooking pots or pans (in smaller sizes). Specifically for this camping trip, I invested in lightweight pots and pans that warped. Because we were car camping, there was really no point in the lightweight pots and pans that apparently are only used by people who actually have to hike ( a long way) to their campsite.
- Bring more firewood. On both nights, I wish the campfire could have gone on for a longer period of time. We actually ended up foraging for wood for the last campfire – kind of difficult to find once it gets dark in the middle of nowhere. My companions were rock climbers though – they strapped their headlamps on and went looking.
- Bring along a straw mat or rug for the entrance space immediately outside of the tent. This was something I actually did this time and plan on doing again. I appreciated being able to sit down on the mat to remove my shoes and socks (they were less than clean) prior to entering the tent.
- Bring camp chairs. I had chairs for this trip. I loved having a comfortable chair in front of the campfire after a long day of hiking and climbing.
- If camping in a wooded area, bring bug spray! I did bring some (bugs love me) but I didn’t put it on. Thankfully, we were not in a heavily wooded area and I did not get bit. It was nice to know I was prepared though.
- Pack wet wipes. I brought Cetaphil facial cleansing wipes and ended up sharing them. I plan on doubling up my supply for the next camping trip.
- Pack a regular kitchen towel (or three) for drying dishes. My SO packed some infomercial ‘super-absorbent’ ‘towels’ – they did not perform as advertised.
girl seeks bliss 