| With the summer approaching us, many families | | | | storm can compound quickly if the run-off |
| will take to the hills to go camping. If you yourself | | | | gathers to your particular stream. |
| have never truly camped in a tent before, you | | | | Next we checked the area for dead trees. We |
| are missing out on the purest form of camping. | | | | certainly didn't want a big gust of wind knocking a |
| Taking a tent with all the trimmings to the forest | | | | tree down on us. You know the saying, 'if a tree |
| is an experience like none other. | | | | falls in the woods…and no one's around…" the |
| However, it is not something that you just up and | | | | point is, trees fall. We made sure that our tent |
| do one day without learning a few basics. Where | | | | was not in range of any dead trees. |
| to place your tent is surprisingly important on | | | | Our fire and food prep area needed to be far |
| your camping expedition. There are so many | | | | enough away from our tent to keep us safe |
| 'Hollywood' shots of the perfect campsite that are | | | | from hungry animals. If a bear smells your |
| misleading. A crackling fire with the opening of the | | | | campsite, you certainly don't want him rummaging |
| tent facing the fire which is only a few footsteps | | | | through your tent, too. We kept all aromatic food |
| away. Sorry, but that is not advisable in the real | | | | items, even toothpaste, dangling 15 feet above |
| forest with real animals and real natural elements | | | | the ground. However, we made sure that our |
| such as smoke. | | | | tent was a good 30 yards away from that. |
| To give you a good idea of where to pitch your | | | | The last factor in the decision of where to place |
| tent when camping, I'll tell you about a pack trip | | | | our tent was the latrine. In the backwoods, there |
| that we went on into Bechler Meadows. The | | | | aren't any outhouses. You are truly roughing it |
| trailhead is located in the south end of | | | | when you have to find a suitable place to 'take |
| Yellowstone National Park and will actually take | | | | care of business'. But you want privacy at the |
| you to Old Faithful if you want to follow it that | | | | same time. We didn't want our 'bathroom area' to |
| far. | | | | be too close to our tent and certainly not upwind. |
| We were in the 'real' forest, not a forested | | | | So with all those factors in mind, we came up |
| commercial campground. The trail had designated | | | | with a space that was situated out in a meadow, |
| campsites to help with the overall impact of the | | | | away from the standing dead trees, water, fire, |
| area. Ours was located in a bend along the small | | | | food, and privy. Our next task was finding the |
| river and came complete with a campfire area | | | | smoothest, most level ground to situate our tent |
| with log benches. There was also a 'high hide' for | | | | on. Once we found a good spot, we positioned |
| us to string up the food at night. No picnic table, | | | | our tent door away from the main wind direction. |
| no bar-b-que grill, no faucet with clean water and | | | | We were already far enough away from the fire |
| no outhouse. It was pure camping and we were | | | | that smoke would not be an issue for us. The |
| planning on staying three days and two nights. | | | | ground would provide adequate drainage in the |
| This type of campsite allows you to choose | | | | event of a rain deluge so we didn't need to dig a |
| where you place your tent. We did have some | | | | trench around our tent. |
| guidelines from the Park Ranger, that we met | | | | We had one other factor to consider when |
| with prior to departure, on how to choose our | | | | looking for our perfect tent site, our horses. We |
| tent site. | | | | were on a pack trip and as such, the horses have |
| We chose our tent site based on the factors | | | | to be taken care of also. The meadow was the |
| outlined by the Ranger. First we didn't want to be | | | | perfect place to 'stake' our horses, however it |
| too close to the water. Low lying areas near | | | | was also the best place for our tent. We made |
| streams and creeks are susceptible to flooding if | | | | sure that there was ample space for both of us |
| Mother Nature dishes out a heavy rain storm. Up | | | | to cohabitate without getting in each others way. |
| in the mountains, what looks like a moderate rain | | | | |