The new basics of camping
Laureen F. Guenther
Times Contributor
As the 2013 camping season opens, the basics of camping are the same as when the pioneers fist arrived here. When people buy camping supplies, says Tim Auger, Sports and Rec clerk at Strathmore Canadian Tire, they almost always buy tents, lanterns and cookware. The store also sells “a lot of propane for propane stoves.”
Doug Hornberger, camping associate at Bass Pro Shops in Cross Iron Mills, pares the basics down even further.
“They’re going to need a sleeping bag … a sleeping pad … a tent or a tarp … and … food stuff.”
The essentials are still the same — warmth, shelter, food, fuel and light – but everything about those essentials is new.
Screen houses are a new kind of shelter.
“Just to keep the bugs out,” Auger says. “The last weekend, we’ve sold a lot of them.”
There’s also a lot more cookware to choose from. Canadian Tire sells several kinds of enamel cookware, as well as melamine, steel and plastic varieties.
With the introduction of portable deep fryers — for fish, turkey, and everything in between — how to cook that food also has new possibilities. Hornberger says, “they’re more for the camper who’s going to be at a certain spot for a week, or two or three,” but although most campers don’t occupy a campsite that long, it hasn’t hampered the fryers’ popularity.
“(Fryers) are very hot,” he says. “They’ve become more popular each year.”
Staying warm at night has also evolved. Hornberger reminds campers to get a sleeping bag that’s appropriate for the weather, and modern sleeping bags are definitely up to the challenge. Canadian Tire and Bass Pro both have sleeping bags designed to keep you warm even if it’s 40 degrees below.
The mats that go under those sleeping bags have also become state of the art.
“Some people will insist on buying your standard … air mattresses,” Hornberger says, “where you sleep anywhere from six inches to … two feet off the ground.”
They take up a lot of space, though, and Hornberger says, “you always run the risk of waking up … on the ground.”
In other words, they leak. The newest style of mat is a Therma-rest.
“They come in a very small package … and they’re self-inflating,” Hornberger says. “Take it out of the package, make sure (the valve is) undone and it will suck the air into it itself.”
Despite their size, they hold enough air to insulate you from cold ground.
“Several guys have come in … that are anywhere from 160 to 220 pounds,” Hornberger says. “They’ll lay on it right here on the floor … and they’ll tell me that they’re (lying) right off the ground.”
Water – the most basic need of all – is the inspiration for what may be the hottest item this season. It’s the Life-Straw Water Filter — a water-filter-in-a-straw.
“We’ve sold a ton of them so far,” Hornberger says. You put the bottom of the straw into a stream – or any other water source, uncap the top, and drink.
“You don’t have to worry about getting any of the pills or any of the other filtration systems,” he says. “If you get into an emergency situation, it’s not a bad item to have either.”
Whether you prefer to camp on the edge of survival mode, or in home-away-from-home luxury, Auger and Hornberger have the same advice for you.
“Just be prepared,” Auger says. “Grab a tent, sleeping bags, anything that you really need.”
Hornberger agrees.
“Just make sure you’re prepared,” he says. “Make sure you have the absolute basics and you’ll be okay.”
Being prepared includes one thing many campers forget. Auger says, “they’ll come in and always say that they forgot some rope.”
So be prepared, bring rope, and have a great camping season.
Local Campgrounds
Open for the Season
Strathmore Agricultural Society RV Park offers 120 serviced sites and 150 un-serviced sites to RVers year-round. The grounds include grills, picnic tables, showers, laundry facilities, waste disposal, playground, ball diamonds and Wi-Fi. Ryan Haakonson says, “In the summertime, there’s always a ball tournament or a rodeo,” he said. “There’s something going on every weekend.” Visit them at www.strathmorerodeo.com.
Eagle Lake RV Resort has opened their booking desk, and the grounds will open May 10. Learn more at www.eaglelakervresort.com.
Calderon Acres Campground is also open for the season. They provide full service for RVs, plus a golf course and RV storage. For bookings and more information, see www.calderonacres.com.