Camping in the wilderness is a lot different from staying on a campsite. Out in the wild, you won’t have access to amenities such as toilets, showers, and kitchens. You also won’t have the security of having other people around you, nor the convenience of being near sources of food, running water, or extra gear.
However, camping in the wilderness is the only way you can truly get to experience the “real outdoors”. But straying from campsites always carries a certain level of risk. Thankfully, modern camping tech can help prevent common camping nightmares and keep you safe, comfortable, and healthy.
Here are some of the worst camping woes and how technology helps solve or prevent them:
1. Getting lost
As much as 2,000 people get lost in the woods every year, and not all of them make it out safely. Needless to say, this is a nightmare situation that will easily induce panic and make it harder for you to get back to civilization. Fortunately, modern technology has made it possible to accurately track your location in real-time, as well as let others know where you are.
If you plan to go hiking or camping deep in the woods, especially if you are going solo, invest in a satellite hotspot that will let you connect to the Internet wherever you are. Of course, having a GPS device is a must, but a satellite hotspot is an excellent backup to have in case the GPS doesn’t work or gets damaged in some way. Moreover, you will also get to connect with your loved ones even while you’re exploring the woods, which also adds another layer of protection because they will know to contact the authorities in case you fail to check in with them as agreed.
2. Getting stuck in the dark
Unless the moon is out and the trees aren’t blocking its glow, you could find yourself in a pitch-black campsite with only the campfire to illuminate the area. But what if you have to put out the fire? Or what if you have to do your business in the bushes and your flashlight dies?
The woods is a much more dangerous place to be if you can’t see where you’re going. To prevent this kind of situation, always have a headlamp with you if you’re straying from your campsite after dusk. Packing extra batteries for your flashlight is already a given, but investing in another flashlight won’t hurt just in case. Moreover, modern headlamps and flashlights today come with solar power ability, meaning you can charge them during the day and have enough power to last you through the night.
3. Running out of clean water
A person can survive up to three to four days without water. But when you’re moving about and sweating, you could become dehydrated faster.
It is already common knowledge that you should bring enough potable water to last you for the entire camping trip. However, if you get lost, accidentally spill your water, or just plain run out, your only other choice to get hydrated is to drink from the nearest source of fresh water.
But what if the freshwater makes you sick? Diarrhea and vomiting can dehydrate you faster, so risking a few gulps from the river is not a good move. With a personal water filter, however, you can safely drink water from any water source without consuming the contaminants therein as well. A popular brand is LifeStraw, which is a great investment for all outdoor enthusiasts at only $18.
4. Having an animal enter your campsite
Racoons, rabbits, or other small animals are generally harmless and only pose as mild annoyances when they enter your campsite. However, bears, coyotes, and mountain lions are another story. Even if you did all the things to prevent them from sniffing out your campsite (removing crumbs, washing dishes, securing food, etc.), there is still a chance of having a curious predator enter your campsite.
If you are awake when this happens, you can scare them off by doing the basics: making yourself as large as possible or making a lot of noise. But when you’re asleep, you may wake up to an unpleasant surprise. To ensure that you are not caught off-guard, use a perimeter security system that will signal you in case an animal (or a person) wanders into your campground.
These are just some examples of camping nightmares, but they are, by far, the most common that many campers, hunters, and survivalists experience out in the wild. Thankfully, there are a lot of technologies available today that can reduce the risk of encountering these problems to a near zero.
