Camping season is here, and depending on where you go there are a number of things you may want to consider. Down here in the valleys temperatures are hitting the 100° mark. One hundred degrees fahrenheit is hot, and that can make even the most seasoned outdoors person forget that for every thousand feet of elevation we gain, we lose about 3°F to 5°F in temperature.
Many campgrounds, like in the High Uinta Mountains, are around 10,000 [1]ASL, with day time temperatures of roughly 70°F. A comfortable temperature for most of us, but if a storm rolls in it can drop down into the 50°’s, a rather cool temperature. Night time temperatures will likely be in the 50°’s and if those storms hang around during nighttime, temperatures could be bumping the freezing mark… and that does not include the “[2]Chill Factor.”
If you plan to bag a peak, you will be working with another differential of 2,000 to 3,000 feet elevation, or about 10°F to 15°F For example a 12,000 to 13,000 foot peak (Kings Peak is Utah’s highest peak at 13,528 ASL). Although this time of year (early June) you will still run into snow fields, which are often icy, and may require an Ice Axe (and the skill to use it for step cutting, self arrest, belaying, travel and safety in general.) There are often hidden moats (They are sort of like a crevasses), sections of snow that have melted away from cliff faces, and other under-snow topography like boulders—these can injure or kill the unwary.
Several years ago, a solo climber ascended the Aspen Grove trail of 11,750 foot high Mt. Timpanogos and ended up breaking through into a hidden moat. The next day when he did not return home, two brothers went looking for him. On their way down Timp, one of them fell into the same moat. The other brother went for help, and the Search and Rescue team quickly retrieve his body, only to find out, when it was flown to the bottom of the mountain, that it was the wrong body!
Anyway, like most things, training and knowledge are the keys to maintaining a low risk adventure. I say low risk because I usually say it takes three things to maintain a low risk trip: The proper equipment, proper training focused on your interests, and good judgment. It could be said that good judgment is the most important one, and with it you would bring the proper equipment and have the training to meet your chosen activity.
Good Judgment Depends Mostly on Experience and much of that Experience Usually Comes from Poor Judgment
Here’s a basic list you can use to help make your own. Just add and subtract things, depending on your interests. Sometimes I even use excel for my lists, and use it for planning my meals. That way I can count calories, and weight. When I do that I eat well, and rarely take too much or too little food.
Sunburn is more dangerous the higher you climb because there is less atmosphere to filter it. Be sure to bring along some 40+ SPF sunscreen and lip salve with a 15+ SPF Put it one an hour or so before exposure and periodically during the day, especially if you are swimming
Remember your sunglasses, ones that block or filter out the burning rays. This is especially important while on water or snow because they reflect the burning rays cooking you as if on a reflector oven.
Also insect repellent especially later in the summer. Deet, an ingredient in bug repellent is highly effective for this.
[1] Above Sea Level
[2] Chill factor has to do with the cooling effect created by moving air carrying heat away. This process is intensified by the evaporation process. Evaporation is what makes an “Swamp Coolers” cool. Moisture on our skin will evaporate and in doing so take warmth away with it.
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Other checklist things:
Car camping packing list:
Tent (tent body, poles, stakes, rainfly and ground cloth)
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Pillow
Earplugs and/or eye mask for light sleepers
Van camping packing list:
Sleeping bag or bedding
Pillow
Earplugs and/or eye mask for light sleepers
Clothing
Two shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve)
Two pairs of pants (or shorts and a pair of pants)
Three pairs of socks
Two pairs of underwear
Sleeping clothes
Warm jacket
Walking shoes
Comfortable camp shoes
Water shoes or sandals
Sunglasses
Hat with a visor
Winter hat and gloves for late night and early morning
Kitchen Kit
Two shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve)
Two pairs of pants (or shorts and a pair of pants)
Three pairs of socks
Two pairs of underwear
Sleeping clothes
Warm jacket
Walking shoes
Comfortable camp shoes
Water shoes or sandals
Sunglasses
Hat with a visor
Winter hat and gloves for late night and early morning
Kitchen Kit
Headlamp or flashlight
Extra batteries
First aid kid
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Chapstick
Camp chair
Baby wipes
Toilet paper
A deck of cards or your favorite board game
Car charger for your cell phone and camera
Campfire Supplies
Pot with a lid
Bowls and plates for each person
Forks and spoons for each person
Cutting knife
Cutting board
Coffee/tea mug for each person
Coffee/tea making supplies
Vegetable peeler
Tongs
Can opener
Wine key
Biodegradable dish soap
Dishrag or sponge
Dishtowel
If you’re car camping or don’t have a full kitchen in your van, you’ll also want:
Cooler with ice
Camp stove (these can often be rented if you don’t own one)
Lighter
Extra fuel for the camp stove
Washbasin for dish cleanup
Camp Accessories
Newspaper
Hatchet (to make kindling)
Long matches
Car camping packing list:
Tent (tent body, poles, stakes, rainfly and ground cloth)
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Pillow
Earplugs and/or eye mask for light sleepers
Van camping packing list:
Sleeping bag or bedding
Pillow
Earplugs and/or eye mask for light sleepers
Clothing
Two shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve)
Two pairs of pants (or shorts and a pair of pants)
Three pairs of socks
Two pairs of underwear
Sleeping clothes
Warm jacket
Walking shoes
Comfortable camp shoes
Water shoes or sandals
Sunglasses
Hat with a visor
Winter hat and gloves for late night and early morning
Kitchen Kit
Two shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve)
Two pairs of pants (or shorts and a pair of pants)
Three pairs of socks
Two pairs of underwear
Sleeping clothes
Warm jacket
Walking shoes
Comfortable camp shoes
Water shoes or sandals
Sunglasses
Hat with a visor
Winter hat and gloves for late night and early morning
Kitchen Kit
Headlamp or flashlight
Extra batteries
First aid kid
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Chapstick
Camp chair
Baby wipes
Toilet paper
A deck of cards or your favorite board game
Car charger for your cell phone and camera
Campfire Supplies
Pot with a lid
Bowls and plates for each person
Forks and spoons for each person
Cutting knife
Cutting board
Coffee/tea mug for each person
Coffee/tea making supplies
Vegetable peeler
Tongs
Can opener
Wine key
Biodegradable dish soap
Dishrag or sponge
Dishtowel
If you’re car camping or don’t have a full kitchen in your van, you’ll also want:
Cooler with ice
Camp stove (these can often be rented if you don’t own one)
Lighter
Extra fuel for the camp stove
Washbasin for dish cleanup
Camp Accessories
Newspaper
Hatchet (to make kindling)
Long matches
Marshmallow roasting sticks
Bucket to douse your fire (Important consideration!!!) of ABC rated Extinguisher
Marshmallow roasting sticks
Bucket to douse your fire
Car camping packing list:
Tent (tent body, poles, stakes, rainfly and ground cloth)
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Pillow
Earplugs and/or eye mask for light sleepers
Van camping packing list:
Sleeping bag or bedding
Pillow
Earplugs and/or eye mask for light sleepers
Clothing
Two shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve)
Two pairs of pants (or shorts and a pair of pants)
Three pairs of socks
Two pairs of underwear
Sleeping clothes
Warm jacket
Walking shoes
Comfortable camp shoes
Water shoes or sandals
Sunglasses
Hat with a visor
Winter hat and gloves for late night and early morning
Kitchen Kit
Two shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve)
Two pairs of pants (or shorts and a pair of pants)
Three pairs of socks
Two pairs of underwear
Sleeping clothes
Warm jacket
Walking shoes
Comfortable camp shoes
Water shoes or sandals
Sunglasses
Hat with a visor
Winter hat and gloves for late night and early morning
Kitchen Kit
Headlamp or flashlight
Extra batteries
First aid kid
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Chapstick
Camp chair
Baby wipes
Toilet paper
A deck of cards or your favorite board game
Car charger for your cell phone and camera
Campfire Supplies
Pot with a lid
Bowls and plates for each person
Forks and spoons for each person
Cutting knife
Cutting board
Coffee/tea mug for each person
Coffee/tea making supplies
Vegetable peeler
Tongs
Can opener
Wine key
Biodegradable dish soap
Dishrag or sponge
Dishtowel
If you’re car camping or don’t have a full kitchen in your van, you’ll also want:
Cooler with ice
Camp stove (these can often be rented if you don’t own one)
Lighter
Extra fuel for the camp stove
Washbasin for dish cleanup
Camp Accessories
Newspaper
Hatchet (to make kindling)
Long matches
Marshmallow roasting sticks
Bucket to douse your fire (Important consideration!!!) of ABC rated Extinguisher