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How to enjoy a warm night while camping.

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How to Prepare for a Warm, Peaceful Night of Camping: Tips from an Experienced Hiker. Find the best spot, insulate yourself well, and wear appropriate layers. Stay warm!

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The spectacular experience of hiking and camping under the stars is complemented by a restful sleep sheltered by the sounds of nature at night; but being cold can ruin all that romance.

Based on my 35 years as a hiker, since I was little at Loyola; I have learned to enjoy and love nature and animals than human beings, I must confess. These tips that I give you, guarantee you a quiet and warm night to fully appreciate the experience.

Preparation is everything

When you arrive at your camp, look around to locate the best camping spot - you should find a flat, dry, and sturdy surface that is protected from the wind. After checking and cleaning the ground of stones, sticks and possible dangerous insects. Set up your tent and stake to secure it. So before you do anything else, get all the sleeping accessories ready. Inflate your mat and set up your sleeping bag early. Do not place the bag without the thermal protection that your mat protects you from the cold of the floor. If you are cold-blooded, in a tent with three or more people, try to sleep between your camping mates (rather than on the side.)

Insulate yourself well from the cold of the floor

When it comes to staying warm, sleeping bags are only half the equation. You should learn about R-values, which are used to measure the ability of a mat to insulate. The higher the R-value, the hotter you will feel. If you suffer from the cold or are traveling in extreme climates, consider using two sleeping mats.

Wear the right layers

Whenever possible, wear dry clothing before going to bed. Avoid cotton, and opt for wool or synthetic thermal fabric instead. Wear a warm hat, socks, and everything else until the layers feel good. There are additional thermal liners that can be placed on the sleeping bag, which not only heat up, but also avoid getting your sleeping bag dirty.

And what is the old story about how it gets hotter when sleeping naked? It is precisely that: a story. If you are cold, wear more layers.

Remember that sleeping bags provide insulation, they do not generate heat.

Think of a fridge: if you put it in something hot, it will keep you warm; if it gets cold, it will stay cold. So instead of crawling into your sleeping bag when you're covered in goose bumps, try warming up your body. Doing jumps, push-ups, makes your blood pump enough to raise your core temperature.

Minimize empty spaces.

Your body is working hard to heat the air inside your sleeping bag, much like a heater inside a closet. The emptier space, the harder your body has to work. Try using padding dry jackets or clothing inside your bag to fill in the empty spaces, or tucking additional baffles under your body to make the sleeping bag smaller. If you have a sleeping bag, make sure the top lining is covering your head and wrapping the opening around your face.

Have dinner before bed.

Your body expends a great deal of heat for power generation, and a small snack before bed can provide fuel for the long night ahead. Just avoid sugar, and opt for high-protein, high-fat foods like nuts, dried meat, or cheese instead.

The unexpected guests.

Before going to bed, try to store your food in airtight bags that do not allow the smell to escape, and do not leave food inside the tent. In Australia, for example, possums have a camper's nose and taste for food and have no qualms about penetrating the tent fabric to get their reward. If you are in California, land of bears, buy an anti-bear container and tie it with a rope at some distance to the top of a tree to avoid smells of these invaders that will certainly give you a night of terror and little rest.

The camping boots.

I have the habit of putting the hiking boots, once muddled, inside the store on a corner. The residual heat from your feet is a great stimulus to many cold-blooded insects that seek a warm, dark refuge to hide in. That is, if you have a little space left over for it. Personally, I sleep soundly when I know that no bug is prowling where it shouldn't.

The anti insect mesh.

If you want a restful night, keep the tent screen always closed to prevent mosquitoes and moths from entering the tent. The paranoia of the incessant buzzing and stinging of insects is not pleasant.

Flashlights or torches.

Whatever you want to call it. Do you need to go to the bathroom at night? Going in the middle of the moonlight is romantic, but you can't always count on it. It includes a flashlight, tests the batteries, and carries a redundancy one for safety.

Most importantly, before leaving, prepare your backpack with time. Check that both your tent, bag and mat are in perfect condition and work properly.

When entering any national park, for your safety, if you are going to spend the night, register with the authorities. 

If you follow these basic guidelines, camping safely at night in the open air under the light of the stars, in the middle of the peace of nature is the most relaxing and enjoyable thing there is.

Frequently asked questions from our readers:

– Use sleeping bags appropriate for the climate and add layers of clothing if necessary. You can also use thermal blankets or hot water bottles to keep warm. Make sure you have good insulation under your sleeping bag to prevent heat loss through the ground. Read more here: https://www.equilibriumx.com/ecoturismo-y-conservacion/como-pasar-una-noche-caliente-mientras-acampa
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Last modified: March 21, 2024