Going Camping? Read These Tips First!

Living in this world offers few experiences quite like the adventure of camping. It provides you with the ability to get back to nature, enjoy some fresh air and see the majestic qualities of the outdoor world. Regardless if you are new to camping or an old pro, this article will provide you with tips for having the best possible camping experience.

Select a sleeping bag which is right for the season. If you bring a sub-zero sleeping bag to go camping in mid-summer, you might find that you are sweating all night long. Alternatively, taking a light bag in the winter can lead to great discomfort. Extremely cold weather can bring about frostbite.

Let all the members of your family have a hand in picking your campsite. This will make everyone feel invested. Try to keep a small list, as there is such an abundance of spots to choose from, it can be hard to pick one. Narrow down your top choices and let your entire family decide.

Always pack and carry a survival kit. Don’t forget things like knives, waterproof matches, flares, first aid, and a water purifier. You may find that this kit makes the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. Keep it with you at all times when you leave your campsite for any reason.

When you’re new to camping, make sure you camp close to home. You could have problems with your gear, or you may find you don’t like camping. Other problems can be food shortage or inadequate clothing. A variety of issues could arise if you don’t know what to expect, so being close to home can prevent you from feeling stranded and stuck.

Camping is a neat experience. The natural scenery and the fresh air are wonderful things to enjoy when you are camping. This article can arm you with the right advice to help you enjoy and relax on your next camping trip.

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Vacationing in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

San Juan Mountains

You could be forgiven for half-expecting a dolphin to playfully jump out of the water and do a flip. The intense, electric blue of Ice Lake would seem out of place against the patches of snow and the alpine meadows if it weren’t so starkly beautiful. Tucked away in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains near the town of Silverton, Ice Lake is one of four incandescently-colored lakes in the Upper Ice Lake Basin — the other three being Island, Clear, and fuller lakes finishing out the list.

Perfect for a day trip, Ice Lake and its nearby sister lake, Island Lake, are just outside of Silverton and can be reached from the gravel parking area across from South Mineral Campground and is where you can park and begin your trek. The lakes are accessed via a remarkably scenic four-mile hike with an elevation climb of around three-thousand feet. The trails are well defined and easily done by most hikers. Winding through alpine meadows, conifer forests, waterfalls and creeks, the hike itself is a lot of fun, so make sure to bring a camera as you’ll want to capture the scenery on the way up to the lake!

If you’re not the type of person for whom a landscape can hold endless captivation, bring along a fishing pole and some bait and tackle; the lakes are full of cutthroat trout. During the warmer months, you can travel light and leave the ice auger at home for a carefree day of fishing in a serene location.

Since you’ve undoubtedly brought your hiking boots, you might as well climb up one of the surrounding 14,000+ foot peaks that surround the lakes. Fuller, Vermillion, V2 – all can be had from Ice Lake, and the surrounding lakes. Trails do go up to the summits of many of the surrounding mountains, and since you’re above the timberline, the views are unimpeded.