You had some good road movies, you had some nice books about far away travels and far away lands. Now there comes a moment when you finally decide to hit the road and follow the footsteps of your heroes. So you start empting your bag of everything superfluous to travel with simplicity. Sleeping outside for example gives you a real sense of excitement and freedom: you’ll fall asleep with a smile on your face and the stars up above. However, this is not something you want to rush. So here are a few tips to properly sleep outside.
Starting at home
It is important you prepare your body to outdoor conditions. Start by reducing the heat before you go to bed. Then just sleep with the window open, it is as simple as it sounds. You might think that a forest is a place of great peace and quiet, but certainly not during the night: the cracking of trees, the wind in the leaves or the hoot of an owl can be enough to keep you awake. So get used to the many small noises of the street. Finally, the last step consists of sleeping on your balcony or in your garden. And yes, people could start talking and your companion could question your psychological balance, believe me: it is the best way to get ready. Just play this little game the week before departure. It’s important to deal with the transition between the comfort of home and the wild. You don’t want to stay awake all night in the woods before going on your next hiking!
Choosing your surroundings
I’m sure you know that going for an outdoor night in the middle of January is not a good idea. However the first half of August is perfect timing: nights are warmer and you also have a better chance to see a sky full of stars (check out for moonless nights). I personally also suggest that you still bring camping equipment, just in case. Do not settle too close to a river to avoid mosquitoes. Choose a flat space, dry, downhill or by a mound so you can be protected from the wind. Do not make camp in the middle of the forest: it’s tempting but a dead branch could fall on your head at three in the morning. Remember also that pine trees usually breed ants. Make sure there isn’t any anthill in a 100 meters circle. Make sure your food is unreachable for rodents, foxes and other little creatures. Just hang them by a tree, or keep it in your car. As a bonus, you should also get yourself a nice view facing east: a sunrise is the very best of alarm clock.
Picking your equipment
By far the most important part of those recommendations, naturally. The Windigo camping equipment contains a self-inflating mat, which is perfect to have a protective layer between the ground and your back. At night, humidity rises up from the ground to create the morning dew. So you better pack some plastic bags to roll up your clothes in so you can keep them dry all night long. The Windigo sleeping bag would also allow you to deal with changes in temperatures. The hygienic blanket can also reduce sweating. A headlamp and eco-friendly toilet paper will also be necessary.
Canada is full of places to camp in peace. But some parks even offer dedicated wild-camping areas: flat spots with outdoor toilets, special poles to hang your food. So make sure you check out for nice spots to settle for the night before heading out. Last piece of advice: bring a nice book and some nice music. There’s nothing like a nice book when you’re comfy in your sleeping bar, under the dim light of the stars.
Have a nice trip !
To rent a complete camping equipment, have a look at our rental page right here.
Discover nature camping in Hawaii in our last article right here !
Nothing is better than canoe-camping to truly live an adventure. Check out our dedicated article right here.
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