Who goes camping?

[sesame]

This is a surprise gift for Anna! How lovely! A cute cute raccoon! Mmmm
I will put him in your bedroom and leave the two of you to socialize.

[SluttyShemaleAnna]

Sesame, you are possible the most annoying person in hte world, If I ever met you, I would hit you with a cricket bat.

[sesame]

Originally Posted by SS-Anna

Sesame, you are possible the most annoying person in hte world, If I ever met you, I would hit you with a cricket bat.

Well, a small raccoon is much easier to cope with than a full grown Leopard!

What did I do to annoy Anna?
On 2nd thoughts, she is always looking at someone with a club in her hands! Only now, the target is me! Ok, Anna, lets play cricket!

the best place to pitch a tent is in your pants.

[ila]

Originally Posted by rhythmic delivery

the best place to pitch a tent is in your pants.

Yep.

[sesame]

Originally Posted by rhythmic delivery

the best place to pitch a tent is in your pants.

Well, that would be the morning wood... whether you are in a city or actually in a wood!

[ila]

Enough of this wimpy summer camping. If you want to experience a true camping adventure try the winter. I don't mean a typical mild European winter either. Go camping when the temperature goes down to -40°C (-40° is exactly the same in Fahrenheit or Centigrade). It doesn't matter whether you use a snowmobile, skis, snowshoes, or your feet alone to get to your campsite. Take along a tent or make your own shelter from snow or tree branches. If you use a tent I recommend canvas with sturdy steel or aluminium poles and not a light nylon tent that you would use in summer. Also make sure your tent doesn't have a floor. Snow is quite adequate for a floor. For the adventurous that want to make their own snow shelter take along a shovel, with a big scoop, to pile up the snow and then hollow out the mound. Don't try to build an igloo unless you are in the arctic where the wind will cause the snow to form hard drifts. Also don't try to build an igloo unless you first have a competent person show you how to do it, as igloos are not easy to make.

Equipment to take with you (in addition to food and warm clothing). This list is not comprehensive and is only a guide:
o A naphtha stove
o Naphtha
o Lantern
o Pots
o Shovel
o Machete/knife/axe
o Warm sleeping bag
o Air mattress (only fools take foam in winter)
o Toboggan
o Extra rope or cord
o Reflective foil blanket
o For the adventurous types that go to the arctic take a rifle. Polar bears see humans as a potential meal and I guarantee that you will not best one in a wrestling match. Dogs make excellent companions as well as early warning alarms against polar bears.

For those that are wondering I have been on many winter camping trips. The coldest I have ever experienced was -50°C. I have usually slept in a tent and only once in a snow shelter. I have never been in or made an igloo even though I have been to the arctic.

Winter camping is a truly exhilarating experience for those that try it or those that have done it.

[GRH]

Originally Posted by ila

Go camping when the temperature goes down to -40°C (-40° is exactly the same in Fahrenheit or Centigrade)

I have to admit Ila, I thought you were lying on this point until I did the calculation myself. You are, in fact correct!

I've wanted to go winter camping as you describe. For that matter, I've wanted to spend a winter in Antarctica, but I doubt I ever have the chance. Recently, I saw a job opening for a summer position in Antarctica doing hydroponic food production...If only I didn't have my committments here. Oh well...

Winter camping is a completely different ball of wax than the summer variant, but I think it stands to be more rewarding.

[sesame]

A raccoon attack can be quite messy. When raccoons decides to bite something, they dont let go easily, they are very stubborn. They also have good memory. But they scarcely attack humans. But be on the safe side and stay away if you spot one. While camping, dont throw your extra food around the forest floor. This may draw bears, raccoons, dogs, wolves to your campsite. At night, light a small fire outside the tent to ward off prawling animals. Dont go too far out at night to pee, it may be dangerous.

Raccoons in your neighbourhood
Female raccoons have a very acute nesting instinct. They find their way into cozy corners of wooden houses, like attics. They can get in though windows and chimneys, being very good climbers. They literally dig and gnaw through wooden boards and make your home their own! And when they choose to use some part of the house as latrine, they do it repeatedly. And the odour is very disturbing, believe me. So, keep your surroundings clean and free from food leftovers.

But when you are in a jungle, you are encroaching into the territory of wild animals. So have some respect for them. When you are leaving the campsite, try to reinstate the pristine environment it was before you were there. Leave without a trace, carry your garbage and wrappers back with you. We humans have taken away the habitat of most of the wild animals and have caused so many of them to be extinct. So preserve the remaining wilderness and the animals. They have some right over this planets too.

If more people learn to live in harmony with nature, love the wilderness and the wild animals, this world will be a much better place. Awareness leads to appreciation. Peace.