Colorado camping...

[Speedwagon]

I'm from Chicago, and don't really have any mountain camping experience. I'd like to start getting some now that I live here though. I was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers on mountain camping/hiking and the like. Good things to bring, what I can expect from the mountains, things I shouldn't do?

[zoriloco]

I'm from Chicago, and don't really have any mountain camping experience. I'd like to start getting some now that I live here though. I was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers on mountain camping/hiking and the like. Good things to bring, what I can expect from the mountains, things I shouldn't do?


Good info on this site. If you have little experience in camping, you might want to go the fist couple of times with someone that already has. People post camping trips here as well.

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwrec/touch/camping/dos_donts.html

[JeepWheelin02]

ALWAYS bring cold weather gear and stuff to keep you out of the rain/snow. Even in July/August.


Thats about the best advice you can get. Other than that. Go a few times with some people that have been here for a while and see what you need.

[kmon35]

Watch out for lightning.

I am not being a wise as$.

Be prepared for cold and wet always. Know if there is a fire ban.

If you are not in a camp ground, have a good forrest service map, and know you are not on private property.

Most important, have a good time.

[Budman]

Go camping with me. I always cook the best meals while out camping. BTW: I only truck camp, none of this hiking stuff for me.

[Yota]

If you can't take Budman along, you might consider taking some of that freeze-dried camper food they have at REI - if you care about weight.

I am a huge fan of that backpacker chow. That stuff is just yummy and super incredibly easy to make if you have a camping stove to heat water. Camping stoves are fun to use anyway.

I'd recommend following bear/raccoon procedures of not cooking or eating where you intend to sleep. Put your food in a separate bag (perhaps a dry bag to keep the smell in?), throw a rope over a high branch and hoist your food up into mid-air. Bears are pretty rare but raccoons aren't and they can be a real pain if they eat all your stuff.

If you will be camping with young kids, keep them close.

Never go on even the simplest hike without a first aid/survival kit. You can keep different kits for different distances/conditions. There are lots of sites that discuss what should be in a survival kit.

Have fun!!

[kmon35]

Do you plan to camp right out of your vehicle, or back packing? The equipment will be different for both.

A good tent and sleeping bag are important.

Next is, cooking and light. Try to make your stuff work together. A propane stove and lantern that use the same stuff. Little green bottles or a 20# cylinder.

Start with the basics and go. You will see things others around you have and like it or not. My camping has evolved over the years from a sleeping bag and a tarp to a walltent with a stove for winter and a pop up for this summer.

[shunt]

Beware of Bigfoot...He lives up in dem' der' hills...:eek:

[_CJ]

Dale's Pale Ale. Lightweight, tastey, and chills quickly in small streams. :beer:

[cwood30]

Dale's Pale Ale. Lightweight, tastey, and chills quickly in small streams. :beer:

Love DPA. On the same note, I checked out New Belgium Brewery yesterday, and they are at work as we speak on developing a canning system for Fat Tire. Should have it ready by July 4th for all the campers out there. Their inspiration for doing it was solely because of the widespread ban of glass bottles in most wilderness/camping areas so a lot of their fanbase were requesting cans. Pretty cool that they'd put the time/effort/money into doing that for their faithful. Until then, DPA all the way!

[Colin]

Beware of Bigfoot...He lives up in dem' der' hills...:eek:

Thats ColoradoXJ, don't worry, he's mostly harmless :D

[_CJ]

Love DPA. On the same note, I checked out New Belgium Brewery yesterday, and they are at work as we speak on developing a canning system for Fat Tire. Should have it ready by July 4th for all the campers out there. Their inspiration for doing it was solely because of the widespread ban of glass bottles in most wilderness/camping areas so a lot of their fanbase were requesting cans. Pretty cool that they'd put the time/effort/money into doing that for their faithful. Until then, DPA all the way!

And here I was thinking that they were going to start canning to cut down on production and distribution costs. :rolleyes: