E85: The Empowered Women's Guide to Camping

You may have noticed that today’s episode is called The Empowered Woman’s Guide to Camping. Yes, that is right CAMPING!..

[1:13] Now at the time of this episode’s publication, I was supposed to be coming back from a weekend backcountry camping trip in one of my favourite places in Ontario: Tobermory. HOWEVER, due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances, our camping trip has been cancelled. We are hoping to rebook sometime soon, so in the meantime, I will share some stories and some things I have learned through other camping adventures I’ve been on in the past, as well as some incredible practices and tips for making your next camping trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

In the last year I’ve learned that there are two types of camping: Car Camping and Backcountry Camping. Car camping is when you drive up to your campsite. Unpack your tent and your things and camp outside right next to your car.

Backcountry camping is when you park your car, and bring only what you can carry on a fairly long hike to your camping spot, at which point you unpack, set up your site and can only access your car if you were to hike all the way back to it.

To be completely honest, up until last year I did not realize that there were two types of camping. I thought there was only car camping and car camping sucks. Our family has been car camping a handful of times, however each time we’ve been it rains and I end up sleeping in the car. My family always jokes that I’m the high-maintenance one or “not the camping type” but over the years, I have also learned that because we aren’t big campers, we lack proper equipment for less than perfect weather conditions. Well. It’s no wonder I sleep in the car over a wet tent. Sorry not sorry.

I know I just said car camping sucks, because honestly I don’t love it – maybe you do love it – then I am truly happy for you, but if you haven’t tried backcountry camping, you might love it!

I also understand that there are probably many other types of camping, like camping in the winter, or perhaps “Glamping” although many people will tell you that isn’t really camping. Hahaha

[3:39] I honestly never liked camping until I went backcountry camping last summer in Tobermory. Friends of mine: Katherine and Matt are really big on camping and hiking. They live in British Columbia and have done some incredible trips out there. Last summer they were in Ontario and Katherine called me one day and asked me if I wanted to join them for a weekend in Tobermory. My first reaction was to laugh b/c I genuinely thought she was joking. “Me? Camping in the backcountry with you guys?!” I was less nervous about the camping as I was about hiking 10 km a day with seasoned hikers and campers.

So I said yes. For two reasons: last summer I told myself I would 1. Spend more time in nature and 2. Get out of my comfort zone, and going backcountry camping with my friends crossed off both those boxes.

Before the trip, Katherine and I went shopping for a couple things I would need that I didn’t already have. Like a camel water pack, a tent, and some special camping food. Luckily Katherine and Matt had a stove and a few other things so I didn’t have to worry too much. The only thing I wish I invested in at the time were a pair of good hiking boots. I didn’t want to because I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. But the hike would have been a lot easier on my feet and body with proper footwear.

I ended up getting a small youth tent since I’m travel size myself and also an inflatable pillow which I love. Before we knew it we were driving up to Katherine’s mom’s house in the torrential downpour and white knuckling the steering wheel almost the entire time. We made it to her moms house and the clouds parted, the sun began to shine and thank goddess we were looking at sunshine for the rest of the weekend – there would be no car for me to sleep in on this trip!

We stayed the night at Katherine’s mom’s house because it was a bit closer to Tobermory than where we live in southern Ontario. This gave us more time to hike and set up our site before dark. The next morning we woke up early, filled our packs with water, and made our way to the park. I kept up with their hiking and the day was so beautiful. I think I was so full of adrenaline and gratitude and awe of how beautiful this part of Tobermory was that I didn’t realize how my legs were feeling a bit wobbly or how my poor footwear wasn’t enough for my tired feet.

I had little to no expectations and the views and the sunsets and the sunrises and the water and the rocks and the forests and everything we saw just blew me away. It was stunning and exhilarating and breathtaking. I could definitely live without the mosquitos but everything else was absolutely perfect.

[8:05] From that first true backcountry camping experience, here are some of my best pieces of advice for beginners to backcountry camping:

[8:13] #1. Pitch your tent at home

This is great advice for anyone – not just beginners! First of all, you’ll want to make sure you know HOW to pitch your tent by yourself because after a long hike you probably don't want to set up camp, but you need to.

It’s also a great practice pre-trip because it makes sure you have all the parts and pieces of your tent that you need before you go!

Getting good at setting up your tent, and quickly will make your camping experience that much more enjoyable.

I took a video of myself setting up my tent and it was so empowering to do it all by myself! I was so happy and excited and when we got to site it was a lot easier to set up and stress-free because I felt more capable and prepared.

[9:14] #2. Practice packing and unpacking your pack

You want your pack to be organized, but you also need to remember that you’re carrying this pack for your trek so make sure you’re only bringing what you need. This will help you make the most of your space and bring the essentials.

Packing cubes, and dry bags are really handy for camping and organizing your pack. Keep heavier items near the shoulders and back, rain gear and first aid near the top where it’s easy to get. Use the dry bag to store things that need to stay dry like your spare clothes and your sleeping bag. Those you can store at the bottom of your bag as you won’t need them until you reach your campsite. Same with your mat and your pillow. Sunscreen, bug spray, and afterbite can be stored in easy to reach pouches and if you’re carrying a water bottle keep it easily accessible on the outside of your pack; if you use a camelbak like me, you can keep it in the inside pouch of your bag and use the straw to drink!

[10:41] #3. Pack as light as you can

When it comes to what you should bring – you’ve got to stick to the essentials, not sure what those are? You can follow these categories:

[10:52] Shelter: somewhere to sleep and escape the elements; aka your TENT If you’re one person get a two person tent, if you're two ppl get a three or four person tent. You want room for you, and your pack to stay dry.

[11:13] Food/Nutrition: you’ve got to feed your body. We brought dehydrated meals. These are lightweight and compact and only need boiling water to make them. You’ll also want handy snacks like granola, dried fruit, nuts, jerky, etc.

[11:31] Hydration: aka Water. Bladders, collapsible water bottles, and extra/reserve water for cooking and refilling. You’ll need something light and easy. Aim for 3-4 L a day minimum, and if you can’t carry that consider different types of water purifiers that will work in your camping areas, for example a Life Straw.

Remember that: water is hella heavy. Like REALLY FREAKIN HEAVY so you’ll want to create a “hydration plan” especially if you’re going for a longer trip, because you might not be able to carry all your water.

[12:33] Sun Protection: hat, long sleeves, pants, sunglasses, etc.

[12:38] First Aid: you can get small kits at your local outdoor store. I always bring my homemade bug spray, after-bite roller, bandaids, and dōTERRA's correct-x.

RECIPES!

After-bite Roller: 8-10 drops of dōTERRA's Lavender EO + 8-10 drops of dōTERRA's Tea Tree EO + 5 drops dōTERRA's Peppermint EO in a 10ml Roller Bottle. Top with FCO (fractionated coconut oil) and apply to bug bites.

Bug Spray Recipe: Add 2 oz Witch Hazel to an amber glass or stainless steal spray bottle, the add 10 drops TerraShield blend, 8 drops Lemongrass, 5 drops Eucalyptus, 5 drops Peppermint, 5 drops Cedarwood, and 3 drops of Tea Tree (all oils from dōTERRA). Shake mixture well and spray as needed.

[12:58] Navigation: You might need waterproof maps, guidebooks, compass, GPS, and extra batteries

[13:28] Light: You WILL need a light. I highly recommend a head lamp, one per person. Extra batteries and maybe one LED lantern per tent. Maybe.

[14:24] Clothes: key word: LAYER you will need a base layer close to your skin, a mid layer to keep you warm if it’s cold and an outer layer to protect you from wind and rain. Check the weather before you go, but prepare for cooler or wet temperatures, even if the forecast doesn't call for rain. You can always use your rain jacket as an extra layer at night, or if it’s lightweight it can protect you from the sun.

[15:04] Repair Kit: you can also buy these at an outdoor store, but usually duct tape and a knife can help you out in situations where you need to fix your gear. A rope works well for many things like hanging wet clothes or hoisting food into a tree to keep away from the bears!

[13:36] And lastly: FIRE! Some places won’t let you have a fire so check that before you go. If you can have a fire you’ll want a lighter, matches, firestarters. This will give you light and heat. If you can’t have a fire, bring a stove. You can get super small stoves that fold up and fit in your hand, but you’ll also need some fuel bottles too.

It sounds like a lot to pack, but if you’re travelling with another person you can share some of the items and you don’t need double of everything.

If you’re bringing your camera, or want to bring other “non-essentials” you can, but see if you can minimize the weight of the item or the size. Maybe bring your go-pro or your phone to take photos. We have special camping chairs that are lightweight and attach to our packs easily, but you may prefer to take a lightweight hammock.

[16:50] #4 I highly recommend bringing the right footwear

Research the trails and the terrain ahead of time. You’ll most likely need a good pair of hiking boots, but in some areas you may prefer a hiking sandal. I bring both because after hiking in your boots all day, you’ll want to let your feet breathe a little, but still have protection for your feet. I now have two pairs of hiking boots and a sandal I like for some trekking.

SALAMON HIKING BOOTS

COLUMBIA HIKING BOOTS

TEVAS

[17:34] #5 One of my biggest concerns the first time backcountry camping was the activity/difficulty level.

There are some trails, sites, and parks that are easier than others and doing research in advance on your area is a very smart thing to do; even if you’re not a beginner, you want to be prepared. If you’re pushing yourself a little more on your next camping hike, start physical training 2-4 weeks before your trip (at least!)

[18:11] Hiking in Guatemala: Episode #72: Life Lessons from 6 Days in the Guatemalan Jungle

I did two big camping trips/hikes during that adventure and they were TOUGH! The jungle trek was trekking over 100 km in 5 days, and the second was a volcano climb with major altitude! I started training for that hike months before by walking more each day as well as climbing the stairmaster 2-4 times a week.

It was winter time in Canada, but if it was summer or warmer out, one of the more fun ways to train is wearing your fully packed backpack and hiking the local trails with similar terrain – if you can of course. Cardio, weight lifting, and training on the stairs will help you get in shape for your hike!

[20:06] #6. Know when you need to take a break

It’s totally okay to rest. Stop and enjoy the view, listen to your body, take some time to eat and enjoy your lunch. Make sure you’re having a good time, and drinking enough water!

[20:27] #7. Be Conscious of Wildlife and Nature

You are hiking and camping very close to the homes of some beautiful trees, plants, and animals. You are a visitor and you must leave the park the way you found it. That means no trash please!

If you spot some wild life, admire it, but leave it be. Doing research on the backcountry camping spots you’ll be in will help you better understand the wildlife and vegetation. It will also inform you of anything you might need to be cautious of, like bears or poisonous plants. Ask park rangers questions if you are not sure, and pack your food so bears cannot get to it. Most campsites will have food polls you can hang your food on – NO FOOD IN YOUR TENT!

Treat the earth, the animals, and the other people you cross paths with, with respect.

[21:31] #8 Have Fun!

You may absolutely LOVE the experience, or you may not. But go with an open mind and an open heart. It’s incredibly powerful to get out of your comfort zone, to try something new, to test your limits and strength. My last few treks have been life changing and empowering and I was truly disappointed when our camping trip this month got cancelled but I am hopeful for a new booking soon!

Val Lavigne Life Women's Empowerment Podcast

Podcast Host

Valerie LaVigne

Valerie is the creator and founder of Valerie LaVigne Life and the Women's Empowerment Show. She helps busy and empowered women create healthy habits so that they can become the best version of themselves and transform their lives. Learn more about Valerie here!