Outdoor recreation can be a form of therapy that helps you destress and manage emotions. Dispersed camping is an ideal stress-reliever since it can give you the type of serenity your soul yearns. To achieve a fun-filled and relaxing time, get to know the tips and tricks behind successful dispersed camping.
What is Dispersed Camping?
It is an adventurous activity of enjoying the rawness of nature and the peacefulness of surroundings. It means disconnecting from skyscrapers’ stress and long lines in the metro and enjoying the picturesque views of mountains and other natural wonders. It is an endeavor that rejuvenates our worn-out souls.
It is also known as boondocking, which pertains to going off the grid or off the beaten path. It includes camping in national forests and public lands, away from the crowded RV parks and expensive campsites.
The Tips for Preparing for Your Dispersed Camping Adventure
What is dispersed camping? It’s all about preparation and enjoyment. A seasoned camper believes that failure to prepare means preparing to fail. No successful off-the-grid adventure takes place without a lengthy checklist of things to do. This article suggests a three-phased preparation. The first phase is the thorough inspection of your RV; the second is checking your RV supplies. The last step is the preparation of your personal belongings.
Phase 01: Inspecting Your RV
Photo lifted from Campers Inn RV
Before experiencing a trip, it is essential to check your most crucial arsenal, your recreational vehicle. Inspecting your RV means avoiding untoward incidents from happening. It means prioritizing your safety and the welfare of your companions.
You may begin inspecting your motorhome by examining its braking system, lights, gauges, batteries, tires, engine, coolant fluid levels, power steering, windshield washer, generator, generator oil, covers, tanks, and other vital parts. If you are attaching your 5th wheel to your truck, do not forget to check if your 5th wheel hitch is suitable for the weight of the 5th wheel and is working smoothly. RV camping offers extensive reviews of the factors you have to consider before choosing a 5th wheel hitch and other vital RV parts.
Inspecting your vehicle means checking your tanks. You have to be sure that your grey and black tanks are empty before going to your destination. On the contrary, you must fill it to its maximum capacity to ensure that you have an ample water supply.
Apart from generators, it is advisable to carry deep cycle batteries and deep cycle battery chargers for energy sources. These devices shall aid you in powering your vehicle and onboard devices.
It pays to know that you are carrying a toolbox with you. Do not forget to bring a multi-bit screwdriver, spare tire, cutters, scissors, thread seal tape, hammer, and the relevant devices that your RV might need for repair. Having a tool kit onboard means a little extra peace of mind.
You have to ensure that your RV is well-conditioned for the trip. You have to ensure that every part is functioning smoothly to avoid road accidents.
Phase 02: Preparing the Supplies
Photo lifted from Salvation Army USA West and Do It Yourself RV
Your checklist must include the number of food supplies you shall bring along for your adventure. It is an excellent choice to bring foodstuffs that are non-perishable and do not require refrigeration. The foodstuffs must have proper containers to avoid spoilage. You have to ensure that you bring along propane tanks and match sticks. You may opt to carry an ample supply of woods should you decide to cook using woods.
To avoid sickness and dehydration while on the trip, check your water intake. Having at least eight glasses of water every 24 hours is a physical demand. Be sure to carry more than enough supply of potable water.
You have to carry enough supply of dishwashers for your plates. Do not forget to bring trash bags and other cleaning materials to maintain your RV and your campsite’s cleanliness.
Phase 03: Securing Your Personal Needs for the Travel
Photo lifted from EHEALTH, THE ENTERPRISE OF HEALTHCARE
Enjoying an adventure means bringing suitable pieces of clothing and the right footwear. You have to check your destination’s weather updates to know which type of clothes and footwear you should bring along. It pays to consider having comfortable pairs of extra clothes on board.
Dispersed camping means self-contained camping. You must ensure that you are bringing enough toiletries, bath soap, shampoo, hand sanitizers, antibacterial alcohol, toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, deodorant, sanitary pads, and other personal things you will need.
Apart from carrying your hygienic supplies, it pays to bring your first aid kit for the trip. Since you might find yourself in the wilderness, it is better to be safe by bringing insect repellant and skin disinfectants. Should you have medicines, please do not leave your home without them.
To experience a more comfortable camping experience, you may consider bringing portable fire pits, tents, shade structures, movable tables, and chairs. Do not forget to bring spare woods, lighters, and match sticks.
While it is so satisfying to find yourself amid the calming powers of nature, it is inevitable to experience dull moments. To ease boredom:
- Carry your favorite reading materials and board games.
- Pay for your monthly premium subscription for your music playlist before leaving.
- Do not forget to bring your devices that have virtual games and their chargers.
These are the list of things you have to tick off from your checklist before experiencing an off-the-grid adventure. These suggestions may complement your self-made checklist.
Advantages of Dispersed Camping as a Recreation
Photo lifted from Mammoth Lakes California and Meghan Miranda
Going off-the-grid offers a plethora of advantages. You can go all day counting its endless positive side.
What is Dispersed Camping? It Means No Camping Fees
Since there are no amenities on site, camping in state forests and public lands is free of charge. Usually, it is open to camp in national grasslands, public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and national forests. However, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) stipulates that dispersed camping in public lands should not go beyond 14 days. Frequently, these free campsites require no prior reservations; they are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Since campsites are open for free, it is prudent to visit the Visitor Center of your destination or the BLM Ranger Station to specific areas where you can camp legally. It would help if you were leery of road signs and signages that prohibit overnight camping.
Free time With Nature
With the absence of facilities at the campsite, you have to put heavy reliance on nature. While this may sound daunting, in reality, this is an excellent opportunity for you to experience being a child again by stargazing at night and witnessing the sunrise at dawn. It is very calming to smell the greeneries around you or listen to the upstream river waves. These mundane scenarios can be a good reminder that life, after all, is still beautiful.
Enjoying an Unspoiled Area through Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping means going off-the-beaten-path or staying away from crowded and costly RV parks. With this, you shall be able to enjoy camping with the rawness of your surroundings. Unspoiled area means to adventure with pure rawness away from the over-exploited, overpriced, and commercialized campsite.
Having Peaceful Moments During Camping
The activity gives you the chance to be captured by solitude. It is a perfect time for relaxation, tranquility, and calmness. Moments like this allow you to disconnect from the earthly and material world to reconnect with your soul and inner peace.
Adventurers like you wouldn’t trade the moment of enjoying a cup of hot coffee while waiting for sunrise for anything. You will enjoy a lazy afternoon of reading your favorite pocketbook while occasionally glancing over the vastness of the horizon. It also sounds fun to have a glass of red wine or two as you witness sundown and the arrival of stars across the blue-turning-black skies.
Moments like these will make you believe that, indeed, Mother Nature has natural healing powers that will make you consistently yearn for off-the-grid adventures.
Effects of the Activity
Photo lifted from the dyrt and Tyler Wildeck
Since the activity has numerous advantages, it is logical to say that it also has many positive effects on an individual.
Renewed and Reenergized Soul
Even though dispersed camping demands extensive preparations, it isn’t undeniable that, after a week or two in camping, you’ll come home reenergized and more than ready to face your workplace. The wonder of nature has recharged you already.
Self-Reliance
After surviving days off the grid, you have already developed the confidence of being able to power through the day with little to no help from others. Self-reliance is an asset for survival since not all the time can you lean onto others to offer a helping hand.
Great Strategic Thinking
Once you reach home, you will start to think about the camping days when you thought you were about to give up. But you survived since you were strategic in the steps that you took. In the workplace, being strategic will take you a long way.
Yearn for More Travel
Having been able to bear witness and experience the rawness of nature and the tranquility of a lazy afternoon, you surely want to go back when the time allows. The thirst for more off-the-grid adventures is now part of yourself.
Rules to Follow as a Responsible Camper in the Campgrounds
Photo lifted from Trail and Summit
Rules and regulations are necessary to uphold social cohesion in a society. This statement’s truthfulness is reflected in how laws and regulations play vital roles in maintaining the cleanliness, peace, and order of public lands. Rules would be in place to ensure the campers’ safety and the animals living in the area if there were any.
Check and Drop-by the Visitor Center
It will save you a ton of time if you decide to visit the Visitor Center to know your campsite’s rules, regulations, and restrictions. It will help if you’ll know whether or not making a campfire is allowed. It will also help stay away from trouble by knowing the areas wherein overnight parking is not permitted.
Proper Waste Segregation, Management, and Disposal
One of the responsibilities of a camper is to take care of his wastes. It is very unbecoming of an individual to leave the campsite without bringing his trash with him. You must drop your rubbish at the right dumping site. Never release your wastewater in a stream.
Being Sensitive to Your Surroundings
Ensure that you are not disrupting the natural habitat of animals on the site, if there are any. Never cut down live trees and plants. It is also advisable to park your RV at least 100 feet away from water bodies and at least 150 feet away from a road.
It is necessary to respect the presence of other people in public lands. Be sure not to use your noisy generator in the quiet hours of the night. Making unnecessary noises in the wee hours is unethical.
Campfire Etiquette in the Campground
If your chosen campsite allows campers to make a campfire, it is advisable to utilize existing fire rings to avoid scarring new grass, plants, and soil. Be sure that you will use the designated type of firewood. You are free to utilize dead and down firewoods for the campfire, but never the live trees.
Abide by the 7 Leave No Trace Principle
The 7 Leave No Trace principles explicitly state that a good camper is someone who:
- plans,
- camps on a durable surface,
- throws wastes properly,
- minimizes campfire impacts,
- respects wildlife,
- leaves what he finds at the campsite, and
- considers the welfare of other co-campers.
While there are many and varying rules to be observed, you must think that those rules are in effect to safeguard everyone’s safety. To be a good camper, you must be selfless and consider the welfare of everyone.
Conclusion
Dispersed camping is an adventurous endeavor that requires a lot of preparation and checking. There are also many rules to be observed. The countless positive effects of the activity outweigh the stress of preparing and the numerous regulations to be followed.
Make sure you bring your cameras to capture every breathtaking moment and scenery.