The basic principle of camping is to get out of the city’s hustle and enjoy some quality time alone with family or embark on an adventure with your friends. But what most people nowadays are unaware of is, what is pioneer camping? There’s no better way to enjoy nature and follow the footsteps of your forefathers than in Pioneer camping.
What is Pioneer Camping?
Pioneer camping means you experience nature first hand. It is the best way to connect with nature and explore your heart’s content. There are no electricity, water, or sewer privileges provided. You camp in either a primitive or a backwoods spot or a designated forest campsite with no comforts. From your water to your fire pits, you will need to bring everything.
Here’s what creates pioneer-style camping!
What You’ll Need
The equipment used in camping varies with by intended activity. What you take will affect your ability to enjoy your pioneer camping experience. Here is a list of things you need to pack to ensure an enjoyable and memorable pioneer camping trip.
Tent
Sleeping bag
Solar lantern
Water bottle
Water purifier
First aid kit
Bug spray
Flashlight
Your Pioneer Campsite
One of the most critical decisions you’ll have to make is to select where to set up your camp. There are a few steps you must follow to have a working pioneer campsite. Choosing the right supplies, camping know-how, and excitement will allow you to have a great time in the wilderness.
Select Your Camp Site
While selecting your campsite, keep in mind to find the flattest land available. Start looking for your spot way before dark and look for areas with water. Be selective and choose a safe site.
If you don’t want the sun to be in your eyes in the morning, it’s best to find a spot where there’s shade. But be sure to watch out for any weak branches or dead trees as shades. A strong wind could bring that tree down in the middle of the night, and you don’t want that to happen. Make sure you keep track of any rockslides, avalanche paths, or rock ledges.
The safest thing to do before leaving for camping is to keep a weather check. You don’t want to be out on a day where a storm is coming. It would ruin your chances of an enjoyable camping experience.
It’s safer to pick a space that looks like it has been used for camping before. It will limit the overall footprint of your camp. Protect your campsite and leave it just as clean or cleaner than you found it.
Tent Setup
A flat ground will allow you to set up your tent ideally. If you don’t find a good flat spot, you’ll find yourself sleeping off your sleeping pad. Along with flat, make sure the area is clean and has no pointy things. Avoid sleeping in depression as rain could turn it into a mud pit.
It is much easier to find an open campsite anywhere than worrying about where to park your RVs. There is no added stress of high-cost recreational vehicles. All that is required are the necessities.
Pioneer camping allows you to enjoy a peaceful and relaxed time without any neighboring campers.
Food Setup
Tight coolers are necessary to store your water, drinks, and perishables food items. Plan your meals from home and bring them along so that you only have to pan-fry them to avoid long hours of cooking and more time for exploration.
Carry with you your kitchen utensils along with grills, pans, or any other thing you need to enjoy a home-like kitchen feel.
Disposal Setup
When setting up your camping toilet, you need to ensure it’s at least 200 feet away from your tent, tracks, or water sources. Portable toilet systems require waste burial, and for that, you’ll need to dig a hole below the toilet. For privacy, you can set up a privacy screen or tent to give yourself a sense of comfort.
Majority of the synthetic camping toilets are easy to set up and disassemble. While some come in suitcases, others involve tunneling holes for waste burial. Some toilets require you to collect waste in bags to dispose of later.
Campfire Setup
What is pioneer camping without some good old bonfire? A campfire is essential to cook food and to keep you warm on those chilly winter nights. Make sure to pick the right spot which would be not too near and not too far away from your tent.
Follow all rules and fire safety precautions, especially if you’ve decided to camp in a forest area.
Our Final Thoughts
We hope this article clears your mind on what is pioneer camping. Setting up a pioneer camp is challenging yet filled with adventure. It makes you experience how people back in the day enjoyed camping.
Pioneer camping gives you a brilliant opportunity to wander off into the wilderness with the least available amenities. It is excellent to develop situation-handling skills and learn to live with the least and still enjoy life. It’s time to get down to the basics and enjoy life without luxuries. Happy pioneer camping!
