Camping question

[indysteel]

This sounds good - the clinic is at a state park and we are all camping together there - 3-4 campgrounds full of mountain bikers Yeah, I am a wimp, but I need that air mattress so I know I can sleep. I doubt my old bones and joints want to start sleeping on the hard ground now The cooler is for food and to have cold beer/ice for the Camelbak.

Flashlight is good, hadn't thought of that. nor the flip-flops! There WILL be a late night trip to pee, especially if I drink beer

I keep see-sawing on the foldable chair, but I don't want to count on there being a free picnic table...

Thanks for all of the tips, I KNEW there were things I hadn't thought of. Thank you!

Definitely yes on the chair. At some point, you're going to want to sit by your tent or someone else's and relax.

[lph]

Yup, a double, or is it triple, on bug repellent, earbuds and light source.

Also, I have no idea what kind of climate or elevation you're in, but camping and spending the entire day outdoors is a lot colder than being able to go indoors in the evening, so bring enough clothes. On climbing camping trips, even in midsummer, we often pack thick socks, a warm hat and a down jacket.

I remember driving around on holiday trying to find a new climbing spot, and realizing we were there when we spotted people wearing down jackets at the local pizzeria, amongst all the locals in shorts

[Koronin]

Only time I've tent camped in my adult life is/was for the NASCAR races in Bristol, TN. (We now have a hotel booked for the past couple of years...a monsoon rainstorm one year and snow the next made me look for a hotel). We always packed coolers for drinks and food as we cooked at the campsite for breakfast and either lunch or dinner (lunch for Aug night race, dinner for spring day race). Several bins for all the cooking supplies, one chair each, plus a folding table, sleeping bags and cots. With cots that gives you more space in the tent and you also have a place to sit down. And a battery operated radio. Oh and yes we ended up the last two years bringing a generator with us as well.
Definitely will need a flashlight and bug spray. For the spring race we brought heaters and for the Aug race we always brought fans.

[PamNY]

All the above suggestions are good.

Are you cooking? Building a fire? If so, will you collect or buy wood? You might want a saw or hatchet. I use firestarters (either homemade or purchased).

You'll need something sturdy for food storage -- can your food supplies go into a car overnight to be safe from insects and wildlife? If you are storing food in a cooler with melting ice, be sure it's securely packaged so it doesn't get waterlogged.

I never bother with chairs; I cut a piece from an old closed-cell foam sleeping mat and sit on that.

Remember that if it rains EVERYTHING gets wet. I take extra garbage bags, several big Ziploc type bags and no cotton clothing.

I second the suggestion of a hands-free light source (headlight). Good investment if you ever live through a power outage, too.

[indysteel]

My hip and SI joint appreciate a chair...but to each their own!

Since there is a threat of rain and you don't know how well the tent will work, I'd leave what I could in the car both overnight and during the day on Saturday. The low is supposed to be 59, so I'd bring a pair of pants and a long sleeve top or jacket, along with some socks.

I always get pretty sticky camping and being basically outsie 24/7 so I bring a few change of clothes. A sun hat of some kind is helpful, too.