Things You Can Do To Prepare
INTRODUCTION
There are several things you’ll want to prepare for. Camping for four days is an enjoyable experience if you are prepared for it. Being prepared will be the difference between having a blast and being miserable. If you take a couple simple steps outlined in this guide you will find camping in the early autumn an enjoyable experience. Remember, staying comfortable is the key. Even in wet, cool weather you can find ways to be extremely comfortable.
At its most simple, Recycled Rainbow is a weekend spent at a campground… camping. You won’t be spending your waking and sleeping moments indoors, you’ll be outside for three days straight. There are some very basic things you should bring with you to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Remember, making yourself comfortable is most important! once you’re comfy, everything else is easy. The following is a good list of things to work from.
A List of Some Basics…
- tent
- tent stakes (people seem to always forget this part)
- rain cover (for the tent)
- tarp (to cover your gear or whatever else)
- warm clothes
- sleeping bag
- pillow
- air mattress
- air mattress pump.
- duct tape
- 5-10 zip-loc bags (for putting things in)
- “captains” camp chair
- aloe get (for sunburns)
- wash basin
- garbage bags (both for recycling and for regular garbage)
- toilet paper (cuz you never know about them campground bathrooms)
- enough food for 3 days
- cups, plates, bowls, dining utensils
- water
- enough medicine for 3 days (if there are meds you take daily, bring them with you!)
- flashlights (bring more than one!)
- batteries, lots and lots of batteries of all types.
- sunblock
- bug repellent
- condoms
- hand sanitizer and baby wipes
- Coolers (there are no refrigerators, so you’ll use these as your ice boxes)
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Big Tubs: I’ve found that buying two or three large 5 or 10 gallon sealable food tubs are amazingly versatile. You can use them to pack your stuff in and out- use them as wash basins, foot baths if you need to- and a couple sealed tubs make fantastic night-stands in your tent- just place them next to your air mattress, add a couple led candles and you’re good to go.
Where to Buy Tents And Gear
Local sporting goods stores are a good start. DICK’s sports generally has sales in late summer on tents, sleeping bags and camping supplies. You can always buy used tents on Ebay, or check out people Selling Things like “tents” in Cleveland (on Craig’s List), or people Sellin “camping stuff” (Craig’s List). Craigs list hooks you up with local sellers for a more personal purchase of gear.
I personally like to forego the whole sleeping bag thing and bring an air mattress, pump, fitted sheets and full set of bedclothes. Nothing will give you a better morning than a good night’s sleep with a blanket and pillow! Try arranging your tent like a bedroom, with table surfaces and a small camp chair- even decorating the inside of your tent will make you more comfortable when returning to bed after a night of revelry.
You may want to read the Gorp camping guide tent buying guide too!
Cold Weather and Wet Weather Camping
While the end of September isn’t always cold, there’s a very high possibility it will get cold, especially at night. While camping in cold, wet weather can be a challenge it can certainly be done and you can be comfortable doing it. Unlike many parts of the Western United States, our environment has very unpredictable weather and can change at a moments notice. Once moment it’s 50 degrees Farenheight and raining and the next day it’s 75 and sunny. This requires a higher degree of preparedness including how you pack and what you prepare to wear. Here are a few tips to consider:
Ground cover, Ground cover, Ground cover
Due to the possibility of rain and the 100% certainty that the ground will be wet, you are strongly encouraged to purchase a couple sheets of “visqueen”-type plastic sheeting to place beneath your tent. An old shower curtain works great for this and you can cut it to the size of your tent’s floor!
Important! Make sure the tarp or plastic does not extend beyond the edge of your tent. Extending ground covers beyond your tent will collect dew at night and defeat the purpose of the ground cover!
This will keep any moisture from seeping into your tent. Note that tents are not generally waterproof and require extra care in preparing for wet camping. Laying down a ground cover under your tent is one of the oldest and best secrets in the book and will make the difference between a pleasant experience and a miserable one.
Clothing Tips
- Dress in layers with wicking material next to your skin, fleece or wool above, and wind or waterproof clothing on top
- Remove and add layers of clothing depending on your activity level and any condition changes
- Replace wet socks with dry socks as needed
- Wear boots that are waterproofed on the outside
- Cover your head and neck, as well as face when necessary, with hats, scarves, and face masks
- Tuck in pants to keep snow out of your boots
- Replace wet gloves as needed, using mittens, whenever possible, in extremely cold temperatures
- Avoid cotton
- Before you dress in the morning, warm up clothes inside your sleeping bag
Campsite Tips
- Use a 4-season tent or a 3-season tent placed on a waterproof groundcover
- Choose a spot sheltered from the wind, build a wind break by piling up snow or leaves, or dig a 1 to 2 foot hole in the snow
- Keep tent vents open to avoid condensation inside the tent
- Use special snow stakes for anchoring
- Change into dry socks and footgear
- Sit on a closed cell foam pad
- Drink hot drinks during the evening
- Snack and then exercise a few minutes before you go to bed
Sleeping Snugly
- Use one or two ground pads
- Bring a sleeping bag designed for the conditions — add liners to increase warmth
- Consider a mummy-style sleeping bag which reduces cold air space
- Do not sleep in damp clothes
- Drop in a leak-proof hot water container
- Sleep with a hat
- Do not breathe inside the bag — the moisture will collect
- Stay in the sleeping bag as long as possible while getting ready in the morning
Poison Ivy is a fact of life in camping. Learn how to identify it, and stay away from it! At the end of September, poison ivy will look a little different than what you’re looking for during the summer, but it is still toxic and can still make your weekend and long after your weekend a miserable mess. Remember, the poison part of poison ivy is actually the oil on the plant’s leaves. This means that anything that touches the leaves can carry the poison to your skin! Be careful when handlind your shoes, walking sticks or anything else you’re poking around in the woods with. Do not eat poison ivy.
From The OSU Poison Ivy Fact Sheet
The best way to identify poison ivy (Rhus radicans) is by its characteristic compound leaf consisting of three leaflets. The leaflets are two to four inches long, dull or glossy green with pointed tips. The middle leaflet is generally larger than the two laterals. The margins of the leaflets are variable, appearing irregularly toothed, lobed, or smooth. The leaves are positioned alternately on the stems. In contrast, Virginia Creeper, a non-poisonous vine often mistaken for poison ivy, has five leaflets radiating from one point of attachment.
Poison ivy can be found in one of three forms; as an erect woody shrub, a trailing shrub running along the ground, or a woody vine. The vine is usually seen growing on trees or other objects for support. It has aerial roots along the stem that give it the appearance of a “fuzzy rope.” Yellowish-green flowers occur in compact clusters in leaf axils, and are produced in June or July. The waxy, berry-like fruit is grayish-white, with distinct lines marking the outer surface, and is about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter.
Treatment (From Wikipedia)
One of the most effective methods for removing the oil is to use mineral oil (paraffin oil) or pure ethanol to dissolve the oil so that it can be washed away from skin, clothes, tools and other items. According to the FDA, in case of known contact, exposed skin needs to be cleaned within 10 minutes of contact with rubbing alcohol, then washed with water only (soap can move the urushiol to other parts of the body). After washing the contact area the FDA recommends taking a shower with soap and warm water. When tools and clothing come into contact with the oil, the use of gloves can prevent contact between any oil and the skin. Tools and other objects that have had contact with the oil are cleaned with rubbing alcohol and water.
Applying cool compresses on the affected areas is sometimes adequate for relief. There are several over-the-counter lotions and ointments for treating poison ivy irritation and itchiness. However, in contrast to most allergies, diphenhydramine has no effect on the rash but can provide some relief from the itching. It is taken orally and not applied as a topical cream. There are several prescription medications that are administered for treatment; for example, hydroxyzine hydrochloride (sold as Atarax or Rezine) helps relieve itching and dry blisters. In extreme cases cortisone and prednisone pills or shots are used.
Being clean can make all the difference especially if you’re not into smelling like a campfire on saturday morning. While the campground where RR will be held offer showers to participants, there are a number of tricks and products that will keep you feeling clean and comfortable through the event.
Baby Wipes
Inexpensive baby wipes are a great way to wipe your face, crotch and armpits- they take up little room in your garbage bags and require no water. A dry terrycloth towel is even better to dry up after wiping down.
No-Rinse Shampoo
Developed for hospitals and camping, no-rinse products require no water and leave your hair clean and soft. Simply squirt the product into your hands, work it through your hair and dry off with a terrycloth towel. Great for getting campfire smoke from a night of sitting by the fire out of your hair the next morning!
Instant Hand Sanitizer
Is there anything it can’t do? Hand sanitizer is quickly becoming the duct tape of camp cleanliness. Always keep a nice big bottle at your camp and a small bottle in your bag to use after visiting the restroom. It’s rumored that hand sanitizer works great on armpits too, though we would try a little first to make sure irritation doesn’t become an issue.
Battery-Powered Shavers
For some, a shave in the morning is one of the most important things to feeling comfortable and clean. Battery-powered or rechargeable electric shavers cut down on gray-water!
Most people don’t think about the importance of bringing plenty of fresh water to an event located in a wet, rainy environment. Clean water, especially clean water from your local water source is an important way to keep comfortable and hydrated. In desert climates plenty of water is neccessary for survival, at RR plenty of fresh water is important. You never know what local water will taste like. Bring your own water and you know where it’s been!
The RR camp area has water supplied to some camp sites, but don’t count on it being available! It’s always a good idea to bring at least five gallons of clean water with you.
5 Gallon Water Carriers can be purchased for under $10 at most stores that sell camping supplies (Costco, Target, etc…).
If You Are On Prescription Medication
Heads up: don’t just take your pill case. Next time you refill, either ask for the smallest bottles possible for traveling purposes, or ask for paper copies of your scrips that include physical description of the pills’ appearances. If you get the papers, put them all together in one zip lock bag, and let SOMEBODY know where the info is hidden in case of emergency.
If you are in a mental or medical state that you can’t tell EMS what you are taking or why, your pills need to come with their own descriptions so that nobody gives you any emergency medical care that’s contraindicative to the stuff already inside your body!
If you are transported into Warren for any kind of medical attention and your ID clearly states you’re not local there is a good chance the hospital will want to see proof that the medication you are taking is yours (that you have a prescription for it).
Anyone who is bringing any meds of any kind — bag your bottles / pack tightly — freezer bags are best due to durability. Meds can disintegrate or even chemically change when exposed to the great outdoors — don’t let that happen.
There will be limited electricity in the uptown area. If you have refrigerator meds like insulin / certain eye drops / etc., we suggest camping in this area and either bringing a small refrigerator or camping with someone who does. Recycled Rainbow will not have a refrigerator for your medication. The temperature inside a cooler filled with ice simply can’t be controlled steadily enough for three full days.
As always — pack at least two more days of meds than you plan to need. Skipping a dose of something because a pill fell in the dirt/mud can be disasterous depending on what medication it is.
A great deal of fun and learning can be had planning, transporting and building medium-sized structures in which to live and relax. From creative uses of tarp, to geodesic domes, yurts and portable houses, structures create a great backdrop to the event and provide you with a space with wich to work. Recycled Rainbowers built a tea house earlier this year and served four exotic teas to people for two days in a geodesic PVC dome. Large domes have been known to house dance clubs, bars, movie theaters, massage studios, greenhouses and gladiator matches.
The following is a short list of resources for building structures outdoors:
- Tarp Shelters
- More Tarp Shelter Information
- Build Your Own Geodesic Dome
- More on geodesic domes
- Desert Domes: Building Domes with conduit or bamboo
- Global Village Shelters- houses for $500 you can build in 5 minutes
Your Gear And Mother Nature: Keep It Dry, Keep It Cool
Many, many Recycled Rainbow participants bring oodles of gear with them already; samplers, projectors, microphones, keyboards, amplifiers, computers… All these things are going to work out great in our new home- but we will be outdoors and it more than likely will rain. This shouldn’t keep you from bringing your gear, it should give you cause to think of ways to protect your gear from the elements. Late September can particularily be a challenge when considering the effects of condensation on electrical equipment.
Packets of dessicant (those little things that say “DO NOT EAT” on them?) are a good thing to keep handy. When storing your equipment, throw a couple dessicant packets on the gear and keep it in a cool, shady place. Keep your gear out of direct sunlight for extended periods of time. When carrying your gear from a cold place to a warm place, put it in a air-tight plastic bag to keep ambient moisture from liquefying on your electronics. This is especially important with cameras!!
- Find a reliable rain shelter- or build one.
- Learn about condensation, how it happens and how to keep it from damaging your equipment.
- Don’t bring your most valuable gear.
- Learn how to do more with less
- Research, research, research.
Cups and Glassware
To make it easier on trekking your trash out of RR, consider bringing one reuseable cup- get creative with it! Plastic wine glasses, giant plastic goblets… Reconsider bringing glassware as broken glass is a pain in the glass to clean up. Travel mugs work well too.
Aluminum Cans, Not Bottles
As mentioned earlier, aluminum cans are the best choice for outdoor drink containers- they recycle incredibly well, do not shatter and can be crushed to save space! The problem is, when people think of drinks in aluminum cans, they think of bad drinks. Leave it to Burning Man to come up with a list of great drinks that come in aluminum cans!
- Murphy’s Irish Stout
- Oranjeboom
- Ruddles Pub Ale Draught
- Guinness Stout
- Abbot Ale
- Boddingtons Pub Ale Draught
- Heineken
- Rolling Rock
- Kirin Ichiban
- Calgary Amber Lager
- Elephant Red
- Tecate
- Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Ocean Spray
- Kern’s Nectar Juices & Sodas
- Red Bull
- La Croix Sparkling Water
- Welch’s Juicemakers
- Orangina (now comes in cans!)
- V-8 and V-8 Picante
- Sunsweet Prune Juice
- Jamaica Gold Cappucino
- Trader Joe’s
- Safeway