CAMPING

• Choosing food and water

  • Food that are not easily spoiled, lightweight, do not require a lot of water, easy to prepare, nutritious
• Before climbing a mountain, it is important to research about it, learn about its height, difficulty and danger of the trail, customs and traditions observed in the area, and usual hazards
• Safety protocols

  • Preventing dehydration and hyperthermia
  • Preventing hypothermia
  • Learning basic first aid
  • Applying insect repellent
  • Climbing with company, not alone
  • When lost, STOP - stop, think, observe, plan
• Mountain etiquette


  • Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
  • Leave no trace, do not leave any trash or garbage, do not vandalize, do not collect plants, animals, or rocks, do not disturb or harm living species, do not cut down trees or break branches for firewood
  • Camp only on designated campsites
  • Stay on designated pathways
  • Do not feed animals
  • Use detergent-free and biodegradable soaps and shampoos
  • Keep movements and voice low
  • Show courtesy to fellow climbers
  • Respect local practices
• Camping


  An essential component of mountaineering
• Camping


  Comprises a range of outdoor activities, often involving hiking, backpacking, mountain climbing, and fishing, among many others
• Campers


  • Participants who spend a few nights at a campsite, away from civilization, and enjoy nature
  • A minimum of one night should be spent outdoors for the activity to be considered as camping
  • May use a tent, a caravan, or a primitive shelter made out of wood and leaves as temporary shelter
• Types of camping

  • Survivalist camping (campers rely completely on resources found in nature)
  • Recreational camping (campers bring their own sources of electricity and heat, and other equipment to spend their nights comfortably in a campsite)
• Recreational camping


  Became popular in the 19th century
• Thomas Hiram Holding is considered the father of modern camping in the United Kingdom
• Holding wrote the Camper's Handbook in 1908 to share his enthusiasm for outdoor activities
• Holding went cycling and camping with four friends across Ireland and wrote a book titled "Cycle and Camp in Connemara"
• This event led to the formation of the first camping group, the association of Cycle Clampers in 1901
• The association opened its own camping site in 1906 and merged with the National Camping Club in 1910
• Camping activities waned during World War 1 but were quickly revived after the war when the founder of the Boy Scouts Movement, Robert Baden-Powell, became the association's president
• In 1932, the International Federation of Camping Clubs was established
• Beginning in the 1960s, camping had become a regular holiday activity among families in European and North American countries
• By the end of the century, camping had become popular even in African and Asian countries
• Essentials for camping

  • Water-proof tent
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mats or pads
  • Portable stove
  • Safe food and water
  • First aid kit
  • Appropriate clothing
  • Flashlights
  • Duct tape, matches, and Swiss knives
  • Trash bags
• Steps in pitching a tent

  1. Choose a spot and clear the area

  2. Place and lay down the tent over the ground sheet

  3. Insert all the poles in their respective positions

  4. Cover the tent with a flysheet

  5. Organize supplies and equipment inside the tent
• Useful tips in pitching a tent

  • In places with hard or stiff surfaces, tie the tent to large rocks
  • Do not allow the flysheet and the tent to come in contact to maintain the insulating air between the two
• Steps in making a fire

  1. Gather tinder (highly combustible materials)

  2. Gather kindling (dried leaves and small sticks)

  3. Gather wood (small logs and branches)
• The importance of fire is not limited to cooking, but also to survival (source of heat, smoke away insects, signal position)
• Check for any rule or restriction on making fire when looking for the campsite
• General safety protocols when camping

  • Bring a first aid kit and know how to use its content
  • Never use flammable fluids in starting a fire
  • Bring emergency supplies (map, compass, whistle, waterproof fire starter, etc.)
  • Wear insect repellent and sunscreen
  • Bring safe food and water
  • Do not disregard any injury or illness, seek immediate medical attention
  • Know who to contact at the camp location during emergency situations
  • Always have a back-up plan
  • Check for ticks, sunburn, or skin rashes, and other health-related issues when you get home
  • Keep a disciplined attitude