by Russell Waldron

Created on: July 20, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

To err is human, but when one makes major mistakes when camping they could be endangering their lives and the lives of their camping companions as well.

Most people love the great outdoors. The rustic nature of the wilderness, the essence of pine drifting on the breeze, sensational scenic views and the sense of total freedom is definitely second to none. Yet camping isn't just about delightful scenic views, sleeping in a tent and enjoying the warmth of a campfire while sharing jokes and spooky stories with your friends or family. When we step outdoors to explore we expect to have a memorable adventure.

No one plans on having a bad experience, yet it can and often does happen. More so when we fail to prepare in advance. While spur of the moment adventures are great, one needs to have their wits about them when contemplating a camping adventure. A great outdoor experience is possible with the right preparation. Without this, many can and often do, place themselves in dangerous situations. So what are some of the more common mistakes one makes in lieu of having an unpleasant outdoor experience?

1) Lack of experience with your camping equipment can be highly frustrating. We often purchase all the right gear and fail to ensure that we know how to use it before we head outdoors. What's the use of having the most up to date camping equipment if we don't know how it functions? A little commonsense goes a long way.

We all know that the unexpected often happens, tents are often packed without poles and so forth. Without checking the equipment, we could be setting ourselves up for a load of u unnecessary stress. Use the equipment at home, set it up in the back yard. Check that your hurricane lamp works, familiarize yourself with everything; fishing gear, camp chairs, camp ovens and so forth. Set out the tent and use it overnight, ensuring that no parts are missing.

Hosing your tent down prior to heading to the great outdoors, aids in conditioning it to the elements. But allow it to dry out before packing it back up. Cook a meal using your new camp oven, sit in the camp chairs and ensure that they are solid and constructed well. Little fingers have been severed due to faulty camp chair folding up when least expected. If you have new hunting gear experiment with this as well.

2) One of the more common mistakes is not having appropriate safety equipment. Those going four wheel driving should always carry a winch with them in case they get bogged in mud, sand and so

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