I started out as a Leave No Trace Trainer back in 2006. In 2019, I got certified as a Leave No Trace Master Educator (now called a Level 2 Instructor). In this post I’ll help you understand the basics of Leave No Trace including:

• What is Leave No Trace? What does it mean?
• Why is Leave No Trace important?
• The 7 principles of Leave No Trace and how to implement them

What is Leave No Trace?

After noticing increased impacts like trash and campfire scars on heavily used trails in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, the US Forest Service developed the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace in the 1960s. Since then, Leave No Trace (often shortened to LNT) has become a registered non-profit with chapters around the world.

The idea behind the principles is to leave nature as unchanged by our presence as possible, so that future generations can enjoy it too. In essence, the purpose of Leave No Trace is to keep the wilderness wild.

I’ve heard people dismiss the idea of Leave No Trace as pointless since it’s impossible not to leave tiny traces wherever we go. However, those people are missing the point – we are looking for progress, not perfection. The principles of Leave No Trace guide us to leave as little impact as we can.

Why is Leave No Trace Important?

As more and more people chose to hike and camp and camp in wilderness areas, lessening our impact is becoming more important. In many areas some trails are getting loved to death by large crowds, garbage and environmental damage. This was especially true during the pandemic.

I firmly believe that nature is for everyone. Both experienced outdoors-people and newbies deserve to experience the outdoors.

But in order for that to happen, we all need to learn a bit more about how to be responsible hikers and campers. Remember that we were all beginners once.

My Introduction to Leave No Trace

On one of my first backpacking trips I washed the crusty noodles out of my pot… into a tiny alpine stream. I was surprised when they just sank to the bottom instead of magically flowing away (like they would in my sink at home).

I knew I was doing it wrong… but I didn’t know what else to do.  It was an important moment for me. I realized that I didn’t know what I didn’t know.. and that I needed to learn more about how to treat the wilderness. I did some research and learned about the Leave No Trace principles.

Maybe you’ve had a similar a-ha moment. Did you see trash in a campsite? Were you concerned about overcrowding in a National Park? Did you come across unburied human poop?

We all start somewhere in our Leave No Trace journey. It’s ok to admit you didn’t know. But we can all take a bit of time to learn how to do better next time.

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace

It’s important to know the seven principles of Leave No Trace. When I teach people about LNT, I find that the info sinks in better if they know the “why” and “how” behind each principle.

Remember that the 7 principles of Leave No Trace are not rules – they are guidelines that we can look to when we make decisions about how to behave outdoors.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

What Does Plan Ahead and Prepare Include: Research trail info, weather forecasts, park rules, and trail conditions before your hike.

Why: When you do some research before your hike, you are more likely to have a fun and SAFE hike. You will also minimize damage to nature.

How:

• Check the weather forecast and trail conditions to make sure you have the right gear and you are up to the challenges of the trail. (Read my guide to best weather apps for hikers.)
• Check local regulations to find out about closures, permits, fire regulations or other policies.
• Bring a first aid kit and the 10 essentials in case not everything goes according to plan.
• Avoid getting lost: bring a map and compass, a GPS and a trail description to stay on track.
• Repackage food to create less waste on the trail.

READ NEXT: 16 Things to do Before a Hike

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

What Does Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Mean? Hike and camp on durable surfaces like rocks, gravel, and snow.

Why: Some surface like alpine meadows, marshes and bogs are just too fragile to withstand much impact. The vegetation in those areas can take years to grow, and then be destroyed by a few boot-prints.

How:

• Stay on the trail to prevent trampling vegetation. Walk through mud, not around it to avoid widening the trail. Don’t cut corners on switchbacks since that causes erosion.
• In areas with no trails, spread out your tracks to spread out the impact and avoid creating a new trail.
• Camp in a designated campsites or ones that have been used before. Remember the best campsites are found, not made. (You don’t need to dig trenches or cut trees.)
• If there are no designated or previously used campsites, camp on gravel, bare dirt, snow or dry grass to minimize your impact.
• Try to camp at least 200ft/70 m from water sources. The plants by lakes and streams very fragile. Animals need to access water to drink and your presence may scare them off or cause conflict.

Dispose of Waste Properly

What Does Dispose of Waste Properly Mean? Pack out all garbage and food scraps. Learn how to poop and wash the Leave No Trace way.

Why: Animals who learn to eat people food or human waste may stop eating their natural food or may attack people. It can also make wildlife sick. Garbage, poop and soap can pollute water, making it unsafe to drink or killing plants and fish. Plus garbage and poop on the trails looks disgusting!

How:

• Pack out your trash, including fruit peels and eggshells. They can take months to biodegrade and in the meantime they attract animals. I like to say “It it doesn’t grow there, it doesn’t go there.”
• Never burn your trash in a campfire. Some materials don’t burn very well so you might leave a mess.
• Wash dishes and yourself in biodegradable soap using your largest pot as a sink. Strain out any large particles then dump your dirty dishwater 200ft/70m from a water source. (Just because soap is biodegradable doesn’t mean it’s good for fish or plants so it shouldn’t go directly into the water source.) Try going without soap – sometimes a wet cloth or a scrubber is all you need.
• When possible, use an outhouse or pit toilet.
• If you have to poop and there is no outhouse, pick a spot 200ft/70m away from trails, campsites and water sources. (This keeps water sources clean so people won’t get sick.) Use a small trowel, a tent peg or a stick to dig a hole 6″/15cm deep, then bury your poop.
• Pack out your menstrual supplies. Learn more about how to camp and hike with your period.
• Pack out your dog’s poop in a plastic bag or bury in it just like you would human poop. Wild animals like to eat dog poop but it is full of bacteria and parasites that they aren’t used to. (Get more Leave No Trace tips for hiking with dogs.)
• Bring a ziploc bag to pack out your used toilet paper. If you packing it out grosses you out, be sure to bury it with your poop.  Another alternative is to use natural TP like moss, leaves, rocks or snow. (Snow is particularly refreshing!)

Leave What You Find

What Does Leave What You Find Mean? Leave natural and historical items like flowers, rocks, pictographs, artefacts, etc. where you find them. Don’t move them or bring them home with you.

Why: Leaving the trail the way you found it lets others enjoy it too. It also keeps ecosystems intact.

How:

• Leave flowers, rocks and historical artifacts where nature put them. Take a photo and then leave them for others to enjoy. If we all picked a flower or brought home a rock, there wouldn’t be any left.
• Good campsites are found, not made. Avoid building structures, cutting trees or digging trenches.
• Graffiti is never acceptable. 
• Don’t build extra inukshuks, rock stacks or cairns unless they are necessary as trail markers. Building rock stacks can confuse hikers who might they are trail markers. (Did you know many insects and animals live under rocks? When you move them you destroy their homes.)

Minimize Campfire Impacts

What Does Minimize Campfire Impacts Mean? Plan to cook over a stove, not a fire. If you do build a campfire, learn how to minimize your impact.

Why: Campfires can have negative impacts. They damage the soil and can lead to excessive firewood harvesting in sensitive areas. Plus forest fires are pretty terrible.

How:

• Always bring a stove instead of planning to cook on a fire. It’s quicker, more fuel efficient and has less impact on the wilderness.
• Consider having a campfire-free night by using a small lantern instead.
• Check regulations before you go to find out if fires are allowed. Many areas have fire bans in place during dry spells or to protect sensitive ecosystems like the alpine or grasslands where fires are not appropriate due to fragile soils, short growing seasons for plants, the ease of wildfire spreading and/or a lack of firewood.
• If you do make a fire, use an existing fire ring and avoid building new ones.
• Keep your fire small.
• Use dead wood that is already on the ground to avoid harming trees. (It burns better too.) Choose small sticks that you can break up with your hands.
• Put your fire out completely when you are done.

Respect Wildlife

What Does Respect Wildlife Mean? Give animals some space, and make sure your dog does too. Don’t let animals have human food.

Why:  The wilderness is the animals’ home and it deserves respect. They need enough space to maintain their natural behaviour and may attack if provoked. Dogs love the outdoors too but their prey-drive means they may harass wildlife.

How:

• Never feed animals. Your human food isn’t healthy for them and if they develop a taste for human food, they may lose their ability to find food naturally. Some cute animals like squirrels and whiskey jacks have learned to beg for food. Don’t give in!
• Don’t let animals have access to your food. Never leave food unattended. When camping safely store your food for the night inside a food locker or bear canister or learn how to properly hang it in a tree.
• Observe animals from a respectful distance. Use binoculars or the zoom lens on your camera to get a better look.
• Keep your dog on a leash and under control so they don’t chase or bother wildlife. You might think that it’s not a big deal for your dog to chase a squirrel… but if they chase a bear both you and your dog might think it’s a big deal! Research local rules before you go to find out if dogs are allowed and if leashes are required. (Get more tips for Leaving No Trace with your dog.)

READ NEXT: Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

What Be Considerate of Other Visitors Mean? Keep the experience of other visitors in mind so that your actions don’t negatively impact someone else’s experience. Learn and follow trail and camp etiquette.

Why: We all need to share trails and campsites in order to let everyone experience the wilderness. Some people go hiking for fitness, others to socialize and others hike to spend time in nature. Respect the way that other people wish to experience the wilderness and try not to let your experience negatively impact theirs.

How:

• Yield to other users on the trail. Step off the trail to take breaks so you aren’t in someone’s way.
• Give other groups space at viewpoints or in camp. If there’s a popular photo spot, snap a few pics, then move aside so someone else can have their turn.
• Keep your voice low and avoid yelling. Keep your group together to avoid shouting back and forth. (You’re safer that way too.)
• Leave the music at home (or wear headphones if your life requires your own personal soundtrack). Most hikers and campers want to hear the sounds of nature, not music.
• Keep your group small to create less impact, take up less space and make less noise. A good guideline is no more than 8-10 people.

READ NEXT: 15 Ways to Avoid Crowded Hiking Trails

Final Thoughts

This is just a broad overview of how to Leave No Trace when hiking and camping. If you are interested in learning more about Leave No Trace you can visit leavenotrace.ca or lnt.org. On those sites you can also find listings for Leave No Trace awareness course providers in your area.

Keep Leave No Trace in mind when hiking and camp so we can all keep the wilderness wild.

READ NEXT:

• How to Leave No Trace With Dogs
• 16 Things to do Before a Hike
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• Tips for Safe Hiking in Wildfire Season
• The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

The post How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!) appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Here are my picks for the best Valentine’s gifts for campers and hikers. With 14 ideas on the list and items from budget to splurge, I hope you’ll find something for your sweetie. I’ve even included outdoorsy versions of traditional Valentine’s gifts. (And I’d like to think they are all a little bit romantic too.)

Psst! Need a memorable Valentine’s Day plan? Check out my suggestions for best Valentine’s date ideas for outdoorsy couples.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Hiking and Camping Inspired Valentine’s Day Cards

Skip the generic cards at the drug store and get a Valentine’s Day card designed for hikers or campers. Etsy has dozens of really sweet handmade cards perfect for Valentine’s Day. I love the hand-drawn hiking art on this one. There are also some cute cards on Amazon, like this adorable s’mores one.

A Cozy Double Sleeping Bag So You Can Snuggle

Let your partner know you want to cuddle with them on your next camping trip. There are tons of two-person sleeping bags available these days and they are way more comfortable and compact than zipping two single bags together. They make great Valentine’s gifts for hikers.

For lots of cozy warmth for car camping or chill backpacking trips, check out the Nemo Jazz 30 Double sleeping bag. It has a sleeve at the back that fits a double mattress or two singles so it won’t shift around at night.

If you’re looking for something to use on fast and light backcountry trips, get a double quilt. Backpacking quilts have come a long way – they come with features like straps to attach it to your sleeping pad, side draft tubes to keep cold air out, and cozy elasticized foot boxes. The Therm-a-rest Vela Double 20F/-6C Quilt is a great ultralight option for couples who like to cuddle.

Backcountry Happy Hour Supplies

If your partner likes to enjoy a backcountry beverage, pick up a collapsible wine carafe, a lightweight flask, or an insulated growler, then pair it with a bottle of their favourite liquid indulgence.

We take a super-light Platypus PlatyPreserve portable wine bottle on lots of trips. It folds down into nearly nothing once it’s empty and doesn’t affect the taste of the wine.

Wine can get a bit bulky, so my husband often packs a flask of scotch. If you’re looking for a traditional metal flask, you can’t go wrong with the stainless steel Stanley Classic Flask. It comes in a bunch of colours too.

For bonus points, include camping versions of glasses of wine or beer glasses to go with your carafe or growler.

For wine glasses, the simple and affordable GSI Outdoors Nesting Wine Glass Set is a good option. The plastic glasses are unbreakable, collapse to take up less space, and have stems so you can feel fancy.

If you’re looking for something insulated, YETI makes tumblers in both wine glass and beer pint sizes. I have a YETI Rambler Tumbler 20. It’s great as a travel mug for coffee, but it also works to keep beer cold and holds a pint perfectly. It comes in great colours too.

Bouquet of (Wild) Flowers (Identification)

A bouquet of roses is such a Valentine’s cliche. Get your sweetheart a flower identification book instead. That way you can explore meadows together, learning about the wildflowers you spot. I use Popular Wildflowers of Coastal British Columbia and Vancouver Island by Neil Jennings for my local area. Look online or in your local outdoor store for options for flower and plant ID guides.

Leave No Trace Tip: If you do head out to see wildflowers, keep Leave No Trace in mind. Stay on trails to avoid trampling flowers. Take a photo instead of picking them so others can enjoy them too. Wildflowers are fragile and some take years to produce a bloom. When you pick them or step on them, you can kill them.

Sexy (Quick-Dry Hiking) Undies

Lingerie is a traditional Valentine’s Day gift, right? Get them some sexy undies, but choose quick-drying ones perfect for hiking. They’ll probably get more wear out of them than something impractically silky or lacy you picked up at the mall.

I love Patagonia’s Active Underwear. They’re basic, but cute and come in both briefs and hipsters. They are seamless too, so they won’t chafe on long hikes. They’re one of my picks for the best hiking underwear for women.

The guys I hike with swear by Saxx Kinetic HD Boxer Briefs. They fit well, dry quickly, and have a special pouch to keep the boys from rubbing against their legs. They also come in bright red, perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Mood Lighting (for Camp)

The right lighting can help set a romantic mood. Don’t miss out on mood lighting at your campsite. Now that LED lights and powerful batteries are ubiquitous, there are lots of cool options for campsite lighting. (And then your sweetie can honestly tell you that you light up their life. Sorry… I couldn’t resist.)

The MPowered Luci Solar String Lights are really cute for around camp or inside your tent. You can charge them by USB or the built-in solar panel.

Black Diamond’s Moji Lantern also makes a great gift. It’s tiny but throws off plenty of light. It comes in fun colours too.

A Romantic Cabin Getaway

Spend the weekend in the woods with your sweetie in a cozy cabin. Go for hikes nearby, then curl up by the fire together in the evenings or watch for shooting stars from the hot tub. VRBO is my go-to spot for booking incredible cabins. If you’re in British Columbia, check out my picks for the best cabin getaways near Vancouver.

Camping Loveseat For Cuddly Campfire Time

You cuddle on the couch at home, so I bet you’d love to cuddle around the campfire too. Enter the camping loveseat. It’s basically a camping chair that fits two people. The Kelty Loveseat holds both of you, has a cozy quilted fabric, and cupholders.

Document Your Adventures Together

One of the sweetest Valentine’s gifts for hikers is something that celebrates your adventures together. There are lots of ways to document your memories. Print and frame a favorite photo from a hiking or camping trip. Make them a photo book from a memorable trip. Order custom art made with maps of places you’ve hiked together. Or give them a gift that will help you plan new adventures like a scratch-off national parks map.

Camping Slippers (So They Don’t Get Cold Feet)

Yes… this Valentine’s gift for hikers is essentially just a bad pun. But really, every hiker could use a pair of camping slippers.

A friend of mine has the Teva ReEmber Moc Slippers and loves them for car camping since they are designed to be worn outside. They are easy to slip on, have a warm, quilted exterior, and soft footbeds. Plus, so many fun colours.

If your partner spends time snow camping or in backcountry huts, they need some hut booties. They are essentially sleeping bags for your feet with a weather-resistant outer and non-slip fabric soles. I’ve had a pair of MEC Hut Booties for years and they are still going strong. I’ve also heard great things about the Outdoor Research Tundra Booties.

Learn Something New Together

One of the best Valentine’s gifts for hiker is the gift of knowledge. Gift certificates for outdoor courses make great Valentine’s gifts for hikers and campers. Learn to be safer outdoors with a wilderness first aid course, a navigation course, or an avalanche safety course. Or take on a new outdoor sport together with intro clinics to rock climbing, kayaking, or skiing.

A Year of Adventures

Give your partner a whole year of adventures by getting them an annual parks or forest pass. An America the Beautiful Pass gives you one year of free entry to every single American National Park. Or give them a pass for your local State Parks or National Forest. If you’re in Canada, get them a Parks Canada Discovery Pass for a year’s worth of visits to all Canadian National Parks.

For us outdoorsy folks, Valentine’s Day can feel a bit strange since the conventional gifts just aren’t our style. But I think you can celebrate your love of your partner and the outdoors by giving them a romantic Valentine’s gift… with an outdoorsy twist. Do you have other suggestions for Valentine’s gifts for hikers and campers? Leave them in the comments.

Read Next:

• Valentines Day Date Ideas for Outdoorsy Couples
• Cozy Cabins near Vancouver Perfect for a Weekend Getaway
• Best Hiking Underwear For Women and Men
• 40 Best Gifts for Backpackers
• The Best Eco-friendly Gifts for Hikers
• Best Gifts for Snowshoers (25+ Ideas)
• 20 Fabulous Canadian National Park Gift Ideas

The post Romantic Valentine’s Gifts for Hikers and Campers appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

If you haven’t heard, these camping reservation notifiers send you a text or an email when a campground you want to stay at gets a cancellation. Then you can go online and book it.

Read on for my full run-down on camping cancellation apps. It includes a head-to-head comparison of two popular Canadian options, Campnab and Schnerp.

Hey there: Both Campnab and Schnerp gifted me subscriptions to their service. But all opinions in this post are completely my own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Why Use a Camping Cancellation App?

Camping is more popular than ever. While you used to be able to roll up to a campground on a Saturday afternoon and get a campsite, that is no longer the norm. Instead, you need to make a camping reservation online months in advance and everything gets fully booked up.

And that can suck for a couple of reasons: You may not know your schedule ahead of time. Or you might not get the campsite reservation you want even if you did try to book right when they opened.

The solution is a campsite availability checker. Read on to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

How Do Camping Cancellation Apps Work?

Before campsite cancellation notifiers came along, you didn’t have a lot of options if the campgrounds you wanted to stay at were fully booked up.

We all know that sometimes plans change and people have to cancel their reservation, leaving a campsite empty. You could refresh the booking website a few (dozen) times a day to see if anyone cancelled and a spot opened up. But that rarely worked and was super time-consuming, especially if you had to check more than one park or campground.

Campground cancellation apps do the checking for you. You sign up and input the campgrounds and dates you are looking for. The campsite availability checker uses an algorithm to automatically scan campground booking websites. Then it sends you a text or email when a campsite is available to book.

Once you get a notification, you have to act fast. Click the link in your text or email to go to the park website and reserve the site that just became available. Often, the campsite will get snapped up by someone else within seconds. But sometimes the site will be available for a few hours before it gets re-booked.

When I was trying to book a super popular campsite (Porteau Cove Provincial Park for those British Columbians in the know) it took dozens of notifications coming in before I was able to get a spot. Sometimes I missed the notification because I wasn’t paying attention to my phone or I was doing something more important (like working or sleeping). But sometimes I just didn’t click fast enough and someone else got there first.

Campground cancellation apps don’t book the campsite for you – you still have to make the reservation. That’s because using a campground reservation bot isn’t allowed. However, campground cancellation apps are legal since they just tell you when something is available, then you can book it yourself.

What About the “Notify Me” Feature Available from BC Parks and Parks Canada?

Since I originally wrote this review both BC Parks and Parks Canada have launched a free “notify me” feature that you can use when the campground you want is fully booked. The two systems use the same software so they work the same way.

In general, the “notify me” feature is helpful for casual frontcountry campers, but lots of people will still want to use a paid service for a few reasons.

Firstly, the “notify me” feature allows you to sign up for up to five notifications and you can only sign up for a very specific booking (the exact dates/duration and campground that you search for). If you are flexible with your dates or want to watch lots of campgrounds, that won’t be enough.

Secondly, “notify me” doesn’t work for backcountry campgrounds.

Thirdly, “notify me” isn’t very fast. In my experience (which is similar to others I’ve talked to) the email notification comes in about 30 minutes later than notifications from Campnab or Schnerp.

And finally, “notify me” is email only while Campnab and Schnerp are both text and email. Like most people, I check my texts all the time but ignore my emails for hours. That makes it more likely that I’ll see a Campnab or Schnerp text quickly so I can jump on it right away.

The Best Camping Cancellation Apps

There are lots of camping cancellation apps on the market right now. Some, like Arvie, are aimed only at RVers and focus on private RV parks. Campsite Assist, Campflare, and Campsite Notifier all scan American National Parks, State Parks, and forest service campgrounds. (However, each app has a slightly different list of parks they scan.

So far, only Campnab and Schnerp work in Canada. Since I’m Canadian, I’m going to focus on these two apps. Below you’ll find a head-to-head comparison of Campnab vs. Schnerp. I’ve been using both of these apps for nearly a year and have run lots of different searches through them to see what kind of results I get. Read on for the full review.

Campnab vs. Schnerp – What Campgrounds Do They Cover?

Right now Schnerp covers Parks Canada (national parks), Alberta Parks, BC Parks, and Ontario Parks. Between those four, they have the most popular places to camp in Canada covered. They also scan backcountry campgrounds and day-use activities like the bus to Lake O’Hara. As a plus for backcountry users, Schnerp also scans Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) huts.

Campnab covers waaaay more campgrounds. In Canada, they cover Alberta Parks, BC Parks, Ontario Parks, Nova Scotia Parks, and Parks Canada (national parks). They also scan American National Parks, many state parks, and other campgrounds available to book through recreation.gov. They also cover backcountry campgrounds, day-use buses, and wilderness permits in both countries. Starting in 2024, they also cover campgrounds run by Yellowstone lodges, which are notoriously hard to book.

Winner: Campnab

They just cover way more campgrounds.

Campnab vs. Schnerp – Price

Update: Schnerp used to be the clear winner in this category. But both Schnerp and Campnab changed their pricing in early 2024 to add more plans. I’ve updated this section to reflect the new pricing (which is still accurate as of early 2026).

With Schnerp, you have to sign up for a plan. But with Campnab, you can pay for a plan or pay-per-use. The pay-per-use scans are good if you are really sure of your plans and only need to watch one campground. But otherwise, getting a plan is a better deal.

Both Campnab and Schnerp have several monthly plan options available. But Schnerp gives you a free trial – they will send you 10 notifications for free.

It’s tempting to compare the plans from both apps head-to-head based purely on the price per set of dates at one campground you are watching (which Campnab calls a scan and Schnerp calls a request). Schnerp’s Basic plan is $5/request and their Priority plan is $4.14/request. Campnab’s plans are $3.33/scan (Good); $4/scan (Better); $4.29/scan (Awesome); $3.33/scan (Mega); $3/scan (Ultra).

But that doesn’t really give you the full picture. If you’re desperate to book a hard to reserve campground, you will also want to know how often they scan – in general you pay more for more frequent scans.

Campnab no longer discloses how often they scan. Instead they say they scan “frequently”, “boosted”, or “priority”. Campnab explains that their scans are variable based on the popularity of the park – more popular parks get scanned more often than less popular parks, and on more premium plans, they scan even more frequently. When they used to disclose their scan times, they weren’t scanning as often as Schnerp, but its hard to compare performance now.

It’s also worth noting that Schnerp’s scan set-up is really flexible, which means you get a lot more date options out each scan compared to Campnab. (See the Setting Up a Scan section below to see what I mean.)

The only place that Campnab wins is their Mega (15 scans) and Awesome (30 scans) Plans that let you run tons of scans compared to Schnerp which tops out at 7 scans.

Winner: Schnerp

Schnerp wins in most categories here. Not only do they have a free trial, but their $29/month Pro Plan is equivalent to Campnab’s $30/month Awesome Plan except that it (probably) scans more often. And since Schnerp has a better scan setup (see below), Schnerp’s Pro Plan can likely compete with Campnab’s Mega and Ultra Plans for most people.

Campnab vs. Schnerp – Setting Up a Scan

The process to set up a new scan is pretty similar between Campnab and Schnerp. However, there are a few key differences that you will want to pay attention to because they can affect the price.

On both services, you start by plugging in a park or campground. From there, you can select what type of site you want (RV vs. tent, which loops of the campground, if you are ok with a walk-in site, etc.) Both Schnerp and Campnab let you specify whether you want electric hook-ups or wheelchair accessibility.

If you know the campground well, you can also select a specific site or set of sites. Schnerp lets you do this as part of a standard request. On Campnab, you need to have a monthly subscription plan to use this feature.

The other way that the two services differ is when it comes to date selection windows. On Schnerp you can set up a scan that covers weeks or months at a time, then refine which days of the week within that window you want to arrive and how many days you want to stay. That counts as one scan. So for example, if you know you want to go camping a weekend in August, you can set up a scan that covers the whole month but then specify that you only want to arrive on Saturdays and stay for one night.

Campnab requires you to set up much smaller scans. You pick an arrival day and can say you are flexible up to six days after that date. Effectively, this means that each scan is a maximum of a week long. And in the August camping example I gave for Schnerp, you would have to set up four scans with Campnab, one for each weekend.

Winner: Schnerp

Since Schnerp allows you to have a much longer window of dates you are watching, you can create way more scans within their monthly plans than you can with Campnab.

Campnab vs. Schnerp – Receiving Notifications

Both Campnab and Schnerp send notifications by text message and email (you choose which method). The notification comes with a link directly to the park site to start your reservation. Schnerp also offers push notifications with their Pro Plan.

In practice, receiving notifications from both services is pretty similar. They both tell you the campground name, date, and campsite number that is available.

Since I was testing Schnerp and Campnab at the same time for the same dates and campgrounds, I was able to see which service was faster. I had dozens of notifications come in over a two-month stretch and most of the time, I got a notification from Schnerp a minute or so before I got one from Campnab.

On both sites, you can review your scans to see how many notifications you have been sent. Schnerp also has the added advantage of telling you how long a site was available before it got rebooked. It also tells you how many times it has scanned for you – my scans are all in the tens of thousands. There is no way I could have checked the booking sites that many times.

Winner: Schnerp

It’s often a bit faster than Campnab. I also like that you can dig into the history of your notifications and scans a bit more.

Campnab vs. Schnerp – Customer Support and Information

It can take a bit of trial and error to figure out how to configure scans with both Campnab and Schnerp. Or you might be wondering how these campsite availability checkers work or which pricing plan to choose.

Campnab has a huge FAQ page, full of answers to common questions including in-depth answers about how to set up scans and optimize the service. They also have a chat service you can contact if you need help or have questions. Their blog also has a few articles with great tips about how to use Campnab.

Schnerp has a bare-bones FAQ page that answers the basic questions but doesn’t go into any depth. They also have a chat service.

Winner: Campnab

Their FAQ page and blog have all the info you could ever need about using their camping cancellation app. I also love their optimization tips.

Campnab vs. Schnerp – Backstory

Both Campnab and Schnerp are Canadian companies with similar origin stories.

Campnab is run by two Vancouver-based software developers, Eric Karjaluoto and Eric Shelkie. They started Campnab in 2017 after having a hard time booking camping for families at BC Provincial Parks.

Canmore-based Dan Thareja started Schnerp in 2022. As a software developer, he wrote code to automatically scan Parks Canada reservations for himself. But when his friends wanted to use it, he thought it might also be a good business idea.

Dan chose the name “Schnerp” after a slang word that a friend used for hunting down powder stashes at a ski resort. To Dan’s friends, the term Schnerp could also be applied to any other scarce resource you worked hard to get.

Winner: Tie between Campnab and Schnerp

Both Campnab and Schnerp have similar backstories and both apps are made in Canada.

Campnab vs Schnerp – The Final Rating

After using both Campnab and Schnerp for a nearly a year and running tons of scans, I would say that I’m happy with both camping reservation notification services and recommend both of them.

However, I think the overall winner is Schnerp because their subscription provides more frequent scans for your money. But if you want to scan campgrounds in the United States, Campnab is still a great option.

Tips for Using Camping Cancellation Apps

The biggest complaint I hear from people using these apps is that by the time they see the notification and click through to book, someone else has already scooped up the cancellation.

My biggest piece of advice is to use text alerts, not email. Keep your phone close to you so you can see those alerts right away. I typically have my phone on silent, but but I have special settings for Campnab and Schnerp so that they always ding audibly on my phone. I also use a different sound than for regular text messages so that I know it’s something I need to jump on right away.

Final Thoughts

So that’s everything you need to know about camping cancellation apps. If you’re looking to find a campsite this summer, I definitely recommend both Schnerp (and to a very slightly lesser extent Campnab). They are so helpful! Do you have other camping cancellation apps to recommend? Tell me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• Camping Near Vancouver, BC: 40+ Best Campgrounds
• How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
• How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations
• 2023 BC Backpacking Reservation Dates You Need to Know

The post The Best Camping Cancellation Apps: Campnab vs. Schnerp appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

After hearing reports of tons of wasp nests on my local trails during a particularly hot and dry summer, I did a bunch of research to find out how to avoid bees and wasps while hiking and what to do if you see them or are stung.

I’ve put together a complete guide to bees and wasps for hikers. It includes:

• Bees, wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets: Which insects are which? And why does it matter?
• What attracts bees and wasps? Why are they buzzing around in some places and not others?
• How to avoid wasps and bees while hiking – Which places and times of year should you avoid?
• What to do if you see wasps and bees – And more importantly, what not to do.
• What do if you discover a wasp nest or bee hive – How can you avoid getting stung?
• What do if you get stung by a wasp or bee – Essentially first aid info for hikers.

Bees, Wasps, Hornets, and Yellowjackets: What’s What?

If it’s black and yellow and buzzing around, most of us freak out a little. But it can be helpful to figure out which insect is bothering you since some of them are more of a problem than others.

I’m definitely not an entomologist (a scientist who studies insects) but I have learned a little bit about how to tell bees from wasps. In general, bees are fatter and fuzzier while wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets are skinnier and sleeker.

Bees can only sting you once, while wasps, yellow jackets and hornets can sting you over and over again.

While researching this post I found out that yellow jackets and hornets are both actually types of wasps! Yellow jackets are smaller than other wasps but more aggressive. Hornets are some of the biggest wasps and can also be very aggressive.

Yellow jackets, some species of wasps, and some kinds of bees build their nests in in the ground. Hornets, some kinds of bees, and some kinds of wasps build their nests in trees.

In general, wasps, especially yellowjackets, are the most dangerous for hikers since they can sting multiple times, are aggressive, and build their nests in the ground where hikers can accidentally step on them.

What Attracts Wasps and Bees?

Sugar and Meat

Wasps and bees are attracted to flowers since they depend on their nectar for food. But they also like all other sources of sugar, such as fruit trees and human food. They also love meat and rotting food. Wasps have a strong sense of smell and will fly long distances if they smell something they think is tasty.

It would be easy to say that you shouldn’t bring sweet food, fruit, or meat hiking, but honestly, hikers need to eat too. If you are worried about wasps, take short breaks to eat instead of long meals. That way you can eat quickly before lots of wasps show up.

Bright Colours

Wasps and bees like bright colours since they are the same colour as flowers. Experts seem to agree that avoiding bright-coloured clothing might make you less attractive to bees and wasps.

Floral and Fruity Scents

This one is another no-brainer – bees and wasps like the scent of flowers and fruit since that’s what they eat. Avoid wearing perfumes, lotions, or other products with a floral or fruity scent when you go hiking.

How to Avoid Wasps and Bees While Hiking

The only surefire way to avoid wasps and bees is to stay indoors all the time… and that’s not realistic. If you’re going outside during spring, summer, and fall, you are probably doing to encounter wasps and bees. However, there are some ways to pick hikes with less wasps and bees.

Avoid areas with flowers like alpine meadows, which typically bloom in July and August (Check local trail conditions to find out when peak bloom is.)

Avoid areas with lots of ripe fruit, such as berry bushes. In North America, huckleberries and blueberries are common on trails, along with many other berry species. The berries ripen in the spring at lower elevations and in the summer at higher elevations. Check local trail conditions to see if it is prime berry season on the trail you plan to hike.

Read trail conditions reports on park websites or apps like All Trails. You can often find reports of active wasp nests near trails. However, new nests pop up all the time, so just because there isn’t a warning about a nest doesn’t mean you won’t encounter one on the trail.

How to Repel Wasps and Bees

Unlike mosquitos, repelling wasps and bees isn’t as simple as applying bug spray. In fact, insect repellent sprays don’t work on wasps and bees. DEET and picaridin, the two most effective mosquito repellents, do nothing for wasps and bees.

There are lots of “natural” wasp-repellent recipes online made of essential oils. In general, these wasp deterrents tend to use peppermint, citrus, lemongrass, clove, or geranium.

However, most of these recipes are designed to be used in your yard or on your deck. They aren’t designed to be applied to your body, where they are easy to sweat off.

Unfortunately, the best way to repel wasps and bees is just to avoid them.

What to Do if You See Wasps or Bees

If you see a wasp or bee flying around while hiking, don’t freak out. In most cases, the wasps are just doing their thing, looking for food. They don’t care about you and will leave you alone.

Avoid swatting at the wasp or swinging your arms around. Wasps may perceive that as a threat and get defensive, which means they might become aggressive toward you. Instead, walk calmly away from the wasp or bee.

If you are eating, and the wasps are interested in your food, finish quickly, then put the food away. After the food is gone, the wasps will likely leave you alone.

What to Do if You Discover a Wasp Nest or Bee Hive

How to Spot a Nest

Above-ground nests in trees are much easier to spot than underground nests. In both cases, listen carefully for buzzing – the sound of hundreds of bees or wasps is often audible before you see the nest.

Unfortunately, underground wasp nests are very hard to detect until you are almost on top of them. Each year, countless hikers get stung when they unknowingly walk past an underground wasp nest.

When you walk past a wasp nest, the wasps often swarm out, defensively stinging you.

Wasps are the most aggressive in late summer, especially during hot and dry weather. This is because food is scarce at this time of year.

What to Do Once You Spot a Nest

If you see a wasp nest or bee hive, leave the area immediately. Wasps and bees will defend their homes aggressively and will sting you if you try to get close.

If you discover a wasp nest unexpectedly, run! If you run 100-200 metres/yards away, the wasps will stop chasing you as they want to stay and defend their nest. Don’t jump into the water as they will just wait on the surface for you.

If you see a wasp nest and the wasps haven’t swarmed out, yet, protect yourself by covering up as much exposed skin as possible with long pants and jackets. Then run past the nest, one at a time.

Space out your group so that the wasps have flown back inside the nest and aren’t agitated by the time the next person runs. In my experience, if you run too close together, the wasps sting the second person a lot more than the first!

Warn Other Hikers

Once you have discovered a nest, be a hero and warn other hikers on the trail about it and/or post a trail conditions report on AllTrails or other trail forums. If possible, try to put up some flagging tape or a small sign 100 metres/yards before the nest in both directions as a warning. And tell park rangers about it so they can warn more people

What to Do If You Get Stung By a Bee or Wasp While Hiking

Bee and wasp stings hurt a lot at first, but thankfully, the pain subsides quickly for most people. Once you get to a safe place away from the wasp or wasp nest, it is important to perform a little bit of first aid.

To start with remove the stinger. You can do this by using tweezers or scraping along the skin with the back of a knife or a credit card.

Next, clean the area with soap and water to remove bacteria and venom. If you don’t have soap, you can use hand sanitizer, then flush with water.

If the bite is painful or itchy, you can apply an anti-itch ointment like After Bite. You can also take antihistamines to reduce the itching and anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling.

Another way to get relief and reduce swelling is to apply cold water or an ice pack. When hiking, the easiest way to do this is to put the affected area in a creek, river, or lake.

If you have a wasp or bee allergy, it’s important to carry your epi-pen on all hikes. You never know when you will encounter these stinging creatures. And of course, make sure your hiking companions know about your epi-pen and how to help you use it in an emergency.

If you are stung in the mouth, nose, or throat, the swelling can obstruct your airway and make it difficult to breathe. In that case, get emergency assistance as soon as possible by calling search and rescue.

So that’s everything you need to know about bees and wasps while hiking. Fingers crossed that these tips help you avoid getting stung.

READ NEXT:

• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike
• 16 Things to do Before a Hike
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• How to Prevent Blisters When Hiking
• 300+ Hiking Terms Explained: A Hiking Glossary

The post How to Avoid Bees and Wasps While Hiking appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

This post has over 40 tips for staying warm while camping. I’m mostly a backpacker and road tripper, so these tips are for people who camp in a tent both in the backcountry and at drive-in campgrounds.

But why trust my advice? I’ve been camping my whole life and backpacking for over 20 years. (I’n 2021’ve also written two backpacking guidebooks.) I camp a few dozen nights each year, often in the wet and cold Canadian mountains.

I also worked in an outdoor store for three years, and then for six years at the head office of a large outdoor retailer. While I was there I learned so much about outdoor gear and skills that I wrote training materials for the staff.

So you can trust that this post has real, tried-and-tested advice about how to stay warm in a tent. No BS Pinterest hacks here 🙂

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Choose the Right Tent

With the tips in this article, you can stay warm in any tent. However, the type of tent you choose determines how easy it is to keep warm.

Small tents are warmer: The bigger the tent, the more space to heat. Small two- or three person- tents are the easiest to keep warm. Big tents you can stand up in will be harder to keep warm.

Four-season tents are warmer: Since they are designed for winter, four-season tents are easier to keep warm. They have fewer mesh panels and are built to withstand heavy wind and snow. But, unless you are a mountaineer or do a lot of backcountry winter camping, most people will be fine in a three-season tent.

Pick a Good Campsite

Where you put your tent can make a big difference when it comes to keeping warm while camping.

Choose a campsite out of the wind: If the cold wind howls all night, it will blow into even the most windproof tent. And that will make you cold. Pitch your tent in a clump of trees or behind a natural feature like a ridge.

Soak up the sun: If possible, choose a campsite that gets the morning sun. It will be much easier to get out of bed in the morning when you’re warmed by its rays!

Stay low: It is often much colder at higher elevations in the mountains. I like to camp low, then hike high during the day.

Fight Condensation

When it comes to staying warm in a tent, condensation is the enemy. You might be tempted to close the tent windows and block all air from entering.

But when you sleep, you exhale water vapor. If that water vapor doesn’t vent out of the tent it will settle on top of you and your sleeping bag as condensation. You will wake up cold and damp. No fun!

Pitch your tent tightly: Make sure you tighten up all the attachment points for your fly and stake out your tent well. Your tent is designed to have moisture pass through the mesh or fabric inner panels. Then it condenses on the underside of your tent fly. From there, it runs down to the ground. When you don’t pitch your tent tightly, the fly touches the mesh, which makes condensation drip back inside the tent.

Vent your tent: It might sound counter-intuitive to keep your tent open, but venting condensation can keep you warmer and more comfortable. If your tent has a vent over the door or in the roof, leave it open a little bit – vents up high work best. You can also leave your door partly unzipped.

Bring a Warm Sleeping Bag

This one seems like a no-brainer: a warm sleeping bag will keep you warm, right? Well, yes, of course. But… what does “warm” mean when it comes to sleeping bags?

Check the temperature rating: Most high-end sleeping bags from respected brands have a certified temperature rating verified by independent testing. When buying a sleeping bag, check to see if has an EN or ISO temperature rating. If the sleeping bag doesn’t have this rating, any claim that the manufacturer makes about its temperature suitability is just marketing hype. (And in my experience the sleeping bag won’t be nearly as warm as they claim.)

Read temperature ratings carefully: Each bag has two ratings: comfort and limit. If you are worried about being cold in your tent, use the comfort rating. I sleep cold and find that I am the warmest if I use a sleeping bag with a comfort rating that is 10-20°F (5-10°C) colder than the coldest temperature I expect to encounter.

Check the weather forecast: You need to know how cold it will be so you can figure out what temperature sleeping bag you will need. City forecasts are useless when you’re camping. Use these weather apps for hikers instead.

Use a sleeping bag with a hood: Keeping your head warm goes a long way toward staying warm in a tent. Pull the adjustments on your sleeping bag to snug the hood around your face so you don’t let cold air in. (But make sure your nose and mouth are out so you can breathe. And so you don’t trap condensation inside your sleeping bag.)

Look for a sleeping bag that keeps out drafts: Higher-end sleeping bags designed for cold weather will have extra baffles of insulation sewn into them to keep out cold air. Usually, this means a draft tube (a long baffle behind the zipper) and a draft collar (a bib-like flap that goes around your neck).

Choose a bag with a snug fit for your body type: If you have lots of empty space inside your sleeping bag, that is just more air you need to keep warm. A mummy-shaped sleeping bag will keep you warmer than a rectangular one. Short or petite people should look for small-sized sleeping bags. And if you are a bigger or taller person, make sure your sleeping bag isn’t too tight. If you press against the sides of your sleeping bag too much, you compress the insulation and it won’t keep you as warm. Look for bags in long or wide sizes.

Tuck tomorrow’s clothing into your sleeping bag: If your bag isn’t too snug, fill any empty space in the bag with dry clothing. It will keep you warm by cutting down on air space, and you’ll have warm clothing to put on in the morning.

Add Layers to Your Sleeping Bag

If your sleeping bag isn’t warm enough, you can always add layers to make it warmer. However, keep in mind that the suggestions for layers (below) do not have tested temperature ratings like sleeping bags do, so it can be hard to tell how much warmth they add.

Use a sleeping bag liner: A fleece sleeping bag liner can add warmth to your sleeping bag (up to about 12°F/6°C). Ones with Thermolite (an insulating fabric) can add up to 25°F/13°C. Lightweight sleeping bag liners made of cotton, silk, or synthetics are designed to wick sweat and keep the inside of your sleeping bag clean. They don’t add any warmth.

Use an overbag: An overbag is basically a sleeping bag that is cut to fit over top of another sleeping bag to add more warmth. Since it goes outside, you don’t risk getting squished and tangled inside your sleeping bag the way you do with a liner. Over bags are considered niche gear and are not as popular as they used to be, so they can be hard to find.

Add a quilt: Quilts are trendy right now. You can get all kinds of quilts from basic, inexpensive rectangular ones to fancy, ultralight tapered ones. Layering a quilt over your sleeping bag can definitely help keep you warm in a tent. My husband and I often bring a basic rectangular down quilt on cold trips, then drape it over both of our sleeping bags.

Add a blanket: A fleece or wool blanket can add a lot of warmth to your sleeping bag, but they can be bulky and heavy, especially in the case of wool ones.

Myth Busted: Space Blankets Add Warmth

Mylar space blankets keep you warm by reflecting your body heat back to you. BUT they also trap moisture. That means that as you sleep, all the water vapor from your breath and body will condense on the underside of the space blanket. You might be a little bit warmer in the short term, but you will be wet too, and that will make you colder.

Space blankets are great to use in an emergency when you don’t have anything else. But you shouldn’t plan to use one layered over your sleeping bag as part of your sleep system.

Use an Insulated Sleeping Pad

Most beginner campers focus on getting a warm sleeping bag. But getting a warm sleeping PAD is way more important. The ground is cold, and that cold seeps into your body all night long. If you’re going to splurge on any gear to keep you warm in a tent, make it a good sleeping pad.

Skip the air mattress: Traditional blow-up air mattresses may be comfortable, but they offer no insulation. All that air underneath you will just make you cold.

Use an insulated sleeping pad: Traditionally, the only insulated sleeping pads available were made with foam. But now you can also buy sleeping pads insulated with down, synthetic fibres, or even space-age foil.

Look for the R-value: This value is a measure of insulation – the higher the value, the more insulation it provides. Most high-end insulated sleeping pads from respected brands have a certified R-value verified by independent testing. When buying a sleeping pad, check to see if has an R-value. If it doesn’t have an R-value, any claim that the manufacturer makes about its insulation is just marketing hype (and likely misleading).

Choose a higher R-value: If you sleep cold, look for sleeping pads with a higher R-value. In general, R-values under 2 are good for warm weather. If you expect cold weather, an R-value of about 4 is good. For freezing temperatures, look for an R-value of 6. I sleep cold so in the summer I use an Exped Ultra 5R (R-value of 4.8), and the rest of the year I use a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm (R-value of 6.9).

Use two pads: If your sleeping pad isn’t warm enough, you can layer a second sleeping pad underneath. A simple and inexpensive closed-cell foam pad like the Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite can add an R-value of 1 to 2.

READ NEXT: 300+ Hiking Terms Explained: A Hiking Glossary

Dress in Warm Layers of Clothing

When you are camping or hiking, dressing in layers is a great way to regulate your temperature. You can add or remove layers as you get colder or warmer. Make sure your clothing isn’t too tight so that it doesn’t reduce blood flow.

Start with a Base Layer: Also called long underwear, base-layers wick sweat and trap heat against your body. Look for base layers made with merino wool or synthetics. Choose ones rated midweight or heavyweight. Avoid silk, which is good for comfort and moisture management, but not warmth. And definitely don’t wear cotton which absorbs moisture and doesn’t offer good insulation.

Add a Mid Layer: I like to bring fleece pants to layer over my long underwear bottoms on chilly trips. I also wear a fleece jacket or an insulated puffy jacket (either down or synthetic).

Wear Dry Clothes to Bed: Don’t wear damp or sweaty hiking clothes to bed. They will just keep you cold all night. Change into a dedicated set of sleeping clothes.

Keep Your Head and Neck Warm: Wear a warm beanie (toque for Canadians) to insulate your head. Look for ones made of wool or fleece. I like base layer tops with hoods that I can layer over my hat. Don’t forget about your neck. Layer on a fleece or merino wool buff (also known as a neck tube or neck gaiter).

Insulate Your Feet: It’s easy to get cold feet when camping. Bring a dedicated pair of warm fleece or wool socks. If you find you get really cold feet, a pair of insulated booties can work wonders.

Bring gloves or mittens: I like to sleep in merino wool or fleece gloves to stay warm in a tent. If it’s really cold, I wear insulated mittens since they are warmer than gloves (and I don’t need dexterity when I’m sleeping).

Myth Busted: Sleeping Naked Makes You Warmer

A common piece of advice for staying warm in a tent is to sleep naked inside your sleeping bag. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.

Sleeping bags trap your body heat, which keeps you warmer. If you wear warm, dry clothing to sleep in, that will let you trap even more body heat, keeping you even warmer than if you were naked.

READ NEXT: What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing

Make Sure You’re Warm Before You Go to Bed

If you are cold when you get in your sleeping bag, it will take a long time to warm up. Sleeping bags work by keeping the body heat you generate close to you. So make sure you are warm before you go to bed.

Layer up before you get cold: Don’t wait until you are shivering to put on more layers. If you are hanging around camp, put on your warm clothing before you feel the cold.

Do some light exercise: To make sure I’m really warm before I go to bed, I often do a few jumping jacks or jog in place. (An impromptu dance party is also fun!) This gets your heart rate up and raises your body temperature a little bit. Just be careful not to overdo it and get sweaty!

Eat and Drink Things That Warm You Up

Eat a high-calorie hot meal: Warm yourself up from the inside with a hot meal. Extra calories mean extra warmth from digestion.

Choose foods high in fat and protein: Your body uses a bit more energy to digest these foods, and that can make you feel a bit warmer.

Drink hot beverages: Hot chocolate, apple cider, tea and coffee can help raise your temperature a little bit. But like a warm meal, the main benefit is that they boost morale. (Avoid caffeinated tea and coffee. While caffeine can stimulate your metabolism, and increase your body temperature, it will just keep you awake all night!)

Avoid dehydration: When you are dehydrated, you can feel colder. Drink lots of liquids.

Myth Busted: Alcohol Makes You Warmer

Having a hot toddy or a shot can make you feel warm as the alcohol slides down your throat, but it actually lowers your body temperature.

That is because alcohol dilates your blood vessels, bringing blood to the surface of your skin. That makes you feel warm in the short term, but in the long term, it cools you down since that extra blood is exposed to cooler temperatures.

READ NEXT: How to Choose the Best Backpacking Meals

Add a Heat Source

So far, I’ve focused on tips for retaining your body heat to keep you warm in a tent. But you can also add in an external heat source for even more warmth.

Share your tent: Sleeping alone in a tent is much chillier than sharing with a friend or family member since you benefit from each other’s body heat.

Use a hot water bottle: A hot water bottle cradled against your core will add warmth to your sleeping bag for hours. You can also use a Nalgene bottle wrapped in a t-shirt. Just make sure the lid is on tight!

Bring hand and toe warmers: Hand and toe warmers can help heat up chilly extremities. You can buy disposable chemical warmers or reusable ones.

Use an electric blanket or space heater: If you have access to power, a small electric space heater or an electric blanket can add lots of heat. But be careful as frayed or loose wires can spark fires and sustained heat directly against the fabric of your tent or sleeping bag can melt it.

Myth busted: Propane Heaters are a Good Way to Heat a Tent

While many of propane camping heaters are marketed as tent heaters, if you read the info that comes with them, they say that they are not safe to be used indoors or in enclosed spaces. As well, the safety info says you can’t run them while you sleep.

That is because there isn’t enough ventilation and the carbon monoxide they produce can kill you. As well, they produce a lot of water vapor, which causes condensation issues inside the tent. And lastly, they include an open flame, which can start a fire.

I’ve also read reviews that said that these heaters don’t pump out that much heat and you will only really be warm if you are right next to the heater.

Unfortunately there are tons of companies out there promoting propane heaters as tent heaters. There are also lots of ill-informed blog posts suggesting you use a propane tent heater. Please don’t. It’s so dangerous and not worth it.

Bring a Thermometer

For the last few years, I’ve brought a thermometer on every hiking and camping trip. I make notes about the temperature and weather, along with the gear I brought. That way, I can learn what gear worked and what didn’t, then apply that knowledge on my next trip.

For a long time, I just used this basic mini-thermometer.

But recently, I upgraded to the digital Thermodrop. It stores the highest and lowest temperature since the last time it was turned on. That means I don’t have to check my thermometer in the middle of the night to know how cold it was.

In the future, I might even splurge on the Kestrel Drop, which logs temperature, humidity, and dew point, then displays it on graphs you can view via an app.

Final Thoughts

So that’s everything you need to know to stay warm in a tent. If you use these tips, you can have a great camping experience, even if it’s chilly out. Do you have questions about staying warm in a tent? Ask in the comments – I’m happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started
• Fall Backpacking Tips: How to Stay Warm and Have Fun
• What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
• 40+ Tips for Hiking in the Rain

The post How to Stay Warm in a Tent: Over 40 Tips appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I’ve been hiking, camping, and backpacking with my period for over 20 years. I’m also a Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor and the author of two backpacking guidebooks.

In this post, I’ll answer all your questions about how to camp and hike while on your period, including:

• Do you have to worry about bears when you have your period?
• Which menstrual products are best for hiking and camping?
• How can you stay clean when you have your period on a hike?
• What’s the best way to deal with cramps while hiking?

A quick note: Women and LBGTQ+ people are historically underrepresented in the outdoor community. Hesitation around hiking and camping while menstruating may one of many reasons for this. I’ve had lots of women and people who menstruate tell me they don’t feel comfortable backpacking on their period or that they are scared to try it. I hope this article gives you the info and confidence you need feel at ease hiking with your period.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Is it Safe to Go Hiking and Camping on Your Period?

You may have heard that it’s not safe to go hiking and camping when you have your period because you will attract bears.

Well, that’s a big fat lie – bears do NOT want to attack menstruating people!

Back in 1967, bears attacked two women in separate incidents in Montana’s Glacier National Park. Instead of blaming nearby garbage dumps and unsecured food, there was speculation that the women had been attacked because bears are attracted to menstrual odours.

Since at the time, women were not that common in the backcountry, the sexist outdoor community assumed the problem was the presence of female humans.

BUT neither of the women had their period at the time!

This misogynist myth is dangerous and keeps women and people who get periods from enjoying the wilderness.

Yes, we still need to be bear safe when we hike and camp with our periods and store our used menstrual supplies securely (more on that below). But it doesn’t make us susceptible to bear attacks.

Which Period Products Should You Use for Hiking and Camping?

These days, there are lots of period products on the market. Pads and tampons are the classic options, but you may also want to consider a menstrual cup, hormonal contraceptives, or period panties if you camp or hike on your period.

Here’s what you need to know about each option:

Pads and Tampons

If pads and tampons are your menstrual products of choice, you can definitely continue to use them camping and hiking. Before switching to a menstrual cup, I took tampons on countless hiking and backpacking trips over a 10-year span.

Here are my tips for using tampons and pads while hiking and camping:

Bring enough

Figure out how many tampons or pads you need for your trip… and then add a few more. You don’t want to run out!

Skip the applicator

Choose tampons without applicators to save space and weight. (o.b. is the most common brand, but you can also buy organic ones from smaller brands like Cora, Veeda, and Rael.)

It can take a bit to get used to going without an applicator, but it’s an easy switch. If you prefer applicators, choose cardboard ones as they are more environmentally friendly and can be squished flat to take up less room when you pack them out.

Fun fact: Tampon applicators are almost unheard of in Europe. For some reason, North American women are the only applicator lovers. Tampon applicators were actually invented in the 1920s as a way for women to avoid touching their vaginas, which was seen as immoral at the time. (Mostly because they were worried we’d like it!)

Pack it out

If you use pads or tampons, you will need to pack them out with you.

You can’t bury them in a cathole since animals will dig them up and they don’t biodegrade. You also can’t put them in the outhouse as they take decades to break down. They can also clog up outhouses and rangers may have to clean them out later. Don’t do that to the poor rangers!

Bring a sealed plastic bag to pack-out used pads, tampons, and applicators. Wrap them in toilet paper first to reduce mess.

For privacy, you can DIY a pack out bag that isn’t see-through. Try storing the ziplock inside a small stuff sack. Or cover a ziplock in duct tape or line it with a brown paper lunch bag. Toss the contents of the bag when you get home or to a garbage can.

Store it properly

Store your used menstrual supplies in your pack-out bag with your food and toiletries at night for bear safety. That means putting it in your car, a food locker, a bear canister, or a bear hang. (See my tips for bear safety for details on how to store food when backpacking and camping.)

If you’re concerned about reducing odours you can add a little bit of baking soda, coffee grounds, or an unused tea bag to your pack-out bag. Honestly, I’ve never really noticed much of an odour from my pack-out bag.

Menstrual Cup

I’ve been using a menstrual cup for the last few years and it’s been a game-changer for hiking and backpacking.

If you aren’t familiar, menstrual cups are flexible silicone cups that sit inside your vagina to collect blood. They are lightweight and reusable, so there is no waste to pack out. You can also leave it in for up to 12 hours, which I love since I only have to worry about it twice a day.

There are tons of cup brands out there. I use a Diva Cup, which is one of the most popular options. So many people are making the switch to a cup for camping and travel that MEC and REI both carry them.

Here are my tips for hiking and camping with a menstrual cup:

Practice at home first

It can take a bit of practice to get your menstrual cup inserted or removed correctly, but once you get it, it’s pretty easy. (Follow the directions that come with your cup.) I used mine at home for a few months before trying it in the backcountry.

There are tons of resources online to help you make the switch to a cup and decide which cup is right for you. I recommend Put A Cup In It, a website dedicated to menstrual advocacy and education.

Pro tip: The best way to change your cup at home is in the shower!

Empty your cup responsibly

Dispose of your cup contents the Leave No Trace way. If possible, pour it out into an outhouse. (Just be sure to keep a good grip on your cup – I live in fear of dropping mine down the hole!)

If you aren’t near an outhouse, dig a 6″ cat hole 70 big steps away from trails, campsites, and water sources. Empty your cup into the hole, then cover it up.

If you are in an area that requires you to pack out human waste, you’ll need to pack out your menstrual fluid too. Dump it in a wag bag or bring a sealed container (like a small water bottle).

Keep your cup clean

Keeping your cup clean is important for your health.

Rinse it with clean water or wipe it out with toilet paper before reinserting it. Bring the cotton bag your cup came in to store it after your period is over.

You can also buy special cup cleaning wipes. They don’t have any harsh chemicals that can damage your cup and are safe for your vagina. (Don’t use regular wipes or hand sanitizer to clean your cup as they can damage the cup and aren’t safe for your insides!)

If you are on a longer trip and want to give your cup a thorough clean, you can boil your cup for a few minutes or use biodegradable soap and warm water.

Empty your wash water into a cat hole 70 big steps from trails, campsites, and water sources. Never wash your cup directly in a stream or lake – even biodegradable soap isn’t safe for plants and fish. (Read more about washing dishes the responsible way on my guide to Leave No Trace.)

Honestly, I just rinse or wipe on the trail and save the deep cleaning for when I get home. I just make sure I keep my hands really clean whenever I’m handling my cup. (Tips on staying clean are below.)

I’ve also heard of women who have two cups. When they take the dirty one out, then put the second (clean) one in. Then they go rinse or wash the dirty one.

Hormonal Contraceptives

While you may not think of hormonal contraceptives as a way to deal with your period while hiking and camping, it’s a method that lots of people use. I’ve used this method dozens of times to avoid having my period on long backpacking trips.

If you take birth control pills, you can skip the placebo pills during the fourth week of your cycle and start the next pack of pills. That way you won’t get your period.

Some other forms of contraception can also prevent periods: hormonal IUDs, Depo-Provera injections, Nexplanon implants, NuvaRings, and contraceptive patches.

Using hormonal contraceptives to prevent your period usually works, but you may get your period anyway or experience spotting. Carry some menstrual supplies as a backup.

While skipping your period this way is generally safe, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about it. As well, you will run out of birth control earlier than normal, so make sure you plan for that.

Period Underwear

I have to admit that I don’t like period underwear. But I have a few friends who like them more than other menstrual products.

If you haven’t heard of them, period underwear are quick-drying underwear that have layers of absorbent and waterproof material built into the crotch – basically a built in menstrual pad.

Since they have to be washed before reusing, you will probably want multiple pairs for anything except day trips.

I think they aren’t a great option for multi-day backpacking. They might be ok for a day hike on a light flow day or as back up to tampon or cup, but otherwise, I think they aren’t worth the hassle.

They are a pain to change (you have to take off your pants and boots!) and don’t hold enough for heavy flow days. Washing them in the backcountry would take a lot of water and be very time-consuming. They also may not dry overnight so you might have to pack them up wet.

As well, used period panties need to be stored in a bear-safe way at night. That means that on backpacking trips they have to fit in your bear hang, food locker, or bear canister.

Clean Up and Hygiene Tips for Hiking With Your Period

Dealing with your period can be messy, and it gets a bit more complicated when you don’t have access to running water. But with a few supplies, it’s manageable.

Keep your hands clean

Clean hands are essential for vaginal health. You don’t want an infection or a UTI on the trail!

Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before and after inserting menstrual cups or tampons. (Remember to wash the Leave No Trace way with biodegradable soap away from water sources.) A water bottle with a squeeze nozzle (like a biking bottle) is helpful for washing your hands.

If you’re worried about keeping your hands clean, you can bring some nitrile gloves to use when handling your menstrual supplies. Just remember to pack them out with your trash.

Bring clean-up supplies

Be prepared for messes by bringing extra toilet paper or wipes. Skip the scented wipes that can irritate your vulva, give you a yeast infection, and attract wildlife. Unscented sensitive skin baby wipes are the cheapest option. Remember to pack them out with you as they don’t biodegrade so you can’t bury them or dump them in an outhouse.

I usually just use toilet paper and carry it in a Ziploc bag to the next outhouse or trash can, then dump it there.

Put together a period kit

Make it easy to deal with your period on the trail by storing all your menstrual supplies together in a kit.

I use a small stuff sack. Inside I have toilet paper, hand sanitizer, my pack-out bag, and my menstrual cup in its cotton bag. (I used to carry a Ziploc bag of tampons.) If you prefer to use them, don’t forget to add a small container of gentle biodegradable soap, unscented wipes, and nitrile gloves.

How to Deal with Menstrual Cramps While Camping and Hiking

Cramps are no fun at home, and they really suck on the trail. Besides just toughing it out, there are a few things you can do to deal with period cramps on the trail:

Pack your favourite pain reliever… and bring lots. You don’t want to run out!

In camp, fill a water bottle with boiling water, wrap it in a spare shirt, then use it as a hot water bottle.

Drink lots. Many women say that they find exercising when they have their period easier if they are well hydrated.

Talk to your hiking partners about what’s going on. Periods are a fact of life and not something to be ashamed of. Tell your friends if you need to slow down or take a break.

I often find that my cramps are worse when I stop moving and that I can’t hike as fast as I’d like. It’s easier if I explain that to friends at the beginning of the trip instead of silently wishing they would slow down!

Final Thoughts

So that’s everything you need to know about hiking with your period. I hope this article gives you the confidence to go ahead with a hiking or backpacking trip, even if you have your period. It’s not as scary as you might think!

READ NEXT:

• Backpacking for Beginners: Tips for Getting Started
• How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)
• Which Women’s Specific Hiking Gear is Actually Worth Buying?
• Best Hiking Underwear For Women and Men

The post How to Camp and Hike on Your Period appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Psst… Need Valentine’s gift ideas? Check out my list of the most romantic Valentine’s gifts for hikers and campers.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you have make a purchase, I earn a small commission with no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

Backcountry Dinner Date

Tell your significant other you’re taking them for a backcountry dinner (or lunch) date for Valentine’s day, but tell them that what’s on the menu is a surprise.  To ensure success you’ll need a few key ingredients:

First, you need a good destination.  Pick a mountain top, a lake, a scenic clearing in the woods, somewhere with a great view or a place that is special to the two of you.

Second, you need to set the scene for romance.  Bring some candles or these adorable solar string lights to set the mood. Ensure your partner will be comfortable as it is February so it’s going to be cold!  Make sure you bring warm clothes and something to sit on like a sleeping pad. (We have these amazing and lightweight Helinox chairs.)

Third, you need a kick-ass meal.  Make it special, make it unexpected, make something that your partner would never think to make on a backpacking stove.  Think steamed mussels, steak, lobster, or whatever your sweetie loves best.  Don’t forget the dessert! (It’s a good time to try out my recipe for Backcountry Chocolate Fondue.)

Lastly, don’t forget the headlamps.  If you stay out for dinner, you’re likely heading home in the dark.

Surprise Weekend Getaway

Surprise your significant other with an outdoorsy weekend away for Valentine’s Day.  Ensure they have a clear schedule, pack their bags for them, pick them up after work on Friday and whisk them away for the weekend. My husband has done this one a few times and it’s always lovely (although I do prefer to pack my own bag!)

Head out somewhere with lots of outdoors stuff to do. Book a hotel room in a mountain town, rent a rustic cabin in the woods or snowshoe into a remote campsite with your tent. Take on all the packing and prep so your partner doesn’t have to and plan all of their favourite activities and meals.

(Psst: If you’re in British Columbia, check out my picks for the best cozy cabin getaways near Vancouver.)

Sunrise/Sunset Hike

What could be more romantic than watching the sunset with the one you love on Valentine’s Day? Go on a sunset hike.  (Or a sunrise hike if you are both early risers – this option certainly wouldn’t work at my house!)  Make sure you check sunset or sunrise times online and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. I use golden-hour.com

And it might be a no-brainer, but don’t forget to check that your destination has a good view of the sunrise (facing east) or sunset (facing west).  You’ll also want to take into account the fact the sun is a bit further south in the sky during winter. Good bets for sunrises and sunsets are beaches, mountain tops or scenic viewpoints. Don’t forget a thermos of something warm to share.

Dinner and a Movie

Wait… what?  This isn’t outside!  Well that’s true, but sometimes you don’t have time to get outdoors or perhaps the weather is truly terrible.  In that case, dinner and a movie, the old standby, is still a good idea.  

But put an outdoors twist on it by choosing an outdoorsy movie. Netflix, iTunes, and Youtube have some great outdoors documentaries for download or streaming. If you need ideas, check out my list of over 80 women’s adventure films you can stream. Don’t forget the popcorn, and since it’s Valentine’s Day, get some sweet treats too.

What are you doing this Valentine’s Day?  Which of my Valentine’s Day date ideas for Outdoorsy couples would you choose?

Read Next:

• Romantic Valentine’s Gifts for Hikers and Campers
• Backcountry Chocolate Fondue Recipe
• Cozy Cabins near Vancouver Perfect for a Weekend Getaway
• 80+ Women’s Adventure Films You Can Stream
• 8 Tips for Winter Hiking (You Don’t Have to Freeze!)

The post Valentines Day Date Ideas for Outdoorsy Couples appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

But you know who is qualified? My friend Amanda. (In fact she’s super-qualified!) She and her dog Frank have hiked and backpacked more miles together than any other human-dog duo I’ve ever heard of. They’ve summited over 50 peaks in BC’s Coast Mountains and last year they thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail southbound. (Amanda’s thru-hiker trail name is “Naps”). You can follow along with their adventures on Amanda’s Instagram, @tidelinetoalpine and website, tidelinetoalpine.com. She put together a great overview of the 7 principles of Leave No Trace as they relate to dogs. Plus she added more key guideline to ensure you and your dog have a great trip. Keep reading to learn how to Leave No Trace with dogs. Thanks Amanda! -Taryn

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support! -Taryn

With the popularity of outdoor adventures skyrocketing, more and more people are bringing their 4-legged companions with them into wild spaces. Hiking and camping with your dog can make for a great experience. But it can also have a negative impact on those around you and the places you visit.

The more we allow our pets to have a negative impact, the more restrictions we will face as dog owners and the less fun everyone will have on the trails. That includes dog owners and our canine companions. As people who adventure with dogs, it’s important that we are exemplary members of the outdoor community so we can protect wild spaces.

But we also want to make sure that we prevent further restrictions on bringing dogs with us on our hikes. This begins with having a well trained pup and understanding how to apply Leave No Trace with dogs. By being a responsible pet owner and following the Leave No Trace principles, bringing a dog into the wild doesn’t need to have any more impact than humans.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

On any adventure it is important to plan and prepare. But with a dog there are few extra factors to research and consider before heading out. Ignorance is not a excuse for ignoring the rules. Here are some examples of factors to consider when planning and preparing for trip with your dog:

• Check the dog regulations for the area you are headed to (e.g. park, campground, national forest, etc.). Do they allow dogs? What are the leash rules? Often, you are required to use a leash no longer than 6ft. Are there seasonal wildlife closures you need to be aware of? All the relevant information pertaining to is usually online so you can check ahead of time.
• Is your dog prepared for the terrain and trail conditions? Can they handle the distance? Are their paws conditioned for rough surfaces? How does your dog react to wild animals?
• What are the local hazards to your dog such as predators, dangerous terrain or diseases? Is it hunting season where you are going?
• Is your dog prepared for the temperatures you might encounter? Will it be too hot to leave them in a vehicle if you need to? Are they prepared for cold nights at elevation? Can you carry enough water and food for them?

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

A dog walking off-trail does not do as much damage as humans with boots on. But it is still important to keep them on the trail with you. On the trail, dogs will be less likely to get hurt. You can also do a better job keeping them under your control. It’s also easier to ensure you follow other LNT principles such as properly disposing of their waste.

It may not seem like a big deal to allow your dog to run off trail, but they can disturb the nests of ground birds, spread diseases, and trample vegetation or cryptobiotic soils. Digging holes can increase erosion and prevent new plants from establishing themselves. The extent of the potential damage can vary from environment to environment and have negative impacts you may not be aware of. 

Choose well established camps with open spaces to allow your dog an area to run where they wont trample vegetation. Camp at least 200ft from water sources because we all know dogs will mark around camp.

Dispose of Waste Properly

It doesn’t matter whether it’s human waste or dog waste – you need to pack it out or bury it. If you bury it, dig a cat-hole at least 6 inches/15cm deep and 200ft/60m from water. In busier places you may be required to pack out all waste. I use a smell-proof container such as a PooVault to help put bagged dog waste in my pack or carry it on the outside without the odour following me all day.  If you are burying your dog’s waste make sure your pup is worm-free and not carrying other transmittable diseases or parasites that could negatively effect local wildlife. 

Leave What You Find

This Leave No Trace principle applies to your canine too! Your dog may not be removing natural resources or artefacts, but they can transport insects and seeds in their fur. Inspecting them for ticks or other pests is not only in their best interest but can also help prevent spread to other areas. Keeping their coat clean can also help spread seeds of potentially invasive species if you are frequently travelling between different ecosystems such a wilderness, farmland and urban areas.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

This is one LNT principle that doesn’t really apply to dogs, unless you have a unruly dog that likes to drag burning stick out of the fire, in which case you could start a forest fire. I would definitely advise against allowing such behaviour. Plan ahead with the appropriate gear in order to stay warm and avoid building fires as much as possible.

Respect Wildlife

Dogs can dramatically impact an environment by harassing wildlife.  Keeping them on a leash or under voice command is important to prevent these types of disturbances. If you are hiking or camping in a place where leashes are not required, it is important that your dog has good recall and won’t wander off. Dogs that take themselves for adventures are more likely to sustain a injury, bother wildlife or bring wildlife (including bears) back to camp.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

One of the biggest reasons for dogs not being allowed in many places is irresponsible owners who allow their dogs to negatively impact other users. People go out in nature for a variety of reasons, usually including peace and tranquility. Your dog should never be allowed to run up to people and jump on them, treat other dogs poorly, or otherwise cause a disturbance by barking incessantly or begging for food from other hikers. Take extra care to ensure your dog does not spook horses. Some people may be afraid of your dog no matter how nice they are, and others may even have allergies. Even if your dog is allowed off-leash, respect people or other dogs who may not wants your pet in their space.

Hike Your Dog’s Hike (HYDH)

Having reviewed how the 7 principles of Leave No Trace can be applied to your dog, there is one more guideline that I would like to add. I believe it everyone who brings dogs into the outdoors should follow this guideline.

You’ve likely heard the phrase ‘Hike Your Own Hike’, but when you hike with a dog it’s not about you at all. Instead, the best mindset is ‘Hike Your Dog’s Hike’. HYDH means that with every decision you make, take your dog’s needs into account before your own. If you push a dog that beyond its limits, or it is not having its needs met, the dog will be more likely to get injured, cause a disturbance, or make it harder for you to practice Leave No Trace.

It is important for generations of dog people to ensure that we are responsible and thoughtful when hiking and camping with our dogs. That way we can avoid further restrictions to access and freedoms on public lands. As a self-regulating community of outdoor enthusiasts, it’s important for us to speak out if we see people doing irresponsible things or not practicing LNT. Help mentor those new to adventuring with a dog and teach them how to practice LNT. Leave No Trace is not a strict set of rules. Instead we should see it as guidelines that if we ALL follow will allow us to preserve and enjoy nature for generations to come.

Safe trails & happy tails!

-Amanda

READ NEXT:

• How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)
• Backpacking Hygiene the Leave No Trace Way
• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike
• 16 Things to do Before a Hike

The post How to Leave No Trace With Dogs appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Hey there: Nomad Nutrition provided me with three meals to review. I was not compensated for the review.  There was no expectation of a positive review, and like always, all opinions (and dislike of lentils) are my own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support! -Taryn

Recently I heard about a Vancouver-based company called Nomad Nutrition. They make dehydrated backpacking meals that use high quality and healthy ingredients that are organic and non-GMO where possible. In fact, I’m sure you’ll recognize every single item in the ingredients list. Nomad Nutrition designs their meals to include optimized ratios of healthy fats, lean protein and complex carbs. Their meals are also vegan and 100% gluten free, which is something I hadn’t seen before from a backpacking food company. 

I took a few just-add-boiling-water Nomad Nutrition meals along on a recent backpacking trip to Shi Shi Beach in Washington’s Olympic National Park. Greg and I shared them for dinner each night. Read on to find out what we thought.

The Meals:

Hungarian Goulash

If you’ve been to Hungary, you might have tried goulash, the national dish. It’s somewhere in between a soup and stew and flavoured heavily with paprika. The traditional version also contains big chunks of beef. Being vegetarian, the Nomad Nutrition version of goulash ends up being a pretty hearty vegetable stew. It has potatoes, onions, peppers, lentils, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms and garlic, along with the required Hungarian paprika. Vegetables are rare in the backcountry so I really liked how the flavour of the vegetables really came through in this dish. Greg and I also appreciated the tasty paprika seasoning.

Irish Shepherd’s Pie

To me, shepherd’s pie is a pretty meaty dish, so I was curious to see how Nomad Nutrition would execute a vegan version. The potatoes are still in there, but the meat has been subbed out for lentils.  I have to confess that lentils and I are not best friends, so I didn’t love this one. If lentils are hiding away in a dish (like the Hungarian Goulash), we get along fine. But when lentils are the star attraction in a meal, I’m usually not into it. Since you can’t achieve the classic potatoes layered on filling effect in a backpacking meal, the Nomad Nutrition Irish Shepherd’s Pie ends up being a potato and lentil stew. Just like in their other dishes, the flavours of the vegetables come through, and it is like eating real food. Greg doesn’t mind lentils, so he enjoyed it a bit more, but felt that the seasoning was a bit too mild.

Kathmandu Curry

Greg and I spent a few days in Kathmandu last year on our way back from trekking to Annapurna Base Camp. We ate a lot of Nepali food, Indian food and Nepali interpretations of Western food, but we never had anything quite like Nomad Nutrition’s Kathmandu Curry. And that’s a shame since the Kathmandu Curry was our favourite flavour of the Nomad Nutrition meals! Like the other meals, the Kathmandu Curry is a vegetable stew dish that features potatoes, but this one also throws in chickpeas and some small bits of rice noodle. It’s not a noodle dish – it’s a vegetable stew with bits of noodle in it. It also has a great curry flavour that’s not overwhelmingly spicy or flaming hot. Of all the meals we ate, this is the one that I would recommend the most.

READ NEXT: How to Choose the Best Backpacking Meals

Overall Impressions

I really appreciated how much the Nomad Nutrition Meals taste like real food, especially the vegetables. Like I said, many commercially available backpacking meals don’t have many vegetables and they aren’t the main flavour, so I really enjoyed the veggie taste in these dishes.

As well, most other backpacking food is really salty. When I’ve been sweating all day, I do need to replenish my body with salt, but not in the enormous quantities the other companies seem to think I want. (Plus ingesting that much salt often makes me drink lots of water right before bed, which means waaay too many trips to the outhouse.) I really appreciated that the Nomad Nutrition meals are nicely seasoned but not too salty.

Sometimes backpackers tend to eat junk food on the trail. It’s quick, easy and cheap, and you think you can rationalize it since you are burning so many calories. I’ve definitely been guilty of living off Mars Bars and pepperoni sticks a few times. But it usually makes my gut feel like crap. If you’re craving something that tastes healthy instead, the Nomad Nutrition meals will fulfill that wish. (And if you still want junk food, some nice dark chocolate for dessert should satisfy that craving.)

Generally, I’m an omnivore, so I was surprised that I didn’t really miss the meat in these vegan meals. When I eat a meatless backpacking dinner it is often a pasta dish that is packed with gluten so I feel full right away, but get hungry later after the carbs wear off.  With the Nomad Nutrition meals I expected to feel a bit hungry later without the meat, but that didn’t really happen. Maybe it was all those stick-to-your-ribs potatoes, or maybe, just maybe, the chickpeas and lentils filled me up the way meat does. (I know, I know… vegetarians figured this stuff out ages ago. I’m slow.)

Like most backpacking food, the Nomad Nutrition meals come in packages that purport to serve two people. And like most backpacking meals, the Nomad Nutrition meals are better at serving one hungry backpacker, not two. Greg and I shared two packages between us for each meal as we typically would with other brands.

Nomad Nutrition uses quality, high-end ingredients, environmentally friendly packaging and prepares their meals in Vancouver, BC (not in an overseas plant). Unfortunately this means that their prices are a tiny bit higher than the average prepared backpacking meal. 

The meals come in environmentally friendly packaging, which is great and makes the meals less heavy and bulky to pack. But the packaging doesn’t contain the foil liner found in many brands so I found that the food wasn’t piping hot when the rehydration time was over. If this bothers you, you could wrap the meal inside a puffy jacket while it rehydrates. You could also buy or make a meal cozy like this one from SectionHiker.com.

READ NEXT: Beyond Oatmeal: 6 Hot Backpacking Breakfasts

Where to Buy

Nomad Nutrition meals are available on Amazon.ca. They are even eligible for Prime shipping!

You can also buy instore or online from MEC. 

You can also buy Nomad Nutrition backpacking meals through their website NomadNutrition.co. 

The TL;DR

Nomad Nutrition makes dehydrated backpacking meals that taste like real food, because they contain real food. They are a great option for vegans, people on a gluten-free diet or anyone who wants to eat a healthy and tasty backpacking meal with ingredients they can recognize.

The post Nomad Nutrition Backpacking Meals Review appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Hey there: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! – Taryn

Bear Safety Tips for Hikers

• Check conditions before you go on parks websites or on trailhead signage. If there is a bear in the area (especially if it has been aggressive or has cubs) be prepared or consider hiking somewhere else.
• Watch for bear signs along the trail including scat, tracks and scratches on trees.
• Make noise by talking or singing to announce your presence as humans. The sound of bear bells does not carry as well as the human voice. Make more noise in areas where you are more likely to see or surprise a bear such as in dense brush, near berry patches or in areas with fresh bear signs.
• Avoid encountering a bear by staying on the trail, hiking during the day and leaving the area immediately if you find a dead animal.
• Hike in a small group rather than alone, as bear attacks on groups are virtually unknown.
• Keep pets on a leash. Roaming dogs can agitate bears which then might chase the dog back towards hikers. Not a fun situation for anyone!
• Take care to pack out any garbage or food as it can attract bears. This includes things like apple cores, banana peels and egg shells which give off odor could lure in bears. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear, even if you accidentally feed it garbage.
• Carry bear spray in place you can reach it quickly (such as attached to the shoulder strap or hip belt of your pack or in an easy to grab outside pocket). Bear spray is relatively lightweight and inexpensive and has been shown to be a better way to stop a bear attack than a gun. You can also carry bear bangers or a small air horn as an additional tool to frighten off bears but they don’t replace bear spray. Find more info on how and when to use bear spray on bearsmart.com.

I recommend: I always carry bear spray if I’m hiking in bear country. I carry it in the side pocket of my pack where I can grab it easily. Buy:  MEC | REI.

Bear Safety Tips for Drive-in Campers

• Check conditions and facility information on the campground website before you go to find out if any bear precautions are recommended or required (such as the Bare Campsite Program).
• Keep a clean campsite: Cook and eat in the same area (preferably away from your tent). Make sure you clean up thoroughly when you are done including any food scraps or spills.
• Store your food (including your cooler), cooking equipment, and toiletries (including sunscreen and bug spray) in your car at night or anytime you are not in your campsite. Never store food or beverages other than water in your tent.
• Place all garbage in a bear-proof garbage can or in your car. Don’t burn garbage in your firepit as it may not burn fully and could still attract bears. Don’t leave garbage in the firepit when go home, expecting the next camper to burn it.

Bear Safety Tips for Backcountry Campers

• Check conditions and facility information on the park website and trailhead signage before you go to find out if any bear precautions are recommended or required. In particular, find out if any food storage or cooking facilities are provided.
• Pick a campsite that is not near game trails, berry patches, or animal carcasses. Avoid blocking access to water sources.
• If you stay at a backcountry campground that has a kitchen shelter, picnic tables or fire rings, use these areas for cooking and eating.
• If there is no designated cooking area, cook and eat in an area 100 meters (100 yards) away from your campsite and the campsites of others. Ideally, your campsite should be located 100m away from your cooking area, which should be located 100m away from your food storage area. Think of these three areas as forming a triangle with each side of the triangle being 100m long.

• Keep a clean cooking area. Make sure you clean up thoroughly when you are done including any food scraps or spills. Never leave garbage in campsites, firepits, cooking areas or on trails as it can attract bears. This includes biodegradable food waste like apple cores, sandwich crusts, banana peels and eggshells.
• Clean your dishes and disperse graywater widely or in a cat-hole away from your campsite and cooking area. Strain out food particles and pack them out with your garbage.
• Never store food, garbage, cooking equipment, toiletries, clothing with spilled food on it, or other scented items (including menstrual supplies) in your tent or backpack. At night or anytime you are away from camp, store these items in a bear-safe manner (see below).
• There are several ways to store food securely in a bear-safe way in the backcountry:
  1. Choose to stay in a designated backcountry campground that has a provided bear locker (a metal locker) or a bear pole (a pole with hooks on it for hanging your food bag).
  2. If a bear locker or bear pole is not available, you will need to construct a bear hang: suspending your food bag from a tree branch at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) from the hanging branch and the trunk of the tree and 4 meters (12 feet) off the ground. Plan ahead by bringing a rope, carabiner and sturdy stuff sack or dry bag to make your hang. This technique can take a lot of practice and is difficult in some areas so give yourself lots of time instead of waiting until it is dark to put up your bear hang. You can find lots of instructions for building a bear hang online.
  3. In some areas (some American National Parks) the use of bear canisters is required or recommended. These sturdy hard plastic containers require tools and/or thumbs to open and thankfully bears have neither. You fill them with your food, garbage, toiletries, etc. then store then well away from your campsite. Bear canisters are heavier, hard to pack, more expensive and bulkier than using a stuff sack and rope. But they are MUCH easier to use. If you camp often in places where bear lockers or poles are not available or above treeline (where bear hangs are impossible), consider investing in a bear canister.

I recommend: I own a Garcia bear canister, a Bear Vault bear canister and an URsack. I prefer the Bear Vault as it is the easiest to pack.

What To Do If You See A Bear

Bears are good runners, swimmers, and tree-climbers. They are definitely faster than you! They also can hear, smell and see better than you can. Thankfully they are usually afraid of you and often just want to be on their way. Here are some basic tips on what to do if you see a bear. Far more detailed tips can be found on the websites like bearsmart.com and others listed in the Further Reading section of this post.

• Be prepared to leave the area and end your hike. If the bear acts aggressively, doesn’t leave the area or you can’t safely make a wide detour around it, save the hike for another day.
• Get your bear spray ready by taking the safety off.
• Don’t run or try to climb a tree. Instead back away slowly while speaking to the bear softly and avoiding eye contact.
• Don’t try to get closer to take photos. Give the bear space.
• Don’t play dead. Black bears eat carrion (dead animals) and that just makes you more attractive. (But note that playing dead can work in some situations during a grizzly bear attack such as a defensive attack where you surprise the bear.)
• Don’t offer the bear food in an attempt to distract it.
• If a black bear comes into your campsite, give the bear a clear escape route, then have your group stand up together and make noise by yelling or banging on things to try to scare the bear away. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work with grizzly bears so it’s probably you who will have to move.
• If the bear comes within close range, use your bear spray and aim for the bear’s eyes.

Further Reading on Bear Safety

BC Parks Bear Safety Guidelines

BearSmart.com

Parks Canada Camping in Bear Country Guidelines

WildSafe BC

More Posts About Backcountry Safety and Ethics

• How to Leave No Trace (And Why it’s Important!)
• How to Leave No Trace With Dogs
• How to Camp and Hike on Your Period
• Backcountry Hygiene the Leave No Trace Way
• Tips for Hiking Alone
• The 10 Essentials: Things You Should Bring on Every Hike
• 16 Things to do Before a Hike

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