So you want to go camping but you’re also a little worried.
You may be thinking that there are a ton of things that can go wrong while you’re away from civilization.
And you’re right.
But the chances of those things happening are also very slim as long as you prepare.
What are the most dangerous things in the woods?
We’ve made a list for you, as well as tips and tricks for avoiding them!
The Most Dangerous Of All: Running Out Of/Not Drinking Enough Water
Yep, you read that right.
The most dangerous thing in the woods isn’t venomous snakes.
It’s not running into bears.
Or even being hit by a falling tree.
Nope, it’s running out of water.
This can happen pretty easily if you’re not prepared.
That’s why it’s super important to know how to find sources of water in the wilderness before you go camping.
Depending on where you are at, running out of water can be a serious danger.
So either know exactly where to restock on water from natural sources or stay close to campgrounds while out exploring.
If you’re not feeling well while out camping, chances are that it’s because you haven’t had enough water.
Being dehydrated can cause a lot of danger in the wilderness, so stock up!
And remember that it’s much easier to become dehydrated when it’s cold out, because you won’t be thinking about needing water as often.
How to prevent: remember to pack enough water for your trip, and always know where to restock on water should you run out.
Remember to always purify your water before drinking it!
Fire Can Cause Huge Problems
Fire is an amazing way to stay warm, to cook food, to sterilize water, and more.
And a campfire is scientifically proven to be the best place to sing cheesy songs and tell ghost stories around.
But fire can cause serious damage to you and your surroundings if not kept under control.
Forest fires can happen pretty easily if you aren’t careful, so be sure to:
- Build your fire a safe distance away from your tent
- Keep flammable items away from the fire
- Do not create a larger fire than you need to
- When possible, build a barrier made of rocks or use a fire ring to help prevent fire from spreading
Following park safety rules is also a great way to prevent fires from becoming problematic.
During the dry season there may be a ban altogether on fires, or you may be asked to only have fires within designated areas.
Follow these guidelines to keep you and the forest safe!
How to prevent: don’t go overboard with the size of a fire, keep flammable items away, and if possible build a protective barrier around your fire.
Plants & Berries
They look delicious.
You thought you saw Bear Grylls eating them once…or maybe he said not to eat them.
A great rule of thumb when choosing what plants and berries to eat in the wilderness: only eat them if you are absolutely certain that they are safe to eat.
Negative side effects are abundant with seemingly harmless forest food.
You could end up with a rash, a stomach ache, or other severe illnesses.
Some plants are even poisonous to humans.
How to prevent: if you don’t know it is, don’t eat it!
Bears
Bears are fairly common depending on where you are camping.
They shouldn’t be approached or provoked.
To minimize interactions with bears, be sure to eat within designated areas if a park has them.
While roaming, be sure to make plenty of noise.
Bears will likely stay away if you let them know where you are at all times.
When turning in for the night, either store foods and other products with a strong odor in a tree at least 100 feet away from your camp.
There are also products, such as the bear canister, that will seal odors instead of storing food away from camp.
Lastly, if you do see a bear, keep your distance.
Approaching a bear is asking for trouble, as mother bears are very protective of their cubs and won’t hesitate to attack if provoked or threatened.
How to prevent: store all food and odorous items in sealed containers.
Don’t approach bears and make plenty of noise while roaming.
At night, store odorous items in a bear canister or up in a tree at least 100 feet away from camp.
Dangerous Weather
Flooding, extreme heat, extreme cold, lightning…it’s all potentially dangerous.
The good news is that it isn’t hard to prepare for and particularly easy to avoid.
Knowing the area and places to avoid for flash flooding is a great place to start.
And be sure to set up camp away from moving water and up on higher ground.
Make sure you have enough water and protective clothing for extreme heat.
And remember that hot days can be accompanied with cold nights, so don’t forget a good sleeping bag to help prevent hypothermia.
That goes the same for extreme cold.
You can remove the danger of lightning by staying away from lone trees or moving yourself to lower ground.
Be sure to always check the forecast before you go camping and continue to check periodically while you are on your trip.
How to prevent: having the necessary knowledge of the land, what to look for in case of lightning, and proper gear for withstanding extreme temperatures will minimize the impact of bad weather on your trip.
Insects
Insects, much like water, is a seemingly harmless danger but is one of the more probable things you’ll run into while camping.
Ticks, mosquitoes, ants, and other insects are abundant in the wilderness.
They can also carry diseases such as malaria and Lyme disease.
Unfortunately, insects are a danger that is hard to outright avoid (just walk faster so they can’t catch you, duh).
Wearing protective clothing can help with some of the problems, but aren’t a full repellant.
Instead, apply insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin to help prevent these insects from becoming a problem.
If you are sweating a lot, be sure to reapply the repellant often.
And be sure to inspect your body for ticks before going to bed.
How to prevent: while there is no way to fully ‘prevent’, you can avoid insects from harming you by using a strong insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin.
Before going to bed, make sure you inspect yourself and remove any ticks that may have lodged themselves in your skin.
Now That You Know, Be Cautious But Have Fun!
Everything you do in life has its inherent dangers.
Don’t let this list prevent you from going camping and having fun.
Just be aware that these are common issues and know that some of the seemingly more dangerous things don’t happen as often as your imagine thinks!
Hopefully our tips will help you prevent some of these dangers and allow you to fully enjoy your camping trip.