Camping can be an entertaining and enjoyable time to relax with family and friends. While some don’t appreciate the open air, others crave for whatever mother nature throws at them, and in some cases, it can be gross. Let’s look at some gross things that you may face during your time camping and we can all cringe simultaneously, eek!
- Animal feces
To begin with, we must talk about this nasty stuff first and get it on with the list! We all have had a bird poop issue or stepped-in dog doo-doo. Yuck! Enough said!
2. Animal robbery
While I’m on the subject of animals let’s talk about those pesky critters who camp around your site just to do a highway robbery. I’m talking about animals such as squirrels, raccoons and yes, those bears are in there as well. Any creature that would like a bite of your dinner or is willing to steal your garbage bag and rip it open, scattering throughout the site. Yup those ones, and the cleanup could be messy! You’ll need to be more observant of those creatures of habit.
3. Sweat and all over
Oh, those hot and humid summer days. How we glisten in the burning sun. Everyone sweats and it’s not pretty nor do we enjoy staying sticky all day. What’s even more enjoyable is that wonderful shower to wash it all away. Boy, do we depend on that powerful deodorant while camping!
4. Bathrooms, showers, and outhouses
While most campsites have some sort of services for restrooms or showers, not all are sparkling clean and smell like roses. Even for those lucky few who have lavatories inside of a camper, the mess and clean-up can be disgusting. Dreading the walk to the restrooms can be daunting, and questions always immerge. Some things we always ask ourselves and check on before we go are as followed. Are toilets or vaults? Will the be clean and safe? Do they have toilet paper, or do we bring our own? Do they have hot water for a nice shower to wash our hands?
5. Bugs and Spiders
Now for those who need a minute to maul over this subject before reading on, stop and do so. For those who are down with the fact of sharing their space with little creatures like spiders, ants, ticks, love bugs, and well you name it, go right ahead. The feeling of a bug crawling over you, especially when you sleep, can send shivers down your spine. Well, at least mine! Nothing like a good bug spray, citronella candle, and sage in the fire to help things out. Heads up though, that sticky bug spray can be gross as well, leaving you feeling tacky throughout the day. Collecting the pollen and dust blowing around in the air.
6. Clean up!
Alright, it’s time to discuss the elephant in the room…the clean-up after a camping trip. We love to camp and enjoy that majestic mountain air or site of that crystal clear lake but having to pack it all up can be a bummer and be rather unpleasant. What should be an easy day, really involves picking up all garbage, cleaning out the greywater (dirty water), black tanks (human waste), firepit remnants, and composting correctly and safely. The stickiness and germs involved can be enough to handle but then add in the odors which makes this job horrendous at times, especially in those hot summer months.
7. Water elements can be icky
Oh, those crystal-clear lakes or coastlines are what we all dream of, but do we get that probably not. Muddy, murky, and grimy water is what is usually encountered in those lakes and rivers now. Humanity has ruined what was once valued to survive. Most lakes are still fishable and swimmable but when we leave the water, we feel unpleasant and usually run to take a shower. With Blue algae more detectable in the waters, humans and pets need to be cautious. Trash and other gross objects flood the shorelines leaving our once treasured earth deteriorating.
Those are 7 gross things that we wish we knew before going on my first camping trip. What do you think, did we miss anything on our list? Stay tuned to La Plante Mountaineers for more camping information for camping, as well as all the advice and tips you need for your next camping trip.