Camping Safety Tips for Beginners:
Essential Planning and Solo Travel Advice

Plan Before You Leave

The most important thing you can do for your safety starts before you ever step foot on the trail. Proper planning is the foundation of any successful outdoor trip, and it's something that many people overlook.

The Four W's

Before you leave, create a plan that covers the four W's: who, what, when, and where. Share this information with three or four responsible friends or family members. Don't just tell one person who might not check their phone.

• Who – Who is going with you? If you're going solo, make that clear.
• What – What activity are you doing? Hiking, camping, fishing, off-roading? Be specific.
• When – When do you plan to leave and when do you expect to return? Include your communication window.
• Where – Be as specific as possible. Give trailhead names, parking lot locations, campsite names, or even GPS coordinates.

Sending this information to multiple people creates a safety net. If something goes wrong, someone will know where to look and when to start worrying.

Mental Modeling

Another planning technique that's worth adopting is something called mental modeling. This means thinking through potential emergencies before they happen and considering what's probable, not just possible.

Ask yourself: What's the most likely thing that could go wrong on this trip? For most hikers, rolling an ankle is high on the list. For campers, it might be getting lost or dealing with bad weather. Once you've identified the most probable scenarios, think through your response step by step. What would you actually do if you got injured? Where would you go for help? What gear would you need?

Having a plan in your head before something happens makes it much easier to act calmly and effectively when things go wrong.

Set Up Camp with Security in Mind

Once you arrive at your destination, take a moment to look at your surroundings with a security mindset. This doesn't mean you need to be paranoid, but a little awareness goes a long way.

Choose Your Campsite Wisely

Look at how you're positioned in relation to roads, trails, and other people. If you're camping near a road, consider moving your site a bit further back where you're less visible. Unfortunately, crime in campsites often happens because someone sees an easy opportunity. A site that's hidden from view is less likely to attract unwanted attention.

Also, think about your avenues of approach and egress. Know how you got in and how you could get out quickly if needed. Position your vehicle so you can leave without having to maneuver around obstacles.

Trust Your Intuition

That gut feeling you get when something seems off? Pay attention to it. Our instincts exist to keep us safe, and they're worth listening to. If a person or situation makes you uncomfortable, don't talk yourself out of that feeling. You don't need a logical reason to move your campsite or change your plans. If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and act on it.

Layer Your Equipment and Communications

Having the right gear matters, but how you carry it matters just as much. A common mistake is putting all your essential gear in one place, like your backpack. If you fall in a river or lose your pack, everything is gone at once.

Two is One, One is None

This old saying is popular for a reason. If you bring one critical piece of equipment into the backcountry, you're effectively bringing none because you have no backup. Always carry redundancy for your most important gear.

For example, if you carry a water filter, also bring water purification tablets as a backup. If you carry a GPS device, also carry a map and compass. If you have a cell phone, also consider a satellite communication device for areas without service.

Communication Options

Cell service is unreliable in most backcountry areas. For emergency communication, consider options like:

• Satellite phones – These can be purchased for a few hundred dollars and work almost anywhere in the world.
• Garmin inReach devices – These allow you to send emergency messages and GPS coordinates. Search and rescue teams can often respond within minutes of an activation.

When you send an emergency signal with coordinates, rescuers typically know your location within about 10 feet of where the signal was sent.

Layer Your Gear

Don't put all your life-saving equipment in one bag. Distribute your gear across multiple locations. Keep something in your pockets, something in your pack, and something in a fanny pack or jacket. This way, if you lose one piece of gear, you still have access to others.

Know Your Equipment and How to Use It

Having the right gear is only half the battle. You also need to know how to use it properly. Search and rescue teams frequently encounter people who have all the equipment they need to get out of a situation but don't know how to use it.

Learn Before You Go

Take the time to learn your gear before you need it in an emergency. This might mean taking a class, watching tutorial videos, or practicing with a knowledgeable friend. Know how to:

• Use your GPS device to set waypoints and navigate
• Read a map and compass
• Operate your vehicle's winch or recovery equipment
• Patch a tire or jump-start a car
• Use your water filter and purification tablets

Understand Your Basic Needs

In the backcountry, you need to facilitate five basic needs:

1. Health – First aid and medical supplies
2. Personal protection – Shelter, clothing, and fire
3. Substance – Water and food
4. Signaling – Ways to get help (communication devices, mirrors, bright panels)
5. Recovery – Knowing when to stay put and when to move

Always Know Where You Are

It's easy to get turned around in the wilderness, especially when trails aren't marked or weather changes. Knowing your location at all times is a skill that takes practice, but it's essential for safety.

Use Multiple Navigation Methods

Don't rely solely on a GPS device. Batteries die, devices break, and screens can be hard to read in certain conditions. Always carry a map and compass as a backup, and know how to use them.

Set waypoints on your GPS before you leave your vehicle or campsite. An emergency azimuth, which is a compass direction that will lead you back to a known location like a road or trailhead, can be a lifesaver if you get disoriented.

Build Mental Landmarks

As you travel, pay attention to your surroundings and note landmarks. A helpful technique is to describe landmarks out loud as you pass them. "There's a large fallen tree on the right with a broken top." Then, turn around and look at the same landmark from the opposite direction. A tree that was leaning to the right on your way in will be leaning to the left on your way back, and that can be confusing if you're not expecting it.

Know Your Resources

When choosing a campsite, think about where your resources are located. If you're spending multiple days in one area, you'll need access to water. In moderate terrain, try to camp within about 500 meters of a water source so you can easily carry water back to your site.