Camping is a fun activity where you get to experience the outdoors in the purest form. It’s an experience that cannot be described in words. It’s an intangible experience. If you are an experienced camper, then you’d be aware of the dangers a camping experience brings along.
There are times when your tent gets blown away by strong gusts of wind. You might come face to face with a bear or some other wild animal that can cause you injury. Under such situations, you need to bring your survival instincts to use. Those who are fond of hunting would agree that even the slightest of errors can end up being fatal. So, it can be said that the margin for error is minimal.
So, it won’t be wrong to state that camping prepares you for the dangers of everyday life. It makes you independent, resourceful and teaches you to stay on your toes all the time.
Here are a few ways in which camping prepares you to face danger:
1. You are on your own
While camping, you distance yourself from the ‘luxuries’ of everyday life. You have to look after yourself, erect your tent, find firewood, prepare your food, etc. The support you have is minimal and the degree of uncertainty is immense. So, it can be said that camping provides you with an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone. The moment you plan to camp in the wild, you decide to become self-reliant. It makes you realize how far in life you can go.
2. You learn to trust your instincts
If you’re embarking on a camping trip for the first time, then you take some time to learn the art of trusting your instincts. Gut feelings form an important part of your survival strategies. No matter how well you plan, unexpected problems are bound to creep in out of nowhere. Strong gusts of wind might end up blowing your camp and your map away. If something of this sort happens, then you’ll have to trust yourself. You cannot afford to lose hope. You just need to keep on moving.
3. It teaches you to avoid animal encounters
Coming face to face with a wild animal sounds quite scary, doesn’t it? But once you step into the wilderness, you are most likely to come face to face with wild animals. Sighting a deer is fine and if in season can be used for meat but if you come across a wild boar, bear or cougar you may have to defend yourself. Knives for camping can be used, but keeping a combat knife is definitely a great idea. Those camping in the Canadian highlands need to keep bears at bay. It doesn’t matter how fit you are, calmness and presence of mind will come to your rescue.
4. It’s you against the forest
Camping keeps survival at the heart of it. No matter how fit or experienced you are, you still have to keep your eyes and ears wide open. It helps to look after yourself. The woods can be brutal. One small error in judgement and the consequences can be catastrophic. It also enables you to stay prepared for the worst. You can only hope that the worst never strikes.
Conclusion
The bottom line is: Camping is an excellent exercise if you are willing to put in the effort to be prepared. It is not going to be easy, but you never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice. The camping experience will make you push the envelope. Don’t get bogged down or demotivated. Just be prepared.
