The Joys of Camping

Camping is a great way to connect with nature. And a great way to escape from the noise, hustle, and bustle of the city.

I was introduced to the fun of sleeping under the stars and enjoying nature for more than just a day at a time, late in life. Like with many other things, my best friend Greg got me hooked on hiking and camping; my life has never been the same since.

Living here in Vancouver, I feel as though there are two types of people—the super-adventure-y ones who go camping, on long hikes, and who regularly enjoy other outdoor activities each weekend. And then there are those that don’t like going outside very often. Where do I fit in? Well, I love being outside, but I don’t like extreme sports. I’d go camping and hiking more often if I knew people who enjoyed doing so.

With the short summers we have in Canada, it’s important for me to get outside as much as possible during July and August. Sadly, camping season seems to keep extending each year in Vancouver. It’s sad because we don’t get as much rain as we used to (leading to droughts and heat-waves during the already-hot summer months). But, since it does get so hot in the summer months, it’s a good idea to take advantage of the slightly cooler weather in May and June to enjoy hiking and camping.

I’m currently putting together my camping kit. I have a stove, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp chairs, flashlights, a wind-up radio/flashlight, and emergency supplies. I still need quite a bit, as you can see! For one, I don’t yet have a tent, nor pots to cook in!

A scene like the one below gets me thinking about ways that I can put together my camping gear kit soon, so I can enjoy looking up at the stars (with no light pollution from the city), hear every sound outside (insects, birds, leaves rustling in the breeze), and relax knowing I am “un-plugged.”

Do you enjoy camping? What are your favourite things about it?