Your sig-O or bestie has a deep love of the outdoors. They want to share it with you. You're open-minded about hiking and camping, but you're not totally sure you're going to like it.
(What's not to like?)
Let's Start At the Beginning
I grew up in a family whose idea of camping was staying in a Holiday Inn. Sure, I was in Girl Scouts and we went on overnight camping trips, but they were always to the Girl Scout camps on Long Island in the early 90’s that were actually quite luxurious now that I think back. In the summer we slept in tents that were large, covered wooden structures on platforms elevated from the ground. There were pavilions for cooking and picnic tables to sit at and chow down. In the winter we had cabins with wood stoves and full kitchens. Bathrooms and showers were always available, and taken advantage of. While we were in a wooded area on a lake, you could hear the static from cars speeding on the highway and see the lights of the surrounding suburban neighborhoods-- we weren't exactly in the wilderness and we weren't exactly "roughing it".
I was probably 10 or 11 the last time I went on a trip like that with with my Girl Scout troop. I had a great time and made some friends but about that time I changed schools and dropped out of Girl Scouts shortly thereafter. My “camping” days were over.
The City Mouse Meets the Country Mouse
Before my now-husband and I ever even went on our first date we talked of hiking and camping. He grew up in a family that traveled the country in a camper and went on real camping trips with his family and with the Boy Scouts. He absolutely loves the outdoors. I found it very charming that he was so passionate about it. Before meeting Sean I really never thought much more about getting outside. I admitted to him that my experience was minimal at best, as outlined above, but that I'd be willing to give it a shot some day... Here is the nitty-gritty of what I have learned from the hiking, camping, and backpacking trips that we have been on together since and the advice that I have to offer to other newbies.
1.) Start with car camping.
Let’s go back to that Girl Scout camp that I was talking about earlier, with all the amenities and proximity to civilization.
"VW Car camping 1969" by hamiltonstone (talk) - self-made. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia
Consider “car camping” your first couple of trips as a way to ease in to overnighting outdoors. One of our very first trips together was to the KOA in Harper’s Ferry which I really enjoyed. To be prepared, there are some cons, mainly that these types of campgrounds can be crowded during peak times and can be expensive compared to public campsites. The upside is that there are likely amenities depending on where you stay (such as bathrooms, hot showers, pool, general store) and you can have your car nearby. It can be a great “base camp” to leave all of your stuff while you go exploring.
2.) Have a contingency plan.
Remember how in the show Portlandia Nina and Lance had a safety word for when things got a little too rough?
IFC
Sometimes the best laid plans turn out… well, not as planned and you just gotta stop. If you are miserable, you’re not going to have fun, your partner is not going to have fun, and you’re less likely to give camping another shot when the time may be better. Your first few trips should have an easy/fast way out and be close to home or a hotel if it starts to rain or if the bugs won't stop biting.
3.) Take it easy.
Start out by going on day hikes before your trip.
Day Hike in Patapsco State Park, 2015
An app like All Trails can help you find a place to hike nearby wherever you may be— it’s basically like Yelp for hiking. All Trails rates trails on difficulty level and length, the All Trails community rates the trail on quality with a star-rating system and comments so you can easily find a hike that suits your needs. You'll get the added benefit of some bonus time in the fresh air and exercise!
4.) Wear comfortable shoes with good socks.
If hiking is going to be a component of your adventure, invest in some quality boots and break them in before your first trip. Those short day hikes I just mentioned would be a great time to do so. When you are just getting started, your shoes don’t have to be fancy but they do have to fit properly and be comfortable.
Try on a bunch of different brands and models to find your best fit. I like to shop at a store like REI because a.) they have staff that is very helpful when it comes to finding you a shoe that best meets your needs in terms of style, fit, and function b.) they have a great selection c.) they have a large boulder with a railing attached to it in the footwear section that you can actually try some slightly technical steps on to see how your toes and heels deal with going up and down at an incline.
5.) Be Active in the Planning Process
Camping Can Help You To Grow Closer
Start planning now! Relationship experts agree that having something to look forward to is a key component of enjoying a happy event.
“Anticipation is a key stage; by having something to look forward to, no matter what your circumstances, you bring happiness into your life well before the event actually takes place. ”
Looking through websites and blogs, going to the library and reading books together can be as fun and rewarding as the eventual trip. You'll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment and share in the enjoyment with someone important in your life.