Q. Im going away for a few days and for about 4 day im going to be roughing it. ill be horse back rideing and hiking and camping outdoors with no shower or bathroom. what are some ideas that will help me stay clean and good smelling. i already bought dry shampoo for my hair and deoderant. but i cant use body spray because of misquetoes and bugs. i need some ideas like baby whips for a sponge bath etc. i also need ideas on how to keep my face clean and clear. i use proactive but i cant use that with out water. so i need ideas for acne or face washes that can be used in the woods. and also something to put my garbage in when im done. any ideas will be helpful. thank you
PS. will award points.
PS. will award points.
Answer
I can;t imagine there will be NO source of water. Most camping areas have at least a pump and if you are horseback riding there has to be some kind of water available at that facility. Bring a plastic gallon jug of water from home that you can refill from a tap as you need it. Also bring from home (or buy if you have to) a large lightwieght plastic bowl, like the ones they sell for putting chips in at picnics (places like Walmart, Kmart, Target should have them in the outdoor furniture or kitchen departments.) Also a plastic gallon sized ice cream tub would work if you have one of these. This is your outdoor "sink". Also buy a box of the gallon sized zip-lock baggies -- these are for your trash and also to carry your cleaning supplies. Bring several washcloths and a large lightweight towel -- a cheapo beach towel is ideal. The thinner the better since it will dry faster. Bring a small bottle of liquid soap -- actually a travel sized baby shampoo works fine.
When you want to wash, find a tree or bush to hang your towel up for a screen, or do this on your knees inside the tent. Strip down (naked or to your underwear if you are feeling nervous). Fill the plastic bowl with water from the jug, wet a washcloth and put a couple of drops of the soap or baby shampoo on it, suds up the cloth and wash yourself all over, occasionally rinsing the washcloth in the bowl of water. Don't use lots of soap -- you need very little, it is the water that is dissolving the dirt and stink. When you are done, wrap up in the towel and dry off. Using baby powder (the unscented cornstarch type) afterwards will help you feel fresh. When you are all done, hang the towel and washcloth in the sun on a tent or bush.
A great item you can buy from camping stores is a Sunshower -- a black plastic sack with a shower nozzle attached. YOu fill it with a gallon or two of water, leave it in the sun and it heats up to 100 degrees F, as warm as a normal shower. Then you can hold it or hang it in a tree, release the nozzle clip and have a warm shower all over. I love mine.
Baby wipes or feminine hygeine wipes are good for daily small cleaning up. The alcohol type facial wipes are better for the face and hands because they are not oily.
I've lived for as much as two weeks camping or at archeology or geology field camps and kept clean this way.
I can;t imagine there will be NO source of water. Most camping areas have at least a pump and if you are horseback riding there has to be some kind of water available at that facility. Bring a plastic gallon jug of water from home that you can refill from a tap as you need it. Also bring from home (or buy if you have to) a large lightwieght plastic bowl, like the ones they sell for putting chips in at picnics (places like Walmart, Kmart, Target should have them in the outdoor furniture or kitchen departments.) Also a plastic gallon sized ice cream tub would work if you have one of these. This is your outdoor "sink". Also buy a box of the gallon sized zip-lock baggies -- these are for your trash and also to carry your cleaning supplies. Bring several washcloths and a large lightweight towel -- a cheapo beach towel is ideal. The thinner the better since it will dry faster. Bring a small bottle of liquid soap -- actually a travel sized baby shampoo works fine.
When you want to wash, find a tree or bush to hang your towel up for a screen, or do this on your knees inside the tent. Strip down (naked or to your underwear if you are feeling nervous). Fill the plastic bowl with water from the jug, wet a washcloth and put a couple of drops of the soap or baby shampoo on it, suds up the cloth and wash yourself all over, occasionally rinsing the washcloth in the bowl of water. Don't use lots of soap -- you need very little, it is the water that is dissolving the dirt and stink. When you are done, wrap up in the towel and dry off. Using baby powder (the unscented cornstarch type) afterwards will help you feel fresh. When you are all done, hang the towel and washcloth in the sun on a tent or bush.
A great item you can buy from camping stores is a Sunshower -- a black plastic sack with a shower nozzle attached. YOu fill it with a gallon or two of water, leave it in the sun and it heats up to 100 degrees F, as warm as a normal shower. Then you can hold it or hang it in a tree, release the nozzle clip and have a warm shower all over. I love mine.
Baby wipes or feminine hygeine wipes are good for daily small cleaning up. The alcohol type facial wipes are better for the face and hands because they are not oily.
I've lived for as much as two weeks camping or at archeology or geology field camps and kept clean this way.
Campground on Lake Michigan?
Mhari
We are going camping this summer and I haven't found a good campground. I'm looking for somewhere in northern Michigan (around Ludington or Muskegon maybe) thats inexpensive. Not an RV park, as we will be tent camping. It will be 4 14-year-old girls, plus my mom and aunt. I would like it to be ON Lake Michigan, so we don't have to drive to get there. Thanx!
Answer
Mhari,
I was just at Ludington State Park (again) this past weekend. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=468&type=SPRK Expect most weekends to be booked already here. Bring camera, bikes, tubes, canoe, fishing equip, kayak, etc. There is a river running through the park, large lake for swimming, miles of hiking and biking, Also, WalMart, Kmart, and more available in Ludington. Kayaks are also available for rent in Ludington near House of Flavors. (look for large green fish sign)
Firewood at "J's" on 116 was $3.50, in the Park it was $4.60 but larger pieces.
Many of the campsites located on the outsides of each campground (especially The Pines) are good for tents. Those on the west side of The Pines back to sand dunes and are around 300 yards to Lake Michigan.
There is also a new section within The Cedars that is exclusively for tents, has no electricity but has access to modern restrooms. (I'm not sure what the numbers are for the sites there are ONLY 8) Possible negative would be that this is located right next to a larger playground. Sites are $16.00 I believe and are NOT on the online reservation system below.
Orchard Beach in Manistee is also right on Lake Michigan, but is high banked. This is also available on the website below.
Mears (in Pentwater) is located almost right on the lake and from what I've seen was all sand without much shade. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=470&type=SPRK
Hoffmaster State Park south of Muskegan has some good camping sites but there are also some near a creek that were wet (this was several years ago) http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=457&type=SPRK
I hope you enjoy your trip. The State of Michigan website below also provide some additional camping locations.
Mhari,
I was just at Ludington State Park (again) this past weekend. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=468&type=SPRK Expect most weekends to be booked already here. Bring camera, bikes, tubes, canoe, fishing equip, kayak, etc. There is a river running through the park, large lake for swimming, miles of hiking and biking, Also, WalMart, Kmart, and more available in Ludington. Kayaks are also available for rent in Ludington near House of Flavors. (look for large green fish sign)
Firewood at "J's" on 116 was $3.50, in the Park it was $4.60 but larger pieces.
Many of the campsites located on the outsides of each campground (especially The Pines) are good for tents. Those on the west side of The Pines back to sand dunes and are around 300 yards to Lake Michigan.
There is also a new section within The Cedars that is exclusively for tents, has no electricity but has access to modern restrooms. (I'm not sure what the numbers are for the sites there are ONLY 8) Possible negative would be that this is located right next to a larger playground. Sites are $16.00 I believe and are NOT on the online reservation system below.
Orchard Beach in Manistee is also right on Lake Michigan, but is high banked. This is also available on the website below.
Mears (in Pentwater) is located almost right on the lake and from what I've seen was all sand without much shade. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=470&type=SPRK
Hoffmaster State Park south of Muskegan has some good camping sites but there are also some near a creek that were wet (this was several years ago) http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=457&type=SPRK
I hope you enjoy your trip. The State of Michigan website below also provide some additional camping locations.
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