any tips when going 4 camping, especially in the tropics? what if i get lost?

beach tents target image

nuijnoob

what kind of tools should i bring, food... what kind of clothes n shoes should i wear? any other things that i should be aware of... like danger animals, insects, poisonous plants... or something else... more information would be better, as much as possible...

Answer
Tent camping in the jungles of Central America and Mexico may provide one with the freedom to "set up camp" anywhere a whim may lead. This is true to a certain extent. But, there are certain considerations which must be exercised to facilitate an enjoyable experience.
My main motivation for writing this article is the huge volume of mail I receive requesting information on "how to camp in the jungle safely and comefortably." My several years of camping and expeditioning in the jungles of Mexico and Central America, has given me by trial and error, learned practices from the local indians, and invention brought about by need, some invaluable tips on keeping safe, dry and happy, in this environment of highly active microbes, insects, reptiles and tropical precipitation.

Where to set up camp:

Tenting is generaly safe to do in most 'national parks', biosphere reserves, and protected areas -- at most times of the year throughout Latin America. I usually recommend not camping near streams or rivers, which may be prone to flash flooding after a rain - rain which may be falling unknown to you in another valley far from your location. The most common mishap while jungle camping, usually ending in the death of the camping party, is the flash flood. One should endeavor to camp at least 25-feet above rivers and streams -- if possible. Setting up camp along beaches in or near an urban center may be a dangerous idea. Avoid this practice if at all possible. Beach camping near urban centers will make you an easy, high profile, and vulnerable target for the criminal. There are always cheap accommodations to be found at around $2-$5 per night. I've generally found that camping in remote areas of Central America near small villages, to be a much safer practice. When camping outside National Parks and Biosphere Reserves, try and track down the owner of the land you are contemplating setting up camp on - if at all possible. And, ask permission!

Biting insects and snakes:

I've found that poisonous snakes encounters are not that common while camping/tenting in Central America & Mexico. The fer-de-lance is just one of many many pit vipers (poisonous snakes) found on the jungle floor, and, in the trees. The general rule for setting up a jungle camp is: In areas where no clearing is provided for set-up, clear the camping area of low growth with a machete. Always use a hiking staff to probe unseen areas under thick growth for snakes before cutting. The best situation is setting up on a raised platform, off the jungle floor. Remember, many species of poisonous snakes are remarkably small. Some coral snakes are merely a foot long, and, thinner than a small finger; they could indeed slither through a minute opening in the zipper closure of your tent. If platforms are not available, check the forest floor carefully for ant trails and anthills. Avoid camping on or near an ant metropolis. Brushing away ant trails will simply empower these little survivors to bridge the gap again. When planning a camping foray into a protected area reserve, find out where the designated camping areas are before you clear any potentially near-extinct flora.

Do all your bathroom business before getting into your tent for the evening. Avoid drinking fluids in large quantities before sleeping -- which will cause you to exit the tent at night to urinate. Getting bitten by malaria infected mosquitoes is exponentially proportional to the quantity of times you exit your tent at night. And remember, snakes such as the fer-de-lance, or "barba-amarilla" in local lingo, are most active at night. Avoid walking around in the jungle at night if at all possible. Or, if you must work in this situation, purchase "snake chaps" before doing so. When walking in the jungle, watch where you place every footstep. When stopped in the jungle, you may look up into the trees. When walking, concentrate on where you place each footstep, not on looking up into the trees! The most common place for a poisonous snake to bite you is on the foot or ankle. Be careful when climbing over logs blocking the trail. Some species of poisonous snakes may be found in higher numbers living along river banks. Ask the local people if there is a snake problem in the general area. Its also a good idea to hire a local to accompany you into the jungle. It probably won't cost you much and his/her information and guidance may prove to be invaluable.

Antivenon. Yes or no?

One member of your camping group must have at least two "Sawyer venom extraction kits." Learn how to use the kits before venturing into the jungle; especially when you may be many hours or days away from emergency medical facilities. You may be able to purchase the snake antivenon from several sources in Costa Rica (ie. Instituto Picado); just the administration of the "horse syrum" snake antivenon itself may cause the bite victim to fall into shock and die of alergic reaction. You need to be a trained medical specialist to administer snake antivenon. A sheep syrum based antivenon is currently being worked on, which is far less likely to induce shock and death to its recipient. But this is still far from being available commercially.

Keeping your food from being eaten by critters:

The most efficient way to keep your food safe from rodents and insects, is to keep everything edible inside sealed containers -- such as the Nalgene plastic bottle. If you have just a few crumbs inside your pack, (inside your tent) a rat will certainly snif it out and chew through the wall of the tent, and the pack's cloth to get at the crumbs. You can be absolutely certain of that. Practice good housekeeping in the jungle. Keep all food outside your living quarters in sealed bottles. Hang all sealed foods from a tree limb inside a food net. Avoid eating in your tent. Store your washed pots and pans in the hanging food net as well. For cooking and drinking water, you'll have to filter then purify. I use the "Katadyne" filter, because it has proven over the years, to be the most reliable. Period. You can't afford to fool with your health in the jungle. A new Katadyne "Pocket Filter" will clean 50,000 liters of water on one ceramic filter. There are no filters made that will trap the dreaded virus. Only chemical add-on attachments to some water filters will accomplish this. After filtering the water, add one drop of chlorine (or equivalent POLAR-PURE) per liter, to kill the viruses.

Some of the viruses which may be found in the Central American water (fresh and saltwater) include: hepatitis-A, Polio, and worse. These are incurable diseases once they are contracted.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recommended equipment:

Tents:
Use a tent which is very well factory seam sealed including the fly - if possible. Make shure there are NO small holes around the zipper closure of your tent. A nasty, vicious biting ant called "sanpopos" crawl out of the ground during heavy rains, and have been known to get inside poorly sealed tents. Getting bitten by one of thes

At what age is it ok to take a baby to the beach?

beach tents target image

Karen

My daughter is 5 months and my bfs birthday is coming up and he wants to go to rocky point Mexico. I been there a few time and it is nasty humid down there specially right now. I'm curious whether its ok to take her or not . I don't want to take her but my bf really wants to. If any one has some good advice if I should take her and what I should take for the trip?

Answer
Is there someone you could leave her with for a few days, so you and your BF could go and have a nice relaxing fun time? I had to leave my kids, my youngest was 5 months with my mother. hubby and I went to a wedding on a beach. I hated leaving them but we had sooo much fun, and I got to sit and relax on the beach. I missed them but I knew they were in good hands and was very happy we went. It was good for our relationship to get away for a few days. Or ask friends or family to go with you. someone who would willingly watch her so you can take your bf out for a nite, and to the beach for a few hours. then since it is his birthday..stay at the hotel with the baby(hang by the pool while she is napping in the stroller in shade) and have them go have fun with him.

If you don't have someone to watch her or that isn't an option for you(I totally understand) taking her would be ok..but not much you can do with a baby at the beach.

If you do take her..bring a baby bjorn or sling, so you can take walks on the beach, the sound of the ocean may be calming to her. Bring hats! SPF clothing, a sunblock that is good to use on babies is California babies!!! (target or online) It is zinc bases and doesn't seep into there skin like "normal" sunblocks.(the real reason they say not to use sunblock..IMO untill atleast 6 months is because there are harsh chemicals in most sunblocks that seep into the skin and stay there. babies skin is thin and absorbs lotions more than an older kid) A tent!!! for if she will sleep onthe beach..keep her out of the sun. a stroller! and an umbrella that attatches to the stroller. (pushing a stroller in sand is impossible, if you pull it behind you...it works better)

If it is going to be to hot and humid to the point it isn't safe to take her oudside...not worth spending the money to go with her. Promise to go next year when she will be walking and be able to play in the sand, and go in the ocean, and be able to do more.

Has anyone ever done a canoe trip through Temagami, Ontario?

Larry

If so, what happened at what did you think about the place?

I was there for 8 days in June, and it was -1C and snowing one morning, and that afternoon we were all out fishing under a perfectly clear sky in light sweaters. We also walked through all the old-growth white pines. I thought it was a wild time, one of the coolest places I have ever been.

Answer
"Canoe the Obabika Loop in Temagami

In August 1997, five canoes from the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON) paddled the Obabika Loop and proved again that this route is one of the nicest the Temagami region.

Day 1:

We travel to the Obabika Lodge at the southern end of Obabika Lake where we launch the canoes. Note that this access is now closed, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources advocates to paddle in via Temagami Lake and the portage of Obabika Inlet. The south end of the lake is somewhat busy with the boats from the lodge and a handful of cottages, but it gets quiet as we move up the lake. It's neat to glide over the sun-lit sandy bottom near the shore and look at the magical world under water. Further up, along the left shore, where the cliffs come down to the water's edge (in Anishnabe language, they are called Kaw-gaw-gee Waw-bee-kong), pictographs from travelers long ago give us time to marvel and reflect. The further north you camp on this lake, the more likely are you to encounter other campers and you might find the camp sites occupied. Thus, we paddle about two fifth up the length of the Lake and camp on the left shore.

Day 2:

We continue paddling up the Lake and stop about half way up the northern part of the lake, at the large rock island. During spring, it's a seagull rookery, but in August it's just one large rocky whale's hump, way out in the lake and bare of vegetation. Its gently sloped shore makes it easy to pull up the canoes, and we explore. temag1a.jpg (28508 bytes)No birds are there now, but the evidence of its large spring population is soon obvious: feathers have been blown into every crevice in this rock. But what touches us deeply are the many bones that are strewn about. In a place where so much new life springs forth, death seems to take its casual toll as well. We paddle on, all a bit quieter than before... Near the top end of the lake, we camp on the left shore, on the beach. Obabika Lake(Photo: Bonny Brownstein)It's a comfortable site, with the tents pitched directly on the sand. A small rocky island, just 50 m off shore, is a nice target for a swim, and we admire the brecchia that forms its bedrock.

Day 3:

It's lay-over day on Obabika. Heavy rain and lightning have forced us to stay put. Everyone is huddled under the large kitchen tarp; we are cramped but glad to be sheltered from the elements. In mid-afternoon, the weather improves and we decide to make use of the day. We launch the canoes and paddle to the north-east corner of the lake where there are large stands of old growth white pine. We step on shore and follow a trail that leads up the forest, take a fork to the right, cross a creek and then reach the top of the cliffs where we lunch. We are a group of nature buffs and thankful for the chance to look at the plants in detail. temag2.jpg (78043 bytes)With opened guide books, we stand huddled over some little sprig of green with a blossom and sort out what it is and what it isn't. I love this: in the three or four hours of walk, we barely cover 4 km, and it's time well spent. Eventually, we get back to the boats and realize that we would rather paddle for another hour than return to the camp for dinner. So, we move south along the east shore of Obabika Lake, to the Grand Parent Rocks (Ko-ko-mis and Sho-mis Waw-bee-Kong) and the pictographs there. We have seen these strangely sculpted rocks from a distance, and are keen to check them out. It's a privilege to get up close to these monuments of Native history and connect to the hundreds or even thousands of years of human presence at the lake.

Day 4:

It's time to move on, as we intend to paddle down the outflow of the lake for about a day and a half, and then loop back into Obabika Lake via a side creek, a lake and a long portage.
So, we break camp and retrace our way southwards for about 2 km and then enter the Obabika River. A cabin stands where the river leaves the lake, smoke curling out the chimney, a vegetable plot covers a fertile strip of shore and two dogs are barking at us. This is a strange sight in what I thought to be wilderness. But the owner of this home may well be a descendent of the people that have left their paintings on the rocks nearby, so why should he not continue his way of life...temag5.jpg (179405 bytes)
The river is small, just big enough to float our five canoes in loose formation. Its clear water flows over a gravelly bottom, and the incessant bends make for slow progress. The August sun burns down and dulls our senses, and the only life visible is the dragon flies that cruise about. We identify the bird songs that come from hidden perches in the bush and, occasionally, see moose tracks where the river bottom is soft. Two weeks earlier, the shores had revealed many tracks of not only moose but also bear and wolf. The recent rain has erased their tell-tale tracks and all open shore lines are as smooth as blackboards, awaiting to be rewritten.
An encounter with the people that live at the start of the Obabika, by ChrisCanoe, mailed to me on Jan 1, 2000: "...We had been enjoying the SW winds by joining 2 canoes together and sailing up Obabika Lake. It had been raining since we woke that day, but since there was such a great wind we decided to take advantage of it and keep on moving (we were doing route 6). When we got to the narrows (1/2 way up Lake) the wind was getting a bit much but we pressed on. Well let me tell you, we were really moving with the wind when all of a sudden it started getting a little hairy so we decided to pull in to the bay by the Obabika river and seek shelter for a while. After pulling up on shore we also noticed the camp (fire smoke) so we decided to go and introduce ourselves. Well we were totally soaked and as we approached the camp we noticed they were native and they invited us over. To keep it short, they invited us to spend the night, hang up all our wet stuff inside the cabin, invited us to join them for dinner (fresh moose stew and moose steaks) and lots of coffee. The rain stopped around 7 pm so we all went out and enjoyed a great fire while we talked about Temagami. They are members of the Gibson tribe.... Having been involved in the Temagami blockade a few years ago I found it fascinating to hear what they had to say. The Chief was there and he was the friendliest person you could imagine, showing great hospitality and generosity. The big thrill for me that night was when he asked me if I would like to stay in one of the teepees instead of putting up my wet tent. It was not that big, but when I unlashed the opening and crawled in, I was in heaven. There was a good bedding of straw that was covered with animal hides. I had the best nights sleep nice and dry and warm, staring up through the hole at the stars. The next morning when I crawled out the chief was already up getting the fire going again, and we enjoyed more talks over a few coffees before they wished us well and we continued up to the Wakimika River."

We carry around the small unnamed rapids 2 km from the start of the river. On an earlier trip, I had seen Cedar Waxwings perched high above that shore flutter out whenever an imprudent insect tried to cross the open space on the river, but today they are missing. We pass the portage towards Lahay Lake and judge the trail to be a bad one: it is swarming with mosquitoes and quite overgrown. Then we continue to Kokosh Pow-waw-ting or Pig Rapids, a short carry of about 90 m, and pitch tents on the large camp site there. It's good to know that across the river there is the open space of a former logging camp which could be used if the main camp site were occupied already.

Day 5:

We get up early as we expect it to be a long day. Launching the canoes brings out a new but not uncommon hazard: a tree stump houses a nest of bees, and we have to pass close by to get to the put-in. A few in the party are stung, and we are all glad as we get away from there.
For about six hours, we follow the many bends of the river, and the canoes have to be pulled over the dead trees that often bar the way. Then, some hillocks appear above the left shore, a sign to look for the little creek that enters from the east. We enter Wawiagama Creek and paddle against the current, skirting bushes and sandbars. After an hour of such toil we enter the bulrushes of Wawiagama Lake and search for a camp site. temag4.jpg (47924 bytes)The north shore of this lake has nothing to offer this medium sized group, but on the south shore we find a site large enough for just about any group. Some bare rocks nearby give us a chance to freshen up with a swim; what a pleasure!

Day 6:

The day starts with a 1000 m portage from the eastern end of Wawiagama Lake. It's not tough, really, because it's level and clear, and we soon get our gear to the other side. It's on the western end of a deep bay of Obabika Lake and, at earlier days, seems to have seen lots of traffic: there is even a wooden dock built for some obscure purpose. We should be paddling south on the lake to get close to tomorrow's pick-up, but the good campsites are the other way and we head north, along the west shore. Finding the camp site of the first day occupied, we cross Obabika Lake and settle down on a small site, up a steep hill. In spite of the small site, we manage to get comfortable and soon goof around to pass the remainder of the day. One couple even heads back across the lake to scale the huge rock face, and we watch them through binoculars as they work their way up to reach the wooded top. Yes, we are on alert for bees, again, as there are a few buzzing around, but no one is stung this time.

Day 7:

The morning sees us paddle back to Obabika Lodge for the pickup. We are relaxed, easy with each other and a bit wistful that it's just about over. Maybe we'll be back the next year....

Erhard Kraus,
June 1998"

Powered by Yahoo! Answers