Camping and hiking work in conjunction with each other, no doubts about it.
Many people like to split the two up, but I say you get the best of both worlds by doing them together.
Throughout this article I’m going to talk about why the two work best at the same time, what YOU should do on your next outdoor adventure, and how to have as much fun as possible.
What Is Camping?
Camping is a recreational activity, meaning it is done for a vacation or a weekend trip.
The simple answer is; pitching a tent in the outdoors and sleeping in it for the night. You can’t get anymore basic than that 😛
However, there are a bunch of variables that make camping different for everyone.
For example: A backyard camp out in a tent is different than staying in a public campsite inside your brand new RV.
Camping is designed for everyone, simply because non-outdoorsy people can stay in a RV and feel safe and warm, while the more adventurous ones can sleep inside a tent, with a very thin piece of fabric keeping them safe from the elements.
Some people camp in hammocks, too – which is even more adventurous than being in a tent because you literally sleep out in the open!
What Is Hiking?
Hiking is when you walk up a designated track and enjoy the wondrous views the world has to offer.
The world has countless rocky mountains to hike, forests, hills, fields – anything you can think of, you can hike it.
The secret to hiking is LIVING in the moment, enjoying every second and breathing in the fresh air mother nature has to offer.
And the beauty of it all is not knowing what’s around the corner!
You could be walking next to a flowing river inside a rain forest, and around the corner might be a huge field with front row seats to huge mountains!
You’ll have to fill a backpack up with items that’ll last for the duration of the hiking trip (water, food, snacks, first aid kit, etc).
Hiking is great and all, but you have to be safe doing it!
Related: Hiking Boots for Women
Why People Separate The Two
Most people decide to separate camping and hiking for the simple reason that camping is for relaxing and hiking is for exercising.
However, I beg to differ.
Through the eyes of fellow campers, they want to get away from civilization to relax as much as possible and love every moment of it.
But they tend to forget that hiking doesn’t JUST provide a good amount of exercise, because a large majority of it is enjoying the many sights, smells and sounds as well.
Why They ACTUALLY Go Hand In Hand
There’s nothing wrong with going for a hike out in the bush or up a rocky mountain for a day trip, because I do that often as well.
But what I’m trying to suggest here is implementing hiking WITH camping.
Yes, camping is about relaxing – but you can relax in your backyard as well.
Does your backyard provide massive lakes, rivers, rocky mountains, snowy mountains, boulders, and unusual terrain?
No?
That’s what I thought.
Because guess what? Camping does!
So why should you skip hiking altogether while you’re out camping, where EVERYTHING you need to see is right in front of you?
You don’t, and this is why.
People think camping is only about relaxing, when this is simply not the case. There is more than meets the eye.
It’s completely fine to relax while you camp, but first and foremost, enjoy everything there is to offer, FIRST.
It is one of the best feelings to wake up at 5 in the morning, cook your favorite breakfast meal by the campfire, pack your backpack, grab your trekking poles then set out on a morning hike – just in time to make it back to camp for lunch.
Have your lunch, then have your “relaxing time”. It is much more rewarding than just sitting around and missing out on all the opportunities.
Not a morning person? That’s okay. Relax for the day then go out on a hike in the afternoon, when it gets cooler.
When you get back to camp, you’ll feel exhausted and sleep like a baby! The “nighttime terrors” won’t even cross your mind.
What You Should Do For Best Results
If you’re looking to be more adventurous, I highly recommend implementing some type of activity on your camping trips.
Don’t be the lazy family or group of friends that lie around all day, drink beer and make a right mess of their campsite while annoying the neighbors at the same time.
Be the likable neighbor instead, the one that’s interested in seeing what the campsite offers, is very friendly, and doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty.
You’ll feel like a much better person when you know you’ve done something productive for the day, that’s for sure!
Don’t forget to tell your friends and family that camping isn’t JUST about relaxing all the time.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Ask me anything in the comments below.
1. Do you agree that hiking should be done while camping as well on its own
2. Are you the “relaxing” camper? Do you like to cook in the sun while giving orders to everyone around you?
I’d love to hear what you have to say!
Cheers.
-Brandon
Camping Mastery