I didn’t grow up camping and besides a few car camping trips hadn’t spent much time in the wild. Luckily a couple years ago, my friends began showing me the ropes. I remember vividly the first night we dirt bagged. I was so far removed from the camping life that they had to explain what it meant (truly lying in your sleeping bag in the dirt – dirt bagging). I thought it would be terrible (It wasn’t). I thought I would hate it (I didn’t). After that, I couldn’t get enough sleeping outside. I was hooked, forever changed.
Just the same, I’d never really camped by myself. The idea of standing in the middle of nowhere alone, having to take are of everything, left me terrified and exhilarated. A clear sign it was exactly what I needed to do.
Now, more than 300 nights later, I still regularly make mistakes, sometimes spend the night cold, wet or lost, but it’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s just about getting out there and doing it. Having the experience. Failing, learning, succeeding. Getting outside. Having an adventure. Sleeping under the stars.
Here are answers to common camp ponderances and a bunch of camp photos. If you have a question please leave a comment or send an email to mallory@mallorypaige.com and I’ll add it to the list. Thank you!
Where do you camp?
My favorite is dispersed camping in National Forest or BLM land. It’s hard to beat free camping in beautiful and remote places!
When that’s not available, I look for state parks or campgrounds like a KOA, which can be great for a hot shower and wifi.
Where does Baylor sleep?
Baylor and I share the tent, though it’s not uncommon for me to wake up smashed into a corner while he sprawls out. When it’s cold I zip him into his doggy Sleeping Bag
I don’t know how to camp. Do you have any recommendations to get me started?
First off, don’t worry about doing it “wrong” or looking like a fool. I’ve made, and continue to make, plenty of mistakes. Start by spending a night out at a local state park and then work your way to more remote places.
And if attending a class or training would boost your confidence, check out programs from Leave No Trace. I got to spend a weekend with them in Colorado and was very impressed.
And the Wilderness Survival Trainings from Omega sound amazing. I’ve done some weaponry training with them and cannot recommend Shane and team highly enough. Tons of knowledge delivered in a relatable, fun manner.
Are you ever afraid?
Yes, of course. There have been many times where Baylor and I freak each other out or a strange noise causes me to spend a restless night with the heebie jeebies. But the truth is that happened just as often when I was living a “normal” life in the city.
All in all, I believe people are good, try to be smart about the camp spots I choose and always have my bear spray and knife with me. Repetitive exposure continually increases the enjoyment and decreases the fear, though I’m sure even after another 300 days the heebie jeebies will still sometimes get the best of me.
