It is not at all fun when your campsite becomes a mini pool after heavy rainfall. There is no adventure in camping in the rain. It is rather irritating and can take a dangerous turn anytime. Yeah, it is refreshing to watch movies where the brave heroine spends a rainy night inside a jungle, all drenched but still enthusiastic. In real life, that sucks!
Just imagine a perfect camping plan turning into a mess due to unpredictable downfall. You are wet and stranded with all your wet gears. Trust and agree with us when we say you do not want to know how that feels like. So here we are going to talk about a few time-tested ways for camping in the rain and tell you the secret behind how to stay dry.
Here are those tips from pro campers.
Be aware of the Weather and Watch the Forecast
Watching the weather forecast before starting your hike is a somewhat obvious thing to do. You should watch all the forecasts, especially regarding the area of your campsite. If you are new in the world of camping expeditions, then you certainly have no idea how havoc rain can wreck your camping tent and site!
Yes, there is some unpredictability with the weather and its changes. No matter how long you watch the forecast, you cannot predict the ever-changing climate of a hilly area. But try to check it frequently. Carry a radio with you if necessary.
Nevertheless, even if the prediction calls for entirely dry days, do not think about leaving your rain gears behind. Start them unpacking as soon as you notice some eerie silence or sudden wind change. Our dog may also start yapping before a storm.
Choose the Right Location for Camping
Picking the right camping site is one of the decisive steps to guaranteeing that you will have a rainless, warm, and pleasant camping day. Choose an area with high ground and surrounded by a lot of trees. These trees are going to help you while attaching the tarps. Low areas can become quickly saturated and waterlogged with run-off after heavy rain. So choosing an elevated area is always recommended. You do not want to wake up in four inches of water after a downpour. Trees that you can use to hang your sheets are going to be extremely convenient as well.
If you have chosen a valley area beside a particular river, then set up your camp above the high water mark to avoid the flash flood.
But whatever you do, don’t choose a place under a tree. The consistent raindrops will keep dripping on your tent, and if the guylines are not correctly used, then that will increase the pressure on your canvas. The increasing weight can uproot the tent quickly.
You Need an Outdoor Space That Is Rain Free
Camping tarps are very convenient for a camping adventure, specifically when camping in the rain. A tarp will let you build an overhead accommodation for relaxing and waiting out the storm.
All you need is a paracord-roll, a tarp, and a few trees to set up that private lounge. Use that for cooking or to take a nap, it is up to you. If your tent or material gets soaked after rain, then this shelter will save your head and other dry gears.
You can place a tarp under the tent as well. It will work as an extra layer of shield between the ground and your tent bottom. It is always a good decision to carry some extra tarp, if possible. If your campsite has already become muddy after the rain, then those extra tarps can cover the area to avoid any mess.
Drying Out Wet Gears and Clothes
From time to time, the rainwater sneaks up on you. No matter how hard you try, you can’t help. You are going to end up with damp gears and clothes. Now the first thing you need to do is dry out all your gear and clothes. And the worst decision you can make is dumping them in a corner and carry them back home in that condition. It can damage your gears and create a bad odor in your clothes. Apart from that, they will be useless for the time being. You need to come up with some creative ideas to dry them out. No one likes mildew smelling clothes. Apart from that, wet clothes become heavier naturally due to absorbed water. It will only increase the weight of your total luggage.
If you are an experienced camper, then we do not need to explain the importance of carrying a clothesline. Take that out and consider hanging them under your tarp to avoid further soaking. Hang all the wet clothes there. It may take a whole night to dry them. If you have dried fire woods and a safe place for a campfire, then try hanging them close to that (not dangerously close). The heat will help to dry the clothes and gears faster. If it is still pouring outside, then hang them inside your tent even if it is a tiny one-person tent.
Gear It Up
The right camping rain gear can make or ruin your day. A few certain things like a good quality layering system to regulate the body temperature and retaining your body’s natural heat after physical activities is a necessary thing to carry.
You should always go for polyester or waterproof jacket and rain ponchos. Cotton is not for carrying when rain is probable. It stays wet after getting wet and plummet the body temperature faster. Â Take extra socks, gloves, base layers, and of course, a few waterproof covers. Plastic bags are also needed to keep your clothes dry in case your backpack becomes wet. It is natural to feel miserable when your clothes are becoming wet through-and-through. So take a pair of rain pants and a rain jacket to avoid that. Your gears and clothes will be safe inside a waterproof rucksack.
Nature will give you enough time to unpack your rain ears and be ready before the downpour. Do not forget your gaiters.
How To Set Up The Tarp When Camping in Rain?
We have already discussed the benefits of tarp in the rain. Here is the trick to use it properly. We are trying to explain the method of creating a shelter with a tarp.
There are a few different methods to set-up a tarp. A few things every camper should think about before setting up the tarp. They are the trees around that area, wind direction, and the purpose of that shelter.
To build the necessary shelter, you need rope, tarp, a few pegs, and two tent poles. Ask others to help you hold the tent poles and run a string between the poles. Now take the excess rope and peg it into the ground. If the soil is already muddy and wet, then secure it with rock or something heavy. This will keep the poles in place.
Now take another line and run that from each of the poles. Again peg them into the ground in the same way. Take the tarp and pull it over the edge. Run ropes from each of the corners of the tarp. Peg them into the ground and secure them. To change the apex of your shelter, you can simply move the tarp.
The use of poles, ropes, and the whole pegging process depend on what shape you want to give to your shelter. If you want a flat cover, then tie the knot in four corners of a tarp and use trees to secure them. But whatever you do, do it patiently and before time.
The Final Thought
Camping is excellent for unwinding your mind from your regular stress. But an unprepared camping plan and a heavy rainfall can increase your stress level substantially. We cannot control Mother Nature and her whims, but we can prepare ourselves to accept all the situations. If you are ready and geared up, then sit back and relish the harmonious pitter-patter of the raindrops against your tarp. Rainstorms can be stunning, so just relax and lookout as it reels through your campsite.
