This week, I caught up with Kevin Callan, the Happy Camper, and we talked about the notion of happy camping and why we prefer to be comfortable and happy while out in the woods. Kevin provided plenty of great tips and suggestions for those looking for a few nights out under the stars, without counting the seconds before heading back home and away from the bugs, bears, cold, dirt – you get the idea.
In the years that I have packed my hiking bag full of various amenities that I consider essential to a prosperous camping trip, I am always finding myself torn between two perspectives: pack as light as you can, because you should be able to get by on the bare essentials, and bring as much as you want, since you want to be comfortable while out there. Obviously, the decision is contextually based: Am I car camping? backcountry trekking? Portaging? And other factors as well, such as who I am with, how long I am going, etc. Generally speaking though, I find people fit into one of three categories:
Survivalists. These are the “all I need is a tarp and my trusty knife, nature will provide the rest”.
Happy Campers. People like myself, who bring enough to be comfortable and relaxed, but not feeling the need to bring everything and the kitchen sink out into the wild. Which brings us to the third and final group…
Glampers (glamorous campers). These are the folks who need to feel pampered during their vacation, and rely on propane-heated, cable-ready, wi-fi hot spot enabled homes-on-wheels.
I should point out that none of these categories are inherently bad. And people can cycle through these categories as their lives change (it’s better to be a glamper than to not go at all, after all). However, I do find that there are perceptions about camping that those who are new to the experience tend to imagine, and it is the goal of this post that I try to defuse some of these perceptions.
When I talk to people about how I like to go camping, especially when they find out I go in the winter, ideas of frostbitten fingers and snow covered tents come to their minds. “You’re crazy!” I hear frequently enough that I’m starting to question it myself. However, according the Kevin, there are benefits to winter camping you don’t get when there during the summer months. “There are times I think I winter camp more than summer camp…” starts Kevin. “No bugs, bears or crowds. And the silence is amazing”. Especially if you are used to living in a metropolitan area, the silence truly is magical. In a way, it’s almost louder than the noise we hear every day in the city, since our ears so are used to that ambient background noise and the absence of it really livens up your ears and puts your mind truly at ease. Everyone needs to experience that feeling at least once in their lives. To combat the cold, Kevin recommends a hot tent, which is essentially a prospector tent with a wood stove. “The huge advantage of the hot tent is, yes, you have a heat structure, but also from 5 at night when it gets dark, until 8 am the next morning, you have something else to do. You don’t go in the tent to try and survive, you go in there to play cards and have a good time. As the happy camper, I’m not trying to survive, I’m trying to have a good time.”
Moving away from the topic of winter camping, I know from Kevin’s many books that he is a big believer in a hearty and filling camp dinner, complete with appetizers and a bit of choice whiskey for dessert. One of his staple items for any respectable camper is a well-made bannock (Recipe here). He points out that not only does it taste great and use limited ingredients, but a good meal is a serious morale booster for a weary group at the end of a long day.
“…a good meal is a serious morale booster for a weary group at the end of a long day.”
For those looking for their next adventure, Kevin recommends checking out his favourite place at the moment, the Chiniguchi/Sturgeon River system. “It has everything you want in a good lengthy ‘northern’ trip.” Known for its large stand of old growth red pines, this is a great trip for someone to take who doesn’t want to be either a survivalist or a glamper, as you can bring plenty of your gear along with you in your canoe but bear in mind that you will need to do plenty of portaging and it is considered ‘backcountry’ in its terrain.
So thinking back to the three types of campers, I encourage those who haven’t been camping and picturing it as a survival situation, it doesn’t need to be. You can pack lightweight amenities such as cooking stoves, down-filled sleeping bags, even chairs and pillows to be as comfortable as possible. And for those who have been camping, but only done so from the comfort of an R.V. (which I love to do on occasion myself and recommend if you can afford one), to try heading out either alone or with a close friend and try your hand at tent camping, using your judgement and skills to stay warm or cool, and try out various activities such as animal tracking and identification, bird watching, and other meaningful activities that will connect you more to the world around you.
Finally, if you want to see The Happy Camper in action, Kevin Callan will be appearing at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show from February 20-21, where he is scheduled to put on a presentation. I encourage everyone reading this to see him present. For an idea of his style and sense of humour, also please check out his latest YouTube video series “Happy Camper Whiskey Fireside Chat“.
Thanks for reading!
Travel and Tourism Research 