The decision to go camping was a simple one.
This is Porter
It’s getting colder, I recently purchased a truck and more importantly, acquired a new dog. It’s almost as if nature was beckoning me out of the city. I love living in Dallas but it was time to take my 6 month old puppy, Porter, into some real nature. Keep in mind, this is not a guide to camping. If you could take a look at my google searches before I left, you’d see a few variations of ‘how to’ and ‘camping.’
After doing a bit of research a 3 hour trek to Broken Bow Lake in Oklahoma seemed like a fitting test… for both of us really. I set up camp in Beavers Bend State Park after finding a fantastic spot right next to some rapids. (I’ll refer to them as rapids by the definition I’m sure the two dudes in a kayak that tipped over will use when they tell the story about their kayak tipping over.)
One of my first challenges after entering the park: the ‘NO SIGNAL’ text displayed stubbornly on the top of my phone. Now to someone addicted to screens, this was tough. It was my first real test after setting up camp. I made it a few hours, but then decided to explore the rest of the park in my truck as an excuse to find some precious cell signal. The only location in the park to have a few bars happened to be at the top of the dam which luckily featured some amazing views. Some might even say, a dam good view.
Lately I’ve noticed myself more and more addicted to screens. I stare them a huge percentage of my day for everything from work to entertainment. Lately I’ve noticed my immediate need and ability to have everything quickly and at my fingertips affecting focus and attention span.
This trip really helped me wind down, read a book, listen to nature, and pay more attention to the reason you’re probably here: my super cute dog.
I got Porter during a transitional period in my life and I really can’t say enough about what he’s meant to me.
I won’t completely gloss over things, he’s been a challenge at times, but a more rewarding challenge than any I can think of. During our hikes, Porter would frequently run ahead, stop, and look back at me with this ginormous smile. Almost as if to say, “this is great and all, but what’s up ahead is going to be even better.”
Broken Bow Lake offers many different hiking trails. We went on two which featured everything from deer crossing our path to cliff-faced views of the lake. Not bad. Next time I come back I’ll probably take advantage of the great kayaking available and learn to fly fish. Both looked like a ton of fun despite the fact that I didn’t see anyone catching anything and the kayaks do tip over.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m no expert outdoorsman. I barely made it through Cub Scouts. So the fewer details and tips I give, the more of my credibility I can retain. But I did survive, I didn’t starve, and I made a couple fires (bonfires, if you will) that I used to cook some food. I consider it a resounding success. I’ll link to a couple articles at the end that will better prepare you to go toe to toe with mother nature than I can, but there’s still a few items I used that were great to have and some I wished I had bought.
Super Helpful
- BioLite Campstove — quick fires with little to no smoke. You can also charge your phone using the USB port.
- Mummy type sleeping bag — when buying a bag think about the temperature abilities and go a bit lower than you think you’ll need.
Would Have Been Nice To Have Had
- Hammock — just get one. They rock.
- A larger tent — if you aren’t backpacking with your tent, get one a person larger than you have.
Don’t Forget
- Pillow (I did)
- Trash bags — good for everything from dirty clothes to actual trash
Camping in a beautiful location (Oklahoma, who knew…) is a great way to unwind and connect with your primitive self all too often repressed by the niceties and hustle of everyday life.
Grab some friends, human or canine, and get outside!
Prepare yourself for your next trip with these great articles:
Bring your dog: http://gizmodo.com/how-to-take-your-dog-camping-1575730467
Make a checklist: http://www.cozi.com/blog/family-camping-checklist-and-a-few-great-tips/
Find a campground:
This article was originally published on Bonfire Thoughts (December 6, 2016).