The Things Most Forgotten When Traveling on the Road

Nothing’s worse than starting a hike or long-distance venture into the outdoors and realizing you’ve forgotten some key items. It’s an annoyance and, more importantly, it’s often costly to replace must-have items when you’re already on the road. Creating a packing list that encompasses all of the items you usually need when traveling on the road is a good way to avoid these mishaps. These lists can be constantly updated, and easily kept on a phone app. Plus, when you do realize you’ve forgotten an item, you can easily add it to the list.

Get started by creating that list right now. Maybe it’s based on a recent trip or you can start planning ahead for a forthcoming one. Here are some of the most-forgotten items:

1. Water Bottles. You could also include a flask, or any other item you may use to transport liquids, but not having water is no fun especially on long hikes. Staying hydrated and refreshed is key for any traveler and losing your source of hydration can ruin your whole experience.
2. First-aid kits. These kits could be life-savers in case of an emergency. You’ll want to bring a kit that’ll have essential items like disinfectant and band-aids. Make sure always to have one present no matter where you venture out to.
3. Much like water, you won’t want to forget this item. Having snacks packed will help you power through some of the tougher parts of your journey. Plus, if the worst happens and you’re stuck or stranded somewhere, you’ll be glad you have rations to tide you over until help comes.
4. Many of us like to carry our phones wherever we go and the outdoors are no different. For many, their whole lives are practically tied to their devices, so leaving the phone behind would be devasting. People do often misplace their phones though and it’s pretty common to forget to pack it if you’re not the type who carries it in your pocket. These can be very expensive to replace, which makes it a number-one item to keep track of.
5. Chargers. You know you have your phone or other mobile devices, but are you sure you packed the charger? You don’t want to get stuck with a low battery on your phone, especially if it’s your only GPS-capable device. It’s often forgotten, and it’s an essential item that should be on your packing list. These chargers can be exceptionally expensive to pick up while traveling, easily costing $100 or more. Don’t leave this vital item behind.
6. Proper shoes and other attire. Having a pair of comfortable, yet reliable shoes are necessary not just for navigating the terrain you’re going against, but also for the health of your feet. Same goes for attire. If you’re going to be venturing into areas with either excessive heat or cold, you’ll want to remember to bring clothes that play to the environment.
7. Reliable transportation. You may not immediately thing about this one considering you’re venturing outdoors, but most people need some type of transportation to get to the area they want to explore. If you’re venturing on your own, you’ll want to make sure you’re in a safe and reliable vehicle. The nice part is vehicles nowadays have added in features to help get you to your destinations safely such as 360 surround-view cameras.
8. Books. Traveling is a fantastic time to catch up on reading. If you need to rest for a bit or just waiting around, it’s a nice item to have. You could even bring a guidebook to help you navigate your way around outdoors. No matter how you like to indulge in a good story, make sure you have it readily available.
9. Pills. If you take supplements or prescription drugs regularly, you don’t want to realize they’ve been left behind. It’s a common item to forget because you might leave your pillbox out to take them right before you leave. Replacing these items can waste a lot of time and money, so make sure they take top billing on any packing list.
10. OTC pills. If you depend on OTC pills for headaches or to help you sleep, don’t forget to bring them with you. Headaches and insomnia can particularly strike when you’re traveling, and these pills can be a great way to help get over jet lag or settle into a new environment.

The more you travel, the more you’ll realize what travel items are a necessity for you. Expect your packing list to grow and evolve over time—just make sure you adjust your list accordingly.

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Cherish Your Sleep Like A Baby At High Altitude

Ah! It was another beautiful day of long hiking. The last galloping trail is still fresh in the heart. The mind is fully contented with the natural craft and magical sunset shades. Now body starts imagining for a comfy sleeping bag inside the warm tent.

It’s how the mind functions for most of the trekkers after the end of the day after the long hiking session. A wise trekker knows that sleep is equally essential to keep up the performance at high altitude.

Yes. It is also considered to be a skill, and it is crucial.

There are few things to be considered as cardinal factors to sleep like a fortunate trekker –

• Know what is right for you and what types of the trail you are
• Tricks to improve your body conditioning with nature
• Comfortable sleeping gear

Wait!

Before the solution, let’s enlighten a bit on the cause of sleeplessness on the high altitude.

Higher altitude impacts on the body for various reasons. One of the main culprits is lack of oxygen. Oxygen level remains almost 20% in the sea level, and it is reduced to 13% above 3600 meters. So you have to inhale more frequently to supply the necessary oxygen to your blood. This rapid breathing releases more carbon-di-oxide in your blood than average condition. Due to this adjustment of periodic breathing, the sleep pattern is disturbed. Sometimes, if you are affected with Altitude Mountain Sickness, it also affects your sleep pattern.

What to do?

First, understand the basics of sleeping gear required –

Air Mattress and Air Pad –

When hiking is your few days affair with nature, don’t forget to take an air mattress. A full air mattress is ideal if you are going for the local camping in the car. These air mattresses are heavy but comfortable. If you are a hiker, it is not a good option for you. It’s far better to use an air pad. These air pads are light weighted and easily packed in your rucksack. Modern air pads are conveniently wrapped in the side of a rucksack.

A down sleeping bag is mandatory

When you are at high altitude, the temperature falls drastically in the night. Therefore, however you may sweat during the day, the night will chill your bone. You desperately need a warm sleeping bag for a sound sleep. Keep in mind; the sleeping bag is not placed on any damped surface. Even the camping blankets are better alternative for a sound sleep at high altitude.

Now let’s come to the points –

Proper Acclimatization is the key to sleep

Poor acclimatization is the greatest villain in the high altitude trekking adventure. Improper acclimatization triggers a lot of uncomfortable physical reactions which wipes out the fun of trekking. Naturally, it also affects your sleeping. If you are hit with acute mountain sickness, your sleeping will be positively impacted. The wise decision is to cope up your body with the environment. Spend more time out of the tent when you have reached at your destination at high altitude for the day. Many trekkers enter into the tent immediately after a long fatigue day. Don’t do that. Your body also needs the time to acclimatize with the altitude you have gained. You should offer that time to your body. Then you don’t face any problem of sleeping at all.

Drink enough fluids

While trekking you are losing enough of fluids due to sweating. This dehydration can cause your sleep apnea due to the lack of producing body chemicals for sleeping. Not only sweating but also with rapid breathing your body fluid is evaporated. So drink a lot of water while trekking in a day. Drinking alcohol is absolutely no no. Alcohol or caffeinated beverages will dehydrate your body very first. One more trekking hack is that you should not open your mouth while breathing. It causes more loss of fluid.

Food cannot be ignored

At high altitude your digestive system is impacted. So consuming a heavy meal at dinner may tax to your digestive system. Try to avoid high sugar, protein, or fat diet at night. Try to eat your dinner at 7 p.m. and go to bed at 9 pm.

Do not skip your meal as it is the fuel that runs the engine throughout the day. If you do not have enough energy for this rigorous trekking exercise, you can suffer acidity, nausea or blackout and disturbed sleep.

Keep your mobile away

The mobile device is an entertainer during a day. But at night when you are sleeping keep your mobile at bay. Light from your mobile device stimulates your brain. It affects your sleep. So try to switch it off an hour ago before you sleep. That makes you sleep better.

Use nasal spray

The nasal spray is one of the essential hygiene tips for a good night sleep. While hiking in the day, lot of dust enters into the nostril, and it impacts on smooth breathing.  The nasal spray is beneficial for those who suffer from breathing problem due to nasal congestion. Taking one or two drops of nasal spray before sleeping will surely give you comfort.

Sleeping posture matters

Sleeping posture plays a pivotal role. After eating a large meal, when you are lying down instantly can cause heartburn and acidity.  Wrong sleeping posture will hamper your sleep. Sleeping on the back may cause acidity into your stomach which causes the windpipe to contract. It can cause shortness of breath, burping, cough etc.  The best solution is to use your backpack or a few clothes to create a pillow for you. Keep in mind that your head should be elevated 15 to 20-degree angle from your body. It helps you to breathe better.

Dry sleep is warm sleep

After a long day of hiking, a good rest can drive away all your tiredness. Before your camping ensure that tents are not pitched on a damp surface. Along with that, you need to change your sweat-drenched clothes and underwear before sleeping. They will spread a lousy smell into your sleeping bag, and your sleep will be disrupted. You can use dry-bags to be safe side.

Spray out the bugs

Buzzing bugs around you are the most annoying part. Sometimes the flies and bugs congest in the camping area. Few of them can find their way into your tent and make your life hell for rest of the night. Try to stay away from any swamps or ponds and don’t use any fragrance. Perfumes mixed with your body smell magnates the mosquito. You can use some bug repellent to stay away from them

All the points above will assist you for sound sleep on a high altitude. Above all, try to adjust with the atmosphere and habituate your body to acclimatize better. After gaining a height, open up ears and nose to accommodate the wind pressure inside and outside of your body. The more you embrace nature, nature will take care to make your sleep like a baby.

Bio: I am Debojyoti. I am from India. I am an avid trekker and mountain lover. Presently, I am a co-editor of a blog www.trekkingwhiz.com

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Benefits of Investing in A Trailer for Travel

Owning a boat trailer can convey tons of delight in your life. However, it can be distressing and troubling on some occasions as well. Finding the correct vessel and watercraft advance will require a lot of research for your sake. With the end goal to ensure that your vessel gets to and from your goal in one piece, you should have the correct gear for the activity. Extraordinary compared to other bits of equipment that you can purchase is a boat trailer that will help in moving and transporting your vessel a lot less demanding. Choosing a trailer is not an easy task, and you need to be more careful regarding the tire pressure and types, LED lighting, roller systems aluminum bunk systems and also the side guide tubes.

Advantages of Having A Trailer:

#1. Simplified storage

One of the biggest advantages of having a boat trailer is that it helps in the proper storage of the vessel and trailer much easier. By having the ability to move the trailer about as you wish, you can store it practically wherever you want to. You need to guarantee that you can move the trailer independently without taking any support from another person before you put your vessel in an explicit spot. During winter, when you keep away your boat, you will have the ability to do this work effectively by investing in this sort of equipment.

#2. Tours

Another advantage of having a trailer is that it makes moving around your vast trailer a lot less demanding. Without a vessel, it would be very difficult to move the boat into a position, so you can get it snared to the truck for transport. The trailer additionally makes emptying the boat simple once you reach your goal. In the case of taking your watercraft to a nearby marina or maybe on a long tour trip, having the correct trailer will make this work a lot less demanding. You can choose from different utility models, boat trailers and also ski boat, pontoon and kayak trailers as per your requirement.

#3. Durability

One more extremely advantageous part of owning a pontoon trailer is that they are truly strong and will in general last a decent while before waiting to be supplanted. The higher quality trailers will cost more, yet it is more than justified, despite all the trouble at last. You have to check the grease in your trailer dollar all the time to ensure that it isn’t dried out. Leaving your trailer without a proper measure of grease can prompt various genuine fixing issues. The time and exertion that you apply for proper maintenance of the trailer support will be more than justified, despite all the trouble at last.

#4. Damage free

The sum which you pay for a vessel should be an impetus enough to keep it alive and well. The correct inverse thing you can do is have your watercraft maltreated for improper transportation. With the correct trailer, you will have the ability to get your watercraft from one point to the next without struggling with it. Before placing assets into a watercraft trailer, you should seek advice from the specialists working in this segment to find a few solutions concerning the one which is a perfect decision for your particular barge. Getting a prompt fit trailer is essential and will profit you to transport securely in your prized proprietorship.

You can now choose simple trailer or boat trailer to get an idea about how to use them for your personal use. You can go through a company website to know more about the trailer parts stores and how to maintain the resources.

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Camping Solo: A How-To Guide and Checklist

Camping is a kind of recreational activity that may help in alleviating stress derived from work or business. It is best for individuals to have a break and separate themselves from the complexity of life due to stressors. Usually, camping is done with a group of friends or family members. However, nowadays, individuals have their own free schedule or have at least different working and days-off. Solitary camping would be very practical, if not the best way to deal with stresses.

Benefits of Solo Camping

Solo camping, as a recreational activity, would help ease your burdens due to stressors derived from daily activities. It is a form of unwinding. Solo camping will make a person temporarily detached from the urban life and, at the same time, exposes him to the beauty of nature. A solitude experience with the peace and beauty of nature is very helpful to a distressed individual. When you do solo camping, it is beneficial since you only have to manage your own things to be brought in the campsite. Less is more so it is very important to travel lite and to free yourself from bringing unnecessary things that may instead cause stress. Solo camping means you will enjoy the silence of nature. Away from the city noise, solo camping will help a person meditate while enjoying the nature’s sound. Being in solitude during camping will help the individual to reassess himself through reflection and self-awareness.

Dangers You May Face

In every situation, there is a corresponding danger that you have to deal with. In solo camping, there are dangers that you may also face. One danger that may arise is the security of the campsite. In some places, there are campsites that are not safe, that is why a careful assessment for the campsite security is very important. Another danger occurs during the trek. There are trails going to the campsite that is difficult especially when you decide to have mountainous camping. Some individuals prefer to camp in high ground areas hence, the same danger while on their way to the mountain may occur. In some places, there may be wild animals that could harm the camper. In solo camping, you only have to rely on yourself to survive the trek that is why preparation is very important. In the course of the camp, you may get lost or may run out of food or power on your gadgets. It is worth noting that when you are in the campsite, there may be experiences that need appropriate preparation. During solo camping, one may be tempted to drink spring water or eat unusual grains or fruits, hence it is possible that you may get sick. Illnesses may also occur during the course of solo camping. Insect bites are one of the dangers when having camping overall.  

Camping Preparation

When preparing for a solo camp, it is important to research the campsite location. Once you have chosen one, you have to study the campsite the location. It is best that you are knowledgeable about the rules and regulations of the campsite place. Determine also the weather during the scheduled camping and make sure that it falls on good weather. Each campsite location has its own rules and regulations. Another thing to consider in preparing is the geographical location of the campsite. It is important to be familiar with the nearby establishments in the area such as clinics or hospitals in case of emergency situations.

After carefully considering the campsite location it is important to have a map to carry during the trek. Of course, the main thing to bring during solo camping is food, clothes, flashlight, power bank, water, hammock and tent. There are individuals that have no tent or hammock yet. Buying a new one is expensive and will cost you time in choosing. To be creative and resourceful, you may use tarps in making hammock and tent. And if you have enough time, you may even use tarps in making bags to be used in camping. During hiking, tarps may also be used as Create a makeshift picnic or rest area during breaks and in making a rain poncho.  

During camping, a check-list of the essential tools to bring, as well as the desired activities, would be very helpful.

In considering solo camping as a form of recreational activity to separate yourselves from the urban life, the most important thing is that you enjoy the moment spent in solitude in the heart of the beauty of nature. Feel the breeze of nature and enjoy its beauty. In that way, your solo camping would be very memorable and therapeutic.

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