Camping 101: Taylor Park Reservoir, CO

Sometimes you need to throw your priorities to the wind and climb a mountain

Successful camping is an art form of combining organization with spontaneity.

Really all I want to do in this post is show you the beauty of Taylor Park Reservoir and send you on your merry way, but I did learn something from my last excursion and have a few basic pieces of advice.

1. Buy a map
Thankfully on my last trip we had a veteran camper in this area, so while we bought a map most of our campsites, hikes, and other activities were guided by Ranger Jordan. If you don't have this type of insight handy go beyond buying a map at the local park information office--call ahead to ask which campsites are open and which are closed. Where are the more isolated sites vs. areas with hookups? Is there any fee for camping? Map out potential sites you want to set up so your glorious arrival isn't spent driving late into the night searching for a site. The same is true with hiking trails. While you want to have the freedom to change your plans it's always beneficial to have a back up.

2. Camp near water
For so many reasons. If you are going rustic that's one less water bottle you have to use. Your dishwasher, bath, and most importantly coffee water are all within walking distance. And there is nothing more calming than being lulled to sleep by the nearby gurgling river.

3. Bring kindling
So easy to forget, but just by bringing newspaper or small pieces of wood you save yourself the initial scavenging of burning materials for your campfire. On that same note, check empty campsites for left over firewood from your friendly, neighborhood campers.

4. Pack tarps...and extra tarps
Tarps and clothes lines will become your best friends on a camping trip. You need it for the waterproof base under the tent, that makeshift lean-to when it rains, and to cover the top of the tent if a tear or unexpected downpour happens. There really is no such thing as too many tarps.

5. Pack extra blankets and warm clothes
This was a new one to me as an Oklahoma camper. I slept outside on top of my sleeping bag on one excursion to the Wichita's in western Oklahoma, but Colorado is a different story. Every single night I was cold. I even went to bed fully clothed wrapped in a blanket and zipped up tight into my heat retaining REI sleeping bag and still had the shivers. My advice is pack two pairs of wool socks, two thick blankets, a sturdy, heat retaining bag, and long sleep pants.
***Tip: A quick warming solution is to hold your blanket around you in front of the fire for about five minutes before going to bed. Then quickly zip up in your bag to keep the blanket warm.

6. Get more water than you think you need
Also a newb mistake (made by yours truly). You think you will be able to judge what your drinking habits will be, but you will always drink more. Always. And since water is somewhat of a life source it really doesn't hurt to stock up.

7. Plan out your meals
Other campers may like to just grab the essentials and throw it all in the trunk, but once I learned this concept it highly improved my camping experience. Reason one, you don't overpack your food. If you know what meals you have available to you, you don't have to ration or moan post-camping because you could have done without that jumbo case of Pork n' Beans. Keep your utensils in an easily accessible Tupperware, organize your cans and your condiments, and make an easy to grab snack bag for those side backpacking trips.

8. Sharp objects required
I'm talking an ax, saw, and/or pocketknife. Chances are you will run into a situation where you wish you had something sharp--a log that needs to be chopped smaller, a sudden diy camping project, or you simply forgot your can opener. Also, it never hurts to have some form of barrier between yourself and a furry being, also armed with sharp objects.
***Tip: Bear spray and/or whistles might work a bit better than an ax

9. Think outside the box
Even though we didn't go to Colorado to play croquet, it was crazy fun to set up a course over the rocky ground of our campsite and spend the last night engaged in some friendly competition. Don't forget that deck or two of cards, guitar, or dirt bike. It's like an upgrade to your trip.

10. Bring a camera
iPhone or Canon 5D, it really doesn't matter. It's Colorado, and it will be beautiful. You'll wish you had captured that double rainbow going all the way across the sky.

And speaking of...here are my Colorado moments.

Don't forget to adventure today!

-Ray