The Red Ro
So In four days I will go camping in Austria...cool huh? Except for my period and other countless woman problems I will have on the trip! So this isn't a "little" camping trip. It is a hardcore 2 week real camping experience! I talking about tents and no bathrooms!! Plus! It's in Austria...and I don't know German! But thats just the small stuff... heres the real problem...
First off I will have my period at the beginning of the second week.I've already been staying in Germany for a month now... and mother nature planned for my trip so perfectly so that I would have my Period three times while I was staying away from home...long story short...I'm short on pads. I know, I know...USE TAMPONS! But that doesn't work for me. Again I am so "lucky" that I have my period for a week...thats right...seven days! So the amount of changing required for tampons plus the rarity that I will have time to change my tampon (and where to put it) makes it so inconvenient for camping. AND if that doesn't make tampons inconvenient.. My period is heavy, and I bleed very heavily for five days...and thanks to the time change I bleed the most at night...yah...goodbye sleeping bag... At home when ever I use tampons I always leak...and the only ones that protect my undies feel like socks! So I guess I have no choice but to double up on pads or something but the problem is that I've already used most of them and I don't have may left for this time around...and the camping is in four days...and I go to german school with my friend Marianne...and to be honest I'm kinda embarrassed to go shopping for pads (I know, it's something all women have to do).
Ok...now about the other problems which are minor in comparison all link to bathrooms and showering. As for bathing...we have a lake. The main part is that I'm worried about what products I can use in a lake and how to go about cleaning my hair. My hair is curly and I like it that way because my hair naturally makes soft locks and looks really nice and I usually get complements. Taking care of it is easy...all I need is water,conditioner, and a comb...but even the easiest of hair can get tangled when you don't have what you need to take care of it and mine is no exception. Ever since I got my hair cut shorter it's been really hard to get it into a braid when it's dry and I won't have all the time in the world or even a proper shower to tame it. So the other problem is that I'm not fond of using the "outdoors" as my bathroom. I really don't know how to "just go" and I am very clean when it comes to things like this. If I could bring one thing at a deserted island, toilet paper would be the 3rd on my list. So really all my troubles focus on hygiene because I'm pretty athletic and I've gone camping for 2 weeks before...just not this intense.
and if you were wondering...I'm going with the scouts (girl/boy scouts) that my friends Marianne goes to. Marianne is more worried about the hiking and physical strength stuff. I travel a lot for my age and to tell you the truth this is the longest time I've been away and completely alone.
Answer
Ok first off, the period issue.
1) Forget about your awkwardness, go to a shop and buy some pads. Now. If you can't get over your embarrassment, just think about how embarrassing it would be if you ran out while camping and had absolutely nothing to hand. Go stock up while you have the chance.
2) If you don't feel secure, double up on everything. At night, wear a tampon AND a pad, just in case. Or by some more absorbant tampons.
3) I had this problem when in Siberia for a month, along with all the other girls in the group. After a discussion, we decided to test whether or not pads and tampons burn on a fire. They do. Arrange "burn time" with the other girls on the trip. This is where, after dinner and drying clothes by the fire (I assume if you're camping you will be making fires and such), everyone leaves the fire to go do other things, and whoever needs to put stuff on the fire can do so without embarrassment.
4) The chemicals in pads and tampons are bad for the environment, so it's not a great idea to bury them or put them in a river. Burning them is the best thing, next to bagging them up for a week and taking them home (EW!).
5) You are going with the scouts, so there will be other girls with you. Presumably, you will have a team leader/guide of some kind with you who is female if there are girls in your group. This issue will have to be talked about at some point. You will not be the only person on the trip who has this problem.
Second, about the toilet thing.
1) Everybody does it, that alone should make you feel slightly better. You will have to get over your anxiety eventually if you will be out there for two weeks, so you can either get on with it, or suffer and then get on with it lol. You can't not poo for fourteen days unless you are very VERY ill.
2) You will probably have a designated "toilet area" while you are out there, it's not like you have to find yourself a random bush and go behind it (although that does happen) hoping that nobody walks by. A secluded spot will be agreed on by the team as a whole.
3) TAKE TOILET PAPER WITH YOU, YOU MUPPET! It's biodegradable. Bury it with your business and all will be well.
And finally, about your hair and soap etc.
1) You will need to get an all purpose soap, like this one http://www.millets.co.uk/travel/travel-essentials/product/580324.html This is what people brought with them to Siberia and it works for absolutely everything. Wash your clothes, your hair and your body with it, it's fine. you cannot take supermarket soaps with you and wash in a lake because it is bad for the environment. BIG NO-NO.
2) You will be camping. Eventually, you will all look a mess, so your hair will be the least of your worries. Just brush it as best you can and leave it in a ponytail at the base of your neck, or put it up in a bun. The bun is better because it will keep your hair looking tidy and keep your neck cool.
Have fun and email me if you have any more questions or if I missed anything out.
Ok first off, the period issue.
1) Forget about your awkwardness, go to a shop and buy some pads. Now. If you can't get over your embarrassment, just think about how embarrassing it would be if you ran out while camping and had absolutely nothing to hand. Go stock up while you have the chance.
2) If you don't feel secure, double up on everything. At night, wear a tampon AND a pad, just in case. Or by some more absorbant tampons.
3) I had this problem when in Siberia for a month, along with all the other girls in the group. After a discussion, we decided to test whether or not pads and tampons burn on a fire. They do. Arrange "burn time" with the other girls on the trip. This is where, after dinner and drying clothes by the fire (I assume if you're camping you will be making fires and such), everyone leaves the fire to go do other things, and whoever needs to put stuff on the fire can do so without embarrassment.
4) The chemicals in pads and tampons are bad for the environment, so it's not a great idea to bury them or put them in a river. Burning them is the best thing, next to bagging them up for a week and taking them home (EW!).
5) You are going with the scouts, so there will be other girls with you. Presumably, you will have a team leader/guide of some kind with you who is female if there are girls in your group. This issue will have to be talked about at some point. You will not be the only person on the trip who has this problem.
Second, about the toilet thing.
1) Everybody does it, that alone should make you feel slightly better. You will have to get over your anxiety eventually if you will be out there for two weeks, so you can either get on with it, or suffer and then get on with it lol. You can't not poo for fourteen days unless you are very VERY ill.
2) You will probably have a designated "toilet area" while you are out there, it's not like you have to find yourself a random bush and go behind it (although that does happen) hoping that nobody walks by. A secluded spot will be agreed on by the team as a whole.
3) TAKE TOILET PAPER WITH YOU, YOU MUPPET! It's biodegradable. Bury it with your business and all will be well.
And finally, about your hair and soap etc.
1) You will need to get an all purpose soap, like this one http://www.millets.co.uk/travel/travel-essentials/product/580324.html This is what people brought with them to Siberia and it works for absolutely everything. Wash your clothes, your hair and your body with it, it's fine. you cannot take supermarket soaps with you and wash in a lake because it is bad for the environment. BIG NO-NO.
2) You will be camping. Eventually, you will all look a mess, so your hair will be the least of your worries. Just brush it as best you can and leave it in a ponytail at the base of your neck, or put it up in a bun. The bun is better because it will keep your hair looking tidy and keep your neck cool.
Have fun and email me if you have any more questions or if I missed anything out.
How do I keep the inside of a tent warm at night?
j
Going camping in the desert. Day temperatures are in the 90's and night temperatures are in the 50's. My idea is to put a tarp over the tent when the sun sets to keep the heat in. Not using sleeping bags either, using Thermarest and blankets. Please do not respond with "use a sleeping bag" b/c this is not an option. We are flying to camp and will be renting a car, will not be taking sleeping bags as they take up too much room.
Answer
Unfortunately putting a tarp over a tent in the desert won't help keep the warm dry desert air inside the tent.
My best answer for you is to carry some of those lightweight fleece blankets. I live in Las Vegas and we usually camp in the desert and on the banks of the Colorado River until the end of November on cots, without tents, (weather permitting) and with fleece or wool blankets, but we always bring one tent just in case.
In my canoe I carry the lightest weight bag I can find, the ten dollar nylon bags from Wal-mart work pretty well, and if it gets ruined it's ok. It is only cool at night but there can be some major cold periods.
Just remember it is the desert.
It can get COLD! FREAKING COLD! Below FREEZING!
Although the weather is usually nice during the day we don't get a lot of cloud cover to keep the warmth in at night.
If you are flying somewhere where you can rent a car, I would strongly suggest buying a couple of ten dollar bags when you get there, worst case you can use them as seat covers to take up no space. Then leave them with another camper, or with the car when you return it.
Oh... and be sure to bring a wool, nylon, or yarn hat. The ski type that will cover your ears, to keep your head warm at night. You will notice a HUGE difference when camping in the desert. Most of your body heat is lost from your head and abdomen.
And don't plan on using the heat from a propane lantern. That is the most dangerous way to keep your tent warm. The Carbon monoxide can kill you! (Been there, almost done that)
If you are serious about no sleeping bags, find the largest trash bag you can get your hands on and bundle up with your blankets inside it. Just don't stick it around or over your head.....
Better then FREEZING to DEATH!
Jamie
~ Angler 1 Sportfishing Adventures ~
~ The Las Vegas Canoe Club ~
~ Nevada Anglers ~
Unfortunately putting a tarp over a tent in the desert won't help keep the warm dry desert air inside the tent.
My best answer for you is to carry some of those lightweight fleece blankets. I live in Las Vegas and we usually camp in the desert and on the banks of the Colorado River until the end of November on cots, without tents, (weather permitting) and with fleece or wool blankets, but we always bring one tent just in case.
In my canoe I carry the lightest weight bag I can find, the ten dollar nylon bags from Wal-mart work pretty well, and if it gets ruined it's ok. It is only cool at night but there can be some major cold periods.
Just remember it is the desert.
It can get COLD! FREAKING COLD! Below FREEZING!
Although the weather is usually nice during the day we don't get a lot of cloud cover to keep the warmth in at night.
If you are flying somewhere where you can rent a car, I would strongly suggest buying a couple of ten dollar bags when you get there, worst case you can use them as seat covers to take up no space. Then leave them with another camper, or with the car when you return it.
Oh... and be sure to bring a wool, nylon, or yarn hat. The ski type that will cover your ears, to keep your head warm at night. You will notice a HUGE difference when camping in the desert. Most of your body heat is lost from your head and abdomen.
And don't plan on using the heat from a propane lantern. That is the most dangerous way to keep your tent warm. The Carbon monoxide can kill you! (Been there, almost done that)
If you are serious about no sleeping bags, find the largest trash bag you can get your hands on and bundle up with your blankets inside it. Just don't stick it around or over your head.....
Better then FREEZING to DEATH!
Jamie
~ Angler 1 Sportfishing Adventures ~
~ The Las Vegas Canoe Club ~
~ Nevada Anglers ~
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment