Camping is probably the most authentic way to explore and experience the Pacific Northwest. Oregon and Washington’s endless forests and beautiful coastline offer countless places to camp. This being said, camping isn’t for everyone. I know that for me, it took 17+ years before I would even consider it. To someone such as me, who knew little to nothing about camping, it might seem unappealing and downright unpleasant. However, I can tell you, from my own personal experience, that as unappealing as camping might appear, there are ways to target your camping uncertainties and enjoy outdoor adventures. In this article, I’ve outlined how I went about my uncertainties as a novice camper and was able get an unforgettable experience.

To begin with, I should be upfront and tell you that my very first camping experience was anything but enjoyable. I went on a camping trip with my boyfriend, his little nephew, and my little sister. It was chaotic, to say the least. Chaos and little children tend to come hand in hand. During this specific camping trip, we stayed at Deschutes River State Park Campground in eastern Oregon, and although it was VERY windy, especially at night, the scenic views were amazing. The dry landscape is so different from the rest of Oregon, and having the Columbia River running through it, made the whole area feel majestically grand. If you are ever in eastern Oregon, I would definitely recommend stopping at the Columbia River Gorge and taking in the views from atop Stonehenge Memorial. You will not regret it!

The next camping trip, which was just me and my boyfriend, was much calmer, and as a result, I was able to take in the experience. Anyone who knows me, knows that I typically do not camp, but in order to really explore the northwest, specifically Oregon, I knew that camping was a must. We reserved our spot at Allen Springs Campground in Camp Sherman, Oregon, in the beginning of August. Here in Oregon, there are government and privately-owned camp sites. These past two times we have gone with government owned camp sites and they both were very well maintained. I would recommend that if bathrooms, running water, or showers are important to you, make sure that the camp site you’re reserving has these amenities in the vicinity, because not all do. Also, look at the campground map, I would pick a campsite not too close to the bathrooms. The bathrooms typically consist of portable-toilets and the area around them smell terrible. This is one sure way to ruin your Serene Nature Experience.

In regards to the things we brought on the trip, since it was only for a weekend, we tried to keep it as minimal as possible. I had camping supplies at my house thanks to my parents, so we didn’t really have to buy anything. Fun Fact-my family has every camping supply known to man, but they’ve never actually gone camping. So from my house, I brought two sleeping bags, two mats, a lantern, a flashlight, and a cooler. The only thing that was missing, was the one thing that makes camping possible-a tent. If you’re a student at Oregon State University (like me), you can rent a tent for a cheap at Dixon Recreation Center. This is probably the case for a lot of universities here in the Northwest. You can also check out local camping stores, they might have ways for you to rent out camping equipment or know of places that you can rent from. Considering I was in the metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, at the time of this trip though, I ended up buying one for around $50. My boyfriend and I to read through various reviews for “beginner tents” before deciding on one to buy. In this situation, it was a good investment, but for someone who is only considering camping once, I would suggest renting. After we bought the tent, we bought groceries. We decided to not bring a stove, which you can also rent from Dixon or buy in a camping supply store for around $100. Meaning, we couldn’t bring anything that needed to be cooked (such as raw meat/eggs). Instead, we bought bread, cheese, deli meats, fruits, chips, trail mix, and drinks. And although for two days this is doable, I would NOT recommend doing this for a more than a couple days. Eating sandwiches a couple times a day becomes old fast. In order to keep the food budget reasonable, I would advise to sit down and plan out meals for all the days you will be camping. Like the first morning, I planned the breakfast to be:

Saturday Breakfast:

Yogurt

Cereal

Starbucks Cold Coffees

Bananas

This way, I was able to keep track of what food we needed to buy and what we already at home! Also, pack clothing that’s appropriate for the outdoors and for the weather. Just because it summer, doesn’t always mean the area will be warm at all hours. Some places get very cold at night.

We really had no idea what to expect with the camp site. To be honest, we only reserved it because it was one of the only available sites in August, but wow was the site amazing! (Side note-Reserve your camp site as soon as possible. The good ones get reserved months in advance.) We got to the site late at night, around 9pm, since we drove over after work. It was pitch dark by the time we got there so we had to set up everything with the help of the car’s high beams and a lantern. It was a bit challenging to be honest. I would recommend avoid doing this if at all possible. After setting up the tent, we noticed that the area the tent was anchored down to was tilted, but at that point it was too late to do anything about it, so we just went to sleep.

And although the night was considerably uncomfortable (sleeping on an incline), when I woke up and saw the river just a few feet away from the tent, the frustration just floated away.

Since we arrived at night, we had no idea the river was right there. It was such an incredible surprise! For the first time in my many years of living in Oregon, I finally understood why so many Oregonians love camping. There is something so fulfilling in connecting with the natural world. It was a world I had rejected for many years, that is until recently.

We spent our days reading books, hiking, talking, and sitting by the camp fire*. And although we did go out to eat for dinner in the near by city, Sisters (three sandwiches, once again not a good idea), for the most part, I felt as though I grasped the camping experience. I should mention however, that camping during the weekend can feel short/rushed, so make sure you know ahead of time what you want to do, so you don’t waste time. If that be meditation, reading, hiking, or fishing. And most of all, be open to mother nature. Don’t dismiss her the moment things become uncomfortable or messy, but rather embrace the fact that she is uncontrollable and challenging. The moment you truly open-up to her, she will show you the world.

Our camp-fire*. You can buy wood at a store or a lot of times, the camp ranger also sells wood.

*(If camp-fire is something you want, check that your camp site allows them because not all camp sites do, especially in August).