This article has been written based on a true and personal story, guys. I love to travel, just like all of you. I like to plan my trips but sometimes it’s nice when you can join others' plans. It sounds fun and comfortable that the destination and most of the plans have been already decided by others, so you only have to take a couple of things in your backpack and go with the flow.
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That happened to me during a long weekend (four days). Some friends invited me to stay 3 nights in a nice forest. I got excited about the idea because I didn’t have another plan and nature sounded better than staying in the city.
I didn’t think so much before deciding. I got a couple of cool images in my head, I joked with my friends about finding the elf of our life there, and then I firmly said “yes, I’m in”.
Why not? The only time I have been in a forest before was on a primary-school trip. So it’s time to try by myself. My adult version felt like challenging the MacGyver soul for sure I have somewhere inside and to enjoy a short staying among those high trees, the cozy environment that woods, nature smells and a romantic bonfire produce.
If you are getting excited about these thoughts just like I did, stop right now! Those images are the ones movies provide us. Reality can be very different and you really need to be prepared.
Forest holidays – Common mistakes.
Not to know the type of forest you will visit.
My blurry memory about that one-day school trip made me forget that there are different kinds of forests. That one I visited when I was a kid was a park or an urban one. A forest is not just a bunch of trees but a bigger challenge and conditions can change depending on the weather, location, wildlife, etc. But laziness together with the initial excitement made me forget to ask for more details about the destination. And this was the beginning of a chain of more mistakes.
Not to consider day and night are very different in a forest.
So to pack just a couple of shorts, T-shirts and some sandwiches like back then, when I was a kid, can be a painful mistake, believe me! Temperature variations can be extreme so you will need extra warm clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a raincoat if you are planning to stay some nights there. Humidity and cold were strong due to the constant night rain we had.
Not to plan and prepare for the basics to survive in a forest.
I have to tell you that the MacGyver soul sadly doesn’t inhabit every human body. Improvisation under hard weather conditions is a wrong idea. Important skills like hunting, making fires, building a shelter, etc. don’t grow spontaneously. And especially when people don’t have experience at all in specific environments, to plan at least the basics is a must.
Since I didn’t ask details to my friends, I realized until we were in the forest that it was the first time for everybody on such an adventure. In the beginning, it was fun to see everybody failing like trying to make fire. But when it got dark and cold, it wasn’t fun anymore. Besides, it rained so even we managed in a moment to ignite the fire, we failed to keep it on.
Not to take enough and convenient groceries.
Before arriving in the forest we bought groceries in the supermarket. But everybody bought freely. There was not a common plan. Some thought about not carrying so much weight because they wanted to enjoy trekking. Others bought a lot of snacks but neglected a bit the water because it’s heavier. Nobody thought about matches or water filters. We managed to get the fire by luck. One of us was a smoker, so she had lighters. And even we spent only three nights there, some ran out of groceries and water faster than others. The first two days we had even wine and cold pizza, but the third we barely had water enough for all. And since we didn’t plan, every day we just kept going deeper and deeper into the forest without knowing when or where we could find a place to buy stuff.
How to enjoy forest holidays? - Tips.
Well, the experience was not completely nice but we learned a lot. Check these tips so you can enjoy your next forest holiday.
Get information about the type of forest you will visit.
No matter you didn’t plan the trip, you only joined it, get information about the forest you will visit. Location, weather, facilities in the place or around. Some forests are prepared for welcoming all kinds of visitors, with and without experience. Facilities are made to access food, water, toilets, huts, camping spots, etc. without a big effort. But fortunately, there are forests untouched by human hands so they are a bigger challenge. In this case, planning, preparation is key.
Choose a proper tent or rent a hut.
During the day you will be active and enjoy nature. But you need a safe place to sleep. Sometimes days can be very hot, but nights cold and rainy non-stop. Considering you already know the weather conditions of the forest you will visit, take with you a good tent. Forget to pack the light-beach tent you already have at home, because you can experience a forest version of “Cast Away” movie during a rainy night. Everything but a cozy scene. If you don’t have one or you don’t want to risk, check for huts or shelters. To rent a hut or to hit a shelter won’t make you less adventurous or brave. The main idea of holidays should be to enjoy, not to suffer.
Pack properly and Go!
We, travelers, know the benefits of packing lightly. But the time you plan to stay in the forest and its conditions will define what exactly and how much you have to pack. Clothes and tools are important. For instance, if there’s a river or lake you could purify water on demand with a proper water purifier. Then you won’t have to take many bottles in your backpack.
Take a pocket knife, matches or lighter, map and compass, headlamp, food enough, water and purifier, a basic first aid kit, insect repellent, a whistle, and a GPS app for your mobile. And very important, try them before. If you don’t have an idea about how to use these things, you can be stressed and maybe humiliated by a little boy scout.
Buy enough and adequate food.
About the amount of food, buy considering if you go alone or with a group to organize and guarantee food for everybody. To match tastes can be hard but it’s better to have a common ground. Everybody can buy independently a couple of snacks they love. But to know the food that is available for every day, for everybody is more helpful.
Also get information about the availability of shops, food or water stands. Chocolates, nuts in general and dry fruits are a good idea. They provide a lot of energy in a small package. Practical stuff to make sandwiches or some conserves (cans) are a smart ace up your sleeve. They last longer and you can eat them cold or warm.
Remember, food is important but water is critical, so it should be a priority!
Pay attention to forest signs and the surroundings.
The forests are beautiful. The bigger they are the better, but also the easier to get lost. This is not to be scared. To find your way back is part of the challenge and it can be a fun story to share later. Just pay attention to the surroundings, look for trail blazes or color signs on the trees. They provide direction. And do it before it goes dark.
Tell a friend or family member about your plan.
Before leaving, share with someone highlights about your trip. How long are you going to stay there? Where exactly do you go? Everything will be great but some caution is not bad.
Enjoy the benefits of planning your holidays.
Once there, enjoy, yes, you don’t need to be a professional to admire nature. Pay attention to the landscape, to the delicious and pure forest scent. Take as many pics as you want. Train your eyes and all your senses while enjoying. You will be proud when you realize that every element, besides beautiful, is a valuable reference for you not to get lost.
Conclusion.
Forest holidays can be great with a bit of planning! To take new adventures in challenging landscapes, environments, different countries or continents is great but being spontaneous, meaning improvised, all the time can kill the fun. And we want the opposite, more fun and cool stories to tell, than trouble!
Enjoy your next forest holidays. Be ready for exciting encounters not really with elves but wolves, birds, bears, raccoons, skunks… just watch out! They are not interested in having selfies so keep your distance and be safe.
Share your experience, pics, or more tips with us! Let’s build together a nice traveler community through Packandgo.info.
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By the way, if you enjoy this article you can also like "Expectation vs reality: on the beach!".