Slowly but surely technology is seeping its way into all parts of everyday life. Constant notifications, endless social media feeds, and bottomless inboxes can lead to feeling overwhelmed and out of touch with yourself.
Because of this, many of us have found the need to create personal boundaries and take up outdoor activities that eliminate the constant connectedness of life in the twenty-first century.
Primitive camping is one of the best ways to realign yourself and connect with the outdoors. Far away from society and Wi-Fi, primitive campers immerse themselves in nature and explore areas off the beaten path. Though not a beginner's activity, this camping style is worth learning if you’re looking for an adventure every single time.
This primitive camping guide will walk you through everything from the gear you need to tips for a stress-free trip and everything in between to prepare you for your next excursion. Let’s dive in!
What is Primitive Camping?
When you’re looking to take your camping experience past the luxury of glamping and the convenience of campgrounds, primitive camping is the next natural step. A quick internet search will bring up numerous terms, like semi-primitive, dispersed, and rustic, that may make this style of camping seem harder than it needs to be. All these terms essentially mean the same thing, with a little nuance. Here's a simple breakdown explaining these types of camping to clear things up a little bit.
Dispersed Camping: Camping on land owned by a National Park or the Bureau of Land Management. Previously established sites may offer access to potable water or some facilities like a fire ring due to their popularity, but nothing is designated. Everything needs to be packed in and out.
Primitive Camping: Camping on land that is completely remote. There are no amenities whatsoever, and there’s a good chance you’ll be the first person to ever camp there. These sites usually entail a trek in and out of the location, so you’ll need to be open to the unexpectedness of true adventure. For this type of camping, you’ll need to check with local landowners and authorities to make sure you’re allowed to camp there.
Rustic Camping: Camping on sites that are designated, may have limited amenities like toilets and spigots, and are far enough away from society that there is no cell phone service. Unlike dispersed and primitive camping, this form of camping may require reservations and camping fees and you can usually drive to the site.
Though each of these styles of primitive camping has different levels of difficulty, each will allow you to disconnect from society and reunite with nature.
Why Would Anyone Want to Go that Deep in the Woods?
Primitive camping offers something extremely hard to find anywhere else: complete seclusion. Even regular camping sites can feel crowded and noisy during certain times of the year. Choose the wrong location, and you may find yourself at a college party spot. Gross!
If you believe yourself to be a truly outdoorsy person, going above and beyond with your camping experience ensures you will get exactly what you’re looking for – peaceful time away in nature. No other campers, no rangers, no check-out times, and no cell phones, primitive camping is just you and the forest.
Primitive Camping Essentials
Packing for a primitive camping trip may seem daunting when your experience doesn’t extend further than car camping. There’s the lack of immediate resources, the journey to and from the site, and a whole level of outdoor skills that may put some people off from ever even trying it. But don’t be scared. With a little preparation and guidance, it’s easy to figure out what primitive camping gear is needed, so the trip doesn’t turn out to be a total disaster.
Tarp or Tent: The climate and time of year you are camping in will greatly inform the decision between the two, but the main goal is to protect yourself from the elements while experiencing nature to its fullest. It is never fun to camp when completely drenched, but it is unlike anything else to sleep under the stars.
Backpack: From the OG military ALICE pack to the latest and greatest Osprey backpack, it is essential to be able to pack in and out your gear. There are many lightweight and high-end backpacks to choose from, but as long as the pack is comfortable and large enough to meet the needs of your trip, you’ll be good.
Sleeping Gear: This one is also really dependent on the climate in which you’re camping. A thick sleeping bag and bedroll can provide the warmth needed to endure a winter night, but the same setup might be overkill in the summer. Either way, though, you’ll need something to sleep with. Choose what you need based on your comfort level and weather forecasts.
Navigation: This is by far one of the most important items to bring on a primitive camping trip. You won’t want to rely on your phone to guide you to and from camp: a GPS or a physical map and compass is the way to go. Getting lost in the woods without any idea how to get back or contact help is not the kind of adventure you’re after!
Multi-tool/Knife: From striking flint to cutting rope, a good multi-tool or knife has been proven to be invaluable when going out into the woods, especially when off the beaten path. Never go camping without one!
Small First Aid Kit: Though you probably don’t have room for an EMT special, a good supply of bandages, painkillers, antiseptic, and ankle/wrist wraps could prove crucial if the need arises. You can build your own, or you can buy a lightweight first aid kit online.
Headlamp: Especially if you’re hiking in and out of a campsite, you won’t have room for a lantern or a Maglite. Instead, bring a headlamp. They’re small, easy to store, and offer just enough light to navigate camp at night.
Fire Starters: Lighters and windproof matches are the standard for camping today, but a good set of flint and steel is the most reliable tool for starting fires, especially when you know how to use it.
Food: Despite removing yourself from the city, you’re not expected to hunt and forage for your food … unless you want to. There are many freeze-dried meal options to choose from that are easy to pack and delicious. If that’s not your jam, bring plenty of non-perishable foods to cook with. Just make sure it’s light enough to carry!
Water: Let me say this loud for the people in the back: YOU CAN’T LAST THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER. Whether you’re bringing a supply of water or have a filtration system, water is vital to ensuring that things don’t go terribly awry. Even if you do pack plenty of water, it never hurts to bring some water purification tablets to be safe.
Cooking Supplies: Though many use compact backpacking stoves, which are super convenient, this is not essential to being able to eat while in the woods. At the bare minimum, you need a pot to boil water over a fire and utensils to eat with. A simple mess kit is a great option.
Small Shovel: Though you’ll have to pack out all of your trash, some waste, if you know what I mean, needs to be disposed of properly, and digging a hole is the best way to do it.
Though there are more luxurious and expensive items that can be brought, this list is enough to get you started and avoid any condescending looks from a true outdoorsman. You don’t need to spend a lot to gear up for a trip like this, and anyone who says otherwise is missing the point!
Murphy's Law and Preparation
Even more important than making sure you have the right gear for a primitive camping trip is making sure that you have planned and prepared for what your expected trip will be. Some things are a given in every situation (like food and shelter) but a lot of the preparation is about expecting the unexpected.
Research Research Research
Research for a primitive camping trip is a lot more involved than just finding some suggested spots on Reddit. You need to be highly aware of weather forecasts, local wildlife, the terrain, and what the local regulations may be. This is all important to avoid disaster.
Because you are most likely going to a remote destination out of the way from immediate help, it is on you to ensure your safety and the safety of those going with you. Research should inform all your logistical decision-making for the trip. From what clothes you pack to how you get to the site, it is best to be overly informed and not be taken by surprise compared to being left to fend for yourself, literally.
Inform the Authorities?
State forests and BLM land all have some sort of authority that resides over specific jurisdictions, and though many see them as the police of the woods, this is far from the truth. Though they are there to help, serve, and protect just like police, a lot of their role is emergency response.
In your research, collect local contact information and give them a phone call. Supplying the authorities and family members with your trip’s details, like dates and location, serves as a safety net if anything goes wrong. Just like you and your trip, they need to be able to quickly form a plan for search and rescue, and providing them with details allows for a quicker response time, which could make or break survival.
Fire Safety
The one thing that is common across all forms of camping, yes even glamping, is sitting around a fire at night. Though in most camping situations fire is important to meet an aesthetic appeal, fire can be essential to survival when camping in the backwoods. Because of this, your fire-making skills need to be more than competent.
As always, it is important to implement proper safety procedures when building a fire. Things like using fire pits when available, setting up in areas away from brush and low-hanging branches, never leaving a fire unattended, putting fires dead out, and being aware of local burn bans all make sure the fire stays within control. Make Smokey proud – only you can prevent forest fires!
Don’t Be a Litterbug
This is nothing more disheartening than coming up on a campsite and finding it completely trashed by previous campers. In primitive camping, it is literally a reason to lose faith in humanity. LEAVE NO TRACE. The extra steps are definitely worth maintaining the integrity of the woods.
Some steps to take are packing your trash out, respecting wildlife, and leaving what you find. This seems like common sense, but all across America, people still carve into trees and throw rocks at wildlife. This is honestly disgusting behavior, but hopefully by being an example to others, you can be a positive force in this space.
You Made It to the Site, Now What?
You finally made it. You did the research, you packed, you informed people where you’ll be, you made the trek out, and now you’re standing in the woods. The only thing is, there isn’t a big sign that says “camp here”. Primitive camping requires a special knowledge of where to pitch your tent that isn’t needed for more beginner camping experiences.
In the deep woods, the terrain isn’t as catered to pitching a tent as it is in a designated site. Things like avoiding rocks and debris, finding flat land, and positioning your tent to avoid puddling if it rains are all great foresight into having the best sleep possible.
You came all this way and are probably tired enough to fall asleep against a tree, but it’ll be awful finding a rogue pine cone under your sleeping bag or waking up to a tent full of water because it rained during the night. Take your time and figure out the lay of the land for the best campsite possible.
Pro Tips
- For most, the alarming fact about primitive camping is the lack of bathrooms and wash facilities. No TP? Don’t worry. Though not essential to a trip, they make biodegradable moist wipes that help stop things from getting too nasty. Just wipe, drop in your waste hole, and bury. Nothing to it.
- The deeper you go into the woods, the more present wildlife may become. This comes into conflict with storing food in your campsite. Away from your site, store food in a bag suspended from a tree branch about 10 to 15 feet off the ground and 4 feet away from the trunk to avoid attracting bears to your tent.
- Depending on how far you are going into the woods or down a trail, it might be a good idea to invest in a solid hiking backpack. There are many options on the market with internal and external frames that help give support and enable you to hike for longer before becoming fatigued. If some seem too expensive, check out military surplus stores for gently used options.
- Remember why you are primitive camping. There’s always a lot going on with day-to-day life, and trust it will all be there when you return. Slow down, don’t think too hard, and purely take in the serenity of nature.
- Hunting is a big thing in the United States, and not all seasons coincide across the country. Make sure your plans don’t happen during certain times of the year, and if they do, make sure that you take the proper precautions to avoid any terrible accidents.
Summary
Life seems to be moving faster and faster these days due to the rise in technology and the demands of the workforce. Even though vacations come and go, you can still leave feeling fatigued and constantly connected.
Primitive camping offers an outlet to turn off social media, forget about work, and truly immerse yourself in nature. By building upon the fundamental principles of camping, you create adventure by choosing a remote destination and carrying out a unique nature experience. With proper planning and consideration, you can go beyond being just a car camper and become a true outdoorsman.
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