The May long weekend has come and gone and that means, by Alberta standards, it’s officially summer. While we love a good summer spent in Edmonton, we can’t help but feel the call of the wild when the weather gets nice.
And we’re not alone. Reservations for Alberta Park’s 2024 camping season opened up back in February, so if you’re envisioning a campsite under the stars, miles away from the nearest human being, you may find yourself out of luck. Another option to explore is camping on public land.
Once you’ve got your site all set up, take a moment to introduce yourself to your neighbours. Most campers appreciate a friendly “hello,” and if you end up forgetting your sugar at home, it might be good to have a connection.
Whatever you take out, bring it back (or dispose of it properly on-site, when possible). People camp to see and experience nature, not your empty bag of Funyuns and beer cans. Pack in, pack out.
Sure, some of us head to the bush for a rowdy weekend of campfires, tunes and good times. But bringing the party to those who are there for the serenity is a major party foul.
Sound travels. If you can hear it from outside your campsite — turn it down. And always respect quiet hours.
This one seems obvious, but sometimes the aforementioned partiers stumble to the tent without putting away their dinner. This can earn you a nasty wake-up call from a Park Ranger, or worse — a bear. Make use of those ‘sometimes difficult to open’ animal-proof garbage bins.
It’s tempting to strap on a head lantern for those late-night bathroom breaks, but try to keep your beam pointed down. No one likes to feel like they’ve just been pulled over by the RCMP on their way to the toilets.
We know you want that sunny spot on the beach, but it’s super rude to use someone else’s campsite as a short cut. Campers expect their campsites to be private.
We’ve heard it all before: “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!” or “My 140-pound bull terrier, Princess, always comes when I call.”
That may be true, but whether Princess comes running when a chipmunk darts across the road or doe pops its head out is a different story. Keep wildlife, others and your furry companions safe by keeping them on a leash.
This one always baffles us: people who travel to the woods only to run a generator at decibel-breaking levels from sun-up to sundown.
Misgivings aside, generators are permitted at some campsites and often have specified hours of use, so be sure to know the schedule and unplug as often as you can.
We’re all excited to be getting away from the day to day, so it’s not surprising if we are tempted to have a lead foot. But mind your speedometer because while you’re arriving or departing, others — including kids and pets — are likely playing nearby.
Things are expensive right now. So, it might be tempting to bring that pile of kindling from the backyard, but there’s a reason most campgrounds ask that you buy their pre-packaged firewood — and that’s due to invasive species.
Transporting wood from one location to another can bring nasty little hitchhikers along and seriously disrupt the local ecosystem, so factor that extra $15 to $20 into your budget.
This one is painfully obvious, and yet every year human carelessness leads to forest fires. This year, with drought being a huge concern and fires already burning, it pays to take your role as campfire manager seriously.
