What To Expect From Your First Cowboy Camping Experience
I am a sheep—a sheep who gets herded into doing the same thing as everyone else in the world. When I first started backpacking, I had no idea there was another way to set up camp at night other than getting a tent, putting it together, and then crawling inside of it. But (thanks to my amazing friends), I now know that there is another way to sleep out in the woods, but it’s also one of the most picturesque ways to do so: cowboy camping. Cowboy camping is just what it sounds like: sleeping without a tent—just you and all of your gear under the stars.
If you’re staying at a campground, there could be wildlife.
If you’re staying at a campground, there could be wildlife. We’re not talking about the deer roaming in the woods or even the squirrels that scurry across your campsite. We’re talking about bears and other large animals because they can cause trouble if you don't know how to deal with them.
Bears are familiar sights in many areas of the country where cowboys camp out; some parks even have bear-proof garbage cans, so you don't have to worry about leaving any trash lying around when there are bears nearby! If you see a bear approaching your campsite, keep an eye on it while slowly backing away from its path until it has gone far enough away from you and continues on its way.
Watch out for other animals as well! Rattlesnakes and mountain lions are also familiar sights near cowboy camping areas, so make sure your campers know how to stay safe from these creatures, too (none of us want our first experiences camping being ones where we're bit by rattlesnakes or attacked by mountain lions).
You will wake up to the sun.
Your cowboy camping experience will start with a sunrise if you're lucky. Because cowboys live by the sun, they know it rises early to set up camp for the day. Cowboys also know that there is no better time to get chores done than while everything is calm and quiet.
So when you wake up to see the first rays of light peeking through the trees, don't think it's too early to start hiking, cooking breakfast, or building a campfire! Take advantage of these moments—you'll learn later on that they can be hard to come by in this fast-paced world we live in today.
You might not get much sleep.
It's a common misconception that cowboys are all about getting some shut-eye. While sleeping on the prairie is more comfortable and safer than sleeping in your bed, it comes with its challenges.
Your first-night cowboy camping will likely be one of the most exciting nights. There are so many things to see and do that you'll want to stay up as long as possible! Plus, there's a good chance that it'll be cold—especially if you're sleeping outdoors at higher altitudes or during winter months. You may find yourself wide awake all night long, watching stars streak across the sky or listening for coyotes howling in the distance.
If this happens to you, don't worry: no matter how tired or cold you feel, remember why we do this sort of thing! Keep reminding yourself that this is what makes it worth going out there in the first place!
It’s going to be chilly.
The first thing you should know is that cowboy camping will be much colder than what you are used to in the city. The temperature drops quite a bit at night and it can also be very windy. If you're not prepared for this, your trip might be miserable or even dangerous. So make sure to bring something warm and waterproof with you!
Here are some tips on how to stay warm and dry during your cowboy camping trip:
Wear layers of clothing so that if someone else is warmer than another person in the group, they can take their jacket off and give it away instead of everyone wearing one extra layer all day long.
Bring an insulated sleeping bag so that when it gets cold at night, all of your body heat stays inside of it instead of being lost into open air through its shell material (which isn't always as thick as we'd like). Also bring a pair of wool socks—they'll keep feet extra warm when paired together under boots during chilly mornings on horseback rides through fresh snowfall!
The ground is rocky.
As you might expect, the ground is rocky. You will have to sleep on this rocky ground, which may be uncomfortable for some people. If you prefer to sleep on a bed at home, then sleeping on a bed of rocks will be different for you.
The ground can also be dangerous if you are not careful when walking or stepping over rocks. Some of these rocks are sharp and could cut into your feet or legs if they're not taken care of properly before stepping onto them. This could cause infections that would require medical attention from a doctor or nurse immediately after getting injured while camping in the outdoors alone with no one but yourself around to help treat any wounds caused by walking over uneven surfaces such as those found within many outdoor areas including deserts where there's little moisture present (which results in dry dirt).
It’s completely dark out there.
You’ll soon learn that it’s completely dark out there. At first, it can be a bit disorienting to lose your sense of sight—after all, we rely on vision for so much in our daily lives. But then you start to look up and notice how many stars are visible at night (and how bright they seem!). You might even see meteors, satellites or even the Northern Lights (though only if you luck out).
One of the best things about cowboy camping is being able to see more than just darkness all around you; sometimes nature provides surprises right above your head!
There are a million stars in the sky.
You'll be surprised at how bright and clear the stars are. The sky is dark, and you'll be able to see many more stars than you're used to seeing in cities or even suburbs.
The reason for this is that there's a lot less light pollution from street lamps and other sources of illumination like overhead lighting inside buildings. In fact, when the sun goes down they turn off all those lights! It's like magic!
It's a great way to hike more miles and take in nature without being cooped up in a tent .
If you're a nature lover, cowboy camping is a great way to experience the outdoors. With cowboy camping, you can hike more miles and take in nature without being cooped up in a tent (or RV). You'll get closer to nature than ever before.
There are many benefits of cowboy camping:
Conclusion
If you’re looking to try something new and exciting on your next camping trip, cowboy camping might be just the thing for you. It’s a great way to get closer to nature, save on weight and packing space, and have an experience that is fun and different from what most people do. It’s also a good way for experienced campers to expand their horizons and feel more in touch with the environment around them. Keep these tips in mind as you head out into the great outdoors!
