What will the weather be like?
Headlamps are awesome. I have $$$ ones and $10 ones, I likie my newest $10 amazon one, flipping awesome.
Since we are in an MR2, small is good, I have one of the Kylmit sleeping pads as well, not bad. I hate air mattresses, they are COLD.
All fire cooking? A cast iron pan will be your friend.
I like my traps for light camping, but it sounds like you have a tent.
or glamping.
In reply to java230:
Which one is your $10 amazon headlight?
Left mine on the rv we rented while on alberta.
Thanks
In reply to NoBrakesRacing:
Apparently the one I bought is no longer available, but it looks just like this one. I really like the red.
I agree with everyone on having a stove to cook with when you don't want to start messing with a fire if it's late or it has been raining.
On a fire, hobo packs work well. Double or triple foil wrap some pork, peppers, onions, potatoes, with spices and some beer, place on coals, ignore for 45 minutes. More or less time depending on size cut. Make sure you have a way to process firewood, whether saw (simple bow saw works well), hatchet or knife to baton (I find safer than hatchet).
Having a tarp to set for shade or a rain cover makes cooking etc better.
Can never have enough flashlights/batteries. Or lighters and matches.
Ferro rods are great but to catch the spark you need to be prepared with dry fluffy material (jute rope) or cotton balls/lint with vaseline. Then you'll be the hero.
It's imporant to sleep comfortably however you prefer. Same as making sure to have clean clothing most of the time 
Make sure to have a first aid kit with more than bandaids. Some pain meds,(tylenol, advil), benadryl, pepto and imodium. Antibiotic ointment plus gauze for bigger boo-boos. Rinse well with clean water.
Only fresh meats, dairy and beer needs ice. Bread/ tortillas, salami, block cheese, nuts, peanut butter, fresh eggs depending, hot dogs, beans, rice, fruit, veggies, whisky don't.
In reply to java230:
Thank you. Was just looking at that one yesterday.
I like this one (link fixed) Headlight
With regard to clothes... Summer camping I only carry 2 sweat wicking fast dry shirts, underwear and synthetic hiking shorts. Alternate days rinsing them and hang dry with paracord.
It doesn't matter if you get them wet, they dry fast and if it's raining too much to air dry them outside you can wring them out really good and just wear them.
If it's below 50f bring a Mylar blanket or some wool stuff. Wool will keep you warm even when soaked.
Thanks for the advice so far. Cooking over a fire is part of the experience for me, so no stove (though I do have one of those Esbit emergency deals that can boil water, etc). My car emergency kit already has multiple ways to make fire, and yes, I can make fire with a ferro rod. I'd like to spend at least some time trying out some of that emergency gear to see how well it works. Flashlights? Got a Fenix on my keychain, a Streamlight in the map pocket, and spare batteries.
I already have a roll-up sleeping pad, so I'll give it a try, and if it breaks my back I'll look into inflatable pads.
Any more recipe ideas? What's the best method for campfire coffee? I probably should invest in a cast iron skillet. Is something like a new Lodge ready to go off the shelf, or do I have to use it a a couple times in advance?
Weather will probably be hot, but it could also be hot and wet.
We were camping a couple weeks ago at Sturgis. I had some Great Value coffee. It was one of those vacuum sealed bricks that I bought, opened, partially used, rolled up the end and put a paper clip on 8 or 9 years ago. My coffee maker is one of those 2 cup (ish) aluminum peculator pots. Best coffee we've had in years. I've made coffee on a campfire with the 2 cup aluminum peculators before. Works great.
Will wrote: Thanks for the advice so far. Cooking over a fire is part of the experience for me, so no stove (though I do have one of those Esbit emergency deals that can boil water, etc). My car emergency kit already has multiple ways to make fire, and yes, I can make fire with a ferro rod. I'd like to spend at least some time trying out some of that emergency gear to see how well it works. Flashlights? Got a Fenix on my keychain, a Streamlight in the map pocket, and spare batteries. I already have a roll-up sleeping pad, so I'll give it a try, and if it breaks my back I'll look into inflatable pads. Any more recipe ideas? What's the best method for campfire coffee? I probably should invest in a cast iron skillet. Is something like a new Lodge ready to go off the shelf, or do I have to use it a a couple times in advance? Weather will probably be hot, but it could also be hot and wet.
If noone had said it yet, for good portable coffee, get an aeropress. Once you've got the hang of it, you can have decent coffee pretty much anywhere you can get boiling water.
They are plastic, so won't break easily, and have spare parts available so in the event of loss or damage of anything you should be able to replace the broken or lost item.
Packed up size is similar to a large can of monster
Coffee does come in tea bags. Genius.
Will wrote: I probably should invest in a cast iron skillet. Is something like a new Lodge ready to go off the shelf, or do I have to use it a a couple times in advance?
Lodge comes pre-seasoned so you can take the tag off and go to town right away. It won't be as nice and as non-stick as a pan that's been properly seasoned over a lifetime, but as long as you keep an eye on things, it'll be fine while you break it in.
When buying new cast iron make sure the cooking surface is not rough or you will never get it to be a great nonstick. If it's rough you can sand it down and reseason.
Flaxseed oil is supposed to work best but I use olive oil since it's what I have, get it hot but not smoking, wipe with oil, repeat as many times as your patience dictates. Will get nice, black and shiny.
Since you probably want to give a new pan a good wash you will still need to do so.
Trying to go camping in a few weeks, 4th attempt to take our 2 year old. He's been sick at the last minute the other three.
Did just do 2 weeks in a slide in camper in glacier, Banff and Jasper national parks. I call that half camping, since we were still at campgrounds cooking over fire. Amazing places.
Good luck and have fun.
Well if you like cooking over a fire, dutch oven, SO many good things, but will take a couple hours at least to cook. Pot pie is awesome in them, you can do whole chickens, bread, etc.
For Coffee, Im usually lazy and use Via packs. Easy and decent.
Flashlight does not equal headlamp. Seriously, try one.
You'll need to log in to post.
