Know your bears and layers: Tips for first-time campers

Brad Hare, owner of Twin Mountain and Littleton Franconia Notch KOAs, offers these tips for first-timer campers:

• Familiarize yourself with the rules and layout of the park. Know when quiet hours are, for instance, so you can be sure you are in compliance. Are golf carts allowed? Find out before you lug one there. If you’re bringing a dog, find out where the dog walks are, and keep your pet on a leash.

• Don’t pitch a tent on an RV site. This is not often allowed for safety reasons; you don’t want your tent in the path of an RV that is likely to be backing in. 

• Educate yourself on black bears and general outdoor safety in the region you are visiting. Pack bug spray, protection from ticks, and keep your food in sealed containers or in your vehicle when you are not preparing a meal. “In the White Mountains, we are in bear country. We’re in their living room,” Hare said. “Last year, someone left donuts and honey on the table in the morning. They thought bears only came out at night.”

• If you are hiking, it’s always important to have appropriate gear. Research trail heads. Know which trails are entry level and which are for more advanced hikers. Have proper footwear and dress in layers. “Mount Washington — it’s a different world up there,” Hare said. “If you’re hiking here, gear is of utmost importance.”  

• Consider hiking insurance through the state of New Hampshire. For $25 per person or $35 for a family per year, you can minimize the chance you will need to repay the cost of your rescue, if you get in trouble up on a mountain. Learn more at https://wildlife.state.nh.us/safe/.

• Do not bring firewood from out of state. This is illegal, as damaging insects can get transported into the state this way.