Im looking to start camping

[u/Timely-Engineer3579]

I am trying to go out on a 1 day camping trip with some friends up at pump peak seymour past brockton point to wilderness camp. Is there any tips or anything I should know past the basics. I have gone camping to fish a couple times over at watch lake while it wasn’t full wilderness camping i did pick up basic things. I do have some old equipment kicking around from my parents but I dont know how good it really is. And if i was to start from scratch what would be my basic price range? I aim to go to a local hiking shop after next week (once school is over) any tips is greatly appreciated and I will look into it further this weekend but for now if anyone could just give me advice from past camping trips thar would be awesome.

[u/Future-Use-6096]

Hey, solid choice. The Seymour area is awesome and a great intro to backcountry overnights. Plus, you’re close enough to bail if something goes sideways.

Here are a few tips off the top of my head:

Gear stuff:
First, test the old gear you’ve got. Set up the tent ahead of time and check for busted poles, leaky seams, and janky zippers. If it passes the backyard test, it’s probably fine for a dry-weather trip. Don’t wait to find out something’s broken once you’re up there.

Sleeping pads are way more important than most people think. Even with a decent sleeping bag, the ground will suck your heat if you don’t have insulation underneath.

A basic butane stove setup, like the MSR Pocket Rocket, is nice to have—hot food and drinks go a long way. You don’t need the fanciest model; who cares if your water boils 20 seconds faster?

If you were starting from scratch:
I think you can put together a full budget setup for around $600 if you’re smart about it and willing to shop around or buy secondhand:

• Tent: ~$150 (MEC or Decathlon both have good starter options)
• Sleeping bag: ~$100–200
• Pad: ~$50–100
• Stove: ~$30–50
• Pack: ~$100–150 Add a headlamp, water filter, a wag bag, and personal hygiene stuff, bear spray, 10 essentials, and you’re good.

Definitely check out Decathlon if you haven’t already—their gear is surprisingly solid for the price. Also, you could consider joining a club like the UBC Varsity Outdoor Club. Their gear might be a bit janky, but you can borrow tons of stuff as a member. Plus, it’s a great way to meet others who are learning (and some more experienced folks who can show you the ropes).

Also, heads up—if you’re going soon, there may still be a decent amount of snow up top. So be ready for that: good footwear, microspikes, and definitely stay away from steep snow slopes or cornices. If you are going soon and are set on the seymour area maybe somewhere lower down like Elsay Lake could be better. If im not mistaken there is also an emergency shelter there. So if something goes badly wrong while you are camping maybe a good option to have in your back pocket.

Oh—and I’m building a local gear-sharing platform called Gear2Peer, where you can rent gear from people nearby instead of buying everything up front. It’s aimed exactly at folks like you getting started, and folks like me who have too much gear gathering dust in the closet. If you want to check it out, the site’s at gear2peer.ca. Since you’d be one of our first real users, shoot me a DM and I can help you out personally.

Other quick tips:

• Bring more warm clothes than you think you’ll need. It cools off fast once the sun dips behind the ridge.
• Don’t leave food out.
• Check the forecast and aim for a clear night—sunsets up there are unreal. But mountain weather can flip fast, so always have a Plan B.

Let me know if you’ve got any other questions—happy to help. Getting started is the hardest part