4. SET UP CAMP
You've planned, you've packed, you've hiked. You're exhausted! Now it's time to pitch a tent (get your mind out of the gutter). Pitching your tent is the last thing you feel like doing, right? Hopefully you've done a trial run in your backyard, because it would suck to suddenly realize that some poles are missing or that your tent has huge holes in it. Read over your tent-building directions to make sure they are clear.
Upon arriving at your site, inspect the ground thoroughly for glass, poison ivy, large dead animals, and other potential hazards. Clean up the area, removing any rocks or branches before erecting your makeshift home. Make sure that the ground is as dry as possible and as level as possible.
Keep the noise level down (no AC/DC albums at 2 a.m.) and don't leave campfires unattended. Heed Smokey the Bear's warnings or he'll sic his untamed cousins on you, like Yogi and Gentle Ben. They can be bastards when the cameras are off.
Finally, remember to be kind to the environment. Leave the campsite just how you found it or even cleaner. Use products that reduce waste, such as no-rinse soap. Don't leave any garbage behind, and burn what debris you can (again, without pissing off Smokey). When your fire has died down, scrape the remains into the center and bury the ash so that you don't kill the grass that surrounds it. Take any charred wood with you. The cleaner you leave the site, the more likely it will be that the next campers will respect it as well.
