Hey everyone, I’m supposed to go on my first solo camping trip at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park this Sunday but unfortunately it’s going to be raining and apparently there’s going to be a thunderstorm on Monday. I’m debating on cancelling the trip because idk about camping in a thunderstorm, especially by myself.
Here’s a picture of my campsite from the reservation website if that helps.
Any advice is appreciated. I’d say I’m a pretty experienced camper but I’ve never camped by myself. I get scared of thunderstorms even when I’m in the comfort of my own home 😅 I feel like I’ll be good though because it looks like the storm won’t be until later. I attached a screenshot of the weather.
Also, pls give advice for keeping your tent extra dry! My rain fly sucks honestly. I was thinking of getting a tarp to put over the top; I have a tarp on the bottom.
Thank you!
by FishOutofWater_27
5 Comments
Totally normal to be nervous about that, especially solo storms sound way bigger when you’re in a tent. As long as you’re not on a ridge or under sketchy dead trees, it’s usually just loud and wet more than actually dangerous. I’ve had a few nights like that and once the rain starts, it weirdly gets kind of cozy. If your rainfly sucks, a tarp *over* the tent with good airflow helps way more than one underneath.
If it gets nuts, sit it out in your car. They don’t usually last long.
As a local (I live like maaaybe 8-10 miles west of Sugarloaf) the storms around here arent usually much to worry about. The idea of a tarp over and a tarp under should be plenty, but something I’ve also found that helps is that having an inflatable sleeping pad helps a bunch since if any rain does get in your tent the pad keeps you lifted up and keeps you dry while you sleep.
Also it probably sounds obvious, but keep your boots covered or on/in your backpack during the night. I am total idiot sometimes and my first time camping when it was expected to rain I left my boots outside my tent and they got absolutely soaked, which was way worse than the rain
If you need someone to say it’s okay to stay home- here it is! If there is lightning where you are, my research shows you should go to a car (not a soft top convertible) or a grounded building. Which means not a pit toilet, has to have plumbing and electricity.
If you think you will still enjoy your time, you should go. But if you are going because you don’t want to lose money or feel like a camping sell out- good weather only- let that go, camping should be fun. If you know going in that you will be scared or uncomfortable- that’s not fun.
I hope they just let you reschedule if you decide to cancel.
I happened to camp last fall during a (rain, not snow) nor’easter storm on Cape Cod. I had a tarp under, a rainfly that goes nearly down to the ground, and was out of range of major trees. A lot of people left early because of the weather, and the park ranger moved some of the remaining RV people into the same camping area to consolidate. The ranger also said explicitly they’d be coming by during the storm to make sure everyone who stayed was okay, just keep apprised of conditions and to call them if I needed help. That definitely made me feel more comfortable, so if the rangers/park staff are around you can always go check with them and say, hey, I’ll be solo and I’m a bit worried about the weather, etc.