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Solar Camping: Go Green in the Bush

Solar Camping for a Greener Bush Experience!

I love camping and bushwalking. It’s the stillness, the calm that I find most appealing. There is nothing better than to walk a long way without seeing a single road or car, without hearing the blaring of a television or the trilling of a trendy ringtone. It’s just the natural world, and it is magnificent.

When I do get the all-too-rare opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the outdoor world I feel connected to the earth. I once camped in a place for six months ( I was working…) and made use of some handy solar camping equipment. By the end of that time it had become as dear to me as any home I have lived in. I think it’s important to make an effort in every area to protect this natural world so that my child and hopefully her children too, can enjoy it.

Solar camping equipment is a great way to not only reduce waste, but also say “I respect you” to the natural environments we go to. With a little careful planning and the right equipment we can have a minimal impact on the places we visit. The best we can do is leave only our footprints.

Here are some suggestions on how to go greener in the great outdoors:

1) Take all your rubbish with you.

It sounds obvious but it is surprising how many people are careless about leaving litter behind. It’s not difficult to do, especially if you are in a National or State Park where there are bins at the camp grounds. It’s good to know that others will be able to enjoy the same pristine environment you have just experienced.

That's not just about aesthetics either; discarded plastic bags in particular are a serious threat to wildlife. Foil wrappers, plastic bottles sandwich wrappers and the like can also harm wildlife - it's best to make sure none of this is left behind.

2) Cleaning without detergents.

I have found that sand and stream or ocean water combine really well for scrubbing pots and pans clean. This is particularly easy if you are camping at the beach. It is not necessary to use detergents or soaps which can be harmful to the waterway would leave them in. Even the earth-friendly detergents should be avoided; these are designed to go through the domestic water treatment system and may cause problems if left in high concentrations in a small water source.

Okay, depending on what you cooked, the pots may still be a tad greasy after the sand treatment. But it’s only a few days at most and they can be cleaned properly once you get back home.

3) Take nothing but your rubbish

One of the best things we can do for the forest, outback or where ever we visit is to leave it just as we found it. It's tempting to take a piece of that beauty home with us to remind us of what we have seen. But consider what that same place would look like if every one of the millions of visitors to Kakadu National Park took home one stone or plant.

This is an example where doing nothing is the right thing to do. That feels strange; because it involves NOT doing, my personal efforts on this front appear to be minimal, almost non-existent. I guess this is one situation where we have to be content just being a drop in the ocean.

4) Use Solar powered camping equipment

Why use solar camping equipment? Solar camping equipment is the perfect complement to the impact free camping experience. I find that going into the wilderness refreshes me and motivates me to be more constructive in terms of the future of the planet. Using renewable energy while camping or hiking is a way of taking my commitment to reduce my ecological footprint with me into the bush.

Whether you are going on foot or in an RV, there are solar energy saving devices you can use.

Here quality is a big issue; there is little point buying a solar powered device to save electricity only to have it break down and be thrown out soon after due to poor build quality.

Portable solar panels

Portable solar panels are a great source of pollution-free electricity while camping. Depending on the capacity of the panel, you can run a number of electrical devices from these including lights, battery chargers, radios and so on. These work best in conjunction with a large lead-acid battery such as a car battery.

Solar Showers

A solar camping shower is the ideal way to have a hot shower in the wilderness. No energy supply is needed; just fill it up in the morning, and by the afternoon you're ready to wash!

Solar Lanterns and Torches

Why throw away endless supplies of non-renewable batteries? Use solar powered torches and lanterns to reduce your landfill and give the planet a boost.

Great Places to Visit

Some places are just too good to miss, and here are some of my favourites.

The Northern Territory

I have spent a lot of time in the Northern Territory of Australia and it offers an incredible diversity of environments, many of which are accessible to both bushwalkers and off road vehicles. From the escarpment of Kakadu National Park to the dry Centre, there are few places to equal it in remoteness and splendor. These are some of my favourites; if you get the chance to visit any of these places, you will see why.

* Kakadu National Park
* Litchfield National Park
* Uluru
* Katherine Gorge
* The Devil’s Marbles

In the USA

Washington State: For hiking trail information and advice for Washington State, have a look at Michael's Washington Hiking site, which is an excellent resource for this area of the USA.

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