Always thinking of safety measures may not be the most fun thing to do, but if you’re camping in the Smokies, it can save you a trip to the hospital. Here are a few camping safety tips you should be mindful of when camping in the Smokies.

The various safety signs you’ll see throughout the park are posted there for a reason — to keep you safe. If you’re smart, you’ll be mindful of these signs when you see them. If there’s a sign telling you not to climb on the waterfalls — you shouldn’t climb on the waterfalls. No one is out to spoil your fun; officials just know that some of the rocks may be covered with moss or algae which could cause a person to slip.

If you are hiking, you should make sure everyone in your hiking party has proper attire. Weather can change rapidly in the park. You may start out with a cool morning, have a hot afternoon, and then a cold chill can quickly descend on the mountain as night falls. Before you head out on any hiking excursion, make sure you know what the weather is expected to do so you can prepare for it. At the very least, everyone should have a weather proof jacket and a supply of food and water.

You should also watch out for poison ivy, ticks, chiggers, and snakes in the mountains. You shouldn’t let your children wander too far ahead on trails because they could step on a snake. They shouldn’t be allowed to roam alone off of a trail, either. Poison ivy is plentiful in many spots, and a bad case of poison ivy can put a damper on your vacation. To cut down on bug bites, ticks, and chiggers, wear long pants and use bug repellent when hiking. Be sure to check everyone for ticks and chiggers each night.

Following these tips can ensure that you and yours enjoy your trip to the Smokies.

Eating in the great outdoors can be a challenge. Storing your food, keeping it cold and away from all the nosy little creatures is often more trouble than it’s worth. But eating on a camping trip can be quick, simple and still very tasty.

Buy a few essentials before hitting the road. Simple, everyday kitchen items such as aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and paper plates make meals on the go a breeze. Be sure to pick up a few garbage bags, too, in order to keep your campsite as tidy as you found it.

Pick up simple food items. Deli meats and cheeses keep well in a cooler full of ice, and fresh fruits and vegetables stay edible for days as long as they are cool. Canned chili, beans and soups also make for quick, easy and affordable camp meals.

Cook simple meals while you’re camping. After all, it is supposed to be a relaxing experience. If you like fish, put your pole to good use. Clean and fillet your fresh catch and lay it on a large section of foil. Add in a bit of onion, lemon, and a few veggies, and season lightly. Wrap the ends of the foil up and place it directly over your fire. In 20 minutes, you’ll have the freshest food in the entire camp.

Sweet treats can also be simply accomplished over an open flame. Roll out a large sheet of foil on a flat surface. Add a layer of graham crackers on the foil, add a piece of your favorite chocolate (dark, milk or white work equally well), squish a marshmallow atop the chocolate, and finish off with another cracker. Cover with another piece of foil and heat until melted. For a festive holiday touch, crumble up a candy cane and add a bit to your S’mores.

Camping is a relaxing, enjoyable experience, and eating should follow suit. Keep it simple – eat, relax and enjoy!

Black Bear

It never ceases to amaze me how brave and daring people act when they see a bear in the Smokies. This past summer my family and I were driving through Cades Cove when traffic came to a halt. There was an enormous male black bear about six feet from the road. He was paying no mind to the gawking humans as he pawed around on a downed log.

I’ll be honest, I’ve lived in the foothills of the Smokies my entire life and I’ve never seen a bear this large. I know he was every bit of 500 pounds. I’m sure the bears nonchalant attitude stoked the bravery of tourists, but I was horrified to see so many people getting out of their cars—some with cameras and children in tow.

Living in this area has given me a large respect for black bear. The black bear population is so dense in the Smokies that many experts predict there are about two bear per every square mile. You never know when you may be in a bears domain—so do as I do. Consider every inch of the Smokies bear domain and understand that we are the trespassers, not the bears.

Black bears aren’t just on the ground, either. They like to climb trees and they can swim. They could be any where at any time. Black bears can run at speeds of 30mph. So, come on Smoky Mountain campers—do you really think you are safe standing 50 yards away from a bear clicking away on your digital cameras? Stay in your cars! If you want a good picture invest in a camera that has a good zoom lens and take pictures from your rolled down windows.

I haven’t said all of this to scare tourists and campers away the Smokies, but if you’re going to visit, be smart! Luckily the bear we saw that day fled up the hill and life resumed as normal, but some people aren’t that lucky. I’ll post soon about what you should to do if you do happen to cross paths with a Smoky Mountain brown bear, as well as steps you can take to keep your camping area unfriendly to bears.