Who doesn’t love going to the movies? Besides providing an endless stream of entertainment, movies are a great source of travel inspiration, giving us a glimpse of the world without ever leaving our couches. But every so often, a movie hits the screens that will scare the bejesus out of you, making you reconsider, if perhaps, it might be just better to stay home for the holidays. Remember Jaws? It took me months to get the guts to step back into the water.

Similar to the oceans, camping in the backcountry is wrought with endless mystery, potential dangers and for the things that go bump in the night; some actual, and others just the persistent hauntings of an overactive imagination.

Here are my 10 movies not to watch before camping in the backcountry – watch them at your own risk:

Deliverance

The quintessential backcountry horror adventure. To this day, this 1970’s Burt Reynolds’s helmed movie still manages to resonate and give even the most stalwart adventurer a moment of pause. What starts out as a buddy flick with the typical camping, hunting, and rafting quickly morphs into a “run for your life from murderous lunatic inbred hillbilly killing machines,” a la the more recent The Hills Have Eyes. Basically, anything that can go wrong does go wrong. There is a particularly jarring scene involving two men and the sound of a squealing pig. If you don’t know what that means, you’ll need to watch the movie.

The Message: Stay away from gap toothed hillbillies carrying shotguns in the wild

The Blair Witch Project

In 1999, the world was introduced to the found footage genre of films. Love it or hate it, the Blair Witch reinvented entertainment. At the same time, a legion of backcountry enthusiast suddenly decided to stay close to home and opt for beaches and Disneyland.  Apart from the shaky camerawork, and imperceptible grainy darkness, the pervasive theme of witchcraft, human sacrifice, and eerie children’s laughter weaves a scary enough mythology that will keep most from venturing too deep into the wilderness.

The message: Never disturb cemeteries, and best steer clear of anywhere that has coffin in its name.

Backcountry (2014)

Usually you needn’t ever fear running into witches or anything supernatural while camping in the backcountry, but bears, well, that’s a whole other story. Although extremely rare for wild bears to go on the rampage, it does happen and Backcountry gives us a peak into that most primal of fears. After watching the movie, you’ll probably be more likely to stick to the zoos to view wildlife rather than head into bear country.

The message: Stay far away from bear dens, and always, always carry a compass

The Cabin in the woods

A cautionary tale of the dangers that exist in the wild. Following the same formula as many campy teen horror movies, The Cabin In The Woods ultimately stands on its own reminding us that we all may just be pawns of a larger conspiracy – monsters, evil supernatural forces, mythology this movie has it all.  The Cabin In The Woods is an enjoyable weekend flick to watch within the comfort of your home, but surely not before heading out into the backwoods far from any rescue.

The message: Abandoned cabins are abandoned for a reason

The Evil Dead

When the Evil Dead remake was released, I could almost hear the collective cheers from the legion of Bruce Campbell fans. But whether you are a fan of the original or the remake, both versions will terrify you with its endless stream of blood, gore and demonic possessions. Don’t watch this movie if you’re easily scared. The Evil Dead pulls no punches as it unsparingly throws in all the horror stereotypes of its genre.

The message: If you happen to come across an old dusty book bound in skin, leave it alone.

Wolf Creek

As though having a broken down car in the Australian Outback isn’t bad enough, pepper in a sociopathic serial killer with too much time on his hands, and you now have a nightmare to end all nightmares. Wolf Creek is definitely not your typical backcountry movie. Everything starts out innocuous enough, but quickly ramps into a terrifying reality of how it feels to be prey. Worst of all, Wolf Creek is loosely based on a true story. I know…my thoughts exactly. This movie will definitely keep you on the roads and out of the woods.

The message: stranger danger, stranger danger!

The Edge

Even billionaires need some survival skills in the backcountry. A photo shoot gone wrong, 3 men find themselves at the mercy of Mother Nature, while also being hunted by a massive Kodiak bear. The movie stresses multiple themes, but none more so than survival. After watching this, you may start thinking trust is an overrated commodity.

The message: Be prepared both mentally and physically and choose your companions wisely.

The Ruins

Ancient temples, obsessed Mayan protectors and killer sentient plants – that’s pretty sums it up. Definitely not your typical backcountry scenario, nor a particularly ingenious storyline, but the movie’s still provoking enough to give you pause. It successfully taps into that inherent fear of the unknown, crazed locals, and even throws in a good dose of ancient mythology and curses.   I doubt the movie will keep you from any temples or ruins, but I’m sure you’ll think twice before deciding to step off the beaten path.

The message: Plants can kill!

Any of the Friday the 13^th

For over two decades Jason Voorhees has chopped, strangled, and wrecked his way into our collective nightmares. The unstoppable, supernatural juggernaut, who haunts the fictitious Crystal Lake campground, has scared generations of boy scouts and campers, keeping them huddled around the campfire while wrapped tightly in their sleeping bags.   Any of the Friday the 13^th movies will have you reconsider camping as a recreational only activity.

The message: Stay Together and avoid running around the woods at night

A Perfect Getaway

Paradise is not always what it seems.   Don’t be fooled by Hawaii’s gorgeous scenery and idyllic hideaways, this getaway is anything but perfect. Taking identity theft to a whole other level, this movie has you second-guessing and questioning the motives of everyone, and in the end you may never trust anyone again!

The message: Trust no one…
What are your 10 movies to avoid before camping in the backcountry?

The post 10 Movies Not To Watch Before Camping In The Backcountry appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

On a recent backcountry trip, I emerged from the wilds scarred, bruised, limping and probably losing more blood than a normal human should. Yet, although I had the appearance of someone dragged through hell, while lashed to a pack of wild horses, I was all smiles; Grinning ear to ear like it was my birthday.

It might seem hard to imagine, but I love camping. Yes, it gets dirty; yes, my sleeping bag isn’t a Tempurpedic, but for me, comfort is a distant consideration to the experience.   It’s not glamorous, and it can be rugged, but the adventure is second to none. Anything can happen while camping, and no two trips are ever the same.

Before you ask what I could possibly love about camping, I’m going to beat you to the punch and give you my top 10 reasons to love camping too:

10 Reasons to Love Camping

1. Cozying up to a blazing fire on a chilly night roasting hotdogs or marshmallows: – In the backcountry, the opportunity for a fire doesn’t come around too often. But when it does, I guarantee you I’m taking full advantage of it. On a chilly night, very few things are more comforting and tranquil than sitting around the warmth of a campfire roasting up a dog, or watching your marshmallows caramelize over an open flame.

2. Encountering wildlife – Beautifully rare and incredibly thrilling, encountering the elusive inhabitants of the wild is both awesome and mesmerizing. There is a hidden kingdom beyond our own, and if ever given the chance to peek behind the veil to see a family of grizzlies or even a herd of Deer, capture it because you’ll be talking about it for years to come
   

3. Drinking hot coco and watching the sunrise – usually getting up before dawn is met with derision and a caffeine crazed stupor; that’s because it’s usually followed by 9 hours behind a desk.   Watching the world shake off it’s slumber in the wilderness, while sipping on hot chocolate, is an unrushed calming experience, and of course a world apart from the cubies.
   
4. Dozing off in a hammock – who doesn’t love hammocks? Now add in the rhythmic cadence of a running stream, melodic harmony of the neighborhood birds, a gentle breeze, and you have yourself paradise.
5. Discovering beautiful vistas and natural beauty – there are places unreachable by anything other than old-fashioned walking.   Places so far off the beaten path, that the journey itself is as rewarding as the destination.   There is a pride in discovery, and a sense of accomplishment knowing you climbed, crawled and fought your way to a view few have seen firsthand.
   
6. The peace and solitude – Every now and then, we all need a break from real world. Whether it’s our smartphones or checking email, we spend a huge portion of our lives tethered to one thing or another. The solitude camping affords, allows us to reconnect, recharge and find our Zen.

7. The camaraderie with fellow backpackers – Even though I travel to the backcountry and endeavor to find my Zen, it’s always a pleasure to see friendly faces on the road. It’s one of the few places where strangers become friends, and where an unspoken bond of support for each other exists.
   

8. The sea of stars – You’ve never seen the sky, until you’ve seen it in the wild. The night literally comes alive with millions of stars dusted lavishly across the entire horizon. You never realize how immense and wondrous our world really is, or how small you really are, until you’ve stared into the starry sky. If you’re lucky, some nights you can even see the clouds of the Milky Way. It will be the closest many of us will ever get to the far reaches of our universe.
   

9. The smell of the wilderness – This one is hard to describe. But for anyone who has spent any time out in the wild knows that distinct smell of the outdoors. There is a crisp unpolluted freshness to the wild, making each gulp of air a newfound pleasure.
   
10. Eating - Food has never tasted soooo good. Where in the city, we take each meal for granted, with camping you savor each feast until the last bite. The days are generally planned around meal times, not for lack of things to do, but for the simple realization that we live to eat!
    

Those are my top 10 reasons to love camping!  The best thing about camping is that the adventure is unique for everyone.

What are your reasons?

The post 10 Reasons That Will Make You Love Camping appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.