Currently I am preparing for something called a microadventure. The term is somewhat popular in German outdoor circles, coming from the book Mikroabenteuer: Raus und machen by Christo Foerster. As I am not the most spontanous person I need a little bit of preparation. I also don't have the equipment necessary.
So, what is this microadventure anyway? The answer: spending a night outside.
For all veteran camping people this might sound pretty low key. Depending on your location, it might also not sound like that big of a deal too, because you spend your time outdoors anyway and the law in your country doesn't make it complicated.
For me, there are two things I need to consider:
- The law in my country forbids camping (staying in a place for extended periods) in random places. You basically have to go to a proper camping ground to put up a tent. But - and this is important - there is no strict ruling about sleeping outside; the population is allowed to use the outdoors for recreational purposes. There are restrictions in nature reserve areas and obviously open fire is very restricted.
- There are not many places near my hometown that are not crowded. I need to pick the place carefully to avoid a run-in, just to avoid getting in trouble in the first place.
Ok, with that out of the way, let's get back to the equipment. Last time I was outside camping is probably 15+ years ago. I don't own any outdoor equipment, besides some minor pieces like a pocket knife, solar cells for USB charging and basic clothing.
I ordered a new sleeping mat, a sleeping bag and a bivouac cover for the sleeping bag. I do have a backpack suitable for this 3 things plus the essentials for a one-night stay (clothes, toothbrush, coffee and a book is all I need).
Next up is picking a place and date. It's getting real... did you do anything similar? Are you an outdoor person at all?