If you are going on an extended backpacking or camping trip some sort of inclement weather is almost always unavoidable. Even if you made sure that the weather is going to be nice, there is always a chance that you will see some inclement weather. The best practice for this to make sure you are always prepared for a bad weather camping situation. The most important thing to remember perhaps is that you are going to get wet, but you and your things will dry eventually. There are a few pieces of equipment that you can get in order to be prepared for the rain, however these all depend on the size of your group and how much stuff you want to carry.
The most crucial thing to making a rainy campout less miserable is to make sure all of your dry goods are protected from the elements, I would suggest getting a waterproof backpack cover to make sure that when you get to camp you can put on a dry pair of socks and get into a dry sleeping bag. It is important to carry some sort of cover aside from your tent, like a tarp so that you can create an area for cooking and misc. gear. This protection can be as simple as a rainfly held up by walking sticks or even an extra tarp and some extra rope. These items also make it easier to separate your “smellables” from your campsite and even keeping your gear dry while you set up camp…
Another issue people tend to run into when camping in inclement is trying to start a fire, having a fire can be a great way to raise spirits, however it isn’t the end all be all if you don’t get one started. Next time you plan to go camping and see inclement weather in the forecast, don’t fret… prepare yourself for what could be in store and don’t expect a campfire every night. Who knows you may get lucky and that storm headed your way will disappear leaving a sunny trails.