How many here go camping?

[militaryspouse]

I have never been camping, but I suggested that we go this summer. Now I know there are two types of campers. The hardcore type that think RV's are for wussies and the only real way to go camping is roughing it up, ie no portable stoves, no porta johns,only sleeping in tents etc. I am not high maintenance by any means, can get dirty with the best of them, but I think I'd want to start out with more of the creature comforts some of these camp sites have to offer.

What have your camping experiences been like?

[Drum]

1. Lots of different "types" of trips....

I have done a few of those carry-everything-you-need-on-your-back, start-campfire-with-one-rationed-match kind of deals, but never had the opportunity to try an RV.

My usual configuration involves rented/borrowed car, and going to campgrounds where I reserve & pay for a site, a place that usually has bathrooms with showers. Because warm beer and spoiled food are a drag, I take a big cooler and though I usually prefer cooking over the evening fire, I take aportable butane campstove because there must be NO waiting for morning coffee. :) My tent usually is lined with some comfy foam or a little inflatable mattress, for back and joint health.

In short, I feel that the suffering part of camping should be optional. I could go on and on about what a relief it is to step out of city life (nyc) and remind myself how to truly take care of myself...regular reminders of how to cover the elemental basics and taste life in a little more raw form...but it sounded like your question was a little more option/equipment/style related than that.

Don't sweat which---of several---path you choose. The best part is doing it, no matter which way...have fun!!

:hi:

[cwydro]

6. Absolutely right on the stove.

We use a gas stove and extra canisters are essential.

[YankeyMCC]

2. I camp frequently

I like to rough it so to speak, a tent, a sleeping bag, minimal gear - set up somewhere and go hiking and exploring around the area. What's best about this is you get the full benefit of being away from the rest of the world and a full recharge so to speak - at least for me. And you get a better connection to the place you're visiting.

I do at least two of those kinds of trips a year with my son.

My wife isn't much into that but we go camping at least once a year, usually twice with her. We go for one or two weeks for a family campground where we still camp in a tent, but the site also has a small permanent structure with a bathroom and a kitchenette kind of thing under a roof (no walls, just a few shelves a stove top and a picknick table) there's also power outlets and water. Also on these trips we sleep on air mattresses and bring a wider variety of groceries (we actually go to a nearby town on the first night to go shopping for the week).

Sometimes we go to other places using the tent and air mattress etc...but have to use a shared bathroom facility - that's about as much roughing it as my wife will tolerate.

The family camping is fun too, you still get a way but there still some of the comforts of the rest of the world at hand and my son and I can still usually get out in the wilds which are nearby. The other benefit is that if you pick a good campground there may be other activities on the ground or nearby - for example we often went to Storyland (an amusement park in NH) during the family camping trips.

One down side of the family style trips is that often you get the RV's with their TVs and loud A/C and other machinery close to you. I don't like that at all.

When I was a kid we had a Pop-up trailer. I think those are a nice option for the family style trips because it gets you off the ground more but still feels like tenting.

If you have a good tent that allows for good ventilation and is well waterproofed you should have little trouble keeping comfortable. The best part of camping is getting out there and experiencing as close a connection to the land as you can and meeting like minding people doing the same thing. So do whatever you must to keep in reasonable comfort but keep these thoughts in mind:

- Try to be more flexible and tolerant of superficial discomfort - so what if you spend a couple of hot nights think of the pay off in quietness and the ability to get closer to the more secuded areas (the less power you need the deeper you can go into the wilderness)
- Be considerate to other people who might be looking for a more rugged experience than you but somehow ended up in the same campground.
- Remember that the less you need/take the more flexibility you'll have.
- And just to stress the point, try pushing your limits of comfort for the pay off in return for a richer experience.

Most important get out and enjoy the environment as best you can.

Oh and always - always - be aware of the place your a visiting, some will have pack-in/pack-out rules (take all your trash out) or "leave no trace" rules (take all your trash, don't trample wildlife etc...) these rules are taken seriously for good reason. Even if you're visiting a place that doesn't have these rules, or you're unsure, the best rule of thumb is to conduct your visit adhering as close to these rules as possible.

[conscious evolution]

3. I have fun camping

If you have never been camping I would recommend finding a friend who has to show you the ropes.Inexperience in the outdoors can make a trip hell on earth.
Learn the basics before getting too adventurous.
Car camping is a good way to start.You can take tents or pull a small camper.If you have small children I would recommend a small pop-up camper.Age 5 and up go with tents.

Music festivals are great places to go car camping.Great music and campfires go really well together.

[militaryspouse]

5. thanks guys

you are making me want to go right now lol. I'm not to worried about not knowing the ropes. With hubbies background i'm sure we'll make out ok. Of course with his 'job' he's not as hyped up about it b/c it reminds him too much like going to the field.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. That's very good advice. Many a camp trip has been ruined by

inexperience. Having the right gear and knowing how to use it is a very important consideration.

[cwydro]

4. I LOVE camping

and have done it here and in Europe. I've camped in the snow on Mt. Mitchell and in the heat of the Everglades. You'll love it. It is the best way to really relax and get away from it all.

Don't forget toilet paper, matches, paper towels and flashlights; bug spray, extra towels and blankets always come in handy. A good coffee pot is essential if you're a coffee drinker. I use a French Press, but ye old percolater is a nice touch and smells great. A t-shirt makes a great pillow or pillow case. If you're tent camping in a campground, learn your way to the "facilities" so you can do it in the dark.

If you want to go the RV route, nothing wrong with that. I've always been a tent camper, but as I get older, I do appreciate certain comforts. The Everglades only have cold water showers, which can be rough in January. Bring flip flops if you're using campground facilities (keeps your foots safe)

Make a campfire and have a blast.

If you're in a coastal area and can do it, camp on the beach; nothing like waking up to the roar of the ocean...and then you run right in to the waves and are ready for the day.

Have fun!B-) :hi:

[EstimatedProphet]

7. I've done camping of all types

From floatcamping to backpacking to paid campsite camping. Floatcamping is really nice because you can stow gear in the canoe without having to carry it.

Bring a stove. It's handy for breakfast. Bring a cooking grate too, because there's noting better than burgers and brats done over an open fire. If by chance you're going to be at a pay site for a few days, get an electric cooler. Other than that, if you put up a rainfly for just in case and your tent is big enough, those are plenty of creature comforts to enjoy yourself.

[Arugula Latte]

8. I suggest you start with car camping.

Just pull into your campsite with a tent and sleeping bags and dinner fixins. No need to do the bring-your-own-TV route, but you can ease into it, have a campfire (if it's permitted), get some fresh air, see the stars, listen to the owls, etc.

Camping is great. I know my kids will always remember camping as a family.

[opiate69]

9. Lots of good comments so far.. but I have to add:

You'll definitely want a couple of these:



Should be able to find them pretty cheap at any department store or Big 5, Sportco etc...

[Arkansas Granny]

10. I have camped from packing everything in on my back to

being with a group that hauled a trailer and have enjoyed both scenarios.

I prefer tent camping, myself, and taking just those things that make for a comfortable trip. This will vary from person to person, but the fewer things you take, the fewer things you have to keep up with.

Some people take everything but the kitchen sink and don't mind all the packing and unpacking. The key seems to be how much stuff you need to have a good time, because that's what it's all about anyway.

[bertha katzenengel]

12. I've been twice and loved it both times. We went to a campsite

in a state park in CA. We slept in tents and had propane stoves. The campgrounds had picnic tables and fire rings, and a cinder block building with toilets and quarter-operated showers.

I. LOVED. IT.

:hi:

[seemunkee]

13. When I go I really want to get away from it all

Car/RV camping is fine. Still removes you from your comfort zone and gives you an experience you wouldn't have in a hotel or resort.
When I go I like to find places that where I won't see any other person. I have a good friend that I have been hiking and climbing with for 35 years. We get together once a year for an extended trip to someplace remote.

[skygazer]

14. Well, first of all, your perceptions are wrong

My SO and I go camping every year. We have no use for an RV, preferring to be outdoors (to me, the whole point of camping). And we don't like a lot of company so we go to very remote places. However, we live well while camping. We do sleep in a tent but we have a great system in it, using a number of comforters and sleeping bags to make a deep, cozy bed. We have a beautiful gas camp stove and probably eat better than most people do at home. We have a solar shower, comfortable camp chairs, a full bar, many lanterns for some evening ambience and we always bring games and books.

We don't use a porta john but we do have one in case we have finicky company. Camping is not necessarily about living rough - it's about living outdoors and enjoying nature. You can do that and still have creature comforts.

There's nothing wrong with RV camping and there's nothing wrong with campgrounds. When my kids were young, we camped at campgrounds all the time and it was fun - we usually made friends with some of our neighbors and met some nice people that way.

If you go, have a good time. We're going to our favorite spot this coming weekend. :hi:

[bif]

15. We use a pop-up camper

And use the primitive sites. I'm not a happy camper but booze sure helps.

[likesmountains 52]

16. Set up the tent at home a few times before you try it out at the camp site...

the best advice I ever got!

[NMDemDist2]

17. my husband said his 6 years in the Army were all the camping he ever wants

we have been *once* in our 13 years of marriage. :rofl:

I, on the other hand, camped all summer at Denali Nat'l park one season I worked there and have done lots and lots of multi day river trips where all your gear had to fit on the raft.

a stove makes it a lot easier to have varied meals IMO, and a tent is good if only to have someplace to change your clothes and in case it rains

if you are a newbie camper, take a trip to the Military Surplus store and see what they have. It'll be cheaper and lighter gear than you'll get at Target. Ammo boxes of various sizes are handy as hell for packing and storing gear and food.

a couple things I always take camping are a small flashlight (preferably one I can wear on my head) for those short trips in the middle of the night. I almost never take lanterns though, they are way too bright and ruin the experience for me. i do like candle lanterns though, nice ambient light that won't get blown out with a breeze. and a good dutch oven. they are invaluable for cooking in the fire.

have fun!

[petronius]

18. I do a lot of camping - mostly lightweight solo backpacking

However, we enjoy car camping as well. The key is to have fun, so I think easing into it with car amping or even an RV is a good idea. If you go that route, my advice (in addition to the tons of good comments upthread) is to pack carefully - take everything you need but nothing you don't - and make sure you know where everything is. We've made the 'toss it all in the car' mistake, and it sucks. Think about what you're going to do all day at your campsite - I've seen people get to the woods and be miserably bored because they thought 'camping' was an end in itself. Do you plan to swim, sunbathe, birdwatch, fish, nature hike, photograph, read, rock climb, or what? Bring the right gear. Don't forget sunblock, bug spray, a first aid kit, matches, knife, chapstick (a real dealbreaker where I hike), and a flashlight. Make sure that your site has potable water. Finally, if you car camp, choose your site carefully - consider the possibility of noisy neighbors, the softness and drainage of the ground, and where the sun will come up in the morning.

Above all - have fun! Do what is comfortable for you, and if someone says you're doing it wrong, that just proves they don't know as much about camping as they think. (The only things that are actually 'wrong,' IMO, are: cutting live vegetation or gathering wood where not permitted, littering, washing dishes in water sources, depositing waste too close to water, or not controlling your fire.)