I asked earlier about Valley of the God dispersed camping. We have never done it before and I'm wondering if there was any protocols that we should know about. Some time ago a person complained that someone had come and parked right next to them while they were camping and it really annoyed him. Thanks

I have only been true dispersed camping a couple of times but regularly go to far back off the road off to ourselves. Some folks just like to be close to someone else for security reasons or whatever. It always happens when you get setup way back somewhere someone else will follow suit and setup close to you.We like our privacy but some of these way far away places it does give you a good secure feeling to see someone else once in a while I guess... I too would not be pleased to have them right next to us... I would most likely move away from them...I even see this at the Walmart parking lots. One camper will setup and the next morning you will five or six all grouped together haha... Even thou there is plenty of available space for overnite parking...Human nature I reckon...Roy Ken

It's called "Dispersed Camping" for a reason. You spread out and have your space. I'd never sit up camp next to anyone. I want at least 100 yards.

Yes, you just can't fix stupid sometimes.A long time ago several of us went down to Chitna to go salmon dipping. We camped in a spot with no one else in sight. We like to run the dirt bikes when the salmon aren't running and when they are we have several generators going to power the freezers so we can freeze them right after cleaning.So this guy arrives in a TC and parks within 50' of us. I go over and talk to him and tell him he might want to move a little further away because we'll be making noise - it was a large area. He says he'll stay where he's at. The next day he's complaining about our noise - hey it's daylight all night, so we went riding the dirt bikes after cleaning salmon. And when he let's his dog out to go pot, it kept coming over to our area to pick a fight with out dogs. His dog was no brighter than he was.We ignored him and continued on with our fun. Went home wore out and several chest freezers full of salmon.Give other people room when there's lots of it.Bill

Just common courtesy but if you see a RV with a roof of solar panels, don't park near him and run the generator all day. :)

Dispersed camping protocol | Good Sam Community

profdant139
Explorer II
Dec 25, 2016
Exxwhy, there's no inconsistency between being a blogger and a frequent poster and being anti-social -- I use the web as a substitute for human contact! ;)
garyhaupt
Explorer
Dec 25, 2016
profdant139 wrote:
Exxwhy, there's no inconsistency between being a blogger and a frequent poster and being anti-social -- I use the web as a substitute for human contact! ;)

Me too.

Gary Haupt
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 25, 2016
rexlion wrote:
I suspect that the majority of campers prefer being near, if not with, other campers.
I prefer being near, but near to me means at least 1000' feet away. What annoys me is when somebody's "near" is 100'. And then they drag out their generator and dogs.

I'm not spooked by being totally alone as far as animal or human threats, I'm spooked by the thought of equipment failure or some devastating injury. And I will rarely if ever park where there's no phone service.
pnichols
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2016
2oldman wrote:
I'm not spooked by being totally alone as far as animal or human threats, I'm spooked by the thought of equipment failure or some devastating injury. And I will rarely if ever park where there's no phone service.

I too am spooked by equipment failure, devastating injury, or medical emergencies. I even installed a cellular antenna on our RV's roof and a cellular booster amplifier in the coax from the antenna so as to extend our cellular phone receive/transmit range.

However ... I've been considering going this route for even more insurance when remote camping:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=100

Do any of you boondockers carrying one of these along in your RV?
profdant139
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2016
We carry a personal locator beacon in our backpacks, which are always with us. In an emergency, a little antenna pops up and beams a signal to a satellite, which notifies local Search and Rescue with our coordinates.

So far, it has worked perfectly -- I test it every few months (with an electronic "just kidding -- do not rescue" message).
garyhaupt
Explorer
Dec 26, 2016
pnichols wrote:

However ... I've been considering going this route for even more insurance when remote camping:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=100

Do any of you boondockers carrying one of these along in your RV?

The DeLorme gizmo allows a subscriber to interrupt their contract and then pick it up later. SpotFindMe does not provide for that.

http://www.inreachdelorme.com/

I kind of think that`s a good idea for seasonal rv`rs. I know Tiger RV has one..perhaps we`ll hear from that source.

Gary Haupt
mrw8i
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
profdant139 wrote:
Exxwhy, there's no inconsistency between being a blogger and a frequent poster and being anti-social -- I use the web as a substitute for human contact! ;)

This I understand.
frizzen
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
profdant139 wrote:
Exxwhy, there's no inconsistency between being a blogger and a frequent poster and being anti-social -- I use the web as a substitute for human contact! ;)

When you make your living standing in the front of a room talking to a bunch of people you need to get away now and then. Believe me, I know all about it.
TexasChaps
Explorer
Jan 04, 2017
beemerphile1 wrote:
azdryheat wrote:
Must admit I never heard the term 'dispersed camping' until this thread. Are we not using 'boondocking' any more....

Ever been to US government websites? "Dispersed camping" is the official terminology used by the government for public lands.

so how about using "dispersed boondocking" ? :R
profdant139
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2017
I've been told that in New Zealand, it's called "freedom camping." Has a nice ring to it, I think.