HOME EARLY

Some of the neighbors in the vicinity of our Adirondack vacation cottage can't tell the difference between Memorial Day and the 4th of July, so we don't stay "home" as it were for the weekend. Instead, we run the coach about 60 miles further north to a very private corporate woodlot where we can boondock with nothing more than the normal forest sounds around us. We hold one of only 3 lifetime camping permits that are still active out the 100 that were issued in the mid-60's. We haven't seen another camper in the area in years. Very peaceful and conducive to reflecting on the real meaning of the holiday.

Oasisbob wrote:
Our family tradition is to go out camping every Memorial day weekend so we made reservations way in advance.

Sadly many see Memorial Day weekend as a weekend to get drunk and go crazy. We ATV'd for years, funny thing was the community as a whole was out before 11PM, been out riding and exhausted. Very different from most camping I'd been around.

Oasisbob wrote:
Thought about camp hosts but what could they do?

I was in this near same situation at Crescent Lake in Oregon. Drunks started taking their Jet Ski's out on the lake well after pitch black. Camp host was gone for the night and we had no cell service. We were told later not much would have been done since they didn't have enough law enforcement in the are or others to deal with that type of behavior.

Next day we spoke with the camp host. He seemed reluctant to do anything until I told him I would be calling Hoodoo Mgmt. to complain about the lack of a camp host or any ranger passing through the sites that night. Thankfully, three other campers were standing behind us to complain too, so the party site was evicted.

This is a problem with many of the USFS Campground in Oregon and Washington, so much land and not enough enforcement. Where were you camped at?

Sad but it's truly a sign of the times. It all boils down to too much rules and governing intervention as it's been decided we don't know how to rear our own kids any more to become responsible, considerate adults = prime example of the ignorant animals you are referencing. Just look around you how parents are with their children and woah betide you if you chastise another's child doing something disrespectful/inconsiderate, dangerous or otherwise.

Yes our kids got a clip behind the ear if the word through clenched teeth didn't take effect, and so will our grandkids, as well our children accept and will also do the same, no matter what any officialdom says you can and can't do. I would hope a neighbouring camper with commonsense, wouldn't feel they couldn't educate my children if it were to protect them from potential harm or harm to others or their property. It's all got pathetic and out of hand on what folks with commonsense can and cannot do, so no wonder we are experiencing things like this today and fear to address it. Its going to get a lot lot worse before, or if it ever gets any better. The latter I very much doubt I'll see in my life time!

Folks nowadays are so scared of being shot, knifed or otherwise if they address unacceptable behaviour with the offender, you can't blame them for saying nothing and just removing themselves from the discomfort. Albeit we all likely agree they shouldn't have to have their enjoyment ruined because of. A lot of this rebellious inconsiderate attitude, that affects many of us also stems from the craziest amount of rules and control that's enforced on us during our everyday lives as adults as well.

I'm not saying it's right behaviour, but when you look at things from all aspects you can see where it all stems from and it's only going to get worse. People have become more "me mentality" because of all the stupid and crazy rules, legislation and abuse they've had to endure that's escalated exponentially since the mid 80's. Are we really surprised that folks nowadays take the attitude "if you can't beat em join em"? I said many years ago folks will just start to rebel being controlled more and more like caged animals.

As I said, I far from condone bad behaviour but sometimes it pays to put ones feet in the offenders shoes to establish "why" they are the way they are? Another reason we avoid high season in demand camping areas and generally head out to boondock remotely during those times, it's just not worth the misery of trying any more. Another thing that stopped us from camping during high times is some of the pure sheer miserable devils out there, that at 10.10pm ***** moan and complain when folks are just sitting around their camp fires chatting, maybe a shallow laugh, but not screaming or shouting, yet feel the need to report them. There's two sides sometimes to every situation!

Seems to me the camp hosts or park rangers should monitor the park well enough that situations should not have to be reported, they should know about it. After all if its a state park is that not their job, especially during holidays when stuff like this happens more often.
I don't mind the crowds on a holiday but don't like that loud music and drunks.
While we are home this holiday I decided to drive by a campground we sometime visit, reminded me why I'm home, one site had 10 to 12 cars around it and the music and drinks going if you know what I mean.
Glad I'm retired so I can go when I want.

Oasisbob wrote:
Our family tradition is to go out camping every Memorial day weekend so we made reservations way in advance. Set up camp last night. Roasting marshmellows with the family when neighbors move in. Stereo cranks. Beers are opened. Kids we don't know are in our site. Tried to polietly , and I really was, ask the neighbors to turn it down as it is suppose to be "quiet time". They told me I picked the wrong campground. Thought about camp hosts but what could they do? Get into a conflict and put drunks out on the road? Not likely. So we packed up and came home. Why can't folks who want to party stay home? Folks just do not care anymore. Very discouraging

Sorry that one small group ruined your tradition.

Sadly, you can and most likely will experience this type of behavior again.. Holidays can however bring out the worst in "party goers" letting it rip in campgrounds..

Unless the campground is full up, I would have simply asked to move to a different non partying site at the same time mentioning to the campground hosts the situation.

I to have endured more than once some very rowdy heavy drinkers that come 6PM out came the booze and they got louder as the evening wore on in to 1 am and even later.. We rode it out and they left after several days leaving us with a much quieter campsite again. It was against the campground rules for the alcohol and quiet time is 11 pm..

You did the right thing by not confronting them, it could have turned real ugly in a hurry but you didn't "need" to pack it up unless the campground was full.

You do need to get a thicker skin if you are planning to camp in public campgrounds and on holidays especially..

That's why we boondock.

tpi wrote:
A well written complaint can go a long way to keep focus on these issues. It may be something they can solve or improve with more frequent patrols during these holiday weekends.

x2.

About all you can do now.

One thing I'd do at this point is find out who's at a management level at the campground and let him know what happened. That you left early due to disturbance after quiet hours and you were very disappointed in the visit.

For all they know everything went swimmingly during the weekend. A well written complaint can go a long way to keep focus on these issues. It may be something they can solve or improve with more frequent patrols during these holiday weekends.

luckily in all my 20 plus years of camping we never had 'incidents' to unbearable levels. Lucky I guess. The few 'problems' were always smaller and controllable, never anything like I read on this forum that happens to others.

we do avoid major holiday camping. we have X'd out a few cgs that were yuck with drunks and noise and never to return and choose our cgs carefully.

not sure what I would do in major situation, but I have to say, the RV has wheels so moving seems smart to me but I would report before I left for sure.

sorry OP you had a bad situation.