Tent camping

trail-explorer wrote:
The one thing I forgot about tent camping, until doing it again recently is you hear EVERYTHING going on around you. Made for a few un-restful nights because the slightest noise wakes me up.

We were camped at one of our favorite spots in the Colorado high country last week on Kenosha pass, it’s about 10.500 ft. Our little silky terrier started having a fit around 1 a.m. so I look outside and even with a full moon I don’t see anything. She was so persistent I got out the led search light and spotted several does grazing about 100 yards away. I couldn’t hear a thing even after I startled them and they ran away, damn that little dog can hear “except when I’m the one calling her.”

I love my camper too. However, this summer I hiked the John Muir Trail, 210+ miles in 21 days (17 solo), and didn't once wish I was in my camper. There were a few times when I wanted the food I can take in the camper, but that was all. The comfort of sleeping on the ground has come a long way in the last 20 years. By the way, the JMT was a life changing experience for me. I highly recommend it.

This is my tent at about 11,400' elevation with Mather Pass way in the distance to the north. That is my bear cannister (keeps the bears from eating your food) next to the tent and it held 8 days worth of food for this stretch of the trail.

Tent camping is where 90% of our camping occurs, 'cept in Ma's big Alegro. That said, tent comfort has come along way, and we sleep comfortably on thick ThermaRest self-inflating sleeping pads, in GoreTex covered down bags, compressible pillows, snug inside high-end Sierra Designs tents with a lot of modern lightweight gear (hey, and an Optima House Battery!) that makes the event quite fun. From the desert sands of Glamis and Borrego to the mountain granite of the Cleveland National Forest and The Sierras...You quickly get used to hearing all the sights and sounds of the forest around you, which is part of the draw. Someday I suppose when we're too old we'll get a popup or something like that, but so far, so good...:B

No Thanks;)

StarCraft, we found out how much we loved ours also, we went on a 4 day kayaking trip down the buffalo river in Arkansas, I was thinking in my head( shoot we will be on the soft sand camping that will be awesome) well the sand is NOT comfy at all.....we were glad to get back to the TC in the campground.

we had a good time though, the buffalo is a beautiful river.

trail-explorer wrote:
The one thing I forgot about tent camping, until doing it again recently is you hear EVERYTHING going on around you. Made for a few un-restful nights because the slightest noise wakes me up.

We have just finished our 54th consecutive day in a little backpacking tent on an 8 week cycle tour of the Alps. Yes, the crowded European campsites can be a bit hectic with you hearing every little intimate noise coming from other campers parked sometimes inches away, but when the motor homes and TT.s are backed up waiting for a place sometimes for day,s, there is always room for a little tent.

I still love the comforts of the TC, but where you can backpack with our little tent in BRitish Columbia,nobody unless they are on foot, will be your neighbours.

Dave

path1 wrote:
Maybe you'll be like wives friend at work . She went out on hunting trip with her husband. Wife stay'd at their boondock camp site while husband takes off up and down hills all day trying to find a god spot to set up. Back at camp wife is kicking back reading her book. Deer wonders thru and she fills her tag.

Sounds familiar. DW and I took our youngest granddaughter and her friend camping. The girls wanted to go find elk so we took off through the woods. We did find a good herd, but all cows and some young bulls.Meanwhile the DW is siting reading outside and two big bulls wandered right by the TT. Sometimes the gods have a malicious sense of humor.:)

I still spend just as many nights camping in tents as I do our TC (Scouts/backpacking).
I prefer the TC.

However, I did splurge on a new Big Agnes pad that really makes a difference in sleeping in a tent.
Old age finally made me cave...I should have got one years ago!

Bill

trail-explorer wrote:
The one thing I forgot about tent camping, until doing it again recently is you hear EVERYTHING going on around you. Made for a few un-restful nights because the slightest noise wakes me up.

I know what you mean. Last year I woke up all night long with does all around me. I slept out no tent and they would come in close, kept me up all night.

path1 wrote:
Maybe you'll be like wives friend at work . She went out on hunting trip with her husband. Wife stay'd at their boondock camp site while husband takes off up and down hills all day trying to find a god spot to set up. Back at camp wife is kicking back reading her book. Deer wonders thru and she fills her tag.

Cool this happens more than you would think. Thats why we camp with the camper as far back and deep in the woods I can get with the camper and truck. And then hike out from there.

Maybe you'll be like wives friend at work . She went out on hunting trip with her husband. Wife stay'd at their boondock camp site while husband takes off up and down hills all day trying to find a god spot to set up. Back at camp wife is kicking back reading her book. Deer wonders thru and she fills her tag.