Dispersed camping protocol

[Roy_Lynne]

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

[garyhaupt]

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

[profdant139]

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).

[pnichols]

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?

[2oldman]

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.

[garyhaupt]

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

[profdant139]

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! 😉

[NRALIFR]

Being polite and considerate are sometimes subjective concepts and difficult to describe in absolutes that everyone can understand. It would be good to point out to dispersed camping newbies that there are usually written RULES that cover areas where dispersed camping is allowed. Sometimes the rules are posted on a sign at the entrance, sometimes you have to check with the agency that's responsible for the area you're wanting to camp.

Typical rules would be things like: dispersed camping must be at least xx feet from the road, xx feet from any body of water, never in any marked restoration area. There will also be rules regarding trash disposal, use of latrines, grey water, ATV and firearm use, length of stay, etc. These types of rules are more absolute and can be enforced by the responsible agency. You need to know what they are before you camp.

I would also recommend that everyone using the public lands for dispersed camping be prepared to pick up a few pieces of trash left by those who are less responsible than most of us would be. I try to always take a plastic grocery bag with us when we go hiking around, and I'm usually glad I have it when I find someone's discarded water bottle or cheeto bag.

:):)

[Strabo]

We camp in the desert, miles from city's. On occasion people we don't know will camp near us, not close, but not far. For the most part we don't interact. Our group is large, like a wagon train in a circle. So I figure people need the sense of security and that's cool, especially those that have kids.

I feel secure knowing my friends are camping next to me.

[ExxWhy]

profdant139 wrote:
-- speaking for myself, I am just anti-social!

So says the guy with a website and a frequent poster here. 🙂

[profdant139]

avoidcrowds, thanks for picking up your brass! So often, we find trash and shell casings when we get to a boondocking site. And always, lots of Copenhagen cans -- I am not sure what that's about. Why would all those Danish people be such avid campers, and why can't they pick up after themselves? 😉

[BoonHauler]

avoidcrowds wrote:
We try to be out of sight, and ear-shot, of anyone else when we camp. We are around too many people all the time in our normal lives, so the solitude is very enjoyable. Plus, we like to plink with our .22 pistols. I don't want to disturb others with our plinking. Yes, we pick up our brass.

For those who feel the desire to camp near someone else when you are out there, are you really camping close to someone who would protect you? Or, is there a possibility they may see you as an opportunity to take advantage of you, in one way or another? I think the "proximity for peace-of-mind" reason may be whistling past the graveyard. Most of the time, there will be no problems. But, there are bad apples out there. I feel safer when there is no one around.

I would have to think your "Plinking" toys may add a little security around your campsite as well ..... 😉

[avoidcrowds]

We try to be out of sight, and ear-shot, of anyone else when we camp. We are around too many people all the time in our normal lives, so the solitude is very enjoyable. Plus, we like to plink with our .22 pistols. I don't want to disturb others with our plinking. Yes, we pick up our brass.

For those who feel the desire to camp near someone else when you are out there, are you really camping close to someone who would protect you? Or, is there a possibility they may see you as an opportunity to take advantage of you, in one way or another? I think the "proximity for peace-of-mind" reason may be whistling past the graveyard. Most of the time, there will be no problems. But, there are bad apples out there. I feel safer when there is no one around.

[beemerphile1]

Humans for the most part are herd animals and tend to congregate. A few are more independent and prefer solitude.

[profdant139]

Rex, I think that those of us who prefer utter isolation and silence may not be more emotionally self-reliant than normal people -- speaking for myself, I am just anti-social! I am married to someone who is also a self-confessed hermit. We love being far, far, far from anyone else -- a few times, we have found campsites where we did not see another person or another vehicle for days at a time. Heaven.

Thank goodness she is happy to go for long periods of time without music and without talking. If she were compulsively chatty, I would really miss her company on my camping trips. 😉

[pnichols]

We're torn between wanting to boondock camp completely by ourselves or close by another RV camped, say, 100 yards or more away.

That's because we're in a motorhome and don't tow and don't carry along a motorcycle or other backup transportation. We're "on our own" if we have a breakdown (or otherwise get stuck) out in the middle of nowhere - where often there is no cell service. We like someone else around for rescue in the event of serious equipment problems.

However, recently we've started camping with like-minded relatives who pull a small TT with a 4X4 PU and can go anywhere we can. So we have the best of all worlds - both of us provide backup transportation for the other in case of catostrophic mechanical failure in one of the rigs. Together we can get way out there for the true boondocking experience.