2013 Camping Thread

[Titan]

Originally Posted by V

I just wish you guys didn't use so much crap that requires a generator. When I hear this talk of TVs it really pisses me off because I always thought that I had to listen to your generator all day because of things that might actually be considered a necessity, but if it's so that you can watch TV? Sorry, but that's just too much.

Since reading this thread, when I go camping now and I hear a generator it really grinds on me more than ever before because now I just assume they're watching TV.

What kind of person can't leave the idiot box alone for one week?

Don't own or use a generator. I agree they are as annoying as fata.

My new trailer has a television but it has not been on yet. It also has a microwave but I think it has only been on twice and only when attached to land power.

We spent 3 days last weekend at aspen beach and only relied on battery.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by GGG

People can camp however they want but hauling a trailer is more time consuming then just setting up a tent and tarp.

Last post on this topic but I started camping and then tent trailer and now a full tt.

Setting up a tent is not time consuming but all of the other crap is very time consuming. Both at home to pack it, while camping to live out of it and then at home again to unpack it.

I can now basically hook up and go, stop anywhere for the night and I am not going to apologize to anyone for it.

Back on topic:

Installed Ken's LEDs and they worked really well. Very "blue" light but the tradeoff of longer battery life is worth it.

[Diemenz]

I agree some of the confusion has come from me saying TV instead of say Tow Vehicle. My bad.

I also have a television in my trailer and its been used twice. Only time I use a generator is when I'm camping for more then 4 days and I need to charge up my batteries so I have lights for my family.

Now lets get back on topic

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I disagree with this part. If your camping requires power from a generator, you should camp somewhere that has power. For example Gooseberry and Maclean Creek are a few kilometres apart. Maclean Creek has power while Gooseberry doesn't.

However I would like to know what remote areas you camp. That's something I keep looking for; places that are out of the way and isolated.

I just see it as the same old thing - owning a condo downtown and complaining about noise, hiking in a motorized access area and complaining about 2 strokes, "camping" in an RV park and complaining about generators running outside of quiet time, skiing/snowboarding at a major resort and complaining about it getting tracked out too quick on a powder day. Getting away from people and all the annoying things they do isn't real hard, but it does take some effort.

Personally we don't require power to camp, 6 volt with a solar kit gives me enough juice for lights and, apart from that, I still do things the same way I did in a tent - cook over the fire, Coleman stove coffee. My trailer is a toy hauler so most of the size is the garage, it just happens to make a great base camp to explore out of. Depending on where we are I strap my tent to my pack and hike, mtn bike or dirt bike out for overnight trips into areas I've never seen before. Then I can come back covered in mud and have a nice shower before crawling into a comfortable bed.

As for where I camp, well, if I put it on the internet those areas won't be quiet and free of crowds for long. I recommend a Backroads mapbook and a sense of adventure, finding the hidden gems is 1/2 the fun.

[V]

I would love to know where these places are that I can go to avoid trailers. I do have a tent trailer myself, so we generally camp in provincial parks like Gull Lake and Long Lake. Nice enough beaches for the kids, and private enough sites for us. But usually there's someone pretty close with a generator.

One thing that I do know is that tonight we'll be canoe-ing to an island in the middle of the North Saskatchewan, so I'm pretty sure we'll be generator free tonight. It'll be glorious!!

[Ace]

I too did the tent-->tent trailer--->trailer move. Each step was to simplify the set-up. The trailer makes things so easy, we now get out almost every weekend in the summer, without having to take a bunch of time off work. It's been awesome. If I was back tenting/tent trailering, with my little guy, i doubt i'd go out more than twice, and those trips would have to be a few days longer to make the set up tear down worth it.

Not to mention no 3am bathroom trips.

I'm fond of my version of "camping" because it get's me out enjoying the summer. I'm also in the no generator camp, it's too easy now-a-days to keep all the luxuries without needing a generator. The noise is one issue, but I also didn't want to have to deal with fuel, and exhaust either.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Titan

Last post on this topic but I started camping and then tent trailer and now a full tt.

Setting up a tent is not time consuming but all of the other crap is very time consuming. Both at home to pack it, while camping to live out of it and then at home again to unpack it.

I can now basically hook up and go, stop anywhere for the night and I am not going to apologize to anyone for it.

Back on topic:

Installed Ken's LEDs and they worked really well. Very "blue" light but the tradeoff of longer battery life is worth it.

My post wasnt to say one was better than the other and maybe it was taken that way.

I dont find packing from my house time consuming at all. Its literally grab 4 boxes from a shelf in the garage and load the cooler from the fridge. Camping with trailer people we areconsistantly faster at set up and take down. I guess my point was that if people are evaluating the pros and cons of tent camping ease of set up and time savings shouldnt really be a pro. Overall its probably a wash between the to. Especially if you are going from experienced tent camper to rookie trailer camper. There definately is a learning curve.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by GGG

Overall its probably a wash between the to. Especially if you are going from experienced tent camper to rookie trailer camper. There definately is a learning curve.

(I am assuming you meant rookie there.)

Yeah, comparing experienced to rookie doesn't work. I actually spend more of my prep / setup time trying to help out my friends who are rookie campers than I do my own setup.

The first time we all went out as a group none of them brought flashlights. Fortunately I had several to lend out.

[dissentowner]

Came into this thread looking for people arguing over what constitutes camping..left very satisfied.

[Titan]

Ewww. We satisfied dissentowner. Yuck.

[ranchlandsselling]

So thinking about heading to BC August long weekend to try to find a campground on a lake to relax and swim and fish.
Okanagan preferably, shuswap second, skaha maybe a third... Or would be open to suggestions. Alberta weather is too unpredictable and crappy (given it was 14 degrees today). Also probably going to be in Kelowna one night so might as well camp in the area.
Is there going to be anything available?
Any recommendations?

Okay, maybe we don't have to go to Kelowna, so now anything is open - but I still think Alberta weather sucks
Thanks

[bringtheheat]

Looking to go camping in southeastern AB. have a small tent and can pack everything I bring in my corolla.

My wife an I were looking at either Cypress hills PP, Waterton NP, or Kinbrook island near Newell lake. any one ever camp anywhere around these places? or other options? how are the hiking and biking activities in the areas? I'm assuming being next to lakes that there is a beach and that swimming is definitely an option.

Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks.

[Regular_John]

I can't really do basic home repairs, nor can I change my own oil.
I don't own any guns and I can't grow a beard.
I can't lift for squat and I don't even own power tools.

But dammit, camping in a tent is the one thing I can do that feels manly.

So yeah, from the scrawny armed, hairless computer guy, if 's not in a tent, it's not camping.

[Red Potato Standing By]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

I can't really do basic home repairs, nor can I change my own oil.
I don't own any guns and I can't grow a beard.
I can't lift for squat and I don't even own power tools.

But dammit, camping in a tent is the one thing I can do that feels manly.

So yeah, from the scrawny armed, hairless computer guy, if 's not in a tent, it's not camping.

Pisha, tents are for you upper class people, it's not real camping unless you sleep under the stars with nothing more then a spruce bough leanto and a little moss under you for comfort.....

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Zethrynn

Pisha, tents are for you upper class people, it's not real camping unless you sleep under the stars with nothing more then a spruce bough leanto and a little moss under you for comfort.....

I neglected to mention that the tent is made out of umm... a live bear.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by bringtheheat

Looking to go camping in southeastern AB. have a small tent and can pack everything I bring in my corolla.

My wife an I were looking at either Cypress hills PP, Waterton NP, or Kinbrook island near Newell lake. any one ever camp anywhere around these places? or other options? how are the hiking and biking activities in the areas? I'm assuming being next to lakes that there is a beach and that swimming is definitely an option.

Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks.

Waterton would be my choice, although I haven't been to Cypress Hills and would like to. I've been to Kinbrook Island and its nice if you want to be at the beach. I didn't camp there as I had a spot elsewhere, but there didn't seem to be a lot there in terms of trees separating campsites from what I could see. In other words if you want privacy at all, this didn't look like it would fit the bill.

Again though, that was from my use in the day use area, not the campground.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by bringtheheat

Looking to go camping in southeastern AB. have a small tent and can pack everything I bring in my corolla.

My wife an I were looking at either Cypress hills PP, Waterton NP, or Kinbrook island near Newell lake. any one ever camp anywhere around these places? or other options? how are the hiking and biking activities in the areas? I'm assuming being next to lakes that there is a beach and that swimming is definitely an option.

Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks.

I have not been to Cypress Hills but a friend is a fanatic hiker and goes there all the time. I have heard the area is awesome. That's all I've got.

[bringtheheat]

Thanks guys, I'll look into Cypress Hills.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Came into this thread looking for people arguing over what constitutes camping..left very satisfied.

I'd hypothesize that camping originally is the verb that was associated with using a camp (noun) for enjoyment. Definition of "camp" is a place with temporary accommodations and has likely evolved over time to include various temporary accommodations of the day. Lean-to, hut, tent, trailer, camper, motorhome, etc.

As long as it's temporary I'd assume you're doing it right. Some people will always have their feelings that one way is better or more pure/authentic. People like that should be ignored as those types often find anything to complain about.

[meanmachine13]

Im heading to Boulton Creek in a couple weeks. Im glad it finally re-opened after the flood.

Anyone have ideas on where to get firewood for cheaper then the small $8 bundles they sell there?