Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:07:20 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Defining Camping
In-Reply-To: <9f4608e90909260643sca59671lc4ff8c3240f971de@mail.gmail.com>
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Looks like Karl and Al pretty much summed it up for me.
When I was younger, and into backpacking, camping did NOT mean a developed
CG of any sort. I sneered, yes sneered (to my shame), at those who camped
in NFS and other developed areas. If there was anyone within eye or
earshot, I felt that the wilderness experience had been taken from me.
Now, being less-capable than I was then, any overnight experience in the
Westy in a quiet, beautiful, natural place qualifies as camping. If I can
open the door in the morning and sit on the threshold with a cup of coffee
made with freshly-roasted Ethiopian Yirga Chaffe beans* while the world
wakes up with me, then I am camping.
==============
* That was for you, Robert. Heh.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Bend, OR
KG6RCR
On 9/26/2009 6:43 AM Al Knoll wrote:
> I'll certainly side with Karl on this. I tend to make a small distinction
> though. Camping is overnighting, when I take out the folding chair and
> enjoy my evening outside, my morning over coffee and trip planning and maybe
> listen to the birds, watch the the thin grey time paint itself into a dawn,
> check the oil, look for fuel leaks, decide whether or not to spend the
> day here or yonder, back of beyond. Whip up a few tasty bites and rather
> more serious coffee, tidy up and muse a bit over the always present sunday
> New York Times.
>
> Woody Guthrie had the right idea with "this land is my land" so I visit
> often. Here in the west we have vast sections of "my land" NPS, BLM, the
> elusive and vanishing California State Parks, NFS and just plain out there.
> A favorite overnighting spot which tends to drift into camping is high on a
> bench road in a tiny corner of genuine BLM overlooking Mono Lake and the
> incredible Whoa Nellie deli. Dawn is always a treat there and such wild
> critters as green towhees, voles, prairie falcons, velvet ants are there for
> the voyeur. Coffee and a view hopefully a rather quiet view is the short
> term goal. A favorite camping spot is Yellow Creek CG in Plumas county.
> This is a Pacific Gas and Electric campground with a few amenities. Another
> favorite is the geologist cabin in DVNP. In suitable places, a campfire is
> part of the great american camping experience. The telling of tales and
> magnifying the fish occur now along with discussions of world events,
> national events, local events and 'whats that noise' to the distant strains
> of Peter Kater or Carlos Nakai or similar before having solved most of the
> worlds problems the fire goes to embers and then to "smokey the bear" dead
> out. If you're camping with Maggie and Larry this can take some time.
>
> The creation and gustatory devastation of magnificent cuisine is generally
> part of the scene often followed by wee dram before the fire and in tolerant
> company perhaps a cuesta rey.
>
> Some must have flush toilets, some can be satisfied with clivus multrum
> NFS-NPS vault toilets and the 600 grit accessories, some bring their own and
> with that little bit of forethought are set free to camp in remote and
> undeveloped locations rarely frequented by the campaign hat leos. Now that
> the rocks and locks mentality is closing access to vast tracts of "your
> land" for "your own safety" it's time to see it before you can't. It's
> time to tell your congresscritters to stop doing that. Visit your ranger
> stations along the way, collect the district ranger business cards (required
> to be available to the public), write not email letters to DR, the Forest
> Supervisor thanking them for looking after 'my land' and then in a tiny
> voice express your horror that your favorite streamside camping is NLA, if
> that is so. Ken Salazar is the stud muffin for NPS and BLM, his office
> takes calls and paper letters. Buy a parks pass (or proudly display your
> Golden Age Pass) and visit all those places that honor these keys to the
> kingdom from the Cochise stronghold in the sky islands, to Jedediah Smiths
> redwoods, to Crater Lake, to Joshua Tree, to Montezumas castle and casa
> grande to Lassen Volcanic, Olympic Peninsula, Mt. Hood, Craters of the moon
> Arches, Escalante... At each one ask to thank the Park Superintendent
> personally for their work, cause kiddies, it ain't easy. If possible
> develop a friendly relationship with the likes of J.T.Reynolds, Walt Dabney,
> Wayne Merry, quietly express your concerns, ask how you can help, and see
> what they have planned for your park. Now Reynolds, Dabney, Merry and the
> like have moved on to other challenges, but you can sidle up to the
> new super and thank 'em. They really like it when their public gets
> positively involved. In our drive through double vente low fat latte
> through the window society, few seem to take the time to really see where
> they go. But that's a lagoon of manure into which we shall not wade at this
> time. Don't be like Gord says "one who passed through but never saw"
>
> Remember, these places are the Crown Jewels. Treat em with suitable respect
> and clean up the other folks trash too. I am always amazed by the litter.
> Leave it better than you found it and perhaps that will go around to your
> next campsite.
>
> BLM, ugh. Not easy work for them. Best just to chain it off and make
> excuses why public lands are denied public access. Salazar is working to
> change this. Buy a BLM map from your local government office see where your
> land is, go there, check it out, pick up after the folks who didn't.
>
> National Forests, US Department of Agriculture. There is a fine tome put
> out some time ago by Coleman that describes campgrounds in detail in all the
> National Forests. Now out of print. These NFS folks don't make enough money
> leasing land to beef ranchers, or selling off timber to sustain the public
> part of the national forest experience. Now there are "adventure passes"
> one must buy to legally visit in many places. Which means those of limited
> means may not be able to" see the forest for the fees" Fortunately those
> who finally reached the summit of geezer pass, snapped up a lifetime of
> adventure in the form of that GoldCard for only ten measly frogskins, the
> 'adventure fees' are covered to some degree. Don't let this sad situation
> dissuade you from setting up camp somewhere less popular in your national
> forests and listening to the silence, occasionally broken by a grumbly raven
> or a spring peeper. Upon departure, you know the drill, clean up, pull all
> that trash out of the firepit, that you didn't put there mark the spot on
> your map should you like to return and slip away. Leave no trace and
> remember "this site is protected by Smokey the Bear, smoke here and the bear
> will crush your butt"
>
> Overnighting is what I call the sometimes necessary but not always pleasant
> event where we park in the late evening, draw the drapes, read a bit
> perhaps, and in the dark-thirty scurry away to the rest of the adventure.
> The resident wildlife may be only rats and seagulls or perhaps not even
> that. No reason to tarry. In many places en-route "camping" is available
> for those who are in late and out early. Check in advance.
>
> Wilderness was once defined as a place where it is perfectly legal for the
> local residents to kill and eat you. However unlike urban stealth camping,
> the locals won't steal your money at gunpoint.
>
> I lean towards the wilderness after all as Ed Abbey said "its the only thing
> worth saving"
>
> Pensioner -- NPS pass holder since '76 Buy one, wear it out.
>
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