Camping Questions
07-11-18, 08:43 AM
#26
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That's usually when I get in trouble. I stay up until the wee hours of the morning watching some stupid movie.
I've said it above but it bears repeating: Do not take food into your tent! No matter where you camp or where you live, food should never be in a tent. It invites unwelcome guests. Racoons, rats, mice, etc are nuisances but they can damage your equipment. Larger animals may look upon you as just part of the menu. And don't think that just because you haven't used equipment for a while after storing food in it that it is free of odors. Food odors can be detected by animals at much lower concentrations then our rather useless noses can detect.
As for what to do in camp, I usually go to bed when the sun goes down. As a bicyclist, you don't carry as much stuff. Carrying lights that can be useful after dark is mostly limited to headlamps which will only last a couple of hours with batteries. A little bit of reading is all I ever do in my tent. When I've read the same sentence 5 or 6 times, I know it's just time to turn out the light.
One of the things I have noticed on long tours (longer than a few days) is that I fall into a rhythm that is more natural than our industrialized world uses. I sleep deeply for a few hours, then doze for several hours around midnight, then I sleep soundly from around 3 a.m. to dawn. From what I've read, that's how we used to sleep. I sometimes miss that when I get back to 'civilization'.
I don't start fires in camps. I don't carry anything to chop wood and forests are usually primed for fires all summer so it's just not worth the effort or risk. I'd have to put out the fire before I went to bed and that's just not worth the effort either.
I’m the past few years I’ve done some multi-day rides from my house, and stayed at B&B’s and motels. I can afford the $100 or so for the infrequent times I do such rides. However, I’m drawn to the idea of bringing tent/bag/pad on these trips for a few reasons: new gear to obsess over ;-), I like the outdoors, and I like the idea of perhaps having more options at night for where to sleep...which is handy when other accommodations are unavailable (like when I decide on one of these rides last minute). I’m planning to do more of these rides in the future, so the investment may be worth it.
I haven’t camped for years, have never camped alone, have never stealth camped, and I’ve never carried that additional weight on my bike (I have a 15L seatbag that holds spare clothes and toiletries with room to spare).
Questions:
- after a day of riding (alone), when you arrive at your camp and set up, what do you do? I can read,
listen to a podcast, but I sense I may get bored. And those small tents don’t look comfortable to hang out in. And if outside is a mosquito frenzy I fear I’ll be frustrated. Keep in mind I’m riding within hours from home (Ontario Canada), and as such it’s nit like touring new and exciting cities
- regarding strealth camping, if my only option, I assume it’s best to pitch the tent on public / crown lands, avoiding trespassing on private property? I’m thinking forests not far from roads or rail trails, back corners of parks in rural towns...I’m sure I’m missing lots of options
- I’m using my cross bike and don’t want to add racks and panniers; with the 15L I already have, what additional bags would I need for the camping gear? I realize there are lots of options, and I’ve watched plenty of videos, but haven’t watched one that makes me think ‘that’s for me’
- I’m riding in areas with restaurants and such, so will not be cooking, however, I figure I’ll need extra snacks at night and mornings. Question is safety in storing these snacks (no bears where I will be riding, but there are raccoons and coyotes, mice, etc.), any issues with storing the food in the tent with me?
Pretty long note already so I’ll stop there. Thanks!
I haven’t camped for years, have never camped alone, have never stealth camped, and I’ve never carried that additional weight on my bike (I have a 15L seatbag that holds spare clothes and toiletries with room to spare).
Questions:
- after a day of riding (alone), when you arrive at your camp and set up, what do you do? I can read,
listen to a podcast, but I sense I may get bored. And those small tents don’t look comfortable to hang out in. And if outside is a mosquito frenzy I fear I’ll be frustrated. Keep in mind I’m riding within hours from home (Ontario Canada), and as such it’s nit like touring new and exciting cities
- regarding strealth camping, if my only option, I assume it’s best to pitch the tent on public / crown lands, avoiding trespassing on private property? I’m thinking forests not far from roads or rail trails, back corners of parks in rural towns...I’m sure I’m missing lots of options
- I’m using my cross bike and don’t want to add racks and panniers; with the 15L I already have, what additional bags would I need for the camping gear? I realize there are lots of options, and I’ve watched plenty of videos, but haven’t watched one that makes me think ‘that’s for me’
- I’m riding in areas with restaurants and such, so will not be cooking, however, I figure I’ll need extra snacks at night and mornings. Question is safety in storing these snacks (no bears where I will be riding, but there are raccoons and coyotes, mice, etc.), any issues with storing the food in the tent with me?
Pretty long note already so I’ll stop there. Thanks!
As for what to do in camp, I usually go to bed when the sun goes down. As a bicyclist, you don't carry as much stuff. Carrying lights that can be useful after dark is mostly limited to headlamps which will only last a couple of hours with batteries. A little bit of reading is all I ever do in my tent. When I've read the same sentence 5 or 6 times, I know it's just time to turn out the light.
One of the things I have noticed on long tours (longer than a few days) is that I fall into a rhythm that is more natural than our industrialized world uses. I sleep deeply for a few hours, then doze for several hours around midnight, then I sleep soundly from around 3 a.m. to dawn. From what I've read, that's how we used to sleep. I sometimes miss that when I get back to 'civilization'.
I don't start fires in camps. I don't carry anything to chop wood and forests are usually primed for fires all summer so it's just not worth the effort or risk. I'd have to put out the fire before I went to bed and that's just not worth the effort either.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
07-11-18, 09:20 AM
#27
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Been there, done that.
07-11-18, 09:37 AM
#28
Hooked on Touring
CC -
I have hiked and solo camped from Denali down to the Sangres - often deep into designated wilderness.
Just because I say that raccoons can get to food in a tent does NOT mean that I do it.
1. I never have food in my tent - anywhere or anywhere near.
2. I practice rigorous bear country cooking, eating & storage principles.
3. I tell people who eat in their tent not to do so if they plan on touring in Wyoming.
The food smell stays in the tent even if it's been 500 miles since you last ate in the tent.
I have had grizzlies circle my tent in the middle of the night multiple times in Wyo, Montana & Canada.
Trust me, you know it's a grizzly snorting - and it does tent to keep you awake until you hear them leave.
(The last time I had food in my tent was in 1979 in Morro Bay - when raccoons ripped the tent open.)
PS - Us folks up here in Wyoming consider Colorado to be a giant theme park. Just sayin'.
I have hiked and solo camped from Denali down to the Sangres - often deep into designated wilderness.
Just because I say that raccoons can get to food in a tent does NOT mean that I do it.
1. I never have food in my tent - anywhere or anywhere near.
2. I practice rigorous bear country cooking, eating & storage principles.
3. I tell people who eat in their tent not to do so if they plan on touring in Wyoming.
The food smell stays in the tent even if it's been 500 miles since you last ate in the tent.
I have had grizzlies circle my tent in the middle of the night multiple times in Wyo, Montana & Canada.
Trust me, you know it's a grizzly snorting - and it does tent to keep you awake until you hear them leave.
(The last time I had food in my tent was in 1979 in Morro Bay - when raccoons ripped the tent open.)
PS - Us folks up here in Wyoming consider Colorado to be a giant theme park. Just sayin'.
07-11-18, 11:23 AM
#29
Senior Member
- after a day of riding (alone), when you arrive at your camp and set up, what do you do? I can read,
listen to a podcast, but I sense I may get bored. And those small tents don’t look comfortable to hang out in. And if outside is a mosquito frenzy I fear I’ll be frustrated. Keep in mind I’m riding within hours from home (Ontario Canada), and as such it’s nit like touring new and exciting cities
listen to a podcast, but I sense I may get bored. And those small tents don’t look comfortable to hang out in. And if outside is a mosquito frenzy I fear I’ll be frustrated. Keep in mind I’m riding within hours from home (Ontario Canada), and as such it’s nit like touring new and exciting cities
strealth camping, if my only option, I assume it’s best to pitch the tent on public / crown lands, avoiding trespassing on private property? I’m thinking forests not far from roads or rail trails, back corners of parks in rural towns...I’m sure I’m missing lots of options
- I’m using my cross bike and don’t want to add racks and panniers; with the 15L I already have, what additional bags would I need for the camping gear? I realize there are lots of options, and I’ve watched plenty of videos, but haven’t watched one that makes me think ‘that’s for me’
- I’m riding in areas with restaurants and such, so will not be cooking, however, I figure I’ll need extra snacks at night and mornings. Question is safety in storing these snacks (no bears where I will be riding, but there are raccoons and coyotes, mice, etc.), any issues with storing the food in the tent with me?
07-16-18, 03:41 PM
#31
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- The place where Wyoming kids come from when they want to sample civilization
- The place where we can get fire works
- A no man's land for when the Canadians invade.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
07-17-18, 06:37 AM
#32
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True. A few years ago I read an article in the NYT about a program in Laramie that offered to pay people to move back to town and helped them find jobs. The major reason behind the program was the loss of young people to CO.
07-22-18, 07:10 PM
#33
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I actually keep riding until very late, like 1-2am, and I set up wild camping when I find a nice hidden spot. Once I set up tent I just go to sleep, without reading or doing anything. I like to enjoy the day for any activities. I done a 70 day tour around Spain.
07-23-18, 05:27 PM
#34
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I tour a lot in Northern Ontario, Canada. I use a three person dome tent even though it's a bit heavier than a smaller lightweight tent. The reasons I use such a tent are many but the two big ones are: 1. I can sit upright inside in inclement weather or if the black flies and mosquitoes are thick. 2. I can bring my bicycle into the tent if needed/wanted too. I do that in crowded campgrounds. Nothing worse than waking up to discover that your bicycle is AWOL.
Cheers
Cheers
07-24-18, 09:28 AM
#35
Senior Member
I tour a lot in Northern Ontario, Canada. I use a three person dome tent even though it's a bit heavier than a smaller lightweight tent. The reasons I use such a tent are many but the two big ones are: 1. I can sit upright inside in inclement weather or if the black flies and mosquitoes are thick. 2. I can bring my bicycle into the tent if needed/wanted too. I do that in crowded campgrounds. Nothing worse than waking up to discover that your bicycle is AWOL.
Cheers
Cheers
).
07-28-18, 02:06 PM
#36
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I so much prefer campgrounds over stealth camping if that's an option. There's just something about being off-road somewhere in an unfamiliar place that makes
me very uneasy.
me very uneasy.
07-29-18, 06:24 AM
#37
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I don't think its right to even THINK of starting a campfire if you are stealth camping. So many things can and will go wrong on so many levels. If you are having a campfire on private property - we wont get into those ramifications - well, that's wrong. If you are on public land even, well, its really not STEALTH CAMPING if you've built a campfire, is it? The whole idea of being stealthy is so that someone could pass you by and not noticed your encampment. A fire, although they are fabulous for the spirit, is like a shining beacon for anything/anyone in the night. Anyone will be able to see where you've been. Not good. Best to leave the campsite like you found it.
08-02-18, 11:33 AM
#38
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I share similar requirements, and now a couple more - interior needs to be easily convertible from the inside between a bath-tub-floored double-wall, and single-wall floorless, so I can set-up a camp chair, extra large cooking area, and dig a latrine while inside. However, didn't need to forefeit a ~1.5lbs/2.5L pack weight/size.
08-10-18, 11:13 PM
#40
Senior Member
SixMoonDesigns Gatewood Cape, Serenity NetTent, Tyvek or Polycryo footprint, 6 Vargo Ti stakes, and usually a fallen branch for a pole. Not recommended for >6' tall. (Tip: keep inner tent collapsed except for sleeping, fly w/ open peak vent alone is 90+% flying bug proof.)
Last edited by reppans; 08-11-18 at 06:49 AM.
