Do you camp?

[Aquila1]

Love it love it love it. Not to mention the fact that I have the hugest fetish for high-tech camping gadgets. Going to a camping / outdoor sports store is total nirvana for me, and I love buying new clothes and boots - don't even get me started on maps and compasses. And is there any activity in this world more likely to engender a fit of homicidal rage between a normally happy couple than putting up a tent?

I am fine with roughing it, but I do have to say, hot water and plumbing becomes increasingly attractive as I get older. I spent most of my childhood holidays in tents at a beach with very basic facilities (a pit-drop toilet and a single cold water tap) with no power or phone, and the closest store was 2 hours drive away. Those summers are such a treasured memory for me now

 

[neci]

I love camping but haven't been in.... 6 years? I would love to go camping/hiking again sometime, but don't know when I'd get the chance.

i'm fortunate to have easy access to camping. it's nice knowing i can sneak out early on a friday, set up something basic and make it back by saturday evening if i need to. i love it, but sometimes life seems to get crazy and in the way. that's when i have to say - time to go! every time i do, i come back feeling refreshed. i need to make myself do mini stints several times this spring. just for the memories and peace it brings.

growing up as a kid, we camped every summer and fall. i complained a lot then, but looking back on it, i want those memories today. they are good ones.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

I tend to consider 3 star hotels the equivalent of 'camping'

 

[sinnocence]

I love camping but I too haven't been in about 6 or 7 years. I really can't wait until we go again...whenever that will be. We normally hit up the campgrounds near one of the many lakes around us. I've had a lot of awesome experiences camping.

 

[Keroin]

One time, while camping near a beautiful yet remote lake, I had to go answer the call of nature. I took my dog with me because we were in bear country and she was a natural guard dog. I figure I would at least get some warning.

If a pine cone fell she'd bark.

So there I was, in a very vulnerable position, trusty dog at my side, when all of a sudden I hear a loud step and feel hot, heavy breath on the back of my neck. I turn around and come face to snout with...a cow.

Well, I'm caught by surprise so I scream, the cow flees in terror and the dog, well the dog just sits there looking at me like, "What? It was a cow? What?"

 

[graceanne]

LOL. I'm married to man with a "thing" for wilderness nookie. He spots a remote, exotic landscape and sees the sensual possibilities - I, however, see that I'd better bring something soft to sit on...and insect repellent...and sunscreen.

Always the practical one.

Yeah, just don't forget the antihistamine cream. Stinging nettle on the behind is no fun. And really hard to explain.

 

[Rad'l]

Camping, ok I'll chime in

I'm sorta suprised to find the topic 'camping' on this list but - whatever - you folks are an eclectic lot.

I've camped for years, spending as much as four and a half months traveling on my motorbike, camping each night, and doing all my own cooking. One year - I calculated that I had spent a total of 120 nights in a tent.

The years that I taught and my late wife was a grammar school teacher were the best. I would drop my grade sheets off on our way out of town and then we wouldn't return 'till the night before one of us had to show up at school.

Naturally I experimented quite a bit with gear and had, I thought, achieved an optimum configuration. But each spring, before leaving, there were further mods.

Now that age has caught up and I can no longer ride solo - I still ramble about over the summer, still camp, and still cook - but in a car - which ain't near as much fun - but has to do!

 

[YourCaptor]

Haven't done it since I was a kid, would love to go again though. All the good spots take half year reservations though, I don't plan that good.

 

[Netzach]

I love love love it like once a decade. And in fall or spring, none of that summer or dead of winter masochism. And then it's out of my system. But walking on a beaver dam or watching bald eagles catch lunch is something I'm glad I didn't miss entirely.

Canoes are super as long as:

I'm not the stern in anything difficult. I'm not soloing. We are outfitted. We're not not not fucking portaging.

 

[Homburg]

Well, I'm caught by surprise so I scream, the cow flees in terror and the dog, well the dog just sits there looking at me like, "What? It was a cow? What?"

I LOL'ed.

I used to like camping a whole lot more as a kid. These days, not so much. I like access to hot showers a little too much. It probably doesn't help that all but one time in the past fifteen years that I've been camping had torrential rains.

The worst was torrential rains when we'd packed in and there was no camp facilities at all. So it was huddle in the tent and get soaked from leaks, or go outside and get utterly drenched.

Still, with Eldest Daughter, Eldest Son, and Youngest Daughter in scouting (and Youngest Son will likely join when he's old enough), camping happens.

 

[MisterSir]

I've been a couple of times, but I hated it. This is back when my dad and my younger brother were involved in Scouts and I was dragged along simply to get me out of the house. Call me sheltered if you must, but not being able to shower or shit comfortably? Fuck no.

 

[DVS]

I LOL'ed.

I used to like camping a whole lot more as a kid. These days, not so much. I like access to hot showers a little too much. It probably doesn't help that all but one time in the past fifteen years that I've been camping had torrential rains.

The worst was torrential rains when we'd packed in and there was no camp facilities at all. So it was huddle in the tent and get soaked from leaks, or go outside and get utterly drenched.

Still, with Eldest Daughter, Eldest Son, and Youngest Daughter in scouting (and Youngest Son will likely join when he's old enough), camping happens.

Scouting is a great thing to be involved with. When I was a kid, I loved it all.

And, as to rain when camping...I remember one weekend scouting trip, when it rained quite a bit, and those in our tent slept through it. It seems we pitched the tent in what turned out to be a major path for water run off, but we didn't know that until we woke up the next morning. Our tent was a well made canvas tent. When the tent was wet, as long as you didn't touch the inside walls, you stayed dry.

The next morning, we went outside and saw that we were surrounded by mud that had been washed there by rushing water. I guess we had been in a gully washer and didn't even know it. I always sleep well through thunderstorms.

 

[Homburg]

Scouting is a great thing to be involved with. When I was a kid, I loved it all.

I would've made Eagle were it not for troop politics and my own unwillingness to bend to my scoutmaster's draconian wishes. All I needed was a service project to be signed off on. Former Scoutmaster had signed off on it, but then we moved before I finished the rest of the requirements. The one over the troop that I moved into would not accept it. Different organisations and all that (different countries as well, as we'd moved to Germany). I got fed up and left. Never came back.

*shrug* Aside from their attitude towards homosexuals, I am generally pleased with scouting. I'm happy that my kids are involved in it, as it gives them a chance to experience some of the things I experienced just living my life.

 

[DVS]

I would've made Eagle were it not for troop politics and my own unwillingness to bend to my scoutmaster's draconian wishes. All I needed was a service project to be signed off on. Former Scoutmaster had signed off on it, but then we moved before I finished the rest of the requirements. The one over the troop that I moved into would not accept it. Different organisations and all that (different countries as well, as we'd moved to Germany). I got fed up and left. Never came back.

*shrug* Aside from their attitude towards homosexuals, I am generally pleased with scouting. I'm happy that my kids are involved in it, as it gives them a chance to experience some of the things I experienced just living my life.

I can understand how you would become fed up. To me, it seems a little childish that the second Scoutmaster wouldn't honor the requirements, but I've never been in scouting overseas. Maybe things there are very different.

Incidental, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the National Scout Jamboree in 1969. It was held in Idaho that year. Luck also allowed me to meet Olave Baden-Powell the wife of founder Robert Baden-Powell. I got her autograph on my National Jamboree kerchief. The meeting was very happenstance. I was walking by the mess tent and my Scoutmaster called to me, asking if I wanted to meet her. There was no line, no big hoopla, or fanfare. She was just sitting under the canopy, in a simple chair. It was just the two of us for a short 5 minute talk.

 

[Homburg]

I can understand how you would become fed up. To me, it seems a little childish that the second Scoutmaster wouldn't honor the requirements, but I've never been in scouting overseas. Maybe things there are very different.

Incidental, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the National Scout Jamboree in 1969. It was held in Idaho that year. Luck also allowed me to meet Olave Baden-Powell the wife of founder Robert Baden-Powell. I got her autograph on my National Jamboree kerchief. The meeting was very happenstance. I was walking by the mess tent and my Scoutmaster called to me, asking if I wanted to meet her. There was no line, no big hoopla, or fanfare. She was just sitting under the canopy, in a simple chair. It was just the two of us for a short 5 minute talk.

That is really cool. What a neat autograph to have on a kerchief. I've got a coupla really cool kerchiefs that I wish I could give to my sons to wear. Back when I was in, we were allowed to wear any kerchief so long as it was regulation appropriate and uniform acceptable somewhere. So I have worn all kinds of odd kerchiefs to include special camps, awards, and kerchiefs from other international scouting organisations. For quite a while, my favourite was a kerchief from a Scottish scout that I'd traded some patches for. These days, nope. My son is only allowed to wear his standard kerchief. Boooo.

It was still an American troop as it was on an Army base, but the guy was a dick. His son had issues with me and, being me, I wouldn't back down and let the little asshole win. As a result, daddy didn't like me either, and this was the final result.

Honestly though, it was a lesson in its' own pathetic way. Sure, I don't have the Eagle patch, and there will always be a little bitterness there as a result, but whatever. I learned a helluva lot in scouting and have memories and experiences that one jackhole can't taint. It was worth my time.

 

[celticsunspiral]

I love to camp, I have not done much primitive camping because I do like a few perks of the modern age; toilets, showers and air mattresses. lol. My favorite is to camp near the water, it has such a calming effect. I can play or sit or canoe anything as long as I stay near it.

I am planning a 3 day 2 night canoe/camping trip for my local munch group this summer, probably in mid June. I think we will have so much fun.

I have been in scouts for years and have taken so many classes to get certified for various things it is crazy. So camping at various levels is no biggy for me to do but so awesome.

 

[Keroin]

Leaving tomorrow morning for the first camping trip of the season! Yahoo!

 

[Xelebes]

Did someone say camp? I'm hella camp, girl!

Nah, really, I'm kinda ambivalent to camping. I can really hate it with everything getting my sensitivities and all that or I can enjoy it. It's a gamble really.

 

[celticsunspiral]

Leaving tomorrow morning for the first camping trip of the season! Yahoo!

Have some camping fun for me!

 

[trojan_man_co]

Being an ex-eagle scout, I've done a lot of camping. I haven't done that much in the last 10 years or so.

I too am an eagle scout... it is where i gathered my fine knot work knowledge. I also have lived in Colorado all my life one of the premier camping hiking areas to be. So naturally im a HUGE camping fan. one of my absolute favorite trips has been while canoeing the boundary waters which lasted a couple of weeks. Another has been when we do snow campouts where we cant bring a tent only shovels, and you build snow caves to sleep in SOOOO much fun!!!

More like fucking on a mountain ridge on a crisp fall day, miles of valley laid out before you as you climax. Mmmmmmm.

I have not been too often recently though from lack of company wishing to go along with insufficient time. My next adventure however on the uhh nookie side of things is to hit it on the top of one of the 14 ers. where you can literally be seen and see for MILES but its soo deserted that its HIGHLY unlikely you would be. its my next big outdoor kink i hope to do this summer! any suggestions from someone whos done it besides to sunscreen up hard core lol?

 

[trojan_man_co]

I would've made Eagle were it not for troop politics and my own unwillingness to bend to my scoutmaster's draconian wishes.

I hear you on that i BARELY got mine after dealing with all the politics. including 3 people higher up in the organization using me as a way to try to advance their careers in scouting (literally black mailing other people to quit so that they could move up or myself and a few other kids wouldn’t get our eagle) so i had to blind carbon copy half the emails i got from these guys and at one point i was tape recording phone conversations for the higher up people in the organization. Keep in mind this was ALL local in the US no out of country thing. I will say though that i know over a dozen other eagle scouts and i too have been to many national jamborees ect. but im the only one who had to deal with as much politics as i did.

sorry to hijack the thread

I will say that when it comes down to the ware of it, i have several camp sites i have constructed over the years that only i know of and are out in the middle of no where which is SOOO much better. BUT if any of you come to colorado and wish to camp up in the mountains i can point you in the right direction...

 

[Soumis]

The last time I camped I woke up to our tent sliding (floating?) down the camp site. I promptly slept in the car. I considered this an upgrade from having to deal with the bugs though!

What can I say? The only thing I like about camping is campfires and smores.

 

[PertPerth]

I loved it as a child - then I hit puberty, oily skin, periods and found out that ticks like to burry themselves in to the most uncomfortable parts of our bodies. Added to the fact that I get eaten by mosquitoes and rashes from various native plants...and those giant ants have a bite that is SO painful until a week later when the itch is enough you'd want to scratch your foot off....

I would rather not subject myself to that kind of torture anymore.

 

[TypicalDeviant]

Camping is a blast, but I get my satisfaction from being with nature, not from conquering it. As such, I prefer camping grounds with at least an outhouse. I don't need to shower daily or anything, but being uncomfortable doesn't make me think I'm manlier.

I'm really lucky that my fiancee loves to go camping, too.