What's the appeal of camping?

[April]

I've gone camping a couple of times and didn't like it.
You're sleeping in a flimsy tent, in a sleeping bag on the hard, uncomfortable ground. There is no running water, no privacy, depending on where you are, certainly no comfy couch where you can curl up and watch TV. I don't get the appeal of half cooked food either.

Camping = no computer + no internet = sucky time.

So can anyone adequately explain this mysterious attraction?

 

[Secret Kate]

I camp all the time - not always in tents though so does that count?

I'm a Girl Scout leader and my girls love it - so we go when we can. For us it's always a group thing - we love the getting away from it all kind of thing. No phone, no tv (although I take my cell phone with me for emergencies - not that it works some of the places we go!).

The camp fires are fun - roasting marshmallows and all that.

Don't know why you have half cooked food - I've taken some great outdoor cooking courses through Scouts and love some of the foods we cook - dutch ovens, or over an open flame stuff is great!

Still doesn't explain why I like it though. Mainly for me it's a good get-away time with my daughter - and lots of our friends.

 

[plasticman33]

I camp all the time - not always in tents though so does that count?

I'm a Girl Scout leader and my girls love it - so we go when we can. For us it's always a group thing - we love the getting away from it all kind of thing. No phone, no tv (although I take my cell phone with me for emergencies - not that it works some of the places we go!).

The camp fires are fun - roasting marshmallows and all that.

Don't know why you have half cooked food - I've taken some great outdoor cooking courses through Scouts and love some of the foods we cook - dutch ovens, or over an open flame stuff is great!

Still doesn't explain why I like it though. Mainly for me it's a good get-away time with my daughter - and lots of our friends.

I'm with you Kate!! I love camping!!

 

[Secret Kate]

I wish you were with me! Camping!!!!

 

[glorfindale39]

I don't camp I backpack. Big difference to me. I don't want to camp where a million other people are. The draw for me is the challenge of going someplace incredibly remote, where I have to rely on my self and my skills only. Nothing like waking up on top of a mountain at 12K feet, watching the sun rise while you sip your tea. No privacey? No privacy? I tell you, there is no greater privacey then this.

Oh, and the half cooked food and poor sleeping conditions can be mitigated by proper equipment and food selection. Also, there is lots of running water, it is called a stream.

Cheers,
G.

 

[PepperminTrish]

I'm with April ......... my idea of 'roughing it' is staying in a three star hotel instead of a four star one.


Actually, I'm just not the outdoorsy type so I just don't enjoy camping out.

 

[MysticSwing]

I've gone camping a couple of times and didn't like it.
You're sleeping in a flimsy tent, in a sleeping bag on the hard, uncomfortable ground. There is no running water, no privacy, depending on where you are, certainly no comfy couch where you can curl up and watch TV. I don't get the appeal of half cooked food either.

Camping = no computer + no internet = sucky time.

So can anyone adequately explain this mysterious attraction?

I enjoy camping ~ it FORCES me to get up off my ass and away from my computer and the internet. lol

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

Ooooohhhhh I love camping. It's so peaceful. There's no phone ringing, dishes to wash or laundry (until you get home and then ughhhh). You just get to sit around the campfire enjoying nature and relaxing. As for the hard ground, an air mattress can fix that. I was just thinking about camping this morning. We go every Memorial weekend with a group of friends, of course it always rains but it's still a good time.

Wicked

 

[Rubyfruit]

Noises only created by nature.

Freshly-caught trout and eggs for breakfast at daybreak.

Trees, streams, rocks, earth, bugs, animals.

Hiking.

Sex under the stars.

Crickets.

Swimming naked in mountain ponds.

Waterfalls.

Campfire food tastes incredibly good for some reason.

Roasted marshmallows!

Taking the kids on a snipe hunt before bed. (Anybody else do this one?)



I grew up camping. Everywhere from local campsites, to remote beaches in Baja, accessible only by four-wheel drive. And we had toys, too! Motorcycles, a dunebuggy we used to take to Pismo Beach, atvs, boats. I am so grateful to my father for giving me these memories and experiences, and passing his adventurous spirit down to me. If I can give my kids even half of what he did me, I think I'll be doing okay.

 

[metalpalace]

I love camping. You just have to love being outdoors to love camping, if your an indoor person camping probably isnt for you.

 

[ksmybuttons]

I camp.
I backpack.

Dry camping is about no bath for days, crotch rot, old sweat, beautiful scenery, dishes that only ever get half cleaned. Digging a pit for your poop or, shitting on a box on the mountain side. Bugs. The ache in your back that you spend all day stretching out.

We went from a small tent to a tent trailer and now a motor home with microwave and 2 tv's.

What I like to do is park the motor home, get on the scooter to the trail head. Maybe spend one night in the tent and then go shower in the motor home.

It is so great being old.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I love camping. Particularly hike-in camping. It's a great place to de-stress and do some good writing.

Unfortunately, the StudMuffin positively insists on tagging along so I never get any writing done. So I don't go anymore.

 

[Merelan]

Sex under the stars.



Swimming naked in mountain ponds.





Taking the kids on a snipe hunt before bed. (Anybody else do this one?)

Let's see.

yes

yes, though not in years.


and yes. Snipe, snipe. Anyone catch a snipe? Thank you Ruby, once again you remind me what is right and real in the world.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Merelan, the first time I took my son snipe hunting when he was just a toddler was precious. Brought back so many memories.

I think my three are old enough now that we can do some camping this summer. I can't wait.

Thanks for starting this thread, April. I've been skipping through memory lane since I read it.

 

[metalpalace]

sex under the stars sounds nice. I havent had the sexual camping experience before. Any voluteers to help me out with this fantasy? hehehe

 

[April]

I've had sex under the stars. I'll pass, thank you. The whole camping experience is wasted on me. I detest it with every breath in my body.

But if y'all like it, then good for you. No sarcasm involved.

 

[Uber Sparky]

Well, I can tell...

you've never 69'd in a zipped up, single sleeping bag...

No that's fun!!!

 

[medjay]

I've gone camping a couple of times and didn't like it.
You're sleeping in a flimsy tent, in a sleeping bag on the hard, uncomfortable ground. There is no running water, no privacy, depending on where you are, certainly no comfy couch where you can curl up and watch TV. I don't get the appeal of half cooked food either.

I went camping down in Georgia a couple of years ago. It sucked. The sleeping bag was uncomfortable, it was cold, the food was nasty and I was bored.

I love being outdoors but I like to go home at the end of the day. Guess I'm just a soft city-slicker.

 

[The Heretic]

So can anyone adequately explain this mysterious attraction?

Ruby did a pretty good job of describing the appeal. I would point out that there is all different kinds of camping ranging from bare bones camping (carrying whatever you need on your back) to going out and setting up camp with an RV, pack animals, etc.

The older I get the more I want my comfort, but I wish I could still comfortable go backcountry skiing into some remote mountain meadow and dig out a snow cave to camp in while I am exploring the backcountry. Part of the appeal for me is the exploration, part of it is just being outside rather than inside. If the weather is nice and I have my comfort items, I would much rather be outside in the woods than inside.

 

[Silverlily]

The whole camping experience is wasted on me. I detest it with every breath in my body.

Then you should camp with me. In my version, we go down to breakfast rather than having it brought up, maybe even have it on the terrace. The closest we get to dirt is the mud wrap and sea salt scrub at the spa. And the only hiking is done through historic sites and funky little shops.

Who's with me?

 

[SilvaTungDevil]

I hate camping! If I'm gonna' poop I need the home court advantage. And hey, what's with the flies?

 

[April]

God, yes!!!!

Excuse me while I drive madly to the closest airport.

 

[SkyBluAngelEyes]

Ruby pretty much summed it up. Camping is so great!

It gets me outdoors and I love to hike!

The air smells so different in a forest.

By a stream, where you can drop a hook in and hope for dinner.

Places to explore, up and down the banks of the stream.

My kids love it. I hope I'm giving them good memories.

Food just tastes better cooked over an open fire.

S'mores

Quiet reading time.

Making love under the stars.

 

[Silverlily]

God, yes!!!!

Excuse me while I drive madly to the closest airport.

Great, we''ll schedule it for Junvember of some year.

 

[A Desert Rose]

If there is a toliet that flushes and a shower... I can camp.

Otherwise... I want to get back in the car at some point, and find those 2 things.