I love camping. I grew up doing it and have continued the tradition with my husband and kids.
We’ll be heading up to Lake Kachess on top of the pass a couple of times this summer, as well as heading over to Banks Lake in Eastern Washington in August. There might be some last minute trips here or there, but we’ll see how things go.
We used to backpack a lot, but with the arrival of the kids, we got away from it. I miss it. Washington state is a beautiful area for backpacking.
I’m always amused, sort of, when I run into decidedly “anticampers”. My father is one, although we did go camping in the scouts a couple times, and fishing and starting a fire with a magnifying glass, etc. But overall, he’d much rather stay at home, with all the modern conveniences. Another older gentleman, when I commented his remarkably well preserved pickup truck/topper shell would be “good for camping” said “Camping, bah. I did all the camping I’ll ever want to do in New Guinea during World War II” etc. So, they are out there. A lot of people just don’t have a good idea of how luxurious or sparton camping can be, depending on taste, and budget. “Camping” to a lot of people just means misery, bugs, snakes, bad food and sleeping on wet ground. I long ago stopped trying to disabuse them of their cherished notions.
I don’t get the anti-campers either. My daughter, although she seems to enjoy camping, always laughingly states she doesn’t understand why we pay to see what it’s like be homeless in a tent.
I’ve camped in tents, cabins, campers, and trailers. I’ve also slept without any shelter. I enjoy camping, although my older bones now require at least an air mattress below my sleeping bag when we’re sleeping in a tent. It sucks waking up all stiff and sore from some rock poking you in the back all night.
Part of the initial allure amongst my circle of friends was the necessity or, at least advisability, (of underage drinking and other illicit activities) to repair to an area beyond the easy reach of the authorities.
hijack
I purposely bought one of the best hand magnifying glasses that I could find on the internet when I first started gathering camping equipment (Its the big one in the center with the wood handle). I thought it would be cool to show my son how to start a fire with a magnifying glass. In my experiance, however, it has never worked out that way and has always been 2 extra pounds of dead weight on trips. I’ve found that the weather needs to be ‘just right’ and only during about 4 months of the year where it will even burn holes in newspaper. Also, on most of the trips we’ve been on, the fire-pit fire gets started after the sun is past its zenith for the day. Truthfully, its much easier (and faster)to gather dead grass into a pile & scrape the backs of keys across a flint on your key-ring to start fires. (Or even just bring a BIC lighter; even out of fuel, she’ll throw sparks fairly well with little or no weight)
Please don’t spend your money like I did, people.
/hijack
When I was camped there in 1982, lightning hit the big ass tree my tent was under :eek: With all the ringing in my ears, white spots in my eyes, residual buzzing sound, and patter of bark fragments crashing onto the tent roof, I thought I was dead. Then my hearing and vision slowly came back and I could hear my parents in their tent asking if I was alright. The next morning, we saw the lightning had struck the tree about 15 feet above the ground (and my tent). Pieces of bark had flown into the adjacent camp site. Great time!
Last summer was 11 days in Yellowstone/Grand Teton. This summer will probably be local beaches on weekend (Gotta stick around during our kitchen remodel).
Best bug spray ever: Ultrathon by 3M. It promises 8 hours, and I think you get at least that.