slo’s TUESDAY 5/16 poll - Camping

[kanerf]

Used to camp when I was younger, but once you hit the 50's and later, you really appreciate a comfortable bed and air conditioning.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have never done "actual camping", although I have fallen asleep on the patio before. I would love to spend the night outside sometime in the playhouse thing like camping. I think it would be fun to get a sleeping bag and all.

 

[adkkev]

Tent camper here. Some scenes from last September in the Yellowstone backcountry.

 

[bcla]

An RV isn't camping. Camping is getting in a tent or even sleeping out in the open or with a mosquito net. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but sleeping in a vehicle is not camping.

I do remember sleeping out in the open once. It was a summer camp where our large group rented out an entire Boy Scout camp in Sonoma County. We normally stayed in an open air cabin with beds but that needed a sleeping pad. But one night as a reward we were able to hike to an area where we slept in our sleeping bags on a tent pad.

I preferred a tent, but I do recall coming across a group that was backpacking that didn't even have a tent. Just sleeping bags and pads, although one guy had this popup mosquito net over his head. They were encouraging me to be adventurous and leave the tent in my pack.

 

[darnheather]

I chose three things: I'm not a camper, I'm a tent camper, and I'm a smaller trailer camper.

Currently I don't camp. Maybe someday in the far future I'll buy a van camper which would be fun just for myself. However, I have camped across the US and back in a tent (and sometimes in the front seat when a place couldn't be found). This was pre-internet and cell phones and it was amazing. In 2019 I purchased a truck and a smaller camper trailer in order to play with and eventually road-school my youngest daughter for at least a year of high school. Plans changed. Sold it last year sadly.

 

[Imzadi]

No, No, No! No more camping! Did it once ages ago with a boyfriend & some friends. Even with a sturdy, well insulated tent with a good ground covering, the ground is COLD at night. And in the early morning, the grass gets all dewy before sunrise dries up the dew. And if it rained a couple days before, the ground is still WET & COLD. And it can be lumpy and hard. Or mushy and squishy. Even with thick sleeping bags & cushioning.

And there are mosquitoes EVERYWHERE. As well as deer ticks. So, instead of taking in the good, clean, natural environment, one has to slather on bug spray with DEET. Yeah, so healthy.

I prefer comfort, clean, fresh sheets on a thick, comfy mattress. Showers with hot running water. Toilets. Four walls that keep bugs out, the rain and the dew out, and is temperature controlled.

For several years, we also had a trailer we kept on campgrounds we rented year round. That was nice. We could step outside, have our campfire cookouts, (even though we also had a stove and oven,) make s'mores, roast corn on the cob, stoke up the fire in the evening, yet go back inside for all the amenities I need. That's about it for "roughing it" or being back to nature for me.

 

[scbruno]

Been a few times it was fun but rather vacation in a condo or time share. unless its a big camper.

 

[Babs Johnson]

A big nope. I went camping once, about 1995. Once was more than enough.

 

[TippyThomas]

Heck, my RV is probably more advanced and modern than my home. I think some of you would be surprised at how some of us camp.

 

[Stratman50th]

Heck, my RV is probably more advanced and modern than my home. I think some of you would be surprised at how some of us camp.

Yup.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I camped all the time growing up. My parents liked to travel, but we were a family of 8 and airfare and hotel rooms were not in the budget. We had a pop-up tent trailer plus an extra tent or two. Camped at state parks, national parks, and lots of private campgrounds all over the US, including two coast-to-coast summer road trips. Also made many weekend trips to the mountains or beach and often camped with other families. Stayed at Fort Wilderness on my first trip to WDW in 1976. Also did camping as a Girl Scout.

As an adult, I’ve camped a few times, though not in a long time. I would say I’m still outdoorsy, but now that I’m older, definitely appreciate more luxury accommodations.

 

[RamblingMad]

I like tent camping.

 

[bcla]

I camped all the time growing up. My parents liked to travel, but we were a family of 8 and airfare and hotel rooms were not in the budget. We had a pop-up tent trailer plus an extra tent or two. Camped at state parks, national parks, and lots of private campgrounds all over the US, including two coast-to-coast summer road trips. Also made many weekend trips to the mountains or beach and often camped with other families. Stayed at Fort Wilderness on my first trip to WDW in 1976. Also did camping as a Girl Scout.

As an adult, I’ve camped a few times, though not in a long time. I would say I’m still outdoorsy, but now that I’m older, definitely appreciate more luxury accommodations.

I remember a trip to Expo 86 in Vancouver with extended family. It was interesting as we all packed (maybe 9 of us?) into a large van conversion and spent time in privately run campgrounds without any reservations (obviously before online reservation were common). A few times we arrived late and the campground office was closed, but there was available space and we just settled it in the morning. I do remember staying at one campground near Vancouver, although I think it was more of a temporary one for Expo 86. Kind of like how temporary campgrounds are set up for music festivals or other events like the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

Our honeymoon was actually some tent camping, although I had a 3-person backpacking tent that was a lot easier to set up than a large car camping tent. It's a simple 2 pole dome tent with aluminum poles. It was small (weighed less than 6 lbs in the bag) and we couldn't really even squat in the tent, but it was very convenient to set up and pack up. But my wife wanted to occasionally stay in hotel rooms just to let the body recover.

Public campgrounds can get rather interesting. I remember thinking why the campground fee was so low at Mt Rainier National Park. When we got there we had to sign a waiver that we acknowledged the risks of potential volcanic activity. Reservations certainly take the uncertainty out of camping, although quite a few public campgrounds are first-come, first served. I don't know if I could deal with that unless I was local and could just go home if I couldn't get a spot. Lake Tahoe is an interesting spot to camp because it's so close to towns and even casinos. I was playing blackjack once when the dealer asked where I was staying. Said that she'd stayed at the same campground before just for fun even though she lived in the area.

But there's the really oddball campground called Camp Richardson, which is legally a US Forest Service campground, but operated by a private company under contract. They're huge with a sprawling campground and lots of unique cabins. And the really odd thing is that they have a website but no online reservation system. Reservations can only be made over the phone or by email inquiry, where the operator says they like doing it that way. I think by email they'll ask for a phone number to call back.

https://www.camprichardson.com/lodging-inquiry/​

Year-Round Lake Tahoe Lodging​

Because our lodging options are so diverse, we’ve found that talking to our guests is a much better way to make reservations at Camp Richardson. We know… it’s a little old-fashioned, but we hope you’ll agree that great customer service never goes out of style. And that’s just what you’ll get when you stay with us.​

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You can call us at 800.544.1801 or complete form below to make a lodging inquiry. We look forward to talking with you soon!​

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*NOTE: An inquiry does not serve as a confirmed reservation​

I believe they have to include this disclaimer:

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Camp Richardson is operated under Special Use Permit with the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.​