Remember camping?
If you are 30 years of age or more its probably been a while since you
staked a tent and slept on the ground. That's what camping used to
mean, but today's campers are as likely to sleep in a recreational
vehicle or inside a wilderness cabin and they may arrive at their
campsite by canoe, on horseback, or with a pack train of llamas.
Camping has always been one of America's favorite leisure-time
activities, but campground operators and parks officials are now
reporting record numbers of enthusiasts. This is because more and more
retirees are taking to the road in RVs full-time and because young
families are rediscovering the cost-effective pleasures of getting away
from it all in a simplified setting.
Few vacations are as affordable as camping, which can be enjoyed any
time of the year. Many public and private campgrounds are now open
year-round and charge fees that are a small fraction of the average
hotel or motel room charge. And in some state and federal parks the
camping is free.
Matching your family's interests and needs to this year's camping
experiences is the most challenging task. The following options may
help with planning a successful outing.
1.
Backyard Campout
For families new to camping, or those with toddlers, camping out in the
backyard may be the best way to begin. Tents can be pitched on the lawn
and meals prepared on an open fire. This is a good way to test your
equipment and get reacquainted with sleeping on the ground.
2. Tent Camping.
Anyone seeking communion with nature should try tent camping. In a tent
you hear birdsong, smell woodsmoke and evergreens, and feel the warmth
of morning sunshine. There are no walls or thermostats to shield you
from the weather and no stereos or televisions to tune out the sounds
of wind and rain.
Unlike other forms of camping, the tent camper is never limited to
where there are roads. All he or she needs is a level place to pitch
the tent and a source of water.
Novices should nevertheless look for developed campsites with flush
toilets and hot showers on their initial outings. A local sporting
goods store can provide a checklist of equipment and advice on making
camp.
Rental tents are available at many
campgrounds for just a few dollars. Tippecanoe River State Park in
Indiana, for instance, has a rent-a-tent program that allows campers to
rent tents already pitched and mounted on a wooden platform.
Purchasing one will cost from $50 to $500, but buying two smaller tents
rather than one larger one may be more economical. Whatever model you
chose, be sure that it's sturdy, breathable and waterproof.
3. Horsepacking.
The best way to see some of America's most spectacular wilderness is on
horseback. Four hooves can cover a lot more territory than two feet.
With pack animals carrying tents and supplies, riders reach camp with
energy to fish for trout, explore caves or canyons, take photographs,
or just sit alone on a hillside watching the sunset.
In Yellowstone and Colorado and the
Grand Canyon outfitters take riders far from the crowded roadways and
deep into pristine wilderness areas most folks never have the chance to
appreciate. Drop packs, sleeping bags, cooking gear, food and tents all
go along on horseback. State tourism offices can provide a list of
recommended horsepacking outfitters.
4. Llama Packing.
On many trails across the West the gentle, whimsical llama is replacing
the horse and mule as the pack animal of choice on wilderness trips.
Llamas have soft padded hooves that do far less trail damage than
horseshoes as they tote tents, cooking gear and food. The animals are
generally personable and easy to get along with.
As with horsepacking, llama trips appeal to people who want to visit
the backcountry without carrying a heavy pack. The Peruvian animal is
generally a good-natured and dependable porter, carrying loads up to
100 pounds. To locate a llama packer, contact the Rocky Mountain Llama
Association, 15251 6100 Rd., Montrose, CO 81401; or the International
Llama Association, P.O. Box 3705, Denver, CO 80237.
5. Off-season Camping.
While planning is important to any camping trip, it is especially
critical during the off-season. Fewer amenities and activities can be
expected. Some advance homework will spare many disappointments. The
most popular national parks, for instance, are best visited before
Memorial Day or after Labor Day to avoid the congestion of peak
tourism, but the weather is less dependable and many campgrounds and
restaurants could be closed.
6. Backpacking.
For those who really want to "get away from it all," backpacking allows
access to truly remote and spectacular locations far from the nearest
pavement.
A good way to get started in backpacking is to travel on guided trips
with hiking clubs. Local chapters of the Sierra Club, for instance,
offer guided outings in almost every state. Many are overnight
backpacking trips into natural areas at a cost of $50 to $150 per day.
Campsites are usually about three to six hours of hiking apart and
trips last one to three weeks. Everyone helps set up camp, prepare
meals and wash dishes. For details, contact: Sierra Club, 730 Polk St.,
San Francisco, CA 94109.
7. RV Resorts.
Camping out doesn't necessarily mean "roughing it." Modern recreational
vehicles are equipped with many of the comforts of home and many
full-scale RV resorts offer swimming pools, spas, playgrounds, fishing
ponds, snack bars, laundry facilities, grocers and game rooms. You may
also find golf courses, tennis courts, shooting ranges and horseback
riding available on-site.
You don't have to own an RV to enjoy these campgrounds. Rental
motorhomes are available in most areas of the U.S., ranging from $50 to
$150 per day. An economical folding camping trailer rents for $20-30.
Or, you can pitch a tent in one of the campsites and enjoy all the
amenities. At the more than 70 Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts
nationwide cartoons and hayrides are offered nightly.
For information on commercial campgrounds nationwide, call the National
Campground Owners Association at (703) 481-9661.
8. Canoe Camping.
Depending upon your level of interest and experience, canoeing may
involve long trips through wilderness areas or quiet moments on local
lakes and rivers. Splendid opportunities for paddling are available in
almost every state and the mobility of the canoe allows access to
quiet, scenic sites far from crowded campgrounds.
"It's a sport that gives one the
profound satisfaction of engaging in a self-propelled activity," says
canoe enthusiast I. Herbert Gordon, author of the
helpful guide "Canoeing Made Easy" (Globe Pequot Press, 1992). "No one
else paddles your canoe but you and your partner. Wherever you go,
whatever you do, it's your own ability and your own effort that make it
an enriching experience."
There are a number of U.S. waterways famous for their canoeing like the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, the Allagash and St.
Johns Rivers in northern Maine, the Ozark National Scenic Riverway in
Missouri, and the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Professional outfitters are available in these areas to plan, equip and
guide your journey. Or you might join an outdoor organization that
sponsors wilderness trips led by experienced volunteers. Information on
outfitters and canoeing clubs is available from the American Canoe
Association, P.O. Box 1190, Newington, VA 22122.
Wherever you choose to paddle, the best advice anyone can offer is to
go easy and follow your own interests. Canoes are like pickup trucks,
reliable vehicles for those who know how to drive and appreciate them.
Whether it's a family picnic on a secluded island or a hunting
expedition in the backcountry, the right canoe can get you there.
National Parks. If you have time
available for an extended camping trip a national park should be at the
top of your list of destinations. This is where you'll probably find
America's most spectacular scenery.
Most campsites in the national parks are available on a first-come
fist-serve basis, but the 10 busiest parks now accept advanced
reservations.
A camping guide to the national parks is
available from the U.S. Government Printing office,
Superintendent of Documents, Washinngton, DC 20402. To make
reservations at the most popular parks like Yellowstone or Yosemite,
call (800) 452-1111.
9. Whitewater Rafting.
One way to travel and camp in the wilderness without carrying a pack is
to float its rivers. Whitewater rafting, while thrilling and sometimes
frightening, is actually safer than driving America's highways.
Tour operators and outfitters offer a great variety of trips on major
rivers all across the nation. A four or five-day raft trip for a family
will likely cost between $1,000 and $2,000, with all meals and
equipment provided. Contact the local chamber of commerce in the areas
you are most interested in rafting for a list of local outfitters.
10. Wilderness Camping.
America's wilderness areas provide millions of acres of camping
possibilities far from the nearest telephone, fax machine or microwave
oven. No bathroom or shower facilities will be found along these trails
and whatever is packed in must also be packed out.
Some national parks, such as Glacier and Yosemite, have backcountry
huts or cabins that can be reserved. Inquire about these far in advance
of your trip, as they are very popular.
Because you'll likely be far from
civilization, more experience is needed for wilderness camping than any
other. Don't try it until you have camped in more developed sites many
times. Plan to travel with at least one other person or a guide and
leave behind detailed information on where you expect to
be camping.
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by MichaelHofferber@outriderbooks.com
Copyright © 1993. All rights reserved
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