camping pads/tent pads....

[ontariocamper]

Not quite sure what is meant by tent pads??

Up here in Canada, at most parks, you have a site with a numbered post where you put your permit, the site itself is a cleared area usually surrounded on 3 sides and a bit at the entrance by trees.
You set your tent anywhere on the site, anywhere it will fit and work for you.
When you say tent pad (10x10 I see mentioned) does this imply a designated spot for your tent and nowhere else but that "pad"?

[renodesertfox]

Yes OC, that is what it means. Most sites, at organized cgs are geared to towards the family campout where there is only one tent. But the rules state that up to eight people may camp at a spot. If you have two tents and only one pad then there is a problem. But the rules aren't set in stone...hardly is there a site policeman that checks and makes sure you're only using one tent pad. They are just guidelines. However, in crowded national parks like Yellowstone. Certain campgrounds are patrolled more heavily and if your site has two many vehicles and/or tents on it fines can be steep. Never has happened to us. We shun crowds and only visit national parks in the off season when tent camping is at it's extreme! We love it that way! When out children were little we did fight the crowds and camp during the summer months, but not any longer!! That's only for organized cgs, usually on Federal property. BLM(Bureau of Land Management) campgrounds are just what you describe in Canada, they are a lot relaxed as to where you can pitch your tent.

[ontariocamper]

Some of the sites here are probably 30' deep x 50' wide............last few years (we try to use the same site cause we know where everything strings up).......we had 2 tents (one eight man, one six).....my Dodge caravan, a 5x7 (approx) utility trailer, a picnic table, and the firepit.


http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...t=DSC01238.jpg


If you are taking the pic, just to the right is the picnic table covered by about a 12X20 tarp as well.

[renodesertfox]

Really a nice campsite! Thanks for sharing!

[ontariocamper]

On that pic.....look at the chair closest to you.......that is usually my perch.
Last year sittin around the fire, and right beside me, just caught it out the corner of my eye, a coon.........we scared each other pretty darn good.