I wanna go camping!

[a65hoosier]

Re: I wanna go camping!

But I'm never getting out again. Seven weekends in a row with rain in the forecast. Tomorrow with steady winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60. When the weather finally does warm up, I go back to 40-50+ hours a week at work.

Damn.

Sigh. I hear you. I've cancelled ("postponed") 2 weekend trips over the past month and a half (the original trip and the make up date trip). Both due to rain outs. I can deal with rain when it is warmer...but at 40 degrees...voluntary camping and hiking muddy trails isn't much fun. I'd prefer 20's and snow or dry compared to the 40/50's and wet we're getting.

It's not that I have to unpack from a "cancel" as most gear I grab/pack the night before.....but what is really painful....is at the same time I'm building up the camping excitement/anticipation....I'm also watching the weather forecast slowly deteriorate each day as the big weekend approaches.

New date is in a week. We shall see. I feel like Charlie Brown here.

[toedtoes]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I'm going out regardless of the rain. If the forecast is right, I'll have a few days of dry. It will be cold, but I'll just stay in bed longer.

[James.]

Re: I wanna go camping!

If you have never been truck tent campingbefore, you're missing out on something special. Sleep in full comfort, up offthe ground, completely dry, no matter what the weather conditions. You don'thave to find a flat piece of ground, simply camp wherever your truck can takeyou. Truck tent camping is enjoyable for anyone with a truck: weekend warriors,adventurers, hunters, fishermen, and family campers.

This is not exactly true. You still need to position your truck so you are flat. Or at least on a slope going front to back inside of side to side.

[Irate Mormon]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I've done a bit of truck/camper shell camping. I like the simplicity of it, but I have moved on.

[Happy Joe]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I too have turned into a fair weather camper; if the forecast is for rain, sleet, snow, gropple (tiny snow balls), or especially for high winds and hail I don't bother.
Did the truck camping thing (its best done with an in bed camper insert but do-able with a topper; not all that comfy, I like to stand up straight an stretch occasionally.
IMO, the peak of vehicle camping is off road in remote locations where travel trailers, RVs, 2WD vehicles (including trucks) and people with loud toys are not often seen or heard (and the wildlife comes out of hiding after the toy centric people have left).
For me ground tents work best (dry, roomy enough for shelter if several days of bad weather are encountered; non woodsy entertainment sometimes helps). To get away from ground contact cots or even very thick air mattresses are useful.

Enjoy!

[MacGyver]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I'm not exactly a fair weather camper. If I get surprised by rain or even a thunderstorm while I'm already out there, I'm OK with it. But I won't go out knowing I'm headed for rain at some point. High wind like what we have today, with trucks being blown all over the road and having to do the recycle bin slalom all day long? Nope. Not camping weather. But snow? I'm definitely good to go. A shame we haven't had any real snow this year.

[a65hoosier]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I wouldn't consider myself (or the wife) fair weather campers. lol - our family, friends and coworkers generally think we're nuts going out when we do (altho there always seems to one person that when hearing the plan says "that sounds like fun!")---but there aren't really that many folks that want to spend a weekend out in the weather...in a tent. I certainly have had my experiences with "camping in the rain" as the multiple hooks in my garage ceiling can attest. I hang wet gear-tents, flies, tarps, clothing-on the hooks to dry/air out everything post-camp before it goes back on the shelf. A couple of oscillating fans speed the process.

We've been known to go into the storm to camp (in the pic our camp area is somewhere in the rain shield up the road ahead). We should have known based on the beginning...line after line of storms came through our entire stay....including one at night producing a tornado warning (which was delivered to us by a ranger yelling next to our tent recommending we take shelter). Oddly, we had the same scenario happen again that particular summer....in the same camp.





I find the shoulder seasons (spring/fall) here in IN to be the most iffy---like everyone I suppose that gets the 4 season mix. You either get surprisingly good weather...or it will be rainy/nasty for several days. It sometimes is a last minute call if we go or not. If the forecast calls for a full weekend of rain, we'll postpone it. I'm not out anything $$$---since everything is walk in camping this time of year. I'm camping to get out and about (hiking, exploring, etc.). I don't mind hanging out under the tarp listening to the rain come down....just not for the entire weekend when a simple change of plans to the next weekend...may bring more enjoyable results.

Summer is summer. Hot, buggy, crowded. We still go 'cause we're camping fools (and I've paid $$$ for reservations)...but it's not our favorite time.

Winter is great....although like Mac, we didn't get much snow here either this winter (9" TOTAL-sigh) and again it appears I will miss a "falling snow" outing. The one true winter trip we did take in January up north, the 6-7" snow on the ground melted as the weekend went on...turning everything wet and somewhat muddy (the garage hooks came in handy upon our return-lol). Our November trip was cold, but no snow. It actually was a good weekend to camp.

I "get out there" as much and as often as I can....but I also try to choose (when I can) my Mother Nature battles wisely.

[Irate Mormon]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I like Summer camping for some strange reason. Maybe because that's when I have some idle time. The heat doesn't bother me much; I was raised in the deep south.

[toedtoes]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I do mountain camping in the summer. Cool nights and warm days.

I stay further down in the valley in the off season.

I'm fine with rain while camping. Just as long as there are some dry spells so I can take the dogs out for a stretch every so often. Otherwise, I enjoy a good book and a hot cocoa and watch the rain.

[MacGyver]

Re: I wanna go camping!

It's officially a conspiracy now. Just checked the long term forecasts for western Maryland. Mix of sun and clouds all week, with rain and snow mix on the weekend. The following week is cloudy all week with rain and snow showers on the weekend. That'll make two months waiting for a decent weekend.

[James.]

Re: I wanna go camping!

It's officially a conspiracy now. Just checked the long term forecasts for western Maryland. Mix of sun and clouds all week, with rain and snow mix on the weekend. The following week is cloudy all week with rain and snow showers on the weekend. That'll make two months waiting for a decent weekend.

Just go camping in the rain. And enjoy the solitude.

[MacGyver]

Re: I wanna go camping!

Just go camping in the rain. And enjoy the solitude.

Looks that way. Just hope I can get a tarp up while it's not raining.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: I wanna go camping!

As far as camping in a truck, remember that the truck is one big heat sink. That steel gets really cold at night.

[terasec]

Re: I wanna go camping!

As far as camping in a truck, remember that the truck is one big heat sink. That steel gets really cold at night.

you also learn how trucks/vehicles are not exactly as airtight as one thought,
about an hr after you get settled will notice every little draft coming through

[05Kingquad700]

Re: I wanna go camping!

I still love my Kodiak canvas truck tent