Camping, Backpacking & Hiking

[Almtnman]

Any campers, backpackers or hikers here? Tell us about what you like to do the best.

[NuthinFancy91]

I Love camping but not in a Tent lol... I like fishing when i go and riding my Bike!!!

[Almtnman]

I've camped in travel trailers, truck campers and camping out in a tent to me is the most fun of all especially in the Fall when it's cool.

[Condor]

I prefer a tent. I have had a couple of campers and the tent is still the most fun. Getting up in the morning and putting that bacon in the pan over the fire is just hard to beat. After a couple of nights on the ground, my back feels better than it has for weeks.

[Ali]

I'm so excited! Pete and I are going to the Letchworth State Park (up near Rochester) in late August! It's a big park in Upstate with waterfalls and over 70 miles of trails. I wish we had a camper so we could take Bud with us ....he would love it!! Friendsofletchworth.org

[Almtnman]

That should be a lot of fun.

[Ali]

I'm looking forward to it Almtnman! Wish you were along to be a guide! Pete's already worried about bears and wild cats! Scratch them under the chin and yer friends for life ....isn't that right?!
We'll send pictures!

[Almtnman]

If you camp in bear country, be sure to hang your food up high between two trees and don't wear any clothing inside tent if you camp in a tent that has cooking smells. Bears only come to food and the smell of food. A trick with bears if you hike is an umbrella. If hiking a trail and a bear doesn't want to back off, opening the umbrella a couple of times will usually spook them into thinking you're bigger than them. Also carry a good sheath hunting knife and a good hiking stick. If it becomes necessary, the knife can be tied to the stick and used as a spear. I'm not trying to scare you out of going as you probably won't be confronted, but just passing on some tips that I was told when hiking in the Smokies.

BTW Ali, we have camped out in tents in the Smokies where there's plenty of black bears without any incident at all. Bears are reclusive animals and it's rare to get to see one. I have seen them though in the Smoky Mountain National Park and got very close to them without any problem at all. If you see any with cubs, just keep your distance from them.

[Ali]

It's funny you should write that Almtnman. (Thank you for the good advice!) The local news told of yet another black bear (this is the third this summer) found in a populated area nearby.
I wish we were staying in a tent or cabin, (that way, Bud could come with us!) We'll be staying at the B&B - the only opening they had left for August on the weekend.
Someone once told me that carrying Crisco in a baggy ...in your pocket, is an easy deterrent, too. Throw it at the bear and then run like the devil was chasin' you!!
Naaa, you didn't scare me! I've been to New York City!! Pete likes your idea of a buck knife tied to a stick though!!

[nanc]

i'm trying to figure out how this forum works!

i have some great camping tips, but will give you all a very inexpensive one here and now. go to any dollar store and purchase several of the "ground red/cayenne pepper" spices - usually two for a dollar - and take one for seasoning your catch or breakfast - the other use to sprinkle about the perimeter of your campsite.

you WILL NOT have a squirrel, bear, opossum, chipmunk, mountain lion, skunk, raccoon, etc., or any other crawling creature within your campsite for up to four days (the longest we've gone camping) - as they all go on scent, constantly sniffing the ground - once they get a snootful of cayenne/red pepper - they do a one-eighty and are gone for the duration!

this DOES NOT work for birds as once when we were camping, my husband was cooking breakfast for our crowd and there were loads of small children - as we sat down to eat his fare, there was this little songbird in the tree above the picnic table and my husband said, "bet that little bird is hungry - watch him come down here and try to eat my breakfast." and almost as soon as he said it, that little yellow and blue bird landed on the lip of his plate, grabbed a big chunk of his eggs and onions and flew off into the surrounding scenery!

the little ones thought he was magic!

hope this comes through - mt. man - please let me know if it does.

[Almtnman]

That's a very good camping tip nanc. I had never heard of using cayenne pepper around the campsite before. Your post made it just fine.

[Hiker on Hiatus]

I have done some camping and hiking, but unfortunately, no backpacking. Me and my old man were going to hike the Rogue River Trail once, but preparations ended up falling through.