Any kind–drive-up camping, backpacking, RV camping, in the woods, at the beach, in a shelter, let’s hear it all.
Psychedelics and people you trust
I used to love LSD at festivals but coming down in a tent while people were still partying outside is the worst.
I couldn’t ever manage around groups of people like that or being in public for too long. The most exposed I’d be willing is likely just like floating down a river or something, plenty of people, no real reason to interact outside of a quick hello
I don’t do it much any more but one of my favourite pass times used to be taking a load of acid and then going to a very public place or somewhere that you are forced to be around lots of people and have many interactions.
Busy shopping centres, a zoo, busy pubs, an ex girlfriends family wedding where I knew no one. I guess it was kind of masochistic in a way but I just really enjoyed putting myself into challenging situations whilst tripping. The challenge was always to try take the highest dose possible and still be able to actually keep my shit together. I’m sure plenty of people I interacted with at those times thought “this guy is blasted out of his mind, Jesus” but who gives a fuck, I’m never seeing these people again and it actually made me want to speak to people in the first place.
These days I prefer to just lay down, listen to music and drift off into the stratosphere.
When I was younger, I really wanted to drop and skydive, but the older I get, the more I lean towards lay down and music.
That would be pretty intense and fucking awesome but yeh these days I dunno if I could be bothered.
Right on!
Put your shoes in your tent at night so slugs don’t crawl in them. Camping in a national Forest is often free. Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints.
Try not to leave even footprints please. People go trailblazing way too often when there’s perfectly good trails already.
In the U.S. of A - in Germany do not camp in the wild if you’re fond of your money. Although we have a milder variant of the Allemannsretten, ours excludes camping in the wild
This depends on the state.
For instance in Brandenburg and Schleswig-Holstein you can camp “in the wild”*
*there is limits in natural preserves, and what is defined as camping can vary. e.g. tarp vs tent, obv. no RVs…
Nope. You can’t.
Brandenburg only has extended and codified the “taking an interruption of your travel” (Rast) into their nature laws - and you must leave after one day. You are only allowed to use it minimally and e.g. make no fire,etc. And even then you need permission from the owner - which the state doesn’t usually grant for their woods/grounds.
In Schleswig Holstein it’s totally forbidden besides the “wild camping spots” - but these are just more “wild” campgrounds, similar to what you find in US national parks. And cost money,btw.
Hammock tent. All the advantages of a tent and a hammock.
Don’t have to worry about your tent getting flooded, no need for an air mattress or sleeping pad.
Ear plugs. Because that rustling of leaves is just a raccoon and most definitely not a serial killer. I like wax earplugs for sleeping versus foam.
Maintain hygiene regimens to greatest degree possible. Don’t skimp on washing face or brushing teeth that you would typically do at home.
Food makes or breaks a trip for me. The weather could be awful, plans could go awry, but as long as everyone is well fed, there’s potential.
I’m not a no-tech purist while camping but do try to use trips as a time to reset tech habits. Can you go for 24 hours without an Internet connected device? Kinda similar to the occasional dry week or break from coffee/caffeine: check in and see how you’re interacting with tech.
Have a first aid kit and know how to use the stuff in it.
I’d say earplugs because your fellow camp ground people might not be so thoughtful.
Somehow the idea of a raccoon is scarier to me and always causes me to wake up and start growling like some prehistoric dingus
About 2-3 cheap string-lights that run off USB battery packs (EDITed out this:
run off the 2x AA-battery-packs). Mulitple light angles is better than a single light source. Cheery and festive. Get a multicolored string, if camping with kids or you are a fun camper.Also OSMand mapping software, configured with offline maps of your camp area. Install the hillshades and height maps for extra detail. Enable and add an overlay-layer of Satellite data. Then scan your camp area and surrounds while online, so that it will cache the satellite map tiles needed when you are off-grid.
I just want to add that I got a cheap string of LED red lights that just power off a USB power bank. Red light lets you see in the dark while not ruining your night vision! I create a huge circle around me because somehow that makes me feel safe when I’m sitting at a fire.
Nice, I’ll check for the USB ones.
A large red circle… summoned anything yet? :^P
Thanks for sharing the OSMand recommendation and configuration.
I’ve got a hike coming up, so I just installed it - wow, it’s fantastic. It captures the elevation change and distance. I thought I’d need to limp along with Google maps, but OSMand is sooo much better (and open source).
edit: a word
You’re welcome. OSMand is a fun powerhouse.
You can test which offline-map tiles you have by switching to airplane-mode.
There is a 3D map view also, but it may still be in testing status.
As always, for all people heading out remote, it’s good practice to have a secondary map available, such as a laminated paper map.
If you’re out bike touring, KOA’s almost always have spots set aside for cyclists to camp. Both KOAs and state parks are really useful for showers and clothes washing. Was genuinely surprised how many state parks had both when I toured across the U.S.
If you’re in Washington state, the state parks are legally required to find room for you to camp if you rolll up on a bike and they’re otherwise full.
bring extra food for the first timers. they wont bring enough.
Pack a book. Everything from hammock backpacking to week-long glamping festivals, I’ve never regretted bringing one along.
Lay a layer of logs on the ground before making your camp fire on top of it. Ideally larger ones. They’ll lift the fire off the damp ground, improve air flow and act as fuel once the fire gets going.
- Tiny pop-up tent, easier to carry if you can fit inside
- Headlamps
- Sleeping pad or something to separate you from the cold ass ground
- Don’t interact with the cute little bear cubs
For anyone reading this thread, my best advice is to learn to identify the different types of camping in order to identify what will be useful information to you. The bushcrafter has a different objective from the van camper, who has a different objective from the ultralight backpacker.
If you’re in bear country, you want to hang your food high from a tree branch. Not right next to the trunk, bears can climb like squirrels. It’s really amazing how fast they can climb a tree.
Also hang toiletries; don’t keep toothpaste or anything scented in the tent with you.
Also for bear country, don’t cook where you sleep
You can dispersed camp for free in most national forests and BLM lands. Its pack-in pack-out for the most part but some spots have pit toilets. Freecampsites.net is my go to site for finding free camping
Seems cool. Vibe feels like mostly people needing a safe place to sleep in their cars without getting ticketed with the other people backpackers who are roughing it
Bring bug spray.
I swear it doesn’t work.
Get the good shit! If its less than 40% DEET it ain’t worth a damn.
Then bring someone tastier than you. That’s a tried and true method
Blackout tent so you can sleep late.
I just pack an eye mask
There’s also birds being loud and the sun making the inside of your tent too hot to contend with
