Boondocking Etiquette

[waterflow]

Hi everyone.  I am new and planning to start my new adventure soon.  I do not enjoy going out into the woods or wherever - just to camp in a parking lot.  I want to boondock, but I am rather scared of murderers and rapists and bears and snakes, etc.  I have gone out camping, in a tent, in the woods, by myself and did fine.  But, I imagine if I were out by myself and someone came up and parked next to me, I would be really scared.  Who are they?  What do they want?  I know people tend to like to be gregarious, but I would find it threatening .  I am an artist and I know I would not feel safe to go out and paint with them there, let alone sleep, and I think I would have to leave.  I guess if there were lots of others, I could relax, but then, that defeats my purpose.

 

[akrvbob]

What you are feeling is totally normal and natural. It is unnatural to go off alone into the backcountry. But those of us who have been doing it for awhile have found it to be totally safe and wonderful. I know many single, older women who boondock alone all the time and none have ever had a problem. Statistically you are much safer out here than you are anywhere else. <br><br>So embrace your fears as normal and healthy and try to calm them with research and be determined to live the life you want to live. There is a group if us who boondock in Arizona together (about 60-40 men to women) and you are welcome to join us while you learn the ropes!<br>Bob

 

[owl]

Water, I think you will find when boondocking rarely will folks pull in very close to you. Most out there are like minded. As for human predators and animal predators there are many more good decent people out there than you might imagine. Try not to let the fact that you are going to be doing something new deter you. It has been my experience that a lot of the folks out here are artists. You will be fine! Think positive thoughts, live a positive life, good things will gravitate to you.&nbsp;

 

[accrete]

...You will be fine! Think positive thoughts, live a positive life, good things will gravitate to you.&nbsp;

<br><br>Don't mean to get gooey philosophical on this point though wanted to share my two bits : )<br>With a brotherly hug to all that pass this way...<br><br>If you are easily offended by the deeper subjects in life please pass over this post, and a moderator can remove it, or move it elsewhere. I will take no offense.<br><br>I was raised in a Christian home, raised my kids that way too. Then at one point (1993) i made a conscious dicision to leave the church that i was involved in leadership (a non-denominational charismatic/pentecostal group). What really bothered me was that they lived their lives (and wanted me to also) with the idea that man was intrinsically evil, and that there was basically a devil behind every bush (so to speak). I refused to think like that and was eventually politely escorted out of the church. I recall being called a "Loose Cannon" in an Ecumenical leadership meeting.<br><br>So not wanting to rock the boat, and believing the best in all people and not bothering to avoid hanging out with the _un-saved_ out on the streets and byways i went my own way. And guess what happened? 20 years later when i talk to these old friends the devil is still behind every bush in their lives/opinion...and there is no sign of the pain, troubles, negativity around me. I can't state mater of factually that it is because i chose to not _believe_ in some personalized _devil_, but i can say, their lives are still full of it, and mine is not. Though life still serves up lemons now and again, i take 100% responsibility for any craziness that may come my way. If i miss the mark, it's my fault, not someone or something outside me tempting me.<br><br>End of banter. <br>Peace to all : )<br>Thom

 

[bk2valve]

Good stuff here...I believe much the same....you do create your own world at some level....you get what you get but what you do with it may change what happens from then on....<br>Peace and love to you all, in my most gooey philo way...lol<br>Bri

 

[highdesertranger]

i do not want to get religious or philosophical but i try to camp away from others most of the time it's not a problem but sometimes it is.&nbsp; i just try to respect others privacy.&nbsp; but i will drop by to say hello and to know my neighbors.&nbsp; accrete i spend my summers prospecting mostly in oregon and nevada maybe we will meet up one day.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[accrete]

Quartzville after spring runoff <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>Before that it's Lewis River near Battle Ground.<br>My gold-magnet of a wife always seems to find that glittery stuff!

 

[owl]

<P>@ accrete, are you in Washington state in the winter and Q in the summer?</P>

 

[accrete]

<p>@ accrete, are you in Washington state in the winter and Q in the summer?</p>

<br><br>We full time out on the Oregon Coast...our home base.<br>We usually begin our _season_ around May up at Sunset Falls (Forestry) Campground north of Battle Ground Washington and spend some quality time on the Lewis River. We will go there ~3 times or so a season.<br><br>Then sometime in late June we begin the Quartzville trips. Again ~3 or so of them, and maybe a fourth all the way up to the last week of the official season before the area is closed after October.<br><br>And if we are in an adventurous mood we might plan a trip to the John Day and Baker City areas in Eastern Oregon.<br><br>How about you?<br><br>

 

[owl]

I misread your post, I thought you said Quartzsite not Quartzville. It is 115 degrees in Quartzsite in the summer! I run eleven campgrounds for the Forest Service in the Tahoe National Forest in the summer and go to Mendocino for a couple of months in the fall. Then it's off to Arizona for the winter.

 

[Varmint]

Accrete, you past sounds a lot like many of the people I've known in my home church. Glad to hear you've found a way to live a simple, stress-free life. I tend to think that God wants His people to live life here on earth as it is in Heaven, or at least a sample of it!

I'd be surprised if, when they see you after all these years, some of them don't whisper: "There he is, the backslider..." It happens, but then Jesus said His yoke is EASY, and His burden is LIGHT. Our lives were never meant to be a burden to us, nor to others, but a blessing.

Perhaps more folks should re-evaluate the value of their vaunted dollars and huge homes with all their stress and rat-racing.

I miss my tent and my old Chevette....

 

[accrete]

Accrete, you past sounds a lot like many of the people I've known in my home church...

<br><br><img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> well...we ended up having/being _church_ in our home and also home-schooled our two kids.<br>The most difficult time was not having a safety net (of the community/fellowship) to catch us if we fell...but that only made us all the stronger.<br><br>Cheers,<br>Thom

 

[Sheryl]

Waterflow, I am also an artist! I'd love to see some of your work! I understand your fears. I felt that way when I first came up here too, being from the Toronto (Canada's largest city) area, where the fear of your fellow man is a good thing...I have never felt threatened from people up here in the northern Rockies of British Columbia but it's a completely different place and feeling!. There are often women alone or in doubles that hike, tent and camp around here without any problems (other than wildlife...). <br><br>That said, we have a "Louisville Slugger" bat that goes for hikes with us (for protection from wildlife) and stays right beside the door of our camper. Occasionally, when I go out by myself at night or exploring alone (seldom happens. Hubby usually goes too) I will take it with me, but again, mostly for wildlife. <br><br>There are many, many places to tent camp near water here and a few places to park a vehicle/camper near water for a long time without anyone bothering you. There are drawbacks to living up here however, the nearest corner store with anything at all is a long drive away (300k either way from where I am now, 150k from summer camp). Really, there is absolutely no place to get even a little supplies once you pass Fort Nelson, so few two legged predators bother. The people who live, hunt and camp up here are a hardy, DIY breed who take no nonsense from anyone. Many are armed hunters. Few two legged predators would survive and the truckers are great, if sometimes a little rough. I have found them to be some of the best people on the road. <br><br>I also think you are in much more danger in populated areas than you are in the wilderness and the further you get away from big towns, the safer you will be. <br><br>Accrete, I was raised in that kind of home in the south too. After living away from that, near Toronto for 30 years, I still think that's not necessarily a bad way to look at people. I don't think all my fears of mankind have to do with my upbringing. It all depends on where you live, but I am slowly losing my fear of people in general up here. If&nbsp; you camp near the big cities where the human predators have a base or congregate in groups, you probably should have a little fear and caution.<br><br>

 

[Nelda]

Sunset Falls Campground near Battleground, Wa! I know that place. Great place to camp and a wonderful paved path along the river.

 

[pdxnate]

Back in the 70's I used to camp frequently at Sunset Falls Campground -- before they even started to charge fees!&nbsp; Then I moved away from the area for many years, and now that I've moved to Portland, and am outfitting my mini-van for camping and road trips, I want to start making regular visits to Sunset.&nbsp; I also love the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast.&nbsp; I'm retired now, have fewer excuses for not enjoying the outdoors more often, have a van to make it comfortable (I think my back-packing days are history, but I still love good day hikes).&nbsp; The beauty of living in Portland is that there is federal land all around us to enjoy, and I just recently got my Geezer Pass and plan to take full advantage of it!&nbsp; I appreciate all of you for sharing your boondocking experiences, and since Washington now requires one to have a "Discover Pass" to use just about any wide place in the road with access to recreation, I plan to focus as much on boondocking as I can.&nbsp; A versatile camping van will make it all possible, comfortable, and enjoyable, without even having to go that far out of the city!&nbsp; In Oregon, many state and county forests also have free dispersed camping available, and there are many nice places, especially in the Coast Range.&nbsp; This site has really opened up a lot of great ideas for me, both in fixing up my van and for camping possibilities.&nbsp; So thanks, folks -- maybe we'll cross paths somewhere down the road!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nate

 

[highdesertranger]

just a heads up on the adventure pass its being challenged in court in southern cal.&nbsp; not saying you don't need one now but just giving a heads up.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp; Interesting to hear about the discover pass being challenged. Government will always try to get in your pocket one way or another. We all have to be alert to fees ( TAXES ) being levied on us to use our own country.

 

[pdxnate]

I've been rebelling against Washington State's Discover Pass by refusing to camp in or use any Washington State Parks or areas that require it.&nbsp; $10.00 is a ridiculous price to pay to park your car for the hour or two it takes to hike to the top of Beacon Rock, or even risk a ticket to park without a pass at the restrooms there to take a pee!&nbsp; Oregon has better stuff to offer, and a lot of it is still free.&nbsp; But both Washington and Oregon also have a lot of federal lands, and fortunately I'm of the age to have a permanent "geezer pass" to free access to federal lands, including national parks.&nbsp; This is a very good deal for retired folks!&nbsp; What I hate most about Washington's system is that it doesn't just apply to State Parks.&nbsp; Just about any wide place in the road wide enough to park a car and have access to water, snow, fishing, or just about any recreational possibilities, if they are on state-owned land, a Discover Pass is required.&nbsp; I like the idea of boon-docking and using dispersed campsites, anyway, and really agree with the comments involving etiquette while camping.&nbsp; It's just good sense to be good neighbors, whether at home or on the road.&nbsp; You don't meet new friends by being a jack-ass, but friendliness and courtesy often mean shared campfires over a cup of coffee or a beer with new friends, and a pleasant time for all.&nbsp; As an artist, hiker, and photographer, I enjoy solitude as much as I enjoy good company, and boondocking suits me, when I can get out into the wild countryside.<br><br>pdxnate

 

[highdesertranger]

ok I was a little behind on the adventure pass.&nbsp; I knew it was being challenged but didn't know about the 9th circuits decision.&nbsp; a win for national forest users.&nbsp; for a change.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.independent.com/news/2012/feb/22/court-attacks-adventure-pass/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.independent.com/news/2012/feb/22/court-attacks-adventure-pass/</a>&nbsp; .&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[blossmgirl]

You know, I thinking this parking on top of others must be in human nature. I haven't had that exact experience (yet!) but I have noticed repeatedly that if I go into a deserted restaurant to eat or surf, people HAVE to sit near me when they come in instead of in one of the other 30 empty tables! It annoys me to no end. I've experimented with this so I believe there's something to it. And yes, I make sure not to do this when I enter a deserted restaurant and there's one lone diner way off in the corner.