Camping: classic or dud?

Got roped into going camping this weekend. I'm doing my best to remain neutral, though if I were being honest it's probably the last thing I feel like doing. Don't really get it. To be fair, I'm going with the whole family, including two kids, which perhaps constrains the experience, or at least keeps the focus on kid stuff. But still, not sure how into the idea I am in the first place, to drive 2.5 hours away to set up a tent 10 feet from the car, sleep in a tent, then pack everything up the next day and drive 2.5 hours back, just to hang with friends and do things that I could do around home.

Any campers out there?

I had enough of camping from going to girl scout camp when I was a kid. The one summer there were just these swarms of horseflies biting everyone constantly and it was a completely miserable experience. I like hiking, but I never want to camp out in tents ever again.

Camping is awesome when you're with people who love to go camping.

I was a boy scout, and I think I pretty much agree: love the outdoors, done with that shit. But apparently I'm booked to do that shit Saturday, regardless. At least half of the people going are into it. The other half figure, sensibly, what's one night? If it sucks we'll never do it again.

I like camping provided there's decent amenities i.e. showers and toilet nearby, and I don't have to carry my tent and everything else needed to survive on foot for miles over rough terrain. Living under the open sky, away from the hustle and bustle, at one with nature, yadda yadda. Does seem kinda pointless to do it just for one night though.

THE DUDDEST DUD THAT HAS EVER DUDDED

I cannot imagine why anyone would want to do this. Unless the actual apocalypse has occurred I refuse to even look at a tent much less enter one. My brain does not admit the possibility of sleeping in one because imagining that makes me go into trauma. It's uncivilised and unhygienic.

I would go camping if I got to sleep in a nice bed in a building with hot running water and also electricity, and did not have to walk on any mud during the day.

OMG suppressed memory of having to make food on a camping stove. Nooooooooooooo

When I suggested the possibility of finding a restaurant nearby people laughed at me >:(

I enjoy the self-sufficiency and the security I feel when everything I "need" is under my direct control and in my possession and I can see it and touch it and even carry it with me. Very "master of my domain." Dirt, though, I hate. I only like clean clothes and clean sleeping bags and clean bodies. And nice pillows. So, probably not.

If there's running water nearby to bathe in, I'll consider it.

i like most everything about camping until the tent gets wet on the inside. then it's all over.

Sheltering within a tent from a howling gale can be kinda fun but yes camping is definitely best in conditions of sunny skies, a pitch near a babbling brook, abundant wild mushrooms to be picked for dinner, etc etc.

yeah, camping is great, but not so great in the rain

bad weather can make it horrible but on the whole i am pro-camping

if you can reign in the amount of stuff you take for your one night's camping trip, it might not be as bad as all that, Josh.

Most of the newer tents don't take a whole lot of time to set up; and once you are out of the setting up camp phase 1 of camping, there is honestly not much better than sitting down in a camping chair with a beer and some friends / or alternatively, nothing more fun than romping around the campsite with the kids exploring new things

I always hate the idea of camping when i have to pack and plan and prepare and set up --- but almost every time without fail it all becomes awesome once the setting up is done.

You just have to revise expectations and figure out the least you can achieve basic comforts with. Camping is one thing where it makes a HUGE difference to have items that work and are efficient at their tasks: not having to fight with the stove in the AM makes coffee feel much more possible, which makes getting up more possible, which etc.

When everything clean and dry is dirty and wet, though, I'm ready to go home.

yeah one night is almost ideal -- all the fun of camping without 3 days shellac of built up dirt + sunscreeen + bugspray

My (bad? ) attitude is that I camp every night ... at home, in the comfort of my own bed, with everything I want and need. Camping away from home is simply a challenge to see how much you can enjoy life without the comforts and amenities of home ... which is of course the entire point of having a home. We'll see how it goes. I'm recovering from a bout of pneumonia, of all things, so I'm not even sure I can stay up late by a smokey fire drinking booze with buddies.

Dudley Duddington.

Spiders, dampness, rough ground making you ache when you wake up. The absolute worst thing, though, is the fact that you're too cold to go to sleep, and then when you finally get a couple of hours, you wake up unable to breathe because it's so hot. Arrrgh.

I have had some good times camping, but they were DESPITE the camping element, not because of it.

The last time I spent time living not-indoors (which admittedly was in 1996 or so), I couldn't sleep the first night without a pillow, but by night 4-ish, I was used to it. Also, roll-up camping mattresses are sucky compared to a real bed but better than the ground, and warmer, and you can keep your clothes for the next day in your sleeping bag w you if it's going to be cold so they're warm in the morning, and there are tons of tips like that.

Eventually, though, you still have to get up and put shoes and socks and clothes on in order to leave the tent to so much as PEE at 5.30am, and eventually someone's going to have to pump/get some water and make the breakfast.

i like most everything about camping until the tent gets wet on the inside.

Oh god, that's the worst.

I used to do a lot of travel-camping, as in driving from one place to another and camping (in the car or in a tent, depending) instead of staying in hotels on the way, as opposed to, like, backcountry outdoorsman destination camping, although I did a little bit of that, too.

I quite liked it, and I would probably still like it, except that I own zero camping gear anymore (not even a sleeping bag) and getting properly outfitted would be such a massive expensive and pain in the ass that unless we suddenly decide as a family that camping will be our new primary hobby, it's just not likely to happen again. Especially since I can afford hotel rooms these days.

I was always a super minimalist camper (probably in part for the master of my domain thing that in orbit talked about, plus self sufficiency plus being able to pack up and run away in ten minutes or less) and enjoyed that much more than extravagant, gadget-for-everything camping, which stresses me out because it's too much crap to have to remember and keep track of.

I have no interest in getting away from it all, I love city life, so the only times I ever camp anymore are music festival related. But I'm also too old for this kind of camping:

http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/648*412/090709-FOLK2-PHIL_2810269.jpg

Ugh imagine the state of the port-a-potties at that place.

goin for five days alone, brb

where 2

enjoy!

Hate camping.

big sur three days, big basin two days

what, i'm the only camper in the house?

*camps*

have fun!

i dig it!

i take alot of shit with me though, i am not a roughing it camper

i love car camping. want to do longer backpacking trips at some point. xp yeah i like taking stuff. inflatable air mattress w/ car adapter air pump = best camping purchase i've ever made.

love it in theory, not a big fan in practice. hate lugging all that shit on my back. even the water needed for a full 24 hrs (a good deal of that being moderate exertion) is heavy. car lot camping can be fun, brings out more people to campsite than you'd get otherwise.

Love car camping... especially out in the nearby Mojave/Basin & Range deserts.

I think I've done it backwards...car camped in Midwest, backcountry camped in Southwest. Though the spot we found in Canyonlands, on a sub-ledge just big enough for 2 tents and lounge area with 1500 ft dropoff was pretty choice (Murphy's Point iirc). Series of day hikes linked by chalet lodging sounds idea. As far as US goes, I think Colorado has or is working on that?

Just back from 4 days camping in mid-Wales. Would go back tomorrow tbh. I bought a parachute and we made a field kitchen out of it for when the weather was inclement:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/575697_10151700526226057_1781640653_n.jpg

you are awesome

Classic, though I only do car camping. Went on a four-day trip to the Eastern Sierras a couple weeks ago, visiting many hot springs. We stayed at a developed campground (Convict Lake campground, flush toilets but no showers) and drove to various springs and a hiking trail. I'll post some pics on the fuckin w/climb thread.

I have one of those Coleman Instant-Up tents (the 6-person model), which is very nice but bulky/heavy, and a cot to sleep on (also heavy). I use a butane stove that works well but usually needs to be used inside my tent because of wind.

I've been going to Burning Man every year since 2006, so the bulk of my camping is that "festival" style rather than woodsy, but I like both.

i'm the only camper in the house?

I started camping as a kid more than 50 years ago. I car camp. I backpack. For the past few years I've been sleeping a good 30 nights/year in a tent out somewhere away from the city. I'm just a campin' fool. My irl name is Campy McCamp.

We just bought a new (old) tent - sun camp silhouette 400. Can't wait to try it out!

A minimum stay of 2 nights is required for the dates of your stay.

Basically, I won't be able to keep my kids together for a two-night camping trip so all our camping trips involve paying like $60+ to use a two-night spot for one night.

I love camping, especially if there are friends, musical instruments, and weed involved. Extra points for bluegrass festivals.

^^ This dude knows whats up. I haven't camped in awhile cause I'm pretty much surrounded by the woods anyway, but would totally do it anytime.

we were supposed to go camping at Guerneville for 4th of July -- we can't now for tl;dr reasons but honestly I'm kinda glad. That place sounds CRAZY crowded. I mean trying to swim at Johnson's Beach on 4th of July with a thousand other ppl, idk. I'm used to a bit more space and having a bit more room to myself. I hate crowded situations