HikeArizona.COM

What type of camper are you, tent, car, pop-up etc. I like to sleep on the ground (hiking/backpacking) with out a tent but I also use a tarp or even a tent when rain threatens. I also like to camp using a bicycle and my jeeps and set up tent/tarp depending on the weather or the mood of the ants. I have borrowed pop-ups and have used a travel trailer, but I am spoiled if it rains I prefer to listen to the drumming of the rain on a rain fly.

I'm a minimalist camper ... I've done too much battle with tent poles and tent stuff sacks, and I've gottena severe aversion to putting up tents. I have a goretex bivvy (no poles, just a big bag) that I can sleep inside if it's raining. Mostly, I just sleep beside the truck with a bedroll. If it's really raining, I might attach a tarp to a tree or my vehicle if car camping ... when I had the old cherokee I'd sleep in the back of it, with the tailgate open and my feet hanging out.

Usually if car camping I'll take a propane camp stove, propane lantern, bivvy, sleeping bag, and ice chest of food, and my camera and fishing gear, and that's about it. I can fit everything I needed for a week or two, including all food, in two plastic storage boxes and an ice chest. Less, obviously, if I'm backpacking -- most of the bulk is canned food, maybe a watermelon, etc. ....

I don't even particularly like to start a fire unless I'm with a group ... if I'm alone, I like to be able to see what's around me (and you can see very well indeed if there's a good moon, if you let your eyes adjust ....) and a campfire is blinding. So I just use the propane for cooking and then shut it off.

Leva

On a recent camping trip along Tonto Creek, I placed my cot near the creek and the water lulled me to sleep. Early the next morning at sunrise, an elk bugled.

My favorite camping trip was in Ontario Canada (Quetico). I was at least 5 days away from civilization on a canoe/backpacking trip, sleeping under the stars on a peninsula of a small island. I had loons surrounding this island echoing their eerie cries. I really thought I had died and gone to heaven, but only realized that "it doesn't get any better than this" (but I say that about almost all my trips)! My favorite camping is where I must rely on my own will power, legs and/or arms to get me there! Mary

In response to Shi's reply: i did some backpacking and camping at quetico a few years ago and shi is right on, it was some of the most beautiful and natural land i have been too. also the boundry waters and canoeing was awesome(and if your into fishing i have never seen better)!!!

jphiker