Camping ( Archived) (110)

Ken_19: I used to go camping in upstate NY fairly regularly from the mid 60s to the late 70s. Cub Scouts, Boy scouts and later as a young man with friends for hunting purposes (profile pic). Back then there were still places you could go where you would literally be the only person for 25 miles in any direction. Got caught in blizzard on one 3 day hunting trip in the Adirondacks, which wound up lasting 2 weeks. We had driven into the mountains till the road ended, then drove up a logging trail as far up it as the car would go, then parked and hiked another 4 or 7 miles up and over the mountain. Dusk and snow were falling as we pitched our tent. Fortunately the hunting was good and we knew what we were doing. By day 3 there was like 40 inches of snow and drifts taller than we were. I had lost maybe 10 pounds by the time we got the car down the trail two weeks later, but otherwise was fine. Had some cold weather too that trip. Radio said -30 in the mountains where we were. Ow. We were prepared for the cold though extra clothes, etc. so it wasn't as much of a threat as if we hadn't been.

Really remote places started disappearing by the end of the 70s. Population, urban sprawl. There are small cities now where in the 60s there was 40 miles of forest. Also not everyone was friendly anymore. Junkies and robbers (or worse) prowled the woods so if you left your stuff unguarded at the tent while hunting, some people, even the tent was gone when they returned. Stopped being fun so I took a 20 year break.

So I missed it and bought this place (profile pic). My own forest. All of the camping benefits, and at the end of the day I am already home. Turn on the TV, throw a steak on the grill and have a beer. :)