Security & Camping alone

[tinytrailer]

I mostly camp alone. I stick with the FL state parks and have never had a problem. The rangers patrol all night and I do let them know I am alone when I check in for the weekend.

 

[ZendoDeb]

I sail alone most of the time. I live on my boat - when I'm not exiled to Illinois - and I have filled it up to the point that having a guest is a bit of struggle. (37 ft isn't as big as it sounds)

Single handing means being prepared for anything, from fires -3 extinguishers, one I can reach from my bunk- to cuts, or injuries.

Being prepared also includes a revolver loaded with .357 hollow points and mace/pepper spray - both I can reach without getting out of bed. It also includes a 12-gauge loaded with buckshot, but I actually do have to get out bed to reach that.

You can't call 911 and hope to be rescued, and out past about 15 miles, you might not even be able to call for help.

Camping wouldn't change the parameters much. Though there are probably restrictions on carrying firearms. Bear spray sounds good. When I was a kid, my family usually camped in fairly popular campgrounds, and state parks. I've done some back country hiking and canoeing - though that was many years ago. But even with a cellphone, calling for help may involve a lot of waiting.

I always thought the cellphones were most useful for calling the police and telling them you just shot your attacker. (And yes, I do have a concealed carry permit, though it does no good when I am visiting the Peoples Republic of Illinois.

 

[S. Heisley]

Cell phones don't always work when you're at a campground...or just going for a ride in the mountains...or in a valley...or....whatever. Cell phones are dependable mostly only in the city. That's if your batteries aren't dead and there isn't a train or truck going by.

 

[savano]

Hi everyone, I've been away for awhile and just now found this. I took my last final last Friday. This is great that we have are own little corner where we can chit chat. Thank you Mike, MJ and everyone else who made this possible.

I camp alone almost all of the time, except at gatherings. My first line of protection is my killer chihuahua. She is a great alarm dog, letting me know when some one is nearby, during the day and night also. I will not be specific about other protection, but all of it has been discussed in previous posts. I have not boondocked with my TD alone. I might try it someday.

I have been solo camping, hiking, backpacking all of my adult life and never ever felt threatened by another human. There have been times when I was threatened by my own stupidity and bad decisions. I try to always be aware of my surroundings, who is in the campground, where facilities are, make friends with camp hosts and rangers. If I feel uncomfortable (many times not knowing why), I leave. Sometimes this means finding a motel room.

During my younger crazier days (1970's) I backpacked solo inside the Grand Canyon many times. I did some very risky remote trails, sometimes not seeing anyone for a couple of days. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Now days the park keeps better track of solo hikers than back in the day.

 

[Joanne-TNT]

Hi everyone, I've been away for awhile and just now found this. I took my last final last Friday. This is great that we have are own little corner where we can chit chat. Thank you Mike, MJ and everyone else who made this possible.

I camp alone almost all of the time, except at gatherings. My first line of protection is my killer chihuahua. She is a great alarm dog, letting me know when some one is nearby, during the day and night also. I will not be specific about other protection, but all of it has been discussed in previous posts. I have not boondocked with my TD alone. I might try it someday.

I have been solo camping, hiking, backpacking all of my adult life and never ever felt threatened by another human. There have been times when I was threatened by my own stupidity and bad decisions. I try to always be aware of my surroundings, who is in the campground, where facilities are, make friends with camp hosts and rangers. If I feel uncomfortable (many times not knowing why), I leave. Sometimes this means finding a motel room.

During my younger crazier days (1970's) I backpacked solo inside the Grand Canyon many times. I did some very risky remote trails, sometimes not seeing anyone for a couple of days. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Now days the park keeps better track of solo hikers than back in the day.

Sally!!!

How have you been?? Good to see a post from you again! I haven't heard much from you since the IRG and was wondering how you have been. Hopefully we can get together next year and do a camping trip. North Rim maybe?? It's been a few years since I've been up there and would like to get up there again.

Joanne

 

[savano]

Yes, Joanne, North Rim for sure. Good place to cool off in the summer. And you could show me the ropes of boondocking!

I just finished 4 art classes at the community college. Whew! it's been awhile since I've tackled 4 classes at once. But I survived. Last weekend I rented 5 movies and ate ice cream to celebrate.

Maybe we could have the First Annual North Rim Boondocking Lady Teardropper Gathering. Very informal. We set a date and see who shows up. Oh, and the guys and kids are invited too.

Has a Lady Teardropper Gathering already been done?

 

[Miriam C.]

Hi Sally! Nice to see you back. We haven't had a Lady Teardroppers gathering yet

Funny the country doesn't look that big until I look at Google maps for a camp ground. Everything is so far away!

 

[dakotamouse]

Hey gals, Great topic with lots of good tips. I look forward to camping by myself someday. I don't think that is going to happen till I'm a widow. Don't worry I'm not planning to knock off the hubby or anything like that! My hubby trys to squeeze in as many camping days as possible. He'd be hurt if I left him at home.

I'm not saying that crime never happens in North Dakota but I wouldn't hesitate to camp alone in any of our parks. The worst problem we've ever had were too loud and too late noisy parties. I make it a point to jot down the phone number of the park ranger should I need to call to make a complaint.

Cooler theft is a possibility. Kids..temptation..nuff said.

I like the ideas about the car panic button and the bear spray. The bear spray for two legged critters and for real bears. If a bear really wanted into a teardrop I bet he could rip into it like it was nothing more than a potato chip bag. A blast of bear spray would be a really good idea.

hmmm and the photo shopped picture...who am I to judge. I got a reputation for having an always full martini glass at IRG2. Not necessarily a martini in it .....wine, margaritta, rum....

 

[CAJUN LADY-TNT]

If a bear really wanted into a teardrop I bet he could rip into it like it was nothing more than a potato chip bag. A blast of bear spray would be a really good idea.

The very thought of that makes me get the chills. That's why I could never camp in bear country...I wouldn't have to play dead - I would die of fright.

Hey, are you snowed in? Heard on the news that the Dakota's were having a nasty snow storm. Hope ya'll are warm and safe.

 

[Eunice-TNT]

I like the idea of a Ladys Teardropper gathering. Miriam is correct though that the USA is mighty big and it would be hard to have a central meeting place. I would love it though. I can just picture all of us sitting around and really getting to visit!

 

[Miriam C.]

I like the idea of a Ladys Teardropper gathering. Miriam is correct though that the USA is mighty big and it would be hard to have a central meeting place. I would love it though. I can just picture all of us sitting around and really getting to visit!

It is too bad we can't get a fund raiser up to pay for everyone to join in a central place.

Security is a strange thing. Abusive people seem to target those they feel are vulnerable. The National parks and game reserves (I think I wrote that right) have decided to allow licensed concealed carry. Now I am not planning on getting a permit to carry so I won't be, but---perhaps a whole bunch of perspective criminals will find another place to look for a target.

 

[dakotamouse]

If a bear really wanted into a teardrop I bet he could rip into it like it was nothing more than a potato chip bag. A blast of bear spray would be a really good idea.

The very thought of that makes me get the chills. That's why I could never camp in bear country...I wouldn't have to play dead - I would die of fright.

Hey, are you snowed in? Heard on the news that the Dakota's were having a nasty snow storm. Hope ya'll are warm and safe.

We got about a foot of snow over the weekend. We can deal with it. We are getting some extra cold weather for December , though. I think last night was -19. Right now its -6 and dropping. Doesn't feel as bad though cause the wind isn't blowing

 

[S. Heisley]

Eunice wrote:

I like the idea of a Ladys Teardropper gathering. Miriam is correct though that the USA is mighty big and it would be hard to have a central meeting place. I would love it though. I can just picture all of us sitting around and really getting to visit!

I agree! The center of the USA, mileage-wise looks to be somewhere between Nebraska and Kansas, probably Kansas. Has anybody got any good ideas?

 

[MsDana]

Last year i was inspecting homes for FEMA. Finding a place to stay was an adventure all in itself. Motels being damaged etc cuts down on safe habitat. During the whole process I stayed at a truck stop several nites..a makeshift campground in a tent for several nites..a nice campground an hour from where I was working and finally found a room and got moved to houston and had to start all over. A friend and I rented a house and first nite there we had someone set off the house alarm and cut the power to the house at one in the morning. We called the police and 45 min later they got there. So this is why im building a tear. Stay in a populated part of the park..get to know your neighbors (easyer to access people in the daylite)..dont wander around after dark..lock up and stay armed. I intend to put a loud alarm system on my tear because of the areas I have to be in alone. I think if your aware of your surroundings you will be fine.

 

[Miriam C.]

Welcome Dana! One of the nice things about TD's is they are small enough that your foot will knock anyone out before they get in. Be sure to get one of these:

Thinking about sharpening mine.

BTW you folks do an amazing job with FEMA

 

[fireaunt]

Dana, you sound like a busy person. That's pretty rough duty. We did the Mardi Gras parade in Crystal Beach on Bolivar. After all the cleanup, it still looks like ground zero. Hats off to all those affected. There were lots of the workers at the RV areas. If you don't have time to build before your next assignment, you can check our For Sale section here. We are always tracking what's out there for sale.

Marilyn

 

[MsDana]

Dana, you sound like a busy person. That's pretty rough duty. We did the Mardi Gras parade in Crystal Beach on Bolivar. After all the cleanup, it still looks like ground zero. Hats off to all those affected. There were lots of the workers at the RV areas. If you don't have time to build before your next assignment, you can check our For Sale section here. We are always tracking what's out there for sale.

Marilyn

Thank you Marilyn! My tear is underway and im hoping to have it campable in a couple of months.
Yeah i saw a lot of people in need. The children get to me. They lose toys and pets and worse. Some are to young to understand. Some had nothing to begin with. Really sad.

Dana

 

[fireaunt]

You have already started! Wow, nothing slow about you! Take some pic - we love to watch the progress. What is your sesign and or plan? What to go - it is something you can do to really forget about everything else.
Keep us posted and if you have trouble, you have some experts here to help.

 

[CAJUN LADY-TNT]

Hi Dana! Welcome aboard and kudos to you for starting to build your own Tear. I wish I could have done my own but I think it would have gotten the "What the **** Is That" award. You will love this forum...can't find a bunch of friendlier or more helpful people anywhere.

I have a dear friend who lives in Blue Ridge...her name is Marlene Godfrey. She grew up there and moved back after her divorce. She said it's just the most beautiful place to live. She's been bugging me to visit. One of these days...

 

[Dewi-TNT]

I went camping with my ten year old son... used to camp up there when I was a kid and I thought it would be character building... problem was there were delayed trains, a broken down bus and pelleting rain... not to mention the path had eroded away halfway up the hill with a 20ft drop that we had to climb around.

We got up there, wet, in the dark and set up the poorly made tent and I strung up a tarp with some tied together shoe laces... cooked us some beans, got my little lad dry and warm and settled down for the night. Problem was I didn't account for how when you're an adult how you think of things you didn't think of as a kid... barely slept.

Slightest noise I was on guard thinking someone was prowling and at about 4am, with the rain finally beginning to subside I heard a snort and a squeal outside the tent... must have been a badger or something, but it got my mind racing. You see so much on the news these days, it really did my head in thinking about it.

Next day, again raining, we packed up and wandered off the hill... phone call to my wife and about an hour or two later we were in the car being taken home. I want to do it again... the whole pitch the tent and build a campfire, more for my little lad to have a good camping experience, but you know, I bet I'll be just as worried and just as on guard... and I'm not the smallest of chaps.

Cheers, Dewi