noise leval when camping

[S. Heisley]

Adult media noise from TVs, radios, etc drives me crazy. If they want that, why don't they stay home?
Unless I am attending a Tearjerker gathering, I usually go camping for the peace.

Sharon,

I agree with you, but have to debate...

If you go to a teardrop gathering, you are okay with the noise, but if you go to a campground that isn't hosting a gathering; you expect/want it to be quiet.
As Starleen pointed out, what of the other, non teardrop campers who we share the campground with during a gathering?

We all grumble about one thing or another that bothers us while camping.
The above thought about, we are supposed to be camping, why don't "they" leave the radio/TV/dog/kids/whatever, at home comes up often.
But who decided what "camping" is?
We all have different opinions about what one should or shouldn't do for the experience to be "real" camping...

In the end, unless we are lucky enough to find BLM land with no one for miles, we have to learn to "camp" with other people and deal with the urban life issues that urban campers bring with them.

Educating our children is the first big step, after that, as a society we have to rely on committees and boards to create rules that allow those who refuse to be considerate to be removed so the rest of us can enjoy a reasonably peaceful existence.

Rob

Yes, Rob, you are correct. I should have qualified my statement better. Sometimes, Tearjerkers have a campground or section all to themselves and that can be okay. However, TJs, as a whole are a considerate group (at least the ones that I have camped with) and don't seem to cause much, if any, noise problems. I go to those gatherings to enjoy the people and activities and will sit by the campfire a while. That's what I meant; not that TJs are noisy. If they were noisy, I wouldn't enjoy them nearly as much.

Most campgrounds have quiet hours that are supposed to be honored. When with a group, in a special area, there may not be anyone to regulate those. Only once did I have a problem with a group of TJs, where they were a little too noisy; but, it was in a private TJ-reserved campground. When it got past midnight, I let them know how late it was and they stopped and went to bed. So, I guess, what I meant is that there is more activity when camping in such a group than there is when camping alone and, to a certain extent, one adjusts accordingly. After all, I chose to camp with them. As a whole, the Tearjerkers tend to regulate themselves fairly well. When alone, I try to camp at places where there is a host or ranger to enforce the quiet hours. When I go for peace, I am exceedingly quiet; don't even bother with a fire; and, am enjoying various quiet activities in my cabin by 9PM and expect the rules to be enforced by the hosts or rangers during designated quiet hours.

[Mary C]

Ok, so it is 10 oclock p.m. and you have just slipped into bed and the sugar plums have started their dance and all is peaceful. itis 6:00 A>M> and Bam, Kaboom, "Myrtle, did you pack the hose?" Myrtle shouts "What?", "Did You pack the Hose?" "You know I can't hear you, Kaboom, Slam, "We gotta find the hose before we leave." Myrtle screaming at the top of her lungs" The hose is in the trunk" BAM , gunning the engine just as I step out to go to the bathroom, Of course they were the ones who complained we were laughing and talking around our campfire at 9:45 Last night. Ok, I am not here to hear this so early. but it is ok, 10 to 6 is quiet time..............I think an adjustment needs to be made!!! and Myrtles husband needs to buy her a hearing aid!!!

Mary C.

[len19070]

Ok, so it is 10 oclock p.m. and you have just slipped into bed and the sugar plums have started their dance and all is peaceful. itis 6:00 A>M> and Bam, Kaboom, "Myrtle, did you pack the hose?" Myrtle shouts "What?", "Did You pack the Hose?" "You know I can't hear you, Kaboom, Slam, "We gotta find the hose before we leave." Myrtle screaming at the top of her lungs" The hose is in the trunk" BAM , gunning the engine just as I step out to go to the bathroom, Of course they were the ones who complained we were laughing and talking around our campfire at 9:45 Last night. Ok, I am not here to hear this so early. but it is ok, 10 to 6 is quiet time..............I think an adjustment needs to be made!!! and Myrtles husband needs to buy her a hearing aid!!!

Mary C.

OR!

When they decide to get an early start and are "Attempting" to back the Motor Home out of the site, in the Dark and the Back up alarm on the Motor home lets everybody know just how bad a driver "Harry" is.

Happy Trails

Len

[48Rob]

Yes, Rob, you are correct. I should have qualified my statement better. Sometimes, Tearjerkers have a campground or section all to themselves and that can be okay. However, TJs, as a whole are a considerate group (at least the ones that I have camped with) and don't seem to cause much, if any, noise problems. I go to those gatherings to enjoy the people and activities and will sit by the campfire a while. That's what I meant; not that TJs are noisy. If they were noisy, I wouldn't enjoy them nearly as much.

Most campgrounds have quiet hours that are supposed to be honored. When with a group, in a special area, there may not be anyone to regulate those. Only once did I have a problem with a group of TJs, where they were a little too noisy; but, it was in a private TJ-reserved campground. When it got past midnight, I let them know how late it was and they stopped and went to bed. So, I guess, what I meant is that there is more activity when camping in such a group than there is when camping alone and, to a certain extent, one adjusts accordingly. After all, I chose to camp with them. As a whole, the Tearjerkers tend to regulate themselves fairly well. When alone, I try to camp at places where there is a host or ranger to enforce the quiet hours. When I go for peace, I am exceedingly quiet; don't even bother with a fire; and, am enjoying various quiet activities in my cabin by 9PM and expect the rules to be enforced by the hosts or rangers during designated quiet hours.

...Sharon....

Sharon,

My reply was not aimed at you personally; I was just debating the general thoughts that are often repeated here on the forum.

Topics like "my kind of camping is okay, but the other persons isn't" and "my making noise isn't a problem that anyone should be upset about because I'm more quiet than someone else" just don't make sense.

I'll be the first to admit that I do not like many people’s "style" of camping when it causes a conflict with my personal view of what peaceful enjoyment of a campground should be (no barking dogs, no unruly screaming children, no loud music, etc, etc.) if it is out of the ordinary I will confront the party and request consideration.
However, in the end, we (most of us) are urban campers sharing a crowded space with other urban campers who all have different ideas about how to enjoy the park, and we just have to deal with the less than perfect scenario that results.

Another is the rules;
People complain because they don't like this rule or that, and get VERY upset when the rules are enforced.
The logic is lacking (to me) as when you or I choose to "rent" a spot at a campground we agree to follow the rules while we are there.
I know there are some pretty silly rules, some even unfair, however, if you don't like the rules, you shouldn't camp there.
Agreeing to the terms, then breaking the agreement and getting pissy because you don't like them/think them unfair when confronted by an authority is just wrong.

If the rules are unfair, bad, whatever, work to get them changed... before you give your word to follow them...

(If rules are not enforced evenly across the board, then that should be addressed with the higher ups so the bad egg can be removed.)

Rob

[stumphugger]

If I want quiet and peace, I don't go to a campground in the first place. I'd either stay at home or get out the backpacking equipment and take off, or boondock. When I go camping with the trailer, I'm usually going for the nearby attraction or for a specific activity, instead of quiet. I just spent a week "camping" in a football field while going to fiddling classes. My next door neighbors played bluegrass late at night, but I figured that would happen.

If I got to a state park at a lake, I'm not there to enjoy the quiet, I'm there to paddle around on the lake in my kayak, or bike around on the trails in the area.

I guess I'm lucky. I live out in the woods, where other folks come to camp.

[48Rob]

It is interesting that long, long ago, people "camped" because they were nomads, or because on the way from where they were, to where they were going, no other options existed.

Today, we long to "camp" like they did in the old days.
If we were to camp alongside those from the past, I'm sure they would question our sanity...sleeping in a tent on the cold hard ground during a storm, instead of staying in the heated and cooled hotel with running water and indoor toilets...

I understand the need/desire to get away and enjoy nature, but for a lot of us there isn't much to be had, unless we share it with all the other city folks who want the same thing.
Perhaps someday, campgrounds may be the only nature left, as zoos are to animals, campgrounds might be to us.

Rob

[Tripmaker]

Following the above discussion, it makes me conscious of the fact that at times I may have been an offender at one or more of our gatherings with loud music. Although it generally would be during afternoon hours what I thought as fun, might be objectionable to others. Sometimes we have to consider our own actions and if the shoe fits, fix it.

Before I found this thread I posted the following in "things I hate in campgrounds." It fits better here.

Generators in National Parks. Many NPs don't have electric available. At 8 am it is a symphony of generators starting up all at once. People in big rigs that can't function without their toasters, electric coffee makers, and TV, watching the clock for the magic start up time. What starts out as a peaceful sunny morning is soon turned into an exhaust filled smog ground with nothing but noise.

Generators are not usually a problem in Indiana campgrounds as electric is generally available. While electric is a convenience, we have no problem without it. Doing without everyday conveniences is part of the joy of camping.

[stumphugger]

I am learning to play fiddle. I have been known to drag it out to practice on while camping. I put a mute on it, but still worry that it might bother folks. I make sure to only play during the late morning or afternoon. I'm beyond the screeching stage, but still hit wrong notes. Nobody has complained, yet. It could be worse. I could be plunking on a banjo!

[nevadatear]

I know that we have never found acoustic live music objectionable, but rather welcomed. And a second to the generators. Her in NV there is no electric except in private parks, so gens abound. I really hate the twice or 3 times a day ones that go for at least an hour at a time. How much energy can you really use camping?

[Mojave Bob]

I love to sit by the campfire, and play the guitar. I can't imagine that anyone would object to some nice acoustic guitar music in the background.

Just like the guy across the road who has hip-hop music and disco lights can't imagine that anyone wouldn't want a party!

It is a great idea to "keep it on my campsite", and most things I can, but realistically not everything contains that easily -- the sudden laughter from a funny story, the wail of a child who fell off his new no-training-wheels bike, limited generator use to recharge a medical device (such as a c-pap). Hopefully, if I am a conscientiously considerate camper, I will be forgiven a moment of noise. As far as the other guy goes, I can let his noise/lights/kids/music/voice/dog/truck ruin my campout, or I can go for a hike in the woods, and then run my ceiling fan at night to mask the noise, falling asleep grateful that he doesn't live next door to me ALL the time.

[eggsalad]

I know that we have never found acoustic live music objectionable, but rather welcomed. And a second to the generators. Her in NV there is no electric except in private parks, so gens abound. I really hate the twice or 3 times a day ones that go for at least an hour at a time. How much energy can you really use camping?

It brings up my main beef. I specifically and intentionally camp at a single campground in Nevada. It likewise has no electric, but also has a "No Generators Allowed" policy. It's pretty much boondocking, but with pit toilets.

EVERY SINGLE TIME I camp there, at least one fool pulls in with a 40' RV and thinks the "No Generators Allowed" policy applies to everyone but HIM.

[Tripmaker]

A single generator started for a short period of time is easily tolerated. But when you are surrounded by 30 Greyhound Bus sized campers and they all start up at the stroke of the end of quiet time and then run for hours it is a bit much.

Listening to guitar music can be quite enjoyable. I don't play but at times wish I could hear what is being played better. I have never heard a solo picker that was objectionable. Go for it boys.

[Backroads4me]

Camping at state parks in the middle of the week, and staying away from the electrified part of the campgrounds, have helped with avoiding obtrusive noise levels. Also, avoiding sites near shower or flush toilet buildings. Governor Dewey SP and Perrot SP (both along the Mississippi River in WI) have the loudest, clattering floor fans in those buildings---placed there during humid or wet weather. You can hear them half a dozen sites away!

As for Governor Dewey, there's an incessant, barely audible, but highly annoying buzzing sound I can hear at night,---it's more a feeling than it is a noise. Bob told me I was nuts, as he didn't detect anything. As we were crossing the Mississippi River, on the Cassville Ferry, we ran into the young man who had occupied a site a few down from us. He had heard it too! A reviewer on a camper's website also mentioned it! Apparently, it's coming from the big Alliant Energy plant just down the river. Too bad, as it's a nice park, but we won't stay there anymore.

[Tripmaker]

Camping at state parks in the middle of the week, and staying away from the electrified part of the campgrounds, have helped with avoiding obtrusive noise levels. Also, avoiding sites near shower or flush toilet buildings. Governor Dewey SP and Perrot SP (both along the Mississippi River in WI) have the loudest, clattering floor fans in those buildings---placed there during humid or wet weather. You can hear them half a dozen sites away!

As for Governor Dewey, there's an incessant, barely audible, but highly annoying buzzing sound I can hear at night,---it's more a feeling than it is a noise. Bob told me I was nuts, as he didn't detect anything. As we were crossing the Mississippi River, on the Cassville Ferry, we ran into the young man who had occupied a site a few down from us. He had heard it too! A reviewer on a camper's website also mentioned it! Apparently, it's coming from the big Alliant Energy plant just down the river. Too bad, as it's a nice park, but we won't stay there anymore.

Next time you better make sure it isn't an Obama drone making the noise. He's watching you.

[Shadow Catcher]

Got a new one from this last weekend. Very high pitched air mattress infiltrator!