Is it just me?

[GerryS]

I made it out this weekend, we visited a state park which we've been too probably dozens oof times in the past 10 years. 3-4 times a year there is not uncommon. The majority of campers were new...brand new. I suspect covid campers.

This has has made getting reservations near impossible....but the bigger issue is behavior.

We saw children chopping trees, climbing the same, pulling fallen underbrush from the woods (which is not allowed in Indiana) and many many loud stereo systems, even after dark....The spot next to us this weekend had a dj speaker. When my wife asked them (at 10:45) to turn it down they ignored and one was even verbally assaulting.

Was my first outing of 2021 just bad luck, or are you seeing similar in your parks?

Obviously going camping, and being good examples to new campers is great --- but what are you doing to support your parks? I hate to simply just complain, without some solution...

[TimC]

I hope it's just you...

Just kidding. I do hope the yahoos tire of the outdoor life quickly. From trashing campgrounds to partying large late into the night and burning trash in the camp fires. We've all experienced it. One reason I tend to boondock away from the crowds. A secluded spot without a beautiful view beats an obnoxious neighbor hands down. There's lots of Natl Forest out there. Might be worth investing in some off grid equipment.

[QueticoBill]

Its everywhere. I'm a Boundary Waters frequenter and it suffered unprecedented damage. Trash, live trees cut. Garbage in latrines and campfire rings. Noise. About a third more than previous yearly for a decade. This coming year is predicted tobe worse. Very sad.

[Tom&Shelly]

Shelly and I were pleased with Bandelier and its campsite last week. Granted we were there during the week, and during one of the first series of days of good camping weather, but the site and restrooms were clean, and the neighbors reasonably quiet. (Not many kids--they're still in school.)

I picked up one bottle cap in our site--that was the only trash.

Tom

[aggie79]

Regarding reservations, in Texas it is hard to find available campsites less than 3 months out. Last week, we camped at Lake Murray State Park in Oklahoma. Mid-week only about half of the sites were occupied. By Friday evening, even with severe weather during the day, the park was packed. Fortunately, behavior was good.


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[Shadow Catcher]

Virtually all our reservations were made months ago. We speculated this would be necessary after our trip last year.
We saw seven teardrops in two week, and seldom have seen more than one.

[friz]

Yes, Covid is bringing people in to the outdoors that should be somewhere vandalizing a Chucky Cheese and refusing to pay their bill because someone said something.

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[MickinOz]

Here in my home town, the nearest local beach has a strip of vegetation between it and the highway that is a coastal conservation reserve.
Its one of the few pieces of public land close enough to home that I can go after work for a walk amongst the trees.

Walking in the reserve is allowed - motorcycles and camping are not.
I wouldn't mind the fact that most ignore the signs in this unpoliced park.

Except - the bloody campers never take their rubbish with them.
And the moron motorcyclists never stick to the existing tracks.

I get it - I'm a motorcyclist and it looks a great place to ride. Except they are forever leaving the tracks and shredding the fragile coastal vegetation.
And there are some brilliant camping spots - if it wasn't for the rubbish left behind by the last lot.
And people who don't want to pay landfill fees have been sneaking the odd trailer load of rubbish in too.

It can't be long. One day there will be nothing left but eroded sand dunes strewn with broken bottles, chairs, awnings, bricks, car bodies and discarded disposable nappies(diapers).

Bloody infuriating.
Heartened a bit the other day - a guy told me he had seen a couple of people walking the scrub picking up rubbish.
It has inspired me to get off my butt and do the same.

[GerryS]

I am selling an rv I own. I was talking to a consignment seller who’s experiencing a flood of people selling rigs. I can only hope they are COVID campers who realized this isn’t what they thought it was….not old timers not wanting to deal with arseholes any more.

Regardless, I think we’ll be aiming for shoulder month camping….

Mean people suck. Hopefully good people win in the end….

[Woodbutcher]

I was out camping several times in 2020, including a 2 week trip to Wyoming. We did see many new campers and several families that were traveling and living in their rigs. Parents worked remotely and kids were remote learning so they could do all this from anywhere. A few we talked to had been on the road since April and were having a great time seeing the country. As for noise, or bad behavior in camp grounds, I saw nothing unusual. Most popular parks were full, but people were respectful and distancing was observed. I expect that same this year. All my 2021 trips have been reserved already. If someone is interested in buying a new rig, wait until 2022. There will be a glut of barely used units for sale.

[GerryS]

I was out camping several times in 2020, including a 2 week trip to Wyoming. We did see many new campers and several families that were traveling and living in their rigs. Parents worked remotely and kids were remote learning so they could do all this from anywhere. A few we talked to had been on the road since April and were having a great time seeing the country. As for noise, or bad behavior in camp grounds, I saw nothing unusual. Most popular parks were full, but people were respectful and distancing was observed. I expect that same this year. All my 2021 trips have been reserved already. If someone is interested in buying a new rig, wait until 2022. There will be a glut of barely used units for sale.

I'm encouraged to hear that my bad weekends this spring so far may be not as universal. Our last trip was hellish. The only one worse was last fall at a "Thousand Fails" park where there was a biker wedding that got out of control. Nothing quite as lovely as straight-pipe Harley at 2am revving their engines and barking at the moon. The saddest part here is that Thousand Fails was basically helpless....the local staff told me that "corporate" wouldn't allow them to do anything. So we cancelled our plans which fortunately was not one of their multi-thousand dollar buy in packages.

If you are going to buy a rig of >any< kind --- I think my only recommendation is to wait if you can - perhaps just a few months - and whatever you do --- buy it with cash. We're trying to sell our rig now (because it doesn't fit our lifestyle) and if we had a lien on it...we'd be screwed. Nothing wrong with toys...not at all. Just remember the saying "A boat owners happiest day is when buys his boat. His second happiest day is when he sells it"

I'm happy to be upgrading from a big-rig to a tiny camper and planning on targeting shoulder months for its primary use. March/April/May and October/November/December offer the best camping anyway...cool nights, warm fires, and less people. I know here in the hinterland, a camp site in the summer is $30 -- the same site off-peat is $10-12 less per night.

I'm looking forward to heading out west again....maybe next year....we love it out there. I want to make it to Idaho, I have been told its "Gods Country" out there. Eastern Wyoming is as far as we've made it. One of our best trips so far has been to the badlands area. With the exception of the extreme disapointment in Deadwood, we loved it. Sundance Wyoming had a fantastic RV park we stayed at, one of the best steakhouses we've been too, and a wonderful big sky.

[GerryS]

Well crud -- that was easy.

For the first time in more than a decade....I have no camper!!! Crap....

its true...the happiest day is the day you buy an RV. The second happiest is when you sell it. Guess I'll watch CVK and Nomadic Fanatic and live vicariously for a few months until my new rig is ready....This is truly a bitter sweet day.


Very bittersweet day.

[dbhosttexas]

I honestly have not been to state parks for camping in several years as I have set up for boondocking / off grid camping. HOWEVER it's not because I am avoiding the parks, but rather, that here in TX getting reservations at ANY state park needs to be done at least 3 months prior to taking the trip. And I just can't plan that far out. HOWEVER due to my job, I CAN camp during the week as long as I have power and 4G or WiFi so I am planning a couple of fall trips...

Due to some gear upgrades that were pressed on me by some health changes, it might look to a casual observer that I am new at this.

I have a new Ozark Trail Dark Rest 10 person instant cabin tent.
A new Joolca Ensuite Double instant shower shelter.
and hopefully soon...
A new EZ Up Spectator 13x13 canopy in gray / blue.

Notice they are all instant set up items. And FWIW, I am selling off my prior non instant set versions.

I am getting older, and my back, and knees don't like the bending.

What I have noticed at the beach, and in dispersed camping at hunters camps here in TX.

There are FAR too many people that are tying out camping, with no information on what they are doing, or how to not trash the back country.

I am fearful these same people that are doing the trashing, will see the trashed back country and demand that we be regulated out of it.

While they are not without their faults, I can honestly say that the things I learned in the scouts has kept me from behaving like an absolute fool in the woods. And given me a great appreciation for what we have. I am not saying Scouting should be mandatory, but responsible outdoor retailers, and groups should teach outdoor ethics. How to use the back country in a sustainable manner, and how to treat others around you.

And parks... They used to actually patrol for noise violations. When my wife and I were first camping together as a couple, we had some obnoxiously loud folks that were asked by the Rangers to turn the stereo off after 10:00, after waiting for the ranger to round a corner, but not out of earshot, turned it straight back up. Well they had sherriffs on them and were being made to pack up and leave by 11:00 P.M. This was at Huntsville State Park in TX, And probably 2006...