Camping 2010: Pictures, Stories, Etc...

Auzzie-Phoenix · #1 06-11-2010, 04:28 AM

Yes... it's that time of year again. Where we sacrifice ourselves as mosquito treats and go camping. Yes, I said camping. It's almost the only time being a pyromaniac comes in handy.... Plus there's the bit about being allowed and encouraged to utilize an axe.

Post photos from your trips, and share the amusing stories. Recommendations on your favorite places to camp in your state are highly encouraged. Remember, if the site you camp in has electrical hookups, it's not considered camping (unless you don't use the electric). Sorry camper and rv people, tents are the way to go unless you go open air camping (sleeping bags only).

So let's start this off...

I am camping at Mohican State Park this weekend. Leaving in a few hours. I will take pictures and post them up sometime next week.

DRafalske · #2 06-11-2010, 07:24 AM

Well, I'm an RVer, but only because my wife won't sleep in a tent. And hey, I gotta admit the AC is nice in the summer!
I see you're from Columbus, so I'll recommend a few reasonably close to you:
General Butler State Park, Carrollton, KY
Versailles State Park, Versailles, IN
Blue Licks Battlefield State Park, Near Maysville, KY
The Dunes State Park, Northern Indiana

Happy camping, can't wait to get out myself.

MatticusMania · #3 06-11-2010, 10:16 AM

I'll see if I can get a few pics from my last camping trip.

no, not those pics...

DRafalske · #4 06-11-2010, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I'll see if I can get a few pics from my last camping trip.

no, not those pics...

Ya know, those are really the only ones we want to see

MatticusMania · #5 06-11-2010, 11:17 AM

I am under the impression this thread was started with only that intention in mind.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #6 06-15-2010, 12:15 AM

No... I just like camping. Just got home today, I need to upload the pics to the computer and sort through them. I was experimenting photographing the night sky, and harrassing the raccoons with the camera flash since they wouldn't let me eat.

There was a fox hanging around the campsites where I was at, but I only saw it for a second or two before it went back into the woods. Not enough time to fish the camera out of the carrying case.

It rained sat. night, so couldn't do much once it started. Will give credit to the new tents, they do fairly well at keeping the rain out even when it's pouring. Best purchase in camping gear still goes to the axe though. It made short work out of breaking up the firewood. A/C would be nice... but I still believe in camping the way it was meant to be.

Pictures will be forthcoming, but as mentioned, I have to upload and sort through them, then upload them to webspace for linkage.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #7 06-15-2010, 12:33 AM

bah... only a few of the pictures turned out well, and they're daytime shots. All the night stuff has way too much grain. One of these days I'll find that perfect balance for night photography settings. Still going to post the best of the pictures up though, once I've resized and uploaded them.

elgecko · #8 06-15-2010, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auzzie-Phoenix

Yes... it's that time of year again.

In SoCal, we camp year-round!

Here's a climbing pic from the Alabama Hills a few weeks ago. I didn't take many pics, but Mt. Whitney (highest peak in the lower 48) dominated the scenery and the trout fishing was good. Killer times!

Otter · #9 06-15-2010, 04:00 AM

Did an overnighter on May 17th/18th. The trail head was my driveway.

Follow this link to see the camp location, remember to turn on "Earth" to get the full effect!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...70631&t=h&z=13

Here is a link to some pictures:

http://s535.photobucket.com/albums/e...bum_view_click

Chopper · #10 06-15-2010, 04:18 AM

**SoComSurfing** · #11 06-15-2010, 08:15 AM

I've only been out a few weekends so far this year, all around coastal AL. Didn't plan any "destination"-type camps, it was all just to test out some new gear. I'm hoping later this month that I'll get to spend 2-3 days on the Bartram Canoe Trail here in the Alabama River Delta above Mobile Bay. I'm hoping that will be a chance to test a new kayak, but finding the right one is proving to be pretty difficult. I want to get a larger tent this summer, too. My main tent is a Mountain Hardware PCT2, but I really consider it a one-man. It would be pretty cramped trying to get two in there, so I'm wanting something for car-camping and river trips where the weight and size doesn't really matter.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #12 06-15-2010, 02:44 PM

The Ozark Trail 3 room tent is roomy. it's 20x11x6, and fairly easy to set up even with just one person. However, good luck ever getting that thing to go back into the package it came in.

**SoComSurfing** · #13 06-15-2010, 03:49 PM

Even my 2-man (realistically 1-man) Mountain Hardware is difficult to get back into its stuff-sack. I'm probably going to go with something along the lines of the REI Quarterdome 4-man. From my understanding, though, the Ozark Trail brand is made by Coleman, so there's something to be said about their quality, as well. I've still got my Coleman dome that my parents bought me for Cub/Boy Scouts about 15 years ago. Its in good shape but I think I'm going to give it to some friends who want to start camping more, but don't want to sink too much money into gear until they know they'll stick with it.

TheSuzie · #14 06-15-2010, 04:01 PM

Does this count as camping? I live without fire because smoke kind of makes me not breathe.
Been outgassing my tent since 2007 but I still can't stand it.

This tough guy with a big ear ring and a leather jacket kept coming by. He thought I was invading his space.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #15 06-15-2010, 04:11 PM

Well, the ozark trail 3 room tent only allowed minimal water into the tent, and it rained for 6+ hours... so that tells me something about the quality. As per fitting it back into the zipper bag it came in... never going to happen. I'm just going to designate that bag for the poles for both the tent and screen tent. I'll start storing the tents in a canvas military duffel from the army/navy store, and will probably stuff my sleeping bag into the duffel as well.

The tent is nice though. Has a zipper near the "door" that you can use to put shoes/boots,etc... into the tent without walking in first, as well as an electrical cord port if you use electricity at your campsites. Has a 3 tier hanging storage shelf as well. I utilized the top shelf to put a small LED lantern for basic lighting.

The cost of the tent is $119.00 + tax at walmart (at least it is here in ohio). So it's not that expensive when compared with the coleman name brand stuff. As with all tents, if it's stored with the poles, it gets a bit heavy though.

I'll have pictures up later tonight. I went through them on the memory card, wasn't pleased with 95% of them. But some of them will be going up anyway. Right now, though... I'm going to the all you can eat chinese buffet for some much needed food.

Joe Gress · #16 06-15-2010, 05:00 PM

Was supposed to have gone last weekend, but instead we stayed home and accomplished what we had intended to do on the trip anyways. Drink and do nothing.

mtizzle · #17 06-15-2010, 06:29 PM

I went a few weeks ago. I don't have any pictures, though. I went with a large group, and we stayed at a place called the Squirrel's Nest at Unicoy State Park in Helen, GA. It was great!

Auzzie-Phoenix · #18 06-15-2010, 08:37 PM

Pics as promised:

Well, there you have it.... the best of the pictures taken... the rest failed miserably due to improper camera settings for conditions.

rr5025 · #19 06-15-2010, 08:55 PM

Alright heres a question. I'd like to get a solid 2 man tent. Something lightweight and good for backpacking. Something cheap too. Anyone have any suggestions?

**SoComSurfing** · #20 06-15-2010, 09:05 PM

Hmm... what kind of backpacking? Do you want to just use walk-in campsites like a lot of state parks have (usually no more than a mile from parking), or do you want to do "trekking" type of backpacking? Cheap is almost as relative in camping gear as it is in basses. Just today I spent almost $20 on a titanium spork when I have already have two plastic ones and a plastic utensil set, which combined cost me under $5. Then again... I'm slowly becoming obsessive about my pack's weight and moving towards ultralight hiking. I thought today about picking up a 25-30L backpack to downsize from my 65L.

Back to your question... REI's Half-Dome 2 and Half-Dome 2+ are nice tents. I personally would opt for the 2+. The North Face Tadpole 23 gets a lot of great reviews, but I found it a bit too cramped. For that matter, I usually find TNF and Mountain Hardware to size their tents a bit too small (and I'm 5'9"... not tall by any means). I don't have any experience with the MSR tents, but they are supposed to be some of the nicest available.

If I had to buy a new 2-man right now, and if price and weight were an issue, I'd go with THIS ONE. If weight were not so much an issue, I'd choose THIS ONE. Just to give you an idea.