Reading posts in this forum there seems to be a wide diversity in outdoor/survival experience. I'm just curious how many camp often and how many don't have the opportunity to get out.

We don't get out evey month but there are months we are gone every weekend

My take is the more you practice, the more comfortable you are when you need to make due.

Oooh, I want to see the replies to this thread.

Does camping in the back yard overnight count if your supper is cooked over an open fire? If so, about 3-4 times per year I think.

We go car camping about 2-3 times a year. Well, I expect that we'll go car camping 3 times this year. I am new to this stuff, and never went camping at all until recently. We usually camp for only one night.

DH is slowly trying to get me to go camping more often. He's learned that if he makes it extremely pleasant for me (re: he does all the work and we have *lots* of gear), I'm more likely to go camping. In return, I experience just how important it is to stay warm at night and have enough water, etc.

-Kuovonne

Like my DW said, we only go out camping a few times a year but I am working on getting her & DD out more. I do spend a lot of time hiking and canoeing without the family though. I get pretty cranky if I can't get out into the woods at least every other week.

The areas where I hike give me a lot of practice in wilderness survival skills. Dangers include poisonous snakes, feral pigs, wild dogs, quicksand, floods, meth labs, poachers, and abandoned oil wells. However, I rarely go alone, I let Kuovonne know when I'll be back, I'm a trained "First Responder" and carry a large 1st aid kit, I usually carry too many knives (SAK, Leatherman Wave, Mora, and a 6" kukri) and too much water. I also carry a cell phone, a large bamboo hiking staff, several different ways to start a fire, rope, a lightweight hammock, gps unit, three compasses, and a topo map of the area. Meanwhile my hiking buddy *might* have some water. He lost the knife I gave him within a week. He sees how much I bring and always says he'll start doing the same, but he never does.

While out there I practice identifying (and eating!) edible plants, stalking animals (except the pigs), experimenting with different clothing and gear, and building fires. At some point I'll pitch the hammock and spend an hour listening to the birds. This isn't camping, but it is getting out into the wilderness and it helps hone my skills and recharge my batteries. Plus, the more I learn and practice the easier it is to keep DW happy in the woods. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

-Blast

We're impeded by that unusually busy time of life when the kids are all just about ready to launch out, career re-start for wife, second career for me, etc. so it's only been averaging about 17 weekends and 1-2 weeks per year lately. I have no idea how many day trips, but that's down a lot as well. I look forward to a lot more time on the trail in 2-3 years. Before kids we were out most weekends and when the kids were younger, about every other weekend plus 3-4 weeks per year.

I don't go camping so much as I would prefer, but it's enough to keep my skills up-to-date.

The problem is that the general idea of camping in the Netherlands is standing on a grass field with big trailers and all the luxury you can think of. So there are not a lot of 'basic' campings where you can stay in a self-made shelter or practice your skills.

You must have a permit to camp, start a fire and fish in The
Netherlands, so that's also a problem.

Not often enough! I used to camp regularly when I was younger and had access to the deserts of the Southwest and the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. But in the Midwest you're typically next to a muddy river and it's just not the same. We do however take the Grandkids out for a backyard campfire quite often and will be setting up the tent for summer sleepouts.

You are absolutely correct. People will be much more comfortable with their kits if they use them occasionally for camping. Having spent 10 years as a surveyor in Northern Idaho, (and a lot of it with a camp on site) I look forward to the Grandkids getting older so I can teach them some fun skills.

how are you going to carry those large knifes to oversea destinations? Wouldn't US customs confiscate them? you would be naked by the of arrival at destination. All the gears will be gone including some the clothes.

Not often enough. Maybe 10 nights a year.

I go car-camping once or twice a year. This does not involve walking far from civilisation, more driving to a registered camp-site that at least has a shower-block, and getting the tent out of the boot. Cooking is limited to coffee, and noodles if I am feeling ambitious.

Picard120,

I live in Texas, there's no need to go anywhere else to camp/hike/canoe/mountain bike/rock climb/fish/hunt/etc. We have forests, mountains, canyons, swamps, lakes, rivers (calm and white water) and many places where the stars are so bright you can actually read by them at night. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That being said, when I do travel overseas I just bring the SAK (zipped-tied to a brace in my checked luggage). When I get to my destination I snip the ziptie with a fingernail clippers. If I'm outside the USA then I'm working which usually involves business suits and 5-star hotels. While there I don't get much time to spend in the woods. The SAK is enough for urban survival and usually doesn't raise any eyebrows. If I need a bigger knife I'll find one. Even places outside the USA have kitchens. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and as far as US Customs agents goes, they don't inspect luggage on the way out of the country. And I've found that they aren't to picky when I come home, either. They didn't bat an eye when I came back from China with a sword in my checked suitcase. They only confiscate stuff that is illegal to own in the USA like certian endangered animal skins or illegal pharmacuticals. They don't care about knives. Baggage handlers might steal them, but US Customs have no offical reason to take the knives.

-Blast

*scratches behind ear with foot*

OK, maybe I missed it in intros.....

Blast, you and Kuovonne are together?

If no, oops. Foot in mouth illness on my part. If yes, how did I miss it for so long? I wonder who else did?

You REALLY just caught that???
Here I thought you were a little bit sharper than I was <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Troy

So did I. I used to be. I'm slipping, that's all there is to it.

Wow sounds like none of us get out as much as they'd like. I try for once a month but sometimes end up with an empty month and two or three in one month, which doesn't make my wife too happy cause she misses at least one. Could be she's just trying to put me on and really does like us gone.

I lived in the UK for four years. I camped the black forest once, but prefered the Brecken Beacons in Wales. We used to go there at least twice a year. The farmer that owned the property where we camped was very nice and always stopped to visit a little when we were there.

Camping in the backyard can count, as long as the extension cord doesn't run back to the house so the TVs on. In the winter, if there is such a thing in Arizona, we'll fire up the bon fire in the back yard, put a tarp on the ground with sleeping bas and sleep under a dark winter sky. It's the best view of the stars.

I go car camping 5-6 times a year and usually take one or two backpacking trips per year. Fortunately California offers a myriad of opportunities to do backcountry hiking and camping.

Lately I have been testing out my BugOutBags on the cross country trail next to my house. Its pretty steep up and down the hills for about 3 miles, so both me and my bag get a good workout.

Yep, I met her in 1996 and she quickly convinced me that I was in love with her. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> She's my wife, my best friend, my navigator and as far as being prepared I know she has my back. I'm the luckiest guy I know.

-Blast

I go 5-6 times a year now. Not nearly enough. Part of the reason is that a lot of the places I used to go now have luxery homes on them, liberally decorated with "NO TRESPASSING" signs. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Boy do I know how that is. Northern Arizona is dotted with homes of retired Kalifornians. They put up Private property and no Trespassing signs everywhere. The problem for them is in Arizona, if the road was public access for two years or more prior to them purchasing the property they can't deny access across their property.

Backpacking and snow camping a couple times a month. I avoid car camping - the crowds, mess and noise generally turn me off - but getting way into the backcountry is one of my favorite things to do.

I've tuned a FAK, PSK and "PIK" (personal info kit - maps, permits, ID, note paper and mini pen) for backpacking use, and try to go as lightweight as possible with gear. What I've learned from that has trickled into my home emergency kits, flight bag, and BOB as well.

I don't think that I did a formal "My name is ... and I'm married to ..." intro. I figured that I can contribute as my own person, so no need to link myself with some crazy guy already on the boards who I think is way too extreme.



He was drunk.



Yeah, that's me tapping you on your back, telling you that I'm wilting and you better darn well rescue me fast.

-Kuovonne

I didn't mean it to sound like that. Sorry if it did.

I actually think it's pretty interesting, becuase we get two perspectives on a given situation. WIthout sounding heartless, it gives us a chance to see the efforts to make two people's abilities complimenting eachother in prep. We all have to do this, but the chance to observe, even if in snippets, as a third party, gives the rest of us tips.

I usually notice things fairly quickly, that's all.

Does "camping" include Hurricane (s) Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne and Wilma......if so.....I've had enough! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

We have the same problem in New England, except they come from the Boston-Washington corridor. Push land values so high, normal people won't be able to own homes around in here in 10 years. And forget hiking off state land- can't do it already, and there are too many pot crops in the state forests for it to be a good idea.

Yeah, you folks have been getting more than your fair share of "camping" lately, haven't you???

Troy

Hey, Iron !

where is your "situational awareness " gone ???

<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

(I have to admit I didn't catch on the relation on the first posts, but after a few...)

Took the Little ones (aged 7 and 9) to a remote area of Lake Meed this weekend. It was a no tent, bare camp trip because it's 4X4 trail access. It was a great trip. Taught my 7 yr old to cast a spin caster. It got it straight away and casts one better than some adults I know. The best part was making a fire and cooking some of the butt load of Striped Bass we caught.

My brother in law and family like to "camp" frequently. They pull their big camping trailer behind their truck and have the DVD player, microwave (for s'mores after the fire is out) X-Box, remote control cars to play with...you know...camping.

We went to visit them when they were "camping" once and I thought to myself, "they can stay at home and be lazy slobs, why haul all this stuff a couple of hours away from home to do the same things they do at home?"

Their friend did have a chance to practice his fire making skills though. It didn't involve any tinder, but there was some lighter fluid and an electric fan involved... <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> How embarrasing to be related to people like that!

I'll step up. I missed it too. It took both partners in the same thread for me to catch it. Never quite understood "DH", figured it was a nickname of some sort, until I saw a "DW" in the same thread. I figured "DW" didn't refer to the "Arthur" character, then I checked the locations, and things clicked into place.

I won't razz you about situational awareness, or starting to slip or anything like that ironraven...'cause if I pointed a finger at you, I'd be pointing three back at myself <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Kuovonne made it sound like a 12 step meeting...

"My name is Ors, and I'm <insert favorite here> (equipped, gearaholic, knife and multitool addict, etc.) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've got to respect that independence though (I can post on this forum as my own person).

When we were talking about personalized plates for the cars, my wife said, "I think I'll have mine say "ORSWIFE". I said, "What for? You're an individual, you're not just my wife (not like that's a great honor btw!)" So...rugged, independant...Lara Croft she's not, but at least her plate doesn't say "ORSWIFE" <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

"They pull their big camping trailer behind their truck...."

I go on one camping trip like that a year. Most of the members of my extended family won't do tents, let alone lean-to's or debris shelters, so for them it's either RV camping or no camping at all. I notice that the older one gets, the less one likes sleeping on the ground. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

That's why they make hammocks.
By the way... have you had a chance to get the Hennessy out yet this year, Frenchy???

Troy

"DW" means "Dear Wife"
"DH" means "Dear Husband" (or sometimes Damn Husband!)
"DD" is "Dear Daughter"

JIM, can you please add these to the acronym list?
-Blast

I figured the W and H part...and kind of guessed that the D might be variable <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The D is variable in my house too <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I seem to camp about once a month, usually leading a Boy Scout group. We camp year round, which gets a little chilly in winter here in New England, but, the colder it gets, the more the boys seem to enjoy it. (It is harder to recruit the adult leaders for the trips in winter though...)

We probably do about 50% camping with too much gear (back of the truck/van etc...) , and 50% hiking/backpacking or canoeing and camping on a river or lake. The amount of gear we bring on the backpacking trips is significantly reduced, but, we don't seem to miss it that much. The boys get to figure out what's really important when they have to hump it on their back for a few days.

Once a year, we teach "Wilderness Survival" merit badge. I really enjoy that weekend. One thing that we have them do is hike about 5 miles from the base camp, with just their day hiking essentials. They then have to build their own primative shelter, bedding, etc, and spend the night alone. It's funny how some boys can do it, and sleep like a log, and others will spend most of the night awake. For either scenario, they always come back really proud of what they did.

If you've never spent a night out, with nothing but what's in your pockets, you're missing a great experience.

I agree whole heartedly. People are far more creative than they think. When we are put into a position of doing with what you have on hand, it's pretty suprising how well you can do. it also lets you know what you really need and what you don't.

I take my kids bare camping quite often and they love it. I challenge them to come up with different ways to build shelters, make comfortable sleeping arrangements etc. It's pretty suprising what an un-biased mind will come up with to a particular problem.

Concider it done:
AMK: Adventure Medical Kits
ASP: Aviation Survival Pak
PSK: Personal Survival Kit
FSK: Fire Starting Kit
FAK: First Aid Kit
SAK: Swiss Army Knife
EDC=Every Day Carry
BOB=BugOut or BailOut Bag
RSK=Ritter Survival Knife
SAR=Search And Rescue
AIRSAVE - (USAF) (see also, PALS & MOLLE)
ALICE - All-Purpose Lightweight Carrying Equipment
AM - Amplitude Modulation
BOB - Bug out bag
BTW - By the Way
EAS - Emergency Alert System
EMP - Electro-Magnetic Pulse
Epirb: Electronic positioning indicating radio beacon
FM - Frequency Modulation
FRS - Family Radio Service
CB - Citizens Band
CHP - California highway patrol
CPR - Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
CRKT - Columbia River Knife and Tool
CW - Continuous Wave (synonymous with radio Morse Code)
DIY - Do it Yourself
EBR - Energy bar wrapper (??)
EDC - Everyday carry
ETS - Equipped to survive
FWIW - For What it’s worth.
GMRS - General Mobile Radio Service
GPS - Global Positioning Satellite
Ham - Amateur radio operator (not really an acronym)
HF - High Frequency
HTH - Hope this helps
IIRC - If I recall Correctly
IMHO - In my humble opinion (also; In my honest Opinion)
LBTOJ - Little brown truck of joy ( UPS)
LED - Light Emitting Diode
LTS - Long Term Survival
MLB - Major League Baseball
MOLLE - Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (USMC) (also PALS)
MRE - Meals Ready to Eat (Military Rations)
MURS - Multi-Use Radio Service
NHL - National Hockey League
N.O. - New Orleans
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
SWAT: Special Weapons And Tactics
SF: Special Forces
NOAA - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
OTOH - On the Other Hand
PALS - Pocket Attachment Ladder System (US Army) (also MOLLE)
POV - Privately Owned Vehicle
PSP - Pocket Survival Pak
RSK - Ritter survival knife
RSKM2 – Ritter Survival Knife w/ M2 High Speed Steel
RTG’S - Radioisotope thermal electric generators
SAME - Specific Area Message Encoding (NOAA EAS feature)
SCUBA - Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
SAR - Search and rescue
SAS - Special air service
MMT: Mobile Medical Team

SRLB - Self Righting Life Boat
"DW" means "Dear Wife"
"DH" means "Dear Husband" (or sometimes Damn Husband!)
"DD" is "Dear Daughter"

I was about to make the same answer/post !! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I will try to spend a night or two in it at the end of the month, weather permitting.

>>I will try to spend a night or two in it at the end of the month, weather permitting

<img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />What does "weather permitting" mean? We're camping Friday - Sunday. It's supposed to rain all weekend, but, if I tried to cancel the trip, the boys in the troop would probably lash together a stocks to put me in or something...

Part of the fun is trying to have a good time, and make things comfortable even when the weather doesn't cooperate. We did cancel one trip this winter because they were forecasting blizzard conditions. It did get real windy and cold, although we only had minimal snowfall. Still, it was a judgement call on safety. And it was my call. I tend to be conservative on that so we don't end up as a case study on the ETS web site!

(Actually, most of the guys still wanted to go, but, I would have had to fight too many mom's <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

You mean OUTSIDE?! Oh, the horror, the Horror. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Now, if you're talking about inside, in front of the TV wired up for digital cable, with my ancient adopted chihuahua curled up next to me, contentedly snoring away, then the answer is yes. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

Now that my twins are in Boy Scouts we are going once a month. We are heading to somewhere around Sedona on the 19th. That is wife, three sons (14,11,11) and Troop 824.

EeeeeHaaaa! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well .... let's put it that way :
- too hot, the Juran?on wine (to drink along with the foie gras) in my flask won't stay at the correct temperature ;
- rainy means the toats (to eat along with the foie gras) won't stay crispy ;
- too cold has nothing to do with the foie gras ; but as I don't have the winter option under the Hennessy hammock, it means I will freeze my butt, which I don't like either ...
<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now, more serioulsy, it's just that I don't have a lot of experience with outdoor camping (and that's the understatement of the year) and I prefer to test everything in a non too harsh climate .... End of may should be fine in the east of France...

I know exactly what you mean. For me, too cold is when the wine freezes in the box and the spout won't work, and too hot means I can't keep the 7-Eleven burritos frozen. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

FYI - The great city of Chicago has banned the sale of foie gras.

First hand guns, now foie gras, next they'll ban paracord!!

OMYGOD !
not paracord !!!???!!!

LOL ....

Ha !

I knew someone would understand me <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

one that ironraven uses that I think is list worthy:

BOT- Bag Of Tricks

<img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />