Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, etc.

[Lavabe]

I've lived/camped in a rainforest for three straight years, camped in Laos during monsoon season, and repeatedly camped in Madagascar for several months each year in 2004, 2009, and soon-to-be in 2010. I'll reserve camping stories for this year in the O Madagascar 2010 thread that will soon start up. However, comments on equipment, camping materials, etc will go in this thread.

Love camping.

Do you have photo albums online? I would love to see some of your posts.

What kind of pack(s) did you carry on your excursions? I have an old Coleman Peak 1 external frame pack. It's no where near as fancy as all the modern internal frames, but it has the best of both worlds. The frame is plastic so it flexes and gives you the agility of an internal frame, but it can be loaded down to carry a massive load. My only complaint is that I need a new hip belt because this one is getting thin, and Coleman doesn't make accessories for this pack anymore.

Miles: I still have photos from 2009 on facebook. Let me know on facebook if you can't access them.

Packs: Internal frames are needed where I work, given the rain and itchy plants we run into. I bought a chili red internal frame in 2001 (camped in the Utah Uintan Basin... mile-high desert), maybe a Columbia/Coleman/North Face (I have a photo of it in my "Mananara Five Years Later" Album on Facebook.

[Rolvix]

I do a lot of camping but very little backpacking and hiking. I work on Sailing Staff at a summer camp so we sail everywhere! I love it.

[CameronBornAndBred]

When I'm in Vegas in 2 weeks, I'm gonna do tons of hiking. I'm staying with two friends from college, one of them was selected by the national park service to serve as a guide on a video documentary they are making. She has no idea how they chose her for the project, but they start filming this year. She hikes everywhere; I'm stoked, I love hiking in the desert.

[captmojo]

The Willie Knowles Bottom Society is open for new members having interest in wilderness camping and/or fishing.
Please respond here for details.

[TillyGalore]

Has anyone stayed at KOA places? If so, what was your experience?

[Miles]

Has anyone stayed at KOA places? If so, what was your experience?

I've not stayed there so I don't have any first hand experience, but most everything I've heard has been negative. You have to understand first, that I've heard accounts from serious campers and backpackers. These are folks who want to carry it all on their back, and rough it for a few days. It seems that KOA caters more to family campers or light car campers. I would be prepared to pay more than you would for a state park, expect families with younger children (read between the lines: noisy, obnoxious, can't find the batteries to their NintendoDS or PSP so they're kinda pissed off about being in nature), crows and less than desirable locations, oh and don't forget the RVs. However, a lot of KOA sites will internet access, numerous shower and bath facilities, mini-golf, swimming pools and the like. So if you're looking for amenities, then KOA is the place to go.

I would rather stay in a State Park where the money goes to preserve the park and where I'm likely to encounter campers with similar interests.

I think it all comes down to what you want to experience.

[TillyGalore]

Has anyone stayed at KOA places? If so, what was your experience?

I've not stayed there so I don't have any first hand experience, but most everything I've heard has been negative. You have to understand first, that I've heard accounts from serious campers and backpackers. These are folks who want to carry it all on their back, and rough it for a few days. It seems that KOA caters more to family campers or light car campers. I would be prepared to pay more than you would for a state park, expect families with younger children (read between the lines: noisy, obnoxious, can't find the batteries to their NintendoDS or PSP so they're kinda pissed off about being in nature), crows and less than desirable locations, oh and don't forget the RVs. However, a lot of KOA sites will internet access, numerous shower and bath facilities, mini-golf, swimming pools and the like. So if you're looking for amenities, then KOA is the place to go.

I would rather stay in a State Park where the money goes to preserve the park and where I'm likely to encounter campers with similar interests.

I think it all comes down to what you want to experience.

I like the idea of camping, but doubt when push comes to shove I'll actually do it. I'm thinking about renting a cabin on Hatteras for a weekend.

A lady at work does KOA, which is how I got on to the idea.

[CameronBornAndBred]

KOA is cool if you're looking for a little bit less or more (depending on you look at it) than a hotel experience. They usually do offer lots of activities, it's a neat way to experience sleeping outdoors without completely roughing it.

[Miles]

Has anyone stayed at KOA places? If so, what was your experience?

I've not stayed there so I don't have any first hand experience, but most everything I've heard has been negative. You have to understand first, that I've heard accounts from serious campers and backpackers. These are folks who want to carry it all on their back, and rough it for a few days. It seems that KOA caters more to family campers or light car campers. I would be prepared to pay more than you would for a state park, expect families with younger children (read between the lines: noisy, obnoxious, can't find the batteries to their NintendoDS or PSP so they're kinda pissed off about being in nature), crows and less than desirable locations, oh and don't forget the RVs. However, a lot of KOA sites will internet access, numerous shower and bath facilities, mini-golf, swimming pools and the like. So if you're looking for amenities, then KOA is the place to go.

I would rather stay in a State Park where the money goes to preserve the park and where I'm likely to encounter campers with similar interests.

I think it all comes down to what you want to experience.

I like the idea of camping, but doubt when push comes to shove I'll actually do it. I'm thinking about renting a cabin on Hatteras for a weekend.

A lady at work does KOA, which is how I got on to the idea.

If you like the idea, but haven't put in the time yet then you might consider starting with something like KOA, but I think you could get a similar or better experience from visiting a State Park. Try car camping first, which is basically what you'll be doing at a KOA site.

Car Camping is great if you want to get the camping experience without the exertion of backpacking. A lot of parks have sites with fire rings, picnic tables and a parking space so you can pull up, pitch a tent and be camping in no time. It's kinda fun because you can still sleep in a tent, have dinner around the camp fire, and still hike the same trails and experience nature without having to shlep all your gear from the car to the site.

You could do that somewhere like Cliffs of the Neuse but go during early Sprint or Fall. I'm also really fond of PIlot Mountain, which has a variety of sites.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with a cabin in Hatteras for the weekend, but that's another thread. ;)

[DevilAlumna]

I'll be at campsite #21 this weekend. ;)

https://sanjuanco.com/reservations/Park ... spx?park=1

(Hi all!)

[Miles]

I'll be at campsite #21 this weekend. ;)

https://sanjuanco.com/reservations/Park ... spx?park=1

(Hi all!)

Looks sweet DA. Have fun.

NICE to see a post from you.

[devildeac]

I'll be at campsite #21 this weekend. ;)

https://sanjuanco.com/reservations/Park ... spx?park=1

(Hi all!)

Have a great weekend. Where ya been? And welcome back, too.

[lawgrad91]

I'll be at campsite #21 this weekend. ;)

https://sanjuanco.com/reservations/Park ... spx?park=1

(Hi all!)

Looks like fun! We'll be in Seattle (well, somewhere in the area) next month but won't camp anywhere neat but at the home of Mr. Lawgrad's sister.

[Rolvix]

Has anyone stayed at KOA places? If so, what was your experience?

I've sailed to the KOA in New Bern from Camp Don Lee in Arapahoe. We stayed near the water in the only actual campsites. From what I saw everyone else there were sleeping and living out of RV's. Very very little actual camping going on. It seems like a great idea if you wanted to RV around the country and stay at "camp grounds" that include a pool, store, bathrooms, showers, power, etc. Not so great for camping. Although it is really nice to buy a soda after two or three days of constant sailing and nothing besides water and our packed meals!

[Lavabe]

Evaluation of my tents while camping in Madagascar.
Eureka Mountain Pass XTE: Very nice dome design. I bought a new 2-person model for use this summer. It was reasonably roomy for this 6'7" person, and the vestibules (two of them) were very effective. In high heat, I wish the fly was a different color... something about that shade of blue that doesn't sit well with me. Ground floor was sturdy enough. No problems with condensation. Unfortunately, I have to complain about this model. I did approximately 4-5 weeks of camping with it, and one of the two main support poles SNAPPED. The metal just snapped... while I was in the tent. The shock cord was fine, but the pole just snapped. This is the second Eureka tent in two years that did something like this (last year, my aluminum support pole on a Eureka A-frame Timberline snapped in high wind conditions), but this year was devoid of extreme conditions. I love this tent design, but I simply cannot recommend it until I get a response from Eureka as to what might have happened.
Oh yeah... I wish the fly was another color!

Eureka Timberline: This was my backup tent this year. The A-frames are reliable (assuming you don't bring them into high wind conditions). I had a VERY tall 4-person model, which affords enough space for two Lavabes to sleep. Oddly enough, it took up less ground space than did the Mountain Pass XTE. This tent is durable, although the fly doesn't clear well the ground floor of the tent, so rainy conditions would pose some issues. Vestibule is an optional accessory. Now that I've experienced a double vestibule, I'd like to see that in the Timberline as well. The downsides of the Timberline are the weight, and the potential problems in rainy conditions. Maybe it was just the fly I have, but I really would like to see more clearance from the floor of the tent. Nonetheless, a VERY reliable tent that I'd highly recommend.

As for my backpack, my 10-year old Camptrails Catskill internal frame is still ol' reliable. GREAT model, and VERY durable. A VERY HIGH recommendation for that pack.

[Lavabe]

Evaluation of my tents while camping in Madagascar.
Eureka Mountain Pass XTE: Very nice dome design. I bought a new 2-person model for use this summer. It was reasonably roomy for this 6'7" person, and the vestibules (two of them) were very effective. In high heat, I wish the fly was a different color... something about that shade of blue that doesn't sit well with me. Ground floor was sturdy enough. No problems with condensation. Unfortunately, I have to complain about this model. I did approximately 4-5 weeks of camping with it, and one of the two main support poles SNAPPED. The metal just snapped... while I was in the tent. The shock cord was fine, but the pole just snapped. This is the second Eureka tent in two years that did something like this (last year, my aluminum support pole on a Eureka A-frame Timberline snapped in high wind conditions), but this year was devoid of extreme conditions. I love this tent design, but I simply cannot recommend it until I get a response from Eureka as to what might have happened.
Oh yeah... I wish the fly was another color!

I contacted Eureka by phone today, and they would like to see the pole, and check it out. They said it should still be covered under warranty. For them it's a new model, so they'd really like to look it over. Good customer service initially. Will report back what they say. I am glad that they want to examine the pole. That's a good sign.

[Miles]

Evaluation of my tents while camping in Madagascar.
Eureka Mountain Pass XTE: Very nice dome design. I bought a new 2-person model for use this summer. It was reasonably roomy for this 6'7" person, and the vestibules (two of them) were very effective. In high heat, I wish the fly was a different color... something about that shade of blue that doesn't sit well with me. Ground floor was sturdy enough. No problems with condensation. Unfortunately, I have to complain about this model. I did approximately 4-5 weeks of camping with it, and one of the two main support poles SNAPPED. The metal just snapped... while I was in the tent. The shock cord was fine, but the pole just snapped. This is the second Eureka tent in two years that did something like this (last year, my aluminum support pole on a Eureka A-frame Timberline snapped in high wind conditions), but this year was devoid of extreme conditions. I love this tent design, but I simply cannot recommend it until I get a response from Eureka as to what might have happened.
Oh yeah... I wish the fly was another color!

I contacted Eureka by phone today, and they would like to see the pole, and check it out. They said it should still be covered under warranty. For them it's a new model, so they'd really like to look it over. Good customer service initially. Will report back what they say. I am glad that they want to examine the pole. That's a good sign.

That's awesome! What is the model of tent with the pole collapse?

[Lavabe]

That's awesome! What is the model of tent with the pole collapse?

Eureka Mountain Pass 2XTE.
Unfortunately, the fly is a shade of blue between that of Carowhinea and the Land of the Lost.