Yuck is my first reaction. Definitely not a wilderness experience with all those campsites pushed right up and against each other. Much rather spend time in the wilderness where the nearest other person is a quarter or even half mile or further away.

Campground camping reminds me a lot of being in a crowded apartment building downtown. Yes, I get you have to live in the city to make a good income. But when I’m away from the city the last thing I really want to be is camping around other people. I want my space. I want to have fires, burn whatever, listen to music, shoot guns and do what I want.

Campgrounds remind me a lot of the houses I see advertised. I don’t want neighbors, I really don’t care about those fancy features and urban conveniences. Supposedly Forest Preserve intensive use areas are rustic but it sure doesn’t feel that way with so many people crowded around. When I own land, I want to own acerage and do what I want it and not be so crowded that people get bent out of shape over a bit of smoke.

That said, it’s kind of peaceful and nice at the Sacandaga River Campground this time of year when it’s gated and no one else is around. It’s neat to be the tip of the West Branch and Main Branch of the Scandaga River but I can’t imagine camping here in the summer months when there is hundreds if not thousands of people around.