Truck Camping
Truck Camping inside the Mall of America
Full Time Truck Camping?
Would I consider full-time truck camping …
The answer is probably no. As much as I like traveling on the weekends or an occasional week of vacation, I actually kind of like the ordinary routine of going to work, taking the bus back and forward, and my boring old apartment, walking down to the library and around town.
1) I’ve never been one for driving — I was hesitant to get my drivers license until I was age 18 — but sometimes it’s necessary, especially if I want to spend time in the wilderness.
2) Camping gets tiring after a number of days — it’s a lot of work to set up, take down, and the other tasks at that are part of camping.
3) I miss having hot showers — One of the things I don’t like about camping is the lack of showers. I like to be able to get clean, and outside of the summer months when there are parks and swimming holes to clean oneself off.
4) Rainy cold days are a drag in woods — While on the balance most of my road trips are enjoyable, rainy and wet days can be a drag, hiding out in the hot tent or truck cap. My apartment is small but still much larger than a tent.
5) I like having consistency, a plan for tomorrow. The truth is working a 9-5 job may be boring but it’s a consistent paycheck and as long as I work hard and don’t screw too many things up. It’s not a search for a new job or a little thing to make it through the next day.
6) Traveling is remarkably expensive. Even when you camp in the wilderness there are a lot of consumable expenses from fuel to food. Having a good 9-5 job helps save for a better tomorrow.
Now there is a lot more of America I’d like to see in the coming years – not the big tourist destinations but the backroads and the lesser venues that I can enjoy.
Two Nights In The Wisconsin Northwoods – I Ate Squirrel (Truck Camping)
An Extended Government Shutdown Could Impact My Vacation Plans π
Most versions of my plans for my October Road – Camping trip involve at least some “dispersed camping” in National Forests and visiting National Forest sites. While I am not planning leaving until October 14th, I know spiteful a Democratic president can be over the temporary lapse of appropriations, forcing closures of many developed recreation sites, including in some cases gating back-country roads, not because they cost the government much money, but to put political pressure on Republicans to adopt a budget they don’t agree with.
Not sure if this is going to be an issue this year, but I could see both sides dragging out their appropriation fight well into October and it might require me to reconsider my plans. One option would be to visit more state forests in the Southern Tier of New York State along with doing the Pennsylvania Pine Creek Rail Trail, another would be to head north, and do a trip to the Tug Hill Plateau and North Country / Massena.
I did camp in back country in the Finger Lakes National Forest during the shutdown in 2013, but it’s not clear if that was explicitly permitted or prohibited. The recreation sites were gated at the National Forest, but it’s rather hard to close off back-country roads that aren’t maintained by the forest service. State parks remained fully open, and while during the week I saw a Schuyler County Deputy and the NYSDEC Officer patrolling the roads to make up for the lack of working forest service rangers, they never stopped or said anything about camping during the government shutdown.
It’s not certain what will happen this year, but I should consider my alternatives.
Campfire Cooking On A Tiny Firepit – Cold Weather Truck Camping
Winter Camping is Fun.
I am thinking about after regular season closes this year, doing another winter camping trip to the Finger Lakes National Forest. I had a lot of fun in 2018, and while it was cold and snowy, it was enjoyable.
It’s kind of fun to be out in the wilderness in the snow, enjoying the cold and colors.
As the snow falls all around.
The sun can be weak but next to heater with a hot cup of coffee, mornings are a lot of fun.
And the fire is nice and warm.
Winter camping can be fun.