WHAT is CAMPING...Yes....What is Camping to you...?????

**Sourdough** · 09-08-2009, 01:27 PM

I am going to leave this very vague.....and I'll chime in later. But for now, please define "Camping". Try to be as Honest as you can. Later I'll do a BLIND poll question, and you can be super honest.

**Rick** · 09-08-2009, 01:35 PM

I guess camping is the act of pitching a camp. Establishing a temporary place of shelter, whether you use natural resources (cliff overhang, cave, debris hut, snow) or something like a tent. It's a voluntary act as opposed to being thrust into living outdoors.

**crashdive123** · 09-08-2009, 01:38 PM

To me it is generally a planned stay of one or more nights outdoors. Woods, mountains, desert, beach - climate really doesn't matter. I say generally planned because I am reminded of something Pict said in one of his videos. It went something like - If I can solve the shelter, fire and water problem then I'm really just camping. We all have different levels of comfort when camping. Some are minimalists, while others are not. It's all camping to me.

**doug1980** · 09-08-2009, 01:53 PM

I guess I would have to say camping to me is what I did when I was a kid. Whether it be in a tent or a camper, in the woods or a campground, camping is camping to me. Now if you want to know what my "comfort" level would be, naturally I would prefer a camper with all the bells and whistles (most of the time.) But from time to time I like to just roll out a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars.

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 09-08-2009, 01:55 PM

Well no offense to anyone but having a mobilized camper(whether it has a motor or is pulled) is not camping,it's just taking your home on the road.
What I consider camping is having a tent or more primitive shelter(or none weather permitting) where you go stay in an outdoor setting,whether it be a state park, or true woods/wilderness. You cook as primitively as possible,yet as comfortably as possible. If allowed you have a fire burning natural fuel. You participate in outdoor activities while there, hiking, fishing, hunting, or throwing frisbee. It can be alone or as a group. You can bring your food or get it there. I know this is pretty vague and almost all inclusive.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 09-08-2009, 02:01 PM

Camping to me is a planned stay away from home. The comfort level desired will vary quite a bit. For me I'd rather be toughing it out a night in the rain under a tree than wondering if the sheets have been changed at the Marriott. To be sure my "duck blind" coffee will be much better than the one at the Marriott. I am not much on the pay campsites with all of the amenities and the crowds either. Most of my camping is done along rivers and I have only what I can get to the destination by boat. Usually with just my family or one other family.

**doug1980** · 09-08-2009, 02:36 PM

Ok I got it. I figured it out finally. There are several types of camping.

One would be recreational camping. This would include anything from a tent to a $100,000.00 motorhome. It is the most common form of camping and the primary type that I have done all my life. It is reasonably comfortable and great for families.

The other would be primitive camping. This would be the most likely type for members of this forum. It includes any structure made in the field to a simple tarp or even no shelter at all. It would include finding your own food, water etc.

Of course in those two catagories are may other ways to do it. For instance you may bring your own food, water etc but still build a debris shelter.

**crashdive123** · 09-08-2009, 03:24 PM

Hope - this thead got me to thinking of my youth. In doing so, it has raised a question in my mind. When I frequented weekend parties, imbibed in too much liquor, and passed out (under a tree, in a lounge chair next to a pool, on the back deck, on the roof, on the roof of a 63 Chevy, on the beach, under the boardwalk in Ocean City, etc., etc.) was I camping?

**Winnie** · 09-08-2009, 03:27 PM

To me camping is a planned trip, spending your nights under canvas or the stars, weather permitting. Meals consist of food carried with you cooked on a stove, or if allowed an open fire. It's a means of getting some peace and quiet without distractions of a TV, computer and traffic.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 09-08-2009, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Hope - this thead got me to thinking of my youth. In doing so, it has raised a question in my mind. When I frequented weekend parties, imbibed in too much liquor, and passed out (under a tree, in a lounge chair next to a pool, on the back deck, on the roof, on the roof of a 63 Chevy, on the beach, under the boardwalk in Ocean City, etc., etc.) was I camping?

IMO Yes, you were..Just doing a poor job of planning your accomadations or maybe not?

**panch0** · 09-08-2009, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by COWBOYSURVIVAL

Camping to me is a planned stay away from home. The comfort level desired will vary quite a bit. For me I'd rather be toughing it out a night in the rain under a tree than wondering if the sheets have been changed at the Marriott. To be sure my "duck blind" coffee will be much better than the one at the Marriott. I am not much on the pay campsites with all of the amenities and the crowds either. Most of my camping is done along rivers and I have only what I can get to the destination by boat. Usually with just my family or one other family.

Yep this is what I think of as camping also. I like to drive to a location and hike a few hours to the campsite also. Hopefully near a clean body of water where we can do some fishing and or trapping to get some meat on the camp fire. If no meat then we have to eat the canned beans and rice we bring along.

**Ken** · 09-08-2009, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

Hope - this thead got me to thinking of my youth. In doing so, it has raised a question in my mind. When I frequented weekend parties, imbibed in too much liquor, and passed out (under a tree, in a lounge chair next to a pool, on the back deck, on the roof, on the roof of a 63 Chevy, on the beach, under the boardwalk in Ocean City, etc., etc.) was I camping?

Yes. We were camping back then.

**Ken** · 09-08-2009, 04:16 PM

Thinkin' about the oriinal question..........

If the truck is nearby, or if I have a cooler with me, or if it's at a campsite, or if I can see another tent, or if I didn't carry everything in on my back, or if there's electric service within a mile of me, then it's camping.

If I'm miles away from my truck and everything I have with me was in or attached to my pack, it's backpacking.

**trax** · 09-08-2009, 04:56 PM

It's where ever I plant my a$$ for the night that ain't home. Usually involves a tent or a tarp for shelter.

**Sourdough** · 09-08-2009, 05:45 PM

So were the pioneers camping, were the mountain men camping, are the astronauts on the space station for one year, are they camping....???? Were the cowboys on cattle drive camping....? Fredrick C. Selous spent many, many years on end 24/7 hunting and exploring Africa in the 1870'ish to 1912'ish was he camping, or was that his home, and he camped for a week in some port while picking up supplies...?

Does it make a difference if it is work or recreation.....? If I am guiding Hunters for three months continuously living in a two man tent is that camping for the hunter if I cook all his meals, and wash the dishes.....? Is it camping for me if it is my employment.....?

**FVR** · 09-08-2009, 05:47 PM

Depends really.

If I'm with the wife, camping is a 5 star rest. followed by a 5 star hotel.

If I'm with the wife and kids, camping is loading up the minivan with everything including the kitchen sink, popping up the 4 room tent, breaking out both stoves and the monster coolers. And working.

If I'm by myself or meeting fellow hunters of my style in the woods, camping is a tarp, wool blanky, water carrier and cup, a loaf of bread, cheese, deer jerky, tea and anything else I can throw in the haversack. And I'm off on a relaxing trek, me, myslef, and I. I can use the Lancaster ramrod for a fishing pole, always have line and hooks. If I see a critter I can eat special, if not then it's what I have already listed.

**Pict** · 09-08-2009, 05:52 PM

What is camping? I have no idea. I know what I like to do.

I have a survival pack that weighs about 15 lbs. I like to head off into the bush in remote locations and set up a shelter, it could be a tarp, natural shelter, or a sheltered location.

I then make myself a nice soft bed usually ripping up several large armloads of grass. Collect wood, fill my water containers. From there I spend my days very unencumbered, totally free to do whatever I want. That usually means exploring, taking photos, shooting video, making bushcraft stuff, hunting, fishing, I call it "Homo Sapiens 1.0" I drink when I'm thirsty, eat when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired. My phone doesn't ring and I have no problems because nobody can find me.

Mac

**crashdive123** · 09-08-2009, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by hope

So were the pioneers camping, were the mountain men camping, are the astronauts on the space station for one year, are they camping....???? Were the cowboys on cattle drive camping....? Fredrick C. Selous spent many, many years on end 24/7 hunting and exploring Africa in the 1870'ish to 1912'ish was he camping, or was that his home, and he camped for a week in some port while picking up supplies...?

Does it make a difference if it is work or recreation.....? If I am guiding Hunters for three months continuously living in a two man tent is that camping for the hunter if I cook all his meals, and wash the dishes.....? Is it camping for me if it is my employment.....?

When I answered, I was thinking (and still am) of camping more of recreation and relaxation. A way to unwind, get away from what has become the hectic (although not as much anymore) grind of everyday life. The big difference in the examples that you give is that they are reflective of a lifestyle. To those involved, it is probably nothing more than that. To an outside (modern) observer many of those examples would probably be considered camping.