Forest Camping

Forest camping is often the vision many of us have of "camping":  tall trees, shady camp sites, grassy meadows, RV or tent nestled in among the trees, the warm glow of a carefully constructed campfire casting flickering shadows all around, a light breeze gently caressing the boughs of the trees surrounding your camp site, and the babble of a brook or sound of waves lapping at the beach to lull you to sleep. Today this idyllic scene is becoming more and more rare as folks overwhelm our national parks and forest service campgrounds for their weekend escapes. All too often the serenity of the scene is shattered by loud music, loud voices, ,bright lights, and noisy vehicles. Funny how many people think that when they go out to "get away from it all" they have to bring it all with them. I was once told by a forest ranger that they actually preferred OHV riders to "ordinary" campers. The reason? OHV riders spent the whole day on the trail and by the time they got back to camp they were tired and hungry. They had dinner, were fairly quiet, and usually went to bed fairly early. The "ordinary" campers often spent most of their day drinking beer and by dinner time were reaching the rowdy stage and all too often their interactions deteriorated to where ranger intervention was required to keep the peace. As if on queue, the ranger had no sooner spoken than his radio crackled and he got a call for just that kind of intervention in a neighboring camp.

Preparation for forest camping. Preparation for forest camping is not too different from preparation for any other kind of camping. You probably won't need as much water as you would in the desert, but hiking and exploring can still cause you to lose enough body fluids to make sports drinks a good thing to bring along.  If you're camping in unimproved campgrounds, you will have to bring your own water.  Forests often contain ideal habitats for a variety of animals and insects, so bring along the Deep Woods Off! Most campgrounds have few problems with wild animals, but way too many places these days attract bears who, like Yogi, love picnic baskets -- and any other human food they can get their paws on. You'll need to keep your food out of their reach -- locked securely in your vehicle or hung high up in a tree. Even metal ice chests are insufficient to secure food from bears. They've even been known to break into cars. Never, ever feed wild animals or place food out for them. Many of them have learned how to beg, but don't give in to their cutesy performance. It may seem like a nice thing to do, but ultimately it may lead to their illness or demise. If you camp in an area known to be visited by bears, make sure you check with the local ranger to learn the rules and then follow them religiously. If bears approach your camp site or your vehicle or your group, make a lot of noise to scare them away. Most truly wild animals are instinctively afraid of man and will keep their distances. Unfortunately, as man encroaches further and further into animals' natural habitat, many animals lose their fear and even become dependent on handouts from us for their survival. Keep your distance from all wild creatures and do your best not to contribute to an unnatural diet which one way or another will harm them.

Forest campfires. As with just about any other type of camping, campfires are an important part of forest camping. However, the location presents extra opportunities for fires to get out of hand. The forest floor is usually covered with combustible debris so you MUST scrape the area for your campfire down to bare earth for a radius of five feet from your fire ring unless you are using an existing and approved fire pit. Even then make sure there is no accumulation of leaves or pine needles near the fire pit.  Check with the ranger about building campfires. In some places they are restricted to forest service approved fire rings. In some places and some seasons open fires are strictly prohibited. Be sure to watch for the Fire Danger signs on your way in or stop at a ranger station and find out the current status.  Check all round your fire site -- scrape the ground down to bare earth, make sure you are a safe distance from all trees and bushes, and that you have clear space overhead so you won't set any trees on fire. Fire can spread quickly through the forest. Vegetation is often quite thick and serves as a conduit for fire, a problem you usually won't find in the desert or at the beach. As Smokey The Bear says, "Only you can prevent forest fires". It starts with learning and following the rules and applying common sense whenever you are able to build a fire. If your campfire gets away from you, YOU or your equipment may end up being the object roasting on an open fire instead of  chestnuts or marshmallows!

Forest camping activities. Many forest service campgrounds have self-led or ranger led nature hikes that are fun and educational. Even without ranger assistance you can have fun identifying plants and animals. It may take a little research before you go so you know what to look for, but it will be well worth the time. The local ranger station often has brochures describing local flora and fauna. Fishing is a popular activity where ever there are lakes or streams. Nothing quite like a fresh trout broiled over a campfire! Collecting firewood is prohibited around most campgrounds, so bring your own or buy some at the local camp store or ranger station. Buying it locally is the best practice.  You don't have the hassle and extra weight of hauling it around and, more importantly, local firewood doesn't rn the risk of introducing pests or disease that might infect the local forest.  Sturdy trees in or near your campsite might provide an anchor for your hammock, either for a pleasant afternoon nap or or sleeping at night.

Forest camping is usually at a high enough elevation and provides enough shade to be much cooler than camping in the desert or near the beach. Days can be very comfortable for hiking or just relaxing. However, in some places, daytime temperatures can soar, making air conditioned RVs or cabins or cool lakes and streams attractive refuges.  Evenings are usually cooler, providing ideal campfire weather. You might need a sweater or jacket around the campfire and an extra blanket by morning.

Forest camping is cool!