stealth/guerilla campsites,,

I look for 'em.
even in areas I don't plan to linger.
I try to notice them, and mark them down as I ride by. First in my mind, then on my map later.
What if your trip plans have an hour or two delay in the midst of your adventure?
where's the nearest place I can camp and not be hassled by loggers, ranchers, or forest circus pee poles?
Sometimes it is worth a short side trip to explore a possible free camp spot, just to mark it on the map. I know of numerous spots where a bike can camp and not be seen by passing traffic. Short jog off the highway is good, for if it gets frikken dark, or you get tired, or just want to stop and relax.
Problem is,, if I give up all my stealth campsites to the interwebs,to help my family save money for campin',, they won't be stealth anymore.
When you are way out in Eastern,,and there is nothing but miles and miles of wheat,and it's getting way dark and you can't see cuz yer old,,,,when you see a farm house, ride in and ask if you can pitch yer tent out back someplace,,see what happens next!
sometimes you have to git past the big dog in the driveway,, those are the best rest areas,,always act innocent, and pretend to be nice!
So,, if yiu find yerself out there somewhere, and it's getting frikken dark,,shouldn't we have a secret list of where to camp for free without hassles?
how do you share that without fuggin up the secret part?

one hint,,always do a full investigation of gravel pits,,,some are a virtual oasis of stealth camping.

"Dispersed" Camping is always the BEST!
Sometimes I get talked into a "real campground" by those I'm with.
I always regret it bigtime.
"Ooh, it has a shower" "Ooh it has a vault torlet"
Learn to shit in the woods, boys and girls. It's FUN!
And when you bathe in the open air in a cold creek or small lake,
yer nipples get all hard n shit. What could be better than that ??

I live in the country, why the hoot would I wanna go to a freaking circus in a miniature CITY to CAMP ?????

I like kids, I like dogs, I like neighbors. ONLY in moderation, and NOT while I'm camping.
They say whiskey should be drank in moderation too, but I dunno about that.....
In my camp at night, after a day's long ride, leave me alone.

Us riders around the fire, BS'n about the day's follies.....
Stars, creek sounds, and NO OTHER NOISE, 'cept any wild critters that happen to howl.
Well, other than the whoops and Hollers from our jacked up bunch that no-one else has to hear.

The bears ain't gonna gitcha.


PS: The best stealth camps are the ones you find at the last minute yerself.
Ride until you see it. You'll know it when you get there.

Made the mistake of camping in a campground full of noisy fukkin kids (yeah, younger than me!) drinking and playing music til all hours last weekend in the Peninsula. While riding we saw a million little spots right off the FS roads where no one would come, but we already had our crap set up and it would take to long to move. Next time, we know better.

we got escorted out of a gravel pit near Alderpoint, at gun point

Then they followed us past Zenia


Talk about stealth camping, we sat out in the woods in pitch black darkness the rest of the night listening to those fuckers searching for us :huh

For me it's about comfort and perspective. I like to primitive camp out of my pick up. I can bring the stuff that makes camping comfortable, my big tent, cot, clean clothes, water ice, food, firewood, ect. See I've done the stealth camping thing, only it was not called camping, it was called being homeless. Traveling by motorcycle I can't carry all the comforts I like so I seek them out. Very few things are as satisfying to me as an ice cold beverage after a long hot day.
I don't mind getting dirty but I like to start the day out clean, riding all day in the desert with sticky buns makes the trip less enjoyable to me. I'm not so much of a dandy that I won't go a couple days with a baby wipe bath but I will look for running water every few days. I have to get food, water and gas at the very bare minimum every day any way so why not plan the camping where the comfort amenities are available as well?
Lastly my days of drunken primal scream therapy are past so I don't need to be away from people for that. I'd rather sit around the camp fire and tell tall tales go to bed early and get up at dawn.

I like porcelain. 'far as shittin' in the woods goes - been there, done that... comforts of life take priority...

yeap - I like porcelain... and smilies.



apropos

Sig line material AJ!

Can't remember the last time I paid to camp on 'public land'.

Same here. With so much USFS and BLM land here in the west I can always find a free and legal place to camp, and it's always better than camping next to a bunch of people.

We snagged an awesome Stealth Campsite in the Ochocos last weekend coming back from Horse Heaven. Definitely not legal according to the new piece of crap travel management plan but a great spot. Sitting next to a stream in the Kermit with a frosty cold adult beverage and a tasty Mountain House entree while the meteorites shot past overhead was awesome. Waking up before dawn and packing up while enjoying a nice french pressed coffee wasn't bad either. The pine needle hillclimb back up to the road with the big GS was a bit sketchy first thing in the morning but doable.


Comfort is a matter of preperation, packing and perspective.

If you know the secret to make yer undergarments last 5 days ( 4 plus 1 ) , you are a stealth camper.

you must have a shovel, a bucket, and a saw or axe, to legally have a campfire in a dispersed site, your helmet qualifies as a bucket, so,, the rest is easy,,,,never bild a fire you can't piss out!

Like this?




Good morning.

We used to have folding (canvas) buckets in teh Army. I wish I had one :sigh

>"we got escorted out of a gravel pit near Alderpoint, at gun point
Then they followed us past Zenia"

Hmmm... likely dope growers ? Be careful where you stay in Humboldt/Mendocino Counties...

I like your style.

You said sticky buns ...........

I wondered that too,,why would he sit on cinnamon rolls? :huh

when I was young I camped where ever I felt like it, most always away from people. Never used established camp sites and liked being by myself way out in the middle of no where. Tried to pick a spot where my camp or fire couldn't be seen from the road, out of sight out of mind. Don't like to be around strangers or have them come up on me in my camp asking for stuff and being nosy about what I was drinking or smoking.

One time (early 80's) at a party thrown by some patch riders (Dirty Dozen) they had a spot down by the Gila river south of Globe Arizona. All I had with me was my leather jacket and wallet. Finally passed out on the ground around a small fire I built with sticks and twigs. Talk about minimalist.

Now I have grown into old age, prefer hot showers, restaurants and air conditioning at the end of a long ride. Still like to be on the end room of the motel, my bike by the door and no one else around. Screaming kids and rap music are like nails on a chalk board and I have been known to pack up a leave should the need arise.