Hello there, I’m currently doing my first ever night of dispersed camping at a local national forest here in USA.
I plan to have this trip go two weeks, though I will be happy enough if I can make it to one without issue. After I’m done here I’ll go sightseeing at a big state attraction that my parents always talked about.
The only camping I ever knew about was campgrounds where you pay money for a site or a cabin. I had no idea that dispersed camping was a thing.
In certain public lands you are allowed to just park off the road and camp out for a certain amount of time. Each place has their own rules and exceptions but its generally 2 weeks before you have to move a couple miles.
I’m essentially allowed to live here in nature free of charge for as long as I like. I just need to observe and respect the rules and limits of the state. The idea of doing this makes me feel a sense of freedom that I really needed in my life.
The van is pretty much converted out. Ive got a comfy bed. Ive got enough solar panel power for charging devices, keeping lights on, and coffee in the morning (theoretically). Ive got propane heating. Combine that with food, water, clothes, and cleaning supplies to make for the bare minimum of a comfy existance.
Despite all that, I’m out of my comfort zone. All the preparation in the world couldn’t offset this feeling I have right now. The feeling of being in an unfamiliar new place and unsure if I’ll be okay. Perhaps a real adventure requires at least a dash of uncertainty.
Its dark and quiet in a way I’m not used to. Stillness is a little unsettling when youre used to noise and commotion. I’m also right off a busy ish road so theres a car passing every now and again which is a little noisy but not unwelcome.
If something does go wrong I’m parked in a way that I can just turn the key and go. I need to clear the way to driver seat a little better currently blocked by food bag. All my windows are covered well so nobody can really peek at me. Not that I think anyone is out here to peek in.
I realize now that my sneakers arent exactly meant for off path forest exploration. I will get some good boots for the next trip. Im an overthinking planner type person so its fustrating to forget things like this. But before I left I told myself that I wasn’t going to be able to think of every detail, and to just try my best and learn from the experience. I’m going to make mistakes and learn as I go and thats okay.
If you actually managed to read through this I thank you.
You gotta remember, 90% (I made that stat up) of people who go camping, they go to a campground with flat, cleared, numbered, allocated plots, a wooden picnic table, a concrete fire ring and steel hotplate, a central area with covered seating and gas barbecues, tank water, bins, and toilet blocks. Big sign with a map on it, and a steel postal thing to put your money in
Traipsing out into the bush, off the known trails, and setting up a tent in a clearing you make yourself would scare the bejezus out of them.
Those things weren’t camping in my family’s books. They were bad hotels with crappy amenities.
State Park campgrounds (at least in states that actually fund those things) can be nice places to stay for a few days. Especially if you have a kid who enjoys playing with new friends whenever they get the chance.
Plus it’s nice to be able to get a warm shower in after a few days out in nowhere.