Breakaway Classic Adventures: Joy of Camping
Breakaway Classic Adventures: Joy of Camping
Taking a Step Back from the Stress of Everyday Life, No Matter the Season
There is an art to camping that actually makes it enjoyable. The actual dictionary definition of camping is: to live temporarily in a camp or outdoors. A very broad definition to say the least. A camp might be: a cabin in the woods, a campground for large recreational vehicles called - what else - RVs, or even an open space on a historical battlefield.
My idea of camping is breaking away from the stress and mundane routines of everyday urban or suburban life. In order to do this you have to get your mind off of unimportant problems like cell reception, Uber Eats and streaming, and replace them with important problems like bugs, rain, wind and even predators… that’s camping! Nothing like being chased by a bear to forget about missing an episode of “Survivor”!
All kidding aside, camping is actually safe and fun if you do it properly. Follow some basic rules and follow a recipe set down by experienced campers and you're good to go. Many people who are big into hiking, canoeing or kayaking are familiar with setting up a camp at the end of the day while on their journey to some remote destination. This is bare bones camping and usually includes a simple lightweight pop-up tent, a sleeping bag, maybe a pad and that’s about it. In the morning (if you last that long) you get up, stretch and rub out all of your bed sores. After a few years of doing this you’ll come to the conclusion that this is just not fun! Sleeping on the hard ground is painful and just getting up on to your feet can be a challenge. Somewhere along the line people form a real dislike for camping and stop going altogether.
The number one rule in camping is making your experience comfortable by taking as much with you that you can carry, haul or have delivered. Delivered, you question? Yes! Ship things ahead! Once you arrive at your final destination you’ll have all your essentials on-hand and then some!
Whether you are backcountry camping or camping at a campground, plan ahead and make several lists: one for food, one for clothing, one for equipment. All of these lists will have one thing in common - comfort! Comfort foods, comfortable clothing and comfortable accommodations! Comfort, Comfort, Comfort!
Rule number two in camping is don’t take too much! Ha ha, this guy is crazy! First he says take all that you can carry, then he says don’t take too much! Yes, unnecessary items will become a nuisance, distraction and a real headache. “Which outfit will I wear today”? Learning to pack essentials is a real art in itself and the only way to get good at it is trial and error. In most cases do a dry run. Pack everything you think you need and then chop it in half and then chop it in half again. A word of wisdom: one shoe does not make a pair so if you’re down to your last pair, don’t chop that one in half!
Rule number three involves selection of equipment. Buy the best that you can afford; definitely don’t buy the most expensive items on the market! Price doesn’t necessarily reflect quality or performance. The hype associated with big brand name items is just marketing tactics trying to get you to spend money on branding versus true fit and function. Don’t get sucked in with the latest and greatest either. Everything breaks but everything can’t be repaired, so buy simple things that a paper clip or a piece of twine or even a stick can temporarily fix. If a roll of duct tape can’t fix it, don’t buy it. The KISS approach in outfitting yourself is always the best approach!
The fourth and final rule is carefully deciding who will go camping with you and prepare accordingly. Make sure everyone gets along, especially when hiccups occur. Ask yourself if you can stand being alone. Ask yourself if you can handle a Debbie Downer. Ask yourself, “are we there yet?” If you don’t know, don’t go!
Companionship is the best part of a camping experience - a sunset is best shared, a bear will always get the slower one first, and a tall tale is always taller with two or more people adding to it! Parents should start camping with their children when they are young. The younger the better, the deeper the memory and the more cherished it will be.
Another common element to a successful camping trip is exploration. Exploring brings out the best in people, including you! Exploring leaves lasting memories and keeps busy minds busy. Exploring can be a trip to town for supplies, a paddle to the end of a lake, a hike to the best vista. Incorporate a series of good explorations into your camping trip for lasting memories.
Here are a couple of great local camping suggestions: the Cattaraugus State Forests near Little Valley or the East Otto State Forests near Zoar Valley. Both of these locations allow tent camping and are excellent for your first time out with parking allowed at the entrance to each site.
The Cattaraugus State Forest is just off Potter Hill Road offering 2 campsites with an additional one off of West Hill Road. These are roadside primitive tent sites meaning neither electricity nor plumbing are available. A yellow campsite marker will designate the site. For the more adventurous, there is the possibility of ‘At-large’ primitive camping. At-large camping is allowed throughout the property but campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
The East Otto State Forest is off Traffic Street running parallel with the south side of Zoar Valley just west of 219. Here, camping is allowed at 14 designated tent sites along Kriedeman Forest Road available on a first come first serve basis and also marked with a yellow camp marker. These sites are numbered and have primitive fire rings. Although the Kriedeman Forest Road is popular during the summer months and camping is only allowed at designated sites, you can still find at-large sites on other parts of the 1,354-acre property. Again, individuals may set up camp at any location which is at least 150 feet from water bodies, streams, roads or trails. Camping for more than three nights or in a group of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
Robin William’s character, Bob Munro in the movie, RV asked… “Yo-my mobile-homeboys, what’s trippin’ in the wood?” Go and find out!
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Indrek Kongats is an artist, traveler, outdoorsman, and business owner residing in Ellicottville. He operates River Dog Art Gallery in Houghton, NY, and his Breakaway Classic Adventures specializes in adventure travel destinations. Learn more about him at breakawayclassicadventures.com.