Interesting experiance while camping

[PurplePeopleEater]

The only time I camp at a trailhead is when I'm with a very large group of people (think twenty or more).

I remember one time I was camped on a remote BLM trailhead and thought about pitching tent next to my car, but I got very paranoid (for the same reasons discussed in this thread) and decided to camp over a small berm 50 yards away.

No, nobody ever showed up, and yes, I was armed.

Nowadays, if camping near my car, I'll do it in a place where I can see the car and be at least 400m away. If not, well off the beaten path where I can observe my surroundings.

Always bring a gun! I recommend the Wilderness Safepacker as a great backpacking holster.

 

[DRZinn]

Once, I camped without a gun. One scare later, I'll never make that mistake again.

 

[luzyfuerza]

As deer and elk herds have expanded here in the west, cougar and wolf populations have also increased. Defending ourselves from two-legged predators is a good reason for carrying wherever we are, but the four-legged predators are also on my mind when I'm out in the weeds. It is amazing how much effect seeing a fresh mountain lion track in the snow can have on a person...

I know a handful of bow hunters who have watched lions stalk them while they've been still-hunting for deer or elk. To a man, each now carries a concealed handgun when he hunts with archery gear.

(Yes, this is legal where I live, if you have a CHP.)

 

[chrlefxtrt]

Living in Oklahoma, I am lucky enough to know quite a few people with bu cu amounts of land (most in eastern OK). If anyone comes upon me while camping I do not know they are not supposed to be there. Most of the places I like to camp generally require 4 feel drive so you can hear them coming if they aren't on foot. Good communication with the land owner will let me know if someone else might be coming out there (more of a concern during hunting season). I am always armed while in the out doors, and if by chance I do camp on public lands i will have to make do with my conceal carry piece.
Tip: find friends with land !!!!

 

[RubenZ]

Defending ourselves from two-legged predators is a good reason for carrying wherever we are, but the four-legged predators are also on my mind when I'm out in the weeds

Thats one reason I want to get a 10mm

 

[aguyindallas]

First of all, I wouldnt find myself camping in the woods with anybody I couldnt trust my life with. All sorts of strange, one-in-a-million types of things can happen and go wrong.

Communication is key. Why didnt you at least try to talk to him to develop some sort of plan?

 

[GW]

Yep, I always carry a Glock in an army surplus tanker holster whenever I backpack. It sits on the middle of my chest for the world to see.
I have never(knocking on wood) had a problem in the woods.

 

[rondog]

Many, many years ago, myself and a couple buddies were on our Harleys and needed to crash for the night. We pulled into an empty gravel parking lot near a boat ramp in a state park, parked under a streetlamp near the toilets, drank our beers and crashed in our bags.

Woke up at the crack of dawn, and the entire lot was filled with people, trucks, boats and trailers, getting ready to start a fishing tournament. And we were crashed out right in the middle of it.

 

[bogie]

A long time ago, I was on a float trip with some buddies... The place had changed management, and the "level of service was not up to what was expected."

And one of our guys got schwacked, and when we got back to our campsite, he let them know it, in no uncertain terms... So I'm watching three fellows, who all look kinda sorta several generations back intertwined related, get chewed out by a large city boy... We'd do a three-day weekend, and this was the second night, coming up on a Monday (not a holiday, empty campground). The other campers got a little disturbed when I went over to my car, opened the trunk, pulled out an AK and a bag of magazines, and stuck it in my tent...

Heck... City Boy had basically just chewed out three none-too-smart-probable-cousins, who probably had other cousins...

 

[OcelotZ3]

My wife and I were camping the night before a mountain rescue practice. I didn't own any guns at the time.

About 2:00AM, 6 shots went off in quick succession... Right next to our campsight.

The idiots camped next to us got tired of drinking and playing their stereo and decided to start doing target practice, right in the camping area, at 2:00AM! What a bunch of morons.

Luckily they got tired of shooting after ~20 rounds.

 

[Treo]

I've run into bears a lot in the woods but I've never needed a gun to back them off. That said, I still carry. There are a bunch of homeless people living in the foothills west of town and I'm more concerned about them then any wildlife.

But what blows my mind is after we've had 2 recent threads about how stratagies & tactics is about mind set not guns we've got people telling this guy he's an idiot for not packing.

Win, lose or draw the O.P. didn't have a firearm & has pretty much stated his intent not to carry one next time either. So the question becomes "How do we handle this W/ out a gun?", as opposed to "How many different ways can we tell this guy what a yutz he is for not packing?" .

1. I wouldn't have parked on the trailhead ( as you said you won't be doing again.)

2. I would have come up W/ a plan before the truck showed up

3. I would have communicated W/ my homeboy.

Don't know how it might have turned out but that's what I'd do.

 

[Fred Fuller]

we've had 2 recent threads about how stratagies & tactics is about mind set not guns

That would be more properly said, "...not JUST guns... ."

The gun-centric ideas all too many folks walk around with are what I would prefer to work on broadening here in S&T. The idea that if you carry a gun, or even just OWN a gun, that makes you invulnerable, just isn't so and is in fact outright dangerous. Guns are not talismans which automatically repel evil. Owning a gun, or carrying a gun, and walking through life in Condition White, is as likely to make the gun owner/carrier a victim as anyone else.

Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order... and in order to be truly Armed, we must be Aware and Able first. And remember that not all who are Armed, carry guns...

lpl/nc

 

[dmazur]

Re: not limiting self-defense to guns -

The movie "Deliverance" was not intended to be a training film by any stretch of the imagination, I'm sure.

However, it did portray a self-defense situation where the BG's had guns and the good guys had bows.

A bit Hollywood over-the-top, but still part of the story.

As many states prohibit CCW while bowhunting, it might be something for bowhunters to consider. That stick and string thing might save your life...

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Avid recurve bowhunter here.

I've also been stalked by cougars while still-hunting. Very very very spooky to be the potential prey, and very very very spooky how good they are at what they do.

I pack when I can, but most of the time I really don't feel underarmed with a bow and a fixed blade skinner.
And, either the cougar will get you on the initial chomp, or he won't. It's a part of the experience of hunting in the backcountry.

People worry me more, honestly. I'm a duck and hide kind of guy too. I don't want to meet or greet anyone when I'm outdoors. That's why I spend so much time out there.

 

[green country shooter]

When returning to the car from a trail or a wildnerness area I usually find a spot I can see the car from and take a break there for a while and observe the area. I agree with the person who said most problems occur near a car.

 

[ExSoldier]

I haven't actually been camping since I was a "professional camper" 1980-1994 (Infantry Officer) The experience of being an infantryman really spoiled me for the pleasures of the great outdoors and sleeping on the ground. If I was going to do that nowadays, this is how I'd go about it: http://www.sportsmobile.com/ultimate.html Total price (loaded) for this particular model is about $70K. But then, it's a DIESEL with an available 55 gallon tank so the fuel cost is prohibitive these days. However I do like the idea of having a vehicle that has all the abilities of HUMMER 1 and livable, too with a range of about 1200 miles before you need to fill. That's almost Miami to Baltimore, non-stop. Could be handy in a Katrina scenario. Even if you only have a "conventional" 4x4 you can expand your abilities and functionality in a good trailer like these:

http://www.tentrax.com/gallery/gallery.html



Even still, I've always had a healthy paranoia about meeting folks on the trail or in the woods anywhere. Crime in the national parks and national forests is much higher than in the urban areas. Why do you think the Deptartment of the Interior is proposing a relaxing of National Park CCW rules? No more "Ranger Rick" keeping Yogie and Boo-Boo from swiping "pic-in-nik baskets." These days Rangers look like their military namesakes and carry M4s to handle MS13 and other bad guys.

I have always made it a practice to stay out of trail heads and especially away from trail area pre established camps aka (bear cages) to stave off those critters for hikers safety. In the past, anytime I'd detect hikers coming towards me on or off a trail I automatically move into deep bush and get low (prone) and very still. Never know when a hasty ambush is going to be required. See, even when I "camp" I still think in a "tactical" manner.

The bottom line for me always came to this:

Q: If you make your living in the woods do you go there on your day off?

A: Never! Go to the city & PARTY!

 

[TallPine]

Q: If you make your living in the woods do you go there on your day off?

Well, actually yes I did and I did. I used to be a logger and for recreation I would go on hikes

Though when you're already camping out in the woods, there's not much point in "going camping." Mostly I just did day(weekend) and evening hikes since I was already there. (just got to know what's up the draw or over the hill )

Back in those days though I was never worried much about dangers from people or animals. I was young and strong and invincible, and statistically my work was the most dangerous thing I ever did or will ever likely do again.

About ten years ago I started carrying a sidearm in the woods while camping and/or hiking. It sort of grows on you and now I carry every day. But now I live in the woods on 40 acres and work from home so it makes sense.

 

[ExSoldier]

Thank goodness harley's no longer carry the OUTLAW or 1% image of thug. They ignored you because you weren't a threat. I'm hoping to get my first Low Rider soon. This is the image I want to project. One that is unique to me: http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Riders/Creed_Video.jsp?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US

 

[rondog]

Thank goodness harley's no longer carry the OUTLAW or 1% image of thug. They ignored you because you weren't a threat. I'm hoping to get my first Low Rider soon. This is the image I want to project. One that is unique to me: http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...bmLocale=en_US

Well, I'd venture to say that to most of the mainstream sheeple in this country, the majority of the riders in that video would look like outlaws to them. I liked it, but I wouldn't exactly say that was a clean-cut bunch. I'm surprised that H-D would make that video, but it's probably marketing genius.

I bought my first Harley in 1975, and I spent a lotta years in exactly that kind of crowd. Sure had a lot of fun!

 

[mr.trooper]

Heavy metal music!?!?! You were in some deep trouble there; thats how you can tell that they are dangerous.

 

[middleground]

I actually didn't realize this thread was still alive

I'm not very familiar with proper thread etiquette, so please forgive me if I should have been paying closer attention as the OP.

Thanks to everyone who responded to the thread.

It's been interesting and useful for me to hear your perspectives and experiences.

I do a lot of my hiking along the Appalachian Trail, which runs through many different designations of land. It's my understanding that at least SOME of those areas do not allow any type of carry.

In an ideal situation, we could all carry whatever tools we felt were appropriate...as it turns that isn't always the world we really live in.

In retrospect, as someone pointed out, nothing REALLY happened that night. But I will say this...alarm bells were ringing in my head and my gut instinct was telling me that this was not a good situation.

I still feel that my biggest mistake was camping that close to the parking lot (we were right next to it).

The second mistake was that me and my buddy didn't exchange a single word about what we would do if any further happened. I guess we were both feeling pretty worked up, and somehow that lead to silence instead of communication.

Anyway, I still love spending time outside, but I think its smart to realize that some caution or common sense is still warranted.

thanks again

 

[ctdonath]

Seems that in the dark we had pitched our tents about 10 feet from a railroad track

Bump that! Went on a 50-mile canoe trip as a Boy Scout. Each night we were within 100 yards of a railroad. First night I found out that fact the hard way. Third night I woke up 5 minutes before the train passed, and just waited for it.

 

[IllHunter]

A long time ago...

we were looking for a place to camp and as it was dark and late, we pitched our bags on the beach and crashed. Early dark thirty came and I woke to the spine stiffening feeling that I was peeing myself. As I sat up, I could see the breakers in the moonlight, lapping at our bags and gear. We scrambled back to the car and spent the balance of the night, fitfully slumbering in the sitting position. There were five of us in a '67 Chevy convertible. In the rain of morning, we found we'd parked on a broken beer bottle and the spare was also flat. The beach was completly hidden by the high storm tide and only the helpfulness of a trucker with an air compressor kept us from a long wet walk for help. No gun would've helped but I did lose my dive knife in the events of the night! Now I always check the spare before a road trip, especially if we're camping. I have a "jump pak/compressor" but I know it takes twenty minutes to fill a bike tire. How long it would take to fill an 18" truck tire is anyones' guess. I envision the battery (pak) giving out before the tire is filled. Anyone have experience with this? This goes to the strategy of being prepared and is not meant to hijack the thread.