Millennial boondocking - no what??
Camping with no services used to mean no water, power or sewer but times are changing! Last week we spent a few days at Wallowa state park in Oregon and while there was power and some other services in the campground, there was no cell or aircard service. Imagine my astonishment - no internet! Getting connected involved driving about 12 miles and mooching off a local provider.
The state park was lovely and just barely opened for the season. While daytime temps were in the mid 60's, at night we saw 25 degrees and the piles of snow heaped up in the shady places bore out the recent opening date. Setting up in our appointed site involved cracking the ice cap on a pile of snow and digging a few inches to find the sewer connection.
I took a little informal poll amongst the group of friends we were camped with about what they value in a great place to camp.
The top anwers were were interesting. Remote location, great wilderness and natural beauty were are the top of the list followed closely by an internet connection and cell service. Water, power and sewer were waaaaay down the list with TV signal at the bottom.
So what's important to you? Would you give up a weekend at a fabulous location for lack of ether access or do you only feel truly independant and in the wild when all connections are severed?
The state park was lovely and just barely opened for the season. While daytime temps were in the mid 60's, at night we saw 25 degrees and the piles of snow heaped up in the shady places bore out the recent opening date. Setting up in our appointed site involved cracking the ice cap on a pile of snow and digging a few inches to find the sewer connection.
I took a little informal poll amongst the group of friends we were camped with about what they value in a great place to camp.
The top anwers were were interesting. Remote location, great wilderness and natural beauty were are the top of the list followed closely by an internet connection and cell service. Water, power and sewer were waaaaay down the list with TV signal at the bottom.
So what's important to you? Would you give up a weekend at a fabulous location for lack of ether access or do you only feel truly independant and in the wild when all connections are severed?
Total Comments 8
Comments
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Dry camping
I just completed a 10-day dry camp in the Arizona Desert. Absolutely loved it. Most of the 10 days I had the whole park to myself and my dog. Did not miss TV or computer. Learned how to shower and shampoo on minimum water; also learned it didn't have to be a daily ritual. It was too windy and dry to have a campfire, so any cooking had to be done with propane. Got lots or reading done, along with bicycle trips with the dog. It's not for everyone, but I plan to do as much as possible during my travels this spring and summer.
Posted 04-26-2009 at 12:18 AM by geaugeausmom 
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Only people who understand the real pleasures are those of us who have dry camped. Don't try to explain to no campers, they have very closed minds.
Posted 04-25-2010 at 06:30 PM by vdbland
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"How Good It Is" !!!
Posted 02-02-2011 at 03:38 PM by Gary C
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We will be boondocking this coming fall/winter. I can manage the "no services", including tv and internet, but I must have phone service. That life-link to family is essentialPosted 03-07-2013 at 10:37 AM by montana4two
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I have a question, it may sound crazy but we are fairly new to the camping thing and we haven't really been anyplace yet other then Florida's State Parks. Are you every afraid of being out in the middle of nowhere and have some mass murderer happen upon your site ? Maybe I watch to many freaky movies but stuff like that happens .... am I being to paranoid ?Posted 09-23-2014 at 06:53 PM by carolp495
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violence in the campground
I live next door to the murder capitol of the US and the closest big city Chicago isn't doing well either. So if I were boondocking my chances of violence might be less that at home even though my town a few miles east has almost no crime.
My observation is that the modern criminal mostly just works close to home and usually in the late night early morning hours. There are always exceptions and I have not done a scientific study so my comments are purely my own opinions.
The violent crime in our area is mostly domestic violence, drug related (deal went bad), Someone said something to someone else so lets break out the guns, random shootings. There are also to consider stray slugs from hunters, people with no training and a carry permit wanting to be helpful by emptying their gun at a perceived criminal.
Last but not least is the psycho loner mountain man like the one that shot a ranger. So my take is I am always at risk. Been that way my whole life . We do not think about it but are very cautious and maybe not trusting and somewhat fearful. So you are not alone.
You can be fearful at home or maybe a beautiful setting and the interaction with others enjoying the setting and a common appreciation of nature will ease your mind. Our best of 4yrs camping for me was Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colo. Just the most peaceful wonderful place. Sat for hours just watching and photographing how the earths movement changed the light on the dunes. We had a front row campsite to the view of the dunes. This is really dry camping no services at your site but there is water and a dump. Not boondocking but primitive. Its a park you have neighbors. There are rangers, programs, probably security. No one misbehaves you are all in awe of the greatness of nature and you will feel a common bond with your fellow man that is doing the same. A cousin from Utah has never been to a campground, has just dry camped for the last 30 years.Posted 02-14-2015 at 12:53 AM by Alltooledup
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Milenial or Boondocking. This is a fun topic. I am like your friends that value scenic and maybe remote. Don't want to get stuck or wreck my MH getting to the site. I also love having full hookups but value a view and some solitude maybe more.So we almost never use the TV or radio and can suffer through not having internet.
Now if we have cell we have internet. Our previous MH only was good for 4 days of boondocking. Our new one has double water and blk gry and 3 times as much propane so we could go for a much greater time. We are new to boondocking and plan to go to Arizona very soon. Seems like AZ is boondocker heaven but we know little about it and are excited to learn more. We were many places in Michigan and Utah and New Mexico that did not have a cell signal but we have multiple providers now so that hopefully will improve.Posted 02-14-2015 at 01:10 AM by Alltooledup
Updated 02-14-2015 at 01:22 AM by Alltooledup -
Nice BLOG post, as I am also learning how to put together my blog. I did enjoy the read and Photos. My being from Florida, I truly don't know how you guys did 25-degrees of cold weather. I was also wondering about your RV water pipes, No problems I hope. Thanks, for the inspiration to forage ahead with my Blog.
Posted 09-15-2019 at 08:08 PM by van-gogh
