Oh a Camping I will Go!

As summer winds down, I have been thinking, "Where did the time go?" and mostly, "What did I do?" I know what I didn’t do or rather do enough of, and that is camping. I love going camping and I am determined to go at least one more time before the winter weather is upon us.

Now, there are two types of camping as far as I am concerned. The first is "car camping".  Car camping is not my preferred method of camping, but in my current state (pregnant), it is really all I can do. When I say car camping, I mean you literally role up and park at your camping spot. Now the advantage to this kind of camping is that you can bring whatever you want to make it a really cushy camping experience. You can bring lots of pillows and an air mattress and all the food you can eat. I cringe when I see people with laptops and stereos, but yes that is part of the experience for some too. This type of camping often occurs in a designated campground where you might have to pay a daily fee to use the site.  These sites generally come with bathrooms, which also make it a little easier for some to have an enjoyable time. If you have never been camping before, this might be the experience you need.

The second way to camp is the “hike-in” camping experience. This is what I prefer because while it is not as easy as car camping, it is a lot more rewarding. When you hike-in, you have to carry everything you need for camping on you. This means you bring your tent, sleeping bag, your food, and everything you need with you on your back and you hike to a spot in the woods. It is not always easy and can get very difficult if you have a heavy pack. The right kind of camping gear goes a long way but that is another story. You can search for a spot that is remote and private and really get away from all the cares of the modern world. There won’t be a bathroom but there also won’t be as many people. 

I am not a slave to technology, so I relish the opportunity to leave all modern conveniences behind and really live in the moment. I find this difficult to do most times except when I get the opportunity to spend a weekend with friends camping this way. It is a simple luxury and to some people I know time spent this way would be torture, but to me it is truly a gift and I can’t wait to get back to the woods.