Newbie Question About Camping

[vitamaltz]

Just don't sleep under a train.

[Widerstand]

Just don't sleep under a train.

Ha, always good advice.

[millarky]

Or in a train tunnel. I know of a kayaker who did that. He is no longer kayaking...

[SweetLou]

Depends on who you are.
HappyCamper gave you the definition that I generally apply to the term, but another popular definition is to camp where you are not supposed to camp. State Parks here in Colorado are stealth camps for me. Hanging my hammock and sleeping the night away on a golf course in Florida during a business trip was MOST DEFINITELY stealth camping; it was both illegal and well hidden. But of course, very cool when the security golf cart drove past me about 20' away every hour or so and still never saw me.

I disagree with the definition that is camping where you are not suppose to camp. Stealth camping is a technique that can be done either legally or illegally.

For me, I like stealth camping because I don't want to be bothered. I like being able to ride my bicycle and stop wherever I see a good spot for the evening.

This gives me a lot of freedom. I don't have to be like other tourists that have to be on a schedule to get to their campsite by sundown. Hammock stealth camping should give me more options on the places I can stealth camp. If I take a wrong turn or decide to go somewhere else, I don't have to worry about finding a campsite for the night, I can just keep riding until I see a location that I like.

[mbiraman]

I disagree with the definition that is camping where you are not suppose to camp. Stealth camping is a technique that can be done either legally or illegally.

For me, I like stealth camping because I don't want to be bothered. I like being able to ride my bicycle and stop wherever I see a good spot for the evening.

This gives me a lot of freedom. I don't have to be like other tourists that have to be on a schedule to get to their campsite by sundown. Hammock stealth camping should give me more options on the places I can stealth camp. If I take a wrong turn or decide to go somewhere else, I don't have to worry about finding a campsite for the night, I can just keep riding until I see a location that I like.

+1, thats how i like to view it also.

[opie984]

Wow! I really didn't expect to get so many responses so quickly. But all of your answers helped me out a lot.

When stealth camping where one might not be welcome (hint, hint), what is the best method for cooking? Use an alcohol stove, MRE's, ???

[mclmm]

+2

Stealth camping is not only about blending in with your environment, it's about making as little environmental impact as possible. When you break camp, pretend that someone is tracking you - is your hang out spot easy for someone to find? Disturbed vegetation, litter and marks in the soil?

I don't know what the US military is like, but in the Australian Army, the bulk of our nights spent out bush were stealth camping.

Be invisible, then leave no trace.

Opie, the best methods of cooking while stealth camping are MREs with flameless ration heaters, followed by a gas or alcohol stove. Don't cook in the dark and if you are being stealthy due to possible dangerous animals, don't cook in your camp site, rather stop a few hours before dark and cook up your culinary masterpiece on the trail. Don't breakfast in the campsite either, walk aways first.

[Cannibal]

When stealth camping where one might not be welcome (hint, hint), what is the best method for cooking? Use an alcohol stove, MRE's, ???

MREs would be the best for true stealth, but the flame from an alky stove isn't visible from very far away. Use natural shelter like a row of bushes if you're really concerned. I stealthed all over the place when I lived in Florida, never once got 'caught'. Palmettos make excellent cover and block most of your light. Red light headlamps come in very handy for such camps.

[Widerstand]

Opie, the best methods of cooking while stealth camping are MREs with flameless ration heaters, followed by a gas or alcohol stove. Don't cook in the dark and if you are being stealthy due to possible dangerous animals, don't cook in your camp site, rather stop a few hours before dark and cook up your culinary masterpiece on the trail. Don't breakfast in the campsite either, walk aways first.

You stole the words out of my mouth.

[HappyCamper]

MREs would be the best for true stealth, but the flame from an alky stove isn't visible from very far away.

Esp. with windscreen around it.