Stealth Camping Stories

[Rapt]

I've thought about doing it off the motorcycle when I'm making long distance trips. I never had the gear before though.... But hammocks and ultralight tarps open up the possibilities...

[CoyoteWhips]

Stealth camping is instant camping for me. There's a wooded park within walking distance of my house and nobody is going to walk the back trails clearing out the rare overnighter in an hammock.

[Rick]

Do folks not notice simply becuase they are not looking for the shape of a hammock in the air, hald hidden in branches, but would be looking instead for a shape of a tent on the ground?

[angrysparrow]

Do folks not notice simply becuase they are not looking for the shape of a hammock in the air, hald hidden in branches, but would be looking instead for a shape of a tent on the ground?

Stealth camping isn't just about hammocks (although I think it's the best way..). It is about camping in spots where nobody would expect you to be at all. That can be done by tucking away in a hidden spot, or even in plain view where nobody looks...

[btourer]

My camping spots when bicycle touring are determined by where I'm at when the sun starts setting. I just look for a secluded spot, then shoot into the woods when no ones looking. I look for a bend in the road and then camp to the inside of it, if I can. That way the head light are panning into the woods on the outside of the bend.
I've even used the woods behind a few cemeteries before when nothing else looked good.

[Grinder]

People on a motorcycle list that I follow often report stealth camping. It's even supposed to be legal in National forests.

I tried it once in central Mississippi . I never could find a site that was out of sight of a residence with a road/path leading off the main highway (a two laner).

I gave up and paid for a state park space.

I think it takes a bit of "brass balls" to stealth that I seem to lack.

Miles of Smiles
Tom

[Doctari]

I recently stelth camped a mere 30' from a busy parking lot (Mt bike trailhead, fishing spot parking lot, make out spot.) I did park my van in the one point that was direct line of sight, but no one ever noticed me.

During the night, a park ranger came through he/she shined the spot light right on me. Camping is NOT allowed there, she/he said nothing so I must assume that I was not seen
Several fishermen & Mt bikers came to / left their cars through the night, usually shining head lights near / at me. No one said anything, so after a few "close calls" I slept soundly the rest of the night.

What I did:
My tarp & hammock are woodland camo.
I had a fair amount of brush between me & the parking lot.
I parked my van in the one point that was direct line of sight.
I set up after it got dark, when no one was in the parking lot.
I was down before daylight.

What I'll do different:
That time I was side on to the parking lot, presenting a full profile. The next time (this weekend) I'll be end on, so a much smaller profile.

[Redtail]

I am in your yard right now. I am waving. No, over here. Nevermind.

[Cannibal]

Well, if you want to go hiking in Florida this weekend 'stealth' is your only option. Hunting (drinking with guns) Season opens this weekend and hikers are banned from the trails. Apparently, the first weekend isn't safe for hikers to be out there. Thru hikers on the Flordia Trail must have a permit, but they are allowed to hike.

I'll let you know if there are any bullet holes in the Warbonnet on Monday.

[eflat7]

Before I was a hanger I used to always camp by the railroad tracks. Usually the mile or two of woods in between each town are the best spots. I was always surprised at the amount of people that you see while traveling via RR tracks.

I haven't done that sort of thing for awhile, but now my property borders some watershed and state gameland property... been thinking about it hard lately since I am a reformed ground dweller. We'll see.