Camp security

[Bayou Russ]

Probably a silly question but what does everyone do with they're camps if say in a state park or a campground and leave for a period? Fold up and pack away or pretty confident it will still be there when you get back?

[WrenchBender]

Personally I would attempt a stealth camp nearby first. If that's not an option I would befriend the nearest neighbor. Still not an option? Break camp down. Years ago while t..t camping someone stole all our hard earned gathered firewood when we went for a walk. EVERYONE close heard my displeasure and it was a nice quiet evening at least. Campgrounds unfortunately are not safe havens from sneak thieves.

[Bammacker]

For me, it depends on what I'm leaving behind. If it's my set up 10 person family tent at a campsite or smaller hammock stuff that is easier to take. It depends how many others are in the area. If I'm car camping I'll through a good bit in the car if we go for a hike or swim. I haven't had any problems yet, but I try not to give others to many glaring opportunities either.

[roman01ca]

It depends on the length of time and your neighbors. Last September I stated at Cranberry Lake, NY for 5 days. One of the days I left for Lake Placid, about an hour drive from the campgrounds. Was gone for little over 5 hours. One of our neighbors was a retired LEO the other was a married couple. I took my money and anything that wasn't replaceable. Tents and camp furniture all stayed behind.

[Tonykarter]

This strategy has worked for me before, and shall again: Befriend the neighbors if you have some there. Offer them a Zing Zang Bloody Mary. Once they drink one they will help you watch your stash of Zing Zang, and everything else by default. At home I have proven it as a viable strategy to increase attentiveness and visits by Neighborhood Watch.

[DanglingModifier]

A car accessible campground near towns or highways has a low barrier to entry. There is virtually nothing there to weed out miscreants sharing the space with you. Befriending someone is a good idea, as WrenchBender noted. I usually leave my shelter up, and pack the small stuff discretely in my vehicle if I am going to be out of camp for a while. Only if I saw clear and obvious warning signs would I'd consider packing up and locking away everything.

If I'm in a campground that is well off the beaten path, a primitive backwoods campground or doing dispersed camping in a place you need to really hoof it I'm more inclined to leave everything in camp when I leave for a while. I expect others who have made the effort to get out there to be more prepared, mature, upstanding and respectful of others and their environment. Chances are I've already struck up a friendly conversation with anyone close by, and it takes a really special and rare person to hike out in the woods and then rob you after you've made a personal connection with them.

If you go through life not trusting people as a rule, you might save yourself from being ripped off a few times but you'll miss out on being the recipient of countless acts of generosity and kindness. The best attitude is somewhere in the middle.

[GoatHanger]

I use my 1000 yard stare and bad attitude as a deterrent.

60% of the time, it works every time.

[pgibson]

Personally I think it makes a big difference where you are. Dangling touched on this and I agree that if you close into towns you are more likely to get issues than if your further away from them. But I would also add that I am less concerned with folks around here in Idaho than I might be in another state. Population density and all. The more people the more chance of an issue. Not saying to take any undo risk with something of value. I try really hard to avoid campgrounds all together if possible. I think you're usually better off getting off the beaten path more than being in the social stew.

[Bayou Russ]

Very good points all round. I guess the reason for my pondering is I enjoy toobing and camping on the gaudalupe river here in Texas. When I had my trailer is was easy too lock up and leave, and the last time I camped in a tent there the most expensive thing they could get was a box fan!

And I totally agree with both ideas of watch out near town and more trusting further off the beaten path you go. The Gaudalupe is kinda of a somewhere in between added with you leave camp too float the river for 4-8hrs a day.

[Brien]

When car camping we just put everything of value including our food in the car. When backpacking I don't carry many valuables and what I do I just take with me on any excursions away from camp.