Newbie Question About Camping

**opie984** · 01-13-2010, 10:08

Hey everyone,

I have been seeing this phrase "stealth camping" pop up here and there as I have been getting into hammocks the last couple of weeks. I think I have a pretty good idea what this is, but could someone offer up some clarity for me and enlighten me about "going stealth"?

**HappyCamper** · 01-13-2010, 10:14

Hidden setup where it's hard to see you. Usually means having gear in stealthy colors like camo or muted browns, greys, greens.

**KerMegan** · 01-13-2010, 10:20

hanging away from the main trail or path; not drawing attention to your location or your stuff. Also quietly setting up late and packing up early before others are moving about.

**pgibson** · 01-13-2010, 10:21

Stealth camping first came into my vocabulary 8 or 10 years ago after reading Ray Jardines First book about ultralight backpacking. His principle in the mater was several fold. He did not want to camp at established backcountry campsites as they have a larger impact on the environment -- creating a negative (more campground) atmosphere in the backcountry. He also wanted to camp in a manor that would allow him private and seclusion without having to go miles from the trail. And hence Stealth Camping. Basically for most users it is doing things that will allow you to camp most any were without being detected and hence forth bother others or be bothered by others.

This usually involves having muted or even camouflage gear so that you blend in with the terrain rather than stick out like most mainstream gear. It may also mean that you don't have a camp fire at your site, you may not cook at your site, and you may hike from the early hours till the late ones as to not have you campsite be set up during the daytime when most folks are wondering around.

Of corse all of that is open to your own interpretation.

O and welcome to HF Opie.

**Cannibal** · 01-13-2010, 10:22

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.

**vitamaltz** · 01-13-2010, 10:31

Like Cannibal said, depends where you are. Stealth camping with a hammock makes you look at the whole built environment a different way. Traffic islands in shopping center parking lots, roadway shoulders... the possibilities are endless. I've even stealth camped in the heart of Knoxville, with a king's view of the whole city.

It's also good backcountry practice. I think it makes a hike richer for others if they don't notice your campsite in the woods. Just be sure to bring along something in a loud color in case you need to attract attention.

**MacEntyre** · 01-13-2010, 10:37

I've noted several local highway cloverleafs where the woods that remain inside the circle of an exit ramp are thick enough to conceal a stealth camper. Some are so thick, you could cook without being detected. The best ones are thick year round!

**vitamaltz** · 01-13-2010, 10:40

Yeah, cloverleafs are great because headlights never point in that direction. Full-time campers know about them too. That's never been a problem for me, but it's worth mentioning.

**oldgringo** · 01-13-2010, 10:46

Nothing like a poison ivy thicket!

Okay, maybe not, but honeysuckle...

**Widerstand** · 01-13-2010, 11:04

Also I would like to add that Stealth Camping doesn't really need to be just camping some place.

It could also be sleeping on a roof top, under a bridge, on a train, or any other place you shouldn't be.