Stealthiest Place You've Hung?

[heyduff]

Once upon a time...we were summarily escorted out...I chose to remember was that it was a great trip!

You have it exactly right...I ask people to tell me about a trip that went perfect, everything went just to plan--no one seems able to but ask, tell me a trip where things when badly? Flood gates of details flow out, so the trick to life, I think, just might be...if we can know that and enjoy the trip while things are going badly--find a way to laugh and say, OH! we're going to remember this for a looooong time! My daugther and I try to remember that when I, the responsible Dad, leaves his ski gloves at home on the coldest day or she, the person who packs very carefully, has to unpack everything because her mom asks if such and such were packed--an OCD traits she gets from me. Love those stories....your story sounds like a hoot even if it was not quite a hoot at the time!

[cougarmeat]

You should probably confirm this before relying on it - but this is what I recall about "closed" forest service (don't know about state parks on the coast) in Oregon. If they are closed, you can still stay there - just don't park in front of a closed gate - blocking it. The bathroom may be open but not stocked or resupplied. The trash cans will not be emptied. So bring your own toilet paper and pack garbage out.

I asked about this when I heard a friend in Washington got a large fine for using a closed campground up there - but it wasn't clear if he got the fine because he was in the campground itself or if he had parked in front of a locked gate (blocking it).

[OlTrailDog]

You should probably confirm this before relying on it - but this is what I recall about "closed" forest service (don't know about state parks on the coast) in Oregon. If they are closed, you can still stay there - just don't park in front of a closed gate - blocking it. The bathroom may be open but not stocked or resupplied. The trash cans will not be emptied. So bring your own toilet paper and pack garbage out.

I asked about this when I heard a friend in Washington got a large fine for using a closed campground up there - but it wasn't clear if he got the fine because he was in the campground itself or if he had parked in front of a locked gate (blocking it).

You are correct for most situations. I ran the recreation program on the Malheur out of John Day for a couple of years just before I retired and returned home to Montana. On the MNF folks could stay in the campgrounds during the part of the year the campground wasn't open. Other regulations, such as camping time limits, littering, or dumping were still in effect. It just came with the caveat that no services were provided. Either it was a state campground or FS policy was different on the coast at that time. All I know is we were unquestionably told to leave. Also, a blocked gated road is required to have the regulation cited and posted in order to be effective, or the judge will dismiss the citation.

For brevity sake, I left out how the rest of the afternoon transpired. When we biked out of the forbidden campground and travel southward. I was a faster biker than my friend and when I came to a possible camping area I went in to check it out figuring I had enough time to check it out and get back to the road intersection before Mike got there. Oooops, no so much. I hung around for a bit waiting for Mike until it dawned on me that he might have rode on by. So I hopped on my bike and started pedaling to catch up with Mike. Up in front, Mike was pedaling as best as he could to catch up with me and was getting madder and madder because I was passing by potential camp areas and not waiting. I was getting madder and madder at Mike for the same reasons. And both of us had over full bellies full of PB&J. Finally, I caught up with Mike enough to holler at him to stop. When I rode up to him we were both so pissed, but we didn't say a word, only glared at each other for a bit. All was forgiven and we thought how freak'n funny it the whole day had been.

[Young]

Was in Prague for a month in late september, spent a week bike camping travelling from towns to towns and sleeping on the sly wherever there are stands of trees and forested areas in my hammock. Was never really tactical about my campsite, but would set up camp out of line of site from the roads, and preferably 5 minutes walk away from trail away from towns, farms & residential area. I use google map to have a look at wherever there are trees or forest around the area i am going to. I was never disturbed during the night and I doubt if anyone was the wiser about my presence.

The only problem was the cold. It is the first time I had camp in a place where the temperate part of the World, with an inadequate camping pad and a down blanket. I had to return to Prague to purchase more substantial insulation before I continued with my journey. The ride up the Vitava river was really great though.

[GreatBigDave]

This summer on Raquette Lake after a very long day we were looking for a campsite before the carry to Forked Lake. Every designated campsite we approached was full save the very last. Quite relieved we wouldn't have to portage to Forked Lake tired, hungry and in the dark we unloaded and hauled the canoes out. While choosing sites and organizing dinner one of the scouts asked "What does this yellow marker mean?" without looking, I answered "The round ones? They identify designated campsites." his reply "Why does it have a red circle with a line through it?" We looked and confirmed that this, the last campsite before the carry, was indeed closed. Our voyageur suggested that primitive camping is allowed 150 feet from water, road, trails, campsites and lean-tos so into the woods we trudged. We found what looked to be an old abandoned logging road 100-120 yards up the hill that provided ample flat areas for ground dwellers and I found a pair of trees just far enough apart for my Superfly. We used the closed campsite for cooking.

Not exactly illegal but as close as I've come (especially with scouts).

[jadekayak]

Auckland university park up a tree,half way to the canopy.
Fine night so only needed climbing gear,hammock,pad,safety harness and sleeping bag.

No one looks up to find oyt where the snooring comes from

[KiwiMark]

When I'm riding on my DR650 I often think about where I could camp for the night without anyone knowing about it. There are places where there are trees and no fence and there are some places where I could pull off the road and park where the bike wouldn't be seen from the road. I figure that if I pulled off the road in the late afternoon and tucked in somewhere out of sight, set up the hammock on some trees close to the bike and got some sleep, packing up early and getting on my way by 7 am - I'd be able to get away with it leaving no one the wiser. My idea would be to do no harm and leave no trace, also to have all the passing vehicles see no sign of anything.

A few years back I didn't like the look of a crowded campground and went looking for another option, there was a spot that I managed to pull off the road and park the bike where it wouldn't be seen and I squeezed my small tent into a tight gap out of sight. It wasn't flat and it wasn't the best night's sleep I ever had. Nowadays it would be much easier with a hammock and the DR650 is better at getting off the road than any previous bikes I've owned.

So far I have not actually pulled over and tried the spots I've considered since I've been hammocking, but I still think about it every time I'm riding along any road at all.

[Mountnormal]

My local mountain bike/hiking/cross-country ski trails offer perfect stealth camping opportunities. I ride in after dark, hang my hammock, sleep the night, and try to get out before anyone comes rambling through. It's usually a good night's sleep but last time a creaking tree and some coyotes kept waking me up.

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[Trail Runner]

I haven't done it yet but there's an island with trees in a nearby lake that is just large enough to setup camp. I'd have to swim to get out there and it is technically against the rules but I still want to do it. It's less than a mile from my house, as the crow flies, so I can just road march there.

[OneClick]

I haven't done it yet but there's an island with trees in a nearby lake that is just large enough to setup camp. I'd have to swim to get out there and it is technically against the rules but I still want to do it. It's less than a mile from my house, as the crow flies, so I can just road march there.

I wanted to do the same thing. It's a fairly large island considering the small lake size, but appears kids took it over last time I checked. Technically county property. Pretty elaborate setup actually. I don't care so much about getting in trouble, but the embarrassment when some kids show up. Some old guy is sleeping out there...what a loser!