Ford PU, Coyotes, a WBBB and Me

[fr8pilot1]

Over the past week, an upcoming camping trip turned into a research fest as I would be dealing with near freezing temps. This forum was a tremendous help in collecting the right kind of gear that would get me thorough the weekend.

Since I would be staying at a campground, keeping "it light" was not an issue. I've had my WBBB and Superfly (no doors) for a couple of years now and have only camped in warmer weather...at heavily populated campgrounds.

The equipment I selected was "spot on". Once I got everything in place I climbed in and was quite "toasty". I was smiling as all the research really paid off. I closed my eyes..and within seconds was sound asleep. Until, I heard some coyotes nearby. I thought no big deal, I have heard them before and they always seemed to keep their distance to the campgrounds.

I was about the doze off again when I head 3 distinct howls followed by one of the eeriest sounds I have ever heard. It appeared the pack had found their prey and all attacked at once. The blood curdling sound lasted for 10-15 seconds followed by utter calm. Now the "what if's" began to run rampant through my mind.

I finally rationalized that there were other campers around me, the pack had found their meal for the evening, I had no food or garbage around my campsite and I had defensive weaponry inside the hammock with me. All would be well.

Then...I heard the same eerie scenario again...the 3 howls followed by the pack attacking their prey.

Let me just say, the front seat of a Ford Pickup can also be a toasty place to rest for the night. Not as comfortable as my WBBB, but better than being some Coyote's "Camper Jerky" snack.

But thanks to this forum and especially Shug's videos, I did learn how to stay warm even if it was in the front seat of the truck.

Shhhh...what was that?????

[Refreshing]

It appeared the pack had found their prey and all attacked at once. The blood curdling sound lasted for 10-15 seconds followed by utter calm. Now the "what if's" began to run rampant through my mind.

TERROR! SERIOUSLY! You KNOW that going to your pickup truck was senseless yet your brain played mindgames with you so you did it anyways! This is how every backpacking trip goes for me. Awesome story

[2ply]

Glad you made it through the night. If the howling isn't enough the dying screams of their pry is quite disturbing. I try and camp off to myself to enjoy the solitude so no neighbors for me. I've had similar situations on the AT here in Ga and it makes for a restless night.

[evilleotter]

Sounds can turn a peaceful night into a sleepless nightmare. As Refreshing said, you know that you will be fine but the fear of the unknown becomes so overwhelming that it trumps rational thought. Been there a few times (especially in bear country). Still, no better night than one in the woods, even a sleepless night!

[g2outdoors]

Earplugs. Crisis averted.

[fishbait]

Ahhh, reminds me of the last camping trip I did as a Scoutmaster. A pack of Coyotes managed to take get there prey just outside of the camp site we were in. There's nothing more entertaining than watching 10 screaming scouts trying to all climb into the same 2 man tent. I just chuckled laid back in my hammock and went back to sleep.

[gunner76]

Sounds like my wife when there is a thunder storm. Scares the crap out of her.

[03XJeep]

Geat story and it is awesome all of your research paid off for you. Your coyote story reminds me a bit of a camping trip I went on a few years back. My brother in law and I were camping in KY and could hear the coyotes all around us. I had never really heard anything like this so I was just a bit on edge but not freaked out. However, my bro in law decided to start howling and set off a storm of yips and howls all around us. It sounded to me like we were literally surounded. After about 30 minutes they stopped and were silent but we didn't realize that some college kids were at a camp site off of a trail and thought our howling were coyotes and it freaked them out to the point they almost hiked out to their car.

[Mumbles]

They chased you into the metal box, just as intended. Now we know why refreshing hangs out at 45'! I've backpacked and camped a lot. I have had some freaky animal and human encounters. I'm still going.

[PappyAmos]

I was hanging in the local SP 10 days ago and it seemed they were all around at one time or another. Less than a quarter mile away. So I put in my ear plugs and dozed thru the night.

I hike all over that park all the time including a lot of the southern half of the park where the trails don't go. I've encountered deer many times but I have never actually "seen" a coyote.

The question comes to mind though, has anyone had one or more coyotes actually come into their camp or bother them directly in some other way?

Pappy