Stealth Camping
08-16-18 | 09:56 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,814
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From: Thailand..........currently Nakhon Ricefield, moving to the beach soon.
Bikes: inferior steel....alas....noodly aluminium assploded
a screw-on plastic sody-pop bottle cap makes a fine showerhead after you push a hot needle through it a dozen times.
it's free.
08-16-18 | 11:18 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 792
Likes: 20
From: New England
Bikes: Brompton M6R, Specialized Tricross Comp, Ellsworth Isis, Dahon Speed P8
I stealth camped/trespassed once. Last year. Private nature center maybe 10 miles from my house. Wanted to get out of the city to try view a meteor shower in the middle of the night. I didn't care for the experience. I didn't like sneaking around and having to rush out early the next day to avoid the possibility of being discovered. The only thing redeeming about it was that shortly after I pitched my tent, a nearby fox started screaming.
The farther you go in and further off trail, the lower the chance of detection, the less you worry, and the better the wilderness experience. You can go in early, sleep/leave late, and enjoy a near backpacking-quality wilderness experience with complete privacy/solitude. I actually love this aspect of it - civilized sightseeing, food, and people by day; followed by my favorite part of backpacking by night.
Tough to do with fully-loaded traditional rigs though...
08-17-18 | 12:19 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 997
Likes: 61
From: Western NC mountains
Bikes: Trek Domane gen 5, Marin Gestalt X10, Diamondback Century 3. Marin Four Corners
Tip for everyone....
Baby wipes
We got nothing down here you don't have north of the Mason-Dixon line.
Edit to add: ...except maybe alligators and cottonmouths and those are pretty limited as far as range.
Baby wipes
Edit to add: ...except maybe alligators and cottonmouths and those are pretty limited as far as range.
Last edited by WNCGoater; 08-17-18 at 12:28 PM.
08-17-18 | 12:27 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 997
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From: Western NC mountains
Bikes: Trek Domane gen 5, Marin Gestalt X10, Diamondback Century 3. Marin Four Corners
... "stealth camping" means different things to different people. Stealth camping to someone else may mean camping or private or public land where camping is not permitted.
I stealth camped/trespassed once. I didn't like sneaking around and having to rush out early the next day to avoid the possibility of being discovered.
I stealth camped/trespassed once. I didn't like sneaking around and having to rush out early the next day to avoid the possibility of being discovered.
For me, pulling off the road and going down in the woods, in blissful ignorance of whether the FS or private timber company or individual owns the land is one thing. Intentionally trespassing on private land or camping where you know it isn't legal is inviting trouble. Maybe I'm splitting hairs there. But it's easier to plead ignorance if you truly are ignorant.
Regardless, I've never stealth camped by bike regardless of definition. If I want the wild camping experience, I'll ride the FS gravel in our nearby National Forest. But touring, I've only camped in established campgrounds.
08-17-18 | 12:37 PM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Salem Oregon
Bikes: 2019 Trek Stash 7, 1994 Specialized Epic 1986 Diamondback Ascent 1996 Klein Pulse Comp, 2006 Specialized Sequoia Elite
FWIW, the game changer for stealth camping for me was the ability to carry my entire rig comfortably... like a 1/4 mile. Single quick release pannier with backpack straps, and bike across the top of my shoulders like carrying 2 water buckets with a pole. Then hike a trail 100-200 yards in, and then bushwhack off trail another 100 yards until out of sight of the trail. Climbing to higher ground can shorten the overall hike, but it's also nice to get far away from road noise. Doesn't even feel like sneaking around - public land that I'm allowed to be in... (well, at least until dark.... shhhh).
The farther you go in and further off trail, the lower the chance of detection, the less you worry, and the better the wilderness experience. You can go in early, sleep/leave late, and enjoy a near backpacking-quality wilderness experience with complete privacy/solitude. I actually love this aspect of it - civilized sightseeing, food, and people by day; followed by my favorite part of backpacking by night.
Tough to do with fully-loaded traditional rigs though...
Your bicycle reflectors can give you away if tucked into the trees at night and a cars headlights happen to hit them. I'm remembering a night up in the Willamette National forest when an older Volkswagon van had stopped to investigate the reflection from our bikes they noticed when they were driving by on a secluded gravel road. It had to have been past midnight, closer to 1 or 2 am. I'd assume they saw a reflection and were looking to see if they were seeing the reflection of an animals eyes. Even if they knew it was from bicycles, they were likely curious and nothing else. Still, it makes you realize you have no idea who is in the vehicle just as much as they have no clue who you might be. Since our campsite was totally legal, maybe being in plain sight would be a better way to go...
08-17-18 | 08:52 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 792
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From: New England
Bikes: Brompton M6R, Specialized Tricross Comp, Ellsworth Isis, Dahon Speed P8
Good points. Agree totally. On public land to you might want to keep it legal and out of sight. I've found if you set up near nightfall and pack up reasonably early no one will probably even know you were there.
Your bicycle reflectors can give you away if tucked into the trees at night and a cars headlights happen to hit them. I'm remembering a night up in the Willamette National forest when an older Volkswagon van had stopped to investigate the reflection from our bikes they noticed when they were driving by on a secluded gravel road. It had to have been past midnight, closer to 1 or 2 am. I'd assume they saw a reflection and were looking to see if they were seeing the reflection of an animals eyes. Even if they knew it was from bicycles, they were likely curious and nothing else. Still, it makes you realize you have no idea who is in the vehicle just as much as they have no clue who you might be. Since our campsite was totally legal, maybe being in plain sight would be a better way to go...
Your bicycle reflectors can give you away if tucked into the trees at night and a cars headlights happen to hit them. I'm remembering a night up in the Willamette National forest when an older Volkswagon van had stopped to investigate the reflection from our bikes they noticed when they were driving by on a secluded gravel road. It had to have been past midnight, closer to 1 or 2 am. I'd assume they saw a reflection and were looking to see if they were seeing the reflection of an animals eyes. Even if they knew it was from bicycles, they were likely curious and nothing else. Still, it makes you realize you have no idea who is in the vehicle just as much as they have no clue who you might be. Since our campsite was totally legal, maybe being in plain sight would be a better way to go...
08-18-18 | 05:16 AM
#32
2-Wheeled Fool
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 680
From: New Hampshire
Bikes: Surly Ogre, Brompton
08-19-18 | 11:06 AM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,119
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From: Kalamazoo, Mi.
Bikes: Sam, The Hunq and that Old Guy, Soma Buena Vista, Giant Talon 2, Brompton
I've been doing it for over 40 years on different trips. It's not something you plan to do, but happens. Water is something you always have to worry about and even at rustic campgrounds you have to compromise on the hygiene by learning to give yourself a sponge bath. Experienced campers realize they rest better if the sweat and dirt are cleaned off before bed time.
Marc
Marc
08-19-18 | 08:43 PM
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 434
From: Thailand..........currently Nakhon Ricefield, moving to the beach soon.
Bikes: inferior steel....alas....noodly aluminium assploded
08-19-18 | 10:47 PM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,063
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From: Salem Oregon
Bikes: 2019 Trek Stash 7, 1994 Specialized Epic 1986 Diamondback Ascent 1996 Klein Pulse Comp, 2006 Specialized Sequoia Elite
Yup, I hear you. I'm personally way too far in for car lights to reach, and I store my bike inside my tent anyways, which is either forest green or granite grey, depending upon season. I also do some ADVmoto/dual-sport self-supported touring and with that, do use legal dispersed plain-sight camping sites along the NFS roads. But honestly speaking, I find that much more unsettling - rather deal with weird animals, than weird people when you're out in the middle of the woods.
