Caught Stealth Camping?
 

Has anyone ever been caught stealth camping? I will be going out on my first "real" tour and am worried about being fined or possibly arrested in a foreign country. Even if the chance of being caught are low, which I know they are; what is the worst possible thing that could happen if caught not doing anything else other than pitching a tent and sleeping in the middle of the woods?

the worst thing that could happen is when you get caught you get up and pack up and leave and find another spot a mile down the road.

if you're on the border in Kurdistan or China you may get an invite for an extended stay in Iran or North Korea - three hots and a cot for 10 to 20!

I've been "caught" a few times. Only once did I pack up and leave, and it was because I was on tribal land and a bunch of drunk native Americans wanted to scalp me, or something. Another time the owner of the property asked me if I needed anything and told me to have a good night.

I don't think that anyone is intimidated by bicycle tourists, and don't see them as a danger to themselves or their property. Sorry folks, but we're not very scary. No loud engines, no big fires, we're usually too tired for a lot of drunken partying, so most people don't even care. Still, it's always best to not get caught.

Worst case scenario, I would imagine someone might call the cops. They would show up and either tell you to go, or might detain you for a bit and ticket you and you might get fined. I find that hard to imagine, but I suppose it could happen. Or someone might walk into your campsite and tell you to get off their property, or worse(we've all seen Deliverance). If you pick your camps wisely, neither of those two scenarios are likely. You are supposed to be STEALTHY.

We've never been caught once we were set up, but one night we were just pulling off the road when the neighbor suddenly pulled out of her driveway. It was nearly dark by then, so she caught us in her headlights. She pulled over and I put my bike down and went to talk to her.

Me: "We've been riding all day and couldn't find a spot to sleep, so when we saw this vacant lot, we figured we would pull back in there ane spend the night. The kids are absolutely exhausted?"

Her: "You're going to sleep there? but it's all rocky and a mess. Wouldn't you be more comfortable next door on our lawn?"

She ended up bringing back a whold box of donuts for us and the kids slept on her trampoline.

Don't worry - as others have said, the very worst is you get asked to move on, best case you are 'caught' and then invited home to a real bed :)

Can't help myself :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzae_SqbmDE

Alcohol abuse is a problem on many reservations -
But using a racist stereotype does no one any good.

PS - You know, there was a rather small transfer of lands from native peoples to white folks over the past 500 years. One shouldn't be all that surprised if native peoples aren't exactly thrilled at having non-native trespassers on what little they have left.

And you can put that last idea in the bank - I guarantee you.

Where are you going?

I don't think there is a universal answer to your question, it depends on where you are, and what the laws and customs of that place are. I'm sure it would be different based on very specific location, as well.

Worst case scenarios that people are talking about here are probably US-based, and others have shared anecdotes that are clearly not worst-case.

I would think getting *****, shot or imprisoned is possible in some places.

Yes, that is a possibility - even in the U.S.

I remember once on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I was chillin' in the dunes when a couple of cigarette boats came in and started offloading in the middle of the night. I suspect that they were delivering some coke or other drugs - and had I been found, it would have been all over for me. I flattened myself in the sea oats and sand and didn't breathe. This is also why stealth camping on the Mexican border carries higher risks.

Also, another potential problem with out-of-the-way places is that they may look secluded to you, but they might be a perfect hangout for people drinking or doing drugs. I'm no wallflower. I've done my share over the years. But there's some powerful stuff out there nowadays and some rather nasty people who have little regard for others - especially if they are seen as having a few spare dollars.

Remember, sociopaths seek out those who are vulnerable. A solo cyclist in the woods, far from home, with no possible help is an ideal target. Given the increase in "bashing" of homeless people, I think such concerns are not excessive. That is why I suggest choosing better spots that merely "stealth" - because your stealth may be someone else's hangout.

In the American and Canadian Wests, there are millions of acres of public land where you can camp for free. In the East there are national and state forests and wildlife management areas. I have camped at fishing access areas - usually a pullout by the river with a portable toilet. Even if camping is not legal is some states' fishing access sites, you can usually count on tolerance. There is the added element of safety in that the location may be patrolled occasionally and that fishermen tend to be kindly towards cyclists and have little use for partiers.

There are plenty of legal, random camping locations - provided you do a little footwork beforehand. In twenty years of touring, I have found that many of the awkward and unpleasant incidents involve less-than-successful stealth attempts. To make a long story short - - informed random camping is far preferable to stealth.

Criminal trespass is your continued presence after you have been given notice through posting, fences, or an order of an "authorized" person. Willful ignorance doesn't count. Criminal trespassers are subject to arrest and punishment. OTOH, if it would be dangerous for you to proceed because of something unforeseeable (like a freak snowstorm) you would have the excuse of necessity. This would be generally true in common law countries like US, Canada, etc etc.

If you camp on private land you take your chances. But although I have never stealth camped, I would certainly do so if the circumstances at the time - despite planning otherwise - dictate that I had no other alternative. But bear in mind, the irate land owner is probably not a lawyer and may feel entitled to do whatever he wants with you - legal or not.

I took a two-day trip from Bellingham to Seattle once and tried a different route. There was a county park about halfway. I had intended to throw my sleeping bag in the bushes somewhere that no one could see me, but it rained and I hadn't brought a tent, so I went to the covered picnic area. The ranger came by really early and told me to leave. There was no fine. The biggest downside was that I was awakened long before I was ready to get up, and had to pack up and leave in a cold drizzle.

In the 70's, we were riding from Chapel Hill to Roanoke and camped on a church lawn in the VA mountains (no tent). Someone called the police and when the deputy showed up and asked for ID, my companion answered, "I don't have an ID." The deputy said, "You should always carry ID." My bud said, "Identity Papers?! What is this, Russia or something?" The deputy told us to move on at first light.

I'd be more concerned about the police trying to take a bribe than being arrested or fined while in a foreign country. With a little research you can see if that is common where you are going. I've had it happen to me in Mexico and Romania (not for camping) and heard stories of the same in many many other places but I wouldn't be all that worried about it if you stay smart

From my experiences the local people are always extremely friendly and so excited that somebody has taken interest in their town/country. I know people who have camped in Romania on bike tours and had people come out in the morning giving them small bottles of local liquor and fruit to take with them etc. That sort of hospitality is common around the world

You need to be specific about where you plan on doing this.

Actually police have a right to determine who you are if they ascertain that there is probable cause that a crime - such as criminal trespass - was committed. If the deputy was of a mind to hassle you, you and your friend might have easily spent the night in jail.

might have been preferable to the church lawn?

I think asking for worst case in this situation is like asking worst case when traveling by plane. My answer is similar: your biggest danger is being killed by a motorist on your way to a stealth camping spot. Obviously you’ll need to use your brain and avoid dangerous areas AND being caught. I say don’t dwell on worst case, and enjoy your tour.

In many US states if there are NO "No Trespassing" signs, property owners can, or have the cops, tell you to leave and then you MUST immediately leave. If you don't immediately leave the cops can escort you off the property or more (ticket, arrest, both) particularly if you resist by putting up a fuss so mind the attitude. If there ARE signs and you get caught you can be fined and maybe arrested depending on what the property owner's or cop's mood is at the time. In my experience their mood is often connected to what your attitude is when confronted.

That said IMHO stealth camping is gambling with the odds in your favour

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj4Ln...eature=related


:)


And then there is that scene from Easy Rider. :eek:

The only novel I know of with a bike tourist as protagonist, The Memory of Running, points out some dangers of stealth camping. Smithy Ide gets hit by a car while stealth camping in Indiana. He nearly gets arrested in Colorado when he rescues a minor child during a snowstorm and his actions are misinterpreted.

Usually while stealth camping on tour, We setup so late and got up so early it was not really an issue. We got caught twice. One was not as understanding as the other. One fed us and basically gave us full access to her and her husbands restaurant. They were very nice. The others just told us if we are going to stay in town again, to camp at this other specific location.. Both were very nice though.

Which foreign country? Norms and laws will vary from country to country. As an example, when cycling across Russia there was a lot of public land where essentially anyone can camp - and I saw a number of locals also camping. I didn't put a huge amount of effort into going "stealth", but usually would get at least half a dozen kilometers away from nearest village and otherwise pull a little ways off the road. That was more to avoid curious locals than to evade anything.

One night while I was camped in the West Siberian oil region, I had a jeep pull up and when I poked my head out saw two armed guards checking me out. Some quick Russian to explain I was a bicycle tourist and they asked if I was leaving next morning and all was good. On a different occasion, close to Chita, I had violated my maxim of being far away from local villages and had a pair that clearly had too much to drink come over to check things out. Initially their curiosity questions were fine, but the ones that followed "do you have money?" put me on edge so I more abruptly ended that conversation with one or two tense moments.

However, other than a few isolated cases, I was otherwise left alone despite folks probably being able to see my bright orange tent from the road. Other encounters from locals were much more positive than negative.

well, it would be a foreign country but not very far away for me. I am planning a 2 week tour from new york city up to Quebec city in Canada and around the area.

Mabye someone can actually help me out. I am planning out my trip street by street using google maps but I am having trouble finding La Route Verte in quebec near Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelleu. I am scanning the area with google maps and can't seem to spot it. Bike paths are not easy to spot, they really should be marked.

There is another bicycle tourist book from the '70s, "Between my legs" by Chaim Sil. As I recall there is one event where he is beset upon by some local boys. I can't remember if he was stealth camping though.

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