Official Camping Thread

[Hollywood]

I look forward to hearing about your trip. Alpine looks nice, lots of trees and streams. I've never been there.

We didn't end up going to Alpine. As I was getting ready to unload my work stuff and load up the camping gear my wife she said it was too cold (low 30's at night) to go camping. I suggested a Buddy Heater and Friday morning she agreed to go. By then it was too late to unload all my work stuff from my truck, load all the camping gear, go food shopping, etc. So I looked at Google Earth and found a place not far away that looked promising.

BTW...If you haven't tried using Google Earth and Google Maps to scout out new territory I highly suggest it. (Obviously a good map is still needed but more on that later) You can use the satellite images and maps to see where the roads go and even check out pictures others have taken of the area when available. And, Google Earth will even show you the terrain. Takes a bit of getting used to but it is a useful tool.

Anyway, we headed out to a place that I still don't really know what to call because I have never heard a name for it but it is the peak north east of Rosevelt Lake. We left with no map but the coordinates in the GPS and confident it would get us to the spot or at least close enough that we could find it on our own. And although there was a misplaced road on the GPS it did get us close enough to find the turnoff. The problem was that the road was closed and I didn't plan an alternate location like I should have.

No problem, we are dispersed campers and just need a clearing to set up our gear so we set off on an adventure looking for a small road off the 'main' road we were on. Just to get away from any traffic that might be headed through. We found one a short distance up the road and headed in. A little rougher than I would have thought but not too bad. The real problem was that there were deep ruts in the road from past rain but I have a truck so even that wasn't a problem. A little ways back we find a clearing with a worn out fire ring and pull in. It was pretty big so I backed the truck into the back and started to unload.

Like I said, the fire ring was pretty warn out and near the road (it actually ended up being in front of my truck) so I just made a new one. After getting everything set up we started to enjoy ourselves and noticed that the only sounds of civilization we heard was planes flying over. I don't think we even heard one car on the road that first day. I felt so secure that after my wife complained that the Portable Buddy Heater didn't work long enough or hot enough on low that first night that we decided to head into town and buy a hose to hook it up to my 20lb tank for the next night. Town (we planned on going to Young but ended up going to Payson) was farther then we thought and we ended up being gone for 5 hours. Still no sign of anyone when we got back. I didn't know if it was because that area of the forest isn't used much or that it is still so early in the season...or maybe a combination of those 2...or maybe because we were on private land.

I don't know how I missed it on the first trip in but we passed through a barbed wire fence that someone had cut open. I decided to stay where we were because it is a lot to tear down and move and it was already late afternoon. Besides we are good campers and pack out all our trash so except for the fire ring there isn't really any sign that we had been there.

Fun trip though and using Google to scout out new locations is definitely something I will continue to do in the future. I will just have a couple backup plans and a map before heading out.


I am pretty sure this is where we were:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33°5...F-8&ei=aExFU-vTC-ScyQHVyoGoDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ

 

[Hollywood]

Hopefully this works and shows our campsite.

You must be registered for see images

 

[BigRedRage]

nice setup!

 

[Mulli]

Alpine is far, but it rules.

 

[Hollywood]

nice setup!

Thanks. This was just the second time camping for the family. I used to go as a kid but didnt for 20+ years.

With the exception of the grill and utinsils (used for tailgating) we have had to start from scratch so what you see is a work in progress.

I am still looking for a sleeping bag that fits. Im 6'3" and am looking for a rectangulat bag that will cover my head and I can move around in.

 

[crisper57]

Thanks. This was just the second time camping for the family. I used to go as a kid but didnt for 20+ years.

With the exception of the grill and utinsils (used for tailgating) we have had to start from scratch so what you see is a work in progress.

I am still looking for a sleeping bag that fits. Im 6'3" and am looking for a rectangulat bag that will cover my head and I can move around in.

Good luck. Sleeping bags tend to be thought of in terms of what will work strapped onto the back of a hiker, rather than how it will fit a sleeper. I have the same problem.

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/coleman...r&adid=18183&gclid=CNeUg5ng0b0CFUFufgod2nAA-A

This is the one I have. It works for me, but I am only 6'1". I can only use it when I am camping out of my car. If I am hiking in, it is not fun to strap onto my backpack.

Ironically, the bigger the bag, it seems, the warmer the weather it is made for.

This one looks promising too:

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/coleman...d&adid=18183&gclid=CNnr6tPg0b0CFVJffgodj3wA_A

 

[BigRedRage]

Thanks. This was just the second time camping for the family. I used to go as a kid but didnt for 20+ years.

With the exception of the grill and utinsils (used for tailgating) we have had to start from scratch so what you see is a work in progress.

I am still looking for a sleeping bag that fits. Im 6'3" and am looking for a rectangulat bag that will cover my head and I can move around in.

By the looks of the shelving system you have you are pretty dialed in. I have tons of gear but I am not as well organized. I have a large tupperware type box that fits an entire campsite minues collers and stuff and I just throw that in a truck. Camp in a box.

As far as sleeping bags, its tough. I have a mummy bag that fits me, nothing else works all that great. Your best bet is to go to a store and try some on.

 

[cardncubfan]

We didn't end up going to Alpine. As I was getting ready to unload my work stuff and load up the camping gear my wife she said it was too cold (low 30's at night) to go camping. I suggested a Buddy Heater and Friday morning she agreed to go. By then it was too late to unload all my work stuff from my truck, load all the camping gear, go food shopping, etc. So I looked at Google Earth and found a place not far away that looked promising.

BTW...If you haven't tried using Google Earth and Google Maps to scout out new territory I highly suggest it. (Obviously a good map is still needed but more on that later) You can use the satellite images and maps to see where the roads go and even check out pictures others have taken of the area when available. And, Google Earth will even show you the terrain. Takes a bit of getting used to but it is a useful tool.

Anyway, we headed out to a place that I still don't really know what to call because I have never heard a name for it but it is the peak north east of Rosevelt Lake. We left with no map but the coordinates in the GPS and confident it would get us to the spot or at least close enough that we could find it on our own. And although there was a misplaced road on the GPS it did get us close enough to find the turnoff. The problem was that the road was closed and I didn't plan an alternate location like I should have.

No problem, we are dispersed campers and just need a clearing to set up our gear so we set off on an adventure looking for a small road off the 'main' road we were on. Just to get away from any traffic that might be headed through. We found one a short distance up the road and headed in. A little rougher than I would have thought but not too bad. The real problem was that there were deep ruts in the road from past rain but I have a truck so even that wasn't a problem. A little ways back we find a clearing with a worn out fire ring and pull in. It was pretty big so I backed the truck into the back and started to unload.

Like I said, the fire ring was pretty warn out and near the road (it actually ended up being in front of my truck) so I just made a new one. After getting everything set up we started to enjoy ourselves and noticed that the only sounds of civilization we heard was planes flying over. I don't think we even heard one car on the road that first day. I felt so secure that after my wife complained that the Portable Buddy Heater didn't work long enough or hot enough on low that first night that we decided to head into town and buy a hose to hook it up to my 20lb tank for the next night. Town (we planned on going to Young but ended up going to Payson) was farther then we thought and we ended up being gone for 5 hours. Still no sign of anyone when we got back. I didn't know if it was because that area of the forest isn't used much or that it is still so early in the season...or maybe a combination of those 2...or maybe because we were on private land.

I don't know how I missed it on the first trip in but we passed through a barbed wire fence that someone had cut open. I decided to stay where we were because it is a lot to tear down and move and it was already late afternoon. Besides we are good campers and pack out all our trash so except for the fire ring there isn't really any sign that we had been there.

Fun trip though and using Google to scout out new locations is definitely something I will continue to do in the future. I will just have a couple backup plans and a map before heading out.


I am pretty sure this is where we were:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.92...ed=0CCoQ8gEwAA

The google map shows Chandler. What was the elevation there? There area looks like a great place to camp.

 

[Hollywood]

By the looks of the shelving system you have you are pretty dialed in. I have tons of gear but I am not as well organized. I have a large tupperware type box that fits an entire campsite minues collers and stuff and I just throw that in a truck. Camp in a box.

As far as sleeping bags, its tough. I have a mummy bag that fits me, nothing else works all that great. Your best bet is to go to a store and try some on.

Thanks, I built the Chuck Box last year before our first camping trip and use it for tailgating as well. It has been a big hit at the games Maybe too big. Someone tried to steel it during a game.

I love it but it weighs over 100 lbs. so I put it on wheels. I intend to post a video of it on youtube. There wasn't a whole lot on there when I built this one but the ones that were helped me out a lot with ideas on what to build and how to build it.

 

[Hollywood]

The google map shows Chandler. What was the elevation there? There area looks like a great place to camp.

Yeah, I don't know what happened there. This should be the correct link. We were (I think) the green arrow.


https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33°5...F-8&ei=aExFU-vTC-ScyQHVyoGoDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ

 

[Hollywood]

Some shots my wife took while we were driving on 288.

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

The last one had Roosevelt Lake in the background.

 

[BigRedRage]

Yeah, I don't know what happened there. This should be the correct link. We were (I think) the green arrow.


https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33%C2%B055%2727.4%22N+110%C2%B057%2714.8%22W&ie=UTF-8&ei=aExFU-vTC-ScyQHVyoGoDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ

nice right off of the desert to tall pines trail. Makes sense why young and payson were your closest options now. That trail goes from globe to heber and has lots of cool unpaved areas along with some of the highest p eaks to look off of in all of tonto national forest.

That is not a heavily trafficed road so no surprise it was quiet. I have yet to travel the entire road. If you look at that trail, I tried to come home on it one day. I was going through young and the freeway turned east and I thought, this cant be all freeway so I continued south. Next thing I knew we spent 5 hours romping through the raw desert in the middle of NOWHERE and having no idea where we were. We ended up finally popping out of the wilderness at rye creek on the 87. That was one wild ride home. Half of a tank, no drinks, no doors on the jeep. 3 people, 2 dogs and lost as hell in nowhere land!

 

[Red Dawn]

By the looks of the shelving system you have you are pretty dialed in.

Our family has enjoyed camping vacations for years. My wife's folks make these pantrys for the family for camping. You hang it from a tree and put your stuff in it; as you can see we load it up with junk. When it's time to pack up it it collapses down and takes very little space. My wife is carrying on the tradition; she made one of these for each of our kids.

Not too difficult to make, pine shelving, ripstop fabric, a staplegun to staple the fabric to the wood, and velco tabs stitched on the fabric to hold it closed, and ropes to tie it to a tree. Since this picture was taken we started putting a metal ring on the ropes just above the top of the pantry, it makes it easier to level when hanging it. They last for years, we have one we have used over 20 years. These are great for camping, people always comment about it when they visit our camp.

 

[crisper57]

We need an ASFN camping trip....

 

[BigRedRage]

We need an ASFN camping trip....

lol organized camping is always such a mess

 

[BigRedRage]

Our family has enjoyed camping vacations for years. My wife's folks make these pantrys for the family for camping. You hang it from a tree and put your stuff in it; as you can see we load it up with junk. When it's time to pack up it it collapses down and takes very little space. My wife is carrying on the tradition; she made one of these for each of our kids.

Not too difficult to make, pine shelving, ripstop fabric, a staplegun to staple the fabric to the wood, and velco tabs stitched on the fabric to hold it closed, and ropes to tie it to a tree. Since this picture was taken we started putting a metal ring on the ropes just above the top of the pantry, it makes it easier to level when hanging it. They last for years, we have one we have used over 20 years. These are great for camping, people always comment about it when they visit our camp.

Are the sides and back of the same wood as well? Basically a bookshelf? How does it collapse down? I like the concept. The closest I have done is I have a milk crate kitchen that I ratchet strap to a tree. I cook on top of it and its loaded with spices, plates, etc.

 

[Red Dawn]

Are the sides and back of the same wood as well? Basically a bookshelf? How does it collapse down? I like the concept. The closest I have done is I have a milk crate kitchen that I ratchet strap to a tree. I cook on top of it and its loaded with spices, plates, etc.

The sides and back are ripstop material. it collapses like an accordion. As you can see there would be some sewing of seams along the outside. The wood is 24" x 11". Here's a few pics; believe me, if you make one of these you will love it for years to come.

 

[BigRedRage]

interesting. thanks for posting.

 

[Hollywood]

We need an ASFN camping trip....

 

[Hollywood]

The sides and back are ripstop material. it collapses like an accordion. As you can see there would be some sewing of seams along the outside. The wood is 24" x 11". Here's a few pics; believe me, if you make one of these you will love it for years to come.

btw...this is very cool.

 

[Bada0Bing]

Yeah, I don't know what happened there. This should be the correct link. We were (I think) the green arrow.


https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33°5...F-8&ei=aExFU-vTC-ScyQHVyoGoDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ

Nice setup!

We were camping at that lake last month and I was wondering if there was any good camping on the north side. How is the 288? Do you think I could find any good spots off the road to maneuver a 24 ft trailer?

 

[Hollywood]

Nice setup!

We were camping at that lake last month and I was wondering if there was any good camping on the north side. How is the 288? Do you think I could find any good spots off the road to maneuver a 24 ft trailer?

288 is a pretty good road. A few washboard spots but some of it is paved too. Obviously you wouldnt turn offbon the road we did (it turned out to be private property) but there were some others that looked like they could easily handle a trailer.

 

[Hollywood]

Is nobody getting outdoors? I am chomping at the bit but have vowed not to go until I get my truck squared away.


I probably wouldn't have decided that if I had known how long it would take.

 

[BigRedRage]

Is nobody getting outdoors? I am chomping at the bit but have vowed not to go until I get my truck squared away.


I probably wouldn't have decided that if I had known how long it would take.

my wife is 7.5 months pregnant so I am grounded this summer.

 

[Linderbee]

We're going July 25th weekend.