One of the other threads just brought this to mind. When I was a tyke we went camping. Either in a vehicle or hiking. When darkness was on you, you threw out the sleeping bag on the ground. Usually had a "campfire" as well. The sleeping bags 50 years ago were filled with crushed turkey wings. You might be lucky and have a "ground-cloth" and even an ensolite pad that was at least 1/4-inch thick, filled with wet toilet paper. We used to deride and make jokes about the "Rugged Americans" that "camped" in a metal canister on the top of a pick-up truck, or was towed behind. How could that be called "camping"?

Jack

That doesn't sound like fun to me. Not saying you have to have a heated and air conditioned camper, but some attempt to stay warm and dry is neccesary or I'm not going!

I always considered the fancy stuff for young kids and women.

I came up in the Cub and Boy Scouts.
All you had went on your back.
That was the best experience.

Now, I just take a camper to avoid hotels/motels.
More like taking along a little mobile home.
Getting old now, but still miss the "real" camping.

No matter what many think, very very few “rugged outdoorsman” today are anywhere close to as tough as people 150-200 years ago. I say go 100 percent pure mountain man. If any luxuries are used at all, no business callin people in a camper wussies. Of course, i doubt that those tough guys of old called it camping. It was just living.

I have known a couple "old timers" up here who trapped on foot. They would " siwash" wherever darkness caught them. One of them told me he used to skin marten while he walked to the next set. I asked how he dealt with the feet and toe bones. He claimed he bit the hide off at the toe bones. Obviously the marten had to be warm when doing that.

Anyway.........'camping' has come a long way since those days

I have nothing to defend. I earned my preferences in "rough camping. "

I have done just as Jack mentioned. Way more than I wanted to. Fortunately , those rough out days were cool weather, but not misery in wet, drenching rain.

Even in grizzly country. Turns out, I had more to worry about from nasty little porkies who wanted to inspect and chew on everything, than any others.

Except MOOSE.

I have trekked for 10 and more days at a time , most of those in the Bob wilderness , carrying all my earthly needs on my back. Envious of the bush planes dropping off folks into two interior landing strips there.

Discovering the world of ultra light backpacking tents, good sleep bags, and the almighty Thermarest insulated air pad, took me into a new dimension. That I have been thankful over all this time.

One night, I awoke to hear heavy footfalls on a gravel bar I had set up camp for the night on. My 3 lb tent was all there was between me and a bull moose who waltzed right up to me, snuffling the top of my screen . I had rolled back the rainfly , to enjoy the stars above . Instead, I got a velvety nose feeling the edges of my tent. THEN I was sure glad I had some concealment , though he surely knew I was in there somewhere. I didn't even breathe, and he sauntered off, sparing me early coffee with himself.

I've paid my dues. I enjoy the mantra, camp smarter, not harder

I see nothing wrong with a little more solid metal sided truck/trailer camping, either.

Im just glad folks want to enjoy the outdoors at all. No matter how they do it.

Just leave the grounds as clean, or cleaner than you found it. Smoores and all .

Can I do rough "camping"? yep, But I'm not volunteering to do it... I wake up stiff enough sleeping in my bed,,, lol

Agree with leaving a camp site cleaner than when you came and left especialy if a so called camper left non natural items. Should look like no one camped there.... campfire buried if using for cooking instead of backbacking stove

Spent many of winter nights running sled dogs camping with nothing more than a tarp and a sleeping bag. Some of the best times of my life.

Same here ! Nice to have the company of a dog team when camping like that.

Reminds me of one night about 20 below zero .......sitting next to the fire on an old dry log. All of a sudden I was surrounded by mosquitoes !! They were apparently wintering in the dry log and the heat from the fire got them stirred up..

Those are called snow birds.

see here is your mix up , what you discribe is camping

they have a new word for the roll up with your 100K+ RV park slide out the slide outs with a button , hook up the electric line and water line ,then go fix a drink and watch TV on the 48 inch flat panel that pops out of the side if the RV


then after you have watched your show on the DVR , you load up your collapsible wagon with your Yeti and small bar , grab your big Yeti cup with lid and straw and stroll down till you see the flag or your GLAMPING friends where you chit chat and sip drinks under the multi colored lights on their awning

then you all head down to another site , it is like a bar crawl walking around the campground

so the word your looking for is GLAMPING Glamorous Camping mashed into one word
now don't hate the messenger , I am just repeating this info I don't really participate I like my Hammock for light , easy fast and comfortable over night accommodations

my kid worked a season last year at a campground that caters to much of this , full hook ups a weekend can cost you a few hundred dollars but they have a pool and a swimming pond and shuffle board and petting zoo , lots of things to keep your kids amused while you over consume from the Yeti 32oz you never set down.
or you can rough it at a state park with just and electric hook up and save money for more "handles" to carry in your wagon.

That about covers it. ^
Some actually don't allow tents.
So ..... NO Camping at the CAMP ground.

I slept in a tree the first time I did a solo grizzly hunt. Slept in a guys sauna on another hunt. I eventually got around to sleeping on the ground.

Camping is when we check into anything less than a 2 star hotel.

Throughout my lifetime, I've camped out (sleeping bag on the ground) several hundred times. The times that I remember well are those nights that weren't quite "normal". I remember bears in camp, moose running through camp, porcupines eating my boots, bullets through the wall tent, etc. The nights that went "according to plan" were soon forgotten. Everyone should have those sorts of memories (not in some campground wedged in amongst a dozen other RV's).

Jack

(not in some campground wedged in amongst a dozen other RV's)......ugh !

The simplicity and aloneness of camping is what I enjoy about camping and don't believe I needs bears in camp to enjoy it. Lol

I've done it all but just can't lay on the ground anymore.
Coldest ever was on bivouac in January at Ft Dix NJ.

Jack, I agree. Though, my moose memory is much more enjoyed to recall after it happened ! I just didn't want him in a bad mood

And as for campers, I don't think of trailers back to back , either, as a fun experience. I'm referring to trailers back in the bush. Those who don't want that parking lot feeling either.

Who really do love the bush, and leave their spot clean.

Ive seen those huge camp parks , with those giant RV's, as Pete described. In a camp spot just for those type vechiles. It was more a hotel for expensive RV's then an outdoor experience.

I don't mean those at all. Rather, a modest trailer pulled by a truck , that does have the comforts one needs, even for heath special needs. But you can park them anywhere.

The simple things I wanted most, upon coming out of my walkabouts in the bush, cave hair and all, like a wild Aborigine, was the small lodges at the wilderness edges. That catered to outfitters, hunters, forest service folks or firefighters. And a few summer hikers and riders like me. To check into a room, take a long hot shower, and have someone serve me a nice steak , and sit on the deck enjoying a cool beverage of choice , all smiles.

Of course, I always kept a clean camp, clean clothes, took baths in cold rivers all the time I was out. But it just didn't compare to feeling pampered at those lodges . The simple things. I bet you can relate