What's your idea of "roughing it"?

[abc]

Since I just came back from a hut-to-hut trip, it just got me thinking of this subject.

Years ago, I was asked to join a snow-camping trip, which I thought was for loonies! Still do. In the winter, I want to sleep in a heated place. And when I say "heated", I don't mean by candles!

My minimum summer requirement is I get to wash myself by at least dipping into a lake! Although I've recently lower that standard a bit by being able to sponge bath. But in some trips where water is precious, even that would not be an option. That's when I draw the line.

Others wants a shower, some even a hot shower. While others refuse to sleep on the ground, period!

What's your idea of "roughing it"? Do you need fine 400 thread sheets at the minimum? Or you would be ok to eat worms for dinner?

What about winter "roughing it"? Will you stay in a (heated) place that has only an outhouse?

 

[Kimmyt]

Roughing it in the summer means you're not in walking distance of a vehicle.

In the winter, I suppose it would just be tent camping, though I don't ever winter camp b/c I just don't have the gear. Or, honestly, the inclination. I've been cold enough just tent camping in the late Autumn, so wouldn't be jumping at the chance of doing it in the winter.

I'm not that picky overall, and don't mind a lack of showers or eating canned tuna for dinner. I do think of skiing trips as my more luxorious trips, and that usually means a cheap motel and a sixpack of beer with takeout pizza or chinese at night.

 

[SnowHot]

A black and white tv at the holiday inn.
That's rough!

 

[ski diva]

You and me both, SnowHot.

I'm just not into the whole camping thing. Wish I was because I do love to hike, but I have enough trouble sleeping in a regular bed to go down that route. My necessities include 1) a bed; 2) a bathroom with running water and toilet; 3) heat in the winter. I know, call me crazy, call me spoiled, call me an old lady. As they say, different strokes.

 

[SouthernSkier]

For me, "roughing it" is a sleeping in a tent far enough out that I don't see anyone else (other than my DH). I love being serenaded to sleep by the crickets and waking up to the birds chirping. And there is nothing better than the taste of cool water filtered from a clear stream after a long hike.

 

[abc]

I'm just not into the whole camping thing. Wish I was because I do love to hike, but I have enough trouble sleeping in a regular bed to go down that route. My necessities include 1) a bed; 2) a bathroom with running water and toilet; 3) heat in the winter. I know, call me crazy, call me spoiled, call me an old lady. As they say, different strokes.

Absolutely different strokes.

1) Bed: I've been to some motel which has beds that sags so bad I wish I had brought my sleeping pads and will be more comfortable flopping down on the floor with it!

2) Running water and flush toilet: Most car camping grounds have toilets and running water. So it's like sharing an apartment with 8 other strangers! But I found the crowd and noise more maddening than the small discomfort of having to pee in the woods. So, I'd often prefer NOT to stay in car campgrounds.

As for running water, I have a water bag that has a spigot that I can turn on and off. My wilderness water tab! ;-)

3) Heat in the winter: I'm the same. That's why I still think winter camping is for loonies.

That said, I must say the solitude in the wilderness is, well, priceless. And I found I'm pushing the standard of comfort back more and more for the sake of such solitude. So I may one day found myself winter camping in a tent "heated" by a candle, when the right destination calls for it.

Still, I don't "rough" it for the sake of roughing it. I usually ONLY do it when there's no other, more civilized options available. Like the Presidential Traverse, there's no other ways to do it without staying on the ridges for 2-3 nights. And the huts are the closest to "civilization" as they come! (Fits all above description including running water, but no shower which is a significant negative, especially in the heat of summer)

 

[ski now work later]

I love camping when I have the right equipment and access to hot showers, and I love staying in luxury hotels especially in metropolitan areas. I would rather camp at a great campsite than stay in a crummy hotel any day.

 

[Lola]

I am a simple woman with simple tastes. I actually enjoy camping.
I could 'rough it' with the best of them any day.

Now, having said that, when I do pay for accommodations, I have expectations. I expect clean sheets. I expect warm water. I expect cleanliness. I expect clean towels. I expect a mattress that is sleep worthy.

My husband, on the other hand, could care less about those things as long as he has internet access and air conditioning. He could sleep in the grimiest place.

I say, dump the internet and A/C. Just give me some place clean and comfortable (if I am paying for it). Otherwise, I can sleep under the stars.

 

[SkiNurse]

I LOVE to camp!

I have not backpacked yet, so only car camp. Primarily stay in national forest areas that don't have any facilities...yep, that's right girls, I pee behind a tree. It's nice if it an area that at least has a firepit, but otherwise we build our own. I have gone as long as 4 days without a shower. I love sleeping in a tent in my fabulous sleeping bag. I love sitting around a fire at night, drinking a beer or glass of wine. below the clear, Colorado skied where it looks like there is a zillion stars that you can touch. I love drinking frest, perculated coffee in the cool, misty mornings. I love how happy my dog is to be outside and off his leash. I love being in an area that has no computers and my cell phone has no service.

I love coming home and taking that post camping shower!

The one thing I hate...cleaning out my car & putting everything away.

But, I also love to stay in hotels and condos. I have several female friends that have NO interest in camping at all. Even if I promise them full facilities and a swimming pool (think KAO campgrounds). so, whenever we travel together, we stay in hotels & condos.

 

[cwmscm]

I also love to camp, and grew up backpacking on the Appalachian trail with my family for week long hikes. We had plenty of opportunity to bath in streams and lakes but I learned to get comfy on sleeping in a lean-to with a bunch of strangers snoring and bugs biting my face. I don't have much time to go backpacking now but miss it. I have a little cabin in the national forest in Vermont that has no electricity but that I can heat with a wood stove, light with gas lamps and it has a really nice outhouse. My kids love going there which makes me happy. It is not really roughing it but I feel that I am preventing them from becoming full fledged city kids.

 

[altagirl]

I love sleeping in a tent.

My husband keeps pushing to buy a camper and I keep fighting it. I like seeing the stars through the top of the tent and just don't feel like it would be the same.

I do think the way we camp is pretty luxurious though, since we car camp. I wouldn't mind backpacking, I guess, but I can't imagine wasting a day we'd spend riding bikes going hiking instead to get to a more remote campsite. And we're just not set up for any sort of bike touring type of deal.

I don't mind not having a shower (for a couple days anyway), but if we were really restricted on food and water and had to carry everything we needed for a few days, I'd consider that "roughing it".

 

[Kimmyt]

cwm, your little cabin sounds like a slice of heaven!

 

[cwmscm]

It is wonderful, although not everyone's cup of tea due to multitude of spiders and critters.

 

[geargrrl]

Put me in the primitive camping crowd. The more primitive, the better. No toilet facilities? Use LNT ( leave no trace) methods. We travel with a 5 gallon water jug or carry a filter. No shower? Solar shower!!! ( or a lake)

We do wilderness river trips ( we have our own boats) and you can't get much further away from it all than on a 100 mile wild and scenic river. This does require packing it ALL out ( human waste included) in order to keep the areas really pristine.

I don't sleep well out of my own bed, but I have a nice fat thermarest; I take my own pillow, and an excedrinPM and that all works pretty well for me.

I've done winter camping, staying in tents or snow caves. I don't do it any more,sleeping with boots and waterbottles to keep them from freezing is not my idea of a fun time.

gg

 

[BackCountryGirl]

I'm one of those loony fans of winter camping -- with the right gear, company, and clothing, it's great. (And, at least you don't need to carry bug spray.) But, I really love luxury hotel stays -- big beds, cranked up air conditioning, room service breakfast. Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, they say.

 

[CMCM]

You and me both, SnowHot.

I'm just not into the whole camping thing. Wish I was because I do love to hike, but I have enough trouble sleeping in a regular bed to go down that route. My necessities include 1) a bed; 2) a bathroom with running water and toilet; 3) heat in the winter. I know, call me crazy, call me spoiled, call me an old lady. As they say, different strokes.

Yep, I agree with this completely, couldn't have said it better. Also....I never did like roughing it, even when I was 20. That's probably why camping never appealed to me!

 

[dloveski]

I'm heading for the hills....

to sleep at 10,000 feet on the Idaho-Montana Border. Somewhere, we'll not know til we get there. Tent. Dry camp (treat our own water drawn from the lake). Fish. Pack it all in and pack it all out. Away from campgrounds, if lucky---though the snow pack is still pretty high, so who knows where we'll end up.

The first couple of nights out are fabulous. The stars, the coyotes, the long twilight at this time of year, the wildlife (if we're lucky). But then, the bugs, the mud, the possible rain----and or intense sun/heat in the middle of the day.....an occasional bear or porky keeping you up at night----and no cell phone service---but the tradeoffs are the adventure, the memories, the appreciation of wild places---which are dwindling, for sure, make it all in all worthwhile.

 

[geargrrl]

Id/Mt border eh? Nice country.

We spend a bit of time in the Bitter root neck of the woods.

 

[abc]

Wow! It does take all kinds. We're all over the spectrum! Isn't this site great?

Like I said, I don't rough it for the sake of roughing it. Though since I'm very well setup for camping, I can get pretty comfortable in a tent, with a lot of creature comfort.

The hotel cost I DON'T pay in summer, allows me to go on extra trips out west in the winter! ;-)

 

[Consuela]

Yep, I agree with this completely, couldn't have said it better. Also....I never did like roughing it, even when I was 20. That's probably why camping never appealed to me!

I'm with SnowHot, SkiDiva, and CMCM! My idea of camping is Motel 6.