LaunchnRetrieve
Sonoma County, CA
Full Member
Joined: 01/12/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
Thanks for the links and tips.
My boondocking will take place in northern CA areas during dry season (when does wet season start this year?).
Clothing-optional solitude was just a comment following the reading of the outdoor shower use thread. I think.
Now if I can just get Brian to share his favorite boondocking spot with us. I promise I won't tell too many people about it!
As far as trashing boondocking gems, not a worry, I'm a backpacker at heart and pack it in/pack it out is a familiar mantra.
Looking forward to figuring out my first destination.
2001 F-150 SuperCrew (with tow package etc)
2003 Fleetwood Prowler 25J
2006 Sea Ray 185 Sport
Always at least 2 dogs in the family (currently lab and chug)
|
garyhaupt
Back living in Kitimat..northern BC.
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
You will get lots of replies on General Forum as well. Just don't double post..you'll get quick fried.
You will likely get lots of weighted responses too. Thems that like boondocking and thems that will suggest if you are not paying $40 a night like they are, you are a blood sucking, no good, low life. That would be me. I don't pay for private campsites and seldom anywhere else either. You 'could' break down your trip like so....spend the day where ever you like..at whatever beach park or lake side...then, you move to your night camp. That's the place where you park for the night.
As has been mentioned, the best spots are close kept and those sharing with you will ask that you not just tell the world. You will also be expected to share locations of good spots. You asked about risk...did you mean risk of getting stuck or risk of..?? One is much easier to respond to than others. Good maps, a shovel and common sense will address the first. If you mean worry about others, then you have to deal with that in your own way. If you are going to boondock, it is always possible to have an encounter. If you live in fear, you won't be comfortable 'drycamping' in many areas.
Gary Haupt
|
ExRocketScientist
Laurel, MD
Senior Member
Joined: 11/11/2010
View Profile
|
In the east, we don't have BLM lands. We can do dispersed camping in a National Forest and in some state forests (permit required on the latter). I am doing it with a 32' fiver. I take it down some roads that people won't go down without a trailer. But every road I go down I can in two wheel drive for most times of the year. If the road requires 4 wheel drive most of the year, I won't take the trailer down it. Now I have used 4 wheel drive to set the trailer up, just to avoid spinning. My rules are I will push the trailer up a hill in 4 wheel drive if I can drive back out forward in two wheel drive to leave -- otherwise, I won't setup there.
Some of the areas I go, I park and hike up the road prior to going in just in case the room I have to turn is occupied. I avoided having to back up 1 mile on a single lane dirt road once by doing that.
People here on the East coast who are serious about this will find a way to have enough water. Many use extra containers as I have for years and just bring enough from home. I am planning on building my own water purification plant within the next year so that I can get my water from local streams for bathing.
BTW: Outside showers are not for taking a shower. They are for washing off your feet at the beach and cleaning the blood off of your cutting board and deer cart when in deer camp.
ERS
|
garyhaupt
Back living in Kitimat..northern BC.
Senior Member
Joined: 11/21/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
"BTW: Outside showers are not for taking a shower. They are for washing off your feet at the beach and cleaning the blood off of your cutting board and deer cart when in deer camp."
Not wanting to start a whole thread but geeez...I use my outside shower for all of me, not just me feetsies.
Gary Haupt
|
rfryer
Phoenix
Senior Member
Joined: 04/19/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Yes, boondocking is off the beaten path. I make a distinction between boondocking and dry camping. If it’s a campground without hookups I consider it dry camping, whereas if it’s just a spot I pick and there’s no development I consider it boondocking. Usually you’re alone, but someone else could be set up in the same area. It’s still boondocking.
At 25’ I think you’ll have difficulty maneuvering before the road gets to the point you need 4WD. It would probably be wise to unhook and scout the area before you drive back in if the area seems tight, it can be a major PITA if you find you can’t turn around and have to back all the way back out.
For the most part you won’t need 4WD but I would be aware of the weather so you don’t get caught back in after a heavy rain and don’t have the traction to get back out. Other than inclement weather 2WD should work fine for you. I’m not aware of any publication with boondocking spots, I usually find them by just driving secondary and dirt roads through an area.
|
|
|
mlts22
Austin, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 11/15/2010
View Profile
|
I'd say that almost all good boondocking spots will be closely guarded secrets, in fear of them becoming a party place for the "plastic people" crowd, and completely trashed, or the owner of the property banning camping due to misbehavior. Best thing to do is find/know people who go out and boondock.
|
ExRocketScientist
Laurel, MD
Senior Member
Joined: 11/11/2010
View Profile
|
mlts22 wrote:I'd say that almost all good boondocking spots will be closely guarded secrets, in fear of them becoming a party place for the "plastic people" crowd, and completely trashed, or the owner of the property banning camping due to misbehavior. Best thing to do is find/know people who go out and boondock.
Biggest issue with the area of the NF we boondock in for deer hunting is all of the partying that goes on the rest of the year. If anyone reads my posts, they will remember me writing about intimidating the "regulator" with my fish and foul pajamas one night at that spot.
|
greenrvgreen
open road
Senior Member
Joined: 09/05/2007
View Profile
|
Bryan--
Welcome to the Forum!
To answer your question, there are only three topics in the boondocking forum because we mostly just argue over the definition of "boondocking". Usually about two pages in we start calling each other names and then the thread gets deleted.
If you're based out of Santa Rosa you are in optimum position to take advantage of some world-class boodocking. If you've never done any before, spend a weekend in a dry campground (no power, no nuttin) figuring out what you're forgetting, and what you need to do. Then ask plenty of questions!
Regarding revealing our secret stashes, we used to hold our cards pretty close but in the last year or so we've started to relax a bit and provide some useful info. So while it's rare that you'll get guided all the way in, most folks will be willing to point you in the right direction and then say "explore".
If you're not willing to explore don't start driving down these forest service (FS) roads even without your TT. Ninety percent of the time spent scouting out a site will seem like wasted time if you don't enjoy the journey.
AS said, go to the FS website and search for "dispersed camping". FS is better than BLM in California, IMO. While you're there, search for the "Visitors Maps". In the California region (Region 5, IIRC), they are free for the download and are both HUGE and highly detailed.
With the map, and a few dispersed camping ideas from the website, you're ready to draw a circle on the map and then call the ranger. The phone numbers are on the website and they are there to help you.
A word of caution: The phones are answered by volunteers, who are helpful but not necessarily highly knowledgeable. If you are asking about issues such as road closures, washouts, backcountry conditions, be sure to politely but firmly ask where the information came from. Some volunteers get daily briefings from backcountry rangers. Others just seem to make the stuff up.
Good luck, an once you've centered on a spot, post some questions!
|
pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
Senior Member
Joined: 04/26/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
We sometimes boondock camp very private and would have nothing against telling everyone where it's at. It wouldn't make any difference in our privacy because no one would care to join us: We have been known to boondock in the desert in July and August and have it all to ourselves. 
P.S. That's what generators and A/C are for.
Phil, 2005 E450 Itasca 324V Spirit
|
LaunchnRetrieve
Sonoma County, CA
Full Member
Joined: 01/12/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
I ordered my first forest map!
Tahoe National Forest
Can't wait. I'll be watching the mailbox like a little kid waiting for his secret decoder ring.
I'll have two options: truck, tent and boat or truck and trailer.
|
|
|
