Setting Up Camp

[ghostdog]

Originally Posted by Scotty

The rule I was always taught to abide by was to leave two hours at least to set up camp. Do you follow this or do you have another rule you follow?

Its good to have light to find the perfect site. It takes just a few minutes for us to set the camp up and at times we leave that for later if we have other things to accomplish in the daylight, dusk or the afterglow of sundown. Once we did that near midnight after getting to the site near mid-day. I don't think we have ever had dinner before dark, most of the time it is after stumbling in from explorations. As stated above, headlamps for hands free work are a must.

We get too caught up in the fun for any rules but there are certain kinds of terrain I don't like to navigate in the dark. Some of it is wild enough in good daylight.

[ejdixon]

Apart from making sure that I set up my camp before dark, I don't really have any specific rules that I follow whenever I go camping.

[Hikenhunter]

Originally Posted by Grandpa

No set rule for me. The one thing I must do before dark is filter my water. If I reach my site near dark, filtering water and throwing my bear rope up comes first. I detest filtering in the dark. Otherwise, I pitch my tent and air out my bag first. When soloing, I never bother with a fire so gathering wood is not in the scheme of things.

Gee grandpa, I figured you to be the kind of guy who would build a small fire for the ambiance of it all. Thats what I like to do. it's a great way to relax and finish the day.

[Grandpa]

Originally Posted by Hikenhunter

Gee grandpa, I figured you to be the kind of guy who would build a small fire for the ambiance of it all. Thats what I like to do. it's a great way to relax and finish the day.

Nope....Too lazy Got a wood burning stove and an open fireplace at home as well as a backyard open firepit. Just like to kick back and watch the stars and listen to the coyotes for ambiance.

[IndianaHiker]

I am like grandpa. When backpacking I may or may not have a fire. Many times after a long day just to much effort to build a fire when I know I am going to be sleeping in an hour or two.

[Theosus]

I do like to have everything set up and ready for sleeping before its really dark. At the very least, I like to have the spot picked out. I'm pretty efficient at packing my pack, but once I start pulling stuff out to prepare the hammock, sleeping bag, supper, brushing teeth, etc. etc. I get pretty flummoxed and tent to misplace stuff. It's easier to find my spork or the little pack of Benadryl and tums or my iPod and headphones, before it gets pitch dark. The headlamp has its limits.

[Hikenhunter]

Originally Posted by tentrus

The general rule for me is to take the kids and hike when we first get to the campground. I am usually gone an hour. When I get back camp is set and the fire is going! My hubby is great.

Sounds like you got him trained pretty well. Then again He probably likes the peace and quiet while you are all off on your little hike.

[Hikenhunter]

Originally Posted by ppine

I have set up camp at all hours of the day and night. For car camping I use the headlights of the vehicle sometimes. Headlamps are a great innovation for backpackers. I have left on some canoe trips in the truck at midnight.

I have one rule for river trips, no paddling or rowing after dark. I have ridden horses and mules plenty of times after dark, sometimes with little or no moon. I like to x/c in the moonlight in good weather. Before retirement, I was always anxious to get on the road and often ended up somewhere in the dark. When I lived on the East Coast, before 1972, I used wake up once in awhile with a flashlight in my face. That is one of the reasons I came out West, to enjoy all of this public land.

Ditto on that paddling after dark thing.

[wvbreamfisherman]

I've done a little paddling after dark, but it was on home (flat)water, so I was totally familiar with it. It can be magical, especially on a brightly moonlit night. It can also be very dangerous if there are any kind of powerboats around...

[ChadTower]

Originally Posted by wvbreamfisherman

I've done a little paddling after dark, but it was on home (flat)water, so I was totally familiar with it. It can be magical, especially on a brightly moonlit night. It can also be very dangerous if there are any kind of powerboats around...

If that's even a remote possibility you should never be out there paddling without a good beacon. Flashers are so cheap now, and so easy to attach, I can't think of a reason to skip it. A couple AA batteries can power an LED flasher that is visible for a quarter mile on open water.

I like paddling after dark but these days tend to stick to shallow waters where I know there will be few if any motors. Shallow reservoirs are great for this.


EDIT: heh, forgot to respond to the original question. My older son and I have become practiced over the years at setting up our car campsite. We try to get in before dark, but at this point, we just get parked and get it all up and done in about an hour. My wife makes sandwiches for dinner while we do that. Often we have driven far enough that there isn't much time for anything else until morning.