peyej

Hi everyone

My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF and National park camping places in a tent.

Now my questions:

How secure are we in a tent ?

Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the park or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?

Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day

regards
Jan

I. P. Freely

peyej wrote:

    > Hi everyone
    >
    > My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF and
    > National park camping places in a tent.
    >
    > Now my questions:
    >
    > How secure are we in a tent ?
    >
    > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the park
    > or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?
    >
    > Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day
    >
    > regards Jan
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

I alway used to keep valuables - money, passports, tickets - either on me or in the
car unless I was there at the tent. That was >20 years ago and in Europe!!! The rest
of the stuff stayed where it was. So long as you keep the essentials safe (as above)
the rest can look after itself.

IPF
--
Said Hamlet to Ophelia, "I'll draw a sketch of thee, What kind of pencil shall I use?
2B or not 2B?"
- Spike Milligan (1918 - 2002)

This post represents the views of the author and does not necessarily accurately
represent the views of my employer.

Keith Willshaw

"peyej" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi everyone
    >
    > My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF and
    > National park camping places in a tent.
    >
    > Now my questions:
    >
    > How secure are we in a tent ?
    >
    > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the park
    > or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?
    >
    > Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day
    >
    > regards Jan
    >

Dont leave valuables in your tent and be VERY careful where and how you store food if
you are in an area where there are bears.

You REALLY dont want a black bear in your tent looking for something to eat. Read and
follow the National Park Services guidelines on storing food.

Keith

Dbw

Money, passports, tickets should always be with you when you travel. All your camping
gear is safe in the tent (except food which should always be stored in the trunk of
your car or bear boxes where provided :^) ).

David

"I. P. Freely" wrote:

    > peyej wrote:
    >
    > > Hi everyone
    > >
    > > My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF
    > > and National park camping places in a tent.
    > >
    > > Now my questions:
    > >
    > > How secure are we in a tent ?
    > >
    > > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the
    > > park or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?
    > >
    > > Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day
    > >
    > > regards Jan
    > >
    > > --
    > > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    >
    > I alway used to keep valuables - money, passports, tickets - either on me or in the
    > car unless I was there at the tent. That was >20 years ago and in Europe!!! The
    > rest of the stuff stayed where it was. So long as you keep the essentials safe (as
    > above) the rest can look after itself.
    >
    > IPF
    > --
    > Said Hamlet to Ophelia, "I'll draw a sketch of thee, What kind of pencil shall I
    > use? 2B or not 2B?"
    > - Spike Milligan (1918 - 2002)
    >
    > This post represents the views of the author and does not necessarily accurately
    > represent the views of my employer.

Everyboysmomma

"peyej" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi everyone
    >
    > My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF and
    > National park camping places in a tent.
    >
    > Now my questions:
    >
    > How secure are we in a tent ?
    >
    > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the park
    > or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?
    >
    > Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day
    >
    > regards Jan

In 30+ years of camping I have never had a single thing taken, to the contrary, I
have come back to my site in the midst of a rainstorm expecting everything to be
soaked only to find that a fellow camper had put everything under cover when they
noticed we were gone. As everyone else has said, make sure your valuables are with
you (I leave mine locked in my trunk compartment) but on the whole, campers are
pretty decent people who look out for one another. Patt

Bluehorses

Here are my thoughts... I "tent-camp" at various National Forest campgrounds on a
regular basis. With the exception of keeping important documents and valuable items
in the car, you shouldn't have a problem keeping general camping goods in the tent or
at the campsite. However, I would be a bit more cautious if you camp adjacent to an
urban area or camp in a highly developed "urban-like" setting
(e.g., in proximity to some major National Parks). For what it's worth, I've been
tent camping in NF and NP campgrounds for nearly 20 years and have never had
a problem with theft. People who value nature tend to respect others who
value nature.

More importantly, you should be more concerned with wildlife around the campsite.
Thorough cleaning after dinners, adequately disposal of garbage, and food storage are
very important. Black bears and various smaller scavengers are reknowned for causing
havoc at unkept campsites. This risk of course depends on where you're camping and
what time of year. Be aware that black bear activity peaks in late summer and
fall...while they're trying to put on weight for winter. This is when most NF
campgrounds have the most black bear problems. Typically, each particular campgrounds
will post signs identifying local wildlife issues. If bear activity is high, make
sure you seal the car appropriately. I've seen cases where people store food in the
front seat of their car, leaving the window slightly cracked....resulting in a bear
breaking through the window and tearing up the car interior. Also, depending on where
in the country you are, be aware of other wildlife/safety issues (e.g., mountain
lions, etc.).

But, please, don't let these cautious words scare you. These conflicts are relatively
rare. In general, camping/wildlife conflicts only occur when people are
irresponsible. I'm a strong believer in Darwinism. If people behave in a stupid
manner, natural selection (and nature) will "remind" them of their faults.

Just be a responsible camper and you'll have a great "wild" experience!!

Good luck! Don

"peyej" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi everyone
    >
    > My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF and
    > National park camping places in a tent.
    >
    > Now my questions:
    >
    > How secure are we in a tent ?
    >
    > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the park
    > or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?
    >
    > Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day
    >
    > regards Jan
    >
    >
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Peter L

peyej <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
    > Hi everyone
    >
    > My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF and
    > National park camping places in a tent.
    >
    > Now my questions:
    >
    > How secure are we in a tent ?
    >

Mostly, esp. in National parks. You have more to worry about bears getting into your
food supplies.

    > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the park
    > or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?

Take valuables with you (passports, tickets, money, etc.), but the tent should be ok.
Sleeping bags too unless you have some really expensive stuff.

    >
    > Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day
    >
    > regards Jan

David Hatunen

On 7 Mar 2002 12:42:37 -0800, [email protected] (Peter L) wrote:

    >peyej <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:<[email protected]>...
    >> Hi everyone
    >>
    >> My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF and
    >> National park camping places in a tent.
    >>
    >> Now my questions:
    >>
    >> How secure are we in a tent ?
    >>
    >
    >Mostly, esp. in National parks.

If that's what you think you might want to take a look at
http://www.geocities.com/yoseranger/crime.html

    >You have more to worry about bears getting into your food supplies.

Your bigger worry is bears getting into YOU.

******* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *******
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * ******* My typos are
intentional copyright traps ******

Not The Karl Or

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
(David Hatunen) wrote:

    > >Mostly, esp. in National parks.
    >
    > If that's what you think you might want to take a look at
    > http://www.geocities.com/yoseranger/crime.html

How does that compare as far as incidents/ visitor goes?

    > >You have more to worry about bears getting into your food supplies.
    >
    > Your bigger worry is bears getting into YOU.

or rather you or parts of you getting into bears

Peter L

DBW <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > Money, passports, tickets should always be with you when you travel. All your
    > camping gear is safe in the tent (except food which should always be stored in the
    > trunk of your car or bear boxes where provided :^) ).
    >

No no no and no. And did I say NO?! Unless you want to see your car riped to
shreds by a bear, don't store food, or leave any food scraps, or the smell of
food, inside your car.

    > David
    >
    > "I. P. Freely" wrote:
    >
    > > peyej wrote:
    > >
    > > > Hi everyone
    > > >
    > > > My wife and i are planning to spend 4 months in USA. We will stay mostly on NF
    > > > and National park camping places in a tent.
    > > >
    > > > Now my questions:
    > > >
    > > > How secure are we in a tent ?
    > > >
    > > > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the
    > > > park or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?
    > > >
    > > > Thanks for your help and i wish you a nice day
    > > >
    > > > regards Jan
    > > >
    > > > --
    > > > Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    > >
    > > I alway used to keep valuables - money, passports, tickets - either on me or in
    > > the car unless I was there at the tent. That was >20 years ago and in Europe!!!
    > > The rest of the stuff stayed where it was. So long as you keep the essentials
    > > safe (as above) the rest can look after itself.
    > >
    > > IPF
    > > --
    > > Said Hamlet to Ophelia, "I'll draw a sketch of thee, What kind of pencil shall I
    > > use? 2B or not 2B?"
    > > - Spike Milligan (1918 - 2002)
    > >
    > > This post represents the views of the author and does not necessarily accurately
    > > represent the views of my employer.

Tim J. Johson

"> >
    > > How secure are we in a tent ?
    > >
    > > Can we leave our tent and stuff for a day, if we want to make a daytrip in the
    > > park or do we have to pack everything and put it in the car ?
    > >

I worked "campground duty" for the U.S. Forest Service for awhile. I also have camped
in U.S. National Forests for about 35 years. During that time I have had a few minor
thefts, nothing major. Once, a group of teens stole my good Estwing hand Axe, another
time, someone broke into the car and stole a cooler.

The cooler was visible on the backseat. I think they thought it was probably full of
beer, however, it only had two diet Dad's Rootbeers inside. LOL.

The one theft happened deep in the backcountry. The car theft happened at a parking
area at a trailhead, alongside a heavily traveled highway.

So, theft does happen. Much of it depends where you are. Break-ins of cars parked
next to trailheads has become so common in the Pacific Northwest that I never lock my
car, nor do I leave anything in it of value. Haven't had a problem since....Of course
you may not want to resort to such a ruse.

Theft of gear out of tents is rare, but usually happens in campgrounds adjacent to an
urban area, where deadbeats get the idea that they can cruise in and raid at will.
Usually it is just one group of people doing it and they get caught in a couple of
weeks or so.

My suggestion is to ask the park/campground personnel what the experiences are in
their area. Don't be satisfied with the general "we recommend that people secure all
valuables." Ask specificially if theft has been a problem there and if they could
tell you how many times in the past month or so. That will give you a good idea how
secure you might be.

Don't want to scare you at all. Odds are greatly in your favor. But it doesn't hurt
to be prepared. Don't want to lose that $400 Northface sleeping bag now, do we... tim

Peter L

[email protected] (David Hatunen) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>. ..
    >
    > Your bigger worry is bears getting into YOU.

I don't think you can get bear too easily. Alligators, venison, elk, buffalo, yes.
But the last time we were in Montana we don't recall seeing bear on the menu in any
restaurant.
    >

    >
    > ******* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *******
    > * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * ******* My typos are
    > intentional copyright traps ******