I tried to look on UO for a post about campsites and camping in general but could not find one. If there is one, please delete and I'll ask my questions in it Mods.

 

This last Spring I decided this Summer to try to go back to old hobbies I enjoyed when things seemed simpler in life, my youth. I would like this to be a general discussion on camping. What are your favorite campsites in Ohio, other states and beyond? Camping tricks to make it easier and not feel like work. For example, what should you bring with you? What do you pack in your cooler to keep yourself comfortable while camping? Fun things you do during the day while camping? Things you should not do while camping.

 

Have a question about camping yourself? Please ask it. This is the place, whether you have an RV or a tent.

 

I do have a question and will ask later below and I'm sure I'll have more because I plan to camp at least twice this summer and if everything goes OK and daring enough once in Winter!

Edited June 18, 20195 yr by Mildtraumatic

Im going camping over July 4th weekend with my friends at Mohican and recently went camping in upstate Michigan. Sometimes simple weekends out in nature is a cure all for stress. My wife and I do a ton of hiking. We typically like to camp where there are some serious trails as that is our semi-hobby.

 

I personally want to start backpacking, so if there's anyone out there that's done that I would love to hear about your experience. 

My GF has a huge tent and we always talked and said we wanted to go camping one Summer with it. Got everything needed on ebay last Friday to surprise her but when I told her she simply said, " I don't wan't to go camping..."  So I found a couple her father and his GF to be exact-lol I know but they tend to like the drink a little and get rowdy which is OK but don't want to get kicked out or worse charged with drinking in public. Anyone know of a campsite that tolerates drinking or better yet a party campsite?

Edited June 18, 20195 yr by Mildtraumatic

^ yes I plan around the 4th but these people are far from simple to take anywhere.

I hear you. I love the quiet and nature too but won't be with them. Just being around them makes me have to drink. You;d think they'd be some type of party camp place somewhere.

 

 

33 minutes ago, Mildtraumatic said:

^ yes I plan around the 4th but these people are far from simple to take anywhere.

I hear you. I love the quiet and nature too but won't be with them. Just being around them makes me have to drink. You;d think they'd be some type of party camp place somewhere.

 

 

Well sir. If drinking camping is the way for you than Mohican over fourth of July is the place for you. Those are the same type of friends im going with over that weekend. 

1 hour ago, Mildtraumatic said:

I tried to look on UO for a post about campsites and camping in general but could not find one. If there is one, please delete and I'll ask my questions in it Mods.

 

This last Spring I decided this Summer I'd try to go back to old hobbies I enjoyed when things seemed simpler in life, my youth. I would like this to be a general discussion on camping. What are your favorite campsites in Ohio, other states and beyond? Camping tricks to make it easier and not feel like work. For example, what should you bring with you? What do you pack in your cooler to keep yourself comfortable while camping? Fun things you do during the day while camping? Things you should not do while camping.

 

Have a question about camping yourself? Please ask it. This is the place, whether you have an RV or a tent.

 

I do have a question and will ask later below and I'm sure I'll have more because I plan to camp at least twice this summer and if everything goes OK and daring enough once in Winter!

I don't have an answer, but dammit man you certainly know how to "tag" a post!

There is already a "hiking" thread.  Obviously, you can hike without camping and you can camp without hiking. 

 

"Backpacking" is of course hiking AND camping, and usually at least two consecutive nights, with some emphasis on lighter weight gear. 

 

I bought a jet boil a few months ago and never used it or even tested it until I was out in the woods last week and managed to burn the hell out of my mouth and tongue.  So bad that I had skin coming off the roof of my mouth. 

 

I also bought a high-end synthetic hot weather bag (40F), which significantly reduces the waking-up-in-a-pool-of-sweat that I remember from summer camping as a kid. 

I hate tents, but I also hate the idea of maintaining a motorhome or travel trailer+pickup truck. It would be nice to have a car like Inspector Gadget had where it turned from a 280ZX into a minivan with the push of a button.

2 hours ago, KFM44107 said:

Well sir. If drinking camping is the way for you than Mohican over fourth of July is the place for you. Those are the same type of friends im going with over that weekend. 

 

I I tried looking that up and only got Mohican, Ohio campsites when I Google. I always wanted to visit upstate Michigan but taking them all the way up there to just drunk camp sounds like a waste of nature!

2 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

There is already a "hiking" thread.  Obviously, you can hike without camping and you can camp without hiking. 

 

"Backpacking" is of course hiking AND camping, and usually at least two consecutive nights, with some emphasis on lighter weight gear. 

 

I bought a jet boil a few months ago and never used it or even tested it until I was out in the woods last week and managed to burn the hell out of my mouth and tongue.  So bad that I had skin coming off the roof of my mouth. 

 

I also bought a high-end synthetic hot weather bag (40F), which significantly reduces the waking-up-in-a-pool-of-sweat that I remember from summer camping as a kid. 

 

I never thought of backpacking! Good idea for me to do alone and still have fun. When camping I was just thinking of renting a lot and that really wouldn't be fun alone. I think I will try that if I can't get her to go with me anytime soon! Would really have to downsize though. Meaning spending more money when I finally thought I had everything set up. Get a one man tent might be all I need but would still have to take my hammock, coffee percolator cooking wear, camp grill, solar lantern, hatchet. That would add up in weight but my calves would be huge and I even forgot about water. Would have to downsize more I guess. The coyotes, mountain lions and bears would freak me out during the day alone but at night.... Not joking that is real camping!

Edited June 18, 20195 yr by Mildtraumatic

2 minutes ago, Mildtraumatic said:

 

I I tried looking that up and only got Mohican, Ohio campsites when I Google. I always wanted to visit upstate Michigan but taking them all the way up there to just drunk camp sounds like a waste in nature!

 

I never thought of backpacking! Good idea for me to do alone and still have fun. When camping I was just thinking of renting a lot and that really wouldn't be fun alone. I think I will try that if I can't get her to go with me anytime soon! Would really have to downsize though. Meaning spending more money when I finally thought I had everything set up. Get a one man tent might be all I need but would still have to take my hammock, coffee percolator cooking wear, camp grill, solar lantern, hatchet. That would add up in weight but my calves would be huge and I even forgot about water. Would have to downsize more I guess. The coyotes, mountain lions and bears would freak me out during the day but at night.... Not joking that is real camping!

 

Well "backpacking" is also usually in a true wilderness area, which in the eastern U.S. is limited to the Smoky Mountains, Maine, and arguably northern Michigan/UP + Isle Royale.  I've never camped in Canada but no doubt it gets pretty remote pretty quickly on the Lake Huron shore and islands and then anywhere more than 100 miles north of Toronto or Montreal. 

 

Camping in Ohio and anywhere in the east generally involves a more humid climate and more insects than in the west.  The good thing is that there is always nearby access to water.  Out West in the Sierras and so on the insects are minimal and the climate is relatively arid but the water situation is a lot more serious.  

 

 

 

2 hours ago, GCrites80s said:

I hate tents, but I also hate the idea of maintaining a motorhome or travel trailer+pickup truck. It would be nice to have a car like Inspector Gadget had where it turned from a 280ZX into a minivan with the push of a button.

 

I've been thinking of getting an RV strictly for travel but the cost of the vehicle to haul them is very expensive plus the fuel (not realistic for me). Was thinking of getting a self contained motor home and hauling my car behind sounds more reasonable. Just get a cheap used motor home and running it to death then using my car to get around when I hit my destinations.

This looks good for first trip. 

 

https://www.mohicanreservation.com/index.php

Edited June 18, 20195 yr by Mildtraumatic

8 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

Well "backpacking" is also usually in a true wilderness area, which in the eastern U.S. is limited to the Smoky Mountains, Maine, and arguably northern Michigan/UP + Isle Royale.  I've never camped in Canada but no doubt it gets pretty remote pretty quickly on the Lake Huron shore and islands and then anywhere more than 100 miles north of Toronto or Montreal. 

 

Camping in Ohio and anywhere in the east generally involves a more humid climate and more insects than in the west.  The good thing is that there is always nearby access to water.  Out West in the Sierras and so on the insects are minimal and the climate is relatively arid but the water situation is a lot more serious.  

 

In general, Ohio campgrounds seem to be more geared to the RV and car-camping crowd.  If you want to camp out in the woods, you'll find better campgrounds outside the state.

 

I know some boy scouts who go backpacking in Pennsylvania all the time -- the Laurel Highlands Trail starts on the other side of Pittsburgh and runs for 40+ miles with established camping areas about every 8 miles. 

 

if you want even more wilderness, try Hickory Creek Wilderness Area in PA. 

 

Start small -- drive out on Saturday, hike into the woods with everything you need on your back.  Get off the trail and make camp.  Cook dinner.  Sleep.  Cook breakfast.  Break camp.  Hike back to your car in the morning.  What worked?  What didn't?  Next time go further....

 

REI and Appalachian Outfitters and sometimes the Metroparks have beginning backpacking classes and trips.  Make some friends, head out. 

So this isn’t exactly legal... but my wife and I camp in CVNP about once or twice a summer. There’s some really great spots off-trail if you hike about 2-3 miles from the Ledges trailhead 

40 minutes ago, Foraker said:

Start small -- drive out on Saturday, hike into the woods with everything you need on your back.  Get off the trail and make camp.  Cook dinner.  Sleep.  Cook breakfast.  Break camp.  Hike back to your car in the morning.  What worked?  What didn't?  Next time go further...

 

Going by yourself versus with another person or a group are totally different animals.  If you go by yourself there is no chance of getting in arguments.  

As a mod aside, I looked for some camping threads and found only a few old ones about specific places (i.e., Lake Erie/Put-in-Bay), not a general statewide camping thread.  I'm perhaps as surprised as Mildtraumatic was to find no such general thread, but I guess that means it's well past time we had one.  Great topic and thanks for starting it.

7 hours ago, Foraker said:

In general, Ohio campgrounds seem to be more geared to the RV and car-camping crowd.  If you want to camp out in the woods, you'll find better campgrounds outside the state.

 

I know some boy scouts who go backpacking in Pennsylvania all the time -- the Laurel Highlands Trail starts on the other side of Pittsburgh and runs for 40+ miles with established camping areas about every 8 miles. 

 

if you want even more wilderness, try Hickory Creek Wilderness Area in PA. 

 

Start small -- drive out on Saturday, hike into the woods with everything you need on your back.  Get off the trail and make camp.  Cook dinner.  Sleep.  Cook breakfast.  Break camp.  Hike back to your car in the morning.  What worked?  What didn't?  Next time go further....

 

REI and Appalachian Outfitters and sometimes the Metroparks have beginning backpacking classes and trips.  Make some friends, head out. 

 

I'll possibly consider those locations sometime in future but this backpacking idea has really spiked my interest. I live right by Wayne Natural Forest which I just read you may camp off trail. Buckeye trail just a few miles from here or is it northern trail??..I'll do just as you said park car or get dropped off, give it a overnight run by a fishing hole and return home. 

I've been looking at backpacking gear and that stuff gets expensive! Tent $500, $sleeping bag 500, sleeping pad $400 but high quality and light weight. 

 

We went hiking around one of these trails last spring and saw what looked to be bear tracks.

6 hours ago, YABO713 said:

So this isn’t exactly legal... but my wife and I camp in CVNP about once or twice a summer. There’s some really great spots off-trail if you hike about 2-3 miles from the Ledges trailhead 

 

Just last week was looking to see if camping was allowed in Metroparks or CVNP. Did you make a fire?

1 hour ago, Mildtraumatic said:

 I've been looking at backpacking gear and that stuff gets expensive! Tent $500, $sleeping bag 500, sleeping pad $400 but high quality and light weight. 

 

 

I have mostly medium-cheap stuff, including the cheapest day pack and the cheapest backpack I could find at REI and they work fine.  The only high-end thing I bought recently is a 40F sleeping bag for the hot summer months.  Sweating in a sleeping bag sucks, so if you can afford to buy two sleeping bags for different seasons, do it.  I have only used it once so far this year and it was definitely borderline cold but I think it was about 55F that night.  

 

I don't think weight/size stuff should really be the issue that people make it out to be.  Obviously, the manufacturers are collecting a higher margin on higher-end stuff, and light weight has become the symbol of "quality", when really it's just weight, and a loaded pack that is 5 pounds heavier than another really isn't a big deal.  Think about how heavy carrying around 2 water bottles is, but you often can't really tell a difference when they're out.  I own a lightweight carbon road bike and you can hardly tell, while riding, when you've got full or empty water bottles, despite the 5~ pound difference.  

 

2 hours ago, Mildtraumatic said:

 

 

Just last week was looking to see if camping was allowed in Metroparks or CVNP. Did you make a fire?

 

I did not... Not expert enough to do that lol

 

19 hours ago, Mildtraumatic said:

 

I'll possibly consider those locations sometime in future but this backpacking idea has really spiked my interest. I live right by Wayne Natural Forest which I just read you may camp off trail. Buckeye trail just a few miles from here or is it northern trail??..I'll do just as you said park car or get dropped off, give it a overnight run by a fishing hole and return home. 

I've been looking at backpacking gear and that stuff gets expensive! Tent $500, $sleeping bag 500, sleeping pad $400 but high quality and light weight. 

 

We went hiking around one of these trails last spring and saw what looked to be bear tracks.

 

Just last week was looking to see if camping was allowed in Metroparks or CVNP. Did you make a fire?

 

Ah, yes -- if you're in Southeastern Ohio then you should look into Wayne State Forest.  Also West Virginia has some nice areas -- check out Dolly Sods.

 

I agree with others here -- weight isn't everything.  You will not have as much fun if you're carrying 100lbs, but at some point you're sacrificing durability or comfort to go ultralight.  My packs for three-five days tend to be in the 30-40lb range.  And there's quite a lot you can do with Walmart specials; no need to go crazy with some of the ultralight equipment from the start.  More cost-effective to upgrade over time.  I have a Eureka tent that works really well for me, and I'll always take it if there's any chance of wet weather even though it's a "heavy" 4lbs.  But if the weather is nice, I might just take a tarp and a ground sheet I made myself out of leftover tyvek (that has now seen enough use that it's no longer crinkly).

6 hours ago, Foraker said:

 

Ah, yes -- if you're in Southeastern Ohio then you should look into Wayne State Forest.  Also West Virginia has some nice areas -- check out Dolly Sods.

 

I agree with others here -- weight isn't everything.  You will not have as much fun if you're carrying 100lbs, but at some point you're sacrificing durability or comfort to go ultralight.  My packs for three-five days tend to be in the 30-40lb range.  And there's quite a lot you can do with Walmart specials; no need to go crazy with some of the ultralight equipment from the start.  More cost-effective to upgrade over time.  I have a Eureka tent that works really well for me, and I'll always take it if there's any chance of wet weather even though it's a "heavy" 4lbs.  But if the weather is nice, I might just take a tarp and a ground sheet I made myself out of leftover tyvek (that has now seen enough use that it's no longer crinkly).

 

What do you do for water, food....and coffee? 

 

Actually stuff that I ordered is coming in mail is smaller than I thought it would be. Would of been upset if I was going to use for what I originally planned for, car camping but looks useful for backpacking due to its small size and also very light. Heaviest thing so far is fire pit grill and hatchet. Cook wear all small for one person but also fits together neatly in largest pot. Also saw at store today a 2 person tent for 39 bucks weighing about 5-6 lbs. including box its packaged in.. Thinking about it heaviest part of a tent not made for backpacking is the poles that support it up I think.

Edited June 19, 20195 yr by Mildtraumatic

Honestly, I would recommend a 3 person tent for 2 people unless you're trying to pack really light and travel long distances for a multi-day trip. You can definitely fit 2 people in a 2 person tent, but you won't have a lot of room for other things in the tent. A 3 person tent gives you room to set things down inside the tent while you are both in there.

15 hours ago, Mildtraumatic said:

 

What do you do for water, food....and coffee?

 

Water -- I carry a couple of water bottles (old gatorade or other plastic bottles work fine), and Potable Aqua (chlorine) tablets.  I also have a Platypus filter that is pretty nice for groups, and I have used the Katadyn Gravity Camp filter and it's even nicer.  Tablets are easiest and you can use a bandana to filter out any large particles -- works just fine but water may not be clear.

 

Food -- mostly dehydrated stuff.  instant soups, potatoes, ramen, mac n cheese.  Jerky.  Granola bars for lunch.  You can find dehydrated vegetables and things in some grocery stores.  You can also find dehydrated/concentrated tomato sauce and other things that basically cut weight by cutting out the water.  I have, however, been known to carry a steak or two for short trips -- worth the weight.  Starbucks VIA instant coffee and powdered creamer works pretty well.

 

Here where it's really wet and there's no fire danger I will sometimes build a fire.  I always want hot water and sometimes that is enough. Learning how to build a small fire with twigs and small sticks is a valuable skill.  Fritos corn chips make decent fire starters and also are good snacks for emergencies.  Just remember to pack out all the waste as well.I also have an MSR Whisperlite backpacking stove that uses coleman fuel (available at Dick's Sporting Goods, etc.) and have used a Peak 1 stove (works just like the old coleman stoves).  Just need one lightweight aluminum pot if you're just heating water.

 

There are endless debates on gear on the internet.  Don't overthink it or spend too much money at the start.

1 hour ago, Foraker said:

 

Just remember to pack out all the waste as well.I also have an MSR Whisperlite backpacking stove that uses coleman fuel (available at Dick's Sporting Goods, etc.) and have used a Peak 1 stove (works just like the old coleman stoves).  Just need one lightweight aluminum pot if you're just heating water.

 

On my brother's recommendation I bought a jet boil, which cost about $70.  It brings water to a boil in like 2 minutes.  So yeah it boils super-fast but the downside is that it boils super-fast you have to wait 10 minutes to actually eat anything!  

 

The food in backpacking stores is -- you guessed it -- designed to save weight above all else, and it's mega-overpriced.  For a short trip you can take 1-2 of these bad boys:

 

 

You have to wash out the can and pack it out, but eating real meat at some point during a trip versus dehydrated astronaut food makes a huge difference in your energy level.  

 

 

 

 

 

^^ Get one of those rocks with a stick propping it up for fresh meat also. ?

On 6/18/2019 at 5:08 PM, Mildtraumatic said:

 

I'll possibly consider those locations sometime in future but this backpacking idea has really spiked my interest. I live right by Wayne Natural Forest which I just read you may camp off trail. Buckeye trail just a few miles from here or is it northern trail??..I'll do just as you said park car or get dropped off, give it a overnight run by a fishing hole and return home. 

I've been looking at backpacking gear and that stuff gets expensive! Tent $500, $sleeping bag 500, sleeping pad $400 but high quality and light weight. 

 

We went hiking around one of these trails last spring and saw what looked to be bear tracks.

 

Just last week was looking to see if camping was allowed in Metroparks or CVNP. Did you make a fire?

Was wondering if people did off trail camping myself... cvnp website says no back country camping.. camping only permitted in the 5 designated spots

Just camped in Mohican over the Fourth. It was extremely wet but a total blast. Can't stress enough how important a tent with a bathtub bottom is. A rain tarp below helps as well. 

On 6/20/2019 at 12:32 PM, jmecklenborg said:

 

On my brother's recommendation I bought a jet boil, which cost about $70.  It brings water to a boil in like 2 minutes.  So yeah it boils super-fast but the downside is that it boils super-fast you have to wait 10 minutes to actually eat anything!  

 

The food in backpacking stores is -- you guessed it -- designed to save weight above all else, and it's mega-overpriced.  For a short trip you can take 1-2 of these bad boys:

  

 

You have to wash out the can and pack it out, but eating real meat at some point during a trip versus dehydrated astronaut food makes a huge difference in your energy level.  

 

 

 

 

 

Aldi, yes the amazing Aldi, actually has what I would consider the perfect size packages for backpacking. They have single serving tuna packs that will give you solid protein and energy (90 calories and 18 grams of protein) and take up zero room ($.89). Then there is decently priced 10 oz trail mix bags ($2.56?) that could last a few days and packs a ton of calories. A couple pieces of fruit like an apple and a banana (eat this the first day) go a long way if you can pack them right. There's always beef jerky too which isn't the greatest for you but packs protein and some granola bars for calories and carbs. None of these items are heavy or expensive and really don't take up much room. You can save even more room if you repackage some of the items too. Even more importantly you don't need a fire to eat any of these items. 

5 minutes ago, KFM44107 said:

Aldi, yes the amazing Aldi, actually has what I would consider the perfect size packages for backpacking. They have single serving tuna packs that will give you solid protein and energy (90 calories and 18 grams of protein) and take up zero room ($.89). Then there is decently priced 10 oz trail mix bags ($2.56?) that could last a few days and packs a ton of calories. A couple pieces of fruit like an apple and a banana (eat this the first day) go a long way if you can pack them right. There's always beef jerky too which isn't the greatest for you but packs protein and some granola bars for calories and carbs. None of these items are heavy or expensive and really don't take up much room. You can save even more room if you repackage some of the items too. Even more importantly you don't need a fire to eat any of these items. 

 

Earlier this year I bought a pair of random "meals" at REI.  This was the first time I had ever bought food from a backpacking store.  I got around to eating one of them on a long day hike using my camping stove, and it tasted okay, but was not particularly filling.  Each one cost an incredible $7.  I experimented at home with the other one - adding a large handful of spaghetti to see if it was more filling - but it wasn't.  Sorry yuppie campers - I'm going back to the cheap stuff.  

 

A big part of what is interesting to me about hiking and other endurance activities like long-distance bicycling is experiencing the body switch from burning sugar to burning fat and feeling how much energy you get from particular types of food after exercising to exhaustion.  Go ride a bike for 75 miles, then grab a bacon cheeseburger & medium coke from Wendy's.  The sheer volume of energy you get from junk food is beyond almost any situation we would have found ourselves in as cave men.  

 

5 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

Earlier this year I bought a pair of random "meals" at REI.  This was the first time I had ever bought food from a backpacking store.  I got around to eating one of them on a long day hike using my camping stove, and it tasted okay, but was not particularly filling.  Each one cost an incredible $7.  I experimented at home with the other one - adding a large handful of spaghetti to see if it was more filling - but it wasn't.  Sorry yuppie campers - I'm going back to the cheap stuff.  

 

A big part of what is interesting to me about hiking and other endurance activities like long-distance bicycling is experiencing the body switch from burning sugar to burning fat and feeling how much energy you get from particular types of food after exercising to exhaustion.  Go ride a bike for 75 miles, then grab a bacon cheeseburger & medium coke from Wendy's.  The sheer volume of energy you get from junk food is beyond almost any situation we would have found ourselves in as cave men.  

 

Ya I definitely agree. Fast food is basically just replenishing your sugar and fat stores instantly because of all the added sugar and high fat content. That stuff takes literally zero seconds to break down in your body and instantly spike your insulin levels. In a situation where you are completely depleted fast sugar is the way to go. 

10 minutes ago, KFM44107 said:

Ya I definitely agree. Fast food is basically just replenishing your sugar and fat stores instantly because of all the added sugar and high fat content. That stuff takes literally zero seconds to break down in your body and instantly spike your insulin levels. In a situation where you are completely depleted fast sugar is the way to go. 

 

Also, doing relatively hard exercise for a short period of time versus a long drawn-out hike or bike ride are different things, entirely.  The way you become exhausted feels quite different, your mind goes to different places, and sometimes you oddly lose your appetite despite having just burned thousands of calories.  

 

There is always that exact point where you feel your body switch over to burning to fat, and to me, that's when the excitement begins.  It's like how a battery doesn't show much sign of weakening but then all the sudden it just dies.  Professional athletes have experts around them to tell them what to eat and drink but for a hack like myself it's all trial & error.  

 

This is all fun & games in the context of "practice", but if something goes wrong out there in the wilderness, you're truly screwed.  Getting injured and having to spend a night in the woods with no water, no food, and getting bitten by bugs and rained on would be horrific.  That's about as bad as it could get in the eastern United States, but it's quite possible if you break an ankle or have some sort of medical episode out there out-of-view of a popular trail.    

 

 

 

 

 

30-year-old hippie chicks lose their minds when they see old people eating fast food without realizing that older bodies sometime need things that their bodies can break down quickly and easily.

51 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

Earlier this year I bought a pair of random "meals" at REI.  This was the first time I had ever bought food from a backpacking store.  I got around to eating one of them on a long day hike using my camping stove, and it tasted okay, but was not particularly filling.  Each one cost an incredible $7.  I experimented at home with the other one - adding a large handful of spaghetti to see if it was more filling - but it wasn't.  Sorry yuppie campers - I'm going back to the cheap stuff.  

 

A big part of what is interesting to me about hiking and other endurance activities like long-distance bicycling is experiencing the body switch from burning sugar to burning fat and feeling how much energy you get from particular types of food after exercising to exhaustion.  Go ride a bike for 75 miles, then grab a bacon cheeseburger & medium coke from Wendy's.  The sheer volume of energy you get from junk food is beyond almost any situation we would have found ourselves in as cave men.  

 

6 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

Also, doing relatively hard exercise for a short period of time versus a long drawn-out hike or bike ride are different things, entirely.  The way you become exhausted feels quite different, your mind goes to different places, and sometimes you oddly lose your appetite despite having just burned thousands of calories.  

 

There is always that exact point where you feel your body switch over to burning to fat, and to me, that's when the excitement begins.  It's like how a battery doesn't show much sign of weakening but then all the sudden it just dies.  Professional athletes have experts around them to tell them what to eat and drink but for a hack like myself it's all trial & error.  

 

 

 

 

 

Unless of course your body is adapted to burning fat for fuel i.e. being keto adapted. That's where I am; not always in ketosis, but my body knows how to do it when it's time. I go on 12-15 mile hikes with a few thousand feet of elevation gain on nothing but a couple 400 calorie fat bomb protein shakes. Throw in a couple RX bars and plenty of electrolyte water, and I can go 5+ hours just fine.

10 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

Also, doing relatively hard exercise for a short period of time versus a long drawn-out hike or bike ride are different things, entirely.  The way you become exhausted feels quite different, your mind goes to different places, and sometimes you oddly lose your appetite despite having just burned thousands of calories.  

 

 

 

 

This is why dirt bike racers always want Mexican food after rides and races. No way do they want to hit a steakhouse or get a burger and onion rings from the dairy bar near the track. Stuff won't go down.

55 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

 

This is why dirt bike racers always want Mexican food after rides and races. No way do they want to hit a steakhouse or get a burger and onion rings from the dairy bar near the track. Stuff won't go down.

 

Yeah I experienced that for the first time after hiking to the top of the easiest 14,000ft mountain in California, Mt. Langley.  After 18 miles of hiking in one day, including the walk to the summit, all above 10,000 feet, we drove back down to town and I couldn't finish whatever I ordered at a restaurant.  

 

Camping above 10,000 feet is pretty wild.  Your heart rate stays elevated to deal with the thin air.  I can't imagine what it's like on the Himalayan climbs.  The Everest base camps are each around 20,000 feet, on both the Nepal and China sides.  

 

After reading this thread, I've concluded that I am definitely not a camper. It sounds pretty miserable to me all around. The one time I tried it, I ended up sleeping in my car. I enjoy hiking, but similarly enjoy going back home or to the hotel room at the end of the day. To each his own!

19 hours ago, KFM44107 said:

Just camped in Mohican over the Fourth. It was extremely wet but a total blast. Can't stress enough how important a tent with a bathtub bottom is. A rain tarp below helps as well. 

 

Camped last Wednesday night.  Was going to go to Mohican, but the river level was too high for tubing, so stayed closer to home.

 

Went here instead, adjacent to CVNP.  http://heritagefarms.com/campsites

 

Pretty nice spot close to Cleveland.  The guy told me his family has had the land for about 170 years I think.  The Park asked them about 4 years ago to offer camping as there aren't enough sites in the Park.  Surprisingly, only 3 sites we occupied.

Don't tell Johnny Law but we'll be setting up the hammock overnight near Twin Sister Falls in cvnp.

2 hours ago, smith said:

 

Camped last Wednesday night.  Was going to go to Mohican, but the river level was too high for tubing, so stayed closer to home.

 

Went here instead, adjacent to CVNP.  http://heritagefarms.com/campsites

 

Pretty nice spot close to Cleveland.  The guy told me his family has had the land for about 170 years I think.  The Park asked them about 4 years ago to offer camping as there aren't enough sites in the Park.  Surprisingly, only 3 sites we occupied.

That looks like a really cool place, I might go there for an impromptu trip one of these weekends. 

 

I will say, Mohican has some real underrated hiking. We hiked 8 miles in that extremely humid summer heat and loved every minute of it. 

On 7/8/2019 at 10:14 PM, KFM44107 said:

Just camped in Mohican over the Fourth. It was extremely wet but a total blast. Can't stress enough how important a tent with a bathtub bottom is. A rain tarp below helps as well. 

Would like to hear more about Mohican. I believe I looked that one up after you mentioned it. It's near Mansfield Correct? I think Ill go to this one just to cut loose a little. Do they have hot showers, Restrooms? Mind telling more about your visit there?

I've done some pretty remote camping with my friends about 10 years ago and 9 years ago in the Upper Peninsula (Sylvania National Forest) and Boundary Waters in Minnesota.

 

Would definitely recommend out of those two Sylvania National Forest.

 

It was completely remote on Whitefish Lake and we killed it fishing on canoes. Was also completely still and quiet and lovely, we really got a taste of nature with at that time no cell phone service really.

 

I always thought even camping in Iowa in summer, it was so dang hot, would make it kind of miserable.

 

That said, a couple things we learned:

 

1.) Bring some dry good snacks like trail mix and crackers

2.) We had to boil our water but we also brought a water purifer, like a empty balloon you fill up and over the day it filters, you can add a tablet to kill any pathogens as well

3.) Bring MRE's or "instant" meals. I can't remember exactly what they were called but you basically opened powder and threw them in boiling water and next thing you knew, you had freaking biscuits and gravy

4.) Obviously have something you enjoy doing while there. We love to fish, so it was basically a fishing trip, but we also cut out a day or two each to explore the different lakes and waterfalls in those areas

5.) We brought alcohol but didn't drink too much, we did not bring beer. We found out if we woke up at dawn, fished all day, started drinking at end of night then tried to find the tent after using the restroom, it was really difficult, even after not drinking a whole lot. PLUS, one time we did drink a lot and got real dehydrated and hungover, worst feeling of all time, you don't want that on your trip. Especially when it takes forever to filter water, etc.

2 hours ago, IAGuy39 said:

3.) Bring MRE's or "instant" meals. I can't remember exactly what they were called but you basically opened powder and threw them in boiling water and next thing you knew, you had freaking biscuits and gravy

 

 

When I was in second grade a kid brought in his grandfather's MRE's from WWII for Show & Tell.  This was 1986 or 1987 so those MRE's were pushing 45 years old. 

 

Yes, we all actually ate these things in class.  I got a piece of the brownie, which was harder than a brick, but we all looked around and lied to each other saying "this is pretty good!". 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, Mildtraumatic said:

Would like to hear more about Mohican. I believe I looked that one up after you mentioned it. It's near Mansfield Correct? I think Ill go to this one just to cut loose a little. Do they have hot showers, Restrooms? Mind telling more about your visit there?

You are correct, Mohican is pretty close to Mansfield. It is a surprisingly hilly area with the Mohican River running through it. A lot of the visitors tube and canoe on the river during their stay. The park is pretty large, you have the ability to rent electric and non-electric campsites, as well as cabins that are backed right up to the river. We rented an electric campsite (has electric hookups for an RV) because that was all that was left. If you are a tent camper, as we were, you will feel very cramped because all the other electric sites will be RV's. There is public bathrooms and showers (wear sandes when you shower). When you go to book a site it will pop a map up which will give you the ability to see how close your campsite is to these facilities.

 

There are dozens of miles of trails, some moderately difficult and hilly, some with scenic views of the countryside or waterfalls. We did the two trails right on the river and those were fantastic. If I was going to do it again I would do a nonelectric campsite near the river. There is this entire secluded section of these sites we saw that really make you feel alone in nature.

for lake erie, i would rec camping at east harbor state park. it's easy to put up a tent and relax there with the lake basically at your feet.  

 

if you want more of a glamping experience that is even easier, then maumee bay state park definitely has you covered w/ the lodge, cabins, etc., etc., etc. 

 

also, if you like hiking and wildlife and birds, then there is no better place than crane creek/magee marsh nearby.

2 hours ago, KFM44107 said:

You are correct, Mohican is pretty close to Mansfield. It is a surprisingly hilly area with the Mohican River running through it. A lot of the visitors tube and canoe on the river during their stay. The park is pretty large, you have the ability to rent electric and non-electric campsites, as well as cabins that are backed right up to the river. We rented an electric campsite (has electric hookups for an RV) because that was all that was left. If you are a tent camper, as we were, you will feel very cramped because all the other electric sites will be RV's. There is public bathrooms and showers (wear sandes when you shower). When you go to book a site it will pop a map up which will give you the ability to see how close your campsite is to these facilities.

 

There are dozens of miles of trails, some moderately difficult and hilly, some with scenic views of the countryside or waterfalls. We did the two trails right on the river and those were fantastic. If I was going to do it again I would do a nonelectric campsite near the river. There is this entire secluded section of these sites we saw that really make you feel alone in nature.

 

 

i would definitely second this. mohican is eternally popular. i went several times as a kid even up to just out of hs. tubing in the thing and its a blast. hiking is very under rated. the camping is easy and yes you will need a tarp under the tent because as i recall the camping areas get swamped easily, although that makes for some funny memories. if you have kids keep an eye on them though it has or had kind of a teen partying place reputation (due to the teen friendly tubing). i dk if that has been clamped down on over the years? i would imagine so or hope so.

44 minutes ago, mrnyc said:

 

 

i would definitely second this. mohican is eternally popular. i went several times as a kid even up to just out of hs. tubing in the thing and its a blast. hiking is very under rated. the camping is easy and yes you will need a tarp under the tent because as i recall the camping areas get swamped easily, although that makes for some funny memories. if you have kids keep an eye on them though it has or had kind of a teen partying place reputation (due to the teen friendly tubing). i dk if that has been clamped down on over the years? i would imagine so or hope so.

Not alot of teen partying, but I was in the camper area and I highly doubt teens are camper camping. I wouldn't doubt the cabin area gets wild. 

1 minute ago, KFM44107 said:

Not alot of teen partying, but I was in the camper area and I highly doubt teens are camper camping. I wouldn't doubt the cabin area gets wild. 

 

 

oh yeah its not likely any kids are taking campers -- i meant more like teen day trippers tubing and teen tent camping. at least that's what we did. just drinking beer and being loud, etc. -- it sounds like its all toned down these days. or even if anything exists of that the hs graduate season has passed  --- ie., i remember one year, not my class, but an older hs class, had a 'senior skip day' meetup down there and of course many of us undergrads all tagged along. ha. 

23 hours ago, mrnyc said:

for lake erie,

 

For Lake Ontario, I camped around 2006 at this small park between Niagra Falls and Rochester:

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.3738696,-78.4833964,3663m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

5 stars out of 5.  

No, 1 out of 5! I heard someone utter a swear word there!

^Would be very cool to find a place right by the lake shore -beach to camp. Might be able to get my girlfriend to go then. One of the excuses she makes, "It's too hot!" 

Mohican sounds like the place I'll go with others that are drinkers. Think I'm going to forget about backpack -camping. Been bear sightings down here this week and I even saw prints this Spring hiking a remote trail.

Edited July 14, 20195 yr by Mildtraumatic