Gone Campin'

This weekend, I once again don the tan shirt of my youth, and go Camping with my old BoyScout Troop.

Now for those of you that have not experienced the wonders of camping, I cannot tell you how much you are missing out. You do not and will not understand the feeling of true camping unless you go out and do it. For one, before I go on, let me tell you something. RVing, it is not camping. It is very close, but they are not the same. Sitting in a climate-controlled shell with a TV and Flush toilet is not the same as hiking out, setting up a tent, and enjoying the scenery, the latter being infinitely better. That is one rant off my chest.

On to rambling about Camping. (inserting shameless plug) One thing I have done, in my many years in the Scouts, I have been to a wondrous place known as Philmont. Now, as I said above, you cannont truly appreciate something like this unless you have actually done it. Well, Philmont is a ranch in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (part of the Rockies) in New Mexico. First of all, when you first get there, Base Camp is at 6000 ft above sea level. Quite a jump from the 600 ft elevation we have near me.

We get outfitted with our gear, have a shakedown, and after a night a Base, you're on the trail. You hike anywhere from 60 to 100+ miles, typically over 10-12 days. Now you'll tell me, "Why the hell would I want to do that? Can I use my laptop there?" I can only tell you that you are wasting breath asking the latter, but the first is easly answered. This is something that will not only challenge you physically, but also mentally, emotionally. It is no mean feat, carrying eveything you use on your back for two weeks. But the things you will learn about yourself, and those around you will never leave you.

(The top of Mt. Baldy (elev. 12,441 ft.)

Now, you don't need to do something like that, to experience what camping has to offer. There are plenty of Wilderness areas, State forests, and National Parks out there, especially in this country, that you could literally stay at one a week, and not be done for decades. Ask your neighbors, contact your local DNR, borrow a tent, and get out there! Walk away from your computer and do it!

Happy camping.

Words cannot describe...