How close is too close - or what does camping mean?

[Happy Pirate]

Happy Pirate,
I don't Car Camp so cannot comment about your circumstances however I have no problems with human interaction (rarely met) when off track and I also have enjoyed shared space on the OLT the Walls and Frenchmans both Tenting and Hutting and the only time I really got annoyed was once at New Pelion when an over sized group of Air Cadets got very boisterous ,they responded to my request to stop shouting across the tables at each other and peace resumed
I have also Been in Camps with hundreds of Scouts and have shared Barracks space with 24 Soldiers in my time so perhaps I am inured and yes I am becoming a grumpy old Man as is my want( and your's when the time comes)
Perhaps to use another old Scottish saying some of you "are mair teh be pitied than scolded" in you desire to do a "Greta Garbo"
corvus

Can you please translate this for an old fart like me.

But guys (Corvus in particular) you do present quite a cultural-relativist position that (like all post-modernist mumbo-jumbo) needs to be demolished by common sense and your posts smacked of such an excess of political correctness they seemed devoid of consideration of realistic situations.

Sheesh I thought I was just an old grumpy fart expressing an opinion

I've got internet problems currently but.......

Big C
Where oh where did I say I was Car-camping? If you mis-read a post what does that say of your reply??!!
So you've also been p!!ssed 0ff by groups of noisy campers and taken action as well?! So at this point I should regard you with how much credibility exactly if you criticize me for the same actions??
If I understand the point of your antagonistic rant it is that we BOTH get POed by noisy groups at some occasions but that you are better cos you quote rants from aged foreign immigrants?
And are you telling me YOU would do the same in some situation???

Sheesh I thought I was just an old grumpy fart expressing an opinion

[/quote]

So does that exempt you from a reply? You stirred the pot - your pot deserves to be stirred in return.

I like your your attitude generally but if you make a challenge be prepared to defend it.
smack me
Steve

[Eremophila]

I'm concerned that people would promote off-track camping simply to fulfil their own need for space, in what may be a sensitive and/or fragile environment.
Desert landscapes in particular, once denuded, don't recover until after at least one decent rainfall. This may be months or sometimes years away. So in effect, you would just be expanding the footprint of the campground and encouraging others to do likewise.
I too detest noisy campers with a passion, but in a shared campground it's always a possibility.

[TerraMer]

Yer, that's what I do - what I did the one and only night on the Larapinta that I set up anywhere near anyone else - straight through the Wallaby Gap campground, down the road about 100m, pitch out on the low ridge, with a wonderful view while the others had nothing to look at but each other.

I had 4 nights out on the Larapinta and company for only 1. It was my first attempt to walk it but I caught the flu in Alice and first day walking from town to Simpsons Gap I had to stop in some shade in the middle of the day and sleep off a fever for 3 hrs before continuing to Wallaby Gap in the afternoon. 2 other walkers shared the camp but I was having so much trouble breathing all night I kept one of them awake with my snoring and choking, the other was quite competitive with his snoring and didn't notice a thing. They cleared out early. I had another night at Wallaby Gap alone and then I tried making progress but the flu stopped me again at Simpson Gap where it turned into sharp needling chest pain and ear ache but I had 2 nights there alone also (hoping it was just a cold and would go away) before hitching to the hospital. It was amazing being out there with only the wildlife for company, just wished I had been well enough to fully enjoy it. Hopefully it will be that quiet again next time.

[puredingo]

I'm on a bit of a roll regarding human contact whilst bushwalking. Probably up around 10-12 walks now with no people spotted, a record maybe?

[maddog]

Drunk and boarish: swigging pig hogs 18 beers at campsite:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/s ... s-18-beers

[icefest]

When I'm the second one into a campsite, I'll normally pitch my tent a fair way away, but then walk over and introduce myself. Sort of give people the option if they want their privacy (or a buffer zone if they are noisy), but am also prepared to sit down and be social for a while.

I usually do something similar, set up camp where I'm safe from snoring (small group) or drunken laughter (larger groups). Then when I introduce myself I suss them out and if they seem like decent chaps, i'll invite them over for a cuppa at some time of their chosing that evening.

That way they can come talk if they want and if not, I'm safe from any disruptions.

[perfectlydark]

Thats best practice imo

[ULWalkingPhil]

So long the person is not a heavy snorer or makes loud noises at night, I don't mind if someone camps near me.

On the other hand when I arrive at camp I will setup as far away as I can to respect there privacy.
I've had rowdy people turn up at camp, I would be the only person at camp and they will setup camp beside me, are very inconsiderate and stay up late talking loud and banging there pots and pans at all hours. No respect for anyone else. Those people I just don't understand. How they can be so rude.

[Happy Pirate]

...Actually the noisiest bloke I've had to camp next to in a while was this one.

On and on all late afternoon, just desperate for attention.

He obviously thought he was top *&%$#! and wanted everyone to know it.

Just constant - "look at me! look at me!"
"Hey Ladiezzz!!!"

*&%$#! show-off....

At least I got his picture...








Victoria's Rifle Bird (Male) - Atherton Tablelands Sept 2013

Steve

[Giddy_up]

Great photos Happy Pirate, he sure does look like he wants to be the centre of attention.

[Happy Pirate]

But seriously - we Paddled Paluma Lake this weekend and we had white Cockeys overhead all afternoon screeching and carrying on and dropping crap over our camp and we thought it cool and (kinda) relaxing, but a few minutes of Trail bikes and we're grinding our teeth and plotting physical revenge! (OK Admittedly we wanted to kill the cockeys after an hour or so).
The funny thing is that within cities, I'm much more the personable bloke than my GF, and I can cringe at her perceived rudeness.
But make me have to talk to a single invasive camper intent on sharing our carefully planned campsite and my sneer is so wide it could be pulled over my face and used as a sunshade.
So what makes one so situationally predisposed to others or nonce?
Steve (or not)
X

[Bushgirl]

Part of the beauty of remote walking is the "purity" of the experience for me - meaning no signs of other humans or human activity at all. I also stress about whether I'll have a campsite to myself while walking, then dreading a late arrival once all nicely set up.
It's a stressful thing, this walking business.

Confession: I have been known to disguise the entrance to a good spot by removing a cairn or two - sorry.

[Strider]

Confession: I have been known to disguise the entrance to a good spot by removing a cairn or two - sorry.

I hope you reinstate them when you leave!

[Happy Pirate]

Part of the beauty of remote walking is the "purity" of the experience for me - meaning no signs of other humans or human activity at all. I also stress about whether I'll have a campsite to myself while walking, then dreading a late arrival once all nicely set up.
It's a stressful thing, this walking business.

I sooo get you there!

Confession: I have been known to disguise the entrance to a good spot by removing a cairn or two - sorry.

Confession: I am a chronic flagging tape remover. (Situation dependent)
(Hi my name's Steve and I am a Wildernessaholic...)

Steve

[icefest]

Confession: I am a chronic flagging tape remover. (Situation dependent)

Steve

Some of the taped routes I've seen....

Who the hell decided that technicolor flagging tape in 4 different types was necessary on a walk that if it were any easier to follow would be named 'State route A1'.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I was a caretaker at a remote camp a few years ago, placed some tape around a tree that looked suspicious, it was in poor condition and a risk to campers.

A not so smart camper removed the tape i had placed and camped under this tree, he was lucky to survive. Just as expected tree came down during the night, narrowly missing the camper, tree destroyed the toilets.

I don't like people removing tape in these situations, and to do it just so you get the site to yourself in my opinion is selfish.

[Happy Pirate]

I was a caretaker at a remote camp a few years ago, placed some tape around a tree that looked suspicious, it was in poor condition and a risk to campers.

A not so smart camper removed the tape i had placed and camped under this tree, he was lucky to survive. Just as expected tree came down during the night, narrowly missing the camper, tree destroyed the toilets.

I don't like people removing tape in these situations, and to do it just so you get the site to yourself in my opinion is selfish.

In my zealotry I once (apparently) removed all the tape delineating the study site for a University research project.
Why they didn't signpost the site better tho' ....
Didn't find out for weeks until the researcher complained to my GF that someone had 'defaced' her site. (My GF was there watching at the time).
I still think the issue is to use better labels tho'.
I now check tape for writing or labels before removal.
Steve

[icefest]

I was a caretaker at a remote camp a few years ago, placed some tape around a tree that looked suspicious, it was in poor condition and a risk to campers.

A not so smart camper removed the tape i had placed and camped under this tree, he was lucky to survive. Just as expected tree came down during the night, narrowly missing the camper, tree destroyed the toilets.

I don't like people removing tape in these situations, and to do it just so you get the site to yourself in my opinion is selfish.

Not a judgement on you, but knowing which of the many reasons for taping is not as easy as one might think.

It's like an empty sign. Possibly a HAZMAT sign, or was it only an information sign?

[ULWalkingPhil]

Tape with danger all over it. A couple times it was removed, no matter how many times I told these people to stay away from this tree, they just ignored all my warnings. Almost cost them there life.

[icefest]

Tape with danger all over it. A couple times it was removed, no matter how many times I told these people to stay away from this tree, they just ignored all my warnings. Almost cost them there life.

I stand corrected.

[ULWalkingPhil]

They got the message eventually.
This was at a remote island, North West of Heron Island, funny enough called North West Island. Was there conducting research for the Parks Service and caretaker for the couple weeks I was there. For such a remote island, it was amazing how many people where camping there.