Stealth Camping Part One

Stealth Camping Part One
 by Christopher Harper

While reading online journals or talking to fellow outdoor enthusiasts, one will hear the term stealth camping. You could also hear it referred to as ghost camping, free camping and a myriad of other similar terms. You may have wondered what they are referring to when they use these terms.
Stealth camping is the practice of locating a secluded area away from people, where you camp for the night. Utilizing “Leave No Trace” practices, you leave absolutely no evidence of your presence there, either while you are on site or after you departing. Most people think stealth camping is about saving money by not paying for a campsite. While it is a cost-effective method that can save some money, it is also a way to experience the outdoors in a much more satisfying way then you can in a commercial campground and that is where the attraction lies.
A standard campsite is to the wilderness as a city is to a farm. It seems like an exaggeration, but until you experience it for yourself it is hard to comprehend.
At a commercial camp site you have the opportunity to meet others, take showers, do laundry, often buy supplies and do a number of things that one can do at home. You also have to deal with close proximity to inconsiderate neighbors at times and of course you may experience wildlife in the form of raccoons, skunks, chipmunks and squirrels.
In the wilderness your goal is to remain hidden so you are usually quiet and seldom are there other people around. In the wilderness, it may seem empty of wild life but once the sun sets you hear the darkness come alive with the noise of the wildlife settling down for the night, while the nocturnal ones begin their night’s foraging. While stealth camping near Savannah Georgia I captured a memory when a small herd of whitetail-does half-circled my camp site just as night fell. It was too dark for a picture so the memory is all I have from that moment. It's one that is unlikely to ever happen in a campground.
Stealth camping takes some getting used to, but in many ways it works extremely well when touring on a bicycle, pack rafting, or even when long-distance hiking bicycle. One of the biggest concerns people have is being unable to find a place to set up camp when they want to stop for the night. This can be a problem with stealth camping at times, but it's not as difficult to find a secluded campsite as it can be to find a commercial campground nearby.
The basic mechanics work like this. You proceed along your route until your ready to stop for the night. Once you've decided to stop you start scouting for locations to camp. As the sun begins to set, you locate a secluded place away from human occupation and at least 100-200 yards from any water source (often , water is a place where both humans and animals tend to visit). Once you've confirmed that there are no visible posted warnings about trespassing, you quickly move off to your campsite. After you insure that your presence isn’t visible to anyone who may be nearby, you setup your shelter and go to sleep.
Just as the sun begins to cast its’ glow in the early morning hours, you depart leaving nothing behind to show you had ever been there.
Please take note that no where in this article have I mentioned eating at the campsite. Common sense should tell you that anywhere that wildlife may be present; it is never a good idea to eat or store food where you will be sleeping. This is especially important when you are in bear country. It is a good idea to carry some type of bear-proof container with you, so once you have had dinner, store all food or scented items, in your container then find a safe location to tie off your container away from any hungry wildlife that may be in the area. A basic guideline to go by is 100 yards, or out of site of your camp, so the container will not be associated with you. Bears aren't the only wild life to be aware of but the precautions also work for many other types of animals too.
Granted, sleeping in the woods can be intimidating. Part of this is the sense of isolation one feels by being in unfamiliar environment alone. I believe the experience electrifies our senses making us more aware of the soft noises that surround us.
Stealth camping does not work for everyone, but in if you read the journals of those who have, you will discover that the types of locations vary; quiet woodlots, national parks, remote forests and even in remote sections of rail trails. The key is to utilize locations where it is unlikely to cause problems for others or yourself.
With a bit of planning, and a eye for locations you can have a wilderness camping experience more enjoyable than most friends, family, or even everyday people might experience on a typical camping vacation.