| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 04 2007 : 12:56:13 PM
So what's the attraction to camping? Going out in the wilderness and using a leaf for TP? Not quite.
I love camping. I feel like some part of my being is wild, untamed. I crave the wilderness. I crave...something...
Camping doesn't mean going to a campground for me. It doesn't involve a house on wheels that includes 100 channels of cable, phones and the internet.
When I go camping, I love to fill my backpack with good foods, like oatmeal and raisins, foods that can be cooked over a campstove and that don't require refrigeration.
I make head out and delight to leave the paved trails and roads behind. I follow deer tracks and faint trails from backpackers before me. I have a map and use it to explore new areas that I have never been before. I stop when I am tired, but push myself so I can go as far as I can each day. I delight in texture of the sun coming through the leaves. That's right- Texture. Light takes on a tangible quality once you leave the city behind. You can feel it on your face and skin. Sometimes heavy and adding to the load, and sometimes as a whisper of warmth dancing across your skin.
The air is clean and pure. It almost burns my lungs as I draw in huge lungfuls. I breathe deep and use every inch of my lung capacity. I can feel my heart beating, even at rest. A soothing beat to the almost inaudible music of the mountains.
I delight in finding stones for a fire-circle. I scurry around like some over grown squirrel, only I hoarde fire wood. I pitch my tent and make my bed. Dinner is delicious no matter what it is. Somehow the wild gives everything a new flavor.
I sleep at night, tired and satified with the day. I have no worries. Anything that bothers me is left behind. It doesn't belong to mountain life. Debt, bills, non of that. Camping teaches you to live in the moment. To savor each sensation.
I wake to find my sleeping bag damp. My first reaction is always "Did it rain last night? I thought my tent was waterproofed?" Of course it is just the moisture from me breathing that has come down in the night and dewed itself to every surface! There is always the smell of "tent" a combination of canvas and sleeping bag and fresh air. I crawl out and hear the morning song birds. Meadowlarks and mountain Bluebirds call. Magpies cackle at each other.
I make my fire and stretch my feet towards it's warmth. It's always a bit chilly in the mornings. My oatmeal simmers on the fire and I enjoy the perfect morning. Every morning is perfect.
As the day wears on, I pack up camp and head on to the next night's camp site. My destination might change during the day or I might decide to go for a day camp and keep my camp site.
I always feel like I leave a little something behind when I leave the mountains. I feel like my untamed self stays, holding onto the last tree by the trail saying "Come back! Come back! I won't leave!" But it's comforting in it's own way to know that my wild self will be there waiting each and every time!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand to keep Nora out of trouble! |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Dec 05 2007 : 2:01:41 PM
I love camping too, and grew up in a camping family. We have always tent camped. The kids LOVE it too. My oldest son went on his first camping trip at 3 months old...he is the most enthusiastic camper I have of my kids now too. There is nothing like it.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| jenbove |
Posted - Dec 05 2007 : 11:21:07 AM
You have lots of time - it'll happen! We've taken our 3 camping several times, but not even once this summer! It's strange, but now that we have our own amazing out-of-the-way farm and spend so much time outside, we've (yikes) gotten lazy about camping. Oh, you know what? We DID camp once this summer, and I came down with strep throat, of all things, so the whole trip was a bust - guess that's why I forgot about it.
Still, the wild calls (urgently at times), and I long for days away from civilization. We're thinking about elk hunting in Colorado this year 'cause we miss the elk camp tradition we started in WA.
Camping with kids can be CRAZY, but it's wonderful to rediscover nature's details through a wee one's eyes - and with 3 of them, it's nothing short of an adventure!
Jen
Expedition Leader, MaryJanesOutpost
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterterhood Member # 9
The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 05 2007 : 09:53:31 AM
Jen-
No not yet. I wanted to this summer, but with a wedding and all it just was too much.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand to keep Nora out of trouble! |
| jenbove |
Posted - Dec 05 2007 : 08:44:18 AM
YES! It's good to be connected with so many other "wild" women.
Alee, have you taken Nora camping yet?
Jen
Expedition Leader, MaryJanesOutpost
www.maryjanesoutpost.com
Farmgirl Sisterterhood Member # 9
The View From My Boots
www.bovesboots.blogspot.com |
| Annika |
Posted - Dec 04 2007 : 7:38:51 PM
Oh, I hear you there. The Milkyway is so visible tonight here, even near sighted blind ol' me can see it . So lovely. I long to be some where more wild cuddled up with my boo in the chill night with a nice little fire to drowse to
Wishing you joy in small things and peace in your heart
Annika
http://innermountainmudhens.wordpress.com/
http://panzymoon.wordpress.com/ |
| kitchensqueen |
Posted - Dec 04 2007 : 7:23:39 PM
Hear hear! I can't wait until springtime so I get out there again! I'd love do winter camping, but so far we haven't had the cash outlay to get proper cold-weather gear. Wow, there is almost nothing better than sitting out in the chill night air under the stars, eating backpacker stew hot off the fire...
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com
New Rt 66 blog: http://historyinthemaking.wordpress.com |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - Dec 04 2007 : 2:01:02 PM
I like the simplicity of camping- just your basics, using your body and skills to build a "home"- I love it!! One of my dreams is to camp for one whole month, maybe more. I am always amazed how relaxed I feel and how my skin and "soul" seems to come alive. Last time I went, I brought moisturizing sunscreen, small spray bottle of conditioner, Burt's Bees Lip Balm, a comb and a J. R. Liggett bar- it was awesome. I brought only my FAVORITE green cargo pants, 2 pair of shorts, 3 bathing suits (I spend ALOT of time on, in and under the water) and some tanks, t-shirt and flip flops and hiking sneakers (Wow, I don't really change much from camping and home LOL). I also let my hair go and wore bandanas like 99% of the time. We only bring cell phones, but they stay in the car unless we are away from camp.
We would hike and play all day in the water or in the woods, eat basic foods off the campfire, talk talk and more talk, singing, exploring and just snuggling at the end of the day in our down sleeping bags. And I agree- it is the best sleep I get EVER. DH even fished out of the tent door because it was raining so hard but he didn't want to miss out on fishing. He was pretty good at casting from the tent. It was hilarious!!!
I love the smell of being outdoors on my skin and in my hair, the exhaustion from having complete fun but feeling so happy and light.
We once did beach camping and oh my gosh,,that was my favorite time to date. Listening to the lullaby of the ocean was awesome and soothing.
I also onced stayed in a TINY cabin and slept on the front porch on a really old cot. It was so much fun and I slept like a log. Nothing like getting up in the morning, stretching, pulling on the old bathing suit and going for swim. It was so peaceful and refreshing. I think we need to go again and soon!!!
We are moving more towards a life like this, daily. We want to find out little house and put in a pool and fire pit and live close to walking/hiking trails and places we can explore when DS gets older. I can't wait!!! |
| Annika |
Posted - Dec 04 2007 : 1:37:45 PM
Very nice Alee! I feel the same. I love my wild time and cherish its memories.
Wishing you joy in small things and peace in your heart
Annika
http://innermountainmudhens.wordpress.com/
http://panzymoon.wordpress.com/ |
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