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National Forest Camping: Do you leave your gear alone?

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:06 pm
by traildad
We are into dispersed camping in the National Forests. I go with the idea that the other people in the forest are there to have fun just like us. We would never dream of messing around in anyones camp(stealing) and I want to assume the same of the people we share the forest with. I would like to ask what your experiences have been. Do you, or would you set up a camp and leave your stuff alone while you rode for a large part of the day? Have you heard any stories good or bad?

Ken

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:45 pm
by Mr. Miyagi
If we're talking campsite camping..... I've never had a problem.

But FYI - I'd steal all of Chadd's sh!t in a heart beat. lol....

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:45 pm
by Chadd
Image

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:01 am
by MrPolaris
My personal experience has been that if I go camping in the backwoods it is 99% of the time safe and people are cool (have been cool). I have never had any troubles though and feel that is it safe to leave your stuff while going away to ride. It seems that campers have a respect for eachother. Just remember to put the stuff out of plain site if you can as it might tempt people to enter your campsite to look more.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:11 am
by Thrasher
beware of the rainbow people in the forests....modern day hippies that live in the forests......they are a bad problem down here when they make it this way......u can lose a truckload of stuff quickly...if left unattended for any ammount of time.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:16 am
by MrPolaris
is that the sierra club people, or the weird cult people?

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:58 am
by Ken
Thrasher wrote:beware of the rainbow people in the forests....modern day hippies that live in the forests......they are a bad problem down here when they make it this way......u can lose a truckload of stuff quickly...if left unattended for any ammount of time.

In California....the rainbow people would turn into a popcicle from either the cold, or the 15 feet of snow. That's definitely a Florida thing.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:04 am
by Mr. Miyagi
rainbow people
There is certainly a different use of this terminology in CA.......lol.

Ask Larry....

http://www.atvobsession.com/pictures/pinklarry.jpg

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:07 am
by Rogue
LOL. You say Rainbow, I say San Francisco... :P

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:39 am
by clampnpolaris
high boot'n flower sniffer

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:43 am
by Ken
To answer Ken's question...


In camping literally...hundreds of times since 1979 when I started 4 Wheeling on the Rubicon...I've never had anything stolen.

Not to say it's not possible.....but never had it happen.


I don't tempt fate. I remove my keys to my Jeep and stow them away. I don't leave camera's laying around....stuff like that.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:58 pm
by Rogue
As the saying goes, locks only keep honest people honest.

Of the dozens of times I've been camping, I've never had a problem. But as other's have pointed out, I don't tempt fate. I lock vehicles, and I stash any equipment I don't want to part with out of sight or, if it will fit, in a vehicle.

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:08 pm
by traildad
That sounds about right. We don't have tons of expensive stuff we just can't afford to replace it. We have a truck tent that goes up in the bed of the truck and a Weber baby Q and propane stove and ATV water and gas flat packs. Some things are a no brainer to lock up, but it would be a pain to have to take apart the BBQ and stove etc or to come back and find the tent gone :cry: Thanks for the input, Ken

Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:44 pm
by redcat
The rainbow people hit the Lassen National Forest last summer for their anual gathering. The Federal Forest Service and the local Sheriff were overwelmed. Google these freaks as the Rainbow Family. They show up in pos vehicles, cut down and tear up the forest and leave their trash behind. Pretty serious problems (environmental, social and law enforcement) associated with these gatherings.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:57 pm
by Lizard
I've never had a problem, but when I'm way out in the sticks, I don't leave anything of real value around, and I do not lock my vehicle. I would rather have my stereo or whatever stolen than have my window busted out also. I do disable my vehicle from starting though.