Campgrounds located closest to highways usually fill up fast
& can attract all types of campers. For the seclusion, head
a few miles off the main roads & enjoy the silence. Be
on the look out for some of these! They could simply make
or break your enjoyable experience in nature.
To each their own...Beware of these kind of campers!
Party Animals
These are the young teenie boppers that will stay up late
nights with their music cranked, hootin' & hollarin' until
the wee hours. Drunk, belligerent & the ranger is never around
to scold them. Very disturbing bunch & could care less what
you think. Usually found at the easily accessed campgrounds.
Favorite areas are the LA mountains/ Angeles Crest, Colorado
River area, Sequoia National Forest - Kern River (just north
of Kernville), some large Joshua Tree NP campgrounds. But beware,
they could be anywhere.
Good Ole
Boys
Not your occasional yuppie with his new sport utility vehicle.
This type of modern day cowboy owns big American made trucks
with a lift kit & monster tires. Love to shoot their guns
off (&/or camp near a shooting range). Classic rock music
& Jack Daniels are the favorites. Where bright clothing &
try to stay out of firing range.
Off-Roaders
These are the all terrain vehicle nuts who love getting dusty,
dirty & don't mind an occasional broken bone or two. Their
constant high pitched engine noises are always screaming in the
background. At night, they can get loud, but usually crash early
due to an exhausting day of riding. Noisy power generators are
popular. Usually found at the campgrounds near SRVA
(State Recreational Vehicle Area). Favorite areas are the Los Padres NF-
Hungry Valley (near Interstate 5), Cleveland
NF bordering Lake Elsinore, Sequoia
NF - Eastern portion, Anza
Borrego Desert - Ocotillo Wells , southeast portion.
Boom-Boom
Boys
If your lucky, you'll only hear the base thumping over the
running trickle of the nearby creek. Their low-rider car bottomed
out 3 times before reaching this destination. Hanging with the
home-boys at the campsite most of the time & talking loudly.
Will build large fires in the middle of the day for no apparent
reason & possibly play pyromaniac. Usually found at the easily
accessed campgrounds near large cities.
It's A
Family Affair
The huge family that brings all the bicycles, toys & neighbor's
children along with them. Plenty of food, BBQ smells & even
a canopy or screen room. Loud children are very apparent, not
to mention the screaming stressed out mom. These crowd is sure
to awake you at the crack of dawn. with mom a bitchin' &
the kids riding their bicycles thru YOUR camp site.
Big Time
RVers
These older people will bring everything including the kitchen
sink, microwave, TV & satellite dish. Noisy power generators
could be annoying. The bright green astro turf & lawn chairs
are all in place right outside the motor home doorway. A small
fluffy pooch is sure to be an annoying accessory.
Wild Animals
Some yahoos that pull into camp at 10pm & make a huge
rukus. Right when you think they're quieting dowen, on comes
some Zepplin tunes. You would assume that these are just boys
that never grew up & we've met some that are 50+ years old.
The women rarely stay up as late as their partners, but can 'out
belch' them on occassion. Some have many many expensive toys
& sometimes haul a seperate trailer just for that crap. Popular
spots they hang is Colorado River access, Glamis Desert, Kern
River, & most OHV parks.
party camp towns
These camp regions below are known for their frequent rowdy campers and party kids. If it is Spring Break, a 3 day weekend or around a holiday, you can be sure the party will be here. Local pubs, busy restaurants, bon fires, motorcycles, quads, music all night. Not seeking this kinda camping? ....means you'll need to stay away.
- Lake Havasu, Arizona
- Colorado River
- Kern River, Kernville
- San Felipe, Baja
- Ensenada, Baja
- Pismo Beach, California
- Jawbone Canyon, Mojave
the real cautions
Ahh, the great outdoors! The thought conjures up different images for different people. Whether you picture warm desert breezes, cold mountain streams or simply lounging about in your campsite without a care in the world, we're all thinking the same thing, relaxation in a nature paradise!
Still, most folks don't think about the flip side of paradise; getting lost, inclement weather, wild fires, sprained ankles, poison oak, snakebites, etc. Whether you are headed out to desolate, snow-covered peaks or your local hiking trail, you've got to be prepared for the unexpected.
Would you like to be one up on the masses by reading some very simple tips? Or, would you prefer to continue stumbling blindly through the woods and fields, drinking contaminated water, picking up ticks, rolling around in poison oak and wrestling your dinner from a 300-pound black bear?
Check our Fire Safety page & for God's sake, when the signs are posted "no campfires" it means no fires!!! Be very aware of sparks, cigarettes, & any open flames.
hiking
- Pack a good map of
the area and obtain a recent weather
forecast.
- Be alert for signage
or, as is often the case, lack thereof.
- Bring along a first
aid kit and know what's in it!
- Know what poison Ivy, Oak
and Sumac look like and make all attempts to AVOID it!
- Bring plenty of water.
NEVER trust natural water sources. Use Tincture of Iodine
or some sort of filter system. (Trust me on this one!)
camping
- When in known 'bear areas' campgrounds, NEVER
leave food in tents or inte bear box containers the campground
could provide. Backpackers often use bear containers. The bears
will get your food if your do not take precautions, believe
me! Use bear canisters, or devise a sling method to hang your
food.
- NEVER build
camp or pitch your tent in dry riverbeds or along arroyos when
there ius a chance of rain (unless your tent comes equipped with
oars or paddles).
- If you feel the absolute need to bring a
firearm with you. Please obey all federal and local laws
and regulations regarding said firearm. Keep it childproof
at all times!!!
