Swamp and Wetlands: Love 'em or Hate 'em?

k_estela

k_estela

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When searching for a suitable campsite, one must consider many factors. Overhead widow-makers, prevailing wind and ground contours to name a few. However, there are some places that seem unfit for a good campsite to the untrained eye. Two that come to mind are swamps and wetlands.

With proper skill (Being able to create an elevated bed for example), the swamp or wetland area can be an excellent place to set up camp if no where else is possible. Looking to the plants that grow in wetlands, you can find one of the most useful, Cattail as well many other edible and medicinals. Contrast the amount of plants that grow in low lying areas with that of high altitude areas and there truly is no comparison. In high altitude areas, lack of oxygen, exposure and solar radiation don't allow for the multitude of plants that grow in the lower altitude places. Also, in swamps and wetlands fish can grow in abundance as well as reptiles and 4-legged critters.

On the other hand, swamps and wetlands are breeding grounds for mosquitos, black flies and other nasties. Moisture can destroy gear and create discomfort against skin. Swamps can also make it difficult to find firewood or tinder. Last but not least, swamps remind us of the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner with "water water everywhere but not a drop to drink" (Unpurified of course!)

With these considerations, what is your opinion of these areas. Post your thoughts and let's see where this discussion takes us.
 
Kevin you know me and my love for the Jungle! I like making elevated swampbeds. I think swamps and jungles have an abundance of shelter material and food. Bugs are not a big concern for me, I guess!
-RB
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I to love the jungle even though only been once. Im from South Fl. and theres alot of sugar cane around my are and patches of Bamboo. I down mind the swamps and wetlands as long as I dont forget me bug net.:)
 
As an avid fisherman here in South Texas/Gulf Coast, I like knowing for a fact that I can always catch something to eat.

On the downside, you better take good care of your knives and equipement, 'cause all of that moisture is going to kill you and your stuff. Not exaclty the place to take the new digital camera.

I'm currently waiting for a NIB Spyderco Pacific Salt plain edge, that will help me since I'm around salt water all the darn time.

As to the main question at hand, I don't really like getting wet and staying wet for long periods of time, so I guess I wouldn't really be that into staying in a swamp. As for a wetland (imagining africa during/right after the rainy season) I wouldn't mind since fresh water is plentiful. The only problem would be needing a purification system 'cause I'm not going to drink elephant poo while I'm there.

You should add a poll to this,
A. Camp in Swamp
B. Camp in Wetland
C. Both are Okay
D. Maybe
E. Hell no!!!
 
i used to live just above a swampy/wetland area that started about 50 metres from my backdoor. i moved .25 miles up the road and now live on the bottom of a mountain...

what a huge difference in terms of vegetation and bugs! over there silver birch was common. over here maple reigns supreme, not a birch to be seen. greatly reduced bug amount. over there it was almost impossible to walk out back without a mosquito bite or two, even during the daytime.

i vote for set up camp high and travel a little distance to get the increased amounts of plants, fish, and water. i like to be most comfortable at night, and even though i could use a smudge pot or a bug net, i prefer to be up high where its nice and dry and much less buggy.

so i pick both, i like to be on or near the border between them.
 
I would be game to camp by a swamp. I would definately take my Mosquito hammock, headnet, and some bug spray.:D

I love snakes and reptiles and there is no shortage of those in that area. I think it would be a fun experiance. Like you said there is no shortage of food around a swamp or wetland, you just got to know where to look. After your course I think I have a good idea where to start.

Plus its a pretty good spot to be if you don't want to be found; not alot of people care for swamps.
 
Not me, never.

Been there, hated it. The opposite of "smoothing it" for me.

My ex-wife bought a house adjoining a wetland. She and the kids could not go out without long sleeves and headnet. A shame, because it was a beautiful site.

Different strokes, I'd guess.
 
BlackHills said:
+1

I spent about two weeks in the jungle in Okinawa, that was enough for me to figure out it wasn't where I wanted to be given the choice. Give me the mountains any day.
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+1 for the mountains, lush greenery, and lakes full of fish :D.

edit: I forgot to add , "and +1 for dry socks"
 
+2

I live in a swamp now. I absolutely hate it. God willing, I'll be back up north in the mountains where I belong in a couple of years.

To those who like it, more power to you, there's certainly plenty of variety. The nasties outweigh the good points for me, though.
 
I live in a wet and swampy region so I had to get used to swamps and all the joys that come with them.I camp almost exclusively in a hammock so I don't worry too much about where to sleep.I build a platform for my boots and I usually hang my pack off the same tree as my hammock wrapped in my poncho.
 

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savagesicslayer said:
I live in a wet and swampy region so I had to get used to swamps and all the joys that come with them.I camp almost exclusively in a hammock so I don't worry too much about where to sleep.I build a platform for my boots and I usually hang my pack off the same tree as my hammock wrapped in my poncho.
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Wow, how much do those hammocks run? is there some way for you to compare it to something to see how big it is? I really like the way it looks, roof, mosquito net, and of course something to lay on.
 
I have never been in a swamp so I don't know if I could get use to them. You have seen some of my pictures and I am more of a mountain (rock, snow and ice) guy than a forrest guy. Not a clue about swamps though.
Mikel
 
it depends on the swamp.some are just to wet and impossible to move around in or operate without constantly being wet.

a swampy area is different though.

i personally would rather avoid a swamp.

i like to keep me and my gear dry.swamps i have experienced are also very muddy and the muck gets in and on everything and that can be detrimental to some items.

where you are geographically really matters.

in new york a swamp will leave you eaten by bugs.in other areas it will leave you eaten by crocs.

poisonous snakes,restrictors and crocs / alligators could be a big concern.mosquitos are a guarantee in every swamp.

if the swamp had something i wanted and couldnt get elsewhere like cattails or fishing i would try to border the swamp and just go and get what i need and then get out into the forest.

i know when i hunt deer near a swamp its the first place they go to hide so a swamp would make a secure hiding place
 
I did an overnight in South Florida a month or so ago. To me, the worst part was that there was no where to sit down and rest. I don't want to make a swamp bed every time I drop my pack. Also, did you know that mosquitoes can bite through a hammock?
 
Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

I could never set up camp in wetlands. Setting up camp nearby (preferably upwind), I'd be all for, especially with a fishing pole. I've designed a few wetlands and it's pretty amazing comparing the flora and fauna before and after. Set up the proper slope for grass growth, kill the phragmites, and nature just explodes.
 
Mosquitoes,horseflies,wet socks,everything is dump and rotten,no place to sit,but i like it better than mountain.And we don't have much alligators in Croatia,and malaria for some time,so it is pretty safe.
 
Just for the record, lack of oxygen is never a constraint to the growth of plants. Too much oxygen, now that could be a problem. Oxygen is a waste product of plant metabolism.
 
I grew up in Miami and spent a good bit of time in the Everglades. I've probably eaten more alligator than most people have ever seen. I have to admit, though, that my favorite time in the glades was right after a cold snap had killed off most of the mosquitoes and deer flies.

I loved the glades and that's probably the only part of South Florida that I do miss.
 
batosai117 said:
Wow, how much do those hammocks run? is there some way for you to compare it to something to see how big it is? I really like the way it looks, roof, mosquito net, and of course something to lay on.
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Looks like the expedition hammock from Mosquito hammocks. I have the jungle version. Just an awesome hammock and mosquitos can't bite through that one!:thumbup:

http://www.mosquitohammock.com/
 
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