Who's going camping this season?

[wildmanh]

It looks and feels as though Spring has finally come to Utah to stay for a bit. This has me thinking of heading into the hills for some campouts. Who else is planning on heading out there to enjoy sometime in nature?

We received more then 130% of the 10 year average snow pack this winter. This is good for our water supply this summer, but it also means that the canyons are still inaccessible to cars. There is a network of hills between Spring City and Ephraim which are about 10 miles apart. These hills are a mix of private and Utah managed Public land called Wildlife Managment Areas. The WMA land is now mostly free of snow so this is where I'll probably be camping till the Canyons open up.

The East Gate for White hill is only about 2.5 miles south of my place in Spring City which means I can walk there with a backpack if I wanted to. Roger Smith and I are planning another Spring/Early summer campout up Spring City canyon this year. That will be in at least 2 to 4 weeks. I now work from home and set my own hours so I'll probably schedule sometime off in the next 7 to 10 days to head to White hill for a night of camping and general fun. Am also hoping to get out side into the foothills or canyons at least twice a month from now till the season ends.

So you've heard some of my plans, what are yours? Feel free to share ideas, thoughts and pictures about outdoor activities and the gear. I'll post the Gear I'm taking to White Hill in a bit.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I was planning on working heavily on my bushcrafting and pioneering skills this year. Back in February when it warmed up and the climate was perfect (mid 70s as the high ), work drastically picked up after a year of barely scraping by. So, I'll probably do a few overnighters and maybe a weekender around holidays, but that's about it.

 

[RyanW]

Sounds like a good plan Heber, I plan on multiple backpacking trips with the little ones and solo bushcraft trips this spring summer. I hope you are right about the end of winter here!

 

[wildmanh]

I was planning on working heavily on my bushcrafting and pioneering skills this year. Back in February when it warmed up and the climate was perfect (mid 70s as the high ), work drastically picked up after a year of barely scraping by. So, I'll probably do a few overnighters and maybe a weekender around holidays, but that's about it.

Practicing those skills is something I too want to do. Thanks for mentioning them. I'm glad that you are working and have more money. Hope you are able to work some good trips in. Let us know how they go!

Sounds like a good plan Heber, I plan on multiple backpacking trips with the little ones and solo bushcraft trips this spring summer. I hope you are right about the end of winter here!

Cool! Please share pics and stories with us from your trips. If you don't mind my asking, where are you in the state? If you are close by, maybe we could hook up for some outdoor fun. I might do some leather working this afternoon, then head to the hills (assuming the weather holds - chance of rain this evening). Right now it's to lovely a day to be indoors.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

My camping plans have pretty much been put on hold until my daughter gets a little bigger. That said, I think my wife wants to rent one of those long house/cabins at one of the lakes this fall. Evey will be a little over a year old, and Patoka lake is only about an hour away. Staying in a cabin means that I won't have to deal with all the issues "roughing it" seems invite. I'll still be able to get out and make a fire, maybe rent a pontoon boat for an afternoon, and have a good time with the girls.

It's a good compromise. Beats not going at all

 

[foxx]

I'm back in KY now, after 11 years in NM. Big differences in the enviornment mean big differences in my gear. Now I can use fire, and not have to carry all my water. Too often, my trips in NM were under fire restrictions and/or I had to carry 2 gallons of water, ouch!
So, maybe this weekend I can get out, that's the plan anyway, crossing my fingers!
I'll be backpacking with my Brother for the first time. We'll have to sort out some gear, but I'm thinking very light and basic. Boil water, cook with the fire, and make some shelters, depends on the weather.
Even if I just get to go hiking, it's better than nothing!

 

[hughewil]

We went a few weeks ago and stayed in a Teepee. It was still in the 40's so a little chilly, but the worst part was it rained both nights so we couldn't have an outside campfire.

We did manage to get a little hiking in though.

and some canpy tour/zip lining

Daughter has softball tournaments the next several weekends but hopefully next month or late this month we can go camping by the lake at the state park and do some hiking and fishing.

 

[wildmanh]

Yesterday after lunch I borrowed my mom's car and headed to WhiteHill WMA. Turns out that it's around 3.5 to 4 miles from my place instead of 2.5 miles. Aside from seeing 2 other cars, I saw no one the whole time I was there. Guess we all were checking out different parts of the area. The place is really pretty and my descriptions won't do it justice, so on to the pictures:

Continued.....

 

[wildmanh]

Snow covered Mount Nebo in all it's glory. Moroni is the closest town and Fountain Green can be seen under Nebo.

Glamor shot of my EK NightFighter, the fixed blade I took

I saw this spot and thought it would make a great Camp Site. Turns out someone else did too.

Looking South East into Pigeon Hollow valley South of Spring City.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Gorgeous country, Heber

 

[SilverFoxKnows]

I'm going to San Mateo this August. We go every summer. We're all city folks, a bunch of married couples in our 30s mostly. We're not really roughing it. All of our gear fits into the cars. Last year the big WWII got more use as a meat tenderizer than as a chopper. It actually makes a really good meat tenderizer. It's a fun break from TV, phones and emails.

Frank

 

[Jabaski]

Hmm, if it counts at all, I'll be working my 5th year as staff at the local BSA camp. Nothing like getting out there in the great out doors for a month, with just you and your friends, and teach young scouts the essentials to the outdoors. All the jobs in the world cant measure up to this one. The previous year I was up at Philmont partaking in the hiking trip of a lifetime. Its time to bring it all back and enjoy my time with the local council. I hope the weather holds off this year. Its been so unseasonably violent out lately. Good luck with yalls camping, I'll be enjoying myself plenty come June.

 

[wildmanh]

Gorgeous country, Heber

Thanks Jake!

I'm going to San Mateo this August. We go every summer. We're all city folks, a bunch of married couples in our 30s mostly. We're not really roughing it. All of our gear fits into the cars. Last year the big WWII got more use as a meat tenderizer than as a chopper. It actually makes a really good meat tenderizer. It's a fun break from TV, phones and emails.

Frank

Frank, that sounds like some good times. Please post pics if you can.

Hmm, if it counts at all, I'll be working my 5th year as staff at the local BSA camp. Nothing like getting out there in the great out doors for a month, with just you and your friends, and teach young scouts the essentials to the outdoors. All the jobs in the world cant measure up to this one. The previous year I was up at Philmont partaking in the hiking trip of a lifetime. Its time to bring it all back and enjoy my time with the local council. I hope the weather holds off this year. Its been so unseasonably violent out lately. Good luck with yalls camping, I'll be enjoying myself plenty come June.

Working with the scouts is fun!! Was a scout leader some years ago and had a blast. There is a scout camp about 15 minutes North East of me. Met a cool tom boy at School that works there each summer. I totally would have hooked up with her if she hadn't been engadged.

By the way, I just started a new thread about my upcoming campout at White Hill this weekend.

 

[DaddyDett]

I will be camping alot in the upcoming months. I am an Assistant Scout Master in my sons' Troop. Next campout is my Order of the Arrow Ordeal, in 2 weeks. After that, 1-2 campouts a month through December.

 

[BFH44]

to the original question - way to much needs to be done all the time. - But please keep the stories and pics coming please i will just have to live it vicariously through you all for now

Eric

 

[wildmanh]

I'm hoping to head up Spring City canyon this afternoon for a hike. Will park just inside the national forest, hike up the canyon road to check current snow pack at various places and have some fun. Loaded my Medium Alice pack with Food, water, cool weather gear, emergency gear and some knives for the trip.

Anyone else heading out side for some fun today?

 

[Quiggifur]

Anyone else heading out side for some fun today?

Ended up going for a walk back into the local wildlife management area, and since I didn't really know where I was going, it lasted five hours or so. It was a beautiful day, a good day to get lost. Next time though, I think I'll take a better look at a map beforehand. And a fishing pole.

 

[wildmanh]

Ended up going for a walk back into the local wildlife management area, and since I didn't really know where I was going, it lasted five hours or so. It was a beautiful day, a good day to get lost. Next time though, I think I'll take a better look at a map beforehand. And a fishing pole.

Sounds fun!! If you don't mind my asking, where are you located? I totally need to get a fishing pole. Built my self a mini tackle box for backpacking, have the licence, but not pole. LOL!

 

[hughewil]

Last week end we went for a short mile hike on a trail in the nearby metropark. It was pretty busy so not really out in the wilderness, we did stop on the floating dock for my daughter to do a little fishing. We are going camping for an overnight Saturday.

 

[Quiggifur]

Sounds fun!! If you don't mind my asking, where are you located? I totally need to get a fishing pole. Built my self a mini tackle box for backpacking, have the licence, but not pole. LOL!

Deerfield, in middle Tennessee. I'm within sight of the Laurel Hill WMA, and there are a couple lakes and a fair-sized creek inside. It's nice for now, but I'm originally from New York, and I'm missing the fish species from the colder water, especially the perch and pike.