Wilderness camping destinations?

[Jamesh Bond]

With all the regulations, pollution, overpopulation, irresponsible people, etc.; it's getting harder and harder to incorporate real bushcraft (axes, shelters, fires, dead animals, other cool stuff) into a camping trip.

Where do you guys go?? Pics highly welcome!

 

[lambertiana]

For those of us in the West, there are numerous locations in national forests and on BLM land that get very very little traffic. Even in Kalifornia, I know of places not far away that probably haven't had human presence in a while, and I can go there if I want solitude to do what I want.

 

[RescueRiley]

I hear the boundary waters is a pretty desolate wilderness area between minnesota and canada I'm told by my friend that just canoed there over the summer that it's awesome if i can get away for a bit this sumer I might try it myself..One thing I can say is if your planning on packing a firearm check the regs because I believe firearms are prohibited within the confines of any area that is considered a national park....Which unless your on private property accounts for a large part of the wilderness areas in the lower 48...I could be mistaken though.

 

[Zombie Zeke]

For those of us in the West, there are numerous locations in national forests and on BLM land that get very very little traffic. Even in Kalifornia, I know of places not far away that probably haven't had human presence in a while, and I can go there if I want solitude to do what I want.

I just got hassled by the fuzz for making a shelter and fire....


wait for it.








ON MY OWN GOD BLESSED PROPERTY!

 

[longbow50]

Here's a few photos of a place where I like to hang out. The small creek and mini pond keep the water coming this time of year and there's plenty of hiking to be had. It was already occupied when I arrived, so I just stayed long enough to snap a few and talk to the guy for a few minutes. He's a trad bowhunter as well, so we made a tentative arrangement to meet up further up the mountain for some hogs next month.:thumbup:

The pickup is a small truck, but it gives a good idea of the size of things around it.

Natural shelter is usually easy to come by when there are burned out Redwoods around. The base of this tree is about 10' across, which gives you a good idea of the size of the shelter inside. It'll definitely keep you out of the elements.

 

[XMP]

I hear the boundary waters is a pretty desolate wilderness area between minnesota and canada I'm told by my friend that just canoed there over the summer that it's awesome if i can get away for a bit this sumer I might try it myself..One thing I can say is if your planning on packing a firearm check the regs because I believe firearms are prohibited within the confines of any area that is considered a national park....Which unless your on private property accounts for a large part of the wilderness areas in the lower 48...I could be mistaken though.

I'm pretty sure that the gun prohibition you speak of only applies to actually National Parks, not other national lands (e.g. national forests and BLM land) and of course state parks are regulated by the individual states.

 

[Helle]

Here's a little BWCA, Basswood river MN, Canada border from last summer.

And one more of my ride.

You can legally take a firearm into the BWCA here's the rules for things that go bang.

FIREARMS & FIREWORKS
• Discharging a firearm is prohibited within
150 yards of a campsite, or occupied area,
or in any manner or location that places
people or property at risk of injury.
• State game laws apply in the BWCAW
• Fireworks of any kind are strictly illegal

It is a beautiful place, if you are looking for solitude go early spring or mid to late fall, any other time just look for a entry point with a low quota and hope for the best.

I'm going for a week as soon as the kids are out of school in June and then back again for four days in July, and a family trip in early September, can't wait.

Helle

 

[Guntotin_fool]

BWCA and Quetico are wonderful places, you can go a long way in a canoe. My brother in law and his buddy were up there for 5 weeks last year. They ate a lot of fish and had "heavy" canoes starting out. He figures they each had 70 pounds of food and consumables on the trip in. My longest trip is 11 days and that seemed like a very long time.

I have also had a very good times in some of the Idaho and montana wilderness areas. Especially in the Great Bear and Bob Marshall wilderness area's south of Glacier nat'l and east of Kalispell.

 

[Jamesh Bond]

Awesome! Keep em coming!

It's murder to prohibit a woodsman from carrying a firearm in the wilderness.

 

[j_d]

dittos on the national forest idea. for example when we traveled west we wanted to deive thru yellow stone and see the sights, but we chose to camp in the national forest land to the south as well as the bighorns. when we camp i take the firearms, axe and sometimes a chainsaw. there is a huge difference between parks and forests.
joshua

 

[task force k]

Wait a hot minute here. Let's go back to Chef's comment. On your own property? What was their reasoning?

 

[yooperman]

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, of course I am biased. I step out the back door of my house which is near Lake Michigan and can travel through the woods for days on end.

-Yooperman

 

[bulgron]

I'm pretty sure that the gun prohibition you speak of only applies to actually National Parks, not other national lands (e.g. national forests and BLM land) and of course state parks are regulated by the individual states.

I've been looking into this a bit. BLM lands in California are sometimes jointly administered with local authorities; the state or a county, for example. In these cases, firearms are usually banned.

Bottom line is, in California, you should check with the managing BLM office before carrying a firearm into any particular area. There are plenty of BLM lands that have pretty relaxed restrictions on firearms. On the other hand, it's easy to find examples where the reverse is true.

There is a zero percent probability that I'll be visiting BLM lands in states other than CA in the near future, so I haven't checked rules and regulations in other states. As always, YMMV (Your mileage may vary).

 

[Yoffione]

I was running into the same problem as you 12 years ago so I picked up and moved. I was in OK, new wife and no kids. We chose Idaho and have NO regrets. I can be in the hills within 10 minutes and shoot and chop all I like. It is national forest, the national parks are very restrictive.

I camp with my family (wife and 2 year old daughter and 5 year old son) at least 2 weeks per year. With them I camp out of the truck. I can bring all the necessary items for them to be comfortable.

I usually take 1 or 2 backpack trips that are a atleast a week long depending on what I am hunting that year. In '05 I drew a mountain goat tag and spent 26 nights out under the stars before the season even started.

When fall rolls around, there's another few weeks of camping. While elk hunting, I pack in on a 4 wheeler at the end of the trail and camp in comfort. Idaho and Montana have many millons of acres that you can basically do as you please. Many of those acres are "wilderness" where you can only travel by horse or foot and rarely see another person. I am at work now and don't have many photos. If you need any specific areas, let me know.

 

[Yoffione]

In Idaho and Montana in national forests and BLM "carry" all you like. Our restrictions come into play in state and national parks.

 

[lumpymike1]

I have trips to the Golden Trout Wilderness and an as yet unnamed river valley in AZ planned for this year.

Mike

 

[Jamesh Bond]

Yoffione, Thanx. 2 questions. . . .

Open fires wherever you want?

How do you find time for all that camping???

 

[Yoffione]

Yoffione, Thanx. 2 questions. . . .

Open fires wherever you want?

How do you find time for all that camping???

Open fires? yep, whenever, wherever. Of course limited to dry times and fire restrictions. In 12 years it has only affected me one time.

As for the time to get out. I am self employed and set my own schedule. I work hard and then play hard. I am very fortunate to have a wife that understands. She knows I am not out cruising chicks at the bar and is very, very cool about my passions. Just last night we went on a new float (fishing) and we could not find the boat ramp. Crazy trip, the last 3 hours we rowed in pitch black following a GPS. I came home 5 hours late (1 AM) and she was awesome. I had 2 buddies that were with me and their wives were FREAKING out (we had cell phone coverage) and they probably won't get out for a while. My wonderful wife said "be careful and hurry home honey". If it wasn't for her I would not get in 1/8 of my trips.

I am a selfish person and planned my career and spouse around me and my obsessions. As I mentioned we moved here and it was just for the hunting, fishing and outdoors. We also do many things together and I will do anything to keep her happy. One small bit of advise, keep the lady happy and you will be happy.

My short answer, I have the greatest wife in the world! All the best.

 

[jthomas]

I am a little disappointed that I don't have more pics of New Mexico. You can hardly throw a nickel here without it landing in a wilderness area. Firearms are ok almost everywhere. We have had fire bans the last couple of years due to drought, at least part of the time, but I think that this year we've had enough moisture to keep the bans at bay.

This is in the foothills of the White Mountains... nice area.

The White Mountains near Sierra Blanca.

The pics aren't that great, but they are all within an hour of my house....

 

[pict]

I use a piece of ground near the town of Ouro Preto Brazil for my adventures. It's about 1.5 hours from home.

The lowland is covered by tropical forest. The middle elevation is desert-like scrub and small forests where there is water. The upper elevation is tropical alpine. The entire wilderness area covers about 140 square km.

Looking down from about 4500 feet over the lower forest.

Looking back at the mountain from scrub land.

From just above the lower forest.

In the lower forest.

All of these photos were taken in the same place. From the lower forest shot to the top of the 6000 foot mountain would be about a six hour walk. In the valley there are 13 major waterfalls.

The cool part is that I have a good relationship with the owner of the only farm in the entire area. He lets me park, right in the middle of it all. If I hike down I'm in forest, up and I'm in the alps, over and I'm in the scrub. Its a big enough place that with 40+ trips to the area I haven't even scratched the surface yet. Mac