Camping Cowboy Style...

[M.D. Holloway]

We call it Cowboy style because no tent is used. Ever do it?

Our Son and I camped this way over the weekend. He was a little freaked when we heard the coyotes at midnight but I assured him they were just pups chasing rabbits and that they would not bother us.

I built a fire and got some nice coals going, banked a big fat log at 11PM and when I woke at 4AM to pee it was pretty mnuch down but the coals were produceing great warmth. I put a few more on in T-pee formation and went back to sleep. Got up at 6:30 and started breakfast (coffee and pancakes).

Nothing like a nice fire, no city lights, a fresh breeze from the South and a clear sky. Temps got down to the mid 40's but that fire kept us nice.

Its the only way to camp IMO...

[vash]

i love it that way.

but nothing worse than waking up to an unexpected rain shower.

[M.D. Holloway]

Yup - you reallyhave to make sure you have a good forcast. At those low temps the dew point is hit early and if you don't have a good fire you can get pretty damp and cold real fast. The upside to it being cool is that the bugs and critters don't come around. The racoons and skunks pretty much get nosey but if there is no food smell they don't stay long. Skunks are actually pretty friendly if you don't make any sudden movements to scare them. The have shyty sight and pretty much are very non-aggressive. Oppossums are a little bit of a pain sometimes but again they freak and run if they see you as do armadillos.

[madmmac]

Originally Posted by vash

i love it that way.

but nothing worse than waking up to an unexpected rain shower.

On fire is worse. Hoping you have the correct rated bags.

[vash]

Originally Posted by madmmac

On fire is worse. Hoping you have the correct rated bags.

oh..yea, that is much worse. i dont really sleep with an active fire. glowing ambers maybe, but nothing roaring.

burning to death confined to a mummy bag would SUCK!

[doug_porsche]

Have done it more than once on the beach in Baja.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by doug_porsche

Have done it more than once on the beach in Baja.

Crabs not an issue? A girl died last year in Daytona - got run over...

[GH85Carrera]

My parents did not take me camping, because they loved me.

I did it a few times while I was in the boy scouts. No camping since. I prefer a bed.

[RWebb]

sounds like it is CoBoy Style

[doug_porsche]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

Crabs not an issue? A girl died last year in Daytona - got run over...

No crabs.
No driving on that beach, but its Baja so it is possible.

[scottmandue]

Sorry but no...

Did boy scouts in tents... backpacking as an adult with tents... but too many creepy crawlies come out at night in the forest (bugs)... don't see the appeal.

[porsche4life]

I thought what lube is describing is what you did when you were an idiot and forgot to pack the tent.......

[fanaudical]

I've done lots of camping, both in shelters (either tent or make-shift) and without. Camping under the stars is a great experience, but it is about choosing the right combination of weather/location/forecast...

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

Crabs not an issue?

Not if you pick a nice girl!

[ckissick]

When I used to backpack in the Sierra, we brought a tent only for bad weather. We rarely used it.

[teenerted1]

when i kayak i sleep on the beach with a bivy sack to cover the sleeping bag, but make sure you know where the high tide line is. when the sand fleas start hopping allover you you might end up floating in a few minutes.

otherwise i almost always use a tent. have been woken up to rain or heavy dew to many times. a wet rain cover is easier to pack/carry/dry than a soggy s-bag.

[LWJ]

Luby,

You got it! No tent is the best. My fishing buddy clued me in about this. It is even better with a cot, you stay warm and comfy. I have camped like this in the Oregon Desert over New Years. Cold as Heck but dry. A good time. I was talking just yesterday about taking my 9 year old camping this fall / winter. As long as it is dry, it can't be beat.

Larry

[Laneco]

No problem camping/sleeping outside without a tent. But just to let you know how things can go wrong...

This weekend I was doing a 24 hour mountain bike race. So that means lots of time on the bike on the trails. I could not help but notice when the sun went down, how many Jerusalem's Crickets were out. You see, those really freak me out. I don't know why but they just absolutely make my skin crawl...

So sometime between 4 and 5a.m., I decide that a quick snooze under the stars is just exactly what I needed. I pulled off the course about 50 feet in a nice grassy area. I checked VERY carefully for crittes before I shut my lights off. Then I laid down, gazed at the stars and fell fast asleep.

I woke to something crawling on my hand. I turned my head in horror and sure enough, it was one of those hideous things! I screamed at the top of my lungs, jumped up, flailed around like a mad woman, then jumped on the bike rode the hell out of there.

So just remember, sleeping outside is all good, until some critter decides your nice warm body is just exactly the place to be...

angela

[slodave]

Used to and used Navajo blankets (rugs), no sleeping bags.

[Hard-Deck]

I've done it all over the globe. Awesome unless it's really cowboy style; waking up to a gunfight. I love sleeping outside and I'd do it every night if I could, rain or shine...with correct gear.