The irony of camping

[Faery-Wings]

We are in the week long process of packing for a 4 day camping trip. (How does it work out that way, eh??) As I am packing to get "closer to nature" I am realizing all of the stuff I bought and am using are horid for the environment. Plastic cups and utensils that I'll throw away instead of reusing, water bottles that won't be refilled, plastic bags everywhere!

Normally I am very conscious of reduce-reuse-recycle. And on a camping trip no less, all that gets thrown out the window for convenience.

*sighs*

Anyone else notice that about car camping with kids?
:rolleyes:

[Partly Cloudy]

When we go camping, we usually take one metal bowl, cup, knife and fork and wash them to reuse them. But we also take a lot of those instant-meal-in-two-minutes-flat packet thingos to save lugging cooking ingredients around, which isn't so good. We end up keeping a rubbish bag and stuff all the packets in there, and then find the nearest public bin thing.

Last time we went camping, we had to carry our stuff for at least 20 kilometers before we passed a bin because we were in the middle of nowhere!

~Partly Cloudy

[Pesha]

I used to go camping alot as I was involved in Cub and Boy Scouts (being one of the few women leaders in the area). We took out to the campsite all metal utensils and brought out food from home in coolers with dry ice. I can rememebr thinking how can we do with out modern conveniences, and then would invariably bring along something that was not actually recyclable. I know we have to revere nature and protect her, but sometimes you just have to have the conveniences of the modern world. We always stopped at McDonalds or Burger King on the way to camp......dinner for 25 boys....yikes lol.

BB

D'S..also kown as...

[materra]

After living for several years without any modern conviences (ie no electric, no bathroom, water from a well with a handpump, cooking on a woodstove in a 20 X 24 foot log cabin, built and designed by my ex and myself.) ... camping is a hotel room without room service.

[jcldragon]

I lived outside while crossing the country on foot. I got very minimal. Sleeping bag with plastic sheet for cover in rain. Swiss Army Knife. One pot, one fry pan, & some utensils. Gallon jug of water. Trail mix. Bag of brown rice. Fish hooks, & line. One copy of the I Ching. Toilet paper. Extra pairs of dry socks. Some trash bags, and some baggies.

[Equinox]

Hi-

I agree that a lot of things about camping aren't good for the environment - not least of all the campfire! Not only does it contribute to the green house effect, the particle emissions are way above burning gasoline in an SUV (per kilo of fuel)!

Nonetheless, I think camping is a good thing that helps us (or at least me) spiritually. We should minimize our footprint where we can do so without much trouble, but not stress over it too much. I suppose the key is balance between being environmentally conscious, and being conscious out in the environment!

Let's not forget that the biggest payoff for the environment is to optimize the mode in which we do *most* of our living - which is normal home life. A 2% improvement at home is worth the same as a 60% camping improvement if we spend 30 times as much time at home as camping. (which for me is about right :sadeyes: )

Enjoy the world-

-Equinox

[Thistle]

It does seem to be a tradeoff, Chryssi, expecially on a camping trip with the whole family. It's just me and hubby now, and when we camp, we wash our dishes because there are so few of them. But to me, the purpose of going camping is more spiritual, that is, being out in nature. Scrubbin' the dishes for the whole family isn't what I took the family camping for, that's for sure! I think as long as you're conscientious (sp?) at home where you spend most of your time, and leave your campsite as clean as you found it (or better), you're doing okay.

jcldragon, that must have been an amazing trip!

[jcldragon]

I learned how to identify wild edible weeds, many of which are tastier than anything you can buy in a store, plus they have higher vitamin & mineral contents.

Once I got caught in a blizzard, so I slept inside a restaurant's dumpster, where the bagged up & disposed food kept me warm enough to stay alive...

I crossed the desert by sleeping in shade during the day & walking all night.

I became very sensitive to the vibes of places, and often mountains would direct my path to the most interesting & beautiful spots. A pack of wolves approached me once & we sang together. Another time I was practicing Tai Chi, when a bear walked all around me inspecting my form...

I was meditating on a cliff in Arizona when I heard a mountain lion behind me. She was crouched & ready to spring, so I lifted my hands in benediction & chanted AUM very loudly. She sat down on her haunches, so that her eyes would be level with mine, and we meditated together for about five minutes, before she went off to find something else to eat.

[Pesha]

The true beauty of camping is being one with the natural world. And so I long now for the days when I could go camping....sighs for me those days are gone. But ah the memories.......

Lucky Mr. jcldragon that you are so loved by the gods and therefore protected. And loved by the animals as well.

BB

D'S...also known as.....

[jcldragon]

Well, I could do without the love of mosquitoes, no-see-ums, etc... and please do not play with rattlesnakes. They rattle their tails to *politely* tell you that you are pissing them off. Rattlesnakes see with infra-red, but this does not mean that pouring water on their heads to cool them off & make you hard to see, will convince the rattlesnake not to bite you...

There are a couple of rather small mountains about 25 miles north of Phoenix. After meditating in the shade of the rocks for several hours, a 10 inch scorpion crawled up on my knee. I looked at her & sent the idea that I thought she was a beautiful scorpion. She walked over to my other knee & turned giving me this "Mae West" sort of look, before climbing down my leg & off somewhere...

[Autumn]

Hello and welcome I hope you like it here. :thewave:
We're a pretty good bunch most of the time. :jamsessio: