Though it may sound illegal, stealth camping, by definition, does not imply an illegal activity. Instead, stealth campers take advantage of free or extremely low cost sleeping areas where other campers never think to stay. Proper stealth camping is an art and requires forethought, consideration of the property owner, and safety consciousness in order to keep it legal, safe, and comfortable. Stealth camping is legal in many areas, but not everywhere. Many locations have specific trespassing laws which limit those areas that you can legally stealth camp. Please use these links as a starting point in your research about the laws in your area
Stealth camping takes on many forms and there are very few confining definitions on what constitutes stealth camping. If you have ever taken a long journey in your car and stopped at a rest stop or a fast food parking lot for an extended nap you have stealth camped without even knowing you were doing it. Though sleeping in your car for a few hours at a Plus Highway R&R may not be considered hard core by the most experienced stealthers, car camping in public parking lots is one of the more sedate forms of stealth camping.
If parking lots are too tame for you, don’t write off stealth camping as only for losers who would rather sleep in their cars than shell out money for a hotel bed and a hot shower. Remember, stealth camping takes on many forms. The more exciting forms of stealth camping will have you stringing a hammock & flysheet between two trees in a secluded wooded area on the outskirts of a big city or pitching a one-man bivy shelter within earshot of a westbound train or in a tucked away corner of a farmer’s pasture land.
The Unwritten Rules:
- Never leave a trace. Do not break branches, or cut firewood. No campfires, no moving rocks, no altering the landscape. It might be okay to soften your bed with a bit of leaves, but you should spread them back out before you leave. It should not be evident that anyone was there. Leave NO trace.
- Try to leave the location cleaner than the way you found it. The creators of this site believe in removing a few pieces of litter from each location visited. This is our way of thanking the owner, and nature.
- You can try to plan ahead, but you will eventually be stuck in a rural area without a restroom. If you must empty your bowels in the woods, be sure to dig a hole, and then bury it. Usually you can plan around these things, but it will happen to everyone eventually.
- Trust your instincts. If the area looks like a location where you should ask permission, do so. We believe you should always ask the owner if the area has a clear and immediately obvious owner.
- If asked, be friendly and truthful about your adventure. Most people would rather share in your journey than cause you problems. Your actions will greatly impact how future adventurers are treated. Do not claim you were not trying to hide if your tent is camouflage.
- Make stealth camping one of several options. If there is a cheap or free campground nearby that equally suites your needs, it might be best to use it. This is a judgement call that is left to the reader.
- If confronted by the property owner, explain your position, and that you would happily pay a typical camping fee for use of the land. A friendly smile goes a long way; in a remote area the landowner will understand the limitations and challenges of your adventures.
- Stealth camping with groups often doesn't work. It works best when solo. When in a group we often let our guard down, talk, and are easier to see. If you are in a group, it is best to find a landowner who can give you permission to camp.
Stealth Mode!
The right to make a copy for personal use is part of most existing publishing agreements. This right is recognised as an important right for the author. Because the right is attached to the author and in most cases well defined, personal use won’t harm the publisher.
No comments:
Post a Comment