(Part 2) Best camping books according to redditors

Recreation ecologist here. I have both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in forestry with a focus in recreation resource management. My Master's thesis work was in monitoring of impacts at backcountry campsites. I also have 10 seasons of experience as a backcountry ranger professionally, and have clocked over 1,000 nights spent camped in the backcountry in my lifetime to date.

There's some good and some not good responses in this thread. /u/TboneXXIV is sort of close, but the issue with food waste (and with soaps/detergents especially) is not so much that these things are directly harmful to aquatic organisms- but more so that as these materials start to break down they provide food for aquatic organisms (algae especially). The end result is that you get an increase in the algae population, which in turn results in what is called a trophic cascade, in which the ecological balances that help keep populations stable are offset. As the algae population increases, they consume more resources, resulting in a decrease in other organism populations that are also dependent on those same resources. This is why biodegradable soaps still aren't good to use in or near water sources (contrary to what many backpackers believe).

Some folks posting here are correct in that the above is really only a potential problem at heavily used backcountry sites specifically- but there's a few additional reasons why you shouldn't ever wash your dishes in any surface water bodies, and why you should camp away (at least a few hundred feet) from water sources whenever possible (excepting perhaps at officially established/designated sites):

• Even a single round of dish washing can create a visible impact (food scraps, soap suds, gross drinking water) that is enough to lower the quality of a trip for other visitors. To put it simply: You can argue that a single round of dish washing will have an immeasurable impact on the ecosystem, and you might not necessarily be wrong- but would you still want to visit a beautiful backcountry lake or stream that has the remnants of someone's left over dinner floating by?
  
• One important reason for minimizing the amount of time you spend at a water source is that your presence alone on or near water bodies can be extremely disruptive to local wildlife (especially prey species). The presence of humans at this same water source may be enough to discourage those same species from drinking at all (this can be a huge issue during drought or in dry environments). In the case of water fowl, you also have to be careful about nesting sites (they often aren't obvious). Mother birds may abandon their nests entirely in the presence of hikers/backpackers spending too much time on the water nearby. Ergo, if you're washing your dishes away from the water (like you should be), your impact on local wildlife is going to be reduced as well.
  
• Many backcountry areas also show a significant correlation between recreational use adjacent to water bodies and the presence of human fecal bacterial colonies present within those same water bodies. In other words, if you're camped on a water body that has a lot of campsites on the shoreline, or even just has a popular trail that crosses upstream, then there's a strong likelihood that there are microscopic particles of human poop (and associated bacteria) floating around in that same water body. (I've helped with some of this data collection myself.) Accordingly, if you're washing your dishes using untreated water directly in the water source, there's a decent chance that you're probably washing your dishes with poop water.
  
• And if the above arguments don't sway you, keep in mind as well that washing your dishes directly in water sources is illegal on most (if not all) public lands. If a ranger catches you doing it, you can usually be issued a citation and fined for it.
  
  It's OK to spend some time enjoying water; waterfront views can be especially scenic and are often a large part of the desired experience that draws us to backcountry areas. But we need to be especially careful regarding the behaviors we choose to engage in, both on the water and within the riparian zone (the boundary between land and water, which can be particularly sensitive to camping impacts especially). Walking down to the shoreline from a campsite to gather water and enjoy the view is (usually) perfectly acceptable, but many of the "camping specific" activities (tenting, cooking, dish cleaning, human waste disposal) have a much greater potential to generate adverse impacts on shoreline and aquatic ecosystems than does simply enjoying the view. Accordingly, these activities are best conducted away from water sources where ever possible.
  
  With regards to dish washing, /u/lightscarred had pretty good, simple instructions in this thread. Generally speaking, you want to first endeavor to have as little food waste as possible- either by eating all of the food, or by bagging any left overs to be carried out. Once you've scraped your dishes as clean as you can get them, it's OK to to rinse them with water (and maybe the teeniest, tiniest bit of soap if needed), and then to disperse the gray water over as wide an area as possible, as far as possible from both your campsite and any water bodies (ideally at least 200 feet). Alternatively, if you don't use soap, you can just drink the grey water- which is great, because using this method you don't need to get up off your butt and leave camp to take care of the dishes (although admittedly the taste is a bit of an acquired one- but if I can get 8 teenage girls to do it on youth backpacking trips without complaint, then the average Redditor is capable of doing it too, I think).
  
  The trap that many fall into with regards to Leave No Trace ethics generally (which, by the way, are supported by an extensive amount of peer-reviewed scientific study) is thinking only "what is the impact if I do this?" and acting accordingly. The reality is that the consequences of our impacts on the backcountry are cumulative- and in many cases, there can even be an exponential increase in impacts as a function of use level if enough users are generating the same impacts in the same area. The proper question to ask (as some have indicated in this thread) is rather, "what is the impact if everyone does this?" and make our choices based on that question instead. The challenge here, of course, is that being able to make these determinations requires some understanding of Leave No Trace that goes beyond the knowledge and understanding of many in the backpacking community.
  
  It's OK to suggest that there's unique circumstances in which strict, blind adherence to LNT isn't feasible- but I sure hope that everyone who does has at least spent some time on the Leave No Trace website so as to gain knowledge and understanding that allows for informed decision making in these circumstance. I worry, though, that all too often members of the outdoors communities on Reddit like to use singular examples of unique (and frankly, not that common) situations in which strict adherence seemingly isn't feasible (or is even harmful) as evidence against the Leave No Trace philosophy as a whole- and these sorts of arguments aren't even close to valid. The reality of Leave No Trace is that the ethics are actually fairly fluid- and allow for a range of different methods in different circumstances (different ecosystems, different levels of use, etc.) so as to best tailor the individual methods for each situation. And while LNT isn't exactly rocket science, being able to make these choices does nevertheless require some understanding of Leave No Trace that goes beyond simply knowing that it is a thing that exists, or having read little more than a list of the 7 principles somewhere in a guidebook or on a map.
  
  There's a ton of resources available that can help backpackers to gain more and better understanding of how our actions can negatively impact backcountry resources. The LNT program sponsors a lot of short, informal "awareness sessions" with the assistance of local hiking clubs. If you're really interested, you can even get a certification as an LNT Master Educator (IMO, a "must have" for anyone who works as an outdoor recreation professional).
  
  There's also a bunch of resources in print. While it's a bit dated, the US Forest Service's Low Impact Recreational Practices for Wilderness and Backcountry (PDF Link) is more or less the bible of minimum-impact ethics, and was compiled by David N. Cole, who probably knows more on the subject of recreation ecology than anyone else. (Surprisingly, the Forest Service has done a lot more research in the field of recreation ecology than the National Park Service has.) There's also a few books on the subject that I highly recommend. Laura and Guy Waterman have written and published two: The Green Guide to Low Impact Hiking and Camping (which focuses mainly on physical impacts on backcountry resources) and Wilderness Ethics: Preserving the Spirit of Wildness (which focuses on social impacts on backcountry resources). The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) has also published a great book on the subject: Soft Paths: Enjoying the Wilderness Without Harming It.
  
  I hope this is helpful.

I mean, you might go to hell for it:


Adventure Before Dementia: Camping, College Ruled Lined Paper, 120 pages, 6 x 9 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1797096893/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SJkWDb1MN05NP

There are loads of hiking trails in the White region, and several primitive camp areas. I highly recommend one of these books to get started. They will tell you the hiking difficulty and have very good maps.

White Mountain Guide: AMC’s Comprehensive Guide to Hiking Trails in the White Mountain National Forest https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934028851/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qd1-BbG5WQQB9

AMC's Best Day Hikes in the White Mountains: Four-season Guide to 60 of the Best Trails in the White Mountain National Forest https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628420286/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ee1-BbKJAZCXB

Also this website has some great info and resources: https://www.visitwhitemountains.com/attractions/hiking-the-whites

My favorite short hike is Mt Willard. The summit has a beautifully stunning view of the notch and the highway below. It’s the best bang for the lowest amount of effort.

Please do not underestimate the weather in the Whites. Even in the summer the high peaks can get very cold and experience sudden weather changes. If you see signs at a trail head warning to be prepared, make sure you are. People require rescue every year.

That being said, enjoy yourself and good luck

Don't listen to the haters, OP. You've got this. I suggest that you read a couple of books on RV and van living, though. It will give you a great perspective.

There are a lot of workarounds for modern convenience. Living in an RV is not an easy prospect, but it is very doable.

Here are a few practical guides, though many of them pertain to living in a 15 passenger or cargo van.

How to Live in a Car, Van or RV

The VanDweller's Guide

Van Living: The Freedom of the Road

The Tiniest Mansion

Live In a Van, Truck, Trailer, or Motorhome

Living in a Van Down By The River

My House Has Wheels

The Simple RV Life

So, You Want to Be an RVer?

Retire To an RV


Here's one just for fun, though you may glean something from it.
Walden On Wheels

I also suggest /r/vandwellers and /r/gorving for tips and tricks on living in a small mobile space.

In 5+ years I've had one bartender say something about transplants and one salty fuck in Rollinsville get his panties in twist.

I have a bunch of those old Ranger Rick books still.

You can still get them on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-RANGER-DIGEST-Volumes-I-V-ebook/dp/B008550EK8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1527098990&sr=1-1

She said he swiped books from her, including “How to Disappear Without Leaving a Trace.”



Ooookay. Scary book-swiper son aside...Why do you even have that book?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1976574021/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aFAOAb41MMAA9

I recommend getting this book, which will guide you to all of the features you're looking for, and rates them on a scale from 1-10: http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Oregon-Camping-Complete-Outdoors/dp/1566918413

Note that the best and most highly rated spots will need reservations at http://www.recreation.gov/. Even in late May, you'll run into snow and nights around 25-35 degrees on Mt. Hood, so I would recommend cold weather camping gear. For coast, try Cape Lookout.

Mueller is beautiful, but it has its drawbacks. First, your dogs are only allowed in paved areas. You can't take them hiking on any of the trails. This is true of all Colorado state parks. Also, it's really hard to get in to. Check the [state park website] (http://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/mueller/Pages/MuellerHome.aspx) to see if they have any availability for the date you're planning on going.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park is very new and very well kept, but it has about three trees, and you'll run into the same issue about walking around with your dogs.

I haven't visited Pancake Rock, but I've been to the Crags. That's an awesome area. There are primitive tent sites along a creek on the road leading to the actual Crags camping area, and then there's the Crags area proper. It's just a few miles south of the entrance to Mueller State Park.

If you're military you can go to Farish Recreation Area near Woodland Park. It's a nice area.

The fire did not affect any of these places.

Painted Rocks is 8 miles north of Woodland Park. I haven't been there, and I don't know whether the fire affected it. I haven't heard that it did, but I haven't heard specifically that it didn't. The campground is highly rated in my book of Colorado camping areas.

There are four others listed in my book very near Woodland Park, but I have no experience with them, and they're not rated as high as Painted Rocks.

If you like hiking, do the Presque Isle falls loop. It starts out crossing a really cool swinging bridge, you’ll hike down one side of the Presque Isle River then cross back over to the side you started on and hike back. You get great views of several falls on the way and you’ll see some amazingly huge white pines.
In Ontonagon: If you want to go somewhere to enjoy a beer and a truly “unique U.P. experience”, go to Stubb’s Museum Bar.” It will be the weirdest, creepiest (decor)and cheapest bar experience of your life. And you can get local beers for way to cheap. If you go , you have to check out the “grotesques” in the glass cases at each end of the bar. Another really neat U.P. bar is in Rockland (15 minutes from Ontonagon, 30 from the entrance to the state park). It’s called Henry’s Never Inn. Such a neat place, and if the owner is in they’ll have great food specials, if not it’s typical bar food but good. We love to get the local experience so we go to these places at least once while we’re there on those nights it’s raining or we don’t want to cook over the campfire cause we’ve been hiking all day. They only take cash at Henry’s, we had to drive quite far to get an ATM after we had drinks and food, when we walked back in the bartender yelled, “I knew ‘yous’ would come back.”
You really can’t go wrong with any of the hikes there. We utilize this book constantly when we’re there. It’s super comprehensive regarding the trails to choose from, it may be available at the park headquarters, though I’m not sure.

https://www.amazon.com/Porcupine-Mountains-Wilderness-State-Park/dp/1933272163

I would also pick up this one for the waterfalls:

https://www.amazon.com/Waterfalls-Michigan-Collection-Phil-Stagg/dp/099713464X

He gives great details about each waterfall, and the length/degree of difficulty to get to each one so you can prioritize and even map you’re route on the way there in order to check some of them out.

One book? I don't think you'll find that all in one book. Some to consider:

• SAS Survival Guide
  
• US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76
  
• Pocket Ref 4th Edition
  
• Where There Is No Doctor
  
• Where There Is No Dentist
  
• Foxfire series (though it does contain faith healing, advice on how to handle deadly snakes and not die by faith alone, etc)
  
  
  

https://www.amazon.com/Light-weight-camping-equipment-make/dp/B0007EF3TW

A used 4th edition is yours for a mere $647 plus shipping.

A few of my favorite books. All of these are "big picture" books. They cover a large area and have famous trails.

Schreiner: Day Hiking Los Angeles

Moon: California Hiking

Moon: California Camping

Schad: Afoot and Afield in Los Angeles County

Harris: Afoot and Afield in Inland Empire

Schad, Turner: Afoot and Afield in San Dego County

The Longest Mile: Nine Days in the Great Smoky Mountains

Back in May, two friends and I spent nine days hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains. We encountered severe thunderstorms, lightning, hail, snow and blistering heat. We came face-to-face with black bear, deer, rattlesnakes and a host of other wildlife. But, no challenge was greater than the trail itself.

My story is a painfully true retelling of how I tested my physical and mental fortitude throughout the 80-something mile hike.

Spoiler: I survived.

Edit: $9.99 paperback and $0.99 ebook

You'll get better response if you post to /r/MinnesotaCamping

MinnesotaCamping is not the most active subreddit, but likely someone will respond. Better response though if you provide a little more detail - are you looking for campgrounds with showers, something more rustic but still has porta-potties, dispersed camping, hike-in, water activities, hiking opportunities, etc.?

You can also go to the library and check out some books like Best Tent Camping: Minnesota, Camping the North Shore, or Moon Minnesota Camping for ideas.

This book has tons of great places to camp/fish and this book discusses many good spots if you are into backpacking.

I just finished mine. It's a lot like AWOL's book but it's more up to date. Has an entry for each day along with daily mileage and location. It's here: https://www.amazon.com/Thru-Hiking-AT-Summer-Adventure-Appalachian/dp/1708783024/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=thru+hiking+the+at&qid=1574977110&sr=8-7

How do you like that Pacific Northwest Camping book?


www.amazon.com/Foghorn-Pacific-Northwest-Camping-Moon/dp/1566916313

You are the one with a limited perspective. You are spewing misconceptions without researching or living the life. Try this book. https://www.amazon.com/Vanabode-happily-camp-travel-forever-ebook/dp/B0030GG2KS . Key take away: 20 bucks a day. Hell, I started with 3000 dollars. All I needed was an old Prius, a 70 dollar mattress from amazon, car insurance, and 10 bucks a month for planet fitness.
When living this cheaply, it is your attitude, or state of mind, that determines whether it is a good life. I'm living the best life atm. You cannot judge the life if you haven't lived it.