Motor Camping

It will be obvious that the camper should not camp or even park his car on or in front of private property without asking permission of the owner or occupant of such property. Of course, where the motor camper is in a wild and uninhabited region it may not be practicable to seek permission, and in such a case he may take a chance on trespassing. But as a rule this cannot be advised as either right or wise.

So many motor campers in the past have abused the hospitality of farmers by carelessly and even wantonly breaking down shrubbery, leaving rubbish, injuring trees and otherwise comporting themselves as nuisances that in some sections the farmers are hostile to the motor camper and so the decent, law-abiding man has to suffer for the sins of the vandal. [81]

Notwithstanding the abuse of hospitality on the part of some motor campers, the good citizen and gentleman will not find it difficult to deal with the average farmer, who will be as quick to appreciate fair and courteous treatment as he is ready to resent the misconduct of those who abuse his hospitality.

In some communities where there are no public facilities for motor campers schoolhouse yards are available or church grounds and sheds. Naturally the schoolhouse sites will be available only during vacation time, or outside of school hours.

The motor camper who is content to follow the beaten ways and the main highways need, as a rule, not go far to find a municipal camping park. The tabular list of these parks, given elsewhere, will indicate in the main the privileges and facilities offered by each of these parks. In the great majority of cases, even where no fee may be charged, the motor camper is required to register and secure permission to camp.

Most of the municipal motor-camping parks have facilities for cooking. Where there are no fireplaces other provision is likely to be made. Gas ranges with quarter meters are found provided at many camping parks. Sometimes wood stoves are at the service of the motor camper, and free fuel.

The question of water supply is very important. The municipal camping parks usually provide city water which is almost sure to be safe. The water from the wayside well with the old oaken bucket may seem safe, and may be cool and sparkling. But [82]farmers are entirely too careless about the location of the house or barn well with reference to the barnyard and the manure pile for such sources of water supply to be used without careful examination. Furthermore, the farmhouse itself may be a source of peril to health because the family well may receive the drainage of a leaky or overflowing cesspool. Or there may be no toilet within doors and the outdoor privy may stand on higher ground than the well with dangerous results.

The wayside spring is by no means a safe source of water supply, as it often receives drainage from barnyards or from fields upon which manure has been spread. The same may be said of the small streams which abound in some sections of the country. The larger streams also are open to the suspicion of impurity. What then is the camper to do in case he wishes to camp elsewhere than in a public motor camping park? There is only one safe thing to do when you must use water that has not been tested and certified, and that is, boil all the water you drink. Of course, boiled water is not very tasty. It is apt to be flat and dead to the taste, but better drink flat and dead water than take poison which you will surely imbibe if you drink much of the water referred to above. One sure way to get good water is to drink only boiled drinks, or drinks, [83]such as tea and coffee, made with water that has been boiled. In fall, spring and winter boiled water, when cooled, really is not bad. Neither is it so in summer after it has been hung up to cool in a canvas bag or filter. This last has considerable value in purifying water, but it is not certain, as some bacterial impurities are so small that they will pass with the water through the ordinary filter.

Aside from the matter of contamination, water sometimes is unsuitable for drinking because of its being mineralized. In the western section of this country, particularly the Rocky Mountain and arid sections, there may be so much alkali in the water as to make it useless for drinking. Also, in some of the middle states the water from certain wells will contain enough sulphur to make it taste unpleasant to the stranger, and even when there is not enough sulphur to taste there may be enough to act rather severely upon the bowels of many people. This will often be so, even when the natives do not seem to mind the water or to get from its use any undesirable results. The alkaline water may be neutralized by the addition of a small amount of hydrochloric acid, but don’t put in enough to make the water taste sour. The addition of lime water to the water impregnated with sulphur would tend to eliminate the difficulty. That, however, is inconvenient, and about the only thing to do is either to find water that is free from sulphur or else motor away from the region where the water is bad. [84]

If the desire is to camp elsewhere than in a municipal motor camping park certain conditions must be considered in making the selection of a camp site. Considering that the motor camper will tent and have a regular camp fire, wood and water are prime essentials. Seek high, well-drained land. Avoid stony or rocky ground or shallow soil. Do not camp in a pine or hemlock grove, at least in summer, as fire is liable to creep and spread in the fallen pine needles and hemlock leaves. If possible camp near hemlocks, firs, spruce or other evergreens, as these have great value for the camper. The air from evergreen trees has an aromatic quality which is both grateful and healthful.

Should the camp be on a hillside dig a shallow trench above the tent and on both sides to carry off the water when it rains. Camp if possible where fallen or dead timber is near to serve as fuel, and where there is no brush or weeds that will be hard to clear away. White birches are very useful to the camper because the bark when peeled off the dead trunks makes splendid kindling. For tent pins use steel pegs, the longer the better. If steel pins are not used, cut maple or birch pins an inch in diameter and at least eighteen inches long. Cut these pins off across a log with two short blows of the ax, cutting at an angle.

[85]

In disposing of refuse, dig a good-sized hole into which it may be thrown. Before leaving fill up the hole completely with earth. Meanwhile, each time refuse is thrown into this hole, throw upon it several shovelfuls of earth so as to prevent flies, insects, and odors from developing. Never cast refuse into ponds, lakes or streams. It is unsightly and dangerous to health. Clean up at once after each meal. If you have no hot water scrub your plates and kitchen utensils in a brook or lake, using a handful of sand, moss or sod for a dish rag.

The location of the latrine is a matter of great importance both from the standpoint of health and convenience. The motor camping parks established by municipalities as a rule provide toilet facilities. Where the camper does not have these facilities some provision must be made. In many instances a small tent is carried along which provides shelter for a chemical closet. This tent is pitched back of the car and the living tent, if there be one, in as convenient and sheltered a place as can be secured. Still further away, a deep trench or hole should be dug into which the contents of the chemical closet may be thrown from time to time. There should be a quantity of earth at hand which may be shoveled into the hole as often as the contents of the chemical closet are emptied into it.

If the campers have no toilet tent and no chemical closet, the best that can be done will be to locate [86]the latrine in as well-screened and out-of-the-way spot as possible, digging a deep trench which may be used as a toilet and into which, whenever the trench is used for toilet purposes, earth may be shoveled. It would be a help in avoiding odors and securing proper disinfection to have a can of chloride of lime, some of which should be thrown into the trench each time before casting in the earth.

In the vast national forests of this country “Camping is free,” to quote from one of the bulletins of the U. S. Forest Service, “and generally requires no permit. You may choose your own camp ground and help yourself to dead wood.… You may fish or you may hunt with gun or camera. On most of the forests there are no restrictions other than those imposed by the game laws of the states in which the forests are situated. You can find out what these are from forest officers or state game wardens.” (In another chapter of this book the readers will find a tabulated compilation of these game laws.)

To camp in a state forest a permit is usually required, which may be secured as a rule from the local forester. The camper in a state forest is subject to a number of regulations, none of which are unreasonable or onerous. The State of New York, which has more than two million acres in its numerous forest reservations, has perhaps the most comprehensive [87]set of regulations which are typical, and for this reason they are given below:

“General Regulations

“The following rules and regulations are of general application to the state land administered by the Conservation Commission, and are to govern all those who make use of this land. Regulations of special or local application may be adopted from time to time:

“1. No fires except for cooking, warmth or smudge purposes are permitted. No fire shall be lighted until all inflammable material is removed to prevent its spread.

“2. Lighted matches, cigars, cigarettes or burning tobacco must not be deposited or left where they may cause fires.

“3. No official sign posted, or structure maintained under permit, shall be defaced.

“4. Peeling bark or injuring trees is prohibited.

“5. Dead or down wood may be used for fuel by temporary campers.

“6. Camps and adjacent grounds must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Garbage and refuse must be either buried, removed or burned. Waste materials must not be thrown into the waters, or waters polluted.

“7. Each camper on Lake George islands, St. Lawrence Reservation or other much frequented place, must provide a plentiful supply of chloride of lime and dirt, for disinfecting and covering any latrine used by him. All latrines must be cleaned and the contents burned or buried at frequent intervals, in such manner as to prevent offensive odors, and above all to avoid pollution of the water supply.

“8. Canvas tents without platforms for use during short periods may be placed without a permit, but not in a trail or within 150 feet of any spring used for water supply.

“9. No tents (except those under rule 8) or wooden [88]structures shall be erected or maintained in the Forest Preserve, except under written permission from the Conservation Commission (located at Albany, N. Y.). Tar paper shall not be used, except for roofs of open camps erected under permit. The structures for which permits may be granted are as follows. Those erected under (a), (b) or (c) become the property of the state.

“(a) Open camps for use of travelers, not to be occupied by the same person or persons more than three nights in succession or more than ten nights in any one year.

“(b) Open camps for use of campers, hunters or fishermen, may be occupied for reasonable periods.

“(c) Permanent tent platforms for summer camping purposes. Permit granted to use while occupied in good faith. Platform to be left for future use. When not in use permits may be given others to use.

“(d) Temporary tent platforms for summer camping. The platform to be erected and removed simultaneously with the tent.

“(e) Portable canvas houses for summer camping.

“10. No one may claim any particular site from year to year or the exclusive use of the same.

“11. The use of the Forest Preserve or the improvements thereon for private revenue or commercial purposes is prohibited.

“12. Any unoccupied tent or structure may be removed by the Commission.

“13. At St. Lawrence Reservation, where fireplaces are provided, fires must not be kindled elsewhere, nor shall tents on these parks be pitched less than two hundred feet from any public fireplace or boat landing.

“14. No boat is entitled to the exclusive use of any dock built by the state. There must be free access for boats at all times.

“15. Dancing in any building erected by the state is prohibited.

“16. All campers will be held responsible for compliance [89]with these rules, and any person responsible for injury of state property will be held liable for damages and penalties.”

In the matter of fire the New York Conservation Commission adds these cautions:

“The great cause of forest fires to-day is carelessness in its numerous forms. Many fires are due to smokers and to abandoned camp fires. Many people use the woods who do not appreciate that the forest floor is nothing but decayed vegetation and that after a few days of continued dry weather it becomes so dry that the dropping of a match, cigarette or burning tobacco is as likely to cause a fire as if the same burning material was dropped into a basket of dry waste paper. Underneath these dry leaves is in most instances a heavy mat of rotted leaves. After periods of drought, this material, called ‘duff,’ becomes very dry and inflammable, and will hold fire for a long time. Under no circumstances should camp fires be set on this kind of soil.

“A camp fire should be set on a brook bed or shore, or on some camping ground where there is no ‘duff,’ and in all cases the inflammable material around the edge of the fire should be removed, so that it cannot spread. Every camper should be sure the fire is out before it is left.”

Special attention is paid to the New York State Parks and Reservations because New York is our most populous state and because its system of parks and reservations is one of the most extensive. The New York system of parks but illustrates the great wealth of opportunity open to the motor camper.

In addition to the Interstate Palisades Park, with its thirty thousand acres administered by an interstate commission, the State of New York has no less than thirty-two state parks and also eight great [90]forest reserve parks, most of which are administered by the Conservation Commission through the Superintendent of State Forests, his assistants and deputies.

The parks proper are not very extensive and are mainly for the preservation of points of historic interest, such as the Stony Point Battlefield (35 acres), Bennington Battlefield (171 acres), Lake George Battlefield (35 acres), Washington Headquarters at Newburgh, and locations of scenic beauty such as Watkins Glen (103 acres), Niagara Falls State Reservation (112 acres). Some of these parks are not administered by the Conservation Commission, but by special commissions, like the last-mentioned, which is administered by five commissioners appointed by the Governor.

The forest preserves proper of New York are mainly:

First, the Adirondack Park, which comprises 3,313,564 acres, of which forty-nine per cent is owned by the people of New York State; twenty-two per cent is owned by lumber and pulp companies; fifteen per cent is in private parks; six per cent is in small private holdings; two per cent is held by companies interested in minerals; and six per cent is improved lands. For purposes of comparison it may be said that the Adirondack Park is slightly larger than the State of Connecticut.

Second, the Catskill Park, which is readily accessible to the motorists of the Metropolitan District of New York City, and which includes 576,120 [91]acres, of which the state owns 116,364 acres. This park includes the central portion of the Catskill Mountain region. While of less extent than the Adirondack Park, the Catskill Park contains a wealth of wonderful scenery. Excellent macadam and dirt highways enable the motor camper to reach almost all parts of the Catskill Park. There are at least twenty-six delightful camp sites, all provided with fireplaces, that are open to the motor-camping public. A complete list of these public camp sites is given in Chapter XIII, where will be found a tabulated list of public camp sites throughout the United States. There are also half a dozen other Forest Reserve Parks of lesser extent than the two above-mentioned.

People usually think of motor camping as a diversion of the summertime. To be sure, camping is simpler and easier in warm weather, and that is also the season when most folks can get vacations.

But summer camping is not the only seasonal camping. The fall season is one of the pleasantest times to camp. The nights may be cold and even frosty, but the sharp tang in the air will make the experience all the more delightful. In fact, some who are seasoned to motor camping hold that it is only when the leaves begin to fall that nature puts at the disposal of the autoist a copious supply of material by which more satisfactory sleep can be [92]secured. These assert that with a few armfuls of leaves a camp bed can be created that will make the house bed feel like a row of boards in comparison. Another advantage which is adduced by the autumn camper is the comparative exclusiveness that can be secured. A great many of those who tour in summer, not appreciating the enjoyment to be had during the autumn, will stay at home week-ends, or attend the football games. This will give those who do venture forth less crowded roads on which to drive and doubtless exclusive use of their favorite places. Some are selecting semi-permanent sites, which they expect to improve each week-end, and they are fairly sure that on their return to them each time they will not be occupied by others, as would be apt to be the case in the summer.

While most of the summer campers may not admit that they are inconvenienced in any way by mosquitoes, bugs or insects of any sort, those who contemplate camping in the fall are quick to agree that one advantage of this sport in cooler weather will be the absence of many such pests. They advise, however, that motorists should take along with their tents a few extra blankets as a protection against the nippings of Jack Frost.

In the winter time motor camping is mostly confined to the crowd of motor campers who to the number of many thousands follow the sun to the Southland. In some places that are central, and, so to speak, crossroads of this travel, as at Tampa, for example, the “tin can tourists,” as those driving [93]a popular make of car are sometimes called, and this, with their own hearty acceptance of the term, have assembled in convention to the number of thousands. One winter these “tin can tourists” assembled in the city just mentioned to the number of several thousand and formed an organization entitled “The Tin Can Tourists of the World.” This organization was rather informal and seems to have gone out of active existence.

As time goes on the number of motor campers trekking South each winter is bound to increase, for those who can spare the time to get away from home will sally forth and head their cars loaded with camping equipment into the South so as to escape the rigors of the season in the North. A few days’ cruising will take the motor camper away from winter into summer and at a cost about equivalent to that of staying at home, particularly when coal bills are taken into consideration.

But there is another class of winter campers. We refer to those whose blood is warm and who can rough it a little even in the face of snow and ice. These hardy souls enjoy camping out during the winter season with a zest that summer cannot afford.

The winter week-ender gets a spice and a thrill from life in the open under the frosty skies of winter that the summertime cannot supply.

When camping during the wintertime seek a sheltered place protected from the wind. In mid-winter the swamps are found the best of places for camping. The mud and water are frozen hard. If possible [94]get under the lee of a dense growth of underbrush, hackmatack or other conifers to keep the wind from blowing the camp fire smoke into your eyes.

The winter camper should not fail to dress as warmly as possible. The best way is not to wear overcoats and thick, heavy underclothes. Much better, put on two, three or even four suits of light underwear and they will keep you warmer than heavy ones. As many as five light jerseys may be worn without making the body bulky and without interfering with your activities in walking, climbing or swinging the ax. The advantage of this arrangement is that you may peel them off like the skins of an onion as you grow warm; and put them on again as you grow cold. Don’t go burdened with too much truck. Take two good blankets, your poncho and your shoes, well oiled, or wear rubber-footed boots, such as may be secured from Boy Scouts Headquarters in New York. Wear two or three pairs of good woolen stockings. If you can secure a pair of buckskin mittens, they will keep your hands warm when pulled over woolen gloves. Take along some stubs of candles, not to burn at night, but with which to light your fires. It does not require much skill to light a candle, even on a windy day, but it sometimes requires a great deal of patience to light a fire on the same sort of a day.

If the winter camper likes he may provide himself with an Indian tent—a circular tent with a hole at the top. With such a tent the fire for cooking may [95]be made on the ground within the tent. The smoke will draw pretty well out of the hole at the top of the tent. The miner’s tent, which is conical in shape, with the pole in the middle, can with little difficulty be used in the same way as the Indian tent. If you are going to have any fire in the tent, other than in an oil or gasoline stove, it will be wise to fireproof the tent. To fireproof a tent all that is required is to get a few cents’ worth of alum at any drug store. Dissolve the alum in water and soak the tent fabric in the solution until it is thoroughly wetted, after which dry it out.

Whether you sleep in your car or sleep out in a tent, you will find in cold weather that a good sleeping bag is a great source of comfort. They come in many varieties and are fully described elsewhere in the book. Here suffice it to say that a mighty comfortable and inexpensive home-made sleeping bag may be constructed by taking flexible, enameled oilcloth, a high-grade horse blanket or a pure wool house blanket. Continue the bag back of the head and neck so as to form a hood over the head. This bag can be improvised with large safety pins to hold it together. Have the flexible oilcloth in two pieces. Pin the pieces together, roll in the blanket and slide in. Change your stockings if you would avoid cold feet. [96]