You know back in the Phish heyday (sigh...)  I'd clock 4-6 hr naps in all
sorts of parking lots and rest stops.  Now this is in a car mind you and
sometimes in those Virginia rest stops with the prominent 2hr parking signs.
I've never been hassled, once on I-64 (is that right?) outside of Richmond
the cops came by at 5am to kick all the sleepers out prior to the am
traffic.  I used to amaze my wife at my ability to sleep in my car.  I've
probably slept in every rest stop on I-81 in Virginia (i lived in SC for 8
yrs before moving back to PA).  At one time I was naive about the gay
hangout myths/realities of rest stops and then I saw "Something About Mary"
and was told several rest stops in SC were closed due to such "behavior",
still it never phased me....   Ahhh memories
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Gilbert" <kggilbert@MYACTV.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:47 PM
Subject: Re: Ninja Camping (was Wal-Mart parking lots)

> What's the List's take on overnight trailhead parking, where it is
> posted 'no overnight parking'?
> I use a W. PA trailhead on my return to MD after late-night Steelers
> games. It is close to, but out of sight, of the main road. Last
> December, I awoke to see three headlights aimed at my '84. I  figured
> it to be a state trooper. He idled outside my rear hatch about 5
> minutes, then drove to the end of the parking lot, paused, and drove
> off.
> I was prepared to use the ole "It was late, and i just needed a safe
> place to sleep" explanation. Think that would that work?
>
> kevin
>
> On May 21, 2008, at 12:36 PM, Keith Ovregaard wrote:
>
>> That's the kind of enroute camping I like to do. It takes some
>> research and/or exploration time, but often pays off bigtime. Some of
>> the most beautiful, quiet and peaceful camping I have ever done has
>> been what you call "Ninja Camping". Once I was doing some late spring
>> travel and got into some snow at low elevation which kept me from
>> camping at my favorite lake 9 miles off the freeway. So I squeezed the
>> Westy in between some pine trees next to a day-use area not far from
>> the freeway (no camping allowed). I had a great view of a lake out the
>> back and because my Westy is white and it was snowing, it was well
>> disguised from the local cops.
>>
>> Unfortunately, many of these places are disappearing. I suspect due to
>> trash, over-use and some not-in-my-backyard locals. Several places
>> have access blocked with boulders and new signs stating no camping.
>> It's a shame, really. So, those of you who frequent places like that,
>> please leave it cleaner than you found it, keep the noise down, etc.
>> It's amazing how many of the sites are trashed by previous campers.
>> Shotgun shells everywhere, garbage all over, trees and limbs chopped
>> down for firewood, ruts from some jerk driving off the track... signs
>> of ignorance and stupidity, basically. That's the kind of stuff that
>> gets these places shut down. But I see some of that happening in the
>> established campgrounds, too. Noise, trash, and people behaving badly
>> which makes me shy away from campgrounds, at least during the busy
>> season. Starts this weekend, by the way. My favorite camping season is
>> just ending. Now it's time for the masses to clog the roads and
>> campsites. Just too darn many people. Apparently overpopulation is a
>> problem that has not been taken seriously (yet).
>>
>> OK, rants over. Sorry... now back to our regularly scheduled program:
>> What tires are best for your Vanagon
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Keith O
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 12:00 AM, Scott Foss - Shazam
>> <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>>> Canping down hunter trails and such is called 'ninja camping' .
>>> Depending on the Nat Forest of course.........but in some there is
>>> plenty of this.
>>>
>>> heck.........i just thought of a place on a back road in
>>> Washington- two
>>> lane paved 'nowhere' sorta road, near Mt. Rainer.
>>> The ideal  sort of unofficial ninja camping ,  You turn off the paved
>>> road onto the older road..........go a quarter mile so , get to a
>>> spot
>>> out of site of the paved road.......
>>> where others have obviously camped before.............and your
>>> view to
>>> the non-road side is an open wild river valley.
>>> Free unrestricted camping. With wild river water view, . and hardly
>>> anyone around.
>>> Nothin' wrong with that !!
>>>
>>>
>>> Kim Brennan wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Most  National FORESTS (as opposed to Parks) have policies that
>>>> allow
>>>> you to camp anywhere not visible from a main road (but check the
>>>> rules
>>>> as they vary from forest to forest.) My syncro Westy is frequently
>>>> able to travel down hunter trails into nice quiet camping spots.
>>>>
>>>> On May 20, 2008, at 9:24 PM, Slloth wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> with you in that we shouldn't spoil the welcoming but...I have
>>>>> thought
>>>>> about this before.  This country is all about freedom.  Freedom
>>>>> this
>>>>> and
>>>>> freedom that but how many places can you just pull off the side
>>>>> of the
>>>>> road (out of the way) and just set up camp.  Not very many with out
>>>>> getting hassled by the cops or Highway patrol.  We are expected to
>>>>> seek
>>>>> out some lame, crowded camp site and pay money to stay there.
>>>>> Now I
>>>>> know there are parts of the country where you can stay over
>>>>> night but
>>>>> I'm not talking about the dessert.  Sorry.  I feel better.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>