On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 9:24 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:

>  RE: Campers Jammed Into a Snow Park
> Don, I'm going to take a guess on this one.  I'm betting the camping was
> free in the Snow Park especially if you had a Snow Park pass on the
> vehicle.  And another guess is that the people there use the Snow Park in
> the winter and just come back to a place they know.  Their idea of 'camping'
> just ain't what we think of.
>

  I think it is more the 'Herd mentality'.  I think people are uncomfortable
when they are alone and more comfortable surrounded by others.  They
say..."Hey, it's hot here, let's go camping up in the mountains" and then
they see a bunch of other folks camped..and go.."Hey that must be the spot,
let's camp there too"...

  I have also observed that "go back to the place you know" behavior.
People who just have to have the very same campsite every time, or who
always park under the same tree, whatever.  I doubt the was the case for
this sno park, which is pretty far out of the mainstream, pretty distant
from the cities..

  "Herding" though...We've been miles from anywhere on  deserted Baja beachs
or points,  with unlimited unoccupied campsites everywhere...camped all
alone and enjoying the solitude when another vehicle will pass within sight
and see us....come right up close and want to camp, right there,  too...Not
1/2 mile away, nor even 1/4 mile....Right next to us...t0 feet away!  Once
we even had some wanna-be neighbors ask us if we minded if they tied off one
of their tent ropes to the bumper of my pickup...when the whole beach was
empty for 2 miles each way....

  I am glad people seem to gather in clots like that..