RE: Personal safety while boondocking
Just curious, What kind of gun would you have to haul around to stop a bear? Would it be more accepted to carry a shot gun vs a hand gun?
It all depends on what kind of bear you are worried about. Black, grizzly, polar, panda, teddy?
If it's polar bears or grizzlies, then a handgun, even a big caliber, is marginal at best. Black bears are generally shy and I wouldn't worry about them, myself.
Personally, I'm not one who worries about 4 legged predators although I would give it serious consideration if I were going to Glacier or Alaska. Even in those areas, good common sense is one's most important defense.
And yes, I've solo camped in the Boundary Waters Canoe area (Minnesota) where there are black bears and wolves. My last trip there, I was thrilled to have a pack of wolves howling in different directions around my campsite. No, I wasn't worried, I was thrilled with the experience. Wolf (and black bear) attacks on adult humans are extremely rare in the lower 48. I've read that there were zero proven wolf attacks on adults in the lower 48 in the entire 20th century.
From a legal standpoint, long guns have less restrictions than handguns although most of the mountain, southern, and midwestern states allow handguns. National Forests have no restrictions beyond local laws (and you cannot take a firearm into a federal building, like a ranger station).
Ken
RE: Personal safety while boondocking
Welcome to the forum. You will find, however, that such questions are not welcome here by the powers that control the board. "Freedom of the Press" only applies to those who own the presses.
The censorship is why I've pretty much stopped reading and participating here on the board.
Yes, the biggest risks are if you are in a high crime area of a big city. OTOH, you are pretty much on your own when you are out in the boondocks and 911 response can be an hour if you can get a signal at all. The thought of my wife alone in the forest is why we both got our concealed handgun licenses.
Let me close by passing along a quote:
"The more law-abiding people that have guns, the better off we are," Hamilton County (Cincinnati) Prosecutor Joe Deters said. "Because the bad guys always have guns, You look at these school shootings or church shootings, the ones that have been stopped, it was because someone there had a gun."
Ken
RE: Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
Karen,
Thanks!!! I think that's where we will be heading next season :) Yeah, I remember a that there was a tight turn at Lost Lake. I have a 16x20 photo on our wall from Lost Lake, many years ago. I've been looking to return but was afraid the rig wouldn't fit. Glad to know that there may be room. And we will check out your other recommendations too.
Thanks again,
Ken
RE: Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
So instead, we frequent the lovely national forest campgrounds in the U.P. of Michigan. Some even have running water spigots throughout the park and dump stations, like Lake Ottawa near Iron River. Others have handpumps and outhouses. The price is right, the locations are great, and the scenery is nicer than many of the state parks.
By the way, 2 of the 9 campgrounds in the Ottawa National Forest Iron River/Kenton districts in the U.P. of Michigan are already closed down due to low occupancy numbers, and I just got a letter from the Hiawatha unit telling of the shrinking occupancy numbers and which sites are closing too after a survey was completed, for Flowing Well campground near Escanaba, MI.
Karen,
Darn, we like the "low occupancy" campgrounds :) I guess the concessionaire wasn't making enough money.
I hope these are not permanent closures.
How were the site sizes in Ottawa? Big enough for a large class A motorhome? I haven't been there in many years.
Does anyone know about Lost Lake Campground in Nicolet NF, Wisconsin? That used to be a favorite of mine. But I remember it being tight even for a travel trailer.
Thanks,
Ken
RE: What's the best gas rebate credit card?
I have a Chase Rewards Visa that offers 5% back on fuel and groceries.
Chase recently sent me a notice that they would convert my card to a Chase Freedom card. 3% instead of 5%, but the 3% rotates among different things and not necessarily groceries and fuel.
Surprisingly, they offered an opt out to keep my current rewards. I chose that option as 5% on fuel and groceries is way better than 3% on a random rotating list of stores. I can spend $1300 in fuel on a single trip and get $50 back. They also don't care if it is pay at pump or not as long as the merchant is categorized as a gas station which Flying J and Loves seem to be.
Are you buying gas or diesel?
RE: What's the best gas rebate credit card?
After reading all the glowing comments about the 5% rebate on fuel charges, I signed up for their card. Travelling cross country from Connecticut to California, I bought about $700 worth of diesel, but saw only about $8.50 in that 5% rebate.
I called Pentagon Federal about this and was told that the rebate was only for fuel "bought at the pump." Most of the time I bought diesel at truck stops and had to go inside and leave my credit card for them to turn on the pump. Turns out that these purchases don't count as fuel.
For those of you that have diesel motorhomes, how do you buy your fuel? Do you go to the auto side of the truck stop and find a diesel pump, or have you found a way to "buy at the pump" on the truck side?
Although most of the "come on" advertising posters say the rebate is for "fuel", but I think most of them only apply to gasoline. They probably say that in the micro print that you get after you get the card. If you look on your monthly statement, it usually says "gasoline purchases". IMO it's "bait and switch". If you are lucky, you'll get a 1% rebate.
But then again, maybe you are right about needing to use "pay at pump" pumps. I'll have to watch that for a while. I have a diesel pickup so I can give it a try. But I've been at stations where I use the "pay at pump" (and it cuts off at the stupid $100 level) and I don't think I got the rebate.
I've gotten to the point where I just accept I'm not getting a 5% rebate and therefore don't differentiate a whole lot as to where I buy my diesel.
Ken
RE: UP October 8th through 12th. Do in need to be "winterized"?
Martha,
Some national forest campgrounds close in September, others in early October, some later. Hiawatha NF lists closing dates from 9/3 through mid October, with one open until 12/1. Ottawa NF says "most campgrounds close after Labor Day although some remain open into the fall."
I don't know about state forest campgrounds.
Ken
RE: UP October 8th through 12th. Do in need to be "winterized"?
Typically, if you keep the camper heated and the cabinet doors open so that heat can get to the lines, you will be safe somewhat below 30 degrees for at least several hours, if not full time. I know here at home I don't winterize until late in the season. A few cold nights are handled by putting an electric heater in the rig.
Also, if you are going to be close to the lakeshore (Superior, Michigan), the temps are usually moderated by the lakes and won't get as cold as in the interior. For example, Copper Harbor doesn't get as cold of weather as does Shingleton.
I assume you are aware that a lot of the campgrounds in the UP close early.
Ken
RE: New Forum Feature
Now you are going to publicly "label" your loyal members without their permission??
What a great marketing idea.
No, they are going to use their members as free advertising, willing or not. I hate people that try to use me as their unwilling advertising media.
I just received some mail from Good Sam today. This approach sounds like a good reason to toss it without opening it.
RE: Boondocking RV
Does anyone know of any RVs that is designed for true boondocking?
How about a horse and a pack mule?
(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
A 4 wheeler with a small cargo trailer?
A good pickup with just a camper shell is probably the most rugged. If you want to be in really rough areas, I doubt that you can do it without "roughing it".
Ken
RE: Where to boondock on public lands?
I am in the West and you are in Ohio. Things may be different there.
While it probably does vary according to location, Wayne National Forest (Ohio) allows camping anywhere except where it is explicitly prohibited. The best horse campground on Wayne is officially only a trailhead. Likewise at the ATV areas.
Some may prohibit it anywhere except within 200' of a trail or road. IIRC, that's the situation in Danial Boone NF (Ky).
Ken
RE: Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
Hmmm. We are planning a trip to the UP of Michigan next year. We planned to stay at several different state parks. Sounds like we may have to rethink that. We prefer state parks but we have only stayed at Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin state parks and prefer them over private.
I don't know what you need, but the National Forest campgrounds in the UP are wonderful. A few even have electricity at the sites. Many have dump stations. Definitely more seclusion and solitude than Michigan state park campgrounds. Most are on beautiful, peaceful lakes.
RE: Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
I knew the price going in (26.00) a night and think it is a great deal for the beauty I am seeing
Yes, you got a deal. It cost us $78 for two nights. I guess Michigan doesn't want out of state visitors.
Ken
RE: Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
I'm sorry to hear about your negative experience, but don't you think it's a bit presumptuous to judge the entire state park system because of it?
-- Rob
Presumptuous? No, I don't think so, not at those prices. I'm not willing to spend that kind of money to see if another park is any better.
I also fail to understand their logic in charging extra for a MH with a toad. They don't charge extra for a travel trailer with a pickup truck, do they?
For the facilities provided, Michigan State Forest campgrounds are much more reasonable (as are the National Forests in Michigan).
RE: Corp of Engineers CG
"But the COE website doesn't differentiate between state and local campgrounds on COE lakes, and actual COE campgrounds."
Not sure which site you're looking at, but if you go to the Corps Lakes Gateway site and then select any lake, the resulting lists of recreational areas do differentiate between COE and non-COE facilities.
Ted H.
Thanks, Ted. I was looking at that web site but not catching the differentiation between Corp and non Corp managed sites. Actually if you just select lakes with camping, the differentiation doesn't show. But digging deeper on the individual sites does. Thanks for the heads up.
Ken
RE: Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
Yea, and seeing the occasional jackpin savage is pretty cool too. :B
Okay, I assume it's an inside joke. What's a "jackpin savage"?
Ken
RE: Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
On the other hand, you were in the Copper Country, breathing "The Freshest, Purest, Most Vitalizing Air on Earth".
That's worth a lot, isn't it?
Well although I've been in the UP many times over the years, I'd never been in the Keweenaw and wanted to see it. The coastline is beautiful. But the rest of the UP seems to have more beautiful lakes. I'm not convinced that the Copper Country is any more pure than the rest of the UP.
The UP is wonderful. They just need to move it closer to southern Ohio, LOL.
Ken
RE: Corp of Engineers CG
I agree that the COE campgrounds are very nice.
However, a lot (most?) of the COE campgrounds in Ohio and Kentucky are actually state or county park campgrounds on land leased from the COE. I suspect that in many cases, the actual COE built campgrounds are nicer and less expensive. But the COE website doesn't differentiate between state and local campgrounds on COE lakes, and actual COE campgrounds.
Ken
Hiawatha NF - UP Michigan
It's been many years since I did much camping in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It looks like the Forest Service has upgraded the campsites (I remember them being small). Now there is plenty of room for a Class A motorhome plus toad. Still beautiful campsites with plenty of privacy and solitude.
This trip we stayed at Brevoort Lake and Colwell Lake with a Class A MH. Two years ago we stayed at Bay Furnace and Soldier Lake with a travel trailer. We also checked out Camp 7 Lake CG and will likely spend some time there next trip.
I've always been spoiled by the USFS campgrounds in the Northwoods. Fees have gone up over the past 30 years, but are still reasonable compared to the alternatives and the Golden Age discount makes them very economical.
Ken
Disappointment - Michigan State Parks - Mclain
Well, we had our first (and likely last) experience with Michigan State Parks. We stayed two nights at Mclain State Park (UP, Keweenaw Penisula). $78 for two nights and no usable facilities. They share the power post with multiple campsites and we would have needed an additional 100' extension cord to reach it. We had to run the generator. No water hookups on site. Temporary road full of potholes, they wouldn't even bother to fill them with sand or gravel.
It was a pretty park, but we were much happier with the Hiawatha National Forest campgrounds (Colwell Lake, Brevoort Lake, Bay Furnace) where we stayed ($6 and $8 with Golden Age Passport). Unfortunately, there are no federal campgrounds in the Keneenaw. The NF campgrounds have no more (or less) facilities than Mclain, but they have more spacious campsites and more solitude...and are a lot more economical.
The old adage of "you get what you pay for" isn't true with Michigan State Parks, IMO.
Ken
