View Full Version : Adventure Camping Skills?
I want to ask pudgypaintguy’s question in another way.
What skills, reading, gear etc should you focus on if you think you want to branch out into adventure touring? You are the average rider of the MOA site. You have done your share of motorcycle camping. The bike, riding skills and the basic gear is there. What needs to go between the camper’s ears to be ready?
The trip may be to Alaska or a boarder to boarder following the continental divide. You are likely to encounter things or needs that you have not in the past or have had ready resources in a traditional campsite to deal with the need. What do you do to prepare.
BubbaZanetti
12-01-2005, 10:40 AM
i taught wilderness survival courses for the boy scouts and what i found was, the little things were what made all the difference. things that pack up small and light, a compass, a 50 ft piece of parachute cord, leatherman style multi tool (gerber is my personal favorite) a piece of magnesium or flint, some lint from the dryer, an emergency blanket (aluminum foil looking thingy that packs up to the size of a pack of cigarettes) a headlamp, a small tarp, some tent stakes, a first aid kit, etc, etc................
but in terms of practical camping, the best things to have are a good sleeping bag and a good ground mat. tents are nice but a bivy sack and tarp work just as well. a small stove if you're into cooking (i never bring one, but its a personal preference) from my way of thinking, its always better to have a sleeping bag that is rated for cold weather and lie on top of it in the warm than to have something you'll be freezing in if traveling through different climates........
kbasa
12-01-2005, 12:02 PM
i taught wilderness survival courses for the boy scouts and what i found was, the little things were what made all the difference. things that pack up small and light, a compass, a 50 ft piece of parachute cord, leatherman style multi tool (gerber is my personal favorite) a piece of magnesium or flint, some lint from the dryer, an emergency blanket (aluminum foil looking thingy that packs up to the size of a pack of cigarettes) a headlamp, a small tarp, some tent stakes, a first aid kit, etc, etc................
but in terms of practical camping, the best things to have are a good sleeping bag and a good ground mat. tents are nice but a bivy sack and tarp work just as well. a small stove if you're into cooking (i never bring one, but its a personal preference) from my way of thinking, its always better to have a sleeping bag that is rated for cold weather and lie on top of it in the warm than to have something you'll be freezing in if traveling through different climates........
Yep. Everything I learned about camping I learned in Boy Scouts.
You only have three objectives when you're camping - warm, dry and well fed. Anything beyond that is gravy. If you've got a way to get a fire going, you're halfway there.
SNC1923
12-01-2005, 12:10 PM
Being a bald-faced newb to both motorcycling and camping (well, I have 50,000 miles, but I'm still newbish) this topic is of great interest to me.
How about an informational article for the home page, maybe an adjunct to the "motorcycle camping" one that we have. Any interest in writing something Bubba? :stick
http://www.bmwmoa.org/camping/camping.htm
There is a great deal of good information here. It covers a lot of questions and raises others. I am wondering about the next level sort of thing. I want to do some "backpacking on two wheels" type of trips.
SNC1923
12-01-2005, 12:17 PM
You've cited the article to which I referred. The "next level" you mention is what I'm asking someone to write for our homepage.
You've cited the article to which I referred. The "next level" you mention is what I'm asking someone to write for our homepage.
:doh I was guilty of see what you wrote without reading what you said. :thumb
SNC1923
12-01-2005, 12:22 PM
I wish I could say that I've never done that.
Let's go camping!
kbasa
12-01-2005, 01:00 PM
I'm going camping this weekend. Maybe I'll shoot some video or take some pictures while I'm packing.
BubbaZanetti
12-01-2005, 01:08 PM
i'd be glad to write up a little something, who's the man to talk to about that now, with all the shakeups i'm not sure who does what.................
Emoto
12-01-2005, 01:15 PM
I've done a lot of primitive camping in varying conditions over the years. Survival techniques were a hobby of mine as I was growing up.
A nice read and one full of good info is How to Stay Alive in the Woods by Bradford Angier. All kinds of cool stuff in there. If you are interested in the idea of augmenting your food supply with things found in the wild, the Euell Gibbons books (e.g. Stalking the Wild Asparagus) are also fun and very informative.
kbasa
12-01-2005, 01:44 PM
i'd be glad to write up a little something, who's the man to talk to about that now, with all the shakeups i'm not sure who does what.................
Vince is your man. You've got content? He's the guy.
flash412
12-01-2005, 03:44 PM
What needs to go between the camper’s ears to be ready?You need to know how to be SELF-SUFFICIENT. It is easy to learn. Just leave your cell phone, credit cards and cash at home and go motorcycle camping (less than a half-tank ride from home).
GOOD LUCK if your fool infection or ABS goes belly up.
kbasa
12-01-2005, 05:28 PM
GOOD LUCK if your fool infection or ABS goes belly up.
Fifteen years of using both and it still hasn't happened. Just as a data point.
wanderer
12-01-2005, 06:46 PM
The consumate guide to backpacking is, and has been since the 70's, 'The Complete Walker' by Colin Fletcher. It's a thick hummer, but if you really want to learn the ins and outs of backpacking there is no better place to start and get a very long way down the road. I've been backpacking and canoe tripping for about 40 years now and the skills do translate very well to motorcycle lightweight touring. (I also teach Boy Scouts and their leaders.) HELLO fellow Scouters!!! :clap :clap
kbasa
12-01-2005, 06:52 PM
HELLO fellow Scouters!!! :clap :clap
:wave
Boy Scouts taught me more about life than any other single thing I've ever done. When people ask me what this whole rally thing is like, I tell them that it's like Boy Scouts, except we have motorcycles, girls and beer.
Been watching this one with interest... backpacking, camping, and the great outdoors for me was "once when I was a child" because my mom hated sleeping on the cold ground... add the VAN full of supplies... and it's not really "roughing it"; and as I was growing up, well, hey man.. I lived in the country. You could hike or ride all over the place without ever leaving your own property or be so far out that a hot shower wasn't an hour away.
Needless to say, I've never thought too much about "What fits" or "what I need" or "What a well-prepared rider/camper would have for xyz days..." or anything similar other than "Hey, I can fish and start a fire..."
What makes a "basic wilderness survival kit" live up to it's name? What makes a "light expedition kit" add to it? Is magnesium and a striker really worth the trouble when you can buy a pack of bic's for $.99? Should I carry the hatchet or break the branches over my leg? LOL
Okay, so I'm dumbing down the question a little, but what basic kits for the aforementionned would you carry with, considerring a reasonably intelligent, capable, resourceful person with unfortunately no foundation knowledge of the subject, but smart enough to string 2+2 together to get 4, 8, and 64 if need be...
And yeah, I'll probably pick up a book or two as well....
SweetT
12-01-2005, 08:13 PM
If you're going motorcycle camping, you need to think about the stuff Bubba mentioned (dont forget that you want all of your clothing to be synthetic) and you also need to think about your bike. If something were to go wrong, could you fix it? When I toured with my K75 I carried a very extensive tool kit with me that would have allowed me to fix just about anything on the bike except worn splines. There were times on trips when I had to wire in a new switch for the cooling fan(bypassing the relay), repair a leaky gas tank with JB weld, and make a new clutch cable (with a little help from a hardware store).
One of the things I do when I get a new bike is I also get the shop manual and proceed to take the new bike apart. Granted I dont strip it to the frame, or dissasemble the engine, but I get it into enough parts that I have a good idea of what is under the fairing, and what tools and techniques I would need to fix things.
Before I left on my trip last summer to california, I spent an afternoon at the local gas station/garage. I asked if I could punch some holes in the discarded tires they had so I could practice my tire plugging technique under their learned eye. Fortunately I've never had to use this skill on my own bike, but I did help out a fellow beemer rider who would had a flat in Elko, NV.
Feeling confident in my mechanical skills, also gives me confidence to take long camping trips solo. It also keeps my mom from worring too much!
wanderer
12-01-2005, 09:52 PM
I really do. I've had this question a lot down through the years and I've never found a nice simple answer.
I don't know how to boil down 40 years of trial and error into a paragraph or 2 or even a chapter or 2. I could easily write you 20 pages on sleeping bags, or stoves, or boots, or tents. (So could some others in this community.) Then we would need to do field training for a few weeks. One of my first speeches in the field is to NEVER put a hand, foot, or your butt where you haven't carefully looked before. Now sitting here in cyberspace that sounds pretty simple. But in the field I have seen people sit on or very near everything from Black Widows to snakes to Cactus. Simple stuff but it takes experience to remember to do it right every time. Not as easy when you're cold or wet or tired.
I'm not trying to sound mystical here but it's not unlike someone asking you to "teach me how to ride " as they stand in the dealers lot with the engine idleing on their brand new bike dressed in cut offs, tee shirt, and flip flops.
As I posted earlier "The Complete Walker" is a great and fairly complete resource. Backpacker magazine and their website are also good information although somewhat more commercial than they were in the 70's. l would suggest finding a good local backpack specific store and ask around for a group or individual to possibly tag along with for a few outings.
When you're living 24/7 out of doors with what you carry on your back it is critical to not only have the right equipment and the right amount of equipment but also probably most important is the knowledge in how to put it to use. Backpacking people and their attitudes about self-reliance are very similar to BMW people in my experience.
I guess to sum up, it's something like doing an Iron Butt Ralley. If someone actually gave you an absolutely accurate list from bike to boots and you followed it to the letter, got everything on the list and had it all loaded on the starting line you would still have absoultely no idea of what to do with it when the flag dropped. You just can't buy that brand of wisdom.
I hope this doesn't sound condesending. I really have been asked this question a lot and I really never have found a short answer for people who honestly want to give it a try. My best advise is to find a mentor (like we do in Boy Scouts.)
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-01-2005, 09:55 PM
I want to ask pudgypaintguy’s question in another way.
What skills, reading, gear etc should you focus on if you think you want to branch out into adventure touring? You are the average rider of the MOA site. You have done your share of motorcycle camping. The bike, riding skills and the basic gear is there. What needs to go between the camper’s ears to be ready?
The trip may be to Alaska or a boarder to boarder following the continental divide. You are likely to encounter things or needs that you have not in the past or have had ready resources in a traditional campsite to deal with the need. What do you do to prepare.
I do like this better and thanks M1Ka...a better title and more effective question...I thank you.... :thumb
PacWestGS
12-01-2005, 11:36 PM
‘Adventure Camping’ backyard or 10,000 miles from home, what do you NEED? Let me think for a second, seconds up:
Imagination $$Free
Patience $$Free
A Good Attitude $$Free
A valid MC/VISA $$Priceless
:D
I do like this better and thanks M1Ka...a better title and more effective question...I thank you.... :thumb
You started an interesting and civil discussion of guns with your original question. It did not get to the question that you and others I think are looking for answers to. Thanks for the tumb. :wave
GlobalRider
12-02-2005, 07:27 AM
‘Adventure Camping’ backyard or 10,000 miles from home, what do you NEED? Let me think for a second, seconds up:
A valid MC/VISA $$Priceless
:D
They don't take MC/VISA where a ride would be a real Adventure.
But you're absolutely right about those other points.
PacWestGS
12-02-2005, 07:55 AM
They don't take MC/VISA where a ride would be a real Adventure.
Alex you are somewhat right, the local business might not but the ATMs in the country you are going to does, and local currency is always somewhat better anyway. Unless that countries money is worthless and they want the good ol' USD. :D
Paper Back 864 pages ISBN: 0375703233
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
This is the fourth update of Fletcher's 1968 original. This manual is considered the backpacker's bible and has sold more than 400,000 copies in its previous incarnations. In addition to information on hiking, this also includes tips on wildlife, tents and paraphernalia, outdoor cooking, clothing, etc..
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
For the first time since 1984, we have a new edition of the classic book that Field & Stream called “the Hiker’s Bible.” For this version, the celebrated writer and hiker Colin Fletcher has taken on a coauthor, Chip Rawlins, himself an avid outdoorsman and a poet from Wyoming. Together, they have made this fourth edition of The Complete Walker the most informative, entertaining, and thorough version yet.
The eighteen years since the publication of The Complete Walker III have seen revolutionary changes in hiking and camping equipment: developments in waterproofing technology, smaller and more durable stoves, lighter boots, more manageable tents, and a wider array of food options. The equipment recommendations are therefore not merely revised and tweaked, but completely revamped. During these two decades we have also seen a deepening of environmental consciousness. Not only has backpacking become more popular, but a whole ethic of responsible outdoorsmanship has emerged. In this book the authors confidently lead us through these technological, ethical, and spiritual changes.
Fletcher and Rawlins’s thorough appraisal and recommendation of equipment begins with a “Ground Plan,” a discussion of general hiking preparedness. How much to bring? What are the ideal clothes, food, boots, and tents for your trip? They evaluate each of these variables in detail—including open, honest critiques and endorsements of brand-name equipment. Their equipment searches are exhaustive; they talk in detail about everything from socks to freeze-dried trail curries.
They end as they began, with a philosophical and literary disquisition on the reasons to walk, capped off with a delightful collection of quotes about walking and the outdoor life. After a thoughtful and painstaking analysis of hiking gear from hats to boots, from longjohns to tent flaps, they remind us that ultimately hiking is about the experience of being outdoors and seeing the green world anew.
Like its predecessors, The Complete Walker IV is an essential purchase for anyone captivated by the outdoor life.
From REI site
Fully revised and updated, this new edition leads us through a discussion of every aspect of the outdoor life.
• Authors: Colin Fletcher and Chip Rawlins
• Softcover; 845 pages
• Alfred A. Knopf; copyright 2002
• We've seen revolutionary changes in hiking and camping equipment, so the equipment recommendations are therefore completely revamped
• We've also seen a deepening of environmental consciousness; the authors lead us through these technological, ethical and spiritual changes
• Discussions on how to best equip yourself, from your socks to your pack; equipment evaluations are precise, honest and thorough
• They remind us that hiking is not about equipment alone but about seeing the green world anew; this is an indispensable book!
Rob Nye
12-02-2005, 09:40 AM
I think it would be valuable to define "Adventure Camping".
For example there are folks that head off into the wilderness of Central America for a journey that is so far from what most of us do in North America that you need the survival skills and gear the Bubba and Flash describe.
This kind of adventure touring can in a moments notice turn into a matter of survival or not, you need to accept and prepare for this. You are going places where the expectation of any outside assitance is very low, from mechanical failures to proper emergency medical care.
This is more extereme than I have the mechanical or survival skills for, at least on land. I have little interest in trying to cross a slatted rope bridge in the jungle with an R80 but my hat is off to those who have.
For me Adventure Camping would be doing the Trans-Am Trial or going off in the woods of the west, BC or Alaska with a like minded invidual or small group. On this sort of Adventure re-suppling, water, etc are not part of the challenge of survival. I am more into adventure "touring".
Best,
Rob Nye
BubbaZanetti
12-02-2005, 09:48 AM
:wave
Boy Scouts taught me more about life than any other single thing I've ever done. When people ask me what this whole rally thing is like, I tell them that it's like Boy Scouts, except we have motorcycles, girls and beer.
totally man, i use my eagle scout card as an ID verification cause really, who's not gonna believe and eagle scout, hahaha
Good point Rob.
I’ll put words in other people’s mouths again and define adventure the focus as adventure touring. The round the world adventure touring is a step beyond what is being talked about here. It is a trip to Alaska and wanting to explore north to the artic circle. It is about trips like the trans American trail, or the continental divide trip. You can find yourself out on your own for a couple of days or as long as your gas holds out.
Boy Scouts
Love them. I was one until my family moved when my father died. Our new town focused around a great YMCA program with sports and some canoeing. I have slept since I was a scout and have forgotten a lot. I have camped while traveling in East Africa but that was 30 years ago and again I have slept since then. Life is long the memory is short.
The audience that is lurking this thread, to learn about adventure touring skills, is a competent rider.
They probably do most if not all their own work.
They have camped as they have toured on their bikes up to now. Like me they may have raised daughters that were not into woods adventures and took our lives in another adventure direction.
Now they have the time, money, and bike to go where they have not gone before. What is missing is the bravado of youth and the confidence in their skills that the rest of you have honed while they were doing other things.
Share the knowledge
The_Veg
12-02-2005, 02:23 PM
I'm glad some of you have great things to say about the Boy Scouts. I'm sure most of the Scouts are great, but my experience was terrible (mismanaged troop that thought the woods were just a bigger and better place to set off fireworks, and never really did anything great as far as learning or adventure went). After a year I left and never returned. Uncle Sam didn't teach me anything about camping wither despite how much of it I did in the service.
But now I get to learn it on my terms in my time. And I'm enjoying every bit of it. :)
Visian
12-02-2005, 03:11 PM
I know the answer to this question... and it *was* on a page on the BMW MOA CampSite called Dual Purpose Gear. But it be gone.
So here is a temporary copy. (http://www.visian.nu/eMOA/dualpurposegear.htm)
The basic point of this article was to show how to get multiple uses from a single piece of gear, which is very important when adventure camping (no matter how you define it, imo). Many moons ago, Helge Pedersen gave a great adventure camping seminar at a dual-sport ride the BMW Motorrad put on (a story about which was *also* on this site, but no longer...) and he used alot of this same gear.
There's more to adventure camping than what this article covers... but you get the idea.
Maybe it's worthwhile to revitalize the CampSite?
Ian
Visian
12-02-2005, 03:23 PM
BMW MOA member Bob Woofter wrote a good book on MC camping.
You can buy it at Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1884313337/103-6162476-2087054?v=glance&n=283155)
Ian
I hope this doesn't sound condesending. I really have been asked this question a lot and I really never have found a short answer for people who honestly want to give it a try. My best advise is to find a mentor (like we do in Boy Scouts.)
No, actually, it doesn't sound that way at all... because I wouldn't be able to sit someone down at a keyboard, give them a manual, and call them a unix administrator, either. Truly, having all the right tools doesn't buy you a damned thing if you don't know how to use them....
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-02-2005, 07:06 PM
No, actually, it doesn't sound that way at all... because I wouldn't be able to sit someone down at a keyboard, give them a manual, and call them a unix administrator, either. Truly, having all the right tools doesn't buy you a damned thing if you don't know how to use them....
True enough Belg...I was in your neck of the woods today on the way back to IAD...I saw the sign for Front Royal and remembered where I had seen that name before.
Just trivia is all...hope you rode today it was nice there....lol
This is turning into a masterpeice thread guys :=) Still reading & absorbing...
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-02-2005, 07:13 PM
BMW MOA member Bob Woofter wrote a good book on MC camping.
You can buy it at Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1884313337/103-6162476-2087054?v=glance&n=283155)
Ian
Thanks Visian, I just placed the order for one...cool. I used to camp years ago before service and of course during but never on a bike and not in 17 years at all. Motel 6 is the closest to camping since discharge...hehehe
GlobalRider
12-02-2005, 07:14 PM
Alex you are somewhat right, the local business might not but the ATMs in the country you are going to does, and local currency is always somewhat better anyway. Unless that countries money is worthless and they want the good ol' USD. :D
I was talking more about places like China, Mongolia, Russia, Africa....and away from any city.
In Russia, you are far better exchanging money on the black market. You'll get a far better rate and they want US$.
Yup, I'm :) that the US buck has dropped in value. Shopping down there is even better than when I paid $1.57 for every US$ three or so years back. Now it costs me $1.18. To think how much cheaper all those BMW parts could have been, even though they were still a LOT cheaper at the high rate than buying them up here.
True enough Belg...I was in your neck of the woods today on the way back to IAD...I saw the sign for Front Royal and remembered where I had seen that name before.
Just trivia is all...hope you rode today it was nice there....lol
I did... I rode to Morton's... got my 600 service, then rode to work... 70 down, 60 up... then another 72 home at 6am...
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-02-2005, 07:34 PM
You need to know how to be SELF-SUFFICIENT. It is easy to learn. Just leave your cell phone, credit cards and cash at home and go motorcycle camping (less than a half-tank ride from home).
GOOD LUCK if your fool infection or ABS goes belly up.
hehehe...fool infection = fuel injection?
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-02-2005, 07:41 PM
I'm glad some of you have great things to say about the Boy Scouts. I'm sure most of the Scouts are great, but my experience was terrible (mismanaged troop that thought the woods were just a bigger and better place to set off fireworks, and never really did anything great as far as learning or adventure went). After a year I left and never returned. Uncle Sam didn't teach me anything about camping wither despite how much of it I did in the service.
But now I get to learn it on my terms in my time. And I'm enjoying every bit of it. :)
In the UK there was a group called the Sea Scouts, the same as boy scouts but we got to make our own canoes, row 16' boats and do some Navy reserve light stuff as we became older. I left because we were told that we were too young to participate in the Tailhook scandal...lol seriously thought the scouts were a good thing.
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-02-2005, 07:43 PM
I did... I rode to Morton's... got my 600 service, then rode to work... 70 down, 60 up... then another 72 home at 6am...
Morton's? not sure of that one. I try and go to Bob's at Jessup when I get into town, I love those old bikes on display, especially the old sidecar outfit...awesome.
I'm happy with 'em... and anythign starting with "MD" is way, way out of my way... I despise the beltway...
wanderer
12-03-2005, 02:43 AM
I lived in DC in the early 70's and backpacked a lot around Front Royal and that area. Seems like the Appalachian trail runs very near there. Also went to George Washington National Forest a lot as it was less crowderd. We (me and a couple of buds that have camped around the country together for several decades) have done several float trips in the area also. Usually go for a week to 10 days and float about 100 miles of river. We have done the New, Shennondoah, Rapidan, and Rappahannoch in different years. You live in some of the most beautiful country in, well, the country!! IMHO. :usa :usa I never get tired of being in the backwoods in your part of the world.
I agree wholeheartedly... that's a big part of my problem. Appalachian Trail is 150 feet or so from my front door. Skyline is 4.5 miles. 211 is 17 miles. I can go out for just about any length of hike I want and still make it home in time for a hot shower and sleep in my own bed....
I love this area. I love the Santa Cruz Mountains. I also love the Sawtooth up above Sandpoint, ID. I'd visit the cascades frequently. I grew up in the Sierra foothills... And... And... And...
But there were always hotel, bed, and shower convenient.... now I'd like to adjust my idea of what convenient is to "Flop where you Stop"
dlearl476
12-03-2005, 10:45 AM
Yep. Everything I learned about camping I learned in Boy Scouts.
You only have three objectives when you're camping - warm, dry and well fed. Anything beyond that is gravy. If you've got a way to get a fire going, you're halfway there.
Me, too. But remember, a lot of things have changed since we were kids, Dave. One is the attitude towards fires. For a variety of reasons, it's no longer cool to go about denuding the forest for, in some cases, simply something to look at when it gets dark in absence of a TV . I think a better "tread lightly" way to go is a stove that will burn unleaded, so extra fuel carrying isn't required.
Don't get me wrong, fire building/starting skills are essential survival skills, but IMHO they should be used when it is just that, a matter of survival.
1 Motorcycle Camping Made Easy $13.57 1 $13.57
1 Going the Extra Mile: Insider $13.57 1 $13.57
Should be arriving in the next few days... letcha know how much I fell it "un-n00bifies" the ol' wolf.
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-04-2005, 12:21 AM
1 Motorcycle Camping Made Easy $13.57 1 $13.57
1 Going the Extra Mile: Insider $13.57 1 $13.57
Should be arriving in the next few days... letcha know how much I fell it "un-n00bifies" the ol' wolf.
Going the extra mile was a good book, I read it as part of my prep for the trip this summer...big help. I ordered the other one last evening after the recommendation...can't wait. Currently reading Adventure Motorcycling by Chris Scott.
PUDGYPAINTGUY
12-26-2005, 06:46 PM
Blowing the dust off this thread...I read the Motorcycle Camping Made Easy by Bob Woofter as suggested in the thread...great book for a person wanting to get back into the camp scene after many years away. Good to know the kit is better than when I did it before.
Great book!
iRene
12-27-2005, 01:14 PM
when you think wilderness, don't forget WATER!!!
I do the Camelbak thang, but hikers often carry filtration systems
to use the water they find....
Always steal good ideas from the hikers and pedal bikers.
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