How long have you been camping?

[gcloss]

Started tent camping in 1965 with Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts. When my son joined Cub Scouts 18 years ago, I started tent camping again with the Scouts and I still camp with the Scouts from time to time. I've tent camped when it was -7 degrees or 100+ degrees and everything in-between.

I purchased my first pop-up in 1980. I'm now on my 6th RV. This is the only way I can get my wife to camp.

So for me this is my 50th year camping with a mix of tent camping and RV camping, but no matter what I camp in, I'm still camping!

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by Jim-n-Ash

My parents took me camping - we had the old-style canvas tents for a long while, and then a home-made (read 'perfectly dreadful' cab-over box on the back of the pick-up. DH and I started in tents when our son was about 2½ .... So it's been (not counting an interlude of not camping) abut 46 years. Golly!

I still have my Dad's old canvas tent . I would never use it but it's around.

[gypsmjim]

Wow, lots of old timers here. I'm not one though.....LOL.

Grandpa was a baggage handler for the New York Central railroad. Lost and found went to the trash after a year. He gave me an old Girl Scout's tent in about 1961, that was left behind the previous year.

In 1967 we moved up to the big time. A 12 x 12 Hettrick canvas tent that actually had a floor in it....LOL. Mom was afraid of snakes. We still have that old tent to this day.

When the boys were small (the 1980's) we moved up to a lifetime guarantee Euraka nylon tend for about $600. That lasted maybe 10 years when gale force winds took it apart.

In 1986 we bought a 1964 Four Seasons 14' TT, that we also still have. It's now our backup kids camper up the hill from the main camp.

In 2015 we bought the new Jayco 195RB. Ahhh for microwaves, AC and a hot shower.

8 months, 3 days and 14 hours to retirement....but I'm not counting.....LOL.

[BigJohnD]

12 years in RV's, camping in tents, pretty much all my life. The longer we RV, the more picky and spoiled we get.

[Flyrotor]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

44 years, started out in an Apache tent trailer that had all the amenities. "A table and two beds"..

That brings back memories, my dad had one of the Apache tent trailers too, the kind with the fiberglass sides, the color was green. I remember one trip in the Uintah mountains over Easter weekend waking up to 6 inches of fresh snow, we stayed plenty warm that night.

[NVGun40]

Camped all my life as long as I can remember. My mother has pictures of the family and myself from when I was just learning to walk. That was almost 50 years ago.


Yet, 26 years in the Marine Corps taught me new tricks and definitions of camping I was never previously aware of.


Shelterhalf anyone?

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by NVGun40

Shelterhalf anyone?

I still have one but no thanks

[NVGun40]

I actually still have both halves of a the shelterhalf system with stakes and poles. My youngest son (12) thinks it's the coolest thing. He says he wants to do a hiking trip with it. I keep finding reasons not use it. Sure I will still hike, especially on hunting trips, but if I spike out, I utilize my Northface Assault 2....

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by NVGun40

I actually still have both halves of a the shelterhalf system with stakes and poles. My youngest son (12) thinks it's the coolest thing. He says he wants to do a hiking trip with it. I keep finding reasons not use it. Sure I will still hike, especially on hunting trips, but if I spike out, I utilize my Northface Assault 2....

I used to buy gear for SOCOM from time to time so I have a few 1 man tents like this laying around that allow a SEAL to shoot from the opening.

[Plowtoy]

Been camping as long as I can remember. My folks bought a brand new palamino pony tent camper in the spring of 78 and I was only 8 months old when I first went. They had that camper (what seemed like) FOREVER, upgraded to a new Jayco 1207 PU in 97, kept if for one season before upgrading to a Terry Expo TT and finally they bought a Mountaineer by Montana 5th wheel in 05 which they still have to this day (its not been the greatest, but thats another story). LOTS OF GOOD MEMORIES in those campers. Hoping to get a few more years of camping with the whole family before mom and dad cant anymore...

[thodgson]

I believe that camping while in the Armed Services counts as double time

[krgbcg]

First camping trip I was about 11 years old. I am now 63. This also includes being a staff member and Ex Director of a resident camp for 9 years that emphasized outdoor camping trips.

[mike837go]

On and off since my oldest was a Weblos. I earned the job of campmiester while he was in boy scouts. Then the divorce.


The current woman in my life really enjoys the outdoors! We started tent camping in 2006 and I insisted on a hard-sided trailer in 2009.

[ROC-REQS]

I only counted the time camping with wife & kids (26 years).
Typical progression, tent, pup-up, trailer, and now a FW that it's only the 2 of us .

Didn't include the time camping with my parents when I was a kid.

[RP53]

my whole life I'm 62 mom and dad started with a pop up they didn't build them very well back in the day

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Snake Plissken

That just makes us experts

Agreed.... Seasoned

[bedrck46]

Started when I was 10 now 69 and the real answer is NOT LONG ENOUGH

[NC Hauler]

I'm 65 , so probably 60 years or longer camping, though we have pictures, can't remember back that far . My Mom and Dad used to take we three kids tent camping at a very early early age..Then Cub AND Boy Scout camping... Got married at age 20, wife was 18...Borrowed a buddy's pop-up and we camped on our Honeymoon...Purchased first camper, a pop-up in 75, after 4 yrs in USAF...Been towing every since. Pop--up's, a Hi-Lo, TT's and now 5er's for the last 15 yrs or so...(oh, wife and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary this past August camping in our 5er about 1 mile from where we spent our Honeymoon

Made a lot of great memories with wife, children and grandchildren.

[NC Hauler]

Originally Posted by thodgson

I believe that camping while in the Armed Services counts as double time

I agree, though while in Viet Nam, never thought of it as camping...(4 years USAF)

[ROC-REQS]

Originally Posted by RP53

my whole life I'm 62 mom and dad started with a pop up they didn't build them very well back in the day

I remember my parents 1st pop up.
They bought if from Montgomery Ward and my dad had to put it together in the parking lot so he could pull it home.
Had to have been some time in the late 50s or early 60s.