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Old 09-26-2022, 10:04 AM   #1
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Exclamation This I want no part of!!!

Fistfights, "campsite pirates": Anger boils at crowded Oregon's Sunnyside County Park. Don't think any of us do.

https://news.yahoo.com/fistfights-ca...190006865.html
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Old 09-26-2022, 10:42 AM   #2
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Article

I read that article also. I was interested in the fact that they used some Statistics that seemed valid to me. Also quotes by park management personnel which seemed to be logical responses and observation of negative behaviors.

Maybe it’s just something I want to believe but I feel that in the next couple years the camping balloon we are seeing now will deflate somewhat. The other option of building more campgrounds obviously costs money and in a lot of areas managing agencies look at activities such as camping as something that should be “self-supporting”. This leads to deciding that new development should be financed by higher camping fees.

Sounds like deciding to take the toboggan out after the spring thaw, “tough sledding”.
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Old 09-26-2022, 11:19 AM   #3
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You gotta take these articles with a grain of salt.....they make it sound like this is a big problem when it's not. We just returned from a 2 week trip along the Oregon Coast....we stayed at 5 state parks and one private campground....we had reservations at all sites.....we NEVER had a problem....nor did anyone else in the campgrounds. We've been camping for years......every once in awhile.....you run into a real jerk.....it's a rare occasion but it can happen. These pirates fall into the real jerk category but fortunately are few and far between. 99% of campers are pretty good folks....don't let the 1% of jerks spoil your plans.
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Old 09-26-2022, 12:05 PM   #4
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Saw that… Declining civility and outbursts of pent-up rage are more common in every setting, so there’s no reason campgrounds would be spared. Of course the media makes everything seem like the sky is falling when it isn’t.

Avoiding the most popular spots on crowded weekends seems like a good move. Supply and demand are seriously out of whack in a lot of markets- including campgrounds- and will sort itself out over time.

I’m hoping a younger generation will catch the camping bug and reverse decades of eroding financial support for public campgrounds.
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Old 09-26-2022, 02:27 PM   #5
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We have seen lots of boorish and bad behavior, including an incident at a state campground , full of families, with an idiot flying an obscene banner. Just what I’d want my grand kids to see?. No rangers on site, though they did get a visitation, the next day, but must have been tipped off, as they put it away. 30 years in the NPS, never saw this kind of behavior until the last few years.
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Old 09-26-2022, 04:38 PM   #6
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I must admit that we tend to stay away from State Parks on weekends. Many years ago we stayed at one in Florida on the Gulf side of the state and on the weekend it changed from a nice quiet place into a wild party place. And the past couple years we try to make reservations at Military Famcamp Campgrounds at our long stay locations. Much more quiet.
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Old 09-26-2022, 05:00 PM   #7
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We camp around 6 times a year for the last 12 years and have never seen anything like what's been described.

Camping on the July 4 weekend? Yes, lots of families whooping it up and kids riding their bicycles near our spot. No problem. It's the July 4 weekend!!!

Campers getting too drunk and yelling "SARAH!!! COME SLEEP WITH ME!!!!" in MN at 1:00 am? Yeah he was super drunk and fell asleep after about 30 minutes of whining.

Firing guns at 2:00 am? Yes, for a few minutes. Scared the dog, but what am I going to do about it? Confront them? HELL NO!

So, probably 70 camping events and barely three to talk about.

I'd encourage everyone to camp MORE and maybe you'll have 1 bad experience every few years. It's TOTALLY worth it.

Also, journalists are now paid to create controversy or focus on any minimal conflict they can find, so ignore them and get back to camping.
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Old 09-26-2022, 05:48 PM   #8
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Old 09-26-2022, 08:23 PM   #9
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Old 10-01-2022, 12:20 PM   #10
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I think perhaps the "few" incidents compared to many is a bit off but incidents just go unreported. I luckily have not experienced my site snatched by another after I reserved it. I used to notice the holiday weekends used to bring out sone without etiquette, even in the old days. Fast forward, I have been forced to listen to LOUD music I actually like but not preferred in a campground because it was not in "quiet hours." Recently there was a run event held at the park. The crew decided to test their set up/ speakers at 5:30 in the morning. I did complain but it was shrugged off because of the event. I was actually trying to bird, but gave up.
I, like many, go camping because I love the outdoors. More often, if I complained, I'd be labeled as the whiner if I were to complain about loud music or whatever. I am rather " make no waves" person in general, but it does gripe me that I have to concede my peace so others can jack up their music as they grill or whatever.
I am just hoping there's enough of us to walk the good camper walk and show others how it's done!
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Old 10-01-2022, 12:28 PM   #11
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I agree with most campers are just good folks. I have only had clothespins removed in 35+ years of camping. I also think if you have some items ever taken, it is not from a true camper and perhaps from those outside the campground. I like to think we help each other and loan stuff if needed.
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Old 10-01-2022, 12:31 PM   #12
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I agree with most campers are just good folks. I have only had clothespins removed in 35+ years of camping. I also think if you have some items ever taken, it is not from a true camper and perhaps from those outside the campground. I like to think we help each other and loan stuff if needed.
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Old 10-01-2022, 05:41 PM   #13
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We used to camp free if possible on BLM land in the Southwest, U.S. Forest Camps in Washington State and Oregon. Those are the places where we have had unpleasant and sometimes dangerous experiences. Most of the bad experiences involved loud music and one even had campers from a nearby campsite running through our campsite firing a gun in the middle of the night (no they weren't fire crackers), yelling and screaming.

Oh, there was another one that involved the threat of gun violence when the men folk ran out of beer and they loudly threatened to shoot their f**ing wives, blaming them for their lack of planning. Another time we were on our way home from Utah National Parks and knew of a free camping place in the Yakima Canyon known as Umtatum pullout. We camped there until about 2 am that night when a car full of youths came in, parked within a few feet of us, left their car radio on full blast with loud bass thumping and doors wide open, all three passed out.

We now stick with state, county, military parks and some commercial parks we like. Since then we have had no problems whatsoever. Yes, there have been a few campers who don't keep their kids or dogs in control, but never anything involving a fight. Yes, the reservations are a pita, but our trips are much smoother and more predictable. If you can get into them, military parks are the best because if a camper causes any problems with anyone or anything, they don't get a visit from the camp host, they get a visit from armed MP's and they are escorted off base. That happened to some partyers at one military park we go to regularly.
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Old 10-01-2022, 09:21 PM   #14
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Just back from camping at a USFS campground in central Oregon on the Metolius river and spent time talking with the camp host who was wonderful. Shared having to call law enforcement last weekend as campers were changing the reservation signs with their own markers and became threatening including charging physically at the camp host when challenged about the behavior. His words were that the weekends have become “hell.” At one time before the pandemic, being a camp host on the Metolius was coveted, now they struggle to keep hosts because of the boorish behavior.

I have noticed that campgrounds that have switched from first come, first serve to reservations only have many frustrated campers because the campgrounds are only half full because of no-shows, usually at the prime spots. This needs to be addressed.
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Old 10-02-2022, 06:14 AM   #15
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I have noticed that campgrounds that have switched from first come, first serve to reservations only have many frustrated campers because the campgrounds are only half full because of no-shows, usually at the prime spots. This needs to be addressed.
I miss the days of being able to just drive in and pick a site. But.... I don't see how other campers would be frustrated by no shows at a reservation only campground.
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Old 10-02-2022, 07:35 AM   #16
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I miss the days of being able to just drive in and pick a site. But.... I don't see how other campers would be frustrated by no shows at a reservation only campground.
I could be because of the difficulty they had getting the reservation, perhaps having to adjust dates or take a less desirable spot. Then you get there and it’s not as full as the reservation system indicates.

A few unclaimed reservations can be dismissed as “unforeseen circumstances” that can happen to anyone. But lots of unclaimed reservations point to abuse of the system, which makes it harder for everyone.

Been there.

Of course empty spots make for a marginally quieter and less crowded experience, so there’s that. At the super-popular Carlsbad, CA State Beach, we enjoyed one night where the ocean view site across from us remained unclaimed (a rare occurrence at this park). We took our chairs over to catch the sunset and “borrowed” the picnic table for breakfast. Wasn’t long before a large RV moved in and completely blocked the view. It was nice while it lasted.
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Old 10-02-2022, 07:45 AM   #17
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Yeah, I never seem to plan far enough ahead to get the really prime spots.
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Old 10-02-2022, 09:39 AM   #18
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Yeah, I never seem to plan far enough ahead to get the really prime spots.
Military Famcamp campgrounds allow reservations up to 1 year in advance for active duty and then 6 months in advance for retired, Metal of Honor holders, and 100% disabled vets. I fall in the second catagory. Call to make a reservation 5 minutes after they open on exactly 6 months out and every thing is already taken in the preferred prime ocean front campground and have to the other less than prime campground on the base, which isn't ocean front. At least we got the base we wanted. Now I have to worry about Hurricane Ian messing up the campground to much!
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Old 10-02-2022, 10:41 AM   #19
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I love camping with my boombox....political flags.....barking dogs....lights.....screaming kids......beer cooler.....fireworks.....and axe for chopping down campground trees.....it's just so relaxing!
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Old 10-02-2022, 11:08 AM   #20
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I love camping with my boombox....political flags.....barking dogs....lights.....screaming kids......beer cooler.....fireworks.....and axe for chopping down campground trees.....it's just so relaxing!
I get the sarcasm and agree for the most part.


When we take a longer trip, I find the peace and the order to be relaxing with only an occasional visit from a neighbor passing by.
That's fine for all weekdays, but I find myself enjoying the weekends with the chaos of younger families with their kids running around making noise riding bikes while their parents are cooking out around a fire.


There are two things which are great in moderation but quickly get troublesome though ... they are intoxication and and undisciplined dogs.


A few campgrounds I have visited have been made intolerable when they became drunken parties or nothing more than a kennel with the gates open.
These are rare but miserable.
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