cant wait to stealth camp this year with my klr. I live in Michigan lower peninsula and the state parks are always full and it sucks dealing with all the happy campers and rangers, I built a cabin in the U.P. and there is so much land you can camp anywhere, not sure about sleeping in a hammock with all our bears, wolves and cougars, I never slept in a hammock and was always thinking I wouldn't be able to get to my firearm quick enough if needed.
I was going to mention hammock camping as very useful for stealth camping, but you covered that in the video. Fast and easy to set up, no need for smooth and level ground, small footprint, relatively camouflaged compared to a tent. I have a brown Hennessy hammock and in my opinion it's far superior to using a separate fly and hammock, as shown in your video. The fly is integral to the hammock so it's faster and easier to set up and take down. The side walls are mosquito netting. Easy entry from the bottom with a self sealing entrance underneath. Can be used as a camp chair when cooking or lounger when resting. I also have a green Goretex bivy sack that's not much bigger than a sleeping bag. It's very low to the ground and very easy to hide in a stealth camping situation. Lay the bike on its side and your in Stealth Camp Nirvana. You mentioned that you were stealth camping in your video, but a wood fire is anything but stealthy. It can be smelled a mile or more downwind and the smoke is readily visible and draws attention. You're basically sending smoke signals. You also claim to leave no trace but that's extremely difficult to do with a campfire. If caught, you look more like a transient hobo who doesn't respect public property than a leave-no-trace camper. If there's a burn warning, you'll probably be going to jail or at least facing a hefty fine. I totally agree that "camping" in designated slots in a campground sucks. The problem is that motorcycles are not allowed off road on most public lands. The rule that's designed to prevent the localized eco-disaster of motocross racing also prevents us from riding or walking an idling bike a few hundred feet off a gravel road in a state or national forest to set up a campsite and enjoy some peace and quiet. That being said, if you were very discrete and careful about it, you're unlikely to be caught and if it was clear that you wanted some peace and quiet and were truly leaving no trace - no garbage, no hacked up trees, and no fire pit - then you might catch a break from Ranger Rick and his big dog Dick. Other than the limited range and lack of recharging, an electric dual sport bike would be great for stealth camping. Public land should in theory belong to the public, but in practice it is land that belongs to the government, and that's exactly how it's treated. It's not much different from being a medieval peasant caught poaching on the king's land. Fun Fact: Most of the land in the western states is federal government land. 85% of Nevada is federal land. By treaty, the land was to be returned to the states but the federal government never did that. Quite a bit of that land now cannot be privatized because it was used for weapons testing and is either radioactive or contains large numbers of unexploded bombs, mines and missiles. As the environmental disasters in the now defunct Soviet Union has proved, public land is land that nobody owns and the government exploits. Private property is preserved and improved. Nobody would destroy their own private property, but governments always destroy "public" land.
@@MotoGiant - In all seriousness, I'm glad you're promoting stealth camping and what I would consider to be a use of public land that's consistent with a common law approach. It would be great if there was a website (now that the vast majority of us have an internet connected computer in our pocket) and maybe even an app that promotes stealth camping. Not so much a list of illegal campsites as a list of gravel roads on public land, public forests or parks and other places that are consistent with the stealth camping philosophy. It seems that the more overused areas are highly regulated because the authorities feel the need to use the iron fist to protect the land from the people, but often one of these high use destinations is in the middle of a large tract of public land that is almost unused. It's difficult to stealth camp in an amusement park, and less enjoyable as well, but there is often 90% of the same scenic beauty ten miles away with less than 1% of the tourists (and rangers). My local example would be the Red River Gorge scenic area in the much larger Daniel Boone National Forest.
@@Liberty4Ever Agreed. One of the biggest reasons I dislike National Parks is the iron fist you speak of, and yet I understand it - millions of visitors traveling the same path - don't get off the path or else. I enjoy the beauty, but most times drive by the bubbling mud and waterfalls to experience the peace I find behind the gates.
Ha ! I have actually pitched my tent on that very spot at the beginning of the video . This is no big news ' Stealth Camping ' , I learned how to do this from the book : Complete Motorcycle Nomad , written by Roger Lovin , a GREAT book , still relevant after 45 + years .
I love this shit! I`ve been dreaming of doing it since before I got my 1st bike 50 years ago. A dozen bikes later, life still happens. (Perfect, behind a few trees on the Blueridge ;- )
I’m a few years older than you and haven’t camped since I was a Boy Scout. I’m learning (and re-learning) all I can and getting up my nerve to camp again while on some bike trips. The idea of spending the night in a “campground” is a huge turnoff for all the reasons you mentioned. Great topic. I look forward to more camping tips and product reviews.
I just started stealth motorcycle camping this year. I have about the same philosophy as you, based on the experience itself. As a single person, it is uncomfortable to camp at campgrounds. In the last 5 or 10 years, attitudes have changed toward single men camping in general. Definately get lableled the creepy guy. Make some more videos, but I fear as this gets more popular, it will first get regulated, then highly regulated, then outlawed. I do enjoy the experience, I have been doing 2 or 3 weeks at a time, never staying in a area more than 2 nights. So far, New york, New Jersey, Pennsylvaina, virginia, and West virginia. Keep it up.
I think the faster we normalize it, the more chances we have of it being LESS regulated. "Oh yeah, my cousin does that... no big deal?" As long as we are 'the scary biker-dude living in the woods raping people' we will always be suspects. Make it normal, make everyone understand. As far as your states, I have not camped in NJ or PA (have not even been to NJ) but all the rest.... stealthy camped :)
I remember seeing that first video that you put up of stealth camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway I think it was a couple years ago. I have generally been a follow the rules kind of guy but now especially that I'm a little older I see that maybe there is some wisdom in the no harm no foul philosophy. As long as you don't leave any Trash behind I don't see the problem and I really enjoy your attitude of hey I'm going to do this because we as Citizens own this land hey I'm going to do this because we as Citizens on this land and there are so many restrictions on the use of public land. At the very least there should be large and numerous areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway to be able to pitch a tent overnight anyway I really like your attitude.
I think the BRP is a really good example of wasted space that is really good for camping, BUT if everyone was camping on it, it would be trashed. That is the same reason I like stealth - I take care that you do not see my while I am there, or notice after I leave - it was a journey getting to the place I am now philosophically. BTW, the 1st stealth video was posted in 2010 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C5J8x6M2fMo.html the last time I camped there was in a bus - much more comfortable :)
Ohhh men, your video warmed my heart (well, hot coffe too). I am quite experienced tent camper, BUT I live in India now and here evetything is different then in Europe. What I mean is wild animals and other creatures. I do not consider much about snakes coz they can not sneak into zipped tent, but here are tigers, cheetahs, elephants etc. Well, they are not everywhere. I just do not know well behaviour of wild etc. And i didn' t find any experienced guy here to ask advice. Camping is not a part of Indian culture. Yes, here are campers, but very few. My last camping was pretty scary. What we realized in the morning (we found this spot at night) is that our tent is next to the path where wild animals go to drink water. My companion woke up me at night and there was loud noise made by somebody. He thought that it might be a deer. Yeahh, this is a problem, i am still not familiar with local things. Last camping part: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gooyQBd652E.html
S#it!!! Just fresh news, friend sent me after my post: www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/villager-killed-by-leopard-while-tending-to-his-sheep-in-tumakuru/article30117067.ece
I traveled from west virginia to Florida on back roads with the idea of camping along the way, at camp sites. My problem was the weather was cold and rainy so I ended up spending way too much money on hotels. So I decided never again ride in November. Secondly, I discovered that campsites are almost as expensive as a cheap motel. So as I was traveling back, in 40 degree weather, I got the idea to do this very thing, stealth camping and decided that in warmer weather I would do just that. As I rode, I looked at possible spots and found that there were hundreds of perfect spots. I had no idea anyone else was doing this. Thanks for the encouragement to follow through in the spring with stelth camping!!!
I live on a farm and would have no problem with someone stopping for a rest as long as they were polite and responsible. Liability seems to be the biggest problem these days and is one of the major reasons private property owners get so upset. Unfortunately, I don't know how to put both parties at ease.
I would think out in the country folks would be a little less upset about travelers parking overnight, and I have considered MANY times knocking on a door to ask if I could roll down to the creek and hang in their pasture overnight (there is some really amazing farmland in Tn./Nc. area), but it seems it was just as easy keep rolling? Not much stealth when you are asking permission tho I guess? :)
Yes! In fact, 6 months ago we were treated to a freshly remodeled house to stay in when we asked about camping? check out the story here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ci4rYEI4AJY.html
I love the stealth motorcycle camping I ride and camp on my bike and I love all his biker videos but I miss all the schoolie life and builds and he was one of the few who actually showed driving and camping with the dude nobody showed travel in a schoolie build like he did
Yeah, I think he is done with driving around in a skoolie - he has broken so many of them? I think he is just gonna park it and live in it now, riding around on a motorcycle is faster and cheaper and more fun...to him, I mean - not me. :)
