Young Nomadic Woman's Camping Horror Story 

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Chelsea. I'm a retired NYPD Police Officer and I'm HAPPY to see you sharing the truth about traveling with these type of Videos. This should be a reminder to everyone that they should ALWAYS be aware of their surroundings. I would also say that when going into a new area, you could always stop into the local Police Dept and ask them about the camp ground you're going to. They will be able to tell you if it's safe or not and if they've had crime reports filed there. Also I would say you're instincts are usually correct, IF IT DON'T FEEL RIGHT, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT TO LEAVE OR NOT STAY THERE. Another thing I would recommend is having cameras installed to monitor the outside of your camper. You can see what's around you in the night and record everything (such as that Vehicle's License Plate Number). Traveling around can be MORE enjoyable if you use that common sense that you OBVIOUSLY HAVE. I enjoy watching your videos and I am also planning a cross country trip to do my photography. Hope to see you out there. Keep up the great content.

Your dog deserves a medal and some doggie treats.

I have an Aunt who has RVd all over North America. She is an older woman who camped most of the time by her self. She tells me she has mostly positive experiences while camping but after a few scary encounters she started putting a pair of very large men's boots outside on the steps of her RV. and she has not had another issue. Just wanted to share a bit of her camping wisdom. I hope you have safe travles from here on out!

I'm in the "get a gun" camp just like the overwhelming majority of comments here

Never go into a situation saying "Please let me survive this". Always go into a situation saying, "Let these bastards survive ME"!

Just a note on your scary night don't ever let your dog out,if she is with you then they will think twice about coming in to your rv the minute you let her out there's nothing to stop them getting to you love from Scotland

I am a big man and even if I were with my camping buddy AND we had firearms, I would have been very concerned in the circumstance you described. I am only afraid of one kind of animal when I am camping and that is humans. You should report to the police even now if you have not done so already. No matter how small, you might have a piece of information they need..

Seems to me that the campsite manager is sketchy and creepy af. He needs to be in custody and the campsite investigated. I'm not a cop but my gut screams on this. Sorry this happened to you. Glad you shared this and glad you are safe!

I used to camp alone in a tent all the time I made a few adjustments around my camp. The best thing I found in my diabolical little mind, was homemade, pressurized paint, boobitraps. They stole my whole body of camping gear, except for my axe. The whole camp was completely covered by multi colored paint. From there, I looked 4a vehicle with those colors all over it. Didn't take long, 1 day to be exact, I got my things back. Caught the guy at the carwash.

My son and I were going to stay at that camp!! We were driving down the dirt road for what seemed like forever and we both got a bad feeling in our gut and said f this shit.... we are out! Lol. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Glad you are safe. :)

I am a forensic psychologist. For that reason I am going to tell you not to ever camp where you are the only person. There are at least, on average, 2 serial killers for every state. That might be an understatement. I know that most people would not even think about such a thing, but that's why I am here. Serial killers are a great reason to: not camp by yourself, don't sleep at a rest stop, don't try to by help someone who looks to be summoning you for some reason. Offer to call 911 if they look injured. However, I wouldn't get close enough to find out. Hundreds of people disappear and are never heard from again. People do not just disappear. These people are are out there somewhere. Probably buried in someone's basement. This all might sound like paranoia. I guarantee you that it is not. I also want to say thank you to all of the veterans here. My fiance is retired from the army. He also has PTSD. Veterans deserve more than they get. This country should treat veterans like they are gold. Be safe out there.

The owner and manager have this all set up! Lure them in with free camping! Nothing is free.

Sounds like a pervert was skulking about your trailer, and it very well could have been the owner you spoke to!

Something a neighbor once suggested to me when I lived alone with my 2 toddlers at the time - was to place a large pair of men’s work boots outside my front door at night... if someone is scoping you out and looking for an easy target - the implication that a large man lives there with you and is likely home, will encourage most predators to look for a more convenient target... it may not keep them all at bay, but I think if you are traveling alone, keeping two pairs of men’s work boots at the door of your camper would at lease make someone pause before deciding to harass you! The presence of two pairs of dirty old boots would suggest that 2 large men are in that camper - imagination would suggest that those men would likely be armed ;) even if the tiny woman who is ACTUALLY inside , is not! ;) I did this in my apartment and I do it when I camp... as I said in my other comment - I don’t carry a gun, for good reason... but what I do carry, is a sizable knife on my hip that has a custom handle - made to look like the grip of a pistol... if someone is watching me from a distance, it LOOKS like I have a pistol on my hip and if nothing else - makes me look like a more challenging target to contend with... In any military or law enforcement training - something you are taught is that in a tense situation - avoiding conflict before it begins can be the key to making it home or not!!! You are not out there to prove your bravery... your primary goal is ensure that you and your team return alive! If you can increase the likelihood of returning alive by discouraging conflict simply by making yourself look like you are too much trouble! Then you are successful- all bravado aside ;) Animals also do this... try to make themselves look bigger than they are to discourage challenge or attack! :)

You have to be so careful! My husband and I were exploring Montana about 24-25 years ago. We decided to see a lake on an Indian Reservation that had camping. You had to buy a permit to go onto the land, which we did. The woman we bought the permit from said, oh, yes, that's a nice park and she hadn't been there in a while but she remembered it had cute daisies on the restroom doors. The road was bad - long, dirt, potholes, etc. I kept saying we should forget it and go back but my husband always wants to shove ahead. We finally arrived and the park was not maintained, dark and creepy. The restroom doors with the daisies (!) were half off their hinges. My husband saw a spot on the edge of the lake and said we could camp there. We had a TENT, mind you. I just had a bad feeling about it and said, no way am I camping here - too isolated. He kept trying to push it but I would not give in. Did I mention he likes anything "free"? As we were on the road to go out I see a native American woman fishing by the lake which seemed nice enough. But then I caught the eye of a big guy - also native American - that had the most hateful, angry look on his face just staring at us. I told my husband to keep going out quickly as the guy really creeped me out. So we drove back down the awful road and camped somewhere near St. Ignatius. Probably a year goes by and I'm sitting at my kitchen table one day reading the newspaper (large city). An article title catches my eye and lo and behold, a couple in a camper were KILLED at that same park and they had no leads! It chilled me to the bone because that could have been us, and I'm pretty sure who may have done it. I never thought to call the Montana police at the time but now I wish I had. Now, that's a scary, true story! All I can say is TRUST YOUR GUT!

It really sucks that the handful of psychos in every community ruin it for everyone else.

Don’t ever tell your viewers either where you are! So glad that you, your Dog, a Hero and your friend are ok!

I am a VET & what you said is NOT offensive at all in any way. I camp/explore in very remote places alone & have had some horrific experiences BUT also some very magical ones. Your story is well told because it is not exaggerated. The advice you give at the end is exceptionally solid & wise. It took me a few really scary situations before I learned that it is FAR, FAR better to be PREPARED & not have to use it than to need it & not have it. Forget about the silly comments from trolls . . . Wisdom comes from experience ~

I'm so sorry you went through that - I know from experience how terrifying it is. I was camping one year in the mountains in a beautiful campground that was nicely set up so the campsites weren't too close to each other - everyone had privacy. I had my two children with me, ages 2 and 5. We set up the tent and played and walked around the campground then made supper. We had a campfire when it got dark and roasted some marshmallows then it was time for bed. We walked to the washrooms in the dark and came back to the tent. I had planned to stay up a little later than the kids and do some reading by the campfire, which I did. At one point I heard a branch snap in the woods just a few yards from our tent and I kind of jumped in my chair and then said to myself "It's a deer most likely". When I got tired, I kind of cleaned up the picnic table a bit in case it rained during the night then I went into the tent and zipped it up behind me. I was in bed and having trouble falling asleep. I'm a terrible sleeper at the best of times, and sleeping on an air mattress doesn't help so it took me quite a while to fall asleep. I heard snapping branches a couple of times and again told myself it was a deer. I finally fell asleep at some point. I don't know how much later it was when I snapped awake at the sound of someone walking on the gravel just outside my tent. They would take a few steps then stop, and after a while take a few more steps. They eventually walked around the entire tent. My heart was thudding in my chest by this time and I just lay totally still so I wouldn't make any rustling noises by turning in my sleeping bag. The footsteps started again, this time walking towards my car. I heard my car door handles being tried, one by one, I guess to see if I had left any doors open which I hadn't. I'm the type who locks my doors at 7-11 when I go in there for a bottle of milk and I'm back at the car in 45 seconds. This time the footsteps stopped right in front of the tent door and with the moon outside I could actually see the outline of a man's body standing there. Then he squatted down in front of the door as though looking to see where the zipper pull was. By this time I'm inwardly hysterical but not wanting to do anything that will wake the kids up. They'll see my fear and either want to get in my sleeping bag with me, or they'll start crying. I didn't want this person to know that there were two small children inside the tent. The next campsite that had someone in it was about 200 yards away and they were in a trailer so I wasn't sure if they would hear me calling for help. Next thing was I felt the tent shaking a bit and realized that this person was feeling around the bottom of the tent door for the zipper pull. I had a pocket knife in my jacket for cutting marshmallow roasting sticks, so I quietly reached over and got that out and opened it and put it under my pillow. I had no idea what I was going to do with it or even if it would scare this guy off - the blade was only about 4" long. He stood up and walked all the way around the tent again, stopping at the back of the tent where there was a screen window. I had the inside window cover rolled down over the screen so nobody could see it. He felt around the window, again I guess he was trying to find the zipper pull. After a while he started walking again - this time I heard a "creak" as he sat down on one of the picnic benches attached to the table. I was in a complete panic now and sweating in my sleeping bag. There was no way I could wake up the kids and make a run for the car with both of them and him sitting at the picnic table. It seemed to go on all night which I'm sure isn't true, but the time just dragged by as I lay awake listening like radar to every move he made. Eventually I heard his footsteps walk back to the front of the tent and then walk down the driveway of the campsite onto the road and walking away. After a while I didn't hear any more footsteps but didn't know if he was gone or lying in wait somewhere. In the morning I waited until I heard voices from the other campsites before I got up and dressed, and then dressed the kids. We went outside to make breakfast and there was no sign of anything weird. I looked around at some of the other campsites where everyone was making breakfast or sitting eating, and I wondered if it was one of those men who had wandered around the night before. I wasn't prepared to take any chances so I packed us up and we drove away an hour later. I literally just threw the sleeping bags and tent into the back of the van and took off. I lost the money I had paid for the original campsite for another two nights and we found a much busier campsite to stay at for the next 2 nights. I thought I wanted a remote quiet campsite but I was completely happy hearing families talking and kids screaming around the campground. I camped alone for a lot of years after that experience - I was a single parent and it was either go alone or don't go. We never had another experience like that, thank goodness.

This is EXACTLY why I am opting for a van. I want to be able to climb up into the driver’s seat and leave if necessary. I hope you left a comment on the free camping network

This happened to me before, except the person pulled on the door and actually OPENED the door. My brother threw a can of Glory Greens at them and I sprayed them with mace, closed the door back and we hauled ass our of there. Thank God we have an RV. We called the cops and they didn't find the guy. The found a bloody handprint towards the woods.

Kudos for the dog "the real hero that night "

Whew!! Scary! I was hiking and camping with my hiking buddy in a remote area of the North Cascades in Washington State. We took off hiking, leaving our van at an empty campsite. When we came back at the end of our day of hiking, someone had blocked the road with huge downed trees! They had to have a truck and wench to pull the trees to block our exit. We were terrified. It was like some kind of set up to isolate us with no exit. Luckily, my buddy is a mountain man and he pulled out his chainsaw, tow rope and moved the trees and we got hell out of there. We did report it to the Forestry Dept.

😮 Oh my... watching your video and listening just gave me the absolute chills. My husband and I had an experience camping a few years ago and I tell you.. ALWAYS trust your instincts. They are never ever wrong. We made a decision to not complete our camp setup as I'd had an overwhelming sense of something not right pretty much as soon as we'd arrived, tried to shake it off but couldn't. So so glad my husband didn't question it and we packed up and left. A week or so after that I'd read that someone was reported missing from a secluded camping area about a kilometre away from where we had initially began to set up. We now only camp in populated camp grounds or on private property with others around. Thankyou for sharing your story and hope you never experience anything like that again. Love your channel 😊

Am I the only one who it immediately had the feeling that the owner was the perpetrator here... Red flags popping up all over the place... 1. A free campsite that is gated and padlocked 2. A free site where you have to have reservations 3. The list goes on but one and two would be enough for me to turn the other way and never give that place another thought!!!

Hi Chelsea, I discovered you through the collab you did with Hobo Ahle. I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story and most importantly, the campsite to avoid; I have watched many 'travel horror story' videos where they recount the bad experience but then refuse to say who was involved or where this occurred, saying they don't want to 'name them,' which in my opinion is simply setting others up to have the exact same negative experience. It would be like witnessing a crime and not reporting it, allowing it to happen to another innocent person. We are a community of travellers and digital nomads and we need to look out for each other, which is why I greatly respect you telling this story and letting us all know where we may not be safe. Thank you for your great videos and advice! - Helen, The Penniless Writer. x

Get training, get a gun and have a defense plan. Have a camp buddy that is a warrior and can protect you, he should also be trained and armed. Your dog did a good job of realizing the threat, he is worth his weight in gold..

The owner of the campground is just as guilty as the person that was trying to intimidate you this is good that you put it on your RU-vid channel to let people know ,I will never visit that place. Thank you for posting.

As a woman I would not travel in a trailer only in a Motorhome or van so all I have to do is get in a seat and go.

Cocking a round into the chamber of a 12 gauge shotgun is an international language of its own. Make My Day

I got two words for you little sister, Smith and Wesson. Always, always be able to protect yourself. Don’t feel like you have to be a victim because you don’t. Take care of yourself and God bless!

They would never get away with that from me, and I'm a 67yr old female who travels alone. Be warned, do something like that to me and you will die.

Don't carry a hand gun. Carry a shotgun, best weapon ever made. It's also legal to have because its not concealable. Another thing, It was definitely an older person terrorizing you because no one under 60 smokes that brand of cigarettes. Total creeps!

The same thing happened to me in northern Arizona but were allowed to carry. I have a 12 Gage shot gun with a pistol grip and I heard them at that the door so I grabbed my shot gun and cocked it and they ran off so to be certain I went outside and fired off a couple of shots into the air and stayed up for a while outside. It was scary but I had to do something!

when I go somewhere in my motorhome I am heavily armed and prepared for a war so if someone or a predatory group of pack hunters target me to be their next easy victim they will have an unpleasant surprise. this is why the 2nd amendment is important. because "when seconds matter, the police are only minutes away".

Screw the bear spray. Get a firearm or 2 and learn how to use them.

I'm sorry you went through that, it sounds terrible! There's a possibility that the owner could have been the creep!!!

If you're a traveller (especially) in the United States, you should really have a firearm. What if they locked you inside and towed you away?

There's a a paintball gun that uses rubber balls called breaker balls and pepper stay balls that's specifically made for self defense

Thanks for the heads up! It is Intimidating to camp where the are no other campers. We had an experience when we were checking out a campsite (free) in Arizona, just outside Phoenix. NICE campground for about 5 sites with creek running through. We thought it was heavenly. Until.... When we got there an older Jeep Cherokee was parked across the campground. It was about 10am & it did not appear as if they had camped, but were just there drinking. These weren't kids either. Adults 40ish. There were 2 men & one woman. One of the men started walking across the campground in the direction we were parked. He appeared drunk. We casually got into our vehicle & locked the doors. We travel armed & I have a large bear spray at all times in my vehicle or on my belt. When the man got to us we cracked the window & he asked if we could tow them. We said sorry but we weren't equipped to do that. Offered to make a call for him or send someone out when we got to town. He declined & got irritable/agitated. We started to drive away & they were cussing at us. They closed the hood to their vehicle & started following us down the dirt road (now their vehicle was surprisingly running fine) . This went on for awhile, they sped past us at one point then stopped & pulled off to the side & then pulled back on the road behind us. This continued down the road & when we reached the edge of town we pulled into a nice housing community, they followed us in. I then remembered seeing a small fire or police station just a little further. We pulled in there & pulled up to a vehicle & started telling them what happened. The people moved on down the road. It was probably the most scared I have ever been in an RV situation! I totally sympathize with you.

Allways have a dog..They have such good ears

Your dog needs a big steak or chicken or some kind of reward. He’s a love. Bolts straight up to protect you both. good boy what a good boy. Aweeee big scratches and cuddles. Please be careful out there sweety. Thank you for sharing.

The owner of the campsite was the one scaring you.

Did u have a gun. U always carry a gun when u go camping

EVERYONE knows the sound of racking a shotgun which scares anyone.

You should think about installing some infrared CCTV cameras to your camper. Another good visual deterrent - place a USMC sticker in the corner of the door window.

I live in PC. Probably some teenagers out riding the dirt roads.This is Water Management Area land and open to the public. Combinations are the same on every gate and have been for 20 years

Two times in my life, five years apart my home was broken into. I had a 10 Shot 22 Pistol, later a 14 shot Glock. ONLY having a gun saved my life. The Police 'knew' of these serial, torture rapists...but their statement was" We don't have the manpower to hunt them down an apprehend them!!!( Please get a gun, and leaen giw to safely use it !!!!)

You need to get a gun and some cameras for the outside of your trailer!

Chelsea, you are awesome. Thanks for the story. Your experience will help alot of people. Coming from a career as a Police Officer, you are spot on with your advise on always being prepared to leave. Glad everything turned out as just a learning experience and nothing physical. Cant wait to met you guys when you get up this way. Have a save trip and great adventures. I will keep you in prayer. Gary

Wow.. I'm heading to Florida, with trepidation. This only confirms my fears of camping in the middle of nowhere there.. Thank you for sharing this. Safe travels.

It Absolutely Kills Me to hear someone say, "I grabbed my Bear Spray." or "I grabbed my Machette." Are you kidding me.?!!! You'd rather do hand to hand combat than to Shoot Them.!!! Girl, Get A Shot Gun and Go Back to Bed. (I left all my stuff.) WTF.?!!! No, it's, "I left that Pervs body laying on the Ground, Officer." "He won't be sneakin around here no more."

i was homeless for about a year and lived in my car, one jan night i woke up to a guy pounding on my window with a knife trying to rob me. i kept a knife of my own in easy reach of me but i was cocooned in a sleeping bag a sit was about 20 degrees outside. keep in mind i lived in my car not a van or rv so i didnt have room to move around. so while i was yelling at this guy i called 911 luckily you can use any cell phone to call 911 even if its deactivated, and the cops showed up fairly quickly and got the guy. that was th eonly bad experience i had like that in a year. but unless you have experienced something like that most ppl cant really understand how terrifying and stressful it is in the moment. i didnt sleep at all the rest of that night and had problems sleeping for about a month after. i was homeless i had no where to go no cash for motel and barely enough money to keep gas in my car because a friend would send me a lil bit of money every couple months. luckily my window held and my doors were locked i have no doubt in my mind if he had broken that window i would have literally been fighting for my life. the guy was very intoxicated and ended up in prison for like 8 months, luckily for me i was approved for disability a few months after this happened and moved to a small tow where i have a small apartment and can live a fairly stable life again . but id still recommend getting a shotgun or pistol

Thank goodness the weirdo didn’t hitch your RV to his truck, locking you guys inside and drive off to God knows where to do God knows what. Being a woman myself, I would be packing. You have to be.Too many sickos in the world nowadays. Glad you guys are okay. Sometimes situations like this is a learning experience in life

that's why I have a CWP and a loaded 9mm on my side at all times.

Always trust your gut. In the hundreds of times I've been camping I had only two bad experiences. one time where I could hear the campers near me discussing whether or not to try to rob me, I stayed and nothing happened. The second much more serious. Me and a friend stopped at a gas station and asked someone if they knew of a cheap place to pitch a tent for the night. I got directions and found the road. I stopped at the beginning of the road because we both had a strong feeling in our gut something was not right. After looking at the road we realized my car would have gotten stuck. So we parked the car in a nearby spot out of sight. He and I walked down the road and heard trucks coming, we got off the road and watched two big trucks with guns in the rear windows pass. When they got to where we were supposed to be they started arguing about who owed who what. We went back to the car and left. Who knows for sure what would of happened but my gut says nothing good.

Thank you for sharing. Don't apologize. Any person who is reasonably sane wouldn't criticize you for sharing your feelings. They were your feelings and if anyone is offended then they should get over it. PC has gone too far in our society. Someone is always going to be critical no matter what we say. Do arm yourself. You do have the right to protect yourself.

I always carry a gun when I go hiking/camping, more so for the two legged creatures than the four legged creatures.

Great reason why I love to camp & hike, but: I ALWAYS CARRY, I DON'T TAKE A PEE W/O IT; also, I don't ever want a truck/trailer combo & this is exactly who I DRIVE A MOTOR HOME - I can get out of bed, jump in, fire it up, & leave! BTW, I NEVER FACE IN, ESPECIALLY WHEN REMOTE - GO IN & TURN AROUND FOR QUICK GETAWAY!!!!

What every RV or trailer should have is a set of high intensity battery powered motion detection lights at the front and rear corners to light up the entire campsite when they sense movement. As a backup you could add nigh intensity sonic horns loud enough to cause serious pain. All this stuff is relatively inexpensive and can be done yourself or find a decent handyman or shop to do it. The problem with holding flashlights and bear spray yourself is it makes you a high profile target. If your perimeter alarms go off the perpetrators will not know where you are. Hopefully with your CCW and bear spray.

quick thinking on the getaway chelsea - best to be safe. and thanks for reporting it. i am appalled that you got the brushoff. what about the coded padlock on the gate? whoever it was has the code numbers. sounds like it is a person who has access to these numbers. someone like a parks staff or contractor. and if there have been a number of reports why isn't something being done? this person is a creep. and he is bold. to start the car and rev it by your camper door is pretty aggressive. so is leaving filthy undies. i don't think the idea that the local neighbours want to deter visitors holds true. the undies implies a sexual intent. this needs to be investigated and he needs to be caught. all the best.

Thank you for sharing this VERY VALUABLE information! Not only is the warning about the specific campground important, but your story, what you learned from it, your recommendations, and the suggestions & discussion in the comments below are so helpful! What you said about having everything ready to move quickly,- backpack packed w/ all your valuables right next to you, along with your keys, knowing how to maneuver in the dark, parking so that your vehicle is ready to pull out w/o backing up or turning around, etc., and never camping where you are isolated from others were all good suggestions. You did the right thing by leaving everything behind and getting the hell out of there. You are right... Nothing is worth your life. It was good that you had a dog and bear spray. May I make some further suggestions you & others may want to consider: Make sure you have enough gas to drive to safety before you enter the campground. Get to a campsite well before dark, and pay attention to everything and everyone around you. Try to meet the people camping near you, so that you can watch out for each other (or so that your intuition can tell you if they themselves are a threat). If possible, see if you can pick up cellphone signals and know the number for the state police of the state in which you're camping. It's pretty certain that there's no 911 in a remote area like that, but you can enter the phone numbers for state and local (who may be able to get there faster) law enforcement for each area in which you are traveling and put them on speed dial. What you are saying is true. No firearm or other weapon is going to do any good if you can't see what's going on outside. If you don't know how many people are out there and what their intentions are (to rob you, to intimidate you, to assault you, or to kill you), there's not much you can do, and that's what's terrifying. All these people are saying you should have a firearm, but that's not going to help unless you know where to fire your weapon! Is he outside the door, or on the other side of the wall, or outside the window? I feel fear just thinking about it! I have friends who live in FL and one in particular that stays in campgrounds when she's traveling so I will make sure she watches this video.

you need outdoor security cameras that you can see on your phone they work through Bluetooth and are not expensive and of course a firearm and know how to use it

I have to say I am proud of your comment, It’s not worth my life. You did well hun. Stay safe

Lessons learned, embrace the knowledge, dogs are wonderful gifts to humanity, some people are bad... prepare to deal with them, stay safe.

I would have called police from gas station to escort me to hitch up my trailer

You need to call police or sheriff. This person's tire tracks, footsteps and his DNA. Whether they DO anything ie get sample of DNA from underwear and enter it in the data bank. Could you imagine it turning out to be the answer to cold cases being solved? I am a Florida native and once upon a time, when you bought orange juice, it was made from oranges grown in FL. NOW you'll see 6-8 countries have their name on the carton so you'll know. Some don't realize that Florida has areas of wildlife much less remote, others very remote. The panhandle is a good example. Feels like you've left Florida. I am not a fan of guns but I know how to use one. If I ever did this, going here and there, I would want to be permitted to conceal and carry. Keep on being aware & safe!

I made and installed a welded a metal lockbox that holds a tactical shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot, a 30-06 deer rifle, and a pistol in my camper where I can get to it in a hurry. If you saw it, you'd just think its part of the camper. I've only had a couple of run ins with some drunks at night. Only once did I actually have to came out pointing the shotgun at the ne'er-do-wells. I've never seen a truck peel out so fast. I went back and slept like a baby. I would never go out to remote places without weapons, especially in skeezy states like Florida. I also put out a game cam when I first arrive. I've showed pictures of trucks and vehicles to park rangers before. Also don't sleep with ear plugs. You want to be able to hear whats going on. This doesn't even take into account the hatchet, axe, machete, bowie knife and everyday carry knife I have as camp tools. I keep all razor sharp using my Lansky sharpener. If anything ever truly went down, they'd end up ruing the day they ran into me, not the other way around. But then again, I don't live my life in fear, and I'll always carry guns even if the libtards try and take them away. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Your instincts, your dog and your insistence on leaving were all top quality survival points. I commend you for not deciding, "It's probably nothing, I'm just being silly..." You did all the right things. If you haven't read this famous book, please do so, because it will sharpen your instincts and understanding of these situations: The Gift of Fear by Gavin DeBecker.

Moral of story dont go to blue springs campground in ecofina wildlife management area in youngstown florida, and lawyers in its vicinity keep in mind you can probably take ownership of the campground after you sue the owner when his gross negligence results in injury or death to a camper.

Jesus Christ, what the Hell is wrong with people?! I am so sorry you had this experience but way to go for handling everything so well. And thank God for your dog - dogs are the best. Again I'm sorry you had to experience this, but you are clearly using it as a learning experience. And good on you for spreading the awareness. Stay safe and keep on enjoying the journey!!!

So sorry you had such a terrifying experience. Glad y'all are OK.

my daughter tours the USA in her camper. I am sometimes concerned for her as she and her dog are alone. I am so happy you did this video. You are an amazing woman and you scared me and i am a veteran from the Vietnam war.

Your response to the owner is inspiring. Called them out and put them to the task. I am hoping you arent living in fear, but just learned and changed behavior for safety. You are awesome, woman!

Why is a private camp ground free? Red flag. The "pay off" is something other than monetary. Creepy. But thanks the tips about being ready to leave at a minutes notice

You should probably consider purchasing a firearm after some lessons.

Oh man, I know that terror! Hubs and I were in a studio apartment in Anaheim, Ca. on the third floor. During the summer it was so hot so we'd always have our slider open with the screen door shut where the small balcony was, and the air conditioner going over the bed. One night about 2 am I head this THUD! I wake up and think, "was that on my patio?" (reminder: we're on the third floor!) Then I heard the screen door slowly being opened and a person started coming though the door. I started screaming! It was an instinctual out of my control gut screaming, which only got worse when my screaming didn't scare him away and he kept coming in! I'm thinking, "we're about to die, this guy is a lunatic!" My sound sleeping husband only woke up from my screaming, and without seeing him, just started yelling, "Get out! Get out!" We both got out of bed and then, suddenly the intruder fled. Didn't see if he went up or down, but he was gone. I called the police, and I'm telling you, they were at my door in minutes and a helicopter was above with a search light. The cops left to search, and about 10 minutes later they were back and said they found him. WELL... the fu*cking idiot had been out on a date with the girl in the next apartment, and got a little drunk. He called her to make sure she was okay, but wasn't answering her phone, so he decided to play Romeo and somehow climb up the rain gutters, but got to the damn wrong apartment! The police asked us if we wanted to confront him, and whether or not to press charges, and we're like "absolutely!" I needed to see this guy. I needed to see this jerk who made me feel so horribly afraid. So down in the carport, this college age kid was sitting, handcuffed looking at us, saying over and over again, "I'm so sorry, I'm sooooo sorry!" I was yelling at him that he's lucky we didn't have a frikken gun!! My husband said one step further and he would have been thrown over the balcony! Anyway, we didn't file charges... it really was a boneheaded thing, BUT!!!! I was pretty damn traumatized for a long while after that. I kept reliving the sound of the screen door opening and the terror and the screaming that came from my body. Logic told me one thing, but my body would still shake from physically reliving that. ALSO, I realized how LUCKY we were, and became absolutely INFURIATED, not with that stupid dude, but with the knowledge that others were NOT so lucky when an intruder crosses that boundary and violates another person's space and then does unimaginable harm from robbing to raping and murder! I used to be somewhat liberal when it came to criminals, feeling sorry for their backgrounds or whatever, but NO MORE! Like I said... my case turned out well, but the cruelty others experience by an evil person, to have that initial terror, then NOT HAVE IT END!... MY GOD!

I can not figure out in this day and age why people do not put themselves in a position to defend themselves. I travel and camp in remote areas a lot and really have no concerns but, I am always well armed. NO, I am not paranoid in the least, what I am is prepared to protect myself. If you plan on camping in remote areas, how about also planing on protecting your life... I've been asked a couple of times, "why do I carry a gun" my response is always, "because a cop is to heavy"... There's a saying " it's better to have a gun in your hand, than a cop on the phone. Shoot through the side of my camper, I will guarantee you I am more heavily arm then the person on the outside. Handguns and AR 15's should be purchased when you buy your camper !!!

I notice Eric from Nomadic Fanatic has camera's on the outside of his rig. Get one of those 2 or 3 million candlepower hand held flashlights from Walmart for $40 or so. Open the door and blast them in the face with the high power light while holding your weapon. The light is only bright for about 10 mins or so before it needs recharged. Sketchy people are everywhere, especially Florida. Trust your instincts.

Thanks for letting the public know. Be careful, be safe.

Always stay armed Taurus Millennium G2 9mm for $200, and buy some low cost motion sensor light super bright, a five pack $110 that you can attach to the outside your RV with magnets, when staying for the night, most people and animal will avoid you, also you can buy a low cost video camera system with Infrared sensors for about $180 with a hard drive. Both the lights and camera system are on eBay! Never make excuses for keeping yourself safe!

Hearing your story even gave me the creeps, I would advise you get some firearms training and some all weather infrared perimeter pin cameras around your trailer on top that used solar/dc. Also get your hands on some spoofers to alerts you when someone is within your warning perimeter. I can’t recommend a weapon because the laws are different in many states, but the other stuff you can pick up a spy shop or CCTV shop. As that other person pointed out review area you’re going to camp at, drop by your area police or sheriff’s office and ask the men and woman who really know the area, hey it may even be in their patrol arc. Well, hope this helps because you can’t ever put a price on your safety, be always vigilant and try to case your surroundings for clues. PS: Set up a GPS system on your trailer so your kin can know your last known position. And almost forgot, please try to reinforce the area you sleep at…Plexiglas’s is cheap.

The land owner should seriously deal with this, its ridiculous! I would be full of fear after experiencing anything like this. Glad you're safe!

Vicari, thanks for sharing this story. I’m trying convince my wife to camp and your story is very similar to my wife’s concerns and her refusal to camp. She said we can visit parks, but we’re staying in a hotel. My motto has always been, if it doesn’t feel right, then there’s probably something wrong. Trust your instincts, have fun, but be prepared. I wish you safe and happy travels.

Chelsea, good thinking to leave & go to a motel. Glad you got out of there alive. We never stay in a place without cell phone reception, so we can call the cops if needed. I would have reported this incident to them ASAP. The next campers may not be as lucky as you were. I totally agree with the folks who recommend concealed carry. In addition to meth heads, rapists, murders, psychos in whatever state you're camping in, did you know that Florida has alligators in nearly every lake, spring, stream? Also has Florida bears and Florida panthers & coral snakes. Carry concealed. The only way to travel. Dobermans are great, but they can be shot by the bad guys. Stay safe.

I agree with many of the comments and after some bad intenders approached 3 houses in the outback in NM years ago here is how it went. House #1 multiple dogs barking -intruders past #2 Owner was alert and made it know he had a loaded ready to defend firearm intruders past #3 no dogs owner had guns but locked up in safe and the intruders blasted windows and entered the house terrorized house members but did not rape or murder. ME always sleep with my loaded firearms a reach from my pillow now and will never settle to be intruded upon at my house or my rv when snowbirding ! That incident which happened 20 miles east of me will never happen to me because like the 2 houses passed up in the true story I told you - any intending to enter my property would be dissuaded or regret their choice had they come. My neighbors are Vet's as well and will not be assaulted either.

where is this camp site because I wanna go there with my two pit bulls and one of my AK s .

Very excellent advice. My family was camping in a forest in a tent and I woke up to hear someone walking around our tent. If a animal was walking around the tent most likely I wouldn't have heard any sound. Someone wearing boots was walking around our tent. As the ground was very hard from lack of rain, no boot or animal tracks could be seen around our tent the next day. We never camped as the only campers in a campground again!

I believe you where being watched ever since your arrival. Whoever is behind this event if not the ower, seen you didn't come alone. Your probably lucky your alive.

Having your stuff ready to go is super smart - Good on you for making this video and opening up the conversation about safety and vanlife - I love it ! I hope your future travels are much brighter in the future! xxoox

Seems to me, this isn’t an uncommon experience “with locals”. I’ve run across at least a couple of videos where couples camping at a “free” campground, were harassed by “locals”. Apparently ‘locals’ have nothing better to do in the middle of the night!

Is there some reason you camp in lonely places WITHOUT A FIREARM??????? It's your right! PROTECT YOURSELF!

Shit like this really pisses me off, I live in Florida, without the tourist dollars coming in, Florida would be a ghost town, Chelsea, I'm so sorry this happened to you, we have camped at a lot of the WMA and never had a problem, I just shared your story and video with my brother in-law, he is very high ranking Florida Wildlife Police Officer, I can guarantee he well have this investigated, hopefully they well change the locks at the gate, but I know my brother in-law well step up the patrols out there. BASICALLY that's all have to say, Peace Out.

I had a time in my stealth camper where someone tried to break into the sliding door . I heard him pull up and I heard him justling with tools . As soon as I saw him approach the lock with them I opened the door to greet him his face when he saw a grinning 6.2ft 17stonne bloke at eye level with him .... didn't need to report him to the police he learnt his lesson I believe after I had a nice "chat" with him

I had to leave my wife alone at our country home in the "boondocks" some time ago. She knew how to handle our only handgun at the time, but that's no reason to invite trouble... We had a camera over the door as well as some of the usual home security measures, but as I was heading out to my truck to leave for the week, it struck me to grab a coffee can of my spent shell casings and a few old beer cans from the barn and scatter them on the porch next to a chair. Just something that would make me think twice as an intruder. Sparkling brass and Budweiser cans in the porchlight ;-). It's a rustic country hobby-farm and I never bothered picking them up as I sort of chuckle when I see them, or friends "mention" them. The instances of door-to-door solicitors, religious nuts, and politicians have seemed to drop a bit too... Bonus! A lot of common sense and a little creativity go a long way to avoid a dangerous confrontation. Even so, please "equip" yourself for your lifestyle in the event things ever end up at the "next level". It's not a pleasant thing to think about, but ignoring it could be fatal.

Please don't give up on Florida. We have some beautiful camping options here, but do your research and check reviews.

1. Report to police. 2. Put reviews and warnings on any Fl camping website you can find.

That would be unfortunate for the trespassers if they ever did that to me and my family

Did you ever consider that it may have been the land owner ? Nothing would surprise me .