By: Dave Wonderly
I get this question all the time. Why would you default to camping and having to carry all the equipment you need to do that? My answer to that is simple. Having the ability to camp in many ways simplifies the ride. Simple is better if you can do it. No need to make sure you know where you can get lodging, no need to deal with getting reservations, no need to be forced to arrive at those reservations each day, no need to stop early just because that is the only lodging, no need to pass up amazing campsites and no need to miss out on the experience of camping in the remote places we ride through.
Camping anywhere you feel like it, or anywhere you need to will free up your options. What if something happens? A break down or injury? You get too tired to ride anymore that day? All the motels are full? A minimalist camping set up will make dealing with those situations safer and easier. The good thing is even if you’re ready to camp you don’t have to. If the weather is bad and there’s lodging it might make sense to take the lodging option. Being able to camp just opens up your options.
Of course there are many factors that will make the camping strategy successful. In my opinion the most important factor is good equipment. The right equipment will lighten the load, work better, be safer, be more comfortable and pack smaller. The more minimalist you can go the less weight you will have to carry. You have to balance that out with good judgement and experience. Also important is being able to actually carry the additional weight and bulk.
My camping kit weighs about 5 pounds. I use a 30 degree Marmot high quality down sleeping bag that weighs 1.1 pounds, a 12×10 sil-nylon tarp big enough for two people three in a pinch that weighs 1.5 pounds, a Thermorest Neo Air air mattress that weighs less than a pound and a sil-nylon ground cloth about ½ pound. A set up like this has some limitations, so some consideration of where you camp and what the weather is doing is a must. I have camped with this setup in pouring rain without getting wet, but it’s not like a fully enclosed tent.
I hope these thoughts will get the reader to at least consider the camping option. Enjoy your rides regardless.
Camping on the GRIT1-Sylvan Trail single track.
This campsite was only accessible with 3 hours of cross country riding, lots of pushing and second tries to get up sections. It was an amazing place to camp. We spent two nights there. We did a 8 hour hike up to the highest most prominent peak in the area.
Sunrise over the Sea of Cortez. With Kevin Daniels and Sanjay Shanbhag.
High atop the Punta San Carlos Mesa, the full moon lighting up the views over the pacific ocean.
Our camp site after a 90 mile section of un-tracked cross country riding through a previously un-ridden blank spot on the map.
The big horn overlook spot on the East Rim trail northern Baja.
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