If you have been camping this summer, you no doubt have noticed that Forest Service campgrounds have an abundance of three things: people, bugs, and people bugging you.
They say that all those bugs are a result of so much snow last winter and the resulting moisture. All I know is that I have itching spots that are embarrassing to reach for while eating in a restaurant.
The presence of so many people, I guess, is because folks bought RVs in record numbers during the COVID pandemic so they could get outside and away from other folks carrying the germs.
Consequently, people are cramming into camping areas and spreading germs there like never before. Makes sense.
This uncontrollable urge that humans get each summer to venture into the impenetrable forest primeval and grovel amongst the weeds, wildflowers, and dust, setting off an allergy sneezing attack that could trigger an avalanche, is the result of eons of evolution.
I heed the call to head for the hills and spend several sleepless nights camping out about that time in the spring when the first hummingbird shows up tapping on my bedroom window demanding its sugar-water fix.
If you tent camp like I do, it’s probably wise to set up your tent in the yard prior to the first trip to make sure you replaced that bent pole. You know, the one you rammed your head into after tripping over a rock last summer while stumbling back to your tent after sitting around the campfire drinking beer until 2:00 am.
One thing I can’t understand is how they came up with the name “sleeping bag” when sleep is about the last thing that you’re going to experience in one.
Whenever I roll over, the bag rolls with me and I end up upside down, inhaling mouthfuls of flannel lining. Then if it happens to be a very warm night and the zipper gets stuck, I experience what it’s like to be a baked russet potato wrapped in foil.
If you plan to fish, remember that regulations are complicated: for certain fish use flies or lures, for some use only barbless hooks, and for extremely rare fish you can only use hookless hooks.
