Rafting, Yes — But Camping?
Posted by: ScottP in fears, facilities, camping, Cabins, ACE Adventure Resort on Aug 31, 2009
When people speak of camping, I scoff. It is truly a foreign language to me. And I speak to gung-ho campers daily. But it doesn't stick.
They love the outdoor cooking. The tent sleeping. The fresh morning air. Say what?
I am trying to camp at the end of August and am really conflicted about it. My friends, Katie and Phil, are bringing a group, and I feel the peer pressure to camp. 2 nights. Outdoors. Help.
The thought of putting up a tent literally sends me into a testosterone spiral. I had to assemble a medicine cabinet the other day and had to double my dosage, I was so worked up. Anyway, camping.
I did camp for one night last Gauley Season before my Lower Gauley trip. By the time I got off of work, the tent was already set up. The campfire was roaring. It didn't seem so bad. The tent was huge. It was more like sleeping than camping. It had inflatable elevated levels that were built in mattresses. I was living the high life - camp style. Very rustically luxurious.
Then I had to go to the bathroom.
Slowly creeping over the other three in the tent, I tried to unzip the tent. And tried. And tried. I needed a Depends by the time I got out of there. I didn't know I had to know the secret handshake to get out of that thing. On top of that, then I had to WALK to the bathroom.
And the next morning without my cappucino machine. It was not pretty.
Then I think of the staff members here who camp all summer. Am I so spoiled that I can not even relate to "roughing it?"
I know you are reading this, judging me. I don't care. I am a modern man of 2009. I am unashamed of my love of the luxuries of home. My bed. My Pampered Chef cooking utensils. The Kitchen Aid Mixer. The air conditioning.
So I admit to all of you that I am a camping snob. I respect Mother Nature and all of her beauty and power, but give me a cabin any day of the week. You can have her.
Maybe I should have started at a different camping level. At ACE, we have cabin tents that are tents on platforms with beds and linens. Hmmmmm. Hindsight is 20/20. That seems like a more practical options for my degree of high maintenance.
We also have family tents and group tents that are also preset and have full mattress pads. You still have to bring your own camp stuff (whatever that is), but the tent is set up.
Here is my advice: Decide for yourself. In my book, nothing is better after a long day surfing those Gauley waters than a hot tub, and all of our deluxe cabins have them. Truly money well-spent. And it doesn't hurt that all of the cabins are gorgeous.
I will keep you posted on how my camping goes. Are you an avid camper? Do you have any advice?
I only know that the zipper on my tent will remain open, or heads will roll.
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written by David, September 02, 2009
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written by lola st.anthony, September 02, 2009
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written by Walter Knight, September 07, 2009
In hindsight it would have been much more simple if I had just thrown a tarp on the ground and slept under the star's.
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Roughing it, especially if it's outside your comfort zone, is fun. Especially since it's just a few nights, and then you go home to your bed (and appreciate it).