HI EVERYONE. TOMMY SIERRA HERE AND TODAY IM
GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOU CAN DO WHICH IS GO
CAMPING FOR FREE IN THE U.S. NATIONAL FORESTS. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW I PREPARE AND THEN
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU WITH ME ON A HUNT FOR A FREE CAMPSITE IN THE FOREST SO YOU CAN SEE
HOW I DO IT. FREE CAMPING OR WHAT THE FOREST SERVICE CALLS
DISPERSED CAMPING OR ROADSIDE CAMPING OR WHAT RVERS REFER TO BOONDOCKING ISN'T AS CONVENIENT
AS BOOKING A CAMPSITE AT A CAMPGROUND BUT YOU CAN'T BEAT THE PRICE AND YOU ALSO CAN'T
BEAT THE SERENITY AND IN MANY CASES, THE VIEWS AND PROXIMITY TO OTHER ACTIVITIES.
OF COURSE BACKPACKERS ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS BUT FOR CASUAL CAR CAMPING THE FORESTS ARE
THE BEST KEPT SECRET IF YOU'RE NOT FOND OF CAMPGROUNDS AND DON'T MIND DOING WITHOUT FACILITIES
THAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER TO BE NECESSITIES SUCH AS BATHROOMS AND ELECTRICAL HOOKUPS AND
A CAMP STORE. NOW I'M NOT RAGGING ON CAMPGROUNDS BUT CAMPGROUNDS
HAVE REALLY FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR WITH ME PERSONALLY FOR A FEW REASONS.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON BEING INCONSIDERATE PEOPLE.
RECENTLY I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH OHIO AND THERE WERE NO FORESTS TO STAY AT IN OHIO,
AT LEAST NOT WHERE I WAS AND I STAYED AT AN OHIO STATE PARKS CAMPGROUND. AND AFTER A LONG
DAY ON THE ROAD I WAS TIRED, I WAS EATING SOME DINNER AROUND 8 O'CLOCK OR 9 O'CLOCK
AT NIGHT AND SOME PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THE CAMPSITES ACROSS FROM MINE. THEY WERE PLANNING
ON HAVING A BIG PARTY. ONE OF THE PEOPLE CAME OVER TO ME AND TOLD ME IN ADVANCE THAT THEY
WERE CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY AND APOLOGIZED IN ADVANCE FOR- THEY WERE PROBABLY GOING TO
BE A LITTLE NOISY OR ROUDY LATER THAT NIGHT AND SHE TOLD ME TO TELL HER TO QUIET DOWN
IF THEY WERE BEING TOO LOUD. I SAID I DON'T REALLY CARE AS LONG AS YOU
DON'T DISTURB ME WHEN I'M TRYING TO SLEEP. I MEAN THE CAMPGROUND HAS QUIET HOURS AFTER
10 O'CLOCK AND SHE GOES... WE'RE GOING TO BE UP LATER
THAN THAT, MORE LIKE 3 AM. AND THEY HAD A BUNCH OF YOUNG CHILDREN THERE AND I WAS LIKE
YEAH SURE, 3AM, THAT'S FUNNY. I THOUGHT SHE WAS KIDDING. I SAID I'M TIRED, I HAD A LONG
DAY I DON'T WANT TO BE DISTURBED WHEN I'M TRYING TO SLEEP BUT SHE SAID BUT WE'RE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS! AND I SAID.. YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CAMPGROUND.
SO CAN YOU GUESS HOW THIS ENDS? THEY GOT SO DRUNK AND UNBELIEVABLY NOISY THAT I CALLED
THE POLICE ON THEM THREE TIMES. THREE! THREE TIMES! AND THE POLICE KEPT COMING OUT AND
TELLING THEM TO QUIET DOWN AND THE SECOND THEY WOULD LEAVE- LITERALLY THE SECOND THE
POLICE CAR PULLED AWAY, THEY WOULD GO RIGHT BACK AT IT AGAIN. SO THE NEXT MORNING, I COMPLAINED
TO THE PARK MANAGER AND HE HAD THEM KICKED OUT. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM TOMMY!
ANYWAY, THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE SHOOTING
OFF FIREWORKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. CAMPGROUNDS CAN HAVE A LOT OF TRASH AND I
DON'T MEAN JUST THE LITTER. I'VE SEEN RVs DUMP THEIR SEWAGE ON THE GROUND, CAMPGROUNDS
ARE ALSO BEAR MAGNETS PEOPLE LEAVE SO MUCH FOOD OUT AND THE TRASH IS ALWAYS OVERFLOWING-
NOT ALWAYS- BUT IN SOME PLACES IT IS AND THAT JUST ATTRACTS BEARS LIKE A MAGNET. SOME OF
THESE IDIOTS FEED THE BEARS WHICH GUARANTEES THE BEARS WILL BE BACK.. IT GUARANTEES THE
BEARS WILL BE KILLED BECAUSE THEY BECOME A NUISANCE. SO I HATE TO SAY IT-- THIS... THIS
ISN'T JUST FOR THE OTHER CAMPERS EITHER, THE RANGERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE CAMPGROUND
CAN ALSO BE A PRONOUNCE ANNOYANCE. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. BEFORE I HAD MY OZTENT,
I HAD A ROOFTOP TENT BUT BEFORE THAT, I HAD A TRUCK CAMPER THAT I BUILT MYSELF. IT LOOKED
LIKE A SEAFOOD TRUCK. FUNNY STORY- ONE TIME I WAS VISITING DC AND I PARKED A COUPLE BLOCKS
FROM THE WHITEHOUSE. AND WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE CLOSEST PUBLIC METERED PARKING SPACES
TO THE WHITE HOUSE THAT YOU CAN GET. SO AFTER ABOUT 90 MINUTES OR SO THERE WAS SIRENS AND
POLICE EVERYWHERE - THIS WAS RIGHT AFTER OBAMA TOOK OFFICE SO EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING
REALLY, REALLY BAD AFTER 30-45 MINUTES THEY FINALLY LET US GO AND WE FOUND OUT IT WAS
OVER A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT... OH NO! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO BACK AND
FIND MY CAMPER TRUCK IN A MILLION PIECES. BUT IT WASN'T. AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE SOME
LITTLE SEDAN. AFTER THINKING THIS OVER IN MY HEAD, IT'S MIND BLOWING TO THINK THAT SOME
STRANGE LOOKING SEAFOOD TRUCK WITH A BIG WHITE BOX IN THE BACK PARKED IN LITERALLY THE CLOSEST
PARKING SPACE YOU CAN GET TO THE WHITE HOUSE CAN REMAIN THERE FOR HOURS WITHOUT RAISING
ANY SUSPICIONS MEANWHILE SOME NONDESCRIPT CHEVY SEDAN WOULD HAVE THE WHOLE CITY ON LOCKDOWN.
SO MY TRUCK HAS EARNED SOME NICKNAMES OF ITS OWN BUT -- ANYWAY UM -- ALSO I WAS IN ANOTHER
CITY ONE TIME WORKING TEMPORARILY AND I HAD TO FIND A CAMPGROUND AND I PULLED UP INTO
THE CAMP STORE -- I DIDN'T HAVE A RESERVATION BUT I PULLED UP TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY SITES
AND THE WOMAN BEHIND THE COUNTER GOES-- IN THAT? AND I SAID YES AND SHE GOES, WELL WE
WON'T ALLOW THAT IN HERE. I MEAN-- IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A LUXURY LINER BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK
BAD I MEAN ITS VERY UTILITARIAN BUT IT LOOKED A LOT BETTER THAN A LOT OF OLD CLUNKY RVs
THAT I SEE. SO FAST FORWARD A COUPLE YEARS I WAS IN ANOTHER CAMPGROUND AND AROUND 1 OCLOCK
IN THE MORNING I WAS SLEEPING SOUNDLY IN THE CAMPER AND SOMEONE COMES POUNDING ON THE DOOR
WITH A FLASHLIGHT. AND THE DOGS WHO WERE WITH ME START BARKING AND I STARTED YELLING NOT
KNOWING WHO IT WAS AND BEFORE WE KNOW IT, THE WHOLE CAMPGROUND WAS AWAKENED BY ALL THIS
NOISE AND THE MAN IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS THE RANGER WHICH I CONFIRMED HE WAS AND HE SAYS-
NO SLEEPING IN VEHICLES! AND I EXPLAINED THAT IT'S A CAMPER, NOT UNLIKE ALL THE OTHER RV
CAMPERS AROUND ME AND I TOLD HIM IN SO MANY NOT SO NICE WORDS TO TAKE A HIKE. THE MOST
RECENT TIME WAS AT A STATE PARK CAMPGROUND IN ANOTHER STATE AND THE PARK RANGERS WERE
PULLING PEOPLE OVER IN THE CAMPGROUND FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. AND I WAS STOPPED FOR
NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT. IN A CAMPGROUND! RIGHT NEAR MY CAMPSITE. RIGHT- IN A CAMPGROUND!
NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT! TALK ABOUT A DIGRESSION-- ANYWAY STORY TIME IS OVER YOU GET THE POINT
ANNOYING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE IN CAMPGROUNDS. THE OTHER PROBLEM WITH CAMPGROUNDS IS WHILE
YOU CAN OFTEN MAKE RESERVATIONS REAL EASILY, THEY TEND TO GET FILLED UP DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
SO MAKING IT EASY CAN BE A BLESSING AND A CURSE. ANYWAY ITS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO GET
A CAMPSITE AND THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY THINGS THAT HAVE LED ME TO SAY DISPERSED CAMPING
IS FOR ME. IT'S REALLY THE WAY I ROLL BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY MORE ENJOYABLE. i NEVER USED THE
AMENITIES AT CAMPGROUNDS ANYWAY INCLUDING THE BATHROOMS- I BRING MY OWN- AND I DON'T
NEED A PERFECTLY LEVEL TENT PAD OR ELECTRICAL HOOKUPS OR ANY OF THAT STUFF. BRINGING ALL
THAT STUFF IS JUST PART OF THE FUN FOR ME. ONE THING THAT WOULD BE A CONVENIENCE ARE
TRASH CANS BUT MORE AND MORE CAMPGROUNDS ARE TAKING OUT THE TRASH CANS EXPECTING PEOPLE
TO PACK IT OUT. PACK OUT THEIR TRASH AND DISPOSE OF IT ELSEWHERE. FINDING FREE DISPERSED CAMPING
IN THE FOREST, STARTS WITH FINDING A FOREST. THEN CHECKING TO SEE IF THEY EVEN ALLOW DISPERSED
CAMPING - MOST DO - BUT SOME DON'T AND SOME HAVE CERTAIN CONDITIONS - THEY ONLY ALLOW
IT IN CERTAIN PLACES AND THERE'S ALWAYS RULES AND CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO BEGIN WITH FOR DISPERSED
CAMPING SO LETS TAKE A LOOK. I PULLED UP THIS WEBSITE HERE FOR JUST A RANDOM FOREST ON THE
NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE WEBSITE . THIS IS KIND OF REPRESENTATIVE OF A FAIRLY RESTRICTIVE
ONE IT HAS QUITE A FEW RULES THAT ARE TYPICAL BUT THIS ONE IS A LITTLE MORE RESTRICTIVE
SO I THOUGHT WE'D GO OVER THIS ONE REAL QUICK JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR AN EXAMPLE.
SO HERE'S THEIR RULES. THERE'S A 14 DAY PER LIMIT ON HOW LONG YOU CAN STAY. THAT'S PRETTY
TYPICAL. THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO MOVE IN. NO CAMPING OR CAMPFIRES WITHIN CITY LIMITS. THAT
ONE I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE BUT THIS IS IN CALIFORNIA, THIS PARTICULAR FOREST HERE. DO NOT CMAP ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY UNLESS YOU HAVE THE OWNERS PERMISSION. THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD. JUST BECAUSE
IT'S A NATIONAL FOREST DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ALL PUBLIC LAND, IT'S NOT. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT
OR THEY FORGET THERE IS PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE NATIONAL FOREST AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT
IT. NO CAMPING WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF A WILDLIFE WATERING TANK OR HOLE. THIS IS IN
ARIZONA, NOT CALIFORNIA. THAT'S ONE I HAVEN'T SEEN HERE IN THE SOUTHEAST. THAT MAY OR MAY
NOT BE A PROBLEM. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. CAMP AT LEAST ONE MILE FROM MILE FROM PAY
CAMPGROUNDS AND I WOULDN'T SAY THAT'S TYPICAL - I MEAN SOMETIMES THEY THERE ARE SIGNS POSTED
NEAR THOSE DEVELOPED CAMPGROUNDS THAT SAY DON'T PARK HERE OR NO CAMPING HERE - THEY
DON'T WANT YOU TO DO IT RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CAMPGROUND BUT A MILE- THAT'S KIND OF CRAZY.
PLEASE DON'T DRIVE THROUGH AN OPEN MEADOWLAND DUE TO THE SCARRING. THAT'S ONE I HAVEN'T
SEEN BUT THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE. DOWN AND DEAD FIREWOOD MAY BE GATHERED AROUND YOUR
CAMPSITE BUT IS ILLEGAL TO TAKE OUT WITHOUT A PERMIT. HERE-- FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY NOW
IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE YOU DON'T TRANSPORT FIREWOOD. I NEVER SEE MANY RULES NOT TO TAKE
IT OUT OF THE FOREST BUT IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, YOU'RE POTENTIALLY TRANSPORTING PESTS IN THE
FIREWOOD SO SELECT YOUR FIREWOOD RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT. CAMPFIRES CAN CAUSE
A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE BACKCOUNTRY USE A LIGHTWEIGHT STOVE-- BLAH BLAH BLAH, THESE ARE MAYBE SOUTHWEST
SPECIFIC DUE TO THE FIRE DANGER THERE. BUT THESE ARE PRETTY COMMON SENSE, KEEP FIRES
SMALL, PUT THE FIRES OUT COMPLETELY . THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DEFINITELY DO AND RECOMMEND
MAKING SURE- YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE- THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMEONE TO SEE IT
IF IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL . PUT IT OUT, MAKE SURE, DUMP WATER ON IT. WHEN CAR CAMPING IN
THE NATIONAL FOREST, DON'T DRIVE MORE THAN 30-FEET FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CAMP
EXCEPT IN DESIGNATED CAMPING CORRIDORS. IN DESIGNATED CAMPING CORRIDORS, ONE CAN DRIVE
UP TO 300 FEET FROM THE ROAD TO CAR CAMP. THESE RULES ONLY AFFECT MOTOR VEHICLE USE.
FOREST VISITORS CAN ALWAYS HIKE TO CAMPSITES AT FARTHER DISTANCES FROM THE ROADS. NOW I
HAVE NOT SEEN THAT SPELLED OUT LIKE THAT BEFORE BUT THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT'S A GOOD RULE TO
HAVE I NEVER VENTURE MORE THAN 30 FEET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROADS ANYWAY - MAYBE A LITTLE
BIT, BUT I DON'T BLAZE A NEW TRAIL THROUGH THERE. THAT'S PERFECTLY REASONABLE. IT'S A
GOOD BEST PRACTICE EVEN IF IT'S NOT A RULE. AND I WOULD DEFINITELY FOLLOW THAT REGARDLESS.
ALWAYS USE A PACK IN AND PACK OUT METHOD FOR THE DISPOSAL OF LITTER- YOU KNOW IF YOU DON'T
DO THAT-- YOU NEED TO START. PLEASE USE A HOLE TO BURY ALL HUMAN AND PET WASTE AT LEAST
6 TO 7 INCHES DEEP. THIS IS ANOTHER RULE THAT JUST MAKES PERFECT SENSE. IT MAY NOT BE SPELLED
OUT FOR YOU EVERYWHERE BUT THIS IS PERFECTLY GOOD SENSE . PRACTICE LEAVE NO TRACE OUTDOOR
ETHICS. DISPOSE OF ALL GARBAGE, BLAH BLAH BLAH YOU GET THE IDEA. SOMETIMES WHAT YOU
SEE, ONE PARTICULAR FOREST THAT COMES TO MIND, IS THE PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST AROUND ASHEVILLE.
THEY ONLY LET YOU DO WHAT THEY CALL ROADSIDE CAMPING IN DESIGNATED AREAS WHERE THERE IS
A SIGN POSTED WHERE YOU CAN CAMP. SO I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE STRICT . I DON'T LIKE BEING
TOLD WHERE TO CAMP BUT THAT'S JUST ONE OUT OF MANY SO CHECK TO SEE AHEAD OF TIME WHAT
THE RULES ARE. THE NEXT THING YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO AFTER MAKING SURE THE FOREST
EVEN ALLOWS DISPERSED CAMPING IS TO GET A MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP. THE FOREST SERVICE
HAS DESIGNATED CERTAIN ROADS BEING OPEN TO PUBLIC USE AND THEY MAKE MAPS AVAILABLE SHOWING
YOU WHAT THESE ROADS ARE ALONG WITH ANY RESTRICTIONS FOR USING THEM LIKE ATVS ONLY THERE ALSO MAY
BE SEASONAL CLOSURES AND I HAVE ANOTHER VIDEO THAT GOES INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT EXPLORING
THE FOREST SERVICE ROADS AND THERE IS A LINK DOWN BELOW IN THE DESCRIPTION OR ON TOMMYSIERRA.COM.
NOW LETS TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT ONE OF THOSE LOOKS LIKE OFF TO THE SIDE HERE WE HAVE
WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP. THEY'RE USUALLY NUMBERED- ALMOST ALWAYS NUMBERED.
SOMETIMES IF YOU HAVE A SPUR OFF THE MAIN ROAD, YOU'LL HAVE 535-A, 535-B, C, D AND SO
ON AND SO FORTH THIS HAS A LEGEND HERE AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THERE'S DIFFERENT SHADINGS
ON THESE ROADS WHICH WOULD REFER TO SEASONAL CLOSURES AND WHO CAN USE THE ROADS AND STUFF
LIKE THAT. BUT HERE YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE DESIGNATED FOUR CAMPSITES IN CERTAIN AREAS
ALONG THIS PARTICULAR ROAD. NOW SOMETIMES YOU'LL HAVE THIS ON CERTAIN FOREST ROADS.
PARTICULARLY WHERE THERE'S WATER INVOLVED AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OR TRAFFIC BECAUSE
THE ROADS MAY BE VERY NARROW AND THERE MAY NOT REALLY BE ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO -- PEOPLE
MAY TRY TO EEK OUT A CAMPSITE WHERE ITS JUST NOT REALLY SAFE TO DO IT SO IN SOME PLACES
THEY'LL DESIGNATE CERTAIN AREAS WHERE - AND THESE AREN'T PAY AREAS, BUT THESE ARE JUST
SOME UNDEVELOPED AREAS THEY WILL LET YOU CAMP DISPERSED FOR FREE WHERE YOU'RE SAFE AND OUT
OF THE WAY. SO DEFINITELY GET A MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP AND LOOK FOR ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS.
YOU CAN LOOK FOR -- MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAPS ARE NOT THE SAME AS THE MAPS THAT SHOW ALL
THE AMENITIES OF THE FOREST SUCH AS RECREATION AND DEVELOPED CAMPGROUNDS AND PICNIC AREAS
AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THESE LITTLE ICONS ARE NOT NORMALLY ON A MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAP. BUT
YOU GET A VISITORS GUIDE FOR THAT STUFF. DEFINITELY. SOMETIMES THESE FOREST SERVICE ROADS ARE ON
ONLINE MAPS LIKE GOOGLE MAPS BUT USUALLY NOT. WHETHER IT IS OR ISN'T, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS
TAKE A PAPER MAP JUST IN CASE. I CAN NOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH. I CAN BE A PRINTOUT, IT CAN BE
A BIG FOLD OUT MAP, IT CAN BE A HAND DRAWN MAP THAT YOU DO WITH A SHARPIE, JUST HAVE
SOMETHING ON PAPER. OTHER THINGS I WOULD SUGGEST DOING WHILE YOU'RE IN THE PLANNING STAGES
IS FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANY WARNINGS ABOUT THE AREA ON THE FOREST SERVICE WEBSITE ALSO
CHECK THE WEATHER. THINGS LIKE FLASH FLOODS ARE A VERY REAL HAZARD AND YOU NEED TO BE
AWARE OF ANY RISKS FOR THAT STUFF. FIND OUT WHERE ANY OF THE NEAREST STORES ARE WHERE
YOU CAN FIND SUPPLIES IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING. REMEMBER THERE'S NO CAMP STORE IN THE FOREST
SO IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO MAKE DO WITHOUT IT. AND IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT
WHERE OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE, NOW IS THE TIME TO FIND IT AND PLAN IT BEFORE
YOU GET OUT TO THE FOREST. ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR MAPS AND YOUR CAMPING SUPPLIES AND PACKED
UP AND READY TO GO THE NEXT STEP IS TO EXPLORE THE FOREST ROADS YOU HAVE FOUND. AND IT'S
TIME THAT YOU AND I WENT ON A FIELD TRIP AND YOU CAN SEE HOW I DO THIS...
(MUSIC PLAYS) SO I JUST WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT. WE'RE
ON THIS FOREST SERVICE ROAD AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR FREE CAMPING AND I FIND THIS LITTLE CUTOFF
HERE , THIS LITTLE SPUR THAT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU CAN SEE IT JUST DEAD ENDS THERE ON THIS
RIDGETOP. THIS IS KIND OF A HIGH SPOT, IT'S HARD TO SEE IT THROUGH THE TREES. SOMEBODY
HAS MADE THIS A CAMPSITE BEFORE. I'M NOT ADVOCATING CLEARING ANYTHING OF COURSE, IT'S ALREADY
CLEAR, BUT IF YOU WANT TO BACK IN THERE, THERE'S A CAMPSITE FOR YOU. JUST WAITING FOR YOU.
WELL I KNOW SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO BE NEAR THE WATER AND BE DOWN BY A CREEK OR RIVER BUT
I LIKE A ROOM WITH A VIEW AND THAT MEANS TAKING IT TO THE RIDGE TOPS, MOUNTAIN TOPS, THE KNOBS,
THE BALDS AND THIS IS MORE MY SPEED RIGHT HERE. YOU GET THESE NICE BREEZES. PROBABLY
CAN'T SEE IT THROUGH THE TREES BUT THERE'S A NICE VIEW THERE TO BE HAD. IT'S NICE AND
LEVEL, GRASS, LIKE SOMEONE MOWED IT. THERE'S ALREADY A FIRE RING WAITING FOR YOU AND SOME
FIREWOOD. IT'S NOT BAD FOR THE PRICE OF ZERO DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS. CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT
THIS ONE. I WILL PUT THIS ONE ON MY SHORT LIST AND SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE.
ALRIGHT SO HERE'S ANOTHER NICE, DECENT ONE FOR THE SHORT LIST. WE'RE ON THE RIDGE TOP
HERE AND WE GOT A NICE CROSS BREEZE, A REALLY FLAT LEVEL AREA HERE AND EASY ACCESS FROM
THE ROAD, SO IT'S NOT A VERY BIG SITE BUT I WOULD TAKE IT. SO THIS WHOLE ROAD IS JUST
DOTTED WITH REALLY NICE LITTLE CAMPSITES. ALRIGHT LETS SEE WHAT ELSE WE GOT.
WELL IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER, I'D SAY THIS WAS A CAMPSITE IN A CAMPGROUND. A BACK IN
SITE AND EVERYTHING. FLAT AND FREE OF TRASH, VEGETATION, BUT NO VIEW. NICE BREEZE BUT NOT
REALLY A VIEW. SO I'M GONNA KEEP LOOKING. IT'S NICE AND PRIVATE AND SECLUDED RELATIVE
TO THE OTHER SITES- NOT THAT THEY WEREN'T PRIVATE EITHER BUT THIS IS REALLY BACKED UP
OFF THE ROAD QUITE A BIT. SOME CAMPGROUNDS WOULD CHARGE YOU FIFTY DOLLARS A NIGHT FOR
SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS FREE. WELL HERE'S A LITTLE CLEARING HERE THAT I
COULD WORK WITH BUT THERE'S NOWHERE TO PARK. OH, NO PARKING. BUT THIS IS NORMALLY WHAT
I LOOK FOR RIGHT HERE. WE HAVE A VIEW, IT'S PROBABLY HARD TO SEE IT ON THE VIDEO ESPECIALLY
THROUGH THE TREES BUT THERE IS A VIEW AND WE'RE ON A RIDGE TOP SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A
VIEW ON TWO SIDES AND A BREEZE FROM TWO SIDES. AND IN THE SUMMER TIME THAT IS JUST MARVELOUS.
IT'S PRICELESS REALLY THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. THIS TOPOGRAPHY IS PRETTY STEEP BUT THERE'S
PLENTY OF ROOM HERE FOR A TENT. THAT'S FOR SURE. THIS TIME OF YEAR IT'S A LITTLE CHILLY
FOR NORTHWESTERN EXPOSURE BUT IN THE SUMMER TIME I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER THIS SPOT
IF THERE WAS ANYWHERE AT ALL TO PARK. AND THERE ISN'T. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HUNTING FOR
THE PERFECT CAMP SITE. AS YOU CAN SEE, PART OF THE FUN IS FINDING THE CAMPSITE. SO, IF
YOU COULD JUST MAKE A RESERVATION FOR IT, DOESN'T THAT TAKE OUT ALL THE CHALLENGE AND
FUN OUT OF IT? I THINK SO. WELL IT LOOKS LIKE OUR CAMPSITE SEARCH CAME
TO AN ABRUPT END. THERE'S A GATE AND UM, SO I GUESS I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO ONE OF THE
CAMPSITES THAT ARE ON MY SHORT LIST AND SET UP THERE. THERE'S BEEN SOME PRETTY NICE ONES.
IM REALLY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT'S BEYOND THIS POINT BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS ROAD HAS
BEEN OPEN IN A LONG TIME. AND SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO MAKE DO. THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER FOREST
ROADS IF I WANTED TO SPEND ALL DAY DOING THIS, I COULD.
WELL FOLKS, I FOUND IT. THIS CAMPSITE HAS IT ALL. AMPLE PARKING DAY OR NIGHT, IT'S BIG,
IT HAS A VIEW, IT'S GOT A FIRE RING ALREADY, AND... IT HAS LTE. REALLY, WHAT MORE CAN YOU
ASK FOR? THIS IS PERFECT. SHADE PLUS SUN, IT'S GRASSY. YOU HAVE A CROSS VENTILATION
BREEZE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THIS RIDGE. I MEAN, IT IS PERFECT. WELL MAYBE NOT PERFECT BUT
IT'S PRETTY DARN GOOD IT'S GOT MOST OF THE STUFF I LOOK FOR SO HERE'S WHERE WE'RE SETTING
UP. HERE WE ARE, ALL SET UP IN CAMP AND NICE BIG,
FREE CAMPSITE WITH OUR 360 DEGREE VIEWS AND OUR 360 DEGREE CROSS BREEZE AND NOBODY AROUND
TO DISTURB US. IT'S JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF TODAY'S VIDEO. THIS IS HOW WE DO IT HERE IN TOMMY SIERRA
LAND. LIKE TO CAMP FOR FREE IN THE WOODS AWAY FROM DISTURBANCES AND INCONSIDERATE PEOPLE
AND OTHER NOISE AND STUFF, JUST TO BE HERE IN NATURE. IN THE QUIET. WITHOUT ANY DISTURBANCES.
IT'S JUST GREAT. IT'S THE WAY MOTHER NATURE INTENDED FOR IT. (SKYPE BUBBLE ON PHONE) YOU
HEARD THAT SKYPE BUBBLE, WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM DISTURBANCES HERE I GUESS. BUT
ANYWAY, I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS VIDEO HELPFUL AND GAVE YOU SOME POINTERS AND TIPS ON HOW
TO FIND THE FREE CAMPING IT'S OUT THERE FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO FIND IT. IT'S THERE. IT'S
A LOT OF FUN. FINDING THE CAMPSITE IS REALLY THE MOST FUN PART IF YOU ASK ME BECAUSE YOU
NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET. IT'S LIKE A GRAB BAG OF CAMPING SO ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOU DISCOVER A NEW FOREST ROAD TO EXPLORE . IF YOU FOUND THIS VIDEO HELPFUL- MY FIRE
HAS GONE OUT AGAIN- IF YOU FOUND THIS VIDEO HELPFUL PLEASE GIVE IT A THUMBS UP AND COMMENT
DOWN BELOW AND SUBSCRIBE THAT WAY YOU'LL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN A NEW VIDEO IS POSTED.
THAT ABOUT DOES IT FOR THIS VIDEO. TIL NEXT TIME, I WANT YOU... TO GET OUT THERE... AND
HAVE... AN ADVENTURE. [Captions by Tommy Sierra]
