An errant low-pressure system has blown in from the Pacific and all this morning you could hear campground reservations being canceled all over town. In truth, there is a hopeful flavor to the forecast and this might turn out to be a decent, even a memorable Labor Day weekend.
Or not; it depends in part how nice you’ve been to your mother and if your kids have the resilience to play in the rain instead of retreat behind their iPods for three days of sullen grousing. If that’s what you suspect the weekend may bring, stay home. It’s probably your own darned fault!
Don’t let anybody kid you; a spoiled weekend camping trip is a sign of bad karma brought about by selfishness, inflexibility, being insensitive to your spouse, poor taste in T-shirt slogans, and far too much salt in your diet.
The innocent camp in the sunshine; the rest of us pack three changes of socks and underwear for each day we intend to be out.
However, a late check seemed to indicate there will be space available at some of the nearby campgrounds, especially those with complete accommodations like Mossyrock Park at Riffe Lake, Taidnapam Park, Mayfield Lake Park, and possibly a “no-show” or two at Ike Kinswa. On the other hand, private RV parks with TV hookups are still at a premium for those who simply don’t trust Labor Day weather under any circumstances.
The option of rustic camping or dispersed camping in the National Forest is a real, if less than perfect, choice. A few of those sites tend to get a trifle muddy after a gullywasher, and three pairs of socks daily is cutting it close. Other rough camps are remarkably comfortable even in crummy weather. Experience and dumb luck seem to be the key to finding such a site on a crowded holiday weekend. My friends Mike and Sarah, for example, camped up at Chambers Lake near Walupt Lake a couple of weeks back. Even though the place was full and it didn’t rain a drop, they reported plenty of separation between sites and a pleasant stay.
If a holiday storm materializes by Thursday or Friday you’ll have a good choice of spots, but if the weather follows the present semi-optimistic forecast pattern you’ll want to look for a nice roadside clearing with a thick crown of conifers for wind and rain cover.
The weather is not the only limiting factor in the value of a camping experience. In fact, it isn’t even the primary consideration. There are two keys to campouts that become a good time, every time — attitude and equipment. Here on the cusp of the last major outing of the year for summer soldiers, it seems prudent to consider both as a hedge against a rotten weekend.
Attitude makes much of the difference between an outing that leaves a couple at one another’s throats or a different trip, viewing minor setbacks as a momentary issue to be solved. It’s the thing that divides a family into a raging parent vs. offspring cold war that lasts until May.
Equipment goes even farther in creating comfort and fun where there was once only goosebumps and gloom. A well-outfitted camp makes the stay bearable and instills a desire to repeat it. Just the addition of a folding cot, as an example, can change the entire character of the overnight camping experience.
Right now I am looking for a camper van that is decent and reasonably priced to give my old-age camping a new lease on seasons yet to come. My needs have changed, but I can equip myself to continue to enjoy a week in the woods.
This week, take note of equipment needs that weren’t met and discomfort that could have been cured. We’ll talk the fine points of family camping in the weeks ahead!
Have a great Labor Day and a fresh trout breakfast in camp!
