Camp site amenities

[billconner]

Most of my adult camping has been canoe trips in the BWCAW.. Since moving to NY from IL, I have camped some in the Adirondacks.

So, I was curious about preferences and comments of others on campsite amenities. In the BWCAW, it's only a fire ring and grate, and a thunder box. In the Adirondacks, lean tos, outhouses often stocked, picnic tables, fire rings, and signage.

I'm a little torn but think I prefer the BWCAW less furnished approach. I will admit I use the picnic tables but I prefer the thunder boxes for them being cleansed regularly by rain and wind, and for the views.

[Justin]

My ideal campsite is a small fire pit 18"-24" in diameter, with a log bench to sit on, a flat space nearby for my tent, and a couple of trees to hang my clothes line & string lights on. Extra bonus points for the view. No need for a lean-to, or grate (I bring my own), or a picnic table, outhouse, or thunderbox. The less the campsite is visited by others the better!

[DuctTape]

While some of those amenities exist in the adks, not all sites or areas have them. There are more campsites with just a fire ring than those with lean-tos, outhouses and picnic tables. Thunderboxes are the go-to now as outhouses appear to being phased out, though I have not heard anything official in that regard.

[Crash]

I prefer thunderboxes, unless its raining. I do like a picnic table so I can spread out my gear, but when I camp out of my kayak, I bring along a small portable one regardless for use along the shore.PXL_20240621_182813779.jpg

[Wldrns]

Bill, you need to get out more to wild places. Most of my lifetime personal solo trips and nights spent in the Adirondacks are not in highly traveled areas or in marked well established campsites. I'm sure you do know this, but for others reading this who are not familiar with NY backcountry rules, in general and with few exceptions, you may camp anywhere on public state land that you choose, as long as you are at least 150 feet from roads, trails, or bodies of water, and follow LNT type rules and restrictions on what you do there in your campsite area and that you display care of the land that you temporarily occupy. Upon your departure, anyone following you should not detect that anyone has been there at all. Most times I hang a hammock for sleeping rather than tent and one might notice a small bit of trampled grass beneath when I leave. Except for when I have been on a DEC approverd Lean2Rescue work crew, I have never made use of a leanto shelter when solo tripping.