I've been itching to get away from the city and go camping for a while now. Haven't gone camping since I was 10 and don't know much about it, but have been absorbing lots of information the last few days.

There are 3 kinds of places to camp:

1. Touristy places that charge $50/night.
2. State parks that charge about $15/night.
3. And these "Crown Lands," where camping is free, but with some regulations (e.g., no staying in the same spot for more than 21 days)

The downside of camping on Crown Land is that there's no electricity, bathrooms or water (other than bodies of water, if you can find one)

That's fine with me. I like the idea of living off the grid and not running into other campers and RV'ers. I suppose I could bring water with me. I've done some research on camping in the winter and found that it's doable. I want to stay out there for at least a few weeks.

Anyone here done this? I'm looking for free camping spots in the Northeast.

Here's a video on Crown Lands in Canada:

Well I can't suggest any locations but I have done a lot of primitive camping and if this will be your first time try it out for one or two nights at first to make sure your gear and your water purification systems all work the way they should.  Make sure you know the right way to deal with "sanitation".  Things rarely go right the first time so a weekend shake-down trip will be invaluable.  Depending on whether you are backpacking or 4 wheeling will dictate how much and what kind of gear you need.

Marsha

Well I can't suggest any locations but I have done a lot of primitive camping and if this will be your first time try it out for one or two nights at first to make sure your gear and your water purification systems all work the way they should.  Make sure you know the right way to deal with "sanitation".  Things rarely go right the first time so a weekend shake-down trip will be invaluable.  Depending on whether you are backpacking or 4 wheeling will dictate how much and what kind of gear you need.

Marsha

I'm probably going to get there with a carload of gear and supplies. Then make 2 or 3 treks from the car to the campsite, so I won't be taking the bare minimum approach. And I don't plan on leaving the camp much to go exploring.

Have you ever camped in the winter or coldish weather? Any particular gear recommendations?

For heating, I've learned that I should get a zero-degree (or lower) sleeping bag with a closed-cell foam pad underneath. To insulate the floor with space blankets or cardboard. Get a "four season tent." I also might get a Mr. Heater Little Buddy Propane Heater, which I've heard works pretty well and is safe for tent use (they turn off automatically if tipped over).

Here's some good info on winter camping:

https://www.princeton.edu/~oa/winter/wintcamp.shtml
http://www.boyscouttrail.com/library/wintercampingtips.asp
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/winter-snow-camping-checklist.html

I'll look into the sanitation situation, but isn't it just a matter of digging a hole aways from camp?

I was considering hauling big drums of water to the campsite. But camping near a water source would save me a lot of trouble, so I may have to do what you say and take a shake-down trip to make sure I'm picking a good spot.

I haven't had more than a week of solitude in probably 10 years. Finding a quiet, and free, place to camp is just what I need.

O.o Don't.... go... to mass?  :confused1:

I'd like to camp more, make it sort of a semi-retreat. Just go into the wilderness and pray by myself.

This time of year, if you can camp further south, you could do so with much less specialized gear. If testing out your ability to camp in a cold climate is one of your goals, go for it, but not everyone is experiencing winter weather right now.

I remember the first time I went winter camping. It was one of the most miserable self inflicted  experiences of my life. I was freezing the whole time. Especially at night.  I've gone since then and have had much better experiences after learning a thing or two, mainly on keeping warm. Maybe you know all the things I'm going to mention, but they were the small things that made a difference for me.

You mentioned getting a warm sleeping bag. YES. The ones with goose down are excellent. While sleeping in one of those you may wake up sweating, lol. And remember, when it comes to the amount of clothing you wear in a good sleeping bag, less is more. The special stuff in those sleeping bags can't work its magic if your clothing is catching all of your body heat.

There's nothing worse then your extremities getting cold. I have poor circulation so my feet and hands get painfully cold. I use the $1.00 heat packs from walmart to put inside my boots. They also have hand ones.

Is there a water source where you will be? If so, i'd say to heck with hauling in enough water to last you a week. For me, it was a great investment to buy a water purifier. You can either use a filter, or you could use one of those zapper things where you stick a little electrode thing in the water, and it zaps all the bad stuff. It can do something like a quart in 20 seconds. It's pretty nifty.

I invested in a really good thermos that keeps liquids warm for hours. I heat water in the morning over the fire and pour it in my thermos so I could sip on hot tea to help warm me up throughout the morning.

Best of luck! I hope your experience is everything you are seeking. :)

I remember the first time I went winter camping. It was one of the most miserable self inflicted  experiences of my life. I was freezing the whole time. Especially at night.  I've gone since then and have had much better experiences after learning a thing or two, mainly on keeping warm. Maybe you know all the things I'm going to mention, but they were the small things that made a difference for me.

You mentioned getting a warm sleeping bag. YES. The ones with goose down are excellent. While sleeping in one of those you may wake up sweating, lol. And remember, when it comes to the amount of clothing you wear in a good sleeping bag, less is more. The special stuff in those sleeping bags can't work its magic if your clothing is catching all of your body heat.

There's nothing worse then your extremities getting cold. I have poor circulation so my feet and hands get painfully cold. I use the $1.00 heat packs from walmart to put inside my boots. They also have hand ones.

I'll definitely be taking along heat packs or hand warmers. I recently bought some and tried them out, and was pleased to discover that they do indeed stay hot for 12 hours. And they're very inexpensive.

Is there a water source where you will be? If so, i'd say to heck with hauling in enough water to last you a week. For me, it was a great investment to buy a water purifier. You can either use a filter, or you could use one of those zapper things where you stick a little electrode thing in the water, and it zaps all the bad stuff. It can do something like a quart in 20 seconds. It's pretty nifty.

Could you give me a link to the electrode gadget? I searched, but can't find it. I was considering purifier tablets, but the electrode gadet sounds promising. You're right about hauling water. The more I think about it the less I want the burden of that approach. Finding a good water source is essential, if I want to stay out there for a lengthy period.

I invested in a really good thermos that keeps liquids warm for hours. I heat water in the morning over the fire and pour it in my thermos so I could sip on hot tea to help warm me up throughout the morning.

Best of luck! I hope your experience is everything you are seeking. :)

Thanks! Yeah, a Thermos is definitely on my list.Some campers will fill it with hot water and slip it in their sleeping bag when they sleep.

Tx! I've just checked out some reviews on YouTube of this model: http://www.rei.com/product/799003/steripen-adventurer-opti-water-purifier

Like that it can be used as a backup flashlight.

I'll still get some purifier tablets in case it breaks.