Re: [Paddlewise] Commando Camping

ralph wrote about his views of commando camping, providing some very
thoughtful ideas.  Among them, he wrote:

> Next or on the same order as the first above, would be parkland, off in
> a corner somewhere or a bit of an island or isolated peninsula away from
> paths and roads.  An amazing amount of such exists along the shores of
> most bodies of water.  Again this is a violation but if you do no harm.
> If you are being sensible in your camping practices and you do get found
> by a ranger, your luck will likely be like mine.  They will say okay.

The only thing I would add to this -- and I don't mean to come off as
sanctimonious here -- is that if a parkland (or even private land) *is*
designated as a no-camping area (which you may not know just by wandering
onto it) it *could* be because it is a nesting ground or breeding area for
some animal (or plant) that might be seriously harmed by your presence.
Example: I recently landed on a tiny (uninhabited) island in an inland
lake -- for no particular reason other than it seemed like a fun thing to do
(and to take a pee).  Once I was out of the boat, I saw two loon eggs
carefully tucked up next to a tree at the edge of the shore.  Looking
around, I saw the loons out in the water.  I felt sick inside.  As quickly
and quietly as I could, I launched and moved on, praying that my landing
would not have any impact on the nest.  I did see the loons a couple of days
later still guarding the spot, so I think it is OK.  But it would be very
easy, I believe, for a landing to result in the loss of the two eggs -- a
great loss -- they are such amazingly beautiful birds.

Just a thought. . . not meant to make any kind of point, really. . .

Mark

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