When does it stop being stealth camping and start being homelessness? I did it for a couple of weeks in the woods on the outskirts of Minot, North Dakota, after I tired of sleeping in my car. Thank God it was summer. Didn't do any exploring at the time, was more concerned with finding a job.

Discussion reminded me of this little gem of a story from my home state:
http://usatoday30....ex-offenders_n.htm
There are more dangers than the urban coyote in the forests of Atlanta.

Posted by Eagle_Crow Camping on crown land is legal but you have to move your camp every so many days (can't remember exact number). Lots of hunters do it, and move their camp maybe 10 feet LOL. I went on a roadtrip with a friend, I was disgusted at paying 40 bucks a night to sleep in my own tent, but couldn't get my friend to just set up anywhere

Yeah, crown land is totally free to use and it's a pretty awesome system. Once we get north of the French River we just camp wherever we feel like it, the chances of getting caught are so slim. Camping on mine property is just convenient... wake up, tear down your site and hop straight to exploring!

Scottish to tight to do it another way slept in a asylum roof before exploring it at light up, bit chilly at -6 oC

One of my exploring friends always falls asleep during a explore bit narcoleptic

camping and exploring is the best, gotta get those star trails!

We usually just call it what it is, squatting.

Being from South Africa, I am most familiar with squatting. Squatters don't give a fuck about being noticed.

Posted by The Juge Being from South Africa, I am most familiar with squatting. Squatters don't give a fuck about being noticed.

I suppose in most cases, with homeless and such.
While camping in abandoned buildings, we definitely try not to be seen. We've just always called it squatting. Regardless of what one calls it, it's a great time!

I'm new to stealth camping, which is why I started this thread. I wanted to get new ideas, and maybe give others new ideas. It seems to have worked. On its own, stealth camping is fun. Combined with exploring, it's the best of both worlds, though I haven't had the chance to do it yet.

Not exactly stealth camping, but it is camping in the exploration site. It was snowing outside so we hauled our gear into the mine and had a great night's sleep.



Abby Normal

That looks awesome! I think you may want to consider taking a big groundsheet so less dust will be kicked up while you sleep or someone is walking around. I'm assuming you are not wearing a mask while you sleep.

Posted by The Juge I'm new to stealth camping, which is why I started this thread. I wanted to get new ideas, and maybe give others new ideas. It seems to have worked. On its own, stealth camping is fun. Combined with exploring, it's the best of both worlds, though I haven't had the chance to do it yet.

I love me some backpacking and I also love exploring. I find that having some basic gear like either a bivvy or small shelter (1 person tent, hammock, etc) and maybe a small portable stove (pocket rocket/jetboil) that you can throw in your pack can turn your trip into a thing of luxury even in the most remote, unforgiving locations.

Make sure you pack like you were going to be camping. Some TP, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and a trowel make dropping deuces in the wild bearable. Oh and food and water. It is a simple but important packing list and anyone will get the hang of it after forgetting a necessity once. The trick is to pack lite so you can setup and tear down in less than 10 minutes if you so desire.

Because I spend most of my paychecks on gear, whenever I go out the only expense I have is gas and some brewskis. Hotels and campsites are nice but when you have been at it all day and you are getting up early the next morning you can fall asleep on anything and the price isn't justified. You only end up staying a few hours and you probably dropped between $10 registration/permit to $60 at a hotel.

We mostly opt to pull over on some secluded road with some tree cover cause we like out hammocks and some privacy. A car and a bridge support or a sign will hang a hammock just as nice as two trees. Just be careful though, I have had someone try and break into a truck at 2:00am while my buddy was sleeping in the bed and part of my hammock was attached to the bumper. I think we scarred him/her more than they scarred us.

I am hesitant to suggest the carrying of a weapon, but I just could never see myself without one after a few close calls. Generally don't carry it on an explore but things can get sketchy at night. Almost all states have statutes allowing the possession of a weapon while in "temporary residence", this generally includes one night campsites. Check your local laws though, especially considering the often illicit nature of UE. You do NOT want to be packing while breaking into the local abandoned warehouse ans stopped by the ol' 5-0.

To end on a more interesting note, here are some various pictures of me and company "stealth" camping. I guess it was stealthy because no one ever found us.


1. Little fire ring keeps most traffic from seeing the encampment


2. Hammocks are lite, easy to setup and break down, and do not require ground pad/pillow/sleeping bag much of the time.


3. About as out of sight you can be in the open desert. Good coverage from elements and stray bullets.


4. The omnipresent jetboil and ramen for when you stayed out much later than you planned.


5. Passing out by the fire.


6. Camping any closer and we would be IN the mine shaft.


7. Who says you can't cook precooked boneless Tysons over a rustic grill?

Everything on your photos I've done, or similar. You can join our adventures any day.

Posted by relik We usually just call it what it is, squatting.

I think pro-hobo is my favorite name I've heard it called

Posted by dashrsp camping and exploring is the best, gotta get those star trails!

Bridge camping!

I love mixing camping and exploring. Those two passions go well together.

Here are some of my pro-hobo shots:

1. Abandoned Hotel


2. Abandoned Hotel


3. Abandoned Hotel


4. Piscine Mosq, Belgium


5. Piscine Mosq, Belgium


6. Piscine Mosq, Belgium

Depending on your willingness to handle discomfort, you can "overnight" with very few supplies. For a couple of years I would take off in my SUV with no particular destination in mind. I would take my sleeping bag, some bagels, a gallon of water, and a couple of tins of tuna. I spent quite a few weekends out in the mountains or the desert with nothing more than that. A lot less stress than taking along a truckload gear.

Abby Normal

Posted by NotQuiteHuman Bridge camping!

Nice shot man!

This is what I would pack for a normal camping trip, possibly climbing. If the trip is supposed to be stealth camping, I would pack other variations of these items. Once again, this list, as with the thread, is to help others. Some of the items listed would be camo for stealth purposes. I think you know what I’m getting at.

Traditional pack:

Alpinus Volta 60 (with thick S. Korean military rain cover)

Sleeping bag (type depending on the weather)

Groundsheet - 2.7m X 3.6m (for big tarp or groundsheet, depending on location and weather. Each corner with 5m cord. Extra 10m for raise)

Nylon hammock

Padded reflective nylon tarp - 2m X 1.5m (for tarp, groundsheet/sleeping pad. The reflective surface replaces the need for a sleep mat)

Flashlight mini X2 (attaches to cap visor, hands free)

Clothing (type depending on the weather)

Dry sack 20L (for some of the clothing items)

30m climbing rope

Climbing carabiner X8

Medium carabiner X2

20m paracord

Nalgene bottle

Medium sized First Aid kit

Mora knife

Knife sharpener

Wooden chopsticks X10 sets (can be used as stakes, or kindling, and obviously eating utensils)

High calorie food

Small pot

Steel coffee mug (not for coffee, usually for beer)

Firestarting kit (matches, Bic lighter X2, Cotton balls + Vaseline, birthday candle X3)

Minimal survival kit (those of you in Alaska and Canada probably understand this)

This list is not set in stone, and can be modified for hike, destination, weather etc. I would not need a survival kit in Korea, just too redundant.


Lightweight pack:

Fanny pack 15L (with shoulder straps, extra MOLLE sewn on all over to attach extras)

Sleeping bag (type depending on the weather)

Padded reflective nylon tarp - 2m X 1.5m (for tarp, groundsheet/sleeping pad. The reflective surface replaces the need for a sleep mat)

Flashlight mini X2 (attaches to cap visor, hands free)

Clothing (type depending on the weather)

20m paracord

Basic First Aid kit

Mora knife

Wooden chopsticks X5 sets (can be used as stakes, or kindling, and obviously eating utensils)

High calorie food

Small pot

Steel coffee mug (not for coffee, usually for beer)
Firestarting kit (matches, Bic lighter X2, Cotton balls + Vaseline, birthday candle X3)

Obviously different locations require different setups, and so does the hike because of the difficulty. Winter requires more clothing, mine shafts will be dusty, or low air quality - whatever you may need.

I won’t use a lightweight pack if I’m going to, for example, Alaska, as I would have to pack more things, like a fishing kit. I wouldn’t pack a fishing kit for Namibia. Other pieces of kit that can be left out or included: hardhat, climbing helmet, steeltoe boots, respirator, water filter, water purification tablets.

Am I missing anything?

Camped on top of an old High School gym last weekend. It was our home base for exploring during the day and night. Cooked with the jetboil surrounded by our packs on the less exposed side.

I like this thread.

I think I deleted the photo but I crossed Long Island by bike and slept in one of the lesser known buildings in Kings Park.

I did a lot of this sort of thing when I was younger; mostly unplanned (OK, drunk > pass out), sleeping in abandoned buildings, on/under a huge local train trestle, in a local historical landmark, and random non-abandoned backyards and porches. haha Not any more; I'm more of a traditional backpacker now.

jetboils rock

Sorry, no pics - cameras were the size of a car back then. Here's a quick pic of my last backpacking trip, though. (local-ish, end of Aug) I set up camp by the lake in the pic: Link