Covert Camping

I can't function without at least a few hours of uninterrupted sleep each day.  In a city like San Francisco a place to sleep peacefully outside can be difficult to come by.  There are different factors to keep in mind when hunting down a place to camp in a big city.

First and foremost, people.  People don't like to look out their front window and see tents lining the streets because it gives them an uneasy feeling like the homeless are taking over.  At least this is what I gather from some conversations I've had with some of my friends who live traditional lives in big cities.  I have one friend who is deathly afraid someone is going to barge through her front door at any given moment; even with me standing right outside with the door unlocked.  So if people see you camping in their town or city, they're likely to call the cops on you.  Then you're dealing with a whole different type of person.  It's possible that you get the friendly cop who stands by while you break down your tent and politely asks that you never camp there again.  But it's more likely that you're going to have to put up with some serious harassment and possibly be cited or arrested.

Probably the second most important hazard of sleeping outdoors is wildlife.  I've been to every state in the US and camped in at least half of them with zero issues when it comes to wild animals.  But it only takes one run in with a bear, coyote, or wolf to make a difference.  So I'm always mindful of the possibility of wildlife.  What I worry about more than being mauled by an apex predator is having a raccoon or a skunk wander into my camp looking for mischief.  At any rate, one should always take nature into consideration when scouting a place to camp; even in the city.

I would say the following element is more important than the last and I think the danger is far more present.  You want to make sure you're not set up near any imminant hazards like landslides or falling branches.  It's very tempting to set up under a tree so you have shade in the morning or more protection from the rain, but the possibility of being struck by a widowmaker in the middle of the night is pretty great.  Not to mention the sap from trees getting all over your gear.  Or the time I camped under a tree and woke up to an enormous flock of birds shitting on my tent.  Also remember to set up in a place where you're safe from any vehicles veering off the road.

I've decided as I have new experiences to update this post.  My first new experience was on September 20, 2019.  I was ticketed for camping in the Presidio.  Technically I was cited for riding my motorcycle off-road in the Presidio.  The cost of the citation is $50 with a $30 service fee.  I'm not sure what service I've received that's worth $30, but I'm going to fight the ticket in court on a technicality.

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to hunt for a place to camp in an urban environment?  What sort of obstacles did you have to overcome?

#UrbanCampsite #UrbanCamping #CityCamping