Camping with a two year old

[bassnailer]

I need some ideas. Before my daughter was born I was out camping a lot. But I would find somewhere remote, not a lot of people and it always involved a good strong hike. But I haven't gone out since our daughter arrived. I really want to get her out there into the woods but to be honest, I have been a little timid about it. I have never camped with a kid. So I don't know where to go. I'm hoping that some good delica folks can suggest a few camping spot ideas. My main goal is to avoid gov't camp spots because I hate the crowds and drunks. I would like to find a few places that I could take her on the weekend that is fairly close, involves in a little fsr and gets us to a little lake where I could put my line in the water.

I was thinking about Bear Lake out in Harrison. But I have never been there before. Anyone know anything about this spot? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[sasquatch-hunter]

Check out these campsites managed by the Chehalis First Nations. Most of these sites have on sit hosts, so they keep the yahoo activities to a minimum.

http://www.stsailesdevcorp.com/tourism/campgrounds

[Airgonzo]

Hi Bassnailer,

We just went camping for the first time with our 2-year-old daughter, in the Delica and also in the Harrison Lake region. We had mixed results but overall it was I great trip, I think we were just a bit too ambitious with our plans, especially the amount of driving.

On the first day we drove from Vancouver to the Harrison West FSR and went down the very rough 4x4 road to the Hale Creek rec site. I wouldn't recommend this in a Delica unless you're very bold and have a lift. It was fun but we almost didn't make it back out in our L400 which is about an inch or 1.5" or so over stock hight with BFG All-terrains on it. Several deep creek crossings and washouts before you get to the main obstacle - a very long steep washed out hill down to the lakeshore. In my old Toyota truck with 35"s and locker it would have been a piece of piss, but going down, once you get there you're commited, there's no backing up or turning around. Down is ok but when we got to the campsite we fled due to the craziest mosquito infestation I've ever seen and needed 4 atttempts to get up the hill. The left side is completely washed out so you're rock-climbing over some big holes and stuff. Lot's of articulation required and with no locker we were just spinning our wheels. The trick is to take the right side of the trail but you will need every inch of it - right wheels on the very edge and if you stray to far to the left you're sliding into the washout - enough drop-off I think you could potentially tip.

The campsite is pretty nice if the bugs weren't so insane. A bit of garbage though. We were there on a Tuesday and would have had the whole place to ourselves if we could have braved the mosquitos.

Once we made it up the hill we ended up camping at 20 mile bay rec site which is quite nice but had to shell out $14 which was hard to swallow. First time I've paid to camp in recent memory. It was quite mid-week but wouldn't be my cup of tea on a weekend when I'm sure it would be full.

The bugs weren't nearly so bad there but our daughter still got eaten alive and thus began the bit of a downward spiral. She slept poorly that night (which meant we all slept poorly).

Next day we kept going north up the lake towards Tipella. Awesome drive. I highly recommend it to any Delica owner. Didnt see a single vehicle and just enough real 4x4ing to keep things interesting.

Then we camped at the Sloquet hotsprings which are great. Awesome with a 2-year-old. Eva loved just chilling in the pools all afternoon. There was only one other couple there but again, a totally different story on the weekend I'm sure.

Then the rain started and never ended.

That night (night 2) was tough. Eva had a total meltdown when we put her to bed and the next morning was soggy and miserable.

We continued on up to Lilloet lake, to the duffy lake road then to Pemby, Whistler and home. It's an awesome loop but took us over 5 hours after leaving Sloquet and it was too much for a completely exhauseted 2 year old. There were some trying moments in the Delica for sure.

I think she may have been happier if not for the bugs. By the end it looked like she had chicken pox. I felt pretty bad for her, the bites made her pretty miserable.

I will post some pictures when I get a chance.

Good luck,

Kevin

[bassnailer]

Thanks for the tips, SH and AG. Please post some pics, would love to see them. And I'll check out the links too. I don't know if it matters much, but my daughter is only 20 months, but that is close enough to two years for me. I guess it's play-pen in a big tent? Also, my wife works on Saturdays, so it will be me and the girl for the weekend trips. Maybe I'm over thinking this...

[glenn]

Yes, you are over thinking it - understandably though. We've been taking our kids camping since they've been able to sit up. Our camping style changed a bit - we have been going to more provincial and state sites for the amenities (like running water). Do what you need to to get out there and feel safe. Now that my kids are getting older (6 and 9) we have resumed more adventurous trips. I suppose I am preaching to the converted - but the sooner you get them outdoors in natural environments the better. And camping allows everyone to loosen up the rules a bit - kids love it.

Glenn

[sasquatch-hunter]

We did a play pen under those 10' X 10' gazebo.

[bassnailer]

I dig the camper. Did the L300 have any problems pulling that thing? (pre-L400 days)

[sasquatch-hunter]

L300 towing a trailer = relax drive to your destination.

L400 towing a trailer = the BMW infront of you is driving too slow.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Here's someone to talk to:



Falco.

[colin]

There is another thread somewhere about this tent, and maybe I should post this there?

I was camping on Salt Spring Island in Ruckle park last week with my wife and 6 week old daughter. Mosquito's were not too bad, and the park is lovely. I purchased a SUV tent that attaches to the back of the van. It costs about $350, which isn't cheap, but I figure I will get good use. The big plus is that it's a sealed unit (well almost) so if it's raining or if there are lots of bugs you can get in and our of the van and into the tent to change, sleep, whatever, without having to leave the unit.

I forgot to bring a mallet and the ground was hard, with a good weather forecast I decided not to tie the tent down, hence it's rather dreary shape in the attached pic.

The part that attaches to the van (the condom, as I like to call it) can dis-attach, thus can be easily cleaned at the end of the trip if your van was covered in mud. The tent can be used as a stand alone tent too.

The trunk door doesn't open fully though, as it's restricted by the size of the tent, it gives about a 5 ft clearing (we did bang our heads a few times). When closing the trunk door it would definitely be possible to rip the lining, so care must be taken.

I said it's almost a sealed unit as the spare tire gives an uneven surface below the van and doesn't allow the condom to seal tightly at that point. This won't cause any water leakage but there is the potential for the odd flying insect to accidentally fly through this gap. You could stuff the gap with a towel.

Tent is fairly standard in terms of setting it up. The condom part has tie downs that I pulled over the length of the van and attached to the mirrors, and also clips that attach to the wheel arches. The clips are sturdy plastic and shouldn't damage the paintwork. Then you can tighten the whole thing up with a good pull on the elastic cord. After that setup I found the forward straps weren't needed and I could reverse in and have the condom attached in minutes.

Good luck with your camping


http://sportzbynapier.com/product.html?product_num=76

[delicioso!]

all this travelling and camping can be done as long as you start them young. we drove all the way to tofino from ontario with our then 6 month old son (even scored a deal on a float plane ride along the coast, inflight breast feeding and all, lol) and we recently got back from orlando with our now 2.5 year old son and 4 month old daughter. just gotta make enough stops to change/feed them and keep em occupied. do it enough times and they'll easily get used to all the travelling and sleeping anywhere and everywhere.

with regards to tenting, i'd advise against a playpen inside the tent, i think youll wreck your floors, plus t hey're bulky and maybe awkward inside the tent, unless you have a tall tent! can she not sleep just on the floor on a mat/sleep bag with dad? ever consider just sleeping in the delica and folding the seats flat? there should be tonnes of room/storage for just the two of you. what we found helped alot with bedtime is keeping the exact same routine we have at home (i.e. bath, story time, and goodnights...) also, bring her bedtime dolls/teddybears etc so she has some extra comfort and familiarity (maybe her bed sheets too). hopefully she'll crash and you can chill by the fire and have some quiet time. :) keep her active and running around to tire her out! lol. feeding might get tricky too if she's a picky eater, and sometimes keeping the cold stuff cold (like milk and cheeses) might get tricky if it's a long weekend and you only have ice in the cooler that eventually melts, but it can be done. if she's an easy eater, bonus! if anything, just gotta deal with alot of child psychology to work this out smoothly, especially if this is all new to her and mom wont be there.

all i can think of that might not go so well is your daughter missing mum!

anywho, sounds like an awesome time! we're headed campin tomorrow ourselves with the kids, happy long weekend!

[bassnailer]

Thanks for all of the replies, and great looking tent, Colin. My wife might even like that. Well, we are going to head to Harrison, again, this weekend. Just the two of us, (until the grandparents get there). It should be fun. She likes to play with dirt and look at bugs. I couldn't be happier.

[omanda]

Those of you with really little ones should check out the Pea Pod baby travel tent. Our friends used it camping with their 10-month old and it's great. You can keep the playpen outside to keep babies and toddlers safe on your campsite, and put the pea pod in the tent or van for sleeping. Pretty ingenious. http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5

[delicioso!]

cool, my sis has that pea pod tent and her daughter loves it, her own little place....
but you can take it a notch up and use a tent cot! lol

http://www.google.ca/search?q=cabella%2 ... 24&bih=615

and run a daycare out of it! haha.