That time a ranger told me to cook 100 feet from my tent site

Last summer I was camping at Lake George and this ranger came by our spot. He said we needed to move our cooking area at least 100 feet from where we slept. I thought he was being extra since we were just using a camp stove and not a fire. But I moved it anyway about 80 feet because dragging all the gear felt like a pain. That night around 2am I heard rustling right where we had cooked earlier. Turned out a raccoon and maybe a bear came through sniffing around our empty stove area. If I had kept cooking right next to my tent I would have had a visitor unzipping my fly. Anyone else ever ignore advice and get away with it or did you learn the hard way like I almost did?

2 comments

2 Comments

laura_white991d ago

Started off thinking rangers were just being extra with that 100 foot rule but that story definitely changed my mind. The whole raccoon and bear situation sounds way too close to what could have been a real disaster. I used to cook right next to my tent all the time because it was easier and never thought twice about it. Now I get why they make that rule, animals have way better noses than we give them credit for. Glad you moved it at least some, because that could have ended way worse.

lindareed1d ago

Oh man, reminds me of the time I left a bag of chips zipped in my tent and a squirrel chewed right through the mesh to get to it. Didn't even hear a thing until morning, just a hole and crumbs everywhere.