Why I like camping in the fall

There are no bugs. Well okay there are a couple of flies hiding out from the cold but I haven’t seen a single mosquito. There was one wasp but only one.

There are fewer people who want to camp at this time of year. The campgrounds can still be full on the weekends and, of course, there are fewer campgrounds that are open. When you get one with flush toilets and showers it’s a bonus. We also have an electrical hookup so we brought along a small electric heater that has a thermostat. By setting it at 10C overnight we keep the van nice and warm and, if we come in from a walk and are chilled we can crank it up to 18 or 20 and really get toasty before dropping it down or turning it off entirely.

That brings up another advantage of a hookup. Of course you can use hookups in the summer as well but it’s very nice when the wind is blowing to be able to plug in the electric kettle to make tea or coffee.

Camping in the fall is also easier on the fridge. In the heat of summer the poor little propane fridge works as hard as it possibly can to try to keep food cold and as for the freezer compartment - don’t count on hard ice cream.

I think the best reason for camping in the fall is that it’s not too hot. I’m not a fan of heat and you can only take off so many clothes to try and cool down. I love to go for walks when it’s chilly enough that you need a fleece or a light down jacket and maybe a toque. That is the perfect temperature and if you’re lucky enough to have brilliant sunny days there is heat in the sun.

But the best reason for camping in the fall is the scenery. As I write this, it’s the middle of October. The aspens are stubbornly clinging to their yellow leaves so that the mountain hillsides are sprinkled with flecks of gold. There is also the delightful feeling of making the best of this season before the snow coats the Rockies and the only place I want to be is in my house with central heating. It’s that last touch of freedom. I know some will scoff and extoll the joys of camping in a snow cave, skiing in pristine snow and keeping warm over a wood fire. I’m sure there are delights there too for those hardy enough to enjoy them. It’s a romantic notion, but I’m not in my twenties anymore and the older I get the more I enjoy my creature comforts. What was once a grand adventure is now simply uncomfortable and unpleasant and I’m in the incredibly fortunate position of being able to make choices about how cold or uncomfortable I want to be when the leaves turn and the wind whips through mountain passes.

Tomorrow we will park the van for the season, for despite talk of taking it out every month in the year, I prefer to stay home when the high temperatures never venture above freezing. Oh I might be tempted to go snowshoeing for half a day here and there but I’m pretty sure at this stage of my life I’ll choose central heating over camping in the van every time even though the van is equipped with a furnace.