If you don’t think primitive camping is an extreme sport, you’ve never been camping! It’s just you and nature where anything can happen at any time and you must be prepared for any challenge that lies ahead. However, don’t let that prelude scare you off before you start looking at all the wondrous adventures you can experience when backpacking and primitive camping in God’s Country, as the area is lovingly referred to by the locals. If you want to see the Pacific Northwest in all its natural glory, the only way to go is primitive camping and here are some reasons why.
Amazing Flora and Fauna
Before going any further, the very first thing you must invest in is a really good pair of binoculars. Whether traveling through Northern California, Oregon, Washington State or British Columbia in Canada, you will notice that this area is home to some amazingly beautiful vegetation and some of the earth’s most awesome creatures. Have a peek here for the best pair of binoculars for seeing wildlife from a safe distance because you will want to keep a safe distance! Not only are they skittish of humans, some can be downright dangerous if they feel threatened. This area is home to:
- Grizzly bears
- American black bears
- Coyotes
- Cougars
- Bobcats
- Mountain lions
- Wolves
And, then there are the less threatening, but equally skittish deer, moose and, of course, river otters.
What to Do on a Backpacking Primitive Camping Trip
Speaking of river otters, one of the things you really need to do is a bit of fishing while in the Pacific Northwest. If you happen to hit it right on a time when the salmon run, you can do a bit of salmon fishing, but don’t forget there are plenty of other freshwater fish to catch as well. Among the tastiest are bass and perch, but there are so many other fish which are great to eat around the campfire at your primitive campsite.
A Few Words of Caution
You do know there are no facilities or utilities at primitive campsites, right? Therefore, you will need to light a campfire by which to cook your meals. Unfortunately, summer is also fire season and campfires may be forbidden in some densely forested areas. You may wish to bring along a small, one-burner butane camp stove, but if you are way out in the open, campfires may be permitted. Bear in mind that 2017 was a record-setting wildfire year and experts are predicting that 2018 may follow suit. In fact, some experts are even suggesting that 2018 might be even a greater danger if extra precautions aren’t taken, so be careful.
All in all, there is no place like God’s Country for camping out in the wild. With millions of acres of BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land upon which you are allowed to pitch a tent, the only cost you will incur is for supplies. Once you have had a taste of the amazing natural beauty of this Northwest area of the continent, you’ll be back year after year after year. There is no denying it. This truly is God’s Country, so enjoy your summer in heaven.
