This Is What Sucks About Camping in the Fall

Spoiler alert: The part that’s likely to mess up fall camping for you is the weather. Sure, you can do some fine camping in autumn. On the right day, it’s downright spectacular. Fact is, though, the ratio of shit camping days (that’s the technical term) in the fall doesn’t run in your favor.

Did you pack your rain jacket?

Autumn campers should expect to experience rain. If you live in a coastal region—as I do—this gets delivered by the bucket. If you’re in an RV, rain isn’t that big a deal. You can snuggle up with a book and wait out the weather.

Tents are less forgiving, though. I’ve woken up to a wet and clammy back when I slept leaning against the tent wall. I’ve had to trek with grumpy friends who awoke with a creek running through their tent.

Sometimes it gets windy. Such conditions turn the inside of your tent into a broken guitar amplifier. If you’re camping in a roof top tent, this can be even louder given your tent’s added exposure.

Things get dirtier

Rain + Dirt = Mud. Mud x Gear = Mess. Yup. Fall camping will scar your brightly colored sleeping mats (ours have transformed from a nice lime green to a rather icky barf brown). The moisture will lend your hiking boots a funky odor. As for your tent? It’ll draw in dirt, no matter how often you sweep it out.

Post-trip, your gear will need cleaning. If you don’t put in this time, your equipment could attract mold or mildew—potentially ruining your nice stuff. (This is common out here on the “Wet Coast”.) I’ve been lucky on this front, but I know friends who’ve spent days trying to rid their tent-trailers of mold.

It’s cold outside (well, it can be)

Inland, you might get colder temperatures. (You know, The kind that makes it hard to locate your weenie for a midnight pee.) The cold can bring with it ice, snow, and some brisk moments in your tent at night.

If you’re unprepared, cold temperatures can be unpleasant. Your fingers get stiff. Wet clothes won’t dry out. No matter how much you move, you can’t warm up. There’s condensation in your tent/camper that won’t stop.

The above can be more threatening if you find yourself stuck in an area for an extended period. Adequate food, shelter, and gear are super-important as temperatures drop closer to—or below—freezing.

There’s added risk

Over the past few days, the area I live in (Southwestern BC) got hit by a gnarly storm. Homes lost power and flooding forced officials to evacuate towns. Landslides and overflowing rivers washed away sections of major highways. Let me put it this way: If you were camping around here yesterday, you probably had a miserable time.

Storm warnings were in place late last week, but sometimes these situations creep up on you. The unknown can occur, and we can expect more of this as climate change continues. In the fall, these disasters can be more hazardous for campers, given temperature fluctuation.

Park closures and limited amenities

Some parks close entirely once the summer ends. Others run with limited services or close select parts of their campgrounds. So, check the park you’re interested in to see if you can even enter it.

Parks that are still open to visitors might operate in a limited capacity. Ones that typically have flush toilets and showers might only offer pit toilets. Water access could be limited, meaning that you need to bring your own. So, check in advance—and be prepared.

You’ll need to put in more effort

Fall camping demands more work. You have to research what to expect. You’ll need to stay on top of the weather forecast and make calls as to whether you should continue or turn back.

You’ll need to think through your food and gear, and pack more of both. Your clothing selections will impact whether your trip is enjoyable or crappy. You will need to arrive earlier, so you aren’t setting up camp in the dark.

Icy roads can lengthen your time in transit. Food will take longer to cook. Gear will need more cleaning after your trip. (This isn’t always the case, but it isn’t uncommon either.)

You are how you camp

I’ve pointed out a lot of bad (arguably worst-case) scenarios. So, let me bring this full circle and inject some additional considerations.

First, most conditions are manageable with the proper preparation, clothing, food, and gear. I’ll speak to each of these points more in future posts in our Fall Camping Guide series.

Second, fall camping has a lot to do with your mindset. It’s different from summer and can be more challenging. Sure—it can even be miserable. But, when it turns out well, it can be quiet, peaceful, and beautiful.

My third point will only make sense to some. I’ve found that the days I enjoy least outdoors are the ones I remember most fondly. (We call this “Type II Fun”.) Sometimes adventures need to go wrong, so you have a good story to tell later. 😉

Get Your Shit Together for Fall Camping SO YOU DON’T DIE! is the next installment in our Fall Camping Guide.

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Big shout-out to Nathan Anderson for the above photo. In spite of the ominous feel of the pictured vista, it’s a spectacular image!

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