First step - Research

I've been looking into Dispersed Camping. I find the whole idea of camping out away from everything and everyone else extremely appealing. I took week long camping road trips before I met my wife, I would camp on a beach I found in a Forest Service map, alone with the stars and the waves. I didn't know what I was doing was dispersed camping, but I remember the beauty of those nights and I would like to share them with my wife (Stef-Anie) and maybe even some of our friends.

I just started researching and I have found - Camping on National Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management public lands outside of 'designated campsites' is permitted and is often free. For an explanation of dispersed camping, check here- http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2008/05/dispersed-camping-on-public-lands.html. The folks who write that blog travel in their RV and go 'boondocking'. I'm taking this as a jumping off point to figure out how to do my own dispersed 'car-camping'.

I know camping in a set 'site' comes with it's advantages. Often water, toilets and even showers and electricity are available. Being able to book and guarantee your site is a bonus as well, dispersed seems to fall into a knowing where to go and first come first claimed adventure. I'm not looking to spend weeks on end 'living on the land'. I'm looking for 2-3 day adventures. Trust me, after a few days in the woods, a hot shower is an experience unto itself.

I don't really think 'roughing it' or backpack camping will work for my wife, and really, I'm not one to sleep on the ground. So super long hike in sites are currently off the table. Fortunately, my wife and I have camped many times together before (always in a 'site'). She's pretty amazing at cooking over a fire and camp stove and knowing how much of and what to bring, and I have developed the skills to put the tent and camp together solo and build a pretty mean fire. We have been upgrading and adding to our gear at REI Used Sales and through Craigslist, but there are a few things we'll need to acquire before setting out 'into the woods'. I know there will be some new challenges and equipment needs, I'll have to start a list.

On Dispersed vs 'Site' camping:

Pros:

~Being away from everything, including other campers.

~Sharing experiences with Stef-Anie.

~It's cheap to free depending on the necessary permits.

Cons:

~Doing your business in a 'cat hole'.

~Having to figure out where the 'dispersed sites' (or make your own) happen to be.

~Bringing in enough water.

Items to purchase before dispersed camping:

-"lug-a-loo"

-Shower enclosure (I'm doubting my wife will go for the tarp around the tree method)

-Collapsible water containers.

-Deep-cell battery for Stef's CPAP machine.