Throwback Thursday: first camping/camping under the stars #TBT

[#1]

It's Thursday!

I have a great friend, which lives only 10 minutes away from me, that is an avid hiker. We actually only reconnected couple of years ago. I've gone on some hikes with him. One day he texts me and asks if I want to go on a sunrise hike with him. I said yes! So he picked me up around 5PM. We drove about 3 hours down to Moab, UT and then went off the road. Put our inflatable, camping mattress on the ground and slept under the stars. I can´t find the picture I took but it was AMAZING! It was early March, I think, so it got a bit cold but that was such a great experience. Then we woke up around 5 and drove a bit further. Then walked to the sunrise point and took these pictures. Aren't they gorgeous!?! And then we hiked down and around there. Totally amazing!

Soooo, tell us about your first camping or camping under the stars :)

Let’s make it a great Thursday!
KGM

[Barbara Szczesniak]

Wow @Kristján Geir Mathiesen beautiful pictures!

My first (of only 3 times in my life, I believe) camping experience was in my senior year of college. 3 friends and I drove around and camped in Pennsylvania and Maryland…in March, when it was not warm at all. We stayed in campgrounds that were not open for the season, so no one else was there, and slept in tents. My most significant memories are washing my hair in a very cold stream in PA and stalling the car in Maryland when there was an abrupt stop of traffic and I was so startled that I forgot to press in the clutch along with the brake. 

You always make me think of things I haven't thought about for decades. Thank you and have a great Thursday!

[Kai Krause]

Oh, camping is a topic that's completely irrelevant to me. But these are really great pictures.

[John Funk]

@Kristján Geir Mathiesen  Amazing pictures!! It seems like every time I have gone camping it rains. And oftentimes it was cold. And somewhat miserable  haha. But I love sitting around a campfire, just chilling and having good conversations. 

[Tomislav Tobijas]

Brilliant views and photos! 📷

I'm more like a house person and like being indoors, but I had a couple of experiences with camping.

Anyway, I think my first camping was when I was in 7th grade or so and we went to a badminton regional tournament. We were in those huge military tents with a couple hundred other kids who competed in various sports. But, as those tents were so huge, it didn't really feel like you were 'actually camping'.

It was actually last year when we were on Tomorrowland in Belgium when I stayed in a 2-person tent and that was quite an experience 😄 But I feel that if I was tired enough I could fall asleep on the grass as long as it doesn't rain.

[Daria Kulikova_GitProtect_io]

Wow, @Kristján Geir Mathiesen amazing pictures!

I haven't been camping a lot, but the first time I went camping (if I can call it so) was 15 years ago when I was travelling with my friends on a Coast-to-Coast trip, from New York to Los Angeles, by car. We stopped in the Grand Canyon and, probably there were the best views of sunset and sunrise in my life :) 

[Tuncay Senturk]

That sounds incredible, @Kristján Geir Mathiesen! Love the shots!

Just like @Daria Kulikova_GitProtect_io I went to the Grand Canyon last year right after the Team'24 event in Vegas. It was my first time there and I was blown away by the views. It was magical and definitely a moment I won’t forget!

[Laurie Sciutti]

I don't remember my FIRST camping trip, but we have an annual camping trip to Chester (California) that just makes me happy.  Peaceful, beautiful, no cell service, food, booze, music, fishing and great company.  It's definitely my happy place.  Wish I were there now!

[Andy Gladstone]

I'm an aspirational camper, but have never actually camped out under the stars. Our family does tons of outdoor activities - hiking, biking, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding - are part of our weekends and trips in the spring, summer and fall. Even when we do these activities at a destination, we will always end the day at an AirBnB or hotel. I'd love to try camping outdoors, but for some reason have just never committed to making it happen. Maybe this article will push me to finally convert from aspirational to actual camper!

[Amanda Barber]

We started camping with our kids about 6 years ago now. Our first trip with them was with borrowed supplies in October in Wisconsin where nighttime temps fell to around 30 degrees F. 🥶 It was still a blast and fun to stay cozy together in the blankets. Since then, we've moved our annual trips to June and August so we don't get those cool temps! Our kiddos prefer our "glamping" trips where we rent a small cabin, but those don't happen every year.

[Vronik]

Hi

My first camp was in my teens. I had a great time and slept very little because between stargazing, talking to friends, and playing with each other, we went to sleep very late. I have very good memories.

Regards

[Stephen_Lugton]

Years ago, long before GPS was widely available, indeed long before mobile phones were available, the patrol leaders of the scout group I was in did a night hike to the campsite where the rest of the scout group would be joining us, and where we would be staying for the next week.

It started out well, we were dropped off in a car park and found the start of the route that we had to follow.

Shortly after that we probably missed a turn somewhere in the dark.

Then it started to rain!

Then the rain got heavier ...

... and heavier!

We were lost in the dark, it was raining, but we had a tent with us and we were on flat ground so we stopped where we were.

It was too dark to see to put up the tent properly so we put up one tent pole, draped the tent over it and then huddled around the tent pole to (a) keep it upright, and (b) share body warmth.

In the morning when we woke up, we discovered that we could see the campsite we were meant to be going to from where we were, so we packed the tent away (stuffed it in a black bin liner to deal with later) and wandered off in the general direction of the campsite.

We did try and tidy up, but the green of the golf course we'd ended up 'camping' on overnight was nowhere near as flat and playable as when we'd got there ...

[Faizal Rahman]

@Kristján Geir Mathiesen Nice pictures.

It was amazing camping experience with family. Experienced rain and windy night on my first camping itself. I was unable to sleep on windy night and i was ready with pegs and hammer to fix, if needed. 

[Satya Dusanapudi]

This post takes me right back to my childhood summers at my grandpa's house. Every evening, after dinner, all of us cousins would grab our blankets and lie under the open sky in the backyard. The stars seemed so close, and the nights were filled with laughter, endless chatter, and the best part—grandpa’s stories. He had a magical way of telling tales that kept us hooked for hours. Sometimes, we’d make up our own stories or just talk about anything and everything until we fell asleep under the stars. Truly some of the most peaceful and unforgettable moments of my life.