Shannon

Given some of the things I've seen in State Parks over the years, I can't imagine wanting to stay anywhere that had no rules and zero oversight. If you're under-age and want to drink, go to Mexico. If you want to take controlled substances, plan on a long prison term as you will get caught -- if not while camping, then eventually. If you're having an affair, rent a hotel room (please! I've seen a poor ranger have to escort out an amorous 30-something couple who were definitely having an affair -- arrived in separate cars, tried to have sex in a car across from my campsite (thank God I didn't put two and two together until I overheard the ranger telling them to get out of dodge!) and snuck back in an hour later thinking he wouldn't find them again on his routine patrol.

On another occasion, at a park I won't mention (because I don't think this incident represents a pattern at the park), Justin and I were awoken in the middle of the night (1 AM or so) by all sorts of shouting and clamor. When we awoke, numerous tents and tons of trash were in a site near us. Beer bottles everywhere, all their food stuffs and gear on the picnic table had been rifled through by raccoons and blown in the wind. One of them woke up and announced he had a hangover. Surprise. They all packed up before the park host made his morning patrol, confirming our suspicions this group was too cheap (or too drunk) to visit parks and pay the admission and camping fees.

If that's the kind of people you want to camp alongside, that's your perogative, but it's a little like wanting to play in the highway. Eventually, it's going to end badly.

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- Shannon Moore
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