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Wintertime Camping: A Snow Job or Virtual Reality Experience?

© Thomas Stephens Sr.

I must confess that I am a fair-weather camper. If it's cold and damp, I'm home! I don't know if it's my advancing age or what, but when I go camping, I want to be comfortable. Wintertime or snow camping, for me, does not equate to comfort! There are people - mostly the young, hardy and bold - who enjoy foul-weather camping. I salute you! But, what of the rest of us, what do we do during the long cold winter season? Well, thanks to the Internet, we fair-weather folks can virtual camp - on the Web! Of course, it is not as good as the real thing, but it can be fun and help to fill those long winter days.

Snow Camping Articles

I have met a few wintertime campers on the Web and they are an energetic bunch! If you snow camp, David Sweet, camping editor for the mining company web site, provides some very informative articles on the subject. Also, Brian Tomaszewski, with MSN camping, writes a very good article titled Winter Camping Manuals. Snow campers, I admire you! Me, I'm a winter wimp. I do my winter camping through RV clubs, discussion groups and newsgroups. I converse with fellow Rvers and campers and dream of springtime camping trips to come.

RV/Camping Clubs on the Web

There are many varied RV and camping clubs on the Internet. Some require a small yearly fee, while others charge a goodly sum for membership. You can access an extensive list of clubs at Internet Links for Rvers and at The RV Site. Some of the benefits offered by online clubs are well worth the investment! For example, The RV Club of the Virtual Campfire charges $18.95/year for membership. As a member, you have access to RV-Talk e-mail listings, discussion groups, chat rooms, RV advice, and help with computer problems and more. Since all members are Rvers and campers, there is an atmosphere of camaraderie, a common bond among members. Virtual camping, you might say!

Another online club, Loners of America, caters to widows, widowers and divorcees, bringing people together with common camping and Rving interests. The Escapees RV Club is in actuality a support network for RVers and has discussion groups, e-mail listings and informational sources online. The Rving Women Club offers a message board, calendar of events, information and networking while the Family Motor Coach Association is an online club that bases its membership on motorhome owners. Without a doubt, there is a club for everyone who enjoys camping. Mailing lists, chat rooms, discussion groups and bulletin boards provide members with excellent ways to share ideas and Rving experiences.