sleeping under the stars?

[Burn Ban]

so, how many of you sleep under nothing but the moon and stars?  or do you always prefer the boundaries that a tent provides?  do mountains or desert affect your decision-making?

i've always been an under-the-stars kind of guy (on a cot); but, i have seen some trippy looking insects in the bend that give me pause about being al fresco in the desert.

whassup?

[01ACRViper]

i've slept under the stars twice, and i prefer a tent :-x

once i was in a creek bed next to a major source of water, i heard animals of all sorts crunching in the leaves next to the springs, GOd only knows what was there. the second night i was surrounded by Coyotes in the heart of BBRSP, i had to get up to chase them off when they got too close for comfort. not that a tent would save me, that etra layer just make sme feel better.

[Al]

Under the stars always, unless: shade is needed then a tarp; a tent only if it is raining or the winds are so high and cold it is utterly miserable without one.  We don't camp in the high traffic portions of the park unless arrival is too late to get a permit for a primitive campsite.  Never had a problem with critters.

Al

[The Trout Whisperer]

always under the stars in winter time at big bend

I only use a tent in the rockies during the mosquito infested summers and a tarp in March in new mexico if it's going to snow....

i have slept out under the stars when the temp has been zero.....brrrrrrrrr

[presidio]

not that a tent would save me, that etra layer just make sme feel better.

  Same principle where a sheet separates you from the monsters under the bed and in the closet  

[01ACRViper]

well now i feel like a wimp  :oops:

[presidio]

well now i feel like a wimp  :oops:

Now, you will note that I never said I didn't use a sheet  

Many years ago, while in college, I used to regularly stay at a friend's house in San Marcos. There were 3 bedrooms. The master was used by the owner, a 2nd room was an electronics workshop and the 3rd room was the guest bedroom.

Almost no one that overnighted, but me, would stay in that third room. Everyone was weirded out by the closet.

One night about 2 am I woke up and in the dark I looked over at the slightly ajar closet door. Of course there was nothing there, but I got such a sense of foreboding and evil that I raced out of the room, never to sleep in it again. It was like a black hole. The living room sofa worked just fine after that.

I got the chills just typing this and had to throw a sheet over my head to finish the message.

The power of suggestion? Sure, but it sure was strong.

[Casa Grande]

I'm more of a tenter myself; but on occasion, I sleep under the stars if I feel like it.   Many times in the desert during the warm months, the gnats and misquitos will drive you crazy!  Once the sun goes down, the bats come out and become your best friend!

[SHANEA]

I like sleeping out under the heavens.  When I wake up and roll over, I can gaze out at the stars just to make sure they are still there.  

[RichardM]

I like sleeping out under the heavens.  When I wake up and roll over, I can gaze out at the stars just to make sure they are still there.  

Would that be through the skylight in the R2D2?  
I'm primarily a tenter, on the rare occasions I do camp.  When I sleep in the open I tend to be a little too aware of stuff going on and sleep much lighter.

[okiehiker]

For years I slept out under most conditions.  Over the years that I brought groups of kids with me, they would lay out their sleeping bags, side by side along the creek-beds where we usually slept.  The key i shaving sleeping bags matched to the conditions.

This July the sleeping was the same way, but no need for sleeping bags.  The following pic is our dorm at the confluence of Tapeats Creek and the Colorado River.  



Now that I am married, a tent has become mandatory on most trips, though we did not take one on the Grand Canyon trip.

[Al]

I should mention that I swore off camping in warm weather years ago.  I can't sleep well hot and I too hate flying bugs!  Too many flying bugs would make me want a tent, too.  Otherwise best no tent to slow the cooling breeze.

Al

P.S. Hope that isn't too many toos!

[chisos muse]

When I was 15 I went to visit my cousin in CA. We slept outside in sleeping bags with no tent. The next morning I woke up and went to the bathroom and the whole right side of my face was swollen and red and had about 5 mosquito bites in a cluster. I could barely see out of my eye and it was completely nasty and oozing.....

I love my tent.  

[Al]

When I was 15 I went to visit my cousin in CA. We slept outside in sleeping bags with no tent. The next morning I woke up and went to the bathroom and the whole right side of my face was swollen and red and had about 5 mosquito bites in a cluster. I could barely see out of my eye and it was completely nasty and oozing.....

I love my tent.  

. . . but completely healed!?

Al

[okiehiker]

At Tule Spring