Recommendation camp set-up for Westside

[nw_bowhunter]

Normally I hunt on the Eastside where the weather is pretty good. This year I will be on the Westside. For those of you with experience in the early season can you pass along some tips for camp set-up.? I’m planning on setting up my Rainer tent instead of the trailer. Should I plan to tarp it? Are there typically fire restrictions? Any other input or advice would be appreciated.  I found camping spots to be more difficult then on the Eastside.

[DeKuma]

Tarping it is always a good idea, other than the condensation that builds inside.  Fires are restricted in most areas I have seen, but that was before the last hard rains we have had.
You mentioned going to the winston in another thread??  There are campsites around the area, but they fill up fast from what I have seen in past years.  Especially those anywhere near a water source.

The weather is predicted to be mild for the next 10 days at least, so you should be okay with the cold, but there is a potential for rain.  Tuck camp back in the trees might help insulate form the rain and wind.

I have not tent camped in so long, I would be in the same boat as you.  Wonder how I ever made it before the trailer........

[nw_bowhunter]

I know I'm going to miss my trailer this year.  I did find one camp area and I wasn't able to reserve a spot. 

[DeKuma]

Just find a small clear area and set it up.  Fidning one after the first weekend could be tough though.

[TheHunt]

THe small the foot print the better.  You can pull off the road and camp and be rather moble.  I am expecting rain...   Not a lot but some.

[bearmanric]

i've seen alot of guy's camp across the river from kid valley store.on winston creek side there is a small camp ground. can you still camp any were on Weyerhouser land. i have a wall tent type tent. yes i put a tarp on top. i put a pop canopy in front of the door. that's my cooking area. Rick

[sneakyjake]

We have set up a couple of those 4 legged collapsible tarps from Joe's and they seem to keep our stuff dry and give you a place to sit next to the fire and eat.

[Alchase]

Definitely use a tarp, if you can suspend the tarp above your tent. This will cut down on the condensation. We have been tenting it for over twenty years. Having a dry place to cook and relax is definitely worth the time to set up. You can get pretty creative if you use the trees as you support as much as possible. Remember if the weather says snow, rig your tarps for snow. Last year in Winthrop I set our camp up in case of rain and we got snow. It was not a pretty picture trying to reset everything so the snow would slide away after the tent and camp kitchen we already up.

[DeKuma]

All the areas in the Winston that I have been in in the past, guys were camped all over.  When did the no camping rule come into play?

I have a small members only campground about 45 minutes from the unit that I could always stay at if I had to.  It is right on the cowlitz just up from the hatchery.