It would be nice if kayakers were somehow consulted in site selection to avoid the Dionisio Park syndrome (the Sandstone campground created for kayakers that is inaccessible by kayaks). I always felt the camping site at Rum Island, or the option at least, should be the isthmus or just above. I've never liked that overland hike from the beach to the campsite. If so the rest of the island could be left intact.
I checked out the new tent pad sites in Desolation Sound, and overall they are excellent, but again I wonder at the input from kayakers. In three instances the walk from beach to the tent pads is arduous, and doing three to four trips with gear in wind and rain while tired would be potentially hazardous. At least one pad should have been located behind the beaches for foul-weather shelter at each of these sites. Oh well.
On the theme of social etiquette at campsites, Desolation Sound park campsites usually have a cluster of 3-6 tent pads is situated to be near a common area set up with benches, a cooking table and possibly even a picnic table. The common area is at the most scenic and pleasant spot, so without it some tent pads would be isolated and not particularly pleasant, being set back from the shore.
So I notice this is what can happen at a so-called common area:
In fairness to the campers they were likely the only group at the time, but when I arrived they were out paddling so if I was left to either a) isolate myself at a tent pad, b) move their stuff so I could use the common area, or c) leave and go to another site to avoid a conflict.
No doubt these people felt perfectly justified in claiming the spot as no one else was around, making it sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy: people won't stay if you crowd them out. I can seem a stream of people checking this out, seeing the situation and leaving, and the group thinking they are lucky to have the island to themselves. So once again the inconsiderate are rewarded.
I checked out the new tent pad sites in Desolation Sound, and overall they are excellent, but again I wonder at the input from kayakers. In three instances the walk from beach to the tent pads is arduous, and doing three to four trips with gear in wind and rain while tired would be potentially hazardous. At least one pad should have been located behind the beaches for foul-weather shelter at each of these sites. Oh well.
On the theme of social etiquette at campsites, Desolation Sound park campsites usually have a cluster of 3-6 tent pads is situated to be near a common area set up with benches, a cooking table and possibly even a picnic table. The common area is at the most scenic and pleasant spot, so without it some tent pads would be isolated and not particularly pleasant, being set back from the shore.
So I notice this is what can happen at a so-called common area:
In fairness to the campers they were likely the only group at the time, but when I arrived they were out paddling so if I was left to either a) isolate myself at a tent pad, b) move their stuff so I could use the common area, or c) leave and go to another site to avoid a conflict.
No doubt these people felt perfectly justified in claiming the spot as no one else was around, making it sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy: people won't stay if you crowd them out. I can seem a stream of people checking this out, seeing the situation and leaving, and the group thinking they are lucky to have the island to themselves. So once again the inconsiderate are rewarded.