A couple of weeks ago, during a super windy and too short solo trip, I bailed off of Brule Lake and into an available campsite to beat the wind. My previous camps on other occasions had typically been double pad and medium to small in size. This site was jumbo sized with room for two dozen! Or so it seemed to my dog and me. I felt like a land hog watching several groups slog through the gales, look upon my accommodations and move on.

On the flip side, other times when solo camping I have used very small sites and wonder who, other than a single camper, would even consider stopping at them unless in desperation.

When tripping, do you take site size into account or take what you can get as it might be the only available destination?

Nope. Always figured first come, first served. Also, good to have big groups knock down some of the weeds at the micro sites from time to time.

The dog and I were up there june 19th or so and the wind was gross one day. We were napping the wind away, when a big group paddled across the lake in a heavy wind to check out our site.

I had pulled most things away from the shore due to the wind and had a pretty stealthy presence until the lab woke up to greet the people.

Felt bad they came all that way in the wind.

I wouldn't feel guilty doing it when circumstances make it necessary to get off the water. I did it once on Oyster on the big peninsula site, but no one else was paddling by. It was so large that it gave me an odd feeling to be there alone.

I usually trip during Sept when it's not as busy so site availability isn't usually an issue and I just take whatever site I like or is available when I need to get off the water. "Five-star" campsites don't seem to be as important to my solo trip as they are to many others. They are often over-used anyway. I have stayed at sites that were rated all the way from 1-star to 5-star.

I tend to prefer elevated sites and would pick an otherwise average elevated site over a low-lying 5-star site. Some people would rate a site lower if you had to carry everything up a steep bank to the site, while they would rate it highly if it had a great fire grate area, which has little desirability to me and my solo style.

When you're solo you have the advantage that you only need one tent pad, so just about any site will do in a pinch.

nope...

I say feel no guilt. It's a first come first serve thing with site selection.

I always figure it's good for the site to not be maxxed out with people if even for one night. let the ground breath a little. :) But if a group of eight or less was in a pinch, I'd move over.

I have never been fussy about the site I use, so I don't feel bad the times I score a great one. As Ben mentioned I can always make room if the need arised.

butthead

When I paddle into a lake that I'm planning on camping on I usually take the first available site that looks good. Whether it's large or small doesn't matter. As long as it meets my needs I take it.

And when you're using a hammock - all you need is two trees.
Anywhere.

When you're solo you have the advantage that you only need one tent pad, so just about any site will do in a pinch.

I nabbed the island site on south Kekekabic just after ice out this year and felt a little odd taking up that jumbo site.

Only one other group on the lake so I didn't feel guilty just a bit lost in all that space.

I do feel a little guilty about taking a huge site when I solo, but that being said I wouldn't have a problem sharing a site with anyone if the weather was bad or it was late. I really look at the landing more than the site, I want a nice landing for the Dark Lady with no rocks to scratch her up. FRED

Nope, but then again I have had some of those campsites that no one else would ever take as well.

On solo using hammock I don't need much room, but it's first come - first serve.

Nope...not ever....like others, I would share if its late and no other sites...especially if kids are involved.

quote kanoes: "nope... "

O LOL

quote nctry: "I always figure it's good for the site to not be maxxed out with people if even for one night. let the ground breath a little. :) But if a group of eight or less was in a pinch, I'd move over."

what he said^

Nope....it's usually moot anyway...there are few people out when I travel.

I have no conscience. =) Seriously, it has crossed my mind that others might think it "wrong" but that hasn't stopped me. First come first served, but would share -- if asked to -- under dire circumstances. --Goose

Yep. I have felt a twinge of guilt but I got over it fairly quickly.

quote KevinL: "Nope, but then again I have had some of those campsites that no one else would ever take as well."

This is exactly why I personally do not feel guilty either. Everyone should get his/her turn to have a nice site, whatever that means to the individual.

I've never been solo but by far most nights I spend are with only one other person and we have only one small tent either way.

no.