1998 Camp Insanity Moved to Allegany State Park
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
Canada
March 25, 2017 3:22pm CST
I had a store in Canada and couldn't get away for our usual two weeks of Camp Insanity on our favorite river in upstate New York.
We chose this camp near my home for 5 days and nights. My sister and her girls traveled west to meet me.
Our children were growing up. My youngest son was there and two of my sisters girls were there. (both could drive - Yea).
Allegany is a gorgeous but huge State Park. Much bigger than what we were used to – here we drove for miles... to the lakes, to the hikes, to the entertainment.
Having a driver to take the group to the lakes for a swim was great.
Our tent was next to a mountain and the sites were private to a degree but we missed our roaring river and the noise it makes that hides the voices of other campers.
Someone sneezed while we were sitting by our camp fire and everyone heard it and laughed...
There were lots of animals. The trash cans were spaced along the roads where the tents were and that was not a good sight.
We had skunks, a mommy and three babies, raccoons, a baby bear tumbled down a hill enjoying himself. We also saw deer, woodchucks, rabbits, and porcupine... The kids call it camping in a zoo.
We enjoyed the amphitheater, while watched some native dancing. There was a pow wow in the next town from the park. We took organized hikes with rangers, and while at our campsite we heard something falling down the mountain right behind us, it sounded like a car fell off a cliff but we think it was a bear...never saw a big one, only that baby once.
We drove the whole park from top (views) to the lakes.
The five days went fast.
It was a lot busier than our river camp but we enjoyed getting together for a few days but really missed our river.
We keep a journal every year and I just read the journal about this trip. No Insanity, a bit not private enough for us but having the kids who could drive was a life saver...
Looking forward to July on our river this summer already.
Happy Trails to you....
finally found a photo of our camp...
With over 65,000 acres, Allegany State Park is the largest state park in New York State and is open year 'round with a multitude of outdoor activities for every season and every taste. T
12 people like this
14 responses
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
25 Mar 17
Last may I went to Allegany for a geocaching event. I am hoping to return this May.
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
26 Mar 17
It is so beautiful there, I often drive down that way and take a tour just to drive around the park especially in the fall with all the beautiful colors.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Mar 17
@Morleyhunt, wow nice, you may surely return there.
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
26 Mar 17
I found the real photo so I added it to the discusiion I love camping and look forward to first the warmth then the vacation..
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
26 Mar 17
Camping near other campers can be a pain.. if they stay up later than you and you hear them talking while you're trying to sleep..
Our first night camping, someone in the next camp freaked out that a person had been near their tent. We were all still around our campfire when the girl started screaming.. and nobody had been over there.
I wonder if maybe she heard our voices, or those from the site on the other side, and thought they were closer than they actually were.
Another set of campers left in the middle of the night and that was annoying as well.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
27 Mar 17
That's why we like our Sacandaga CampGround. The river is shallow and always moving, It makes enough noise we never hear our neighbors, we can see them in the day light but not a peep because the noise of the river.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
28 Mar 17
@katsmeow1213 
, we see ducks on the river with their babies passing by but we can't hear them, the white noise of the river is something we really missed when we went to Allegany.
, we see ducks on the river with their babies passing by but we can't hear them, the white noise of the river is something we really missed when we went to Allegany.
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Mar 17
@PainsOnSlate There are reasons to keep on going back there, so relaxing place.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73725)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Mar 17
Sounds like a lot of fun. I love all kinds of animals. This is something I would have really loved. I have always discovered when out in nature in the country where the air is fresh and clean everything feels better and my appetite improves by 100%.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
29 Mar 17
I agree with you, there is something about being in and around nature that makes life better.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71663)
• United States
29 Mar 17
Here where I live in PA those animals are something you would see all the time. Most I have seen in my backyard....and more. The trash cans being placed around the trails is to keep hikers from littering as some are not responsible enough to take out anything they take in.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71663)
• United States
30 Mar 17
@PainsOnSlate ahh that would make sense if there were so many around areas where there are people camping all the time they are likely being fed and coming back for more. That isn't good as they will get used to being fed and not learn how to hunt for their own food.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
31 Mar 17
@shaggin I agree I would never feed them. I am guilty of feeding the chipmunks peanuts when they show up at camp, but only them....
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
30 Mar 17
The kids were surprised they saw so many in the 5 days we were there, we see them at home too but with all the business of the camp we were a bit surprised, they must have been fed, which is something we never do when camping... It was fun though.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
11 Apr 17
I would have missed the river and the privacy too. I think I would have been a bit scared about the bears rolling down the hills. 
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
12 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate I think that if mama had shown up trouble might have happened. Poor baby bear rolling down the hill must have been scary. So much for peaceful camping (if so many people were there).
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
12 Apr 17
We only saw a baby roll down the hill but we do know that Momma protects the babies so no one tried to get close. The noise behind us, we actually don't have a clue what it was, it could have been kids - we were not worried - too many people around to have the bears show up.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
13 Apr 17
@Shellyann36 watching him do it we think he was having a blast and enjoying the tumble...strange but true.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
28 Mar 17
It is so wonderful to have a family gathering to look forward to every year.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
28 Mar 17
And the journal brings back all the bits and pieces we have forgotten.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Mar 17
@BelleStarr It seems a perfect place for the family. Nice to go there.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
28 Mar 17
Once we park the car while camping by the river, mine never moves, Its a van and full of wood, food and supplies. We take my sister's car when we want to leave the camp for any reason, we can and do walk everywhere we go at the campground. Its a lovely place.
@Tampa_girl7 (49130)
• United States
26 Mar 17
What a beautiful photo 
it sounds like a good time was had by all.
it sounds like a good time was had by all.2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
27 Mar 17
We always have fun, love sleeping in a tent.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Mar 17
@Tampa_girl7, Yea true, one of a kind.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
26 Mar 17
how lovely to have seen all those animals .... 
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
28 Mar 17
Not our favorite thing to see while camping but as long as they are just passing by we are happy campers.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
29 Mar 17
We did enjoy our few days, it was different but certainly a beautiful Park and lots of fun was happening.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83220)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Mar 17
@PainsOnSlate wow, that was nice and unforgettable moment.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
29 Mar 17
The journal is always with us, the kids get a kick out of reading what they wrote when they were small children too.
1 person likes this
