Has anyone camped at this super-out-of-the-way spot? I've read numerous blogs online, but I have some questions that I'd like to talk about with someone who's actually been to Dry Tortugas:
- What time of year would you recommend? We're two adults and can travel any time of year.
- How many nights would you stay?
- Did you catch fish? What kind?
- I read the ferry's website. Any hints beyond what they have to say?
- I have a hard time stomaching $32/day to park in the ferry's lot. Any suggestions on how to save on parking?
- I've read that rats make it difficult to keep food secure. Do they "attack" only at night, or is food relatively safe during the day? We would leave our camp unattended for a portion of the day -- would rats come into our camp while we're away?
- We'll have a cooler -- just a plain old Coleman /no latch to keep it closed -- if we leave a camp chair on top of the cooler, will this keep rats from lifting the lid? Maybe a camp chair attached to the cooler with a bungee cord? I'm thinking rats don't have the intellect to plan, "Chew the bungee cord, move the chair, lift the lid, and finally all that food'll be ours. Bru-ha-ha, go hungry, Humans!"
- Everyone seems to recommend packing in plastic tubs -- okay, I have a big one that's not precious to me -- but I also have some metal tins that once held Christmas popcorn. I'm thinking of packing bread, chips, cookies inside those tins /putting the tins into a big plastic tub. And I'm going to choose snacks that come in plastic containers instead of bags. I'm thinking the other camp chair could serve as a weight for our plastic tub lid. Does this sound pretty reasonable? I know that rats CAN gnaw through plastic, but would they smell food through plastic + tin?
- I read that rats dislike mothballs. What if I spread mothballs around the tub and the cooler? Would this discourage rats? I read that they hate peppermint oil, but that sounds less feasible.
- Each campsite includes a pole for hanging food -- am I wrong to think the plastic tub+tin is superior to hanging food? I don't own a rat-proof food bag, and I'm trying to avoid buying one.
- The websites talk about extra-long tent poles to hold up to the wind. I have no experience with this and would love to hear anything anyone has to say.
- Any other suggestions for camping at Dry Tortugas?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide advice!
- What time of year would you recommend? We're two adults and can travel any time of year.
- How many nights would you stay?
- Did you catch fish? What kind?
- I read the ferry's website. Any hints beyond what they have to say?
- I have a hard time stomaching $32/day to park in the ferry's lot. Any suggestions on how to save on parking?
- I've read that rats make it difficult to keep food secure. Do they "attack" only at night, or is food relatively safe during the day? We would leave our camp unattended for a portion of the day -- would rats come into our camp while we're away?
- We'll have a cooler -- just a plain old Coleman /no latch to keep it closed -- if we leave a camp chair on top of the cooler, will this keep rats from lifting the lid? Maybe a camp chair attached to the cooler with a bungee cord? I'm thinking rats don't have the intellect to plan, "Chew the bungee cord, move the chair, lift the lid, and finally all that food'll be ours. Bru-ha-ha, go hungry, Humans!"
- Everyone seems to recommend packing in plastic tubs -- okay, I have a big one that's not precious to me -- but I also have some metal tins that once held Christmas popcorn. I'm thinking of packing bread, chips, cookies inside those tins /putting the tins into a big plastic tub. And I'm going to choose snacks that come in plastic containers instead of bags. I'm thinking the other camp chair could serve as a weight for our plastic tub lid. Does this sound pretty reasonable? I know that rats CAN gnaw through plastic, but would they smell food through plastic + tin?
- I read that rats dislike mothballs. What if I spread mothballs around the tub and the cooler? Would this discourage rats? I read that they hate peppermint oil, but that sounds less feasible.
- Each campsite includes a pole for hanging food -- am I wrong to think the plastic tub+tin is superior to hanging food? I don't own a rat-proof food bag, and I'm trying to avoid buying one.
- The websites talk about extra-long tent poles to hold up to the wind. I have no experience with this and would love to hear anything anyone has to say.
- Any other suggestions for camping at Dry Tortugas?
Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide advice!
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