I think I need a slightly bigger tent.

I bought the floor model of a North Face Stormbreaker 1 man tent at Cabela’s probably a year and a half ago and this is my first opportunity to use it. I wanted something small for my excursions that I planned on taking by myself since I know that camping is not my kids’ hobby.

Anyway, it’s squishy. It fits my air pad and sleeping bag perfectly but there is room for nothing else. So my bag stays outside.

I’m at the Kananaskis Trail overflow camping or something, I’m not exactly sure what the name of it is. I’m in the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and random camping wherever the fuck you feel like it is strictly verboten in Provincial Parks. They do patrol the day use trail heads that explicitly say ‘no camping’ so they’ll bust your ass if you even try.

I wanted to come out here to get away from people but, of course, it’s getting more and more densely populated as the evening progresses. And, of course, the pair of couples with a shitty toddler decide to bunk adjacent to where I’ve set up. If I wanted to listen to a miserable, whiny, over-tired kid… I’ve have saved myself a 4+ hour drive and just sat in a McDonalds Play Place for a few hours around naptime.

But whatever. There are a lot more bears out and about around here right now than there was last year when I was here and there is safety in numbers. The bears definitely don’t want to listen to some whiny fucking snot-nosed bitch kid either so they’re more likely to stay out of the area thus not looking at me as a giant pre-wrapped meat snack.

The tent is squishy but it’s not bad. The air pad keeps me comfortable and off of the cold, cold ground and my sleeping bag should keep me nice and toasty. Plus, I have a couple of wool blankets in a bag that I’m using as a pillow and will just throw over myself if it gets too cold tonight. I don’t think it will but you never know.

It’s not as comfy as my bed but I also don’t have mountains in my bedroom. The trade off is worth it.